Hello Everyone,

Well the 2nd Annual Pearl Harbor Event has come and gone. We had a really good turnout for this year’s event. 99% of the naval players showed up and probably 60% of the pilots showed up. I didn't get a pilot count, but I did get a decent count on the naval Ships spawned in. Last count I had was 74+ before I spawned into the Skull and started filming with Fraps.

One bad thing about my job is that I do not get to play in the events and I usually am on the sideline watching as I record the movies for them. But I can say that I get as excited as the players who are participating in the events as they do. The action from this event had my heart pounding and had me foaming at the mouth like a rabid dog. The action was intense when the bombers attacked the Fleet.

When the event was over and the second wave of bombers finally headed home, what was left of them I took a ship count of the fleet as best as i could before those who survived despawned and went to fight in the live server with a new campaign beginning. I counted 40+ ships that survived the 2 waves of bombers and by those numbers I have to award victory to the naval fleet.

For those that played in the Pearl Harbor Event, there are several threads where you can post an AAR if you were a pilot flying a bomber or if you were a naval ship in the fleet. There is also a feedback thread for the event to post your comments of the good, the bad, and the ugly of the event so that we can improve on this for the 3rd Pearl Harbor Event that will kick off the 2011 year of Special Events. Adding the Blen-T (in LIMITED numbers) is definitely going to be considered for the next Pearl Harbor Event.

In closing, I hope that those who participated will take a few minutes and add to the AAR threads in the Realism Event Forum and to the feedback thread. Your comments are important to us and will help us to improve the events in the future.

The action was fast and frantic when the battle began. I needed 10 Cameras rolling film to get all the action from different angles just to capture what i missed, and I know I missed plenty. I did get 40 minutes of edited Fraps that have been uploaded to YouTube for everyone to watch.Our relaxing Sunday was interrupted when we saw groups of aircraft circling south and east of our position. Idol chatter was soon replaced by controlled talk as guns were manned.  When they came, it was all at once, like rain, crossing each other, it was nearly impossible to see if they came after you; most of us just fired wildly upward hoping for a lucky hit. Bombs hit the USS New Orleans punching a hole in the hull, but our gunners kept firing.

Just as quickly as they came, they where gone, except for the few limping away, other attacking solo. It was then the N.O. scored 2 kills firing at lone stranglers at range. Many ships hit, some burning, a few sinking (including the freighter next to us), the N.O. had a slight list. The second wave came in from south, more of them and better organized, it was an awesome and scare sight, but we were ready, yet failed to kill any of the attackers before they dropped their bombs.

The Big Easy was burning as the last of the enemy left our sight, but the attack was over and she survived. - Frantish

I approached Pearl Harbor and took up position along Ford Island. I was in the position of the USS Maryland, Motormouth was my crew.
It started out quiet. Radar showed aircraft circling the harbor, and spotters would see them appear and then disappear back into the clouds. It was quiet but nerves were running high.
Then they came. The radio was hot with messages about a squadron striking the eastern side of the harbor but I paid them no mind; I could see planes diving straight on battleship row, straight onto me. The 37mm’s and 20mm’s opened fire but without much success at first, allowing a bomb to strike amidships, starting the engine room on fire. Three bombers crossed over Ford Island towards us and both the fore and aft AAA fire dropped two, and a neighboring ship struck the third. For another 15 minutes the fighting continued, and the Maryland claimed a 3rd confirmed kill. The first wave of the strike ended and Windy came along side in the USS Ward to assist in damage control but could only pick up survivors as the USS Maryland slipped beneath the waves minutes later. - Stu

Took command of the freighter USS Argonne with Delta96 as my crew. Moved to our assigned berth south of Ford Island. Other ships nearby promptly repositioned themselves at a safe distance - being an ammunition ship, we didn't take it personal.

Spent the early part of the afternoon composing our wills, writing goodbye letters to our families (and our creditors). Delta96 had the grill going on the aft deck, we had the beer on ice, and loud music playing over the MC1. Despite all this, the other ships still wouldn't come near us. We were just polishing off the steaks and a few more beers when the air raid began.

"I drank too much, I see three stukas in my sights," moaned Delta96.
"Shoot the one in the middle," I told him, squinting into the sun and trying to decide which one was in the middle.

Apparently the smoke from our BBQ grill attracted the Stukas, because we were attacked by an entire swarm of them. We were hit by bombs five times, and barely had enough time to grab the ice chest before the ship sank under us.

As we bobbed in the water, watching the fight around us, Delta96 handed me a bottle and said "Good call on the Light Beer." Later the Shore Patrol came along, 'confiscated' the beer, and sent us to the motor pool to drive trucks for the Bofors gunners. - Acroyer

As I looked out to my right....planes of the Hiryu flightgroup clung together with grim determination, and as my eyes scanned left...my Own Soryu airgroup was similarly tight knit - all wanting this to be the day they got their chance to wreak havoc!
As we arrived at our waypoint, word filtered in that the Enemy Fleet was indeed at anchor - and this would be our chance to deal them a decisive blow!

My Radio Crackled to Life - as Air Commander Greni ordered all squadrons to attack - and Our aircraft followed close behind the Hiryu's group - flying into battle. The other Carrier airgroups approached from different directions - hoping for enemy confusion to add to our victory

The Enemy seemed to be waiting for us - Ack Ack and Tracer tore up the sky, and before we had begun - two of our planes were blown to smithereens. Yet we pressed on - i commenced my attack run on a mighty Battleship - but realising that the angles were all wrong - i switched to a nearby Fleet Oiler - whose frame buckled as my Bomb slammed home. I dropped my lighter bombs on some nearby patrol ships and immediately climbed and weaved to evade the heavy AA fire.

Of the combined 40 aircraft from our two Carriers, perhaps 12 returned to their Carriers! Sadly none of the survivors was confident we had hurt the Enemy anywhere near as badly...

We received orders to resume the attack - and due to the loss of surprise - all 6 Carriers launched every bomber they had into one formation.

We approached the enemy fleet high and fast - and all dived at the same time - the Battleships tied together took horrendous punishment - and the Enemy AA seemed confused and less accurate - but as we pulled away and tried to regain height - they came back to their senses and brought down many of our celebrating pilots.

My Aircraft took heavy fire - damaging the controls and engine - but i managed to return to my Carrier, to find that few of our airgroup remained - and we had to withdraw before the Enemy counter attacked!

It was not the win we so badly needed.

Jamesi, Flight Commander - Soryu Airgroup

 

Here are the links to the YouTube Videos I took:

 
Video #1

Video #2

Video #3

Video #4

Thanks again to every one who helped organize and participated!