Dogfights Over Midway

[bigjackmac]

All,

0610 local time
4 June 1942
Midway

It's 4 June 1942, the dawn of the epic "Battle of Midway," a clash of giants, three US carriers vs four Japanese carriers that proved to be the turning point of the war in the Pacific. For more information, both real-life and how I'm running this campaign, please check here:
https://oldleadbreed.blogspot.com/2019/11/battle-of-midway-campaign-plan.html

Yesterday at 0900 a US Navy PBY Catalina spotted Japanese ships 500nm west southwest of Midway; B-17s from the island were dispatched but failed to hit anything. US Navy PBYs continued to shadow the Japanese surface force, and actually attacked at 0100 this morning, scoring a torpedo hit on a Japanese merchant ship. Unbeknownst to US personnel, the Japanese carrier task force, as yet still unspotted, launched its first strike group against Midway at 0430. At 0530, the PBYs spotted the Japanese carriers, and noted their strike group inbound.

So it's now 0610 and the VMF-343 "Dirt Divers" have scrambled six F4F Wildcats to intercept an inbound group of six D3A "Val" dive bombers escorted by four A6M "Zeros."
   

This is my arena for aerial combat; simple, yet durable and, to me, beautiful (in a simple, durable way). I'm using tiny aircraft designed by my buddy Thomaston; not sure what size they are, just that they are much smaller than 1/600. They're 3D printed models that I mounted on cut-down bases from Litko, and I'm using a very simple rules system called "Battle of Britain," which I found for free over on The Miniatures Page (I've already played a good 20 or so fights with them). Left is north, with the Japanese strike group there, and the American interceptors at right.


The benefit of an advantage in pilot quality: audaciousness!  A lone Japanese Ace is flying circles around a Marine Regular and a Marine Rookie.


Maneuvering aggressively to keep the Marine Wildcats off the incoming Vals.


The Marines have to really work for it, but they get in their licks.


They even manage to break through, into the bombers!


But the Japanese are ultimately successful, managing to get four Vals to the target area, where they wreak havoc on the U.S. shore facilities.

To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
https://oldleadbreed.blogspot.com/2019/11/battle-of-midway-fight-1.html

Next up, Captain Haynes leads a flight of six Wildcats to intercept the second wave of Japanese bombers closing on Midway.

V/R,
Jack

[paulr]

Hi Jack,

I've been following these actions for a while and trying to resist...

I've found what I think are the Battle of Britain rules on TMP, just to have a read

You seem to have added quite a bit more to the rules, have you posted the additions anywhere?

I'd also be interested in the movement bonuses etc you have allocated to the different aircraft in the Pacific

[Last Hussar]

Where are the rules on there?

[Raider4]

Where are the rules on there?

See http://www.pendrakenforum.co.uk/index.php/topic,19013.msg285973.html#msg285973

[paulr]

Thanks, those are the ones I 'found'

[bigjackmac]

Sorry guys, I had some 'real life' stuff pop up.

In any case, thanks for looking guys, I hope you enjoyed it.  Paul, what possible reason could you have to resist???   Regarding changes, there are some here:

Zero's movement capability:
1    1    1
2          2
x    4    x

As you can see, much more maneuverable than the Wildcat/P-40:
2    1    1
3          3
x    5    x

But I also changed the firing 'to hit' numbers.  For Zeros:
6    5+   6
-            -
4+  3+  4+

For the better trained (with regards to gunnery) USN/USMC aviators (USAAF use the Zero numbers):
4+  4+  4+
5+        5+
4+  3+  4+

Japanese planes are downed on a damage roll of 3+, American on 4+.

If a pilot is shot down, roll 1D6:
1=KIA
2=MIA
3=WIA, 3D6 x 10 days out
4=WIA, 2D6 x 10 days out
5=WIA, 1D6 x 10 days out
6=Okay

If a plane is damaged, on its next activation roll 1D6:
Rookie needs a 6 to stay in the fight, otherwise return to base
Regular needs a 5+
Veteran needs a 4+
Ace needs a 3+
NBK needs a 2+

In terms of pilot ratings:
Rookie - N/A
Regular - +1 to maneuver roll
Veteran- +1 to maneuver roll and +1 to 'to hit' roll
Ace - +2 to maneuver roll and +1 to 'to hit' roll
NBK - +2 to maneuver roll, +1 to 'to hit' roll, and -1 to opposition's 'to hit' roll (except bombers performing defensive fire.

Raider, thanks for posting the base rules, and Last Hussar, I thought you'd be more interested in my Kursk fights using IABSM

V/R,
Jack

[bigjackmac]

All,

0625 local time
4 June 1942
Midway

It's 4 June 1942, the dawn of the epic "Battle of Midway," a clash of giants, three US carriers vs four Japanese carriers that proved to be the turning point of the war in the Pacific. For more information, both real-life and how I'm running this campaign, please check here:
https://oldleadbreed.blogspot.com/2019/11/battle-of-midway-campaign-plan.html

Yesterday at 0900 a US Navy PBY Catalina spotted Japanese ships 500nm west southwest of Midway; B-17s from the island were dispatched but failed to hit anything. US Navy PBYs continued to shadow the Japanese surface force, and actually attacked at 0100 this morning, scoring a torpedo hit on a Japanese merchant ship. Unbeknownst to US personnel, the Japanese carrier task force, as yet still unspotted, launched its first strike group against Midway at 0430. At 0530, the PBYs spotted the Japanese carriers, and noted their strike group inbound.

At 0610 the VMF-343 "Dirt Divers" scrambled six F4F Wildcats to intercept an inbound group of six D3A "Val" dive bombers escorted by four A6M "Zeros," but were roughly handled, having three Wildcats shot down and the other three damaged, as the Japanese lost one Zero and one Val.  The Japanese aerial attack caused 18/30 damage points.

So it's now 0625 and the Dirt Divers have scrambled another six F4F Wildcats to intercept an inbound group of six B5N "Kate" torpedo bombers escorted by four A6M "Zeros."


The Japanese appear serious about this...


And indeed they are.


The Flying Leathernecks are doing their part to take it to the Japanese Kates.


And some kills are scored...


But the Zeros just seem to be everywhere.

To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
https://oldleadbreed.blogspot.com/2019/11/battle-of-midway-fight-2.html

So, those were the attacks by the Japanese carrier air groups on Midway.  Just like real life, they did a lot of damage, but were unable to destroy the shore installations, which then caused their strike commander to recommend the launching of a second strike, which would have catastrophic consequences for the Japanese carriers.

But that's all in the future: for now, the Americans on Midway are attempting to strike back at their tormentors!  When word of the Japanese raid was broadcast, the Americans launched all the aircraft stationed on Midway, to avoid them being destroyed on the ground.  But three groups of those aircraft actually set out to attack the Japanese; the attacks were not coordinated, so the Americans ended up piecemealing them into the fight, but that's where we're headed next: Major Chandler, the squadron commander, is leading a flight of Wildcats escorting six TBF torpedo bombers going for the Japanese carriers.

V/R,
Jack

[bigjackmac]

All,

0645 local time
4 June 1942
Midway

It's 4 June 1942, the dawn of the epic "Battle of Midway," a clash of giants, three US carriers vs four Japanese carriers that proved to be the turning point of the war in the Pacific. For more information, both real-life and how I'm running this campaign, please check here:
https://oldleadbreed.blogspot.com/2019/11/battle-of-midway-campaign-plan.html

Yesterday at 0900 a US Navy PBY Catalina spotted Japanese ships 500nm west southwest of Midway; B-17s from the island were dispatched but failed to hit anything. US Navy PBYs continued to shadow the Japanese surface force, and actually attacked at 0100 this morning, scoring a torpedo hit on a Japanese merchant ship. Unbeknownst to US personnel, the Japanese carrier task force, as yet still unspotted, launched its first strike group against Midway at 0430. At 0530, the PBYs spotted the Japanese carriers, and noted their strike group inbound.

At 0610 the VMF-343 "Dirt Divers" scrambled six F4F Wildcats to intercept an inbound group of six D3A "Val" dive bombers escorted by four A6M "Zeros," but were roughly handled, having three Wildcats shot down and the other three damaged, as the Japanese lost one Zero and one Val. The Japanese aerial attack caused 18/30 damage points.

At 0625 Captain Haynes led six Wildcats to intercept an inbound group of six B5N "Kate" torpedo bombers escorted by four A6M "Zeros."  Again it was rough: the Marines lost five of six aircraft, with one pilot KIA, one MIA, and two WIA, while the Japanese lost four of their six torpedo bombers, which did light damage to Midway's shore installations (26/30, total).

So it's now 0645 and the Dirt Divers are escorting a flight of six TBF torpedo bombers to attack the Japanese carriers, running right into the Japanese CAP of six Zeros.


First time Grumman TBFs (not known as Avengers, yet) were used in combat, and first time mine have seen the table.


With six bogeys inbound!


Quite out of character, this fight it is the Marines that get in the first licks.


But don't worry, Thomaston, the Japanese descend on the TBFs like a pack of wolves...


But overall, the fight is quite the aerial melee.

To see how it turned out, please check the blog at:
https://oldleadbreed.blogspot.com/2019/12/battle-of-midway-fight-3.html

The Marine escorts are right back in action, because SBD Dauntlesses of VMSB-241 (that's "Marine Scouting and Bombing Squadron 241') are on the way, looking to land some 500-pound bombs on the Japanese carriers.  Here's to hoping things get better with them Wildcat shooting dice.

V/R,
Jack

[paulr]

Paul, what possible reason could you have to resist???   Regarding changes, there are some here:

Jack, thanks for the changes

Reasons to resist:

• too many rule sets already, our group has about a dozen we play, some we haven't got to this year
• not enough time to get all my existing models on the table, some of my completed forces haven't seen the table for a year or more

but...

[bigjackmac]

No problem, Paul, and I understand perfectly.

V/R,
Jack

[Sunray]

Jack,  I really enjoyed your bats reps.  Thanks for taking the time to record and post on the forum,   

[bigjackmac]

It's my pleasure, and thanks for letting me know you like them!

V/R,
Jack

[bigjackmac]

All,

0715 local time
4 June 1942
Midway

It's 4 June 1942, the dawn of the epic "Battle of Midway," a clash of giants, three US carriers vs four Japanese carriers that proved to be the turning point of the war in the Pacific. For more information, both real-life and how I'm running this campaign, please check here:
https://oldleadbreed.blogspot.com/2019/11/battle-of-midway-campaign-plan.html

Yesterday at 0900 a US Navy PBY Catalina spotted Japanese ships 500nm west southwest of Midway; B-17s from the island were dispatched but failed to hit anything. US Navy PBYs continued to shadow the Japanese surface force, and actually attacked at 0100 this morning, scoring a torpedo hit on a Japanese merchant ship. Unbeknownst to US personnel, the Japanese carrier task force, as yet still unspotted, launched its first strike group against Midway at 0430. At 0530, the PBYs spotted the Japanese carriers, and noted their strike group inbound.

At 0610 the VMF-343 "Dirt Divers" scrambled six F4F Wildcats to intercept an inbound group of six D3A "Val" dive bombers escorted by four A6M "Zeros," but were roughly handled, having three Wildcats shot down and the other three damaged, as the Japanese lost one Zero and one Val. The Japanese aerial attack caused 18/30 damage points.

At 0625 Captain Haynes led six Wildcats to intercept an inbound group of six B5N "Kate" torpedo bombers escorted by four A6M "Zeros." Again it was rough: the Marines lost five of six aircraft, with one pilot KIA, one MIA, and two WIA, while the Japanese lost four of their six torpedo bombers, which did light damage to Midway's shore installations (26/30, total).

At 0645 Major Chandler led four Dirt Divers in escort of a flight of six TBF torpedo bombers to attack the Japanese carriers, running right into the Japanese CAP of six Zeros, and it was a debacle: the Americans lost one Wildcat and five TBFs, the last being damaged and forced to return to base without even spotting the Japanese carriers. Oh, and the Japanese did lose two Zeros, but they were both to the TBFs!!!

It's now 0715, and 2nd Lt Herman is leading a flight of four Wildcats in escort of six SBD Dauntless dive bombers from Marine Scouting-Bombing Squadron 241 (VMSB-241), up against six Zeros of the Japanese Combat Air Patrol.


My SBD Dauntlesses, so pretty.  I've been in love with the shape of that aircraft since I was a kid.   Does thinking an airplane is pretty makes me a weirdo?


Zeros and Wildcats mixing it up.


The Dauntlesses getting roughly handled by the Japanese interceptors.

To see how the fight went, please check the blog at:
https://oldleadbreed.blogspot.com/2019/12/battle-of-midway-fight-4.html?m=1

Next up, In any case, as mentioned, Lt Higbe is being summoned by Major Chandler for his third straight sortie.  Major Chandler is leading in a flight of four US Army B-26s armed with torpedoes, looking to give this one more shot.  Incidentally, this is the last US Marine fight at Midway, before turning it over to the US Navy's "Killer Pelicans."  So I certainly hope it goes well.

V/R,
Jack

[Ithoriel]

Loving these reports Jack. Keep 'em coming!

[bigjackmac]

Ithoriel,

Thank you so much, I'm happy you are enjoying them, and very appreciative of you saying so! 

And will do!

V/R,
Jack