South Pacific Action - Raid on Guadalcanal

 
Artist Credit: The award winning Aviation Artist Stan Stokes for "Ace in a Day".
 
Raid on Guadalcanal
 
South Pacific Action - This is an SEC three part series.
 
History
 
As World War II began in the Pacific with the surprise attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor Hawaii
on December 7th 1941, the stage was set for the most brutal air battles to be fought during the war.
A woefully unprepared United States arose to fight not only a country, but a culture of warriorism.
The Imperial Japanese forces continued their string of successful victories which lead to a conquered
area as far east as the Fiji Islands and as far south as Java. This was a massive area of conquest and a
unbelievable and daunting task to retake for the Allies.  After the historic sea battle at the Coral Sea,
this was fought to a draw. The American's embarked on their initial and historic island hoping campaign
to defeat the Japanese in their own territory.
 
This Sunday European Campaign combat series, “South Pacific Action”, is a compilation of some of the
most important aerial campaigns fought in the South Pacific. Please join us for this great event.
 
Sunday European Campaign for January starts at 8:00 pm UK, 2100 CET, and 3:00 pm EST.
 
This is a Unlimited event. This is a capture the flag event.
 

 
Frame 1
 
Throughout August, small numbers of U.S. aircraft and their crews continued to arrive at Guadalcanal.
By the end of August, 64 aircraft of various types were stationed at Henderson Field. On September 3,
the commander of 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, U.S. Marine Brigadier General Roy S. Geiger, arrived with his
staff and took command of all air operations at Henderson Field. Air battles between the Allied aircraft
at Henderson and Japanese bombers and fighters from Rabaul continued almost daily. Between August
26 and September 5, the U.S. lost about 15 aircraft while the Japanese lost approximately 19 aircraft.
More than half of the downed U.S. aircrews were rescued while most of the Japanese aircrews were
never recovered. The eight-hour round trip flight from Rabaul to Guadalcanal, about 1,120 miles (1,800 km)
total, seriously hampered Japanese efforts to establish air superiority over Henderson Field. Australian
coast watchers on Bougainville and New Georgia islands were often able to provide Allied forces on
Guadalcanal with advance notice of inbound Japanese air strikes, allowing the U.S. fighters time to
take off and position themselves to attack the Japanese bombers and fighters as they approached
the island. Thus, the Japanese air forces were slowly losing a war of attrition in the skies above Guadalcanal.
 
 
Axis
 
Objectives: Paths to Axis victory.

1. Capture the airfield at A3 and destroy the American fleet.

2. Destroy all fighter and bomber hangars on airfield A4 (Henderson field)
  
Aircraft: A6M2, A6M3, G4M1, D3A1, B5N2 ( All aircraft available at A11).
 
Restrictions: None.
 
Allies
 
Objectives:  Path to Allied victory.

1. Capture Vehicle base V6 and destroy 7 enemy ships.

2. Destroy the entire TOKYO express.
 
Aircraft: F4F-4, SBD-5 and P-39D ( All aircraft available at A4).
 
Restrictions: None.


 
Victory conditions:
 
See the side objectives.
 
Frame 1 - Arena Setting:
1. Terrain – Solomons
2. Icon Range - short
3. Wind – 0 kts
4. Time – Start time 2000
5. Fighter and Bomber Warning Range - 36,960 about 7 miles
6. Enemy Collisions - On
7. External view for bombers (F3) - On
8. Visibility – 15
9. Friendly Collisions - Off
10. Fuel – 1.5
11. Ack - .3
12. Kill Shooter - off
13. Tower Range – 36,960 for display to match the above setting.
14. Radar – Off
 
Designer Notes: This is a multi-action air, sea, and land campaign. Should be fun...
 
Event Designer: Redtail7 December 2012