S3 Series

Konbanwa

Simple plan: We all roll fuel max planes of choice (line restrictions apply) and rally over the three islands north of the Huon Peninsula. We DO NOT engage any enemy until all four fighter groups have VISUAL contact on each other.

From this location outside of the coastal watch eyes, we are only a few minutes out from our Naval bases on the peninsula or the shipping and airfields at Lae. When we are vectored to the attack, we maintain altitude until over the targets and push the fight down. We cannot allow the 38s to regain altitude OR zoom climb. If the Allies come in with NOE bombers and high 38s, we focus on the 38s and maintain altitude. If all the action in our location is down low, then only 4-8 will be allowed to drop down with the rest of us on top of them for protection. There will be no egressing without permission and we all egress together. We are one big group. We fight as one. We die as one.


(Click the 1200x1200 Image above for a larger version)

Basing is on the Map. I purposely did NOT base on or near LAE. If the Allies use their forward bases, they could be on our airfields in a matter of minutes. The Allied basing is shown as they were in Frame 1. Yellow oval is our racetrack that we will fly until formed. The radar is set at 40 miles, although I think it is 30 for this series. The white circle in the center only annotates the location of the Coastal Watchers.

I am open for questions. Any changes or edits will be annotated here in Red

Random thoughts.

1st Line Fighters - Ki61c (2 drop tanks)
2nd Line Fighters - A6M3 (drop tank) or Ki43 (2 drop tanks)

23FG and AE and 8FG have 1st Line Fighters available (may opt for 2nd Line Fighter if squad requests).

Lf6 and 4FG have 2nd Line Fighters for pilots who lost a 1st line fighter last week. Those who survived the frame last week AND the pilots who did NOT fly at all last week have 1st Line Fighters available.

I envision the 4th and Lf6 in A6M3, forming in close visual and climb to RP racetrack. 23rd and AE and 8FG in Ki61 form in close visual at RP racetrack, max climb, RP with the Zeros.

All squads will form and climb to 8km./26kft and up.

RP positioning is in an area of the map that has good visual landmarks for navigation - Peninsula to the south and the three islands to the E/N/NW. Use each as a waypoint for the wide climb out. Location an react to attacks along the peninsula, Lae area of 57, 51-54 and 50, and the on western New Britain and the shipping along the Straight.

Where do you want the 8th we have 4 - can pair up with AE?

Weiser - Apologies to you and the 8FG for the omission. Please attach to AE for rendezvous with the main gruppe.

The map has been updated to v2.

<S> Sakai and ty for taking the CO chair sir.
Would suggest not to clump up. Better we have some 10-20 mile east/west separation. When all Kokutais are given the order to attack, we will merge at point of battle anyway. The difference is we will be coming at them from different angles, and as such saw confusion, distress, the enemy might not even see the group from the NE coming as they are flying towards the Japanese group engaging from straight N. Also if they engage one group some 2-3 minutes before the next arrive, chances are the round-eyes will have sacrificed altitude and our reinforcing Kokutai arrives on top of them. If we come in as a big gaggle it is much easier for the enemy to treat us as a single unit and take decisions of how to engage us.

Suggestion:
AE/8th at 1,10x
23rd at 2,10x
LF6 at 3,10x
4th at 4,10x

Fight together, but arrive from different angles. Better to have your marines in a well spread but mutual supporting fighting fire-line, than have them running towards the enemy tied together with duct-tape.

Also we do not need to attack at first sign of the enemy. This is when they are all assembled and organised. The longer the frame, the more spread out they will be. They are overconfident in their P-38G's. This was evident last frame as they flew separated cowboy-style just looking for fights.


Cheers!
/Robert
XO 4th FG

The only problem with distance positioning is that it can lead to mis-identification of the threat; separate vectors to the target and delayed arrival for support. I have weighed this very point in this frame, as well as other frames and series in the past. I do not want piece-meal destruction of our forces.

I concur with the idea of having two or multi-pronged attacks. If feasible, I will split a section of fighters off to one side.

And I also agree - we do NOT need to go charging in towards the first explosions. We will let the frame develop and then determine the best targets.

~S~ Arigato gozaimasu

The first attacks are always the best coordinated and massed. You could even fake a intercept on the coastwatcher radar to draw away the fighter sweep then come in from another direction to hit the bomber/strike group. Better to delay the main defense until later and have some aircraft up at T+120 when they would clean up on targets with no opposition.

Just to reiterate. Only if you are flying the 1st line aircraft(Ki61) and are KIA do you have to fly a 2nd line a/c next frame. If a squad decides to fly all 2nd line aircraft this frame all pilots regardless if they were KIA in frame 2 could fly the 1st line aircraft in frame 3.