| AAR- Pearl Harbor |
| Written by Stu |
| Saturday, 06 December 2008 16:32 |
|
The ships filled out into the harbor, 9 destroyers, 7 transports, and 10 Fairmilles; This was the US Navy around Pearl harbor. Coming in to attack were more than 70 stukas of the Imperial Japanese Navy. We work with what we’ve got. What would follow would be some of the most intense combat any pilot or sailor has seen in this game. Almost 67 years to the day of the original attack, it would be refought in the virtual world. It took longer than expected to get all the ships into position. I took out an AK 1917 Freighter with Motormouth as my crew, representing the USS Vestal, and we slipped into the middle of the harbor right next to the USS Arizona. Here we were in the middle of battleship row, the prime target, with a notoriously weak ship. The anticipation was unnerving. The first feint grey circles appeared to the north. Much of the fleet opened fire, 37mm anti-aircraft guns and 20mm oerlikons threw tracers up into the sky. Many of us knew the chance of hitting anything at that distance is miniscule at best, but with the entire northern, and southern sky filling up with aircraft, this was no time to hold back. The first stukas came right in at battleship row, and toward the other capital ships ringed around the harbor; Groups of 6 or 8 aircraft sometimes all coming down on the same ship. The bombs hit hard, many of which would ultimately sink a ship. My own transport quickly took 4 bomb hits in that first wave. After the initial attacks the stukas began to swarm, flying amongst and around the ships strafing the lightly armored smaller ships. Finding targets was never a problem for the naval crews, the only thing holding them back would be reload times. During this fighting I would see one plane diving at my starboard side have a wing knocked off by anti-aircraft fire, and then seeing another fly by, having his fuel tank torn open by Motormouth’s fire. But the fragile transport wouldn’t hold out and by the end of the first wave she slipped by the stern under the waves. The feeling of seeing attacking aircraft diving on you, following them with anti-aircraft fire only to see them exiting and several others already passing over your ship was indescribable. This was one of those instances where your own fate is well out of your own grasp during a fight. You could improve your odds with pinpoint bombing or ace AA fire but with so many planes and ships engaging each other, it would also come down to fate if that stray round or bomb would end your mission. The fleet held strong against the first wave, only losing a handful of ships. By the end of the second wave though, some 14 ships will have sunk or capsized, with many others reporting disabled engines, guns, and high crew casualties. Between the two waves of attack 45 stukas would be lost as well. Submitted by ''Stu" We publish after action reports written by players. If you would like to submit a report or are interested in becoming an official WWIIOL War Correspondent, contact MOTORMOUTH. |
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Comments (6)
1
Saturday, 06 December 2008 20:03
Goza19
Sounds awesome. Wish I could have been there.
2
Saturday, 06 December 2008 21:34
Xanthus
Man, I'm sorry I missed it. I was really looking forward to it, but I got busy doing some work around the house and at the last second it just totally slipped my mind.
3
Sunday, 07 December 2008 00:20
sheleldy
can normal infantry and paras and things infiltrate training grounds? if so, is that what the flak batteries are for?
4
Sunday, 07 December 2008 09:42
anfiach
This was probably the best realism event I've ever taken part in. Large numbers of participants and an extremely intense battle. Many thanks to the event team and CRS. I'm going to try and edit down Jammyman's footage to highlight the event.
5
Sunday, 07 December 2008 10:13
Eyup
Here's some vid: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3968563923726966173&hl=en
6
Monday, 08 December 2008 00:17
Meshifty
VIDDEEEOOO!!!???????
