http://www.squadselectseries.com - new map(Luzon) and summary up
Frame 3 was the big one. The surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. The IJN attacked called for a large group of unescorted Kates to curve in from the NW while the main group of fighters and Vals came into battleship row from the SW. A new group of radar operators was just on site when they picked up high inbound IJN aircraft to the northwest of Oahu. Due to early reports of Japanese attacks in Malaysia the USMC and USAAF commanders were up and still meeting when the reports came in. A scramble was ordered and most of the P40Bs and P36Cs on the main island rolled ahead of the high Japanese bomb attacks. Only one unit was sent up north to intercept the Kates which proved to be too high for them. The main US air defense waited at Pearl and soon jumped on the dive-bombing Vals and were inturn bounced on the high zeros escorting. The level-bombing Kates destroyed several aircraft at nearby Wheeler field and damaged some battleships escaping above the melee below. Vals braved the flak and low American fighters to strike the airfields and moored ships as well but suffered 19 losses several crashing on return to their carriers. Both sides lost 6 fighters in the scrap over Pearl and in the long return flight to the Japanese ships.
The second wave was met by all available US fighters at altitude and the fight began well outside Oahus coastline. Kates suffered heavy losses with 21 shotdown along with 15 zeros. US losses were another 6 fighters and 3 brave TBDs that tried to get at the IJ carrier force late in the day. Little damage was done to Pearl or Oahu during the second raid.
Smart flying by the IJ strike forces led to losses being less than expected considering the number of US fighters put up. Damage to Pearl was minimal with AI wingman missing most of their targets but accounting for a few ships and parked aircraft above those credited to players. Due to the lack of damage the frame is a US win 69 to 49, pilot losses still have to be added to this tally. US still leads the series.
FRAME 4 - The Battle for Luzon
Frame specific rules
1. US aircraft cannot scramble until IJ aircraft are picked up on radar or a ground target is destroyed. They then can pick their fields to scramble from. One start field per squad.
2. IJN will have carriers in the indicated areas on the map to use for operations. Ki43s and G4M1s may not use carriers they may only fly from land fields as indicated on the map.
3. IJN landing forces will land troops and capture fields in the areas indicated on the map during the night. Initially all fields will be US controlled but will change as landing forces materialize offshore. US will not know when or where these forces will appear and must either wait for the fields to turn red or have some recce out above the indicated areas.
4. B17Fs may only attack AI shipping, ports or beachhead targets during the frame. The exception to this is are the Japanese bases on Formosa to the north.
5. IJ airfields F25 and F26 will have a 20,000ft airstart to facilitate getting into the fight at T+0
6. Luzon terrain will be in a WarBirds update on Thursday.
jabo
