S3 Series

CBG Route

Carrier Battle Group begins the Frame at 10,6,2,3 on the horizontal 6 line steaming 045 degrees until reaching the vertical 12 line or one hour, which ever comes first, then turns to a heading of 360 degrees for the duration.

352nd FG: Lowest-numbered carrier. Provide (1) step of Fleet CAP. Takeoff at T-0 with CAP flight. Stay within 60 miles of the boats until T=45 minutes. Be aware that the enemy land base for scout/strike aircraft is in the SW. Fleet CAP should be busy for the entire Frame. Provide (1) additional step of Fleet CAP aircraft which will depart at T+45 from the CBG. CAP operations need to be aware that the Japanese dive bomber aircraft retained significant altitude on ingress in previous operations. The Fleet CAP should consider one step which can maintain significant altitude until the dive bomber attackers present themselves. If the initial wave(s) are engaged at low altitude with all available resources, the high dive bombers get a free pass setting up their runs. While doing all this, please provide as wide a bar cap for the Fleet as is practical.

American Eagles: Second lowest-numbered carrier. Provide close escort fighters for the Strike Group. Depart your CV at T=45. IF resistance is evaluated as "light" in the target area, and since you will be at altitude, consider the possibility of an early return to the CBG area for one step of aircraft which can assist with the higher-altitude Japanese dive bomber aircraft while they are staging.

Doolittle's Radiders: Third lowest-numbered carrier. Assemble a strike package with the available escort fighters from the AEs. Co-ordinate your route to target with your fighter escort.

Night Stalkers/Nomads: F-33 or highest numbered carrier. Use either or both. Your choice. Scout aircraft, your choice. Find the enemy Fleet. Kill Kaga-class carriers!

In Frame 4, the enemy put pretty much all but a couple of steps of their pilots in strike aircraft out looking for our Fleet, and they happened to find it. (4) Aircraft carriers were lost by our side. This plan attempts to split our available fighter aircraft between escorting our Strike Package to target, AND protecting our Fleet. Fighters on CAP duty should expect action, even if it is a bit delayed. Distances, discovery time, and RTB availability will all have influence on the possibility of a second Strike sortie. On First Strike, pilots are encouraged to be as accurate with your ord as possible for maximum effect first time out.

Please note slight role changes for our CBG fighters. Squads had been split between tasks, which is likely less than a great idea. Squads will be able to operate in their "normal" fashion with the above changes.

<S>

Gents:
Please note the CHANGES above. In an attempt to take advantage of the AEs observations during Frame 4, I had managed to "split" TWO different Squads in order to accomplish the tasks of escorting the Strike AND defending our Fleet at the same time. Squads which have worked hard to build cohesive tactics can now remain together in Frame 5.
<S>

--

Mr Wolf,

Thank you so much for your spearheading this and these.
I/We do not wish to take you for granted in this and publicly site you for conspicuous hard work and honorable herding of cats.

Hard Brace Salute

Juice

Aye aye!

Nice words, Juice.

The Naval scenarios are a bear unless the sides are close together ( heh heh, gotta appease the folks that want action in ten minutes)

Nomad and Stalker regret from last frame was not talking a few Blue Noses into an RV after we scouts found the boats. Gogly found them but could not get away. Gundoc and Gums escaped and held for a bit, as Cool went in from the north on an attack.

The CAP was more than previous frames and Doc and Gums had losses when we finally went in without escort. Doc lost all his wingies and Gums only lost one before RTB but had to switch planes due to fuel leak.

Finally got good hits after replaning, so that made up for a lot of the previous frame disappointments.

Our brave scouts sank at least one or two carriers every stinking frame!!!!

I salute Wolfie and all the nasal radiators that helped with CAP and strike.

Gums sends...

IJN aircraft carrier Hiryu shortly following -Gums- departure from the target area.


You just gotta love our Scout/Strike pilots!

FWIW Dept.

This Series was interesting in a number of ways. On the planning side, what was great is that our various Squad elements participated. The Scout/Strike guys posted their needs and desires, so they were able to be accommodated. The American Eagles were exceptional in reporting their observations which helped greatly on both the Strike escort and Fleet protection side. -Besea, the Eagles CO, made himself available for planning activities for every Frame. All of our Squads seemed to be able to reevaluate and respond on the fly as various "wrinkles" would present themselves. All-in-all, it was one of the most cooperative Series between Squads in recent memory. <S> to all of the USN Squads for their efforts!