Dirtnap
Kanmusu Affecionado
An excerpt from the current (now finished for me) event, in the form of an AAR from a fairy perspective, now crossposted from SB!
Ooyodo sighed as she slumped back into the high backed chair the Admiral favored for his staff. In front of her was a report she was somewhat reluctant to read, given she knew the contents of it second hand from the kanmusu that were on the raid.
Iowa had shaken her head as she headed into the docks and even the Kongou siblings had seemed somber. Chiyoda and Chitose quickly headed towards their barracks, 'to do maintenance for their air wing' they had said. The escort fleet had been a bit more talkative, Prinz Eugen had said she hoped that the raid had been worth the costs. Teruzuki absently had one of her director fairies in the palm of her hand and was gently patting the thing on its head. Behind the escort fleet and surrounded by her cousins, I-14 made her way to her newly appointed room, Shioi all but carrying the slightly small sub in a bear hug.
The bespectacled secretary ship picked up a small sheaf of papers and then slid them under the desktop magnifying glass. The Admiral would want a clear picture of the costs and this was the best way to get it.
========
Operation: The Raid on the Abyssal Anchorage at Ulithi Atoll
Date: 15Feb2017
Fairy Officer First Class Hayate, 131st Hikotai, 4th Fighter Kokutai
Initial flight operations began at precisely daybreak. The land based squadrons had been set up and prepared by the Fairy Engineering Corps, delivered by submarine transport two nights before. Two runways had been tasked to fighter squadrons escorting the main bomber wave. Each bomber had a single fighter escort, some were the model 21 fighters, light and maneuverable, while the majority were the more robust model 52. All of the fighter pilots were veterans, aces of multiple operations against the Abyssals and very skilled at what we do.
By contrast only a few of the bomber groups could say the same. The 1st and 2nd Kokutai of the base were flying a new more robust G4M, the model 22A. They didn't have the same experience as the more veteran 3rd and 4th Kokutai, flying older model 11s. Still, they were eager and with great huzzah the whole group promptly got under way as the orders came from command. Target: Ulithi Anchorage.
Initial ascent went fairly textbook, no one was having any issues. Around 1203 we knew we were starting to approach the target area. Storms became apparent on the horizon and our Lieutenant ordered us under the clouds. The bombers quickly followed suit.
After descending to 5000, we saw the combined fleet smashing their way through a enemy fleet. There was nothing more I wanted to do than to dive on the enemy fighters seen swirling above the chaotic fighting. But we had our orders. The bombers must be escorted. So we held our breath and watched; we shouldn't have worried of course, our carrier borne counterparts were every bit our equals. As the last Abyssal was sliding under the waves (one of those Wo-class with the glowing eyes and fat round fighters) the carrier fighters climbed up and kept us company for a bit, none the worse for wear it appeared. A few minutes later they waggled their wings and banked away and down, towards their mother-ships.
We saw another clash of the roving Abyssals with the Combined Fleet and once again our team came out on top, though a Wo-class managed to slink away, limping under a heavy squall line.
We were beginning to get close to the objective. Intercepted signals had a strong enemy CAP up and we were ordered back into the clouds, hoping to maintain cohesion through close formation flying. We aren't the Americans, but we gave it our best.
Finally at 1543, we were given the order to descend from cloud and engage the enemy CAP. It was, without a doubt, the most terrifying ordeal I've faced yet. As we broke from the clouds, we were immediately engaged. There were hundreds of enemy planes in the air. All of them the more advanced and tougher models. Revenge bombers, hellcat fighters, helldiver bombers and a new and as of yet unseen floatplane fighter that gave us a run for our money. It was chaotic. It was madness. Every plane we shot down, three more seemed to take its place. I saw Mayuri from 132 go down, one of those new floatplanes had gotten on him and he couldn't shake it. The enemy was ferocious.
During a slight lull I managed to glimpse at the bomber formation and gaped. An entire Kokutai was gone. Just gone. The remaining three were badly attrited, with some having less than a few bombers from the entire kokutai. But still they pressed on, tracers from the 20mm mounts slicing out into the storm. They were headed for the deck, on torpedo runs. I stopped watching as tracers chopped past my canopy. I don't know how many made their runs successfully.
We formed back up on the other side of the Anchorage, just as the Combined Fleet broke through a squall line. We ran a roster check. Out of our fighters we lost perhaps a dozen. The bomber losses had been almost catastrophic though. Out of the seventy two than took off, only eighteen were headed back to airfields. It was quiet on the flight back. The survivors talked little and even though they knew we had done everything we could, it wouldn't surprise me if they don't talk to us for a good long time once we get back.
So, while I hope raid is successful, we desperately need to sweep the enemy anchorage if we are to attempt another sortie here. There are simply too many enemy fighters. I recommend an entire sentai of fighters, followed by three kokutai of fighters and one kokutai of bombers if we truly want to clear the enemy's airpower out.
Regards,
FO1 Hayate, 131st Hiko, 4th Ku.
========
Ooyodo grunted as she finished the report, craning her neck side to side as she straightened out from leaning over the magnifier.
"That bad huh," a gruff voice came from behind her.
Startled she turned around, then gave the Admiral a worried nod. "Yes, the losses were rather bad for the bomber squadrons. Our lead pilot recommends more fighters in the escort role if we need to sortie again to finish off the stragglers."
"Mmm." The admiral rubbed his chin, "Not today I think. Let the crews rest, see if we can put them on some milk runs to get their confidence back up. We keep getting reports of a Sub Princess hanging out off Maizuru. Should be good practice for 'em. Tomorrow though, tomorrow." He grinned at the light cruiser, "Tonight, though we'll throwing those rugged little bastards a party. Without them hitting that pair of Carrier Princesses we'd never have gotten through to the new Abyssal. I want to reward them for it."
Ooyodo could only shake her head, Well he has done very well keeping the base supplied and stockpiles are quite good. I suppose we could throw a party..."Very well, Admiral I'll-"
"Great, I'll go get Mamiya-san and Irako to get started! Get everyone, yeah?" He flashed another smile and was gone, leaving nothing but a sheaf of flyers in the command cruiser's hands.
"That...idiot..." Ooyodo sighed, knowing the massive budget they'd enjoyed before the operation would probably disappear once Musashi and Iowa arrived from repairs.
=============
Yeah so I dunno why i wrote this. Got bored at work I guess. This event featured not only the new Twin Princess (150 AA) and her float plane, it also had twin CV Himes (140 AA) with their Air Radar equipment, making them utterly deadly to bombers of all kinds. Their formation further boosted the effect and it wasn't uncommon for me to have a bomber group completely wiped out (18 planes) with many more shot down.
Kokutai were the IJNAF equivalent for Air Groups, similar to Bomber Group for USN land based planes.
Hikotai were sub units of Kokutai, equivalent to squadrons.
A Sentai in IJNAF terms is a large group of Kokutai.
Basically from big to little its
Sentai - Kokutai - Hikotai
Ooyodo sighed as she slumped back into the high backed chair the Admiral favored for his staff. In front of her was a report she was somewhat reluctant to read, given she knew the contents of it second hand from the kanmusu that were on the raid.
Iowa had shaken her head as she headed into the docks and even the Kongou siblings had seemed somber. Chiyoda and Chitose quickly headed towards their barracks, 'to do maintenance for their air wing' they had said. The escort fleet had been a bit more talkative, Prinz Eugen had said she hoped that the raid had been worth the costs. Teruzuki absently had one of her director fairies in the palm of her hand and was gently patting the thing on its head. Behind the escort fleet and surrounded by her cousins, I-14 made her way to her newly appointed room, Shioi all but carrying the slightly small sub in a bear hug.
The bespectacled secretary ship picked up a small sheaf of papers and then slid them under the desktop magnifying glass. The Admiral would want a clear picture of the costs and this was the best way to get it.
========
Operation: The Raid on the Abyssal Anchorage at Ulithi Atoll
Date: 15Feb2017
Fairy Officer First Class Hayate, 131st Hikotai, 4th Fighter Kokutai
Initial flight operations began at precisely daybreak. The land based squadrons had been set up and prepared by the Fairy Engineering Corps, delivered by submarine transport two nights before. Two runways had been tasked to fighter squadrons escorting the main bomber wave. Each bomber had a single fighter escort, some were the model 21 fighters, light and maneuverable, while the majority were the more robust model 52. All of the fighter pilots were veterans, aces of multiple operations against the Abyssals and very skilled at what we do.
By contrast only a few of the bomber groups could say the same. The 1st and 2nd Kokutai of the base were flying a new more robust G4M, the model 22A. They didn't have the same experience as the more veteran 3rd and 4th Kokutai, flying older model 11s. Still, they were eager and with great huzzah the whole group promptly got under way as the orders came from command. Target: Ulithi Anchorage.
Initial ascent went fairly textbook, no one was having any issues. Around 1203 we knew we were starting to approach the target area. Storms became apparent on the horizon and our Lieutenant ordered us under the clouds. The bombers quickly followed suit.
After descending to 5000, we saw the combined fleet smashing their way through a enemy fleet. There was nothing more I wanted to do than to dive on the enemy fighters seen swirling above the chaotic fighting. But we had our orders. The bombers must be escorted. So we held our breath and watched; we shouldn't have worried of course, our carrier borne counterparts were every bit our equals. As the last Abyssal was sliding under the waves (one of those Wo-class with the glowing eyes and fat round fighters) the carrier fighters climbed up and kept us company for a bit, none the worse for wear it appeared. A few minutes later they waggled their wings and banked away and down, towards their mother-ships.
We saw another clash of the roving Abyssals with the Combined Fleet and once again our team came out on top, though a Wo-class managed to slink away, limping under a heavy squall line.
We were beginning to get close to the objective. Intercepted signals had a strong enemy CAP up and we were ordered back into the clouds, hoping to maintain cohesion through close formation flying. We aren't the Americans, but we gave it our best.
Finally at 1543, we were given the order to descend from cloud and engage the enemy CAP. It was, without a doubt, the most terrifying ordeal I've faced yet. As we broke from the clouds, we were immediately engaged. There were hundreds of enemy planes in the air. All of them the more advanced and tougher models. Revenge bombers, hellcat fighters, helldiver bombers and a new and as of yet unseen floatplane fighter that gave us a run for our money. It was chaotic. It was madness. Every plane we shot down, three more seemed to take its place. I saw Mayuri from 132 go down, one of those new floatplanes had gotten on him and he couldn't shake it. The enemy was ferocious.
During a slight lull I managed to glimpse at the bomber formation and gaped. An entire Kokutai was gone. Just gone. The remaining three were badly attrited, with some having less than a few bombers from the entire kokutai. But still they pressed on, tracers from the 20mm mounts slicing out into the storm. They were headed for the deck, on torpedo runs. I stopped watching as tracers chopped past my canopy. I don't know how many made their runs successfully.
We formed back up on the other side of the Anchorage, just as the Combined Fleet broke through a squall line. We ran a roster check. Out of our fighters we lost perhaps a dozen. The bomber losses had been almost catastrophic though. Out of the seventy two than took off, only eighteen were headed back to airfields. It was quiet on the flight back. The survivors talked little and even though they knew we had done everything we could, it wouldn't surprise me if they don't talk to us for a good long time once we get back.
So, while I hope raid is successful, we desperately need to sweep the enemy anchorage if we are to attempt another sortie here. There are simply too many enemy fighters. I recommend an entire sentai of fighters, followed by three kokutai of fighters and one kokutai of bombers if we truly want to clear the enemy's airpower out.
Regards,
FO1 Hayate, 131st Hiko, 4th Ku.
========
Ooyodo grunted as she finished the report, craning her neck side to side as she straightened out from leaning over the magnifier.
"That bad huh," a gruff voice came from behind her.
Startled she turned around, then gave the Admiral a worried nod. "Yes, the losses were rather bad for the bomber squadrons. Our lead pilot recommends more fighters in the escort role if we need to sortie again to finish off the stragglers."
"Mmm." The admiral rubbed his chin, "Not today I think. Let the crews rest, see if we can put them on some milk runs to get their confidence back up. We keep getting reports of a Sub Princess hanging out off Maizuru. Should be good practice for 'em. Tomorrow though, tomorrow." He grinned at the light cruiser, "Tonight, though we'll throwing those rugged little bastards a party. Without them hitting that pair of Carrier Princesses we'd never have gotten through to the new Abyssal. I want to reward them for it."
Ooyodo could only shake her head, Well he has done very well keeping the base supplied and stockpiles are quite good. I suppose we could throw a party..."Very well, Admiral I'll-"
"Great, I'll go get Mamiya-san and Irako to get started! Get everyone, yeah?" He flashed another smile and was gone, leaving nothing but a sheaf of flyers in the command cruiser's hands.
"That...idiot..." Ooyodo sighed, knowing the massive budget they'd enjoyed before the operation would probably disappear once Musashi and Iowa arrived from repairs.
=============
Yeah so I dunno why i wrote this. Got bored at work I guess. This event featured not only the new Twin Princess (150 AA) and her float plane, it also had twin CV Himes (140 AA) with their Air Radar equipment, making them utterly deadly to bombers of all kinds. Their formation further boosted the effect and it wasn't uncommon for me to have a bomber group completely wiped out (18 planes) with many more shot down.
Kokutai were the IJNAF equivalent for Air Groups, similar to Bomber Group for USN land based planes.
Hikotai were sub units of Kokutai, equivalent to squadrons.
A Sentai in IJNAF terms is a large group of Kokutai.
Basically from big to little its
Sentai - Kokutai - Hikotai
)
