Defending the Malay Barrier: Campaign Conclusion

 

The final objectives chart. Japan just one short of victory in the time allowed.

Objectives translated onto the campaign map.

During the course of the campaign, Victory Points (VP's) were accumulated by each side which will affect the level of victory. I will deal with that next.

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Defending the Malay Barrier: Turn 6, 1st - 15th March, 1942. Anglo/Dutch Sweep intercepts WAF Invasion Convoy

Doorman successfully intercepts the WAF Invasion Convoy heading for Batavia having evaded aircraft and sea patrols. The scene is set for the final surface action of the campaign. 

The weather is a force 5 'Fresh' with squalls. Visibility is a limited 19,000 yards.

The allied CenGroup consists of the Dutch light cruiser Von Heemskerck, destroyers Van Ghent, Piet Hein, Witte de With and Isaac Sweers. They are joined by the Royal Navy 'S' class destroyers, Stronghold, Tenedos and Thanet together with the Australian V&W class destroyer Vampire.

The Japanese escorts for the invasion convoy consists of the heavy cruiser Mogami, light cruiser Sendai, floatplane carriers Kamikawa Maru and Sanyo Maru, and Fubuki class destroyers Hatsuyuki, Fubuki, Shirayuki and Asagiri. 

The convoy transports consist of 2 x large, 8 x medium and 2 x small transports. The invasion is cancelled if they lose at least 4 transports.

Overview at the start with CenGroup in the foreground heading north west. The WAF convoy in the distance is heading due east. For the purpose of this game due north is to the right. A single rain squall is being pushed north by a 20 knot southerly wind.

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Defending the Malay Barrier: Turn 6, 1st - 15th March, 1942. Japanese Patrol intercepts US Sweep

 The rules used throughout the campaign is General Quarters 3 (GQ3).

The remnants of the Japanese Distant Cover Group newly transferred from the WAF, mount a patrol tasked with intercepting any allied forces attempting to attack one of the invasion convoys. Despite the poor weather, a Force 7 near gale with visibility limited to 19,000 yards, they spot the allied East Group steaming north.

The small Japanese force consisting of the heavy cruiser Atago and destroyers Oshio and Ikazuchi, move to intercept the allies.

East Group lead by the light cruisers USS Boise and HMNZS Leander escorted by 8 Clemson class destroyers, Stewart, Edwards, Alden, Whipple, John D Ford, Pope, Peary and Pilsbury, are steaming north when they spot enemy ships approaching from the north west.

The poor weather will adversely affect the accuracy of gunnery and torpedoes and speed is limited to 25 knots on both sides.

The first sighting of the enemy!

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Defending the Malay Barrier: Turn 6, 1st - 15th March, 1942

 

The start of turn 6 with just a handful of objectives remaining for the Japanese.

The Java targets will be critical and being large convoys will need a good deal of escorts. The Japanese of course must still capture Timor and Bali.

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Defending the Malay Barrier: Turn 5, 15th - 28th February, 1942

 

The situation at the start of turn 5. The most notable development being the fall of Singapore. 2 RN destroyers in drydock were destroyed with the remaining 4 having sailed to join the Dutch in Batavia. The objectives circled have been captured by the Japanese.

The Japanese must capture all objectives before the end of turn 6 to claim victory. The margin of that victory will be determined by the number of victory points (VP's) gained by each side. This will prove to be very tight indeed with the EAF in particular having no leeway for failure.

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On The Workbench: Italian & German WW2 Ships

 Refurbishment of 1/3000 scale ships painted eons ago continues. All here are Navwar.

Andria Doria

Fiume (Zara class cruiser)

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Defending the Malay Barrier: End of Turn 4, 1st - 14th February, 1942.

 

A summary of movements and actions at the end of turn 4.

The final possible actions at the end of the turn are the possibility of air attacks on crippled and disabled ships.

3 attacks are launched. WAF and EAF Land Based Air and a Carrier based attack from Ryojo.

Only the WAF are successful in locating their target, and not a particularly impressive one at that! The crippled Dutch destroyer Kortenaer escorted by another destroyer, Van Nes, are attacked by bombers. Aircraft availability proved to be poor with only 8 x Nell and 3 x Betty bombers available for the strike using medium bombs on a high level bombing run.

4 x bombers targeted the lead vessel, Van Nes, with 7 on the Kortenaer.

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Defending the Malay Barrier: Turn 4, 1st - 14th February, 1942. EastGroup intercepts Jintsu Convoy

Turning now to the final surface v surface action on turn 4, the US EastGroup reinforced by two New Zealand light cruisers successfully intercepts a very small Japanese invasion convoy heading for Banjermasin in Borneo. 

EastGroup had come through an air attack unscathed and now had a chance to interrupt Japanese invasion plans.

EastGroup consisted of 1 x heavy cruiser, 2 x light cruisers and 8 destroyers. The Jintsu convoy had 1 x elderly light cruiser and 4 destroyers escorting 1 x troop ship.

The Japanese convoy under the command of a veteran Admiral Tanaka on the flagship Jintsu.

EastGroup under the command of Admiral Glassford on the Boise.

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Defending the Malay Barrier: Turn 4, 1st - 14th February, 1942. EAF Japanese Patrol intercepts Australian Sweep

Turning now to the east, the Australian Darwin group escaped unscathed from a torpedo bomber attack and now make a dash for an invasion convoy heading for Kendari. Enroute they are intercepted by the Japanese EAF patrol.

This will be yet another night time engagement. The Australians are in line astern with the Australia leading heading due north. The Japanese patrol is approaching from the west at a distance of 15,000 yards (75cm) being the maximum visibility at present.

The weather is a very calm force 2 with clear skies. A new moon limits visibility.

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On the Workbench: 1/3000 WW2 Royal Navy Ships

More progress has been made refurbishing my collection of models painted decades ago. Hence the rather random nature of the ships completed. British ships have now received their refit and the Italians and Germans are next in line.

All are 1/3000th scale Navwar models.

Left to Right: Mauritius (this was a new model and may make an appearance in the "Defending the Malay Barrier" campaign), Newcastle and Belfast.

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Defending the Malay Barrier: Turn 4, 1st - 14th February, 1942. Japanese Patrol intercepts Dutch Sweep

Focussing on the Dutch CenGroup, their flagship has pulled out due to damage sustained in a bombing attack. The flag has been transferred to the light cruiser Java and the group has continued north with the intention of disrupting a Japanese convoy headed for the Malay peninsular.

Before they have any chance of engaging the convoy, they in turn are intercepted by the Japanese Distant Cover Group under the command of Admiral Kondo in the heavy cruiser Atago. 

Nearest the camera are the Dutch consisting of 2 light cruisers and 8 destroyers sailing north west. At the top of the photo is the Atago group consisting of 1 heavy cruiser and 10 destroyers approaching from the north.

The action starts during the 0400 - 0800 watch and therefore during the dark hours at this stage. No ships have yet been spotted by either side. After 10 turns dawn will break.

Neither side has the benefit of radar.

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Defending the Malay Barrier: Turn 4, 1st - 14th February, 1942

A reminder of the situation at the end of turn 3. Japanese objectives captured are circled.

WAF has completed 2 tiers and the EAF 1.

 

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Defending the Malay Barrier: Turn 3, 16th - 31st January 1942

 

A reminder of the situation at the end of turn 2 with objectives captured by the Japanese circled.

For this turn it will be a priority for the Japanese to complete tier 2.

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On the Workbench: Punic Wars, WW2 Naval.

 More additions to the Carthaginians for Trebia have been completed along with several more refurbished 1/3000 scale ships.

Only 2 bases will be required for Trebia but with an extra pack in the unpainted pile it needed to be done. A little more uniform in appearance than I originally intended! As with nearly all my 6mm figures they are from the Baccus range.

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Defending the Malay Barrier: End of Turn 2, 1st - 15th January 1942

The final actions of campaign turn 2 are potential air attacks on crippled or disabled ships underway for repair.

The first phase is a carrier strike group from the Ryojo attempting and failing to locate the crippled Houston and its destroyer escort.

The final phase are the Land Based Aircraft attempts. The WAF fail to locate the crippled HMS Dragon in poor weather. The EAF however, are blessed with clear skies and good weather and do find HMAS Canberra escorted by HMAS Hobart.

I used the Campaign Air Ops in GQ3 rather than Tactical Air Ops to speed things along.  

The first attacking wave consisted of 9 flights of 'Nell' bombers. 4 targeted Hobart and 5 Canberra. Medium bombs were dropped keeping the aircraft out of short range AA fire. Neither Australian ship scored any hits using their long range AA armament only.

The Canberra was faced with a heart-stopping moment with a near miss. They only had one hull box left and the near miss reduced that to a half!

The second Japanese wave consisted of 7 flights of 'Betty' bombers. 2 targeted the Hobart and 5 Canberra. On this occasion the Australian AA fire proved far more accurate. Hobart damaged one bomber and Canberra shot one down. 

As the medium bombs rained down Canberra held its breath. Even a near miss would sink her. Fortune favoured the Australians with all bombs falling wide. This signalled the end of turn 2.

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Defending the Malay Barrier: Turn 2, 1st - 15th January 1942, Allied Forces intercept Japanese Convoys.

Two allied naval groups have succeeded in thwarting any Japanese attempts to prevent them intercepting convoys.

EASGROUP v JINTSU CONVOY

EastGroup (USN) having defeated the Nachi patrol now approach the Jintsu invasion convoy. The USN flag is transferred to the cruiser Boise who leads 7 Clemson class destroyers north. 3 of those destroyers have sustained hull damage limiting their speed to 30 knots. 

Success! The Japanese convoy is contacted by the American sweep. 8 merchant ships/transports escorted by the cruiser Jintsu and 2 Kagero class destroyers make up the convoy.

 

The USN Boise Steaming north leading the destroyers in line astern. It is now nighttime.

In the foreground, the Boise sights a Japanese ship heading directly towards them from the east at a distance of 20,000 yards (100cm).

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On the Workbench: Ancient Spanish Cavalry, Japanese Floatplanes, Royal Navy Ships

Time for an update on what I have been painting this year so far. Starting with figures for the Trebia project:

4 bases of Spanish Heavy Cavalry. All figures are 6mm Baccus, 10 figures to a 40mm x 30mm base. A base of Italian allied cavalry was also completed having discovered I was one base short!

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On the Workbench: WW2 Aircraft Carriers Part 3

 The final batch of ships before returning to figure painting is now complete.

Two Essex class carriers and the lead ship of the Bogue class escort carrier. All Davco.
Back left to right: Intrepid, Bogue
Front: Essex

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On the Workbench: WW2 Aircraft Carriers Part 2

 The latest on the carrier progress - a quick update:

I have for the most part worked in batches of 3 ships and here is from top to bottom, Shokaku, Zuikaku and Junyo. All Navwar.

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On the Workbench: WW2 Aircraft Carriers

With the blog having switched to a nautical theme over recent weeks, I post here an update on naval painting, in particular aircraft carriers. I have purchased some flight deck decals from "Flight Deck Decals" (link on the right) which really are superb. They do require some trimming to fit as closely as possible the Navwar models and many are also suitable for Davco. The current naval painting bug has inspired me to crack on with aircraft carriers in particular to utilise these decals.

Royal Navy carriers (all Navwar) from left to right:
Top row; Hermes, Ark Royal, Glorious
Middle row; Ameer, Victorious, Furious
Bottom row: Biter; Indomitable, Eagle

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