Scratch One Flattop: North of the Louisiades, May 7, 1942

Started by MengJiao, July 18, 2022, 08:33:42 AM

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MengJiao

  The Japanese interest in intercepting the Devastators low down at Midway (which left them open to dive bombers from high up), might be due to the devastating torpedo attacks
on the light carrier Shoho on May 7.  The timing of the torpedo attacks was perfect and there were only 6 Japanese fighters trying to intercept and the 18 Wildcats got half of those.
Plus 3 of the defending fighters took off during the attack and the first wave of dive-bombers attacked first.  Still, almost half of the Devastators got perfect torpedo hits and Shoho went down
in half an hour (actually "in four minutes!").  On May 7, at least, the Devastators looked very good.

   Here's a couple of minutes into the battle and the first squadron of Devastators is starting its very slow torpedo run:


MengJiao

Quote from: MengJiao on July 18, 2022, 08:33:42 AM

  The Japanese interest in intercepting the Devastators low down at Midway (which left them open to dive bombers from high up), might be due to the devastating torpedo attacks
on the light carrier Shoho on May 7.  The timing of the torpedo attacks was perfect and there were only 6 Japanese fighters trying to intercept and the 18 Wildcats got half of those.
Plus 3 of the defending fighters took off during the attack and the first wave of dive-bombers attacked first.  Still, almost half of the Devastators got perfect torpedo hits and Shoho went down
in half an hour.  On May 7, at least, the Devastators looked very good.

   Here's a couple of minutes into the battle and the first squadron of Devastators is starting its very slow torpedo run:

   Well...the Dive bombers sank the carrier before the Devastators arrived, but even on the sinking hulk, the torpedo planes got no hits at all.  Other losses were 5 Devastators to flak and one
Wildcat to fighters.  Kinda weird.