S3 Series

Greetings IJN....Looks like we did great in Frame 3.

Initial plans are to take D3A1s into Pearl Harbor from the SOUTH. Since they went directly for the carriers I'd expect them to do it again and try and fight us on ingress over the ocean since they now have no DAR.

I want the buffs to approach the harbor from the south and as you get over the ships/port area send your AI in "s" strike. Usually they will attack AA as a priority and do rather well at it. Once AI have gone in wait about 45-60 seconds for them to clear some ack and then you buff guys go after battleship row. I then want you to pull out of your dives to the South through the harbor channel and then south to the ocean and egress West along the 2 line.

This does several things....
1.splits the buffs and requires the US to make a choice.
2. allows the AI to hit the ack and cause distraction on the deck
3. gets ALL IJN aircraft to the deck (5k or less) and the P40 has no room to get escape velocity.
4. once you are heading down the channel to egress..call your AI back to reform.

That's the initial plan....fighters will need to coordinate getting the Vals to Pearl...

<S>
Jman

Might need an "ok" from Jabo for that. But I think as long as it's dive bombing then we are good to send in the AI first. if we were level bombing then it has been ruled in the past that the AI shall stay in formation with you.

Hope that the AI can take out some AA guns because there is a LOT of AA to the south and by the mouth of the harbor.

It is my guess that they will expect us to come in at 10k - 15k
As Dawger has pointed out previously, going in low brings their fighters down lower taking away their "dive away" advantage. and low planes will be hard to see if they want to stay up high.

Dive bombing will not be as accurate as level bombing or torpedoes but it should allow us to use the AI as you have suggested, and with us taking bigger bombs for the ships they should do well verses the AA.

Not trying to be discouraging, just bringing up some things to think about.
This is by far a much more difficult frame, but I think we have set ourselves up as well as can be expected for frame 4. Just have to make sure we take advantage of all we can.

Banzai!

I like the idea of an end run from southwest, but why not the B5 planes?

They have the Nord but can also dive bomb and are much faster than the Vals.

B5 can also take the big 800 KG egg or the torp.

Gums-san opines...

I don't know............I like the idea!!

Yes the Val is a little slower and carries a small bomb but it does have a dive brake. If the Vals drop...then head west staying over water than south out of the harbor the ack is really not bad.

Being low the Val can turn like crazy making snap passes on them much harder and forcing the Allies to lower and slower flight. Right where the Zeros want them.

Jman,
Request permission for the RCAF/NS to fly Zeros and take out F6 and F8. A lot of us would like to be in the Zero next frame.

Say Gums, have you tried telling the AI B5's to strike? wonder what they would do. Maybe I'll try it tonight.

With the Val's you guys can at least fight if we can't get to you and you will be able to launch the ai to confuse the US.

Every frame its the same thing.. They are expecting the Kate's to level bomb because thats what buffers always do.

Its the last frame...take the Val's and go fangs out and fight the p40s... Because if you buffers keep the p40s turning then they never get any E and will be easy meat for us fighters.

Banzai!!

Upon further review, I recant initial ideas.

I recall frame 2 with current lites that flew USN shooting us all down.

Trying to go back "downtown" looks like a bad idea.

- The USN gets mega points for each buff and Zeke they kill. Like 3 for Gums and 2 for DeWolf.

- We brave warriors get about half the points for each P-36 or P-40 or whatever we shoot down

- The field closures we got in frame 3 are outstanding, and many points. But I can guarantee that hitting Pearl again will be worthless. Think 3 points times each buff they get, and we might only get 30 - 40 points if we even get to the target, then get shot down when RTB.

Just ask Hawk about Frame 2.

+++++

So what are you thinking Gums?

I am thinking Bolo. Send a slew of lites on the end run and another slew waiting for the chase outta Dodge. Look like a strike package. Fly at your best altitude and make the round eye pilots play YOUR GAME!!

Meanwhile, the buffs and a few good lites hit F10 or elsewhere up north and get a few points without losing many buffs .

The buffs have done their job like they did in Frame 1 and we can't do much more without losing the overall battle. Look at frame 2 results.

I am thinking strategic and also a good frame for the lites that want to kick ass.

Standing by.

Gums-san opines.....

Gums sir,
Not sure I agree. I believe Frame 2 could have worked. The big difference this time is we will not split the buffs so ALL the fighters can cover the group.

The only points left on the island are around the boats. We could do what Dawger suggested and leave the buff's parked for an hour and let the fighter guys go in and shoot down all the Allied again

Banzai!

I see your point, Musk. But.....

Looks to me that we buffs have had our "day", and it is up to our 'lil friends to close out the series.

Our current lite team was neck and neck with the IJN lites before the switch. So I say let them roll!!! Capture the flag.

We buffs have had a great series except for frame 2. And that is the one we should not want to repeat. We buffers can still do some things, but looks to me that the night will be won by our lites, and could be easily lost by heavy buff losses ( look at the points, dammit)

A few NOE hit and run strikes by the buffs is one option for fun points and less chance of getting slaughtered, and losing the series.

Gums-san opines...