South Pacific Action - The Bombing of Rabaul
 
The Bombing of Rabaul
South Pacific Action - This is an SEC three part series.
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History
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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.
Â
This Sunday European Campaign combat series, “South Pacific Actionâ€, is a compilation of some of the
most important aerial campaigns fought in the South Pacific. Please join us for this great event.
Â
Sunday European Campaign for January starts at 8:00 pm UK, 2100 CET, and 3:00 pm EST.
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This is a Unlimited event. This is a mass ground attack and defense mission.
Frame 3
From 12 October 1943, as part of Operation Cartwheel, the U.S. Fifth Air Force, the Royal Australian
Air Force and the Royal New Zealand Air Force—directed by the Allied air commander in the South
West Pacific Area, General George Kenny—launched a sustained campaign of bombing against the
airfields and port of Rabaul. After the first raid of 349 aircraft, bad weather blunted the effect of bombing,
which saw only a single raid by 50 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers on 18 October. However sustained
attacks resumed on 23 October and continued for six days, before culminating in the large raid of 2
November. Nine squadrons of B-25s— totaling 72 bombers—and six squadrons of P-38 Lightning escorts
attacked the anti-aircraft defenses and Simpson Harbor with minimum altitude strafing and bombing
attacks. Eight B-25s were shot down by AAA or Japanese naval fighters, or crashed attempting to return
to base. Among them was that of Major Raymond H. Wilkins of the 3rd Attack Group, posthumously
awarded the Medal of Honor for his leadership. Nine of the 80 P-38s were also lost.
Objectives: Engage in a battle of attrition to destroy or defend the main IJN sea base at Rabaul.
Axis: Defend P33 and the Japanese fleet from attack American bombers.
A6M3 - Launch from field A2 and attack the in coming bomber raid.
KI-61 - Launch from field A34 and attack in coming American fighters.
Restrictions: None, All aircraft may refuel at any friendly airfield.
Allies: Attack and destroy the IJN fleet and the Naval Station P33 at Rabaul.
B-25H - Launch from A25 and proceed to attack shipping in the Rabaul harbor.
A-20G - Launch from A27 attack and destroy the port facility at P33. (Targets: Hangars, Radar and Ack)
P-38G - Launch from A26 and provide top cover for bomber group over Rabaul target area.
Restrictions: None, Fighter may NOT carry ordnance.
Victory Conditions:
Allies must destroy all hangars and ack guns at P33 and sink 12 of 18 ships in Rabaul harbor to declare frame victory.
Frame 1 - Arena Setting:
1. Terrain – Solomons
2. Icon Range - short
3. Wind – 0 kts
4. Time – Start time 0600
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
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Designer Notes: This is a multi-action air, sea, and land campaign. Should be fun...
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Event Designer: Redtail7 December 2012
The Bombing of Rabaul
South Pacific Action - This is an SEC three part series.
Â
History
Â
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.
Â
This Sunday European Campaign combat series, “South Pacific Actionâ€, is a compilation of some of the
most important aerial campaigns fought in the South Pacific. Please join us for this great event.
Â
Sunday European Campaign for January starts at 8:00 pm UK, 2100 CET, and 3:00 pm EST.
Â
This is a Unlimited event. This is a mass ground attack and defense mission.
Frame 3
From 12 October 1943, as part of Operation Cartwheel, the U.S. Fifth Air Force, the Royal Australian
Air Force and the Royal New Zealand Air Force—directed by the Allied air commander in the South
West Pacific Area, General George Kenny—launched a sustained campaign of bombing against the
airfields and port of Rabaul. After the first raid of 349 aircraft, bad weather blunted the effect of bombing,
which saw only a single raid by 50 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers on 18 October. However sustained
attacks resumed on 23 October and continued for six days, before culminating in the large raid of 2
November. Nine squadrons of B-25s— totaling 72 bombers—and six squadrons of P-38 Lightning escorts
attacked the anti-aircraft defenses and Simpson Harbor with minimum altitude strafing and bombing
attacks. Eight B-25s were shot down by AAA or Japanese naval fighters, or crashed attempting to return
to base. Among them was that of Major Raymond H. Wilkins of the 3rd Attack Group, posthumously
awarded the Medal of Honor for his leadership. Nine of the 80 P-38s were also lost.
Objectives: Engage in a battle of attrition to destroy or defend the main IJN sea base at Rabaul.
Axis: Defend P33 and the Japanese fleet from attack American bombers.
A6M3 - Launch from field A2 and attack the in coming bomber raid.
KI-61 - Launch from field A34 and attack in coming American fighters.
Restrictions: None, All aircraft may refuel at any friendly airfield.
Allies: Attack and destroy the IJN fleet and the Naval Station P33 at Rabaul.
B-25H - Launch from A25 and proceed to attack shipping in the Rabaul harbor.
A-20G - Launch from A27 attack and destroy the port facility at P33. (Targets: Hangars, Radar and Ack)
P-38G - Launch from A26 and provide top cover for bomber group over Rabaul target area.
Restrictions: None, Fighter may NOT carry ordnance.
Victory Conditions:
Allies must destroy all hangars and ack guns at P33 and sink 12 of 18 ships in Rabaul harbor to declare frame victory.
Frame 1 - Arena Setting:
1. Terrain – Solomons
2. Icon Range - short
3. Wind – 0 kts
4. Time – Start time 0600
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
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Designer Notes: This is a multi-action air, sea, and land campaign. Should be fun...
Â
Event Designer: Redtail7 December 2012