Solomon Campaign Briefs

[_AH_DarkWolf]

Hmm, some might be barges. I wonder if those might be too small of a target for a torpedo? Maybe if its allowed we should have a couple aircraft armed with bombs and rockets to deal with smaller stuff?

DW

[Kopfdorfer]

Hey Dave,

               Enjoyed last night's mission. Thanks to the several who kept the Zeke's off my butt after I was repeatedly
               shot right up. After the first few minutes of engagement I got a cylinder shot off (that's what I thought
               it sounded like anyhow) and  couldn't generate much engine power.
               Thanks to the help I made it back to base only to discover on final that I had no hydraulic pressure in my
               landing gear and had to hand pump it down. Fortunately it worked.

Kopf

[_AH_Bear]

Hey Dave,

               Enjoyed last night's mission. Thanks to the several who kept the Zeke's off my butt after I was repeatedly
               shot right up. After the first few minutes of engagement I got a cylinder shot off (that's what I thought
               it sounded like anyhow) and  couldn't generate much engine power.
               Thanks to the help I made it back to base only to discover on final that I had no hydraulic pressure in my
               landing gear and had to hand pump it down. Fortunately it worked.

Kopf

Yea Jelly and I escorted you home and tried to fend off the enemy at home so you could land.. had a hard time going that slow..lol..  glad to see you made it .. :happy-112:

[AH_DealnDave]

Great turn-out for mission - 36, we had 19 pilots altogether !!!  Here is the next briefing to be flown on Tuesday - January 16th.

"Solomon Islands Campaign"
Mission - 36a
Date: October 11th, 1943

After Action Report:

Excellent job attacking that enemy task force. Our group was able to destroy quite a few enemy destroyers and numerous barge type vessels. The enemy force was not able to evacuate their troops, the remaining vessels turned back toward safer waters.

Intelligence:

It appears that the enemy airstrip at Kahili is now operational. The enemy has reinforced this area with troops, supplies, and aircraft from Rabaul. AAA has also been beefed up here.

The enemy has sent in more warships also, at least two destroyers and a cruiser, to strengthen their defense.

Enemy aircraft is always a threat is this area.

The Mission:

"THIS IS AN AIR-START MISSION"

Good Morning Gentlemen ... We've been tasked to escort USAAF B-24's to Kahili, grid AR-37 on your map. We will rendezvous with the bombers in grid AY-29, pad 7.



F4U's - will provide escort to the target area, then CAP.

NOTAM's:

All pilots to use same comms channel this mission.
All aircraft are "ZERO" fuel, ensure to put gas in your plane.

F4U's (1st Squad, seats 1-8)
F4U's (2nd Squad, seats 9-16)
F4U's (3rd Squad, seats 17-24)
F4U's (Spare's, HQ & Guests, seats 25-28)

Good Luck ...

[AH_DealnDave]

S~ All ...

Including mission 36a above, we now "only" have 7 missions left to complete the campaign. The mission above is the last of the "a" missions. The final mission will be mission 42.

[AH_DealnDave]

Great turn-out for mission - 36a, we had 19 pilots altogether !!!  Here is the next briefing to be flown on Tuesday - January 23rd.

"Solomon Islands Campaign"
Mission - 37
Date: November 1st, 1943

After Action Report:

Nice Job escorting the B-24's to Kahili, once again that enemy airstrip is out of action. The group is deploying to the USS Enterprise and USS Saratoga for the next mission.

*Disclaimer - The original launch area for this mission was Ondonga on New Georgia. However, due to our constraint of actual sim playing time launching from there would've put us at nearly 1.5+ hours, therefore we are launching and landing from carriers.

Intelligence:

Good morning Gentlemen ... "Operation Cherry-Blossom", the invasion of Bougainville Island begins today.  Marines are landing within Empress Augusta Bay, grid AL-42, on your map.  Recon photos show enemy heavy guns being moved into the area to repulse the landings. The Navy has countered with destroyers and heavy cruisers providing artillery fire.

With Kahili and Balalle airfields currently non-operational at this time, the enemy still has air assets in the area, on the Island of Buka to the north and airstrips at Kieta (grid AR-42) and Tenekau (grid AM-46).

The Mission:

We are providing air cover for the Marine landings. The enemy still has a strong air presence in this area, keep your head on a swivel.  The patrol area is grid AL-42.



NOTAM's:

"ALL" ... aircraft to rendezvous at grid AJ-42, pad 3, on your map, then proceed onto the patrol area.
"ALL" ... aircraft are "Zero" fuel at this time.
"ALL" ... Pilots to use same comms channel this mission.

F4U's (1st Squad, seats 1-8)
F4U's (2nd Squad, seats 9-16)
F4U's (3rd Squad, seats 17-24)
F4U's (Spare's, HQ & Guests, seats 25-28) - AIR START

2nd Squad has one section on the Enterprise and the other on the Saratoga, as all aircraft are to rendezvous at grid AJ-42, this should not be an issue.

Good Luck ...

[_AH_DarkWolf]

Considering we were months out of practice in terms of doing a campaign carrier op, we were none too shabby.

DW

[AH_DealnDave]

Yeah, for those that got through the battle and were able to return to the carriers ... all were able to get down safely  :)  Great Job !!!

[AH_DealnDave]

Great turn-out for mission - 37, we had 18 pilots altogether !!!  Here is the next briefing to be flown on Tuesday - January 30th.

"Solomon Islands Campaign"
Mission - 38
Date: November 10th, 1943

After Action Report:

Excellent job covering the Marine landings at Empress Augusta Bay. Our group destroyed over 40 enemy aircraft. The Sea-Bee's have been hard at work and have a working airstrip at Torokina Point on Bougainville.  The airfield is not fully completed, however, aircraft can launch and land from this forward location.

The VMF-214 has gone on R&R, so VMF-216 (F4U), along with VMTB-233 (TBF) has deployed to this forward area are now on station here.

Intelligence:

Gentlemen ..."Operation Cherry-Blossom" is now in full swing and the Marines have started pushing into the island from the beaches. Enemy aircraft is now a threat from the Island of Buka (grids AF-52 thru 55).  There are two separate operational enemy airstrips and an enemy sea-plane base located in grid AF-51.

JUST A MINUTE ... I've just been handed a submarine report stating that an enemy task force is steaming toward our location. There is no doubt that this task force intends to hit our base and harass the Marines pushing into the island. The enemy task force is comprised of at least four cruisers and eight destroyers. 

Speed is 20 knots, heading is 160 degrees at last sighting in grid AE-48.  This task force looks to be separated into four individual groups.

I've also received a report saying that Adm. Halsey has dispatched a destroyer group to engage the enemy task force.



The Mission:

We will be attacking this enemy task force.  Our targets will be the two most southern groups located in AF-47 on your map.



TBF's - the primary targets are the cruisers.  A cruiser needs at least three torpedoes to destroy it. That means it will take at least two TBF's to put a cruiser out of action. If you are able to destroy the cruisers, start hitting the escort ships.

F4U's - will cover the attack by blocking any enemy air attacks in grid AG-48.

NOTAM's:

ALL - pilots to use same comms channel this mission.
ALL - aircraft are "zero" fuel at this time, put gas in your plane.

F4U's (1st Squad, seats 1-8)
TBF's (2nd Squad, seats 9-32)
TBF's (3rd Squad, seats 33-56)
F4U's (Spare's, HQ & Guests, seats 57-60)

Good Luck ...

[_AH_Lippy]

I have a question three torpedoes for a cruiser then how can 2 TBF destroy a cruiser if they can only carry one torp. must be a miss print.  :give-me-beer-0034:

[AH_DealnDave]

Great turn-out for mission - 38, we had 20 pilots altogether !!!  Here is the next briefing to be flown on Tuesday - February 6th.

"Solomon Islands Campaign"
Mission - 39
Date: November 12th, 1943

After Action Report:

Great job hitting that enemy task force. Our group destroyed two cruisers and a couple of destroyers. Our destroyer group was also able to sink an enemy destroyer.

Construction continues in our area.  The Sea-Bee's have two airstrips laid out about 2 miles north of Torikina.  These new strips are Piva and Uncle, and should be operational by mid-December.

Intelligence:

Good Afternoon Gentlemen ...

Today, we have transport ships heading to our location with much needed supplies. The transports are being screened by two destroyers. Their current location is AK-37, speed is 20 knots, on a heading 340 degrees at last report.

We are seeing more and more enemy planes flying here from their base at Rabaul, north-west of Bouganville, just off your map. It is possible that the enemy is aware of the transports and may take an opportunity to attack them.  We've received numerous enemy radio signals, but they have changed their radio code and we are not able to decipher the intercepts at this time.

Also, the enemy airstrips and the sea-plane base located at Buka, pose a threat to our area. The enemy seems to be using the slower A6M-N's to harass our current location.

The Mission:

F4U's - we are flying cover for the transport group. You'll take off and follow the coast south-east to grid AK-38 on your map. Then escort the ships to grid AJ-40.  From there the ships will enter Empress Augusta Bay for off-loading.



NOTAM's:

All pilots to use same comms channel.
All aircraft are "zero" fuel at this time.

F4U's (1st Squad, seats 1-8)
F4U's (2nd Squad, seats 9-16)
F4U's (3rd Squad, seats 17-24)
F4U's (Spare's, HQ & Guests, seats 25-28)

Good Luck ...

[_AH_DarkWolf]

The Sea-Bee's have two airstrips laid out about 2 miles north of Torikina.  These new strips are Piva and Uncle, and should be operational by mid-December.

I noticed before on the map they are listed as Piva and Uncle. Thats kinda wierd cause both fields should have Piva in the names, Piva Uncle and Piva Yoke. One was a fighter runway and one was for bombers.  :thinking-008:

DW

[AH_DealnDave]

Good turn-out for mission - 39, we had 16 pilots altogether !!!  Here is the next briefing to be flown on Tuesday - February 13th.

"Solomon Islands Campaign"
Mission - 40
Date: November 18th, 1943

After Action Report:

Nice job covering the transport ships. We were able to off-load our much needed supplies.  The invasion of Bouganville is progressing. The Marines have secured a sizable area and are continuing to fight and gain ground. The Sea-Bee's say that the airstrips Piva and Uncle "will" be ready before the 15th of December.  Aircraft will be able to use both of these bases very shortly.

We've also received the new F4U-D.  This aircraft has updated external stores with the ability to carry more bombs and for the first time we get rockets.  We'll be using these on this mission.

Intelligence:

Good Morning Gentlemen ...

Adm. Halsey has given our group a directive to attack and destroy the enemy sea-plane base and airstrips located at Buka, grid AF-51 on your map. He wants these bases neutralized as part of his plan to move onto Rabaul. The enemy knows that our Marines are doing well and are taking Bouganville rapidly. The Buka area is well defended with AAA and small naval vessels.

This area supports enemy PT boat operations.  A "Shiga Escort" vessel has been sighted in the area as well.  It's currently docked near the western airstrip. The western airstrip is the larger of the two (AF-51, pad 9), with bombers and fighters staging from it, the eastern airstrip is primary a fighter base (AG-51, pad 7).

The seaplane base is located in grid AF-51, pad 6. This sea-plane base is the source of the harassing enemy aircraft we've been seeing attacking our airfield. If we can neutralize the enemy bases at Buka, our forces can push onto Rabaul and the New Britain area.

The Mission:

F4U's - will arm with bombs and rockets and attack the two enemy airstrips and sea-plane base at Buka, grid AF-51 on your map.



NOTAM's:

*All pilots to remain on same comms channel this mission.
*All aircraft are at "zero" fuel at this time.

F4U's (1st Squad, seats 1-8) - attack the eastern base
F4U's (2nd Squad, seats 9-16) - attack the western base
F4U's (3rd Squad, seats 17-24) - attack the sea-plane base
F4U's (Spare's, HQ & Guests, seats 25-28) - attack small naval craft (PT boats operating near the enemy airstrips and the Shiga Escort).

Good Luck ...

[_AH_Col._Hogan]

Will .50 cal sink those little boats?

[AH_DealnDave]

0.50 cal will do well on the PT boats ... but you'll also be carrying rockets and bombs.  :)