Coral Sea, Day 2, Fight 4

All,

1123

8 May 1942

Greetings, and welcome to my return to the Pacific!  Both the US Navy and Imperial Japanese Navy are on the prowl in the southwestern Pacific; the Japanese have their eyes on Australia, or at least cutting off the lines of communication between the US and Australia, and the Americans are looking to not allow that to happen.  On 3-4 May 1942, while fighting raged on New Guinea, the Japanese attempted secure their flank, sending an invasion fleet into the Solomon Islands to put troops ashore on Tulagi (across the channel from Guadalcanal), in order to conduct an amphibious assault on Port Moresby on 10 May.

But the Americans noted the Japanese invasion force in the Solomons, and the USS Yorktown launched strike aircraft that sunk or damaged several Japanese warships, though now the Japanese were aware the US carriers were in the vicinity, made doubly worse by the fact the Americans were shorthanded: they had only the Yorktown and the Lexington in the area because the Hornet and Enterprise had just returned to Pearl Harbor following the Doolittle Raid.  These were faced by the Japanese fleet carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku, and the light carrier Shoho.  The two opposing forces marshalled their troops, refueled, consolidated, and began searching in earnest for each other.

This morning, Lt(jg) Casey led the fighter escort for the Lexington strike force which, combined with the Yorktown's strike force, managed to sink the Japanese light carrier Shoho.  But the Killer Pelicans' escorts had a rough go: they downed three Zeros and damaged another, but they lost one Wildcat, had the other three damaged, and five of their six assigned dive bombers were shot down, the sixth returning to the Lexington, damaged.  Lt Casey scored two more kills to become a Veteran (total of four kills), but he was shot down and badly wounded, which will cause him to miss the Battle of Midway.

Both sides carried out preparation for battle throughout the night, then launched scouts shortly after 0600 the next morning, to find the other side's carriers.  The Americans got lucky first, sighting the Japanese carriers at 0820, though the Japanese were only two minutes behind.  Both sides hurried to turn into the wind and launch their strike groups!  The Japanese launched 18 fighters, 33 dive bombers, and 18 torpedo bombers, while the Yorktown and Lexington launched a combined 15 Wildcats, 39 Dauntlesses, and 21 Devastators, though the Lexington's contingent was about 10 minutes behind the Yorktown's.

At 1055 the Lexington's air search radar acquired the inbound Japanese strike group at a range of 68 nautical miles and vectored nine Wildcats to intercept; it was 1113 local time when Lt(jg) Fitzsimmons again led the Lexington CAP into battle.  And this time he found the enemy, but it didn't work out very well for the Americans.  Lt Fitzsimmons and Lt Allen saw their aircraft damaged, Ens Chipman had to disengage and retreat, but that wasn't the worst of it.  Three Wildcats were shot down, with Ensign Camili being wounded, but Ensigns Gordon and Mann were killed in action, while no Japanese aircraft were shot down, and enemy torpedo bombers managed to put three torpedoes into the USS Lexington.

It's now 1123, and another radar contact has been acquired, believed to be another Japanese strike group, this one comprised of Val dive bombers escorted by Zeros.  All available Wildcats were scrambled to meet the new threat.

This is my arena for aerial combat; simple, yet durable and, to me, beautiful (in a simple, durable way).  I'm using tiny aircraft designed by my buddy Thomaston; not sure what size they are, just that they are much smaller than 1/600.  They're 3D printed models that I mounted on cut-down bases from Litko, and I'm using a very simple rules system called "Battle of Britain," which I found for free over on The Miniatures Page (I've already played a good 20 or so fights with them).  Left is north, with the Japanese strike group there, and right is south, with the American CAP and the USS Lexington there.

The US CAP, from top:
Ensign Green, a Regular with two kills on three sorties
Ensign Chipman, a Regular with no kills on two sorties
Lt Allen, a Regular with one kill on two sorties
Lt Fitzsimmons, a Veteran with three kills on two sorties
Ensign Manley, a Regular with 1.5 kills on one sortie
Ensign Head, a Regular with .5 kills on two sorties

Yes, I cheated here.  The Americans have exactly six pilots from their CAP section left, so I mounted all six of them up (rather than rolling to see who would fight, and potentially going into battle with less than six Wildcats).  Having said that, I'm saying that Lieutenants Fitzsimmons and Allen, who had their aircraft damaged in the last fight, were not able to land between last fight and this one, so they're going into the fight already damaged.  Also, Ensign Green was previously shot down and picked up, so he doesn't have an aircraft, but somehow the CAG found one for him and launched his ass up to get in the fight.

The Japanese Strike Force, looking to locate and attack the US carriers.  I'm still sticking with the big mistake of listening to Thomaston, using the Japanese pilot experience, which is vastly greater than the young Americans.  To refresh your memory, pilot experience goes: Rookie, Regular, Veteran, Ace, and Natural Born Killer.  Based on the fact that some of these Japanese pilots have been flying, and fighting, for years, I rolled it so that a pilot had about an 8% chance of being a Rookie, and it went up from there, all the way to Natural Born Killer.  So, here we go, from the top:

*Missing one aircraft*

Zero 01: Natural Born Killer

Val 02          Val 05

Val 01          Val 04

Val 03          Val 06

Zero 03: Regular

Zero 04: Rookie

Perfect, right?  The Japanese Zeros are already getting a +1 for being superior (in terms of maneuverability and climb) to the F4F Wildcats, and now the pilots are markedly better in terms of quality.

So, then I 'cheated' against the Japanese.  Well, I didn't really cheat, I just rolled them up like I'm supposed to, so they're actually flying minus one fighter, and not with their best pilots, because that's what the dice said to do.  But that's okay, my Navy boys need a break, this is killing me.

Anyway, time to fight!  And, to start things off right, apparently I forgot to take a photo. Normally, I don't move each aircraft and take individual photos during the first two turns because the opposing sides can't come to grips, so I just move them all up (rolling dice to see how far they go), and then basically start the game with turn three.  So I did all that, but I forgot to take a photo of the end result of the first two turns' movement.  Sorry...

Zero 01 cruises up, supremely confident in his abilities, waiting for the Americans to do something.

While the Rookie, Zero 04, catches up to his wingman.

Who immediately zooms in, head to head, with Ens Manley.  Both pilots open fire...

As Zero 03 zooms by, untouched, leaving Ens Manley's damaged Wildcat in his dust.

"My horse is almost dead, gotta head back to the barn," quips Ens Manley, as he (fails his 'stay in the fight' roll) flips his damaged Wildcat around and heads for the rear.

Great start!

But Ensign Head is in the fight: he pulls a Split-S, reversing course to pull alongside Zero 03.  A very dangerous maneuver, given the fact his wingman (Zero 04, off camera to bottom left) is not far behind.

Seeing Ens Head's predicament (bottom center), Lt Fitzsimmons pulls left to help (in his damaged Wildcat).

As does Lt Allen.

At top, Ens Chipman comes left, defensive against Zero 01 (top left).  Hard to blame him, the two just tangled, and Ens Chipman saw exactly how skilled the Japanese flier is.  Having said that, get your ass in the fight!

Ens Green comes left as well, defensive, trying to stick close to his wingman (Chipman, far right), very wary of Zero 01 (top left).

As the Vals push south.

But it really ends up making it almost too easy: Zero 01 banks left, opens up some distance, then cuts right, onto Ens Green's tail, opening fire...

20mm cannon rounds hammer the stubby Wildcat, pummeling it into the sea, taking Ens Green with it!  Zero 01 is now hungrily eyeing Ens Chipman (far right) as his second kill.

*So, of course, the NBK rolls a '6' for movement points, which puts him all the way up to a '9,' makes a shot he really couldn't miss (needed a 2+ to hit), rolls a 5+ to down the Wildcat, and then the pilot rolls to see if he gets out and, nope, he's KIA.

The good news, at least for Ens Head (bottom right, just below Zero 03), is that the Japanese Rookie, Zero 04, is none too confident, so he doesn't zoom in to assist his wingman, he holds altitude, heading, and speed, waiting to see how the fight develops.

But his wingman, Zero 03, despite being 'only' a Regular, is plenty confident.  With Wildcats to either side, and a third on the way (Lt Allen's, off camera to top right), he calmly kicks the rudder over and takes a frontal aspect shot on Lt Fitzsimmons' Wildcat...

Already damaged, it's a cinch to put the little Grumman in the drink.  Lt Fitzsimmons bailed out and was shortly picked up by one of Lexington's escorts.

But Ens Head immediately cuts left, looking for retribution, in perfect tailing position on Zero 03.  The six .50-cal MGs hammer out tracers...

And the flimsy Zero comes apart right before his eyes!

Lt Allen pulls a lazy right turn, waggling his wings in recognition of Ens Head's victory.  Up top, Ens Chipman (top right) finds his nightmare scenario come true: he's all alone, up against Zero 01, the Natural Born Killer.

It's now or never, Chipman decides: he jinks right, then left, lining up a frontal aspect shot on Zero 01.  He opens fire, but the Japanese super ace's aircraft twists and turns masterfully, dodging the incoming fire.

As Ens Manley nears safety.

And the Vals continue to press home their attack.

If he was nervous before, the Japanese Rookie, Zero 04, is really nervous after watching his wingman get torn to pieces by Ens head (right, with Lt Allen at top right).  It should be relatively easy for him to zoom in and get a tail aspect shot on Ens Head, but he remains noncommittal.

The Japanese super ace, Zero 01 (top center, right next to Ens Chipman), sees Zero 04 lollygagging and immediately gets on the radio to jump his ass.  "Watch, young man, this is how you do it."  The Japanese pilot pushes the throttle to the firewall...

*Please note Zero 01's starting position.

Pulls away from Ens Chipman (top left), careens across the crystal blue sky, then cuts right, all the way around behind Lt Allen's Wildcat.  Allen is nearly caught dozing, all his attention on Zero 04 (off camera to bottom center left), figuring there was no way Zero 01 was a threat to him.  It didn't dawn on him that he was in danger until 20mm tracers began zipping past his canopy...

But apparently the Japanese super ace had pushed his aircraft too hard, as he was unable to land the fatal punch, pulling right, disgusted with his marksmanship!

But no sooner had he done that, then Ens Head seized the initiative, dashing in to take a frontal aspect shot on Zero 01!  The .50-cals again roared...

And again a Japanese Zero plummeted into the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean!  It took a few seconds for it to dawn on everyone that Ensign Head had just shot down the super ace!  Lt Allen came on the radio first: "Well there she goes, boys, it's hunting time!"  Ens Head smiled to himself as he brought his Wildcat around to the left.

And Lt Allen made a beeline for the Japanese Rookie, which was the last remaining Japanese fighter.

And Ens Chipman came left to deal with the Vals.

As Ens Manley made it to safety on the lee side of the Lexington.

And the Vals kept marching.

Zero 04, finally spurred to action, cuts left and takes a frontal aspect shot on Ens Head, looking to avenge his squadron leader.

But his aim is off and the tracers fly wide of the mark, as he cuts right between Ens Head and Lt Allen.

But Lt Allen is done playing: "Let's get those Vals before they get to the Lady Lex!"  He kicks it in the ass, cuts right, and lines up a shot on Val 01.

But he misses and flashes past, dodging tracers from Val 03's tail gunner.

As Ensign Chipman cuts left and takes a full deflection shot on Val 03...

He misses and flashes past, now finding himself in the middle of the Japanese formation!  He again takes a full deflection shot, this time on Val 02, while dodging defensive fire from Val 01 and Val 04.  Somehow, everyone misses!

The Americans have such a lack of respect for the Japanese Rooke (bottom right) that even Ens Head says 'hell with him,' and pushes his stick over to go engage the Vals.  Ens Head lines up a frontal aspect shot on Val 01 and stands on the trigger...

The .50-cal rounds quickly pound Val 01's starboard wing off, causing the plane to dive into the sea, as Ens Head presses home his attack, riding the tracers straight into Val 03...

Blowing her up!!!

*Ensign Head now has 4.5 kills, almost an Ace.

As the Vals push ahead.

Zero 04 flips a U-turn, trying to get back in the fight.

The traffic in the sky has gotten to hectic, so Ens Head breaks off his attack, pulling slight right, which is not a great spot to be in, given Zero 04's current position (bottom right).

And Ensign Chipman comes around left, trying to buy some space, dodging tracers from Val 02.

And Lt Allen pulls an Immelman, so as to get back in position on the Vals.

And the Vals press home their attack on the Lexington.

As Zero 04 now finds himself caught up in traffic.  He cuts left, between Ens Head (top left) and Ens Chipman (bottom left).

As Lt Allen makes a lazy left, eyeballing Zero 04 (bottom center right).

Ens Head comes right, cutting loose with his machine guns on Val 06, as her tail gunner opens up.  Both miss...

And Ens Chipman cuts left, though he's unable to line up a shot, pulling even with Val 05.

And the Vals near the target area.  Puffs of smoke from Lexington's 5" dual purpose guns begin to appear.

Zero 04 comes right and fires on Ensign Head's Wildcat...

But he misses and pulls off left.

Which allows Lt Allen to jink in behind Val 06...

And splash him!

Ens Chipman cuts right, pulling in behind Val 05 for a perfect tail shot.  He opens fire...

But the Val's tail gunner forces him to miss!  He flashes past, ending up on the tail of Val 02, and he fires, but now he's taking defensive fire from the dive bomber in front of him AND behind him!  The Japanese defensive fire misses, while Chipman only manages to damage Val 02.

Ens Head figures somebody better take care of Zero 04 before somebody messes around and gets hurt, so he pulls an Immelman and gets into a tailing position on the Japanese Rookie.

The damaged Val 02 reverses course to return to his carrier.

While the remaining two Vals push home their attack on the Lexington, beginning to form line astern as they approach their release point.

Zero 04, all alone against three Wildcats, figures he's done all he can, so he throttles up and climbs away from Ens Head, disengaging.

Head knows he can't catch the Zero in a climb, so he cuts a shallow right turn, still keeping an eye on him, freeing up Lt Allen and Ens Chipman to go after the last two Vals.  "Better hurry boys, the flak is starting to thicken.  It would really suck to get shot down by our own AA fire."

Lt Allen's Wildcat is already damaged, and his engine starts sputtering; he realizes he can't make it to Val 04 (far left), the natural target for him, but he can reach Val 05, the one Ens Chipman (left) was lined up on, and he does it.  "Hey!" cried out Chipman on the radio.  "Aww, hush your face, Rookie!"  And with that, Lt Allen's .50-cals hammered Val 05 into splinters, racking up his second kill of the day.

Smiling as he coasts past the Japanese dive bomber's wreckage.

"Damn you, Allen!  No matter," and with that Ens Chipman deftly maneuvered his Wildcat around Lt Allen's furball, into a zero deflection shot on Val 04's tail.  Tracers reached out from the Japanese plane's tail gun, but he just gritted his teeth, walking his own tracers onto the Val...

Until it exploded!

Zero 04 paired up with the damaged Val 02 for the long ride home.  "Val 02, please don't tell the air group leader I disengaged."  "Sure, Rookie-san, and you tell the air group leader I delivered my bomb directly onto the deck of the USS Lexington," replied the dive bomber pilot, as he jettisoned his bomb into the sea.

Lt Allen formed up a proud little three-ship Vee, Ens Head particularly, having scored four kills, including the very impressive downing of the Japanese super ace..  Despite losing half of their six-ship flight, the Navy pilots were very proud of the fact they finally had a fight where they actually caused more damage than they suffered, and that they'd not allowed a single Val through to bomb the Lexington.  Unfortunately, that didn't particularly matter at the moment as the Lady Lex was having an extraordinarily bad time of it due to all those Japanese torpedo hits.  In any case, man, I really needed that!  It feels like forever since I had a win...

Ultimately, for his actions in this fight, Ensign Head was meritoriously promoted to Lieutenant (Junior Grade) and awarded the Navy Cross.  Here's the score for the fight:

Ensign Green, shot down, Killed in Action

Ensign Chipman, one kill
Lt Allen, two kills, becomes a Veteran
Lt Fitzsimmons, shot down but picked up, okay
Ensign Manley, damaged, returned to base, okay
Ensign Head, four kills, meritoriously promoted to Lt (jg) and awarded the Navy Cross

Smoke billows from fires aboard the Lexington, and she lists to port after taking two torpedo hits and two bomb hits, though the fires would be under control within an hour.  Yorktown was also hit by one bomb, though this was quickly repaired, and by 1230 the two aircraft were able to recover their returning strike groups.

But that's where we're going next: we're jumping to 1130, where Lt Cmdr Case is leading a four-Wildcat escort for Scouting and Bombing-2 Dauntless Dive Bombers looking to attack the Japanese fleet carriers.

V/R,
Jack