קמפיין MARIANAS 1944-משימה #7 - 1/3/2012 21:30

FINAL BRIEFING

Commanders and Gentlemen,

This and the next mission will be crucial for our capture of Guam.
The transports continue to sail to Guam on this mission and the next, their ETA to the Beachhead Landing Zone is 17:54 local Marianas time.

We need to be focused on protecting the transports with all the effort we can afford on this mission (12:00) and the next mission (15:00).

In the previous mission the Essex was severely damaged by a mix of 3 bomb and kamikaze hits. The top deck was awash with flames, destroying all the aircraft that were still on top. Even with the blast doors closed, the hangar deck just below sustained considerable damage from the intense heat. Several fires erupted, damaging beyond repair several more aircraft. Luckily our damage control teams managed to extinguish the fires before they reached the bombs and rocket storage areas. The Essex is one tough fighting lady, she continues to sail on albeit at a maximum speed of 10 kph. The ship survives, but unfortunately for us due to the destruction of many aircraft we now simply don't have enough fighters in the Southern Fleet.

Therefore, the CAP of the transports will be based on two waves of aircraft. The first wave taking off from Saratoga and Essex (IAF & =VARP= Squadrons), which will be mostly FM-2 Wildcats and a few F6F Hellcats, will do the best they can to stem the tide of enemy bombers until the second wave that launched from the Shamrock Bay CV (102nd & LLv34) and Saipan (64th Sentai) will arrive.

Very important: The second wave of fighters launching from the Shamrock Bay and Saipan must climb to 7km altitude (Hellcats don't forget to set supercharger stage 3) and fly as fast as they can at maximum power, 100% prop pitch, at maximum allowable engine temp (without overheat) rush rush rush get to the South fleet to assist the FM-2 Wildcats.

Apart from the Hellcat fighters launching from the Shamrock Bay, this second wave will also include 4x TBMs (102nd) also launching from the Shamrock Bay. These TBMs will be tasked with destruction of Shore Batteries on the East coast of Guam. The three critical shore batteries are on the SE side of Guam, refer to the MP for their locations. After the Shore Batteries are destroyed the TBMs are to recon the CP of Guam with their "mark one eyeball" and with their remaining ordanance and strafing take out any enemy ground units that may be laying there in wait to ambush our marines.

We will also attack the enemy Battleship in the AW27 with 4x SBDs from the Essex. This has been tasked to the DangerDogz Squadron with SBDs. Apparently this Battleship did not move from the last mission, so I expect that it will be easy to find.

The 242 Squadron will continue to hunt for the Zuikako and will deliver the final blow that will sink it. We believe the Zuikako is limping West from its current location on the MP (map grid AT34) at an estimated speed of 20kph. We believe the enemy intends to move it to a withdraw point and exit from the theatre before we can sink it.

Tinian Air Operations are placed on hold for the moment, the only exception being 102nd_Mornar's B-24 Recon.
In case the enemy will attack our ground forces and bombarding ships at Tinian, the 242 Squadron and the 64th Sentai will turn their fighters back towards Tinain and hope for the best.
Unfortunately we can't afford to protect everything, and I'm sure that Sun Tzu would agree with me regarding "he who protects everything..." ;)


Squadron and Aircraft Allocation:

EAF + 242 Sqn are on The hunt for Zuikako
2x F6F5 Hellcat, US Navy VF-1 "High Hatters", USS Yorktown CV-10 Flt 1, El. 4
4x TBF-1C Avenger, US Navy VT-3, USS Yorktown CV-10 Flt 1, El. 3

IAF - 1st wave
2x F4U-1D Corsair, Marine Fighter Squadron 212 - Cactus Airforce, USMC Flt 1, El. 3
2x F6F5 Hellcat, US Navy VF-27 Flt 1, El. 2 (2 out of 4 for IAF)
4x FM2 Wildcat, US Navy VF-15 "Fighting Aces", USS Essex CV-9 Flt 1, El. 1
2x FM2 Wildcat, US Navy VF-15 "Fighting Aces", USS Essex CV-9 Flt 1, El. 2

VARP - 1st wave
2x FM2 Wildcat, US Navy VF-15 "Fighting Aces", USS Essex CV-9 Flt 1, El. 4
2x F6F5 Hellcat, US Navy VF-27 Flt 1, El. 2 (2 out of 4 for =VARP=)
1x F6F3 Hellcat, US Navy VF-32 "Outlaw`s Bandits", USS Langley CVL-27 Flt 2, El. 3 (1 from LLv34 flight)

Danger Dogz
4x SBD-5, US Navy VB-4, USS Essex CV-9 Flt 2, El. 1

64th Sentai - 2nd wave
2x P-47D-22 Thunderbolt, 19th Fighter Squadron, 318th FG Flt 1, El. 1
2x P-47D-22 Thunderbolt, 19th Fighter Squadron, 318th FG Flt 3, El. 3
1x F6F5 Hellcat, US Navy VF-2 "Rippers", USS Hornet CV-12 Flt 1, El. 3
1x TBA (TBA = "To Be Advised" - based on no-show from other squads)

LLv34 - 2nd wave
3x F6F3 Hellcat, US Navy VF-32 "Outlaw`s Bandits", USS Langley CVL-27 Flt 2, El. 3

102nd - 2nd wave
1x B-24J-100 Liberator, No. 42 Squadron RAAF (FB) Flt 1, Sect. 1
4x TBM-3 AvengerMarine Torpedo Bomber Squadron 234, USMC Flt 1, El. 2
4x F6F3 Hellcat, US Navy VF-32 "Outlaw`s Bandits", USS Langley CVL-27 Flt 2, El. 2



Carrier Take Off / Airfield Deconfliction
Saratoga CV: IAF / =VARP=
Aslito Airfield: 242Sqn / EAF / 64th Sentai
Shamrock Bay CV: 102nd / LLv34



TeamSpeak Server
IP: 161.53.204.25
Password: vertikala



IL2 Coop Host
Will be the 22GCT Server at:
89.163.173.82:21000
password: n/a



Mission Schedule - all times in CET

We meet starting from 20:00 CET for Tech Support. Briefing and Line up starting at 20:30 CET.

20:00 Connection to the TS server, setup of whispers & technical assistance

20:10 Pre-Briefing in front of the MP and this thread

20:15 Connection to the IL2 Host, and selection of your aircraft, lineup

20:30 Briefing in front of the ingame map

21:15 Finalize Lineup

21:25 Final coordination between squads

21:30 Hit FLY


Cya all there, S!