Ballentyne
Mongoose
6 point Raid Carrier Clash, IJN vs RN.
Royal Navy
HMS Ark Royal - Carrier
HMS Illustrious - Carrier
HMS York - York Class Cruiser Cruiser
HMS Edinburgh - Edinburgh Class Cruiser
HMS Belfast - Edinburgh Class Cruiser
Tribal Squadron Alpha - 3 Tribal Destroyers
N Class Squadron Beta - 3 N Class Destroyers
Imperial Japanese Navy
Shokaku - Carrier
Zuikaku - Carrier
Mogami - Mogami class Heavy Cruiser
Naka - Sendai Class Cruiser
Sendai - Sendai Class Cruiser
Jintsu - Sendai Class Cruiser
Kagero Squadron Tanaka - 3 Kagero Destroyers
(Note: As a part of a campaign we are working on the Jintsu and 1 Kagero Destroyer were removed from the fight due to sabotage)
Passing through the Pulau Straights the Ark Royal Battlegroup comes face to face with the Shokaku Battlegroup. The light is failing and the weather is stormy (bad). The RN are set on some payback for their losses, and the Shokaku group are set to chalk up more victims. As the weather worsens the planes are launched and the fleets approach each other amidst the heavy seas, rain and lightning.
(T1) As the fleets move position to gain advantage the skies are filled with the roar of airplane engines. The fighters from the Royal Navy fly forward to protect the lumbering swordfish, but are jumped by the swifter Zero's. The swordfish take up position behind the advancing ships while the kates and vals fly on, their pilots in high spirits, and probably sake. The initial dogfighting sees three zeros down to a cost of three fulmars and two martlets.
(T2) Continuing their push though the stormy seas the fleets on both sides advance. Overhead the zeros tear into the lumbering bombers and the remains of the RN fighters. A wing of torpedo bombers line up for the final push on the HMS Illustrious while dive bombers scream down over the Edinburgh, Belfast, York and the three tribals. Targets are spotted by ships on both sides, and turrets moved into position, but the weather is too rough by far to hit anything at this range. AA fire from the RN pluck several wings of dive bombers from the sky but several are able to evade, only to find they cannot actually see where the Tribals are!
(T3) With the fleets now closing to under long range and the dogfighting continuing the skies are almost swept clear of RN bombers. All but three swordfish become pyres, though one manages to shoot down a very surprised, and embarrased Zero flight. From their cockpits the remaining pilots can see the flashes from the ships below as the fleets engage. The Tribal Squadron closes and fires upon the Naka and one torp is launched. Mininal hits are made and insignificant damage. The Sendai Squadron, unable to hit the Tribals instead unleash their deadly 'Long Lances' against the Edinburgh and the York. The York manages to shoot down a Val and turns all it's main and secondary weaponry on the Mogami, scoring hits but doing little damage. The Kagero Squadron launches it's long range torpedoes at the Edinburgh and Belfast! The Edinburgh shoots down the Vals and Kates attacking her, but totally fails to hit the Mogami, while the Belfast fails in it's AA attacks, but scores visible hits on the heavy cruiser. A bright explosion caused by a torpedo strike causes significant damage to the Naka. Overlapping AA fire from the Ark Royal and Illustrious down all the Kates attempting to attack the Illustrious.
(T4) With the battle lines almost merged the Zero's in the sky above have shot down all but the last swordfish while the remaining bombers head back to the Japanese Carriers to rearm. The York, Edinburgh and Belfast all fail to take evasive action. The Mogami fires a broadside at the Edinburgh from it's main batteries, hits the York with the secondary batteries and launches a torpedo salvo as well inflicting minimal damage to the ill fated cruiser. Edinburgh fires all its weaponry at the Mogami and unleashes a torpedo spread causing visible damage to her. Sendai fires upon and hits the York who fires back with the secondary turrets, missing, and fires upon the Mogami, missing as well and finally lauching torpedoes at her. The Kagero Squadron hit but fail to damage the Belfast while she is trying and failing to hit the Zuikaku. The lone swordfish flight misses it's target. The York is hit by the Sendai's torpedo and is visibly damaged and crippled with both fore turrets exploding in flame with water pouring in through jagged scars on her hull. The Edinburgh takes considerbale damage from the Sendai and Kagero torpedo's while the Belfast takes minimal. The Mogami shruggs off the torps aimed at it!
(T5) While the IJN bombers land the last of the Zeros claim Air Superiority. The Kagero Squadron reloads it's torpedos and fires point blank at the Edinburgh and Belfast, doing no damage with their guns to their armour. Edinburgh broadsides Mogami doing considerable damage and attempts to torpedo a Kagero. The Sendai Squadron targets but does not hit the York, who fires back doing minimal damage. The Belfast fires it's aft turrets at the Mogami doing visible damage, while it's fore turrets and secondaries rake the Zuikaku. The Belfast's torpedo misses the Kagero, but was crippled by it's torp spread, loosing a fore turret, while the Edinburgh is also hit and crippled also loosing a fore turret!
(T6) Reloaded the last IJN bombers take off and attack their targets, the crippled cruisers. The Tribal squad sends a torpedo spread into the Shokaku and inflict minor damage to her from their secondary turrets. The Mogami fires her last long range torpedoes at the Ark Royal and turns her turrets onto the York causing massive engine damage and sinking her. The listing Edinburgh shoots down a val and fires on the Zuikaku damaging her slightly. The Kagero squadron shoots the Edinburgh doing no damage. Belfast scores minimal hits on the Zuikaku. The N class Destroyer Squadron unleashes two torpedo spreads on the Zuikaku. The Shokaku takes no damage from an ineffective torp spread while the Zuikaku shudders from a critical torpedo hit that reverberates through the hull damaging AA weaponry before a catastrophic explosion rips through the hull sinking the carrier to much celebration! The Belfast takes minor damage from a Kate torpedo attack.
(T7) After suffering heavy damage the Japanese prepare to retreat, attempting flank speed orders across the board, except for the Mogami which is chasing the Ark Royal. The last Tribal fires a torp spread at the Shokaku and the squadrons guns score notable hits. The Mogami scores impressive hits on the Ark Royal, but all are cosmetic scratches. The Naka comes under attack from the Edinburgh and Belfast and in short order is crippled and then sunk. The Ark Royal shudders under the Mogami's torpedo hits and takes critcal engine damage to the props. The torp attack on the Shokaku causes significant damage and smoke appears from several fires deep in the craft.
{T8} The Shokaku flees, followed by the Kagero Squadron and the Sendai. The Mogami keeps firing on the Ark Royal doing ineffective damage until he realises he is alone and chased by the remaining Royal Navy and he too flees.
HMS Ark Royal - Damaged
HMS Illustrious - Ok
HMS York - Sunk... again...
HMS Edinburgh - Crippled
HMS Belfast - Crippled
Tribal Squadron Alpha - Ok
N Class Squadron Beta - Ok
Shokaku - Damaged
Zuikaku - Sunk
Mogami - Damaged
Naka - Sunk
Sendai - Retreated
Jintsu - Sabotaged - not in battle
Kagero Squadron Tanaka - Retreated
Royal Navy
HMS Ark Royal - Carrier
HMS Illustrious - Carrier
HMS York - York Class Cruiser Cruiser
HMS Edinburgh - Edinburgh Class Cruiser
HMS Belfast - Edinburgh Class Cruiser
Tribal Squadron Alpha - 3 Tribal Destroyers
N Class Squadron Beta - 3 N Class Destroyers
Imperial Japanese Navy
Shokaku - Carrier
Zuikaku - Carrier
Mogami - Mogami class Heavy Cruiser
Naka - Sendai Class Cruiser
Sendai - Sendai Class Cruiser
Jintsu - Sendai Class Cruiser
Kagero Squadron Tanaka - 3 Kagero Destroyers
(Note: As a part of a campaign we are working on the Jintsu and 1 Kagero Destroyer were removed from the fight due to sabotage)
Passing through the Pulau Straights the Ark Royal Battlegroup comes face to face with the Shokaku Battlegroup. The light is failing and the weather is stormy (bad). The RN are set on some payback for their losses, and the Shokaku group are set to chalk up more victims. As the weather worsens the planes are launched and the fleets approach each other amidst the heavy seas, rain and lightning.
(T1) As the fleets move position to gain advantage the skies are filled with the roar of airplane engines. The fighters from the Royal Navy fly forward to protect the lumbering swordfish, but are jumped by the swifter Zero's. The swordfish take up position behind the advancing ships while the kates and vals fly on, their pilots in high spirits, and probably sake. The initial dogfighting sees three zeros down to a cost of three fulmars and two martlets.
(T2) Continuing their push though the stormy seas the fleets on both sides advance. Overhead the zeros tear into the lumbering bombers and the remains of the RN fighters. A wing of torpedo bombers line up for the final push on the HMS Illustrious while dive bombers scream down over the Edinburgh, Belfast, York and the three tribals. Targets are spotted by ships on both sides, and turrets moved into position, but the weather is too rough by far to hit anything at this range. AA fire from the RN pluck several wings of dive bombers from the sky but several are able to evade, only to find they cannot actually see where the Tribals are!
(T3) With the fleets now closing to under long range and the dogfighting continuing the skies are almost swept clear of RN bombers. All but three swordfish become pyres, though one manages to shoot down a very surprised, and embarrased Zero flight. From their cockpits the remaining pilots can see the flashes from the ships below as the fleets engage. The Tribal Squadron closes and fires upon the Naka and one torp is launched. Mininal hits are made and insignificant damage. The Sendai Squadron, unable to hit the Tribals instead unleash their deadly 'Long Lances' against the Edinburgh and the York. The York manages to shoot down a Val and turns all it's main and secondary weaponry on the Mogami, scoring hits but doing little damage. The Kagero Squadron launches it's long range torpedoes at the Edinburgh and Belfast! The Edinburgh shoots down the Vals and Kates attacking her, but totally fails to hit the Mogami, while the Belfast fails in it's AA attacks, but scores visible hits on the heavy cruiser. A bright explosion caused by a torpedo strike causes significant damage to the Naka. Overlapping AA fire from the Ark Royal and Illustrious down all the Kates attempting to attack the Illustrious.
(T4) With the battle lines almost merged the Zero's in the sky above have shot down all but the last swordfish while the remaining bombers head back to the Japanese Carriers to rearm. The York, Edinburgh and Belfast all fail to take evasive action. The Mogami fires a broadside at the Edinburgh from it's main batteries, hits the York with the secondary batteries and launches a torpedo salvo as well inflicting minimal damage to the ill fated cruiser. Edinburgh fires all its weaponry at the Mogami and unleashes a torpedo spread causing visible damage to her. Sendai fires upon and hits the York who fires back with the secondary turrets, missing, and fires upon the Mogami, missing as well and finally lauching torpedoes at her. The Kagero Squadron hit but fail to damage the Belfast while she is trying and failing to hit the Zuikaku. The lone swordfish flight misses it's target. The York is hit by the Sendai's torpedo and is visibly damaged and crippled with both fore turrets exploding in flame with water pouring in through jagged scars on her hull. The Edinburgh takes considerbale damage from the Sendai and Kagero torpedo's while the Belfast takes minimal. The Mogami shruggs off the torps aimed at it!
(T5) While the IJN bombers land the last of the Zeros claim Air Superiority. The Kagero Squadron reloads it's torpedos and fires point blank at the Edinburgh and Belfast, doing no damage with their guns to their armour. Edinburgh broadsides Mogami doing considerable damage and attempts to torpedo a Kagero. The Sendai Squadron targets but does not hit the York, who fires back doing minimal damage. The Belfast fires it's aft turrets at the Mogami doing visible damage, while it's fore turrets and secondaries rake the Zuikaku. The Belfast's torpedo misses the Kagero, but was crippled by it's torp spread, loosing a fore turret, while the Edinburgh is also hit and crippled also loosing a fore turret!
(T6) Reloaded the last IJN bombers take off and attack their targets, the crippled cruisers. The Tribal squad sends a torpedo spread into the Shokaku and inflict minor damage to her from their secondary turrets. The Mogami fires her last long range torpedoes at the Ark Royal and turns her turrets onto the York causing massive engine damage and sinking her. The listing Edinburgh shoots down a val and fires on the Zuikaku damaging her slightly. The Kagero squadron shoots the Edinburgh doing no damage. Belfast scores minimal hits on the Zuikaku. The N class Destroyer Squadron unleashes two torpedo spreads on the Zuikaku. The Shokaku takes no damage from an ineffective torp spread while the Zuikaku shudders from a critical torpedo hit that reverberates through the hull damaging AA weaponry before a catastrophic explosion rips through the hull sinking the carrier to much celebration! The Belfast takes minor damage from a Kate torpedo attack.
(T7) After suffering heavy damage the Japanese prepare to retreat, attempting flank speed orders across the board, except for the Mogami which is chasing the Ark Royal. The last Tribal fires a torp spread at the Shokaku and the squadrons guns score notable hits. The Mogami scores impressive hits on the Ark Royal, but all are cosmetic scratches. The Naka comes under attack from the Edinburgh and Belfast and in short order is crippled and then sunk. The Ark Royal shudders under the Mogami's torpedo hits and takes critcal engine damage to the props. The torp attack on the Shokaku causes significant damage and smoke appears from several fires deep in the craft.
{T8} The Shokaku flees, followed by the Kagero Squadron and the Sendai. The Mogami keeps firing on the Ark Royal doing ineffective damage until he realises he is alone and chased by the remaining Royal Navy and he too flees.
HMS Ark Royal - Damaged
HMS Illustrious - Ok
HMS York - Sunk... again...
HMS Edinburgh - Crippled
HMS Belfast - Crippled
Tribal Squadron Alpha - Ok
N Class Squadron Beta - Ok
Shokaku - Damaged
Zuikaku - Sunk
Mogami - Damaged
Naka - Sunk
Sendai - Retreated
Jintsu - Sabotaged - not in battle
Kagero Squadron Tanaka - Retreated
