PC: Akagi taken out during Indian Ocean Raid

[SealTheRealDeal]

Considering the following incident:

Indian Ocean raid - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Around 10:25, nine unescorted Blenheims from 11 Squadron RAF[46] attacked Nagumo's force. They were not detected inbound by the combat air patrol (CAP). Hiryū spotted the aircraft but failed to relay a warning to the other ships. As a result, the attack achieved total surprise.[47] The bombers unloaded at 11,000 feet (3,353 m)[48] on Akagi; the bombs fell close to the target with no hits.[47] Four bombers were shot down over the carriers by CAP A6M2 Zeroes (two of which were claimed by Kaname Harada), and another by Japanese aircraft returning from the strike on Hermes. In return, a Zero was shot down near the carriers and another in the returning strike.[48] This was the first time a Japanese carrier force had faced a concerted air attack.[47]

Would it be possible (possible, not discussing likelihood) for one the the Blenheims to get lucky and more or less replicate the elevator hit that killed Akagi at Midway?

 

[tomo pauk]

Considering the following incident:

Would it be possible (possible, not discussing likelihood) for one the the Blenheims to get lucky and more or less replicate the elevator hit that killed Akagi at Midway?

Of course. Only one of the nine bombers, carrying 4x 250 lbs bombs each, hits the elevator opening and manages to score two direct hits in the 'hole'. Bombs start the fire, and Akagi is in big trouble.

 

[sparky42]

Think someone over on NavWeapons wrote a short TL on this years ago?

 

[SealTheRealDeal]

Of course. Only one of the nine bombers, carrying 4x 250 lbs bombs each, hits the elevator opening and manages to score two direct hits in the 'hole'. Bombs start the fire, and Akagi is in big trouble.

Would Akagi still be a loss under such circumstance or would not being in a major battle allow for more effective damage control?

 

[tomo pauk]

Would Akagi still be a loss under such circumstance or would not being in a major battle allow for more effective damage control?

Who knows? If the fuel lines are in fire, with a warhead every now and then going off, with paint and furniture in fire - how easy will it be to extinguish all of the fires before the ship is all but a total loss?

 

[The Tai-Pan]

Who knows? If the fuel lines are in fire, with a warhead every now and then going off, with paint and furniture in fire - how easy will it be to extinguish all of the fires before the ship is all but a total loss?

Same thing that happened with the Lexington.

 

[Post]

Akagi's wiki says about Midway

At approximately 10:26, the three bombers hit her with one 1,000-pound (450 kg) bomb and just missed with two others. The first near-miss landed 5–10 m (16–33 ft) to port, near her island. The third bomb just missed the flight deck and plunged into the water next to the stern. The second bomb, likely dropped by Best, landed at the aft edge of the middle elevator and detonated in the upper hangar. This hit set off explosions among the fully armed and fueled B5N torpedo bombers that were being prepared for an air strike against the American carriers, resulting in an uncontrollable fire.

The Blenheims attacked with lighter bombs. Also probably during their attack the Kates weren't sitting fully armed in Akagi, because there was an attack on Trincomalee going on, although the Vals probably were, because they seem to leave for their attack on Hermes at 10:35, according to the link in the first post.

So, lighter bombs and different circumstances in the hanger, makes me doubt the result of OTL's attack at Midway will be replicated.

 

[Spencersj345.346]

Same thing that happened with the Lexington.

Not really the Lexington had her fires under control indeed they were all but put out it was the avgas explosion that did her in and her captain had smelled the fumes and ordered her vented just a few minutes prior to it. Basically if that explosion hadn't happened within a few minutes of when it happened it wasn't going to happen at all.