Summer or Autumn of 1943.
I had been playtesting variations on the new Naval movement rules, and foolishly stuck the Shokaku/Zuikaku battle group where the Americans in Sydney could reach it.
One CV down without so much as scratching the paint on the 3 US Fleet Carriers. (with 2 larger carriers making up a CV Group, it was really 6 or so).
The Japanese reacted with 2CV's, Yamato, BB, Cruiser, Destroyer, and some subs. The Airbattle was disastrous / Glorious, depending on who you were, with the the loss of the 2 Japanese CV's to only damaging one US CV. The surface combat was all Japanese, with the Yamato sinking the US BB, the Japanese BB sinking the US CA, and the Japanese CA sinking the US DD. Not one hit on the Japanese Surface Fleet.
Retreating, the damaged US CV was hit by one of the Japanese Subs, sinking it.
Total Floating Assets at the end of that turn: 5 US CV (down from 6), 2 CVL vs. 2 Japanese CV (down from 5) and 2 CVL.
The Irony was that the 2 other Japanese CV's were not in combat due to a lack of Aircraft, and were able to be brought to combat readiness by the surviving planes.
I know the Japanese suffered historically from a lack of replacement aircraft and crews, and this sure shows up in the game.
It was a real embarrassment to have that damn British Gladiator shoot down a Zero, though.
I will be putting together some after actions, and my thoughts on the new Naval Rules, as they pertain to the Pacific, in a little while.
I really enjoy this game. Currently working on subverting a whole group of A&A players <evil laughter>
Later...