The Battle Off Cape Esperance 1942

Tactically and strategically the Battle of Cape Esperance is interesting. The USN gave a great deal of thought to improving their tactical combat performance, and to an extent succeeded by overcoming the Japanese Bombardment Group. Operationally, however, the ability of the Japanese Reinforcement group to land troops unhindered had greater potential impact on the campaign.

Honestly however, my motive in organising this game was to play out a medium sized battle using ridiculously large 1/700th scale models, because: the bigger the toy, the bigger the joy!

CA Atago and CL Nagara in 1/700th scale glory!

CL USS Cleveland: 12 x 6 inch guns, 12 x 5 inch guns!

At our local Returned Servicemen's League club we were able to set up a large table 16 feet long by 6 feet wide. This end represents Cape Esperance, Guadalcanal, onto which the Japanese must beach their three transports with vital troops and supplies:

The USN gained the initiative and raced a surface action group of DDs across the slot to seal off the western flank...

Whilst the CA USS Portland and escorts covered the eastern flank. The plan was to trap the Japanese in a cross fire.

But the IJN obviously had the same thought! Interestingly they left the all important, and relatively slow, transports off the table for these early moves - cunning...

Then the lead Japanese DDs turned inwards to set up torpedo solutions - gulp!

Presenting hard high speed targets, the USN escaped these first torpedo launches, but it wasn't to last...

The Japanese destroyers were obviously targeting our heavy cruiser:

Whilst we were more focused on getting at the transports, which had now appeared in the far left distance:

The Japanese were throwing everything at the USS Portland!

And eventually a mix of gunnery and torpedo strikes sent her down to Davy Jones!

As the USN had also lost a handful of DDs by this stage, it was time to commit our reserve - USS Cleveland and escorts...

This rebalanced the melee somewhat...

Allowing the US to sink a Japanese light cruiser...

But more crucially, bag one of the crucial transports and heavily damage another. But just as we were relaxing, the Japanese then torpedoed and sank the Cleveland!

Whilst the IJN had sunk two of our Cruisers for one of their own, and left us with only four DDs afloat, they could only now run in one transport before dawn to bolster their dwindling troops ashore. This operational defeat, balanced against their stellar tactical performance, represented a draw - We'll have to play this scenario again!

1808 - Bridge Demo!

 

Daniel came up with a small game scenario for this week's Valour & Fortitude game, adapted from a Black Powder mission - Bridge Demolition!

Central Spain, November 1808. Sir John Moore commands an increasingly outnumbered British Army whose Spanish allies have failed to concentrate in support and are being defeated in detail. Reluctantly, he orders a retreat to the distant coast where the Royal Navy is standing by...

To give the army a lead over the hot pursuit, the bridge must be blown, hopefully without sacrificing too much of the rearguard! Sappers are slowly manhandling six large barrels of gunpowder to the bridge, of which three must detonate successfully to blow the bridge. The arrival and emplacement of the powder and fuses is calculated using FOW immediate reserve rules, and successful detonation of each barrel is on a 4,5,6D6. 

The British commander has to make an acute decision as to when to order the bridge blown - too soon and he may not get three barrels to blow, and leave too much of the rearguard behind, too late and the French may capture the bridge! However, he has an ace up his sleeve - whilst he commands two fine Heavy Cavalry regiments, the French only have light horsemen...

In addition to the cavalry, the British have three line infantry Brigades and a composite Rifle Brigade. The French have four infantry Brigades and two light cavalry brigades. In the haste of departure and pursuit, no guns are present. The French southern column, have been sent on a long detour, have to reroll activation dice but still manage to arrive on scene in good time...

and immediately get stuck in!

The British Heavy Dragoons impetuously rush up in support...

As the horizon darkens with massed French columns, 

the French light cavalry set up a trap for the Enniskillens and Greys...

The Dragoons inevitably cut down many Hussars and Chasseurs, but the Heavy Brigade is eventually routed. Meanwhile the northern French column is also attempting to cut its way to the bridge...

Forming a pincer movement with the southern column:

The British bridgehead contracts:

Whilst the Sappers desperately attempt to bring up the powder - the first few rolls have unlucky!

As the French melee ever closer to the bridge, Sir John Moore, joining in combat after combat to no avail, falls mortally wounded and is carried to the rear. He takes solace from a report that all six barrels are now in place and fused...

With his last, dying, breath he orders the bridge blown. Detonation is successful! 

With the majority of the rearguard having been withdrawn in good time, the outcome is a British victory to sustain them over the bitter retreat to come...