An incident in the Gulf of Tonkin...

Today was a quiet day at the HRGG.  Of course with Christmas coming up soon, many had other places to be on a Saturday morning... but that did not stop a few of us to make it down to the library and game out a fictional clash between the French and the Japanese.

A one-on-one duel between HMS Canada (far end) and SMS König (near end)

Whilst waiting for the others to arrive, Andy and I decide to play a quick one-on-one duel between HMS Canada (Andy) and SMS König using my Figurehead 1/6000 scale minis.  The two ships steamed towards each other with Canada opening fire first thanks to it's larger 14 inch guns. At long range the Canada hit an unlikely number of critical hits, including a heavy flooding and and engine room hit.  Needless to say, with superior range and speed, the Canada was able to quickly open the range and pound the König to the bottom the the sea. Despite being of the loosing end, it was a fun mini-game and it shows the importance that range and speed can play in a one on one game.

Now, with that out of the way, it was time for the baptism of fire for my brand new GHQ French light ships.  Since for obvious reasons France did not build ships from 1940 to 1945, it was decided that the battle would feature exclusively Treaty ships.  (* denotes ships built after 1940, but was used for the battle due to limited number of suitable models.)

Glenn looks over his SSDs whilst pondering a strategy.

 

Order of battle: 

1. French
1. Task-force Andy
1. CA Algérie 
2. DD Fantasque
3. DD Terrible (Fantasque class)
2. Task-force Martin
1. CA Foch (Suffren Class)
2. DD Épée (Hardi Class)
3. DD Fleuret (Hardi Class)
4. DD Lansequenet(Hardi Class)
2. Japanese
1. Task-force Bear
1. CA Myoko (Nachi Class)
2. DD Akizuki*
3. DD Teruzuki* (Akizuki Class)
2. Task-force Glenn
1. CA Kako (Furutaka Class)
2. DD Asashio 
3. DD Kagero 
4. DD Shiranui (Kagero Class)

The Japanese steam towards the enemy...

with Bear unaware that his lead destroyer is in reverse :-)

Both sides started the game my steaming directly for the enemy with Andy squaring off against Bear and me squaring off against Glenn. 

French turn to present their broadsides to the enemy... and they need to roll 14+

As the ships close, the Japanese are surprised that the French out-ranged them.  Prior to the game, all players were able to inspect the SSDs of the opposition, however since they saw the Japanese out-range the US, they thought that it would be the same case with the French. The French players rubbed their hands in glee as they saw the enemy ships enter extreme gun range of the heavy cruisers... until we do the math and realize that we would need to roll 14s. The system goes up to 13, and so the shot is impossible.   

Andy plotting his movement and Bear looks on smugly assured in the invincibility of his ships

As the ships close, Andy and Glenn are frustrated by their inability to hit the enemy ships, while me and Bear hit the enemy with some regularity.  (A quick note, Andy and I were sharing the same dice)

My destroyers get ready to split the Japanese line...

And the aftermath at the end of the turn.  No more Japanese on this side of the board.

  

As we continue to close, I see an opportunity to split the Japanese line and take it.  By the end of the turn all of Glenn's ships are sinking to the bottom of the sea. 

Bear moving his ship in the unenviable position of facing 2 heavy cruisers

Since my cruiser was in better shape than Andy's, I go to trade broadside to broadside with Bear and Andy crosses the T.  Unfortunately, Bear rolls a lucky salvo and ends up sinking my cruiser, and Andy has an unlucky salvo since none of his dice is higher than a 5.  On the other hand, my three wounded destroyers finish off Bear's final destroyer. 

Start of the final turn's Gunnery phase.  4 French ships to 1 Japanese Ship.

With the ships damaged and bloodied, Andy and Bear go broadside to broadside, and simultaneously sink each other.  (When did  I write that before...)

So the end result is the French have 1 undamaged destroyer and 2 damaged destroyers.  On the other hand, the Japanese have no ships afloat.  This was a good game, but this game goes to show how vulnerable Treaty cruisers are when facing each other.  I can't wait to get more games of this system next year.

Necromancy and Naval Thunder

The Largest Table yet at the HRGG

In the absence of John (who was unable to attend due to business) I'll fill in and give the weekly gaming report for the Hamilton Road Gaming Group.  This also gives me a chance to re-animate my long languishing blog, but then again going to Grad school has taken a large toll on my time.. at least that's what I keep telling myself.

For this week week's game, we used Andy's superbly painted WW2 GHQ ships and the Naval Thunder: Battleship Row rules.  As a side note, the original set-up was to have the three USN battleships face a four ship Japanese taskforce.  However since the scheduled Shadowrun game was canceled, the idea was sprung to why not use the extra tables, and thus we played on what is most likely the larges ever contiguous table ever at the HRGG (that will show you John to put business before wargaming ;-) )

As this was our second time playing the WW2 rules, we use the base game as well as the Fast Battleship and the Acceleration optional rules.  

The sides (apologies if I messed-up the names and commands):

• USN:

• Commodore Nick, USS Alabama
• Captain Bear, USS Mississipi
• Captain Brian, USS Arizona

• IJN Taskforce Tōkei
• Fast Division
• Rear-Admiral Martin (KIA) / Commodore Kevin, IJN Heie
• Captain Chance IJN Kongo
• Battleship Division
• Captain Glenn, IJN Nagato
• Captain Andreas, IJN Mutsu

Another view of the table, with the teams setting up.  Americans to the Left and Japanese to the Right

IJN Task Force Tōkei in a smart formation.  From top to bottom, Marty/Kevin, Chance, Glenn and Andy.

American Squadron, in a new tactical formation

Each side set-up on their own end of the L-shape table, with the Japanese in a staggered line ahead lead by the fast division and the Americans in in an inverted V formation.  Both sides advanced towards the enemy at the top speed of their battleships.

As the Japanese ships approached the intersection of the two tables, the Americans discovered to their dismay that their guns were much shorter ranged than those of their enemies.  During the first volley, Rear-Admiral Martin died of heart attack and was immediately succeeded by Commodore Kevin who had just walked into the room. 

Andy rolls his dice, shooting at an absurdly long 76 inches. 

The Americans must steam into the teeth of the enemy broadsides, needing to close the range of 64 inches to respond.

Commodore Kevin giving moving the fleet flagship.  Chance and the far end of the table, who despite looking a little board rolled extremely well during the day, once landing 6 of 8 shots needing 8+ on a d10.

Andy measuring the range to the USS Mississippi.

The USS Arizona on fire.  Although we cant see it, the Mississippi was in tough shape having lost half of it's forward turrets.

The long range fire was taking its toll on the American ships, with the Mississippi at one point loosing all of it's forward batteries due to critical hits.  However as the Americans closed the distance and their shells started to hit with more regularity the difference in shell weight was felt.  Kevin was frustrated by his inability to penetrate the armour of his targets whist receiving automatic penetrations from the American ships.  

The Americans get into range...

and blow-up the Mutsu on the first and only shot by touching of the powder magazine.

Forced by a rudder hit, the Americans open up their broadsides

Where is the Nagato going???  A rudder hit forces it into a 180 while the fast division tries to open up the range.

Distraught by the "auto pens" the Fast division attempted to open up the range.  Under constant attrition from the fast division, the Arizona was the first ship to loose all of its hull points and in a slow and dignified manner, slipped into the briny deeps.  At the same time, it seemed that Glenn was systematically reducing the Bear's turrets, to the point that Bear was down to only one rear facing turret... and then the USS Mississippi's turn to slip beneath the waves. 

 

The final position.

The game ended in a final salvo that would make any Bushido following seaman proud as the USS Alabama and the IJN Nagato exchanged simultaneously fatal broadsides at each other. 

The final position from the American point of view.

It was a costly win for the Japanese with both Nagato class ships down to Davy Jones' locker.  The Kongo emerged unscathed and the Heie was severely damaged, but both ships are able to steam back to port, so it's a win none the less.  On the other side, all three American ships are sunk despite having a more "points" on the board at the start of the engagement.

Despite only playing for the first few turns and then becoming the GM, I really like these rules for they give a flavour of the period, without having to bog down into the minutia of having to calculate the modifier for the blood-alcohol level of your gunners.  I can't wait to play this again.