S3 Series

Frame 3 Orders

Boats, boats, boats (you get the picture)

Basing:
Iwo Jima:
23rd

West CV Task Force: (Guessing the CV numbers)
CV3 - 352nd
CV2 – Nomads (TBF-1C), Stalkers (F4U-x)
CV4 – Raiders (Choice of TBF-1C or use the F4U-x)

East CV Task Force: (ONLY FOR INITIAL BASING)
CV5 - 4th

Boat Attack:

Strike aircraft up at T+30 to allow the fighters (all up at T+0) to form up and provide cover. We are using the Fighter Box plan. I would like for the strike folks to head to the bay at 5K’~8K’.

The Fighters Take off and head Straight for 7,5 cross and then turn back to the north-west to provide cover for the strike up to the fighter box. The 23rd to get to the fighter box and CAP.

Simple Plan, fly into the south-west side of the bay and head north-east looking for boats. TBF’s attack high value targets (CV’s) if found. Fighters, stay together in the Fighter Box and, of course, destroy everything.

Everyone stay away from the DD’s, the IJ DD’s are stupid and will wipe out squads.

Buff's, when all ordinance is expended, RTB then get back to the bay ASAP. We need to get a lot of sorties in.

Last frame, and maybe I missed something, the fighters were able to stay on position almost the entire frame. I hope they can do the same. The fighters need to coordinate. If one squad has to RTB, all should. Use the WEST CV's. We want to maintain numbers. The 23rd will not have time to get to Iwo so they should try to stay by the CV’s if the fighters have to RTB and follow them back out.

End of frame:

At T+135, All planes need to cover the CV’s for the Kamikaze run.





Comments please. Simple plan. I am relying on our fighters being better than the IJ. We need to reduce there numbers so the strike guys don't get wiped out.

I am stealing the Fighter Box idea from Dawger. It has seemed to work the last few series.

Let me know if I missed something. If everyone would prefer, we could launch the CV units at T+15 to allow the 23 to catch up, let me know the thoughts.

Thanks guys!

I can do some testing today, but just looking at the map, the CV starting point is over 120 miles from Iwo, so it's going to take some time to get there, especially with any kind of altitude. Also, if you are counting all the strike AC as 1 "step', then that TF is at maximum ( with the 4th and 352nd) and can't have another group launching from there

Yep, you are a long way away, thats why I want the 4th/352nd to go east 80 miles while you are going northwest. They should be within 50 miles of you when they turn northwest. If I am wrong please let me know.

Steps, the rules say



If a CV can have 6 steps I am fine? or is that a CV group? I read it as a CV.

Guess I need clarification unless it has already been discussed

OK, never mind. Its getting too late to wait for answers.

Orders changed. All the fighters should be together before they head to the bay.

Good plan but remember there is lots of static shipping at ports that can be hit too. Not sure if shipping can be strafed down. You need to test in the ACM arena to see what types can be strafed. I think boats can be. All static shipping can be strafed down if needed.

Unfortunately I have heard or seen nothing from the Raiders. So I would not count on them and task fighters where able later in the frame to strafe ships. I will reset any pilots using the TBF-1C for a second life if the DRs do not show up again.

Suspecting that the F4U-4 would be the carrier-borne fighter of choice:
Endurance:
Internal fuel: 42 minutes.
Internal + DTs: 93 minutes.

Should the F4U-4 aircraft become engaged, the DTs go almost immediately. Staying up for the whole Frame in the Corsair is not in the cards.
It would be essential to know when the group from Iwo would arrive, where, and what altitude the RP happens to be.

We don't happen to ever fly with the 475th, so what a "fighter box" may be in Dawgerism we are unaware. However, the fighter box shown is roughly 1/2 of our internal fuel away. Assuming that we have to drop tanks to engage, we would have to leave as soon as we get there.

Are the CVs to be CAPed while the strike is going on? If so, who is doing that?

Note to Allied Pilots: I was allowed to UPDATE twice during the last week. It would be prudent to see if each pilot's FM is up to date by checking into the "Alphabet Arena' prior to doing any endurance testing or logging-in for the Event.



The "Alphabet Arena" currently features the "Atol" terrain (no boats or CVs available), and "Flight is Not Enabled" in the Private S3 Arena, so neither strafing of static shipping nor the magnitude of shore defenses testing can transpire.

Salute!

Yeah, Wolf, getting kinda old with changes every few days and no place to practice with what will be in the actual arena and frame.

No wonder we are now down to about 100 pilots for the S3 versus almost 200 a few years back.

Oh well, gotta play the cards we are dealt the best we can and enjoy the comraderie, if not the porked FM's and frequent mandatory downgrades.

Gotta get that CV landing technique down after last attempt.

Gums sends...

I read that as the 'Task Group' can have 6 steps and planned the 1st frame accordingly. Of course, I may be wrong

The 23rd can be at the 7.5x at @30K in about 30minutes. This leaves us enough fuel (with D/T's) for ample fuel to complete the frame. If we are forced to drop tanks, we have @90 min left in cruise.

Hope that helps your planning

Dewolf, great comments/concerns!



I expect all the fighters to be at 7,5 by T+30/35. Then fly northwest and cover the strike group. If you get to the fighter box and have to turn around, thats fine as long as everyone leaves and RV at the east CV group. Then maybe go back or wait for the IJ if the srikers are all dead





I was a little suspect of his theory the first time I saw it but to be honest it works. All the fighters congregate in the Fighter Box and don't leave it. This way we have our full force together for maximum defense/offence. Meanwhile the strikers work below you.





OK, it is a little risky but NO CAP of CV's. We will rely on the DD's to keep them safe. The Knight fighters will come in high and start a fight while the Ju88's will come in at 50' and our fighters will never see them. I could be wrong but in the past I have never worried about the CV cap when attacking but am terrified of the DD's.

We have 2 choices here. We leave a squad to CAP and leave our advancing fighters on the wrong side of the numbers but maybe save a CV or send all the fighters together. We are never going to win the points war with so few buff/strike so lets let the fighters kick some butt.


I think this will work. Lets kill as many IJ fighters as we can.


Thanks for the feedback. Let me know if there is anything else I may have missed.