On Thursday the Wollongong Wargamers played out the dramatic events in the Leyte Gulf 80 years ago:
Nearest the camera, the 1st Diversion Attack Force is on table with the two BBs and CA in Formation 1 (Column in line astern of the Guide) and an accompanying squadron of DDs. Waiting on the table edge in 'Delayed Reserve' is the 2nd Diversion Attack Force, of a couple more heavy cruisers, a light cruiser and lots more DDs.
At the opposite table end Admiral Darren 'Steely' Holmesitz USN is conferring with Rear Admiral Daniel 'Dan the Man' deHalsey USN about the orders to give Desron 24 and 56...
The IJN's finest were represented by yours truly in the green tee, perturbed by the challenge of the mission I have given myself! Fortunately I have the able assistance of Vice Admiral Baron John 'Shogun' Nishi-Namura who had already half-divined the Yankee plans...
As for the Japanese plan, all we have to do is get a single BB or CA off the far table edge.
How hard can that be?
The US Tin Cans lost no time in wedging the Jap Fast Battleships...
Both squadrons consisted of a mix of Fletchers and Bensons - the latter each carrying 8 torpedo launchers!
They take torpedo stations abeam of the lead Japanese BB - Hiei... (Yes, very few of the models represented here were in the actual battle - one day...)
The US kept the initiative for most of the game, so they were able to predict the Japanese moves pretty well...
However good secondary battery fire was able to disrupt the initial USN torpedo attack - at the cost of lighting up the entire Imperial navy! Given our mission parameters, we also opened up with our primary 14 inch rifles on the pesky US tin cans...
USS Walke was sunk and USS Blue remained barely afloat...steering failure saw her sail gamely on into the oncoming 2nd Diversion Attack Force, where she quickly met her fate.
However their sisters got their revenge - Hiei was hit by multiple torpedos and sunk!
By this time the US Battle Line was on table, kicking ass and taking names!
Buckling under the pressure, the Mogami threw a crazy ivan and retreated to protection of the 2nd Diversion Attack force, leaving Krisihima to continue its high speed run out of the strait on its own!
Just as Krishima was approaching the table edge, another squadron of USN destroyers had surrounded her - one on each quarter, each packing a full load of torpedoes...
Bruised but not battered at this stage, Krishima was still capable of making full revolutions so the torpedo solution from each of the 4 DDs required a 5 on a D6...
The US team rolled: all four spreads missed! A hard fought and exciting game that went right down to the wire...I will admit I had doubts about the scenario but it worked well in practice and I would definitely revisit this one again - hopefully with accurate ship models!
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