The Manchurian War

The game was a fictitious battle between the Imperial Japan and the United States set in early 1942. The scenarios was a straight forward daytime clashed between cruisers/forces destroyer forces. Weather wasn’t a factor as we are still mastering the rule set. 

US: Houston (F), Pensacola, Boise, and four 4-pipers (J.D. Ford, J.D. Edwards, Alden, and Paul Jones in the west sailing east. While I do have some newer US destroyers, their painting is not yet complete so not yet ready for the table. Like the real war, my 4-Pipers were pressed into service due to a lack of American preparation. 

Japan: Nachi (F), Haguro, Naka, Hatsukaze, Tokitsukaze, Yamakaze, and Hatasuhara in the east sailing west. 

The 4-pipers were balanced out by Boise against the four modern Japanese destroyers and Naka. The battle was fought on a 10′ x 7.5′ table using a mix of GHQ and CinC 1:2400 scale ships. I purchased the CibC ships decades ago so their rating jobs are pretty basic. I have started to replace those models with GHQ ships, but the process is far complete.

The two squadrons started out at 25k apart. No radar or floatplanes were used ( I didn’t think about using floatplanes until it was too late). 

1000: Both sides closed to 23k while turning to open firing arcs. The US turned to the NNE with the destroyers moving to the unengaged side of the cruisers. The Japanese cruisers turned to NNW while the Naka and destroyers turned to WSW. The Japanese commander was unsure to which direction the Americans would turn, so decided to cover both possibilities.

1006: Both side continued on their basic courses eighth Japanese taking a more northerly heading while the destroyers were getting into position. Both sides opened fire at ranges between 19.8K with ranging shots but no hits. The cruisers quickly paired off with Houston and Nachi each other, Pensacola and Haguro, and Boise against Naka. 

1012: The battle was turning into a running fight moving north. Range was dropping slowly to 18.3k when Houston drew first blood, hitting Nachi but the round was a dud. Pensacola and Haguro traded shots, as did Boise and Naka with no hits on any of those ships. 

Nachi takes a hit.

1018: with the range between flagships at 16.5k, Houston and Nachi straddling with no hits. However both Pensacola and Haguro found the range with Pensacola hitting Haguro once but received two hits in return. The hit on Haguro stuck a port torpedo mount which also started a fire. Pensacola saw a 8” round enter the starboard side forward and exit the starboard without doing any real damage. The second 8” round hit a searchlight platform.

Boise also began scoring hits on Naka at 14.8K, scoring hit that passed through the cruisers hull.

1024: The American squadron changes course 4-points to starboard to slowly close the range with the Japanese. Noticing the Naka and destroyers being left behind, the Japanese commander order the Naka to close on the enemy rear. Naka turns a NW course when she is hit four times by Boise at 16.3K. Four 6” rounds struck the cruiser with two 6” failing to explode, a hull hit and her DCT was knocked out. All her 5.5” guns switched to local control.

Damage control on the Haguro quickly contained the fire and the ship continued in the fight unimpaired except for the lost torpedo mount and then takes a Bridge hit. All three American cruisers were hit with Houston taking a Searchlight (she has none) and Bridge, Pensacola with a Bulkhead, and Boise with a non-penetrating hit on V Turret.

1030: Both sides maintain course because they chose to (the two Bridge hits had no real impact this turn) with the Americans closing. Range was now down to 14k. Houston again hits Nachi striking B Turret and putting it out of action. Houston is hit in return, but the round destroys a searchlight. Pensacola’s Damage Control was able to contain the flooding and the threat to the ship was gone. As Naka turns onto a heading of NE, she takes a Hull hit from Boise. Worst, Naka Damage Control is unable to stem the fire and it spreads. 

1036: Boise’s fire is too much and the Naka and her destroyers turn away and move to rejoin the cruisers. Naka is against receives a hull hit while the fire still defies the Damage Control teams.

Nachi is again hit by bHouston and loses a secondary battery. Pensacola takes a Hull hit and loses IV Turret while Houston dodges the shells raining around her. The battles continues to move north.

1042: Naka’s fire is still out of control. Yamakaze begin to lay a smoke screen to protect the wounded cruiser while the three other destroyers break away to join the Nachi and Haguro. However Bosie is still able to observe Naka and hits her her Floatplane Hanger and starts a second fire. Haguro exchanges the favor and hits Pensacola’s Hanger with Floatplanes and starts a fire on the American cruiser. Both Nachi and Haguro take hull hits as Houston lives a charmed life with another Japanese Dud. 

1048: The Japanese commander senses that the gunnery battle is going in the Americans favor so he decides now is the time for a torpedo attack. Nachi launches 8 while Haguro can only launch 4. Range is 8.3k, speed 48kts. The launch was just in time as both Nachi and Haguro lose a torpedo mount in the gunnery exchange but no fires are started as the tubes were empty. However, other fires are started as well as each takes hull hits.

Pensacola also takes a hull hit while Houston escapes any damage. The American and Japanese destroyer begin too exchange fire with no hits scored by either side. Naka continues to limp away to the south but is finally able to defeat the first fire. Yamakaze is standing by to assist the wounded cruiser or to take off her crew and scuttle the ship. 

1054: Haguro is losing speed from the multiple hulls hits as she slows to 21kts. The Japanese commanders decides to have Haguro break-off while Nachi covers her. Haguro turns to due east while Nachi reverses course (turning from north to south) which both opens the range and covering both cruisers with smoke. Nachi’s Damage Control pout out her fire, but Haguro’s crew is still struggling.

The torpedoes should be reaching the American cruisers but they are steaming in formation unharmed. His frustration rises at the failed attack when suddenly the third American destroyer explodes in a ball of flame and smoke. Moments later the fourth American destroyer is also struck and quickly sinks. Clearly the Japanese misjudge the range or the firing angle, but the rapid loss of two destroyers has shaken the American commander.

Good news arrives at the same from Yamakaze. With the Naka and her escort now out of sight, the Naka’s crew masters the second fire and the ship is able to head towards port with her escort at 10kts. Unable to spot the two Japanese cruisers, both American heavy cruisers cease fire while Boise and the two remaining destroyers fire at the three Japanese destroyers. Boise misses, but the 4-pipers hit both Hatsukaze and Hatasuhara, with Hatuskaze losing Number 2 mount. No hits are scored on the American ships. 

1100: The Americans cruisers turn to port and take up a heading going due south. Haguro remains hidden behind the smoke and fighting her fire but Nachi is back in the open. Boise is fouling Pensacola’s gun line so the latter holds fire. Houston again opens fire on Nachi while Boise shifts to firing at Nachi as well. This disturbs Houston’s gunnery, but Boise has an advantage that she is not under enemy fire but must find the range. Range has opened to 11.3k with Boise and Nachi each getting one hit, but both are duds.

1106: With the American ships now sailing south, the Japanese destroyers launch a total of 22 torpedoes at the closing enemy ships. Range is 11.3kt and speed is 48kts. After launching, the destroyers turn away to the east to join Nachi.

All three American cruisers target Nachi but shooting is poor. Nachi’s return fire also misses. Haguro puts the last fire out but her speed is down to 15kts. Nachi reverses course back towards the north to close with Haguro.

1112: Spotting the torpedoes, the American ships turn eastwards, presenting their sterns and opening the range. Nachi and the destroyers do the same towards the west. The torpedoes are rapidly closing but haven’t yet reach the American ships. Firing ceases on both sides. 

1118: The Americans ships hold course and the torpedoes harmlessly past by the ships. The Pensacola is one-half hull box away from losing speed with a turret out. Houston and Boise are still combat effective. Going back into the fight with only two old destroyers is not tempting and the American make no attempt to re-engage. The Japanese commander is happy to get all three of his cruisers out of danger without losing any ships.

The Americans lost two destroyers and Pensacola will need to get some yards work. The Japanese didn’t lose any ships, but two cruisers took serious damage. Nachi can still make full speed, but lost both port side torpedo mounts and B Turret. Haguro and Naka will need serious work to get back into the fight. Given the Americans can have two cruisers ready to go after resupply, this was a tactical win for the US.  

This was an enjoyable game. The rules work well with a few tweaks. Total play time was about three hours, but that included set-up/tear-down, many stops for photos, and note writing. I am working on the newer ships that are in the painting queue.