New Georgia campaign July – October 1943

[pierre the shy]

Great stuff!  What models do you use for the barges?

Paul made up some MTB sized bases with a top down picture of a Japanese barge IIRC?

 

[paulr]

Paul made up some MTB sized bases with a top down picture of a Japanese barge IIRC?

You recall correctly

At 1:3,000 scale the barges would have been about 5mm long and 1mm wide so models weren't really an option

[hammurabi70]

You recall correctly

At 1:3,000 scale the barges would have been about 5mm long and 1mm wide so models weren't really an option

Useful; no mini-models as with aircraft?!  I assume these are, in effect, the Daihatsu landing craft.  I am currently looking at F-Lighters for action in the Mediterranean, which are about three times as long and equally difficult to find.  Operation Cartwheel will be next but in a few years time!

[paulr]

Vella Lavella
A couple of days ago we played the fifth and final game of the New Georgia campaign, Vella Lavella.

The Allies decided to bypass Kolombangara, American and New Zealand troops landed on Vella Lavella in mid-August and began pushing the Japanese towards the northwest shore. By early October 1943, only 600 Japanese soldiers remained. They were hemmed in around Marquana Bay by the New Zealand 14^th Brigade.

On 6 October, 20 auxiliary subchasers, barges, and other small vessels were dispatched from Bougainville Island, to rescue them. A force of three older destroyer-transports and six destroyers was dispatched from Rabaul under Rear Admiral Matsuji Ijuin to cover the evacuation.

In response two divisions of US destroyers were hurriedly rerouted to attempt to disrupt the evacuation.  The Japanese destroyers have been detected to the west northwest on radar. The second US destroyer division is rapidly approaching from the south but is an hour away.

All three of Captain Walker's destroyers have the latest, most capable radars, and, although the combat information centre concept was still a work in progress, all three had some version of a CIC. The ability to integrate radar and all sources of information into a coherent plot had progressed to the point that Walker opted to fight the battle from CIC rather than the bridge, probably a "first".

Historically rather than risk the evacuation force slipping away Walker decided to engage immediately.

The American players, after four wins so far in the campaign, shared Walker's confidence and rapidly closed with the Japanese. The bright moon meant neither side felt the need for illumination. The Americans, thanks to the advance warning from their radar, open fired first but did little early damage. When the Japanese did return fire the leading Japanese destroyer, Harusame, inflicted significant damage on the third American destroyer, O'Bannon.

(The umpire had neglected to take any pictures of the initial moves.)



As soon as they were in effective range both sides launched their torpedoes. O'Bannon had already suffered some hull damage and was dropping behind. The Americans guns were hitting more often thanks to their radar fire control, but the two to one advantage of the Japanese was starting to tell.



In a desperate attempt to avoid the incoming torpedoes the Americans decided to almost reverse course by turning towards the enemy. O'Bannon was already too damaged to risk this and attempted to withdraw to the southwest instead. Japanese torpedoes hit the O'Bannon and she would slowly sink over the next 40 minutes. The Japanese had not expected the radical course change by the other two American destroyers and the remaining Japanese torpedoes ran wide.

Two of the Americans destroyers had misjudged the Japanese manoeuvres. Chevalier, the second American destroyer, had correctly anticipated that Kagero, the third Japanese destroyer, would maintain her course. Four of the five torpedoes fired at her narrowly missed, the fifth was enough to sink Kagero in 30 minutes.



Two of the American destroyers had avoided the Japanese torpedoes but they had been boxed in and suffered heavily from Japanese gunfire. Captain Walker's Selfridge would sink over the next 20 minutes. The Chevalier had managed to break out of the box and was getting some hits.



As the Chevalier attempted to withdraw to the east two of the three Japanese destroyers able to fire on her scored good hits slowing her significantly and putting the last of her guns out of action.

At this point the Americans decided to scuttle Chevalier in an attempt to save at least some of her crew.

The Americans had sunk 1 Japanese destroyer for 6 Victory points and done limited damage on four others.

The Japanese had sunk all three American destroyer for 18 VPs.

A win by 12 VPs meant the Japanese would be prompted while Captain Walker would be transferred to a shore command, if he was rescued. This was the most decisive victory of the campaign.

Historically, one Japanese destroyer was sunk, one American destroyer was sunk and two heavily damaged.

The American players may have been better to fight at longer range to make better use of their radar fire control. After four victories in the campaign, they were, perhaps, overconfident.

Campaign Result

The overall campaign result was determined by averaging the Victory point differential across the five games.

With a score of 0.35 the result was a draw, very marginally in favour of the Japanese.