T20: B-26 B1, 2018, SSW, 0.2, 5.0, RB, +0.5, LVL [1H] M(4), -, 5H MC=V=OC=0 4H: TTR 2/2 face SW 1H: TTR 1/4 4p+0.5c+5ht=-0.5 B-26 B1, 1615-1515, SW, 0.2, 5.0, RB, -0.5, LVL, 1TTR [1H] T21: B-26 B1, 1615-1515, SW, 0.2, 5.0, RB, -0.5, LVL, 1TTR [1H] M(4), -, 5H MC=V=OC=0 3H: TTR 4/4 face W 2H: TTR 2/4 4p-(2.5tt + 0.5c)=1 B26-B1, 1411, W, 0.2, 5.0, RB, +1, LVL, 2TTR [1H] T22: B26-B1, 1411, W, 0.2, 5.0, RB, +1, LVL, 2TTR [1H] M(4), -, 5H MC=V=OC=0 2H: TTR 4/4 face NW 3H: TTR 3/4 (4p+1c)-2.5tt = +2.5 B26-B1, 1607-1506, NW, 0.2, 5.0, RB, +2.5, LVL, 3TTR [1H] T23: B26-B1, 1607-1506, NW, 0.2, 5.0, RB, +2.5, LVL, 3TTR [1H] M(4), -, 5H MC=V=0 OC=-0.1 1H: TTR 4/4 face NNW 4H: TTR 4/4 face N (4p+1dv+2.5c)-2.5tt=5 B26-B1, 2004, N, 0.1, 5.5, RB, 0, LVL [1H] T24: B26-B1, 2004, N, 0.1, 5.5, RB, 0, LVL [1H] M(4), -, 5H MC=V=0 OC=0.1 5H: TTR 5/4 carry 4p-(2.5tt+1cl)= 0.5 → 0 B26-B1, 2503-2504, N, 0.2, 5.5+, RB, 0, LVL, 5TTR [1H] T25: B26-B1, 2503-2504, N, 0.2, 5.5+, RB, 0, LVL, 5TTR [1H] M(4), -, 6H MC=V=0 OC=0.2 3H: TTR 8/4 face NNE 3H: TTR 3/4 4p-(2.5tt+2cl)= -0.5 B26-B1, 3105, NNE, 0.4, 5.5, RB, 0.5d, LVL, 3TTR[1H] T26 B26-B1, 3105, NNE, 0.4, 5.5, RB, 0.5d, LVL, 3TTR[1H] B26-B1, 3105, NNE, 0.4, 5.5, RB, 0.5d, LVL, 3TTR[1H] M(4), -, 5H MC=V=0 OC=-0.1 1H: TTR 4/4 face NE 4H: TTR 4/4 face E (4p+1dv)-(2.5tt+0.5c)=2a=0 B26-B1, 3409, E, 0.3, 5.5+, RB, 0, LVL, 0[1H] T27 (6H) B26-B1, 3409, E, 0.3, 5.5+, RB, 0, LVL, 0[1H] B26-B1, 3409, E, 0.3, 5.5+, RB, 0, LVL, 0[1H] M(2), -, 6H MC=V=0 OC=-0.1 [Open Bomb Bay] [Aim for Hatsuharu's Stern] 6H: RL 3/3 to LV (2p+1dv)-1bb=2=0 B26-B1, 3415, E, 0.2, 5.5, LV, 0, LVL, 0 [BBOpen][1 Turn Aiming at H. stern][1H] T28 B26-B1, 3415, E, 0.2, 5.5, LV, 0, LVL, 0 [BBOpen][1 Turn Aiming at H. stern][1H] M(4), -, 5H MC=V=0 OC=-0.1 [2nd turn Aim for Hatsuharu's Stern] 5H: SSL 5/5 (4p+1dv)-(6mv-1bb)=-2 B26-B1, 3420, E, 0.1, 5.5+, LV, -2, LVL, 5SSL[1H][BBOpen][2 Turns Aiming at H. stern] T29 B26-B1, 3420, E, 0.1, 5.5+, LV, -2, LVL, 5SSL[1H][BBOpen][2 Turns Aiming at H. stern] M(4), -, 6H MC=V=0 OC=0.2 [Aiming at H. stern] 1H: XSSL to 3520 5H: Release Bomb Pair (3 Turns Aiming at H. stern) 4p-(1bb+2cl+2c)=-1 B26-B1, 3525, E, 0.3, 5.5, LV, -1, LVL, [1H][BBOpen] B26-B1, 3525, E, 0.3, 5.5, LV, -1, LVL, [1H][BBOpen] M(4), -, 5H MC=V=0 OC=0.1 [Close Bomb Bay] 3H: RR 3/3 to RB 2H: TTR 2/4 4p-(2.5tt+1cl+1c+1bb)=-1.5 B26-B1, 3530, E, 0.4, 5.5+, RB, -1.5, LVL, 2TTR, [1H] [BBClosed] Stern in 3227 turns 24, 25 -> 3327 26 |
Turn 20 Hatsuharu, [3025], NE Command: Port rudder, full speed ahead = 2/3(pause,MOVE,move) Hatsuharu, [3125 3026], NE, 2/3 turning port 1/2 Turn 21 Hatsuharu, [31 25 30 26], NE Command: Port rudder, full speed ahead = 2/3 (pause, move, MOVE) Hatsuharu, [31 26], NNE, 2/3 turning port 2/2 Turn 22 Hatsuharu, [31 26], NNE Command: Rudder amidships, full speed ahead = 2/3 (PAUSE, move, move) Hatsuharu, [31 26], NNE, 2/3 straight Turn 23 Hatsuharu, [31 26], NNE Command: Rudder amidships, full speed ahead = 2/3 (pause, MOVE, move) Hatsuharu, [32 27], NNE, 2/3 straight Turn 24 Hatsuharu, [32 27], NNE, Command: Rudder amidships, full speed ahead = 2/3 (pause, move, MOVE) Hatsuharu, [33 27], NNE, 2/3 straight Turn 25 Hatsuharu, [33 27], NNE Command: Port Rudder, full speed ahead = 2/3 (PAUSE, move, move) Hatsuharu, [33 27], NNE, 2/3 port rudder RR 1/1, TP 0/2 Turn 26 Hatsuharu, [33 27], NNE Command: Port Rudder, full speed ahead = 2/3 (pause, MOVE, move) Hatsuharu, [34 28], NNE, 2/3 port rudder TP 1/2 Turn 27 Hatsuharu, [34 28], NNE Command: Port Rudder, full speed ahead = 2/3 (pause, move, MOVE) Hatsuharu, [35 28], N, 2/3 port rudder TP 2/2 Turn 28 Hatsuharu, [35 28], N Command: Rudder amidships, full speed ahead = 2/3 (PAUSE, move, move) Hatsuharu, [35 28], N, 2/3 straight Turn 29 Hatsuharu, [35 28], N Command: Rudder amidships, full speed ahead = 2/3 (pause, MOVE, move) Hatsuharu, [36 28 36 29], N, 2/3 straight T26=(33) 3428 NNE T27=(34) 3528 N T28=(34) Pause, 3528 T29=(35) 3628-3629N |
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T17: B-26 B1 scores a hit on Hatsuharu's stern. B-26 B3 dodges flak as it reefs around to line up on Hatsuharu's bow. T18: B-26 B3 turns in and levels out to drop his bombs just as the bombs dropped by B-26 B1 explode. B1 scoots away as Hatsuharu suffers a serious blow, damaging her DC mains and starting a fire in her stern. Men are hurled to the deck by the explosion and the #3 turret is put out of action. T20: Hatsuharu is rocked by B-26 B3's near miss and direct hit on the bow, knocking out the portside 13mm AA mount, causing secondary explosions, wiping out a DC team and knocking out the sonar. The vessel is now wreathed in smoke from fires burning fore and aft, but is still able to fight. The starboard 25mm gun scores a revenge hit on B-26 B3 as it gains separation, tagging the right engine. B-26 B1 and B3 curl right, B3 trailing white smoke from its damaged right engine. ------------------ T21: The burning, sinking Oboro drifts to a stop. Hatsuharu also wreathed in smoke, fights on. The Marauders curve away in opposite directions. T26: With Oboro dead in the water, slowly settling while fires burn out of control, Hatsuharu continues to run northward at high speed. Though wounded, she still has a lot of fight left in her, as B-26 B3 is painfully aware. A couple of bursts of 5.5'' AA rock the aircraft, shattering the plexiglas nose and knocking out the bombsight. The two remaining Marauders continue to work around to pincer the fleeing destroyer between them. |
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T17: Two 300 lb M31 HE w delayed fuses vs 3023 Base modifier -30, One Turn extra aiming -10, proper release point -0, sight angle and range +2, sight angle and altitude -0, TOF drift errors +5 Total mods = -33 1st bomb DR: 26 = LH -26 -33 = -59 On Target - Direct hit roll needed =1 mods: -3 skip bomb on target, -2 final LH 20 less than -35 DR: 3 -5 = -2 Direct hit on stern hex 2nd bomb DR: 66 = LH +17 -33 = -16 = MISS - bomb scatters to 07-1 (hexside 3024/3123) roll for hex - odd 3024, even 3123 - DR: 10 = even - bomb splashes in hex 3123 |
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The waters off Kiska are cold, and there is no air-sea rescue available for either side. B-26 A1, A3, B2 lost with total loss of life. Post mission fate of surviving B-26s: After regrouping all three aircraft must return to Adak, 220 miles away. At formation speed 4.0 this will require 7 op turns. B-26 A2 [6 hits, 1 crit (hollow)] B-26 B1 [1hit, 0 crits] B-26 B3 - Severe damage, [25 hits, 10 crits - aileron hit (+1 to banks, slips/skids), flaps jammed up, #2 engine -1 step, fixed gunsight out, bombsight out, steady fuel leak, TWS, #1 engine - oil leak x2, TWS, hollow x2], min level speed 3.0, max attainable 4.5, max cruise 4.0, B-26 B3 with an oil leak and a steady fuel leak must check each Op turn for survival. The B-26s took off from Adak with full fuel loads (340) -10 take-off, -2 climb, -4 take off join up, -3 join up, -110 eleven Op turns enroute and searching for target. Endurance at start of combat scale play = 201. 30 combat turns = -6 end. Post attack join up -3 end. Op turn A+1 -10 (-4) end. Oil leak check dr: 1 - engine siezes Min speed 3.5, Max attainable 3.0 aircraft forced to ditch, crew lost. final VPs Hatsuharu sunk - 36 VPs Oboro sunk - 41 VPs |
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Mission 16101942, 73rd Bombardment Squadron (M), 28th Composite Group, 11th Air Force I was navigator of the lead ship of B Flight, 73rd BS. We received word of a pair of enemy destroyers approaching Kiska at high speed from SW. "A" Flight consisted of Cpt McCormick, Lt Mourato and Lt Creager. "B" Flight consisted of Cpt Hoffman, Lt Johnson and LT Schwartz. Our ships were readied for flight and loaded with 6x 300 lb GP bombs, with 4 second delay fuses. This would be our first mission using the recently adopted "skip bombing" mode of attack. Our aircraft began taking off at 14:57 from LONGVIEW and took up a heading down the Chain to intercept the enemy destroyers at their last reported position. Weather was low overcast with intermittent rain squalls. Ceiling was 1000 ft., but visibility was good. We arrived at the target's last reported position, but found nothing. Cpt McCormick, then led us on a box search which located the enemy vessels approximately 20 miles NE of Kiska, heading south at high speed. They were steaming in trail, about a half mile apart. According to our briefed attack profile, A flight circled around to the NE, while B Flight loitered to the west out of AA range until we saw the green flare initiating the attack. We were to attack the lead DD, and A Flight would attack the rear DD. We were then to immediately engage the trail DD, before recovering and making our third run on whichever ship needed the attention. As we turned into our attack run, I could see shell bursts blossom near A Flight. As we came into range, the Japanese DDs began evasive high speed turns and opened up with all their guns. Our flight began a slow descent toward the deck, with Johnson's ship slipping to the left. (turn 1) I should mention that during the flight out, Cpt Hoffman offered to let Cpt Burkhalter, on loan from the 77th, take over the left seat. So, Cpt Burkhalter actually led the B Flight attack. As we approached our nose gunner began strafing the enemy destroyer. The Cpt kept making slight adjustments to keep the enemy ship in his sights. Suddenly, all hell broke loose as the two realized they had forgot to open the bomb bay! I looked and Lt Schwartz had hadn't either! We pulled up and over the destroyer, Schwartz's plane practically skimming the deck, Johnson had turned in toward the destroyer, but it was moving too fast. He spat out behind. As soon as we cleared the first DD Cpt Burkhalter started to line up on the trailing DD. Johnson rolled left to follow. Schwartz caught some flak at this point and rolled right. I could see A Flight skimming the waves as they made their run on the trailing DD, but one (A3) seemed too high. Just then I saw A Flight leader drop his bombs and start to pull up, but caught the rigging of the ship and suddenly he was in the water! the bombs sailed over the ship. a split second later I saw another A Flight guy drop a pair of bombs. "Bombs away!" called out Burkhalter as the plane jumped a little. Next thing there were planes crossing every which way, but no collisions. A flight leader's bombs went off in the water near one of his surviving wingmen. Our gunner called out two hits in the DD's stern. Next there was a series of explosions ripping the enemy DD as our bombs went off. (turn 8) A Flight must have got some hits too. That's when I saw Johnson coming away from the ship with one engine on fire. (turn 9) Then the other one blossomed into flame. Another explosion ripped the DD's bow. (turn 10) Johnson must have scored. The whole ship was now on fire, and I could see men jumping into the water. Looking back I saw another A flight guy (Creager) pull up and drop his bombs on the first DD, but he hit a mast and his plane just came apart! The bombs sailed over the ship. We then made a wide turn to re-engage. Mourato dropped his bombs on the lead ship, one was a near miss off the bow. He then bugged out, and we didn't see him again until we regrouped. I saw Creager's plane struggling to get away with both engines on fire, but then blow up. By now we were bearing down on the lead DD again. Cpt Burkhalter dropped another pair of bombs and we pulled up just as our bombs arrived. The gunner called out one hit, one short. As we pulled away, LT Schwartz came in from the north and dropped a pair of bombs. Our bomb went off and shrouded the stern in smoke. Seconds later Schwartz's bombs exploded in the bow, sending up a huge plume of smoke and flame. As he came away I saw that he was trailing smoke. (turn 20). The DD was still steaming at high speed, but his defensive fire seemed to slack off. Schwartz seemed to be catching most of it. We turned to line up again while Schwartz broke the other way. The DD was running north now, trying to get behind the other DD, which was sinking, but obscured by a huge column of smoke. Cpt Burkhalter turned in on the DD and just as we released our last bombs, we saw Schwartz bursting out of the smoke cloud of our target. We crossed behind the DD and our bombs did too, but Schwartz had got his in. there was a double explosion as his bombs went off then another even bigger one and a smaller one after that. The ship literally broke in two. Scratch two DDs. We regrouped and onlt then did we see how badly damaged Schwartz's plane was. He had apparently hit the enemy's mast as well and his left wing was a mess. the left engine nacelle was covered in oil and his aileron was practically ripped off. Bits of his flap dangled in the slipstream. His nose was shattered and there were shell shrapnel holes all over the plane. he called us and said he had zero oil pressure on his left engine and his right engine was not pulling full power. About this time, Mourato formed up on us as we headed back toward friendly shores. Suddenly about 10 minutes after joining up, Schwartz's left engine seized and he slow rolled into the sea before he could regain control of his plane. We circled and threw out life rafts, but saw no survivors. So after circling for about 10 minutes we resumed our return flight, landing here without incident at 1900 hrs. |
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