The aim of this fictional Naval Wargame was to try out/learn/study air-attack rules against ships and night combat. So we had a 1942 Japanese Amphibious Landing scenario on Sumatra (one of the larger Dutch East Indies islands), which flank had to be defended against a small US Taskgroup, looking for it. To add to the expected confusion of fighting at night at close range within a Sea Strait (Gaspar Strait), we used general markers for ship miniatures. They would be replaced by the actual ship miniatures if they were properly detected and acquired, which would be a challenge at night. Damage was to be written down at the ship data cards, but only damage which was visible to the enemy (like fire, etc.) had to be displayed with proper counters at the miniatures.
The fictional scenario
The Japanese Taskgroup consisted this game of a heavy cruiser division and a destroyer division, supported by a (experimental) radar equipped H6K ‘Mavis’ flying boat. 5x G4M ‘Betty’ medium bombers were ‘on call’ to engage Allied interference on the intended landing. The cruiser Div. consisted of IJN Takao and IJN Mikuma (Mogami-class) heavy cruisers, both types equipped with 10 x 8-inch guns and 24-inch torpedo tubes. The destroyer Div. consisted of a 1930s Agano-class light cruiser (6 x 6-inch guns; only Japanese ship with surface search radar), leading 3x 1930s Akutsuki-class destroyers. They were ‘special type’ large 2000 ton destroyers with four 5-inch guns (after their 1941 refit) and nine 24-inch torpedo tubes. The 3 Japanese destroyers had Type 90 ‘standard’ torpedoes (27 tubes in total with some reloads) while the 3 Japanese cruisers had longer range/more damage Type 93 ‘Long Lance’ torpedoes (36 tubes in total).
The US attackers had 1 cruiser Div. consisting of two 8-inch heavy cruisers and a brand-new Atlanta-class light cruiser optimized for air defence (16 x 5-inch). USS Wichita (CA-45) was a 1939 heavy cruiser with 9 x 8-inch guns. The older 8-inch USS Augusta (Northampton-class) was designed within the limits of the Washington 1925 and London 1930 Naval Armament Treaties. USS Augusta was a typical ‘Treaty cruiser’: within the treaty limit of 10,000 ton a fast 8-inch light cruiser. However, her armour could not withstand incoming 8-inch shells. The US destroyer Div. consisted of two brand-new radar equipped Fletcher-class destroyers. The US attackers had only 28 torpedo tubes in total, with the much smaller & shorter range 21-inch torpedo. As reconnaissance asset the US had a modern, radar equipped PBY-5 Catalina flying boat. All US ships were equipped with ‘SC’ surface & air search radar.
The Japanese combatants had together 24,5 Victory Points and the US fleet 20 VP.
The US attackers had 1 cruiser Div. consisting of two 8-inch heavy cruisers and a brand-new Atlanta-class light cruiser optimized for air defence (16 x 5-inch). USS Wichita (CA-45) was a 1939 heavy cruiser with 9 x 8-inch guns. The older 8-inch USS Augusta (Northampton-class) was designed within the limits of the Washington 1925 and London 1930 Naval Armament Treaties. USS Augusta was a typical ‘Treaty cruiser’: within the treaty limit of 10,000 ton a fast 8-inch light cruiser. However, her armour could not withstand incoming 8-inch shells. The US destroyer Div. consisted of two brand-new radar equipped Fletcher-class destroyers. The US attackers had only 28 torpedo tubes in total, with the much smaller & shorter range 21-inch torpedo. As reconnaissance asset the US had a modern, radar equipped PBY-5 Catalina flying boat. All US ships were equipped with ‘SC’ surface & air search radar.
The Japanese combatants had together 24,5 Victory Points and the US fleet 20 VP.
Set up
On a 4 x 6 feet table, both 1:3000 scale ships and 1:600 aircraft. Unknown Japanese ships were red wooden markers; unknown US ships were yellow. Distance scale: 1 cm. = 200 yds. Wind: from EastNortheast, Bf 3, visibility: 35.000 yds (determined by dice; 4,000 yds less during Dusk). Cloudbase at 10,000 yds; density 40%.
The 2 US divisions (destroyer Div. front) sailed in line astern formation with 20 kts. towards Gaspar Strait. Course: 045. At start of game their Catalina flying boat operated at flight level 6,000 yds. approx 3 nm. in front of them.
Both Japanese Div. (speed 10-15 kts) guarded the norther entrance of Gaspar Strait (between islands); Their H6K Flying boat operated south of the Strait at flight level 9,000 yds.
Turn 1
On a 4 x 6 feet table, both 1:3000 scale ships and 1:600 aircraft. Unknown Japanese ships were red wooden markers; unknown US ships were yellow. Distance scale: 1 cm. = 200 yds. Wind: from EastNortheast, Bf 3, visibility: 35.000 yds (determined by dice; 4,000 yds less during Dusk). Cloudbase at 10,000 yds; density 40%.
The 2 US divisions (destroyer Div. front) sailed in line astern formation with 20 kts. towards Gaspar Strait. Course: 045. At start of game their Catalina flying boat operated at flight level 6,000 yds. approx 3 nm. in front of them.
Both Japanese Div. (speed 10-15 kts) guarded the norther entrance of Gaspar Strait (between islands); Their H6K Flying boat operated south of the Strait at flight level 9,000 yds.
Both Task Groups didn’t see each other, but their patrol aircraft could see their opponent Task Groups. They made their sighting reports. Based on the report, the Japanese Rear Admiral onboard IJN Takao ordered an Airstrike against the reported US Task Group, to be executed by 5 x G4M Betty medium bombers. Each Betty to be armed with 2 x 500 Lbs bombs, which are able to penetrate a heavy cruiser (CA) deck.
Fast forward to ‘Turn 2’
Japanese G4M bombers were briefed, armed, scrambled and appeared above the eastern islands of the Gaspar Strait. They were both visual spotted by the PBY-5 Catalina flying boat during Dusk and some of the SC-radars of US ships. Air warning Red; 5 Bogeys incoming fast; Flight Level 5! Bearing: 050, Range 15,000 yds.
Turn 3 (Air Attack)
Japanese G4M bombers were briefed, armed, scrambled and appeared above the eastern islands of the Gaspar Strait. They were both visual spotted by the PBY-5 Catalina flying boat during Dusk and some of the SC-radars of US ships. Air warning Red; 5 Bogeys incoming fast; Flight Level 5! Bearing: 050, Range 15,000 yds.
The Japanese 'Mavis' Flying boat guided the bomber formation by tactical radio towards the US Taskgroup. All miniatures were now visible. The US cruisers increased speed to 25 kts and both destroyers to 30 kts. The US Catalina dived towards flight level 5,000 m. to avoid a collision with the incoming bombers and cleared the sky for Air Defence. During the 1st Air Phase (Advanced Game Turn Sequence) the bombers overflew the Destroyer Div. All US ships (both divisions) fired at the incoming bombers at long range (due to the Japanese high flight level). No aircraft hit. During the 2nd Air Phase all US ships maneuvered to keep their Air Defense weapon systems aimed at the incoming threat. However USS Fletcher got out of range and couldn’t hit. 5 Bogeys closing fast; Flight Level 5! Bearing: 080, Range 8,000 yds. Atlanta take out southern bogeys, Wichita take out norther bogeys!
One ‘Betty’ was hit and crashed, but 4 Betty’s overflew USS Atlanta & USS Wichita. Four bombs were 
dropped at each cruiser, but all missed (due to the heavy Air defense put up by the ships, their high speed and the high flight level of the bombers - to keep out of short range AA). Sitrep: Taskgroup was attacked by 5 Bogeys from the east, one splashed. Units report damage and ammunition status, out!
Fast forward to turn 4 (Gaspar Strait)
After the unsuccessful Japanese air-attack, the scenario moved fast forward from Dusk to the night crossing of the Gaspar Strait. Quarterly Moon. Miniatures have been replaced back to their wooden markers as both sides were not supported anymore by their patrol aircraft. Both US and Japanese Task Group Commanders knew the approx. position, but not the exact composition of their opposing forces.
US Taskgroup consisted of 1 destroyer Div. (upfront; speed 30 kts), followed at close range by the cruiser Div. (speed 25 kts.). Their aggressive high speed was to surprise the enemy and diminish their response time at night. US ships tried their multiple and modern radar systems to detect the Japanese ships. USS Fletcher detected the Japanese destroyer Div. but was unable to identify (‘acquire’) individual ships. The US cruiser Div. was outside range.
Japanese destroyer Div. (only IJN Agano had radar) didn’t get a radar detection on the US ships and the Japanese cruiser Div. didn’t get a visual acquisition at this long range at night. No shots fired. Units also out of star shell range or searchlight range.
Turn 5
After the unsuccessful Japanese air-attack, the scenario moved fast forward from Dusk to the night crossing of the Gaspar Strait. Quarterly Moon. Miniatures have been replaced back to their wooden markers as both sides were not supported anymore by their patrol aircraft. Both US and Japanese Task Group Commanders knew the approx. position, but not the exact composition of their opposing forces.
US Taskgroup consisted of 1 destroyer Div. (upfront; speed 30 kts), followed at close range by the cruiser Div. (speed 25 kts.). Their aggressive high speed was to surprise the enemy and diminish their response time at night. US ships tried their multiple and modern radar systems to detect the Japanese ships. USS Fletcher detected the Japanese destroyer Div. but was unable to identify (‘acquire’) individual ships. The US cruiser Div. was outside range.
Japanese destroyer Div. (only IJN Agano had radar) didn’t get a radar detection on the US ships and the Japanese cruiser Div. didn’t get a visual acquisition at this long range at night. No shots fired. Units also out of star shell range or searchlight range.
Both Taskgroups turned towards each other. The US ships rushed towards the entrance of the Strait. Between 16,000-12,000 yds distance the US ships were unable to acquire the Japanese ships in the dark. However IJN Takao was able to acquire both Fletcher-class destroyers near the entrance of the Strait at a range of 11,500 yds; just outside max. searchlight distance. Although the US destroyers didn’t realize they were detected themselves, they quickly needed a confirmation of the type of (radar)detected
Japanese ships in the Strait. Otherwise they would loose their range advantage (based on radar). So USS Guest fired with her forward 5-inch gun a starshell behind the nearest radar contact. When 2 Japanese ships were illuminated by this, USS Guest and USS Wichita opened fire on those ships at a range of 11,000 yds, without hitting them.
Turn 6 (gun duel)
The US rear-admiral realized that the tactical situation could become dangerous very quickly: by opening fire on the Japanese ships in the dark he had exposed both his divisions and the unknown Japanese ships (with their formidable torpedoes) were
dangerously close… So he split up his 2 divisions, ordering a change of course (trying to defeat a possible Japanese torpedo attack and maximize the chance of a gun broadside towards the enemy). His destroyer Div. hugged the eastern coast but his cruiser Div. turned slightly to port. The US cruiser Div. was still unable to visual acquire the second Japanese Div. and therefor unable to open fire on them. The US destroyer Div. closed the Japanese destroyer Div. at 6,000 yds but had no visual on them as well (the star shell illumination was extinguished). To improve the situation USS Wichita fired a star shell towards the un-identified second Japanese Div. and when illuminated, fired a broadside 8-inch salvo towards an illuminated Japanese cruiser. 1 hit, without any visible damage. All Japanese destroyers
activated their superior searchlights and illuminated both US destroyers. Now the Japanese fleet had range advantage! USS Augusta and USS Fletcher opened fire at their nearest Japanese destroyers at close range, without hitting them. Only USS Guest managed to hit the nearest IJN Hibiki, with rapid fire at a range of 6,000 yds, although no damage became visual. Two Japanese destroyers could only aim their forward 5-inch twin turret towards the US destroyers, fired but missed. IJN Agano had no clear field of fire towards the US destroyers at this close range.. The Japanese Cruiser Div. returned fire at USS Wichita (which has exposed herself by gun flashes) and USS August at 12,000 yds, resulting in 1 hit (destroying a 5-inch gun of USS August).
Turn 7
The US destroyer Div. fired 20 ’standard’ 21-inch torpedoes towards the north, in order to either hit the Japanese destroyer Div. or Cruiser Div. The Japanese destroyer Div. fired 27 Type 90 ‘standard’ heavy torpedo’s towards the west (in the direction of the US cruiser Div.) and 8 Type 93 ‘Long Lance’ heavy torpedo’s (from IJN Agano).
The Japanese destroyer Div. at last visually acquired USS Atlanta and had now a full view on the full US cruiser Div., which maintained their 30 kts. course. The US cruiser Div. maintained radar contact on the 2nd Japanese Div. but had still not visually identified IJN Mikuma. The US destroyer Div. acquired visually at close range in the dark the Japanese destroyer Div. (including the cruiser Agano).
Again USS Wichita used a star shell to improve understanding of the tactical situation: the star shell illuminated IJN Mikuma. As soon as Mikuma was illuminated at 8,000 yds, Wichita fired her 9 x 8-inch guns and Mikuma was hit 6 times with a 118
The US destroyer Div. fired 20 ’standard’ 21-inch torpedoes towards the north, in order to either hit the Japanese destroyer Div. or Cruiser Div. The Japanese destroyer Div. fired 27 Type 90 ‘standard’ heavy torpedo’s towards the west (in the direction of the US cruiser Div.) and 8 Type 93 ‘Long Lance’ heavy torpedo’s (from IJN Agano).
Again USS Wichita used a star shell to improve understanding of the tactical situation: the star shell illuminated IJN Mikuma. As soon as Mikuma was illuminated at 8,000 yds, Wichita fired her 9 x 8-inch guns and Mikuma was hit 6 times with a 118
kg. 8-inch shell. USS August fired her 9 x 8-inch guns at IJN Agano, hitting her 3 times, resulting in 3 critical hits! USS Atlanta fired 12 5-inch guns towards IJN Ikazuchi, hitting her 3 times with a 24,5 kg 5-inch shell. And both US destroyers engaged the nearest Japanese destroyers at very close range (2,000 yds), resulting in several hits (rapid 5-inch fire). The Japanese ships were less successful during this gun engagement. Only USS Guest and USS Atlanta were hit. USS Guest was critical hit in one of her aft 5-inch guns but by flooding the magazine quickly could prevent an ammunition explosion. USS Atlanta lost a search light. Both Japanese 8-inch guns missed their targets at 6,000 yds.
(shortened) turn 8 (torpedo attack)
Due to real world time constraints, we only looked at the results of the ongoing torpedo-attacks.
Due to real world time constraints, we only looked at the results of the ongoing torpedo-attacks.
The badly hit IJN Mikuma failed her morale test and turned to steer away from the US threat.
The US Cruiser Div., unaware of the incoming massive torpedo attack, turned slightly to port to keep her (gun) broadside changes to a max.
The US Cruiser Div., unaware of the incoming massive torpedo attack, turned slightly to port to keep her (gun) broadside changes to a max.
USS Wichita just cleared the incoming torpedo threat, but USS August (the second cruiser in line) came in a spread of Type 90 24-inch torpedoes (with a warhead size of 375 kg.). Resulting in 2 devastating hits. She never knew what hit her as she didn’t see the torpedoes coming in the night (and didn’t apply evasive maneuvering). USS Atlanta at the rear of the formation came in a spread of Type 93 ‘Long Lance’ torpedoes (warhead: 490 kg.), resulting also into 2 devastating hits! Same story: complete surprise… The IJN considered the Type 93 its most important secret weapon. The Type 93, called “Long Lance” by the U.S. Navy, burned ethanol or methanol, using as its oxidizer compressed oxygen rather than compressed air (it is sometimes mistakenly described as “oxygen fueled.”). The combination of very long range, high speed and no visual torpedo-trail was deadly.
The 20 US 21-inch torpedoes ran out of battery power at a measly 6,000 yds and never reached the Japanese cruiser Div.
Outcome of this devastating night fight:
The 2 torpedo hits at the light armored USS Augusta resulted in 9 destroyed hull boxes (out of 8), all of her forward 8-inch turrets destroyed and an engine room hit. She sank immediately with great loss of crew.
The 2 'Long Lance' torpedo hits at the lighter cruiser USS Atlanta (only 6 hull boxes) made even more impact as those Type 93 'Long Lance' torpedoes had a heavier warhead than the type 90. The result was similar: she sank immediately with great loss of crew.
So the US task group lost 2 out of 3 cruisers, had 2 operational destroyers but no US ship had any torpedoes left. Their search & attack for the Japanese Landing Force was basically over.
What happened to the Japanese Covering Force? The flagship IJN Takao was still operational and had all her torpedoes available (incl. reload capacity). IJN Mikuma (6 hits of 8-inch shells) had 5 of her 8 hull boxes destroyed, her flooding continued due to a destroyed bulkhead and after a negative morale check had decided to leave the scene with a max. speed of 11 kts. IJN Agano had lost 33% of her main 6-inch battery, had to flood her 6-inch magazine (to prevent an ammunition explosion after a 8-inch hit) and was limited to 23 kts. after a critical engine room hit. Her conning tower/bridge was severely hit, so she lost the only Japanese radar capability, her destroyer Div. Commander and was out of radio Comms.
As the control over the Japanese destroyer Div. was gone, some destroyers were in bad shape as well. IJN Hibiki had been hit by 5-inch shells at very close range (rapid fire) and had lost 5 hull boxes (out of 7). and 50% of her guns. Her bulkhead was damaged (flooding) and her speed was limited to 10 kts. Not very operational anymore... IJN Akatsuki lost during this night fight both 5-inch turrets but could probably reload 2 of her 3 torpedo mounts in the future and because she had all her engine power available, should be considered reasonably operational. IJN Ikazuchi had a nasty critical: a jammed rudder. Conclusion: the Japanese destroyer Div. lost their Div. leader, had in total only 4 x 6-inch and 4 x 5-inch guns and were dangerously close to 2 US reasonably operational destroyers with a total of 9 x 5-inch guns, a speed of 32 kts. and a functional Div. staff. If the Japanese ships of this Div. would make wrong decisions in the near future, they could loose additional ships due to US gunfire....
Although we couldn’t finish the game, this remains a tactical and strategic victory for Japan: there is no reason for the remaining 3 US ships to press on their attack as they have run out of torpedoes (no reloads) and don't have a good chance to find and fight the Landing Force. They could only hope to sink additional Japanese ships from the Destroyer Div. Of our 4 games within this 1942 Pacific scenario 3 out of 4 games the Japanese Fleet won. Due to better armament of cruisers & destroyers, clever usage of float planes and torpedo reload capability. But bear in mind that US ships always had to operate further away from their homeland (more crew comforts needed onboard) and limitations on individual US ships (they followed longer the Naval Treaties and took economic measures like no torpedo tubes on cruisers, etc.) wasn't a limiting issue compared against the economic and tactical power to build far more new and potent combatants than Japan ever could.
Verdict
This fictional naval skirmish took us approx. 5-6 hrs play time to conduct those 8 turns (including making pictures & taking notes). Lookin at our aims this game:
Conduct of a Japanese air attack by level bombers. Valuable lessons learned on the amount & types of armament used and available tactics. Medium level bombing (outside close range AA) is very safe but difficult to hit fast moving ships with loads of AA.
Anti Air Warfare Cruiser: Those 16 x 5-inch guns of Atlanta-class light cruiser are very convenient during air attack, but also against Japanese destroyers during close encounters. A lot of firepower! They are fast, they are multi-role (with sonar, radar and torpedoes) but when hit by torpedoes you find out they are just light cruisers...
Night combat: indeed confusing and fast. We tried out non-descript formation markers (red & yellow), star shell (yellow crown counter), search light (yellow), detection of gun flashes, rapid fire, torpedoes (purple launch location & direction), the whole lot. And continued our 'house rule (?)' of not telling your opponent what kind of damage a ship has. Apart from the obvious damage you can see from the outside (at night!): fire, etc. But damage to torpedo tube, searchlight, DCT, amount of hullboxes hit, etc. you don’t know from an opponent at a certain distance. We forgot the former learning point of last game: you must tell your opponent your current speed limit. In reality a warship has a decent assessment of the speed of an opponent (based on radar or bearing plot) but within the game that is quite difficult to determine.
