S3 Series

Anyone that is interested may provide input or questions in this thread.

Currently, the planning map is still the Malaya map; not Pearl Harbor. Regardless, we will attack Pearl Harbor shipping and nearby fields, inflicting as much damage as we can while we avoid getting shot down.

Note: Strikers will be allotted 2 B5N's (Kate) and 1 D3A (Val); Fighters will be allotted 1 A6M2 (Zero), 1 A6M3 (Zero), and 1 D3A (Val).

The Japanese sent two waves of attackers with a 4:1 striker to fighter mix in each wave.

Even though no American fighters got airborne during the first wave of the attack, our counterparts can lift as soon as we appear on radar. Also, only 14 airborne American planes can be accounted for by historians, but our counterparts will more than triple that number before the night is through.

That being said, we don't have to follow history either. Therefore I welcome non-historical ideas for the attack on Pearl Harbor.

<S>

Nick

I will look for our planning threads and AARs for the last time we hit Pearl.

We should also look closely at the targets on the island and base the strikes on the HVTs. And of course, factor in our losses, cuz we gonna get shot down.

Here are the discussion threads for Tora Tora Tora.

Page 16 of the Axis forum thread is TTT series (April 2015)

viewforum.php?f=5&start=375

Here is Page 15

viewforum.php?f=5&start=350

And some specific threads:

PH Prelim Thoughts ~Beaversan

TTT Fr1 Prelims ~Beaversan

TTT Torp Practice ~Noflyz


There are some good posts in these threads that may help us this time around. Noflyz' .mbl file should still work if PH is loaded in the arena.

~S~

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Here is my input.

1) I think we should come in with altitude, and we will have time to do so. The Zero is better up high while their P-36C is a beast below 6500 ft. As such we at least want the initial clash to start up high.

2) Our buff pilots don't just have to remember, but also need to practice dogfighting for survival in their dive bombers. The Vals and Kates are in no way Flying fortresses stacked with .50 cal Mg's, but are instead very maneuverable and can't take a punch, nor give one. This was said last Pearl Harbor event but still 9/10 buff pilots were flying straight and trying to shoot with their rear-gun when the enemy dove in on them like if they were flying a 4 engine bomber. This is the recipe for a complete slaughter of the dive bombers. Please Val/Kate pilots, if you get a bandit on you... turn, jinx, barrel roll, scissor fight and do everything except going to your rear gunner, or our fighters won't have a chance to help you before you are dead.

3) It's 3 lives to live. This means the Allied will gain the upper hand the longer we stay at Pearl with our first wave. For every plane we lose, there will be one plane less until we form the second wave. For every plane they lose, they will be up again in seconds right where the fight is taking place. Luckily though they only get 2x fighters, so if we kill enough of them...

4) They have TBD's in their roster. I'm not sure if this means they will be allowed to launch strikes at our CV's? Maybe we need a few wingpairs on patrol after the first sortie.


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/Robert

Since the Allies can up as soon as we appear on DAR, we need fighters to help the Vals & Kates. LF6 or the 4th should take heavy zeros. If we start high they can drop on targets before any Allied fighters can engage us.

Allow me to run this idea out there: first wave we send DR/Nomads in Kates while we send a large group of fighter squadrons in Vals. I realize that places a large amount of points in the air for the Allies, but it also allows us to destroy many things on the ground. The Val has good dive brakes and can drop vertically from a great height. (Send them in high enough that the Allies cannot reach them before they initiate their strikes.)

The tendency is to send a large group of escorts to protect the bombers but the Val is not a level bomber like the Kate and will need to drop down if you plan on hitting anything. Therefore, send the Vals in the first wave when we have the "element of surprise".

The Kates can remain at altitude and level bomb their targets while the Vals will drop on their targets. The escorts will be looking to clear the dive bombing Vals on the first wave.

The first wave, I believe, will determine our success for the night. Second wave will be met by a nonhistorically high number of Allied fighters and we will need to adjust our bomber/fighter ratio.

I am not suggesting no fighters in the first wave, just a reduced number.

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Nick

It might also be possible to send an NOE strike with torps, one pass hall ass, with the attack planned to finish just as the wave of high aircraft make DAR contact. Egress should also be NOE and initially not directly toward the incoming wave. Could also send some NOE Zeros in the mix just to keep the Allies at bay. Just a thought.
bombr-

The IJN fleet will start relatively close 3,2 cross head at 35 mph away 330 to F1 in the top left corner. This allows a better approach to the heavy ship concentration at Pearl. The US can launch heavy TBDs against your fleet but as you know they will not be easy to hit with 4 carriers and 12 DDs as escort. This is the frame the IJ have the ability to score big on BDA. Target the static shipping which can be easily divebombed(practice offline) and light fighters can strafe the parked aircraft.

The US have unhistorical numbers because they were caught by surprise. The NOE group could easily be fighters that split up and head to the obvious take off sites for the US then pop up when the IJN group goes on dar and use the better climb of the IJ to get above the US fighters from the start. The inclusion of the A6M3 is to help offset the lack of surprise.
You are right about the Vals they start high but end up on the deck. The US fighters will be all over them allowing the high Kates to bomb at their leisure for the first wave at least. You have to know how to use the norden and be very accurate as their bomb load is small. At least they climb well.

Please do whatever you think will work. It is a bit of a fantasy frame.

As I read the discussion, here are the strategies proposed for the first wave:

1. Send everyone in >6,500' (≈2 km) knowing the escorting A6M3 will have an advantage.
2. Send 1 group of NOE torpedo bombers in to hit the ships prior to the rest showing up on radar.
3. Send some dedicated fighter groups in D3A's (Vals) in the first wave so they can reach their targets.
4. Send a squadron of A6M3's in NOE to approach the fields and take down Allied aircraft as they take off.

The risk of any NOE run is that someone "pops" radar early and the ruse is over.

It would be nice to get some input from the strikers before I have to make a decision and put out orders.

It is my understanding that we will not have radar over the targets so there is no need for anyone (including me) to GCI. Therefore, once the orders are up, tactics will be completely at the discretion of the capable squadron leaders.

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Nick

Looks good