Battle of Midway, Fight #7

All,

1025 local time

4 June 1942

Midway

It's 4 June 1942, the dawn of the epic "Battle of Midway," a clash of giants, three US carriers vs four Japanese carriers that proved to be the turning point of the war in the Pacific. For more information, both real-life and how I'm running this campaign, please check here:

https://oldleadbreed.blogspot.com/2019/11/battle-of-midway-campaign-plan.html

Yesterday at 0900 a US Navy PBY Catalina spotted Japanese ships 500nm west southwest of Midway; B-17s from the island were dispatched but failed to hit anything. US Navy PBYs continued to shadow the Japanese surface force, and actually attacked at 0100 this morning, scoring a torpedo hit on a Japanese merchant ship. Unbeknownst to US personnel, the Japanese carrier task force, as yet still unspotted, launched its first strike group against Midway at 0430. At 0530, the PBYs spotted the Japanese carriers, and noted their strike group inbound.

At 0610, the VMF-343 "Dirt Divers" scrambled six F4F Wildcats to intercept an inbound group of six D3A "Val" dive bombers escorted by four A6M "Zeros," but were roughly handled, having three Wildcats shot down and the other three damaged, as the Japanese lost one Zero and one Val. The Japanese aerial attack caused 18/30 damage points.

At 0625, Captain Haynes led six Wildcats to intercept an inbound group of six B5N "Kate" torpedo bombers escorted by four A6M "Zeros." Again it was rough: the Marines lost five of six aircraft, with one pilot KIA, one MIA, and two WIA, while the Japanese lost four of their six torpedo bombers, which did light damage to Midway's shore installations (26/30, total).

At 0645, Major Chandler led four Dirt Divers in escort of a flight of six TBF torpedo bombers to attack the Japanese carriers, running right into the Japanese CAP of six Zeros, and it was a debacle: the Americans lost one Wildcat and five TBFs, the last being damaged and forced to return to base without even spotting the Japanese carriers. Oh, and the Japanese did lose two Zeros, but they were both to the TBFs!!!

At 0715, 2nd Lt Herman led a flight of four Wildcats in escort of six SBD Dauntless dive bombers from Marine Scouting-Bombing Squadron 241 (VMSB-241), up against six Zeros of the Japanese Combat Air Patrol.  The mission was sort of a success: five Zeros were downed (two by SBDs!) and the sixth was shot up, no Wildcats were lost, only three Dauntlesses were lost, but no hits were scored on the enemy carriers.

At 0800, Major Chandler is led a flight of four Wildcats on an escort mission for four US Army Air Corps B-26s specially modified to carry torpedoes.  The Marines lost two Wildcats and had another damaged, and two B-26s, with another damaged, while the Japanese lost all four CAP Zeros, though one was shot down by a US bomber.  The lone B-26 to reach the Japanese fleet missed on its torpedo run and, to add insult to injury, Major Chandler was one of the Marines shot down, and he was badly wounded.

At 1010, and LtCmdr Case, the Ace squadron leader of the Killer Pelicans and winner of the Medal of Honor, lead a flight of four Wildcats in escort of six TBD Devastators against the Japanese carriers.  They faced six Zeros, and it wasn't pretty: Ensigne Warren was shot down, two more Wildcats were damaged, and all six Devastators were shot down, at the cost of only three Zeros, two of which were shot down by the torpedo bombers!

It's now 1025, and Lt (jg) Dahgren is leading a flight of four Wildcats in escort of six SBD Dauntless dive bombers from VSB-6 ("Scouting Six"), hoping to replicate what their real life predecessors did ("Scratch Four Flattops!"), facing a Japanese CAP of four Zeros.

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 CAP there, and the American strike group at right.

Still got my toes in the pic, still sorry...

The US strike group, from top left to bottom right:

Ensign Bryant, a Regular with no kills on two sorties
LtCmdr Case, an Ace with 11 kills on seven sorties

          SBD 02         SBD 05

SBD 01          SBD 04

          SBD 03          SBD 06

Lt (jg) Dahlgren, a Regular with two kills on five sorties
Ensign Bryant, a Rookie on his first combat mission

The Japanese CAP, from top right to bottom left:

Zero 03, a Regular
Zero 01, a Veteran
Zero 02, a Veteran

Zero 06, a Regular
Zero 04, a Veteran
Zero 05, a Veteran

We fast forward through the first three turns in order to bring you straight into the action. Time to fight!

The fight starts with Zero 01 diving on SBD 02 for a high deflection shot and missing.

Which is very quickly followed by Lt Riggins pulling all the way around left, onto Zero 01's tail, and opening fire.  The Japanese fighter is damaged by the Wildcats' heavy machine guns.

Lt French jinks over to cover Ens Riggins' tail (right) while he's dealing with Zero 01.

And Lt Dahlgren pulls right, near the SBD formation.

As Ens Bryant comes left, dead at the two bottom Zeros.

Zero 04 responds, cutting left and taking a high-deflection shot on him, but misses.

As Zero 03 pulls between Ens Bryant and Lt Dahlgren.

Turns out Lt Riggins roughed up Zero 01 pretty good, to the point he turns his damaged machine around and heads back to his carrier!

*Wow, it seems like the Japanese almost never turn around when damaged.

But Zero 02 is still in the fight, and darts past Lt French, dead on to Lt Riggins' tail.  The plucky Wildcat shudders under the impacts of 20mm cannon rounds...

And Lt Riggins is forced to ditch as his aircraft goes down.  He'd spend a night in the water, but was picked up the next day by a PBY from Midway.

The Dauntlesses push north.

Lt French, shocked at the loss of Riggins, pulls hard left to engage Zero 02 (far right).

While down below, Lt Dahlgren pulls left, defensive.

And Ens Bryant pulls right, looking to get into shape on the two Zeros he knows will soon be headed to feast on the dive bombers (off camera to right).

And it begins: Zero 03 is able to loop all the way around on SBD 06's tail.  The Japanese pilot braves defensive fire from the Dauntless' tail gunner as he mashes the triggers on his guns, but both miss!

Zero 04 pulls hard left, a bit more measured, and sets up his shot.

While up top, Zero 02 pulls hard right onto SBD 02's tail.  Both sides engage...

And the elegant Dauntless goes down.

The SBDs push north, with Zero 02 (top right) getting a shot on SBD 05 (and takes defensive fire, as well) and Zero 03 gets a shot on SBD 03.

SBD 05 is damaged, but the formation continues north.

Lt Dahlgren cuts hard right to protect the dive bombers..

And Ens Bryant cuts hard right to take a full deflection shot on Zero 04...

He misses and pulls right.

Up top, Lt French comes left, defensive.

*Dammit, the Yanks just can't seem to get into position...

But Lt French's maneuver is enough to convince Zero 02 to come hard right, defensive, rather than swooping in on the dive bombers.

And Zero 03 comes left, trying to catch up to the formation of Dauntlesses.

Zero 04 very craftily jinks around Lt Dahlgren and Ens Bryant to set up his next shot on the SBDs.

*Somehow the Japanese are getting very good at this, rushing ahead to set up position where they'll get shots on two US bombers as they pass by.  It may sound silly, but bombers don't maneuver unless they're movement is blocked by the presence of another aircraft, they just move straight towards their target.  I don't have a problem with it, just learn how to play and take advantage of the rules; it seems to do a decent job of reflecting the fighters' inherent advantage in speed and maneuverability without having to have a bunch of complex rules added.

And it works: the Dauntlesses push north, giving Zero 04 a shot at SBD 03...

The Japanese pilot and the American tail gunner both miss, the American dive bombers keep driving, and now Zero 04 gets a shot on SBD 06...

But this time the 7.7mm and 20mm rounds of the Zero strike home, as do the twin .30-cal rounds of the US Dauntless, and both aircraft splash into the warm, blue sea!!!

Ens Bryant holds straight and level, defensive, a bit afraid of Zero 03.

As Lt Dahlgren comes around to help, though this will likely open up an avenue for Zero 03 (right bottom) to get at the Dauntleses (top left), leaving the slower Wildcats behind.

So Lt French leaves Zero 02 (top right), and cuts left to take a full deflection shot on Zero 03...

**I missed a pic: Zero 03 (center left bottom) pushes ahead and gets on SBD 04's tail (off camera to top center).  The SBD's tail gunner fires, as does the Zero...

SBD 04 goes down (cotton puff), and Zero 03 immediately turns and pounces on SBD 03's tail.  Tracers crisscross the sky...

But both sides miss and Zero 03 comes off left.

Followed by Zero 02 cutting back left to line up a shot on the damaged SBD 05.  The Japanese pilot and the American tail gunner both squeeze their triggers...

SBD 05 goes down in flames and Zero 02 pushes straight past, now braving defensive fire from SBD 04...

Both miss, and Zero 02 cuts right onto SBD 01's tail.  Again tail gun tracers leap towards him and the Japanese fighter pilot squeezes his triggers...

SBD 01 is damaged and Zero 02 comes off right.

SBD 01 is badly damaged enough that it has to return to the Yorktown.

While the last remaining Dauntless presses on, its target coming into range.

This will probably be over pretty quick: the last dive bomber, SBD 03, is at top left, with two Zeros close by, while the three remaining Wildcats are off screwing around (bottom right).

Lt French cuts right to give chase.

And Lt Dahlgren cuts left...

And Ens Bryant just kinda sputters along.

As Zerl 03 pulls right, braving defensive fire to get on SBD 03's tail.  The Japanese fighter opens fire and damages the US dive bomber.

Figuring his comrade has got the prize (bottom left) in the bag, Zero 02 comes back around to the right to take a high-deflection shot on Lt Dahlgren, and he manages to damage the Wildcat!

SBD 03's pilot checks his gauges: he's able to keep going, so he pushes the Dauntless for all she's worth, trying to reach the Japanese carriers.

Which allows Lt French to jink in behind Zero 03 and get on his tail.  The .50-cal MGs thunder...

And Lt French pulls right triumphantly as the Japanese fighter comes apart, knowing Zero 02 (top right) is probably too far away to get SBD 03 (far left).

Lt Dahlgren's Wildcat is damaged and he heads for home.

And Ens Bryant pulls left to get into the fight.

Zero 02 pulls right, looking for signs of his comrade (shot down), and the American dive bomber (far left).

As SBD 03 nears the target.

Ens Bryant gives chase.

And Lt French turns into the enemy fighter.

Which pulls in behind SBD 03 but can't line up a shot, though he'll get one more chance if the American fighter pilots don't do something about it!

SBD 03 is right on the cusp of reaching the target area.

Neither Ens Bryant...

Nor Lt French can reach the Japanese fighter, who's pilot is licking his chops...

But then he rolls this...

So he just sort of sputters ahead, watching helplessly SBD 03...

Rolls over into a dive...

And plants her 1,000-pound bomb squarely on the deck of the Kaga!!!

The remaining US birds form up to return to the Yorktown, not ecstatic, but happy to do what they could, and ecstatic as they hear Hornet and Enterprise dive bombers, as well as the rest of the Yorktown's, are inbound.

Well, that kinda sucked, was expecting better from my escorts.  These last two fights they just can't seem to get themselves into position on the interceptors, who run circles around them and ravage the bomber formation.  Four SBDs were shot down, one was damaged and returned to base, and one was damaged but still carries out its mission and planted its bomb on a Japanese carrier (thank goodness he didn't miss!).  Regarding the Wildcats, we started with four and ended with three, though one was damaged and had to return to base, and at least the shot down pilot (Lt Riggins) is okay.  Two Japanese fighters were shot down, but only one by the Wildcats, and that didn't happen until after five of the six Dauntlesses were already out of the fight!  One other Zero was damaged and had to return to his carrier; not sure whether he got there, then got bombed, or if his carrier got hit before he landed and had to ditch in the sea.

Lt (jg) French, scored his fourth kill of the war
Lt (jg) Dahlgren failed to score (again), was damaged, and had to return to base
Lt (jg) Riggins failed to score and was shot down but picked up
Ensign Bryant failed to score, but graduates from Rookie to Regular on account of him surviving his first dogfight

So not great, but some damage was done as part of the overall war effort.  Lt French spots Lt Cmdr Case inbound at the head of a formation of SBDs from "Bombing Six," and the boss is signaling him to have all airworthy fighters form up to escort them in.  Tally ho!

V/R,
Jack