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. 

Ghukek's miniatures Bagley-class Destroyers

Some more ships Bagley  class Destroyers.  These will allow me to add some additional American Destroyers.  These are one of the last Prewar classes  so they are perfect for early war scenarios

They can also sub in of Gridley and Benham class destroys which were broadly similar.  All three are built for fleet action with 4 5"/38 guns and 16 torpedoes... American Torpedoes but still that's a lot of Fish. 
 

Ghekek's USS Wichita

 Thanks once more to Arofan's Shipyard (3d Printer) I have added the USS Wichita to my US fleet

The Wichita (which is really hard to spell) was a one off Cruiser and last US Heavy Cruiser of the treaty era and was consider a good balanced ship. 

From my untutored eye one of her significant improvements is the Aircraft facilities are in the rear not the middle of the ship.   I had to rebuild a crane from some wire after the resin one broke. 

Black Seas Assualt on the Barbary Coast 2

Saturday I was joined by my old friend Rob and my new friend Arofan for a slightly scaled down version of the same scenario from Wednesday night. Rob had the President and Chesapeake while Arofan and United States and Constellation.

Rob wanted to capture the Corsair frigate Crescent. The Corsair landed a hit on the President taking a damage from a return broad side with gundeck critical. Chesapeake hit her with her chase gun getting a crew hit critical.

Corsair ships are steaming out of the harbor taking shots at the USN as they try to escape. Three ships fire on Constellation but damage is minimal.

The Crescent slipped by the American frigates despite its damage it can’t fire this turn so running is its only option.

American broadsides smash brigs and badly damage one of the two Xebecs, the two fleets break past each other. One Brig and both Xebecs and the Crecent are able to escape.

The United States anchors, she and Chesapeake unleash broadside on the Martello Tower the damage is minimal. Chesapeake draws the Tower’s fire buying the United States a turn of reprieve (The united states had been drawing its fire all game). The President opens fire on the battery in the old fort and blast its to splinters.

Three American frigates begin unloading Marines and blasting shore batteries with fire. Once ashore the Marines make short work of the local troops and secure the batteries form the land ward side. The Chesapeake finally must abandon her chase of the Crescent as she drops over the horizon. A Significant victory for the American nave though not by a great a margin as the victory on Wednesday night.

Black Seas Assault on the Barbary Coast

This game was from Wednesday Night I've been busy with dad and husband stuff, so I haven't had a chance to write it up. I adjusted this scenario from the main rule book. The US Navy needs to anchor three ships in the harbor for two turns. They also need to stop at least half of the pirate ships form escaping for a major victory.

The United States Navy closes in on the Barbary corsair haven. Pirates scramble to get their ships out of harbor and out to sea. 

Mark and Dave in the USS President and United States lead the way engaging the Martello tower. The corsair frigate Crescent cuts across the stern of the United States but most of her guns miss. Franks ship Chesapeake moves to cut off the Crescent.

The action quickly becomes quite furious with Mark’s President cutting between two brigs (colliding with one) firing from both sides. A grappling effort fails. Dave in the United States blasts another corsair brig and lights it on fire. Frank in the Chesapeake blasts the Crescent with grapeshot and grapples the corsair frigate.

The President passes by the brigs and into the harbor and emergency anchoring maneuver stops her just shy of running around. She fires to port smashing the gun brigs, to starboard chipping at the masonry of the Martello tower and getting a lucky critical on the battery with his bow chaser. (gun ‘deck’ hit)

Further out to sea the corsair ships are running a gauntlet of American fire. The Xebecs and brigs get in a few good hits of there own but its an unequal contest. The Chesapeake secures the Crescent after a savage boarding action lasting two turns. Those corsairs refused to go easy.

Two Brigs and one of the Xebecs escape the US ships glide into the harbor suppressing the two batteries with fire. The Martello tower continues to fire but they do not have enough guns to sink all the targets. The USS President will need an extensive refit and the USS United States will also need repairs. The Chesapeake will probably need drafts from the other ships or US merchants as she suffered significant casualties in boarding the Crescent. Of the other US frigates only, Boston took significant damage.  A major American Victory.

Carnage and Glory: Battle of Green Springs

Rich Wallace was generous enough to host  a great game of Carnage and Glory based on the battle of Green Springs Mike, Mark and Max had the Americans while Peter myself and Steve had the British. 

My command consists of the 43rd foot Peter has the gun and Tarleton's Legion is in the distance we must move the supplies off table.  (Latter int he game I would have Simoco's brigade of the Queens Rangers and the North Carolina Loyalists)

Here come the Americans moving down the country road.

More are coming in behind them....

and still more are moving through the woods in the distance

the Supply wagons pile up but are moving in the right direction.  All troops are out of range for a couple of turns and not too much is happening.

Then Mike Paine's soldiers break out of the woods and faces off with the Tarlton Legion.

The 43rd is waiting for someone to get into range...

Tarlton's Cavalry charges and is shattered by a volley by the Pennsylvania Continentals. Tarlton's horsemen will route off the table.

Simco's troops come down the road... wagons move out of the way.

The rest of the British troops spring up (they have been hiding in the woos).

My reinforcements move up just in time as the 1st and 2nd battalions of Continental Light infantry come up.

Our few small guns (3 pounders) open up they do little damage.

Still trying to move supplies off now that troops have moved up.

Continentals and Rifle men move up on the left and our gun turns to face them...

The 43rd foot opens up with muskets and his shot at in turn honors are about even.

the 43rd is lucky in that the cavalry and militia on the road fail to charge.  I keep trading shots with the light infantry.

Mark sends Campbell's riflemen charging in against the guns and they over run them capturing two the Campbell's would win honors for this action.

The 43rd is charged while the soldier of Scimco's troops charge the 2nd Light battalion

The rest of the British force is lunging forward with cold steal.

The Americans break and run form my troops

A three cornered battle along the road mostly goes pour way.

Scimco's men run down the Yankee lights

The 43rd falls back under pressure but the remainder of the British line holds.

Mike Paine's men have taken two wagons and try to move them away (we would recapture one of them)

The Queens Ranges run down the American Lights for the last time...

the Americans break and run.

I make some adjustments to my line and start trading fire with American militia.

to my left Peter and the other British commander again launch another all along the line bayonet charge.  Far to the left the American's under Mike Paine are holding but getting the worst of a fire fight.

The British Bayonet charge is entirely successful American units fall back or flee depending on their moral even Mike's Pennsylvanians are falling back now.  The American Moral is one point above breaking point and Rich calls the game.  The computer rules it as British Victory.