S3 Series

Frame 2 was a bloody, almost pyrrhic victory for the Japanese Navy and Army air services.

The previous day Task Force Z (the battleship Prince of Wales, battlecruiser Repulse and escorting destroyers) had sailed north from Singapore to located and engage IJN capital ships and vulnerable transports supporting the invasion of Thailand and British Malaya. Anticipating such a naval sortie, the IJN had positioned the highly trained anti-shipping G4M1 Bettys of the Genzan Kokutai and G3M Nells of the Konoya Kokutai around Saigon. IJN planners had envisioned a coordinated raid by Nells and Bettys units armed with a mix of torpedoes and bombs, but this was not to be as saboteurs had contaminated the fuel tanks of many of the IJN aircraft. IJA Ki48 Lily bombers (B5N2 sub) were hastily converted to carry the IJN torpedoes and RAF torpedoes found at Kota Bharu (MAF12).

A spotting report from a submarine activated the modified Japanese attack plan, with five G4M1 and 6 Ki48 (B5N sub), escorted by 14 Ki43s, flying south from Saigon and a group of ten unescorted Lily aircraft flying east from Kota Bharu in search of the RN. Other aircraft launched after the main groups as they became serviceable.

Unbeknownst to the Japanese forces, Prince of Wales and Repulse had turned south in the night, back towards Singapore. Vice Admiral Phillips, Command Task Force Z, had assessed the element of surprise was lost and concerned that Japanese reconnaissance aircraft might report their position to submarines, he had requested immediate fighter cover for their return journey. Ten buffalos were launched from Kuantan to find Task Force Z and cover their withdrawal.

RAF and RAAF drew first blood while enroute to Task Force Z. Twenty-six minutes after take-off low bombers were spotted without escort. Five minutes later the wreckage of twelve aircraft was in the sea. IJA gunners had claimed one Buffalo while another crashed after ramming his target. None of the IJA aircraft survived.
However, while the Allied fighters were distracted Task Force Z was spotted aircraft flying from Cochin China. RN gunners put up a merciless wall of anti-aircraft fire. Five of six torpedo bombers were shot down, but one torpedo hit a DD amidships and it is put out of action, later to sink.

Allied fighters arrive on scene, split into a low and high CAP. Almost immediately thereafter IJA Ki43s spot the high CAP and combat ensues at Angels 24. Slightly lower, 6 Bettys drop their bomb load into the ships below. The low cap, meant to protect the RN, quickly found itself at uneven odds with Japanese fighters, and hid below the blistering cover of anti-aircraft fire. One Betty in the midst of a torpedo attack was shot down, but the attacking Buffalo suffered engine damage and was forced to withdraw. Without covering fighters the axis were able to execute a number individual of torpedo attacks, scoring one hit on a DD.

Subsequently a running battle ensues, with small groups of Japanese bombers attacking while Ki43s keep most of the Buffalos at bay. For these attacks the Japanese pay dearly, but wear down the anti-aircraft defences. Just over eighty minutes into the battle one escorting DD is sunk, 2 are on fire and the POW and Repulse are under heavy attack. Ten minutes later Prince of Wales, hit by multiple torpedoes and bombs is on her way to the bottom. By this time the tight formation of ships is scatted, making Japanese air attack easier, but by no means easy as allied fighters harangue the attackers. Within 20 minutes, two more RN destroyers are sunk and the Repulse on fire, but the wreckage of axis and allied aircraft litters the sea. Twenty minutes later it is done, as the Repulse, hit by armour piercing bombs rolls over and sinks. Task Force Z is gone.

As said, a bloody frame. Axis get 50 bonus points for sinking all of the Task Force Z warships.

Scoring for axis aircraft losses. After further review of the logs, points scored for the Allies for Axis aircraft losses have been reduced by about half for all frames. Allies still score more points per aircraft than the numerically superior axis, but the margin has been leveled out.

Frame 1: Axis: 71.5 Allied: 72.75 ALLIED VICTORY
Frame 2: Axis: 193 Allied: 180 AXIS VICTORY

Some miscommunication between the janitors in that B5N2 weapon restrictions were not properly communicated to all players. In RL there were no Kates or Vals in Malaya. The Kates are substitutes for IJA light and medium bombers (therefore no torps or bombs larger than 500Kg to be carried) and the Vals are subs for IJA dive bombers (no wpn restrictions).
The janitors also had some challenges configuring the arena for AI wingmen; a learning curve for us. Intent had been a limit of 1 AI bomber per player, but as the frame started with none available, and by mid-point 3 were available, we assessed the effect on play had averaged out.

We are still waiting for the Frame 3 log. SPINDZ (Dan Hammer), normally provides these to us, but he is still recovering after being hospitalized before the frame from what was reported as a burst appendix. Please send him some mojo for a quick recovery.