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.