Talk:AIF/@comment-14850713-20150405023126

IC:

The firing seems more intense this time as H Force once again charges the USN's southern flank. To make up for earlier losses, the Americans have placed the AFOH defectors in this sector. Though beefed up to full strength by USN crews, many of the officers and sailors are AFOH nationals. It is brother against brother.

With his carrier aircraft decimated, Bouexic brings the 10th Air Group into action. 60 Cobra IIs escorted by 24 Durandals swoop in against the USN escorts. As they are only attacking the outer edge of the Iron Dome and are much larger and heavily armored than the USN UCAVs, they suffer negligible losses and the escorts are either scattered or destroyed in place. But after forming line of battle, instead of engaging the enemy at long range, the H Force heavy units change tactics. The super-warships charge throughout the center while the 2 battleship columns swing around to attack each flank. Caught in 2 double envelopments and with several battleships sunk, the commander asks for quarter.

Tolbert: "Sir, they want to surrender."

Bouexic: "Tell them that each should rotate their turrets to face the bridge. Anyone who doesn't comply will be blown out of the water."

As the surrendering ships rotate their turrets, destroyers race around the formation deploying naval commandos to guard the bridge of each vessel. AFOH losses are light with 1 battleship, 2 cruisers, 2 destroyers sunk, 4 Durandals shot down. The USN loses 4 battleships, 4 cruisers, 6 destroyers and over 30 UCAVs while 2 battleships, 8 cruisers and 6 destroyers surrender. But Bouexic isn't happy. They had killed many of their own countrymen, and have sunk some proud ships that were in AFOH service for years. But to his chagrin, he discovers that the surrender was just a ploy.

Tolbert: "Sir, they're not here."

Bouexic: (with a wry smile) "Smart move. Move those ships to the rear and have them rearmed and re-crewed ASAP. We'll attack again."

The Judge, Jury and Executioner II have escaped the encirclement and have fallen back on the USN 4th Fleet elements guarding the transports.

OOC: One more battle Guy. I'll bring Clemenceau vs. Judge or Tonnant (with a small air wing) vs. Jury  in VIP. This will determine if the AFOH heavies get in among the USN transports and forces the withdrawal of the land invasion.