The Solomons Campaign 2017

[pierre the shy]

Well thats the USN official version of last nights events...the IJN dont subscribe to this board but as umpire l can't comment further on the accuracy of the claims made...

[paulr]

 

[paulr]

We will find out what the American aircraft return to in a couple of weeks when we fight out the Japanese strike on the American carriers.

Tonight is the night, have the Americans got a large enough CAP (Combat Air Patrol), how effective will the AA fire be, just how big is the Japanese strike and how well coordinated will it be

[Ace of Spades]

I don't know if anybody has read 'Neptune's Inferno' by James D. Hornfischer, but on the naval campaigns around Guadalcanal I would thouroughly recommend it!
From the strategic level right down to the blood and guts covered decks gets covered and written in a very comprehensable and exciting way.

Cheers,
Rob

[paulr]

Thanks for the recommendation AoS

[paulr]

Have the Americans got a large enough CAP (Combat Air Patrol)
NO!!!
Four Wildcats managed to break through the first wave of Zeros and attack a flight of Vals. They were promptly shot down or driven off damaged by the Vals' defensive fire
The rest of the Wildcats were shot down or driven off damaged by the Zeros

How effective will the AA fire be
Initially very effective but fell of quickly as the American dice rolls turned bad and the Japanese coordination improved

Just how big is the Japanese strike
Huge

How well coordinated will it be
Initial attacks on the carriers were not coordinated with other attacks and so were shot down by concentrated fire from the carriers and supporting cruisers and destroyers

The middle waves were supported by strafing zeros and dive bombed the supporting cruisers while Kates made their torpedo runs on the carriers
None of the cruisers were hit but both American carriers took multiple torpedo hits

The final wave with only a few Kates and Vals and no supporting Zeros (the survivors were out of ammo) had limited success

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Still sounds like a painful night for the Yanks!!!

[paulr]

The carrier clash was the only engagement for September, one Japanese bombardment force managed to fire on Henderson Field

We have started the October turn and the US Marines have conducted a reconnaissance in force, the Japanese are better prepared than the Marines had hoped
Will the Japanese assault Henderson Field this month
The US had to make some difficult command decisions this month

Peter will let us know the first engagement we need to fight soon

That engagement will have to wait until we finish the May 1940 game we started last night

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Sounding tense, what fun!

[paulr]

The first engagement of the October turn has been revealed

US forces to the southeast of Savo Island have detected ships close to Tassafaronga, they are too far away to determine numbers or types as yet. It looks like the Tokyo Express might have arrived

We will fight this night action once we have finished our current May 1940 game

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Good luck

[Ace of Spades]

Just make sure you fire at them as soon as they are in reach and with whatever you can hit them!

Cheers,
Rob

[paulr]

That is broadly the plan

My fellow American commander and I have settled on an aggressive approach, hopefully the Japanese force doesn't include the Yamato 

We'll see tomorrow night

[Ace of Spades]

All the more reason to hit them as soon as you can! Trust your radar; it's really the only advantage you'll have...
Keep us updated please.

Hit 'em where it hurts!
Rob

[paulr]

It is October 1942 so most of the US ships still have fairly rudimentary radar

Hopefully it will be working on those ships that do have good radar

[paulr]

US forces to the southeast of Savo Island detected ships close to Tassafaronga, they were too far away to determine numbers or types as yet. It looks like the Tokyo Express might have arrived.

The US Task Force deployed in two task groups of four destroyers, 3 cruisers and one battleship each. The plan was for TG34.1 to move around the north of the Japanese forces and cut off their escape route. TG34.2 would remain to the east and close with the Japanese once TG34.1 engaged.

The weather was good, too good. The cloudless sky revealed a full moon and visibility was 20,000 yards reducing the Allied radar advantage.

As both task groups headed west at 22 knots initial radar reports indicated three 'large' Japanese ships with more ships further west. TG34.1 began accelerating. The lead destroyers of TG34.2 sighted three cruisers of the Takao class withdrawing to the northwest. Two more 'large' radar contacts were confirmed to behind the Takao class cruisers.

TG34.2 turned north in succession and the two radar contacts came into sight, two battleships of the Nagato class. TG34.1 continued accelerating to the west well placed to cut off the withdrawing Japanese cruisers.



At this point the Japanese could see the destroyers and leading cruiser of TG34.2 and the destroyers and cruisers of TG34.1. The US plan was working and HMAS Australia opened fire at 17,000 yards under radar fire control scoring some hits.



The Japanese cruisers responded with stunningly accurate salvoes slamming into the Australia forcing her to quit the line.



TG34.2 turned west and closed with the Japanese firing in support of the TG34.1. The Washington fired on the rearmost Japanese battleship while the New Orleans fired on the third Japanese cruiser. The three cruisers of TG34.1 engaged the three Japanese cruisers and the North Carolina engaged the leading Japanese battleships all scoring some hits.



The last Japanese battleship was unable to fire its forward turrets at the Washington and so concentrated its whole main battery on the cruisers of TG34.2. The New Orleans was stopped dead in the water as 16" shells slammed into the engine room. The Minneapolis and San Francisco were force to turn to starboard, the Minneapolis narrowly avoiding a collision before being hit herself.



The Japanese fire continued to be stunningly accurate (the Japanese dice were hot all night). One destroyer of TG34.1 was forced to withdraw with all its weapons out of action. All three cruisers and the battleship suffered damage, both Australia and North Carolina were set on fire.



The US destroyers of TG34.1 launched torpedoes at maximum range before the entire TG turned away and the destroyers made smoke. The Japanese cruisers also fired torpedoes.

Much to the Americans surprise one of the torpedoes from the leading US destroyer, Selfridge, struck the leading Japanese cruiser. It failed to explode. As the US withdrew the already badly damaged Phoenix was struck by two torpedoes, the  and sank. Another Japanese torpedo struck and damaged the North Carolina.

TG34.2 also turned away with the destroyers making smoke to cover the slow withdrawal of the cruisers. The Japanese continued their withdrawal to the northwest.

A disastrous night for the US:

• one cruiser sunk
• one battleship damaged
• four cruisers damaged
• four destroyers damaged

All three Japanese cruisers and both battleships were damaged with one of the battleships appearing to be slowed. The Japanese supply ships had withdrawn and had not been engaged.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Ouch! Bad night for the US Navy!

[pierre the shy]

I thought the USN plan was pretty good, but without knowing exactly what Japanese ships were out there they couldn't cover every eventuality.

The Japanese force was pretty powerful as well and their covering operation ultimately meant that their transport group and escorting DD division were able to exit without being spotted.

The game breaker for the Japanese was their gunnery die rolls, which for most part were not far from incredible on several occasions, allowing them to inflict significant damage on multiple USN ships (I wasn't rolling these  ). Though it should be noted that the USN did manage to inflict varying amounts of damage on the Japanese battleships and cruisers.

Now to see what happens in the rest of the October 1942 turn.....

[DFlynSqrl]

Bad night for the USN.  Great looking game though!

[Roy]

nice read. cheers