Dreams In Orange Part 2 Battle Line Engagement at Meyham

 

For the evening I had 4 players Arofan retuned to command the surviving Japanese Cruisers was well as few battleships.  He was partnered with Daniel who ran most of the Japanese's battle ships and their close escorts. They faced off against Mark and Jerry running the USN. 

A Twisting battle between Destroyers and Cruises quickly developed.  USS Augusta and USS St Louise (the survivors)  of the night battle.  Were quickly torpedoed and sank. It was generally a bad day to be in Cruiser or Destroyer. Despite several attempts at long range Arofan's Cruisers only landed one torpedo hit on the battle line a disappointing result 

Nagato took a long range hit that took out her fire control early on and Japanese damage control never managed to fix it. As the smaller ships killed each other or attacked the attention of the "Big Girls" the two battle lines slowly closed pounding the see with long range fire. I decided after a couple of turns to grant a speed boost to bring the forces together.  After that... the action became more general as the small ships sank or ran for safety. 

Once the Battleships reached long and Medium range the hits started coming Ise takes  two critical hits including the lone USN Destroyer Torpedo hit on a battleship ... 

New Mexico takes three including a last torpedo strike by the Squadron of Japanese destroyers  

Ise becomes the favorite target of one half of the US line while the half other pounds  Nagato

New Mexico and Nevada are heavily engaged with Yamashiro, Ise and Hyuga 

 Ise and Nagato have their engines taken out and are quickly put down, so many hits are landed its hard to say who did what damage. 

Colorado takes damage from Mutsu and when her engine is disabled the Yamato finds the range. Mutsu, Yamato and Nagato finish her quickly.  In the end the Japanese lose two Battleships, the Us loses one several ships are damaged on both sides and the wrecks of cruisers and destroyers litter the ocean.  This is a minor American victory and a serious Strategic set back for Japan.  The Sharks are the big winners as with neither side being able to definitively claim the area to conduct rescue operations. 

Dreams In Orange Part 1 Night Action at Mayhem

 I had 4 players for my afternoon Game Peter and Arofan had the Japanese.  Bob and Ben Rioux ran the Americans despite being warned by Arofan not too! 

Needle Scratch "Yeah that's me...the commander of the scouting force, you may be wondering how I got myself into this situation." 

Here you can see the original set up.  The Americans have numbers 12 destroyers, 3 Scout Cruisers (Omaha class) and 8 Cruisers (I don't think of the Brooklyn's as light cruisers). The Japanese had 10 Destroyers, and 6 Cruisers.  The Japanese have long lance torpedoes, air dropped flares and better night fighting skill. The Japanese are trying to get past the American ships to make a night attack on the US Battleships. 

This was the Key moment of the battle movement phase Turn 1 the American destroyers to the right of their formation turned inward to cover the cruisers in the center with smoke.  The Japanese turned the other direction giving them an opportunity to move around the flank of the American formation. The USN is now in a stern chase as three Kangaro-Class Destroyers make their move  

The initial exchange of fire  results in the destruction of two US Scout Cruisers, one US Destroyer in exchange for the death of all five of the Japanese destroyers that used their searchlights. 

The Right Flank US Destroyers turn hard trying to revers course trying to catch the Japanese Destroyers at the top of the picture... 

Helena the one US Cruiser with a chance to stop the Japanese Destroyers is smashed by Long Lance Torpedoes.  Gunnery and torpedoes on both sides land hits as the big cruisers enter the fight. Japan get the better of it but its hardly one-sided.  

The American Destroyers take down one more Japanese destroyer before they sunk by the Japanese cruisers 

Three American Cruisers survive carnage... Portland in the lead is badly damaged and must turn away. The USN lost two of three scout cruisers, five of eight Large cruisers, and seven destroyers.  Japan had three cruisers too badly damaged to continue the fight and lost seven destroyers.  Its a significant (almost overwhelming) victory for Japan as the sun begins to rise.