THE BATTLE OF MIDWAY - SWWAS DELUXE (2018 version)
The SWWAS Midway events were an evolutionary experience. With results being 1-1-1.
The first game ended up with the Japanese only making contact with the USN CV group just about the time the Americans had contact and were in bound. The Japanese were dealing with whether to launch their strike against Midway or rearm with AP and torpedo and attack the new sighting. Luckily for them they went forward with their strike (though damage to MIDWAY was minimal (2 MIDWAY hits, IIRC). The Americans appeared with a strong strike force and chose to concentrate on a single CV ... CAP and AAA caused minimal bomber losses (fighter escort by the Americans was strong) ,,, multiple hits by the dive-bombers and none by the torpedo bombers. At the time, I adjudicated that the Akagi had been crippled (1 Hull hit short of floundering) with its flight deck being rendered NMC - upon further review, the hull hits should have been doubled due to excess damage from aircraft AP vs light or no armor - which would have resulted in the Akagi being sunk. Though inconclusive, I declared it a tactical victory for the Allied players - since we had to end at that point as we reached our time limit. Having reached about evening of day 2 (3 June) ... IIRC.
The second game ended as a draw. The Americans sent harassing raids against the Japanese Covering Force (4 CAs, 2 DDs) which were basically being used as a scouting force. The Japanese finally got a strike off against MIDWAY. The Japanese got the Covering Force within signaling distance of Yamamoto (aboard the Yamato) leader and changed their mission to bombardment and were able to achieve some hits. We ran out of time just about the time both sides were ready to start to rumble (about evening of day 3 (turn13 or so).
For the third game, I moved later in the action and gave the players more flexibility in force placement. We started with the morning turn of day 3 (4 June). The Americans' midway scout planes were still able to make contact about 8 hours before the Japanese achieved a sighting. At one point, the Americans had a major strike from the Hornet and Enterprise headed to the Japanese 1st Air Fleet (the Akagi, Kaga, Soryu, Hiryu). But, their location rolls were poor (IIRC, a 1 and a 2) and they did not find their target. The following morning, they were not able to reestablish contact (though they did sight the main Bombardment force which had arrived at MIDWAY and were preparing to bombard her ... the Japanese had 2 strikes prepared ... Torpedo bombers with escort vs TF16 and Dive bombers with escorts bombing MIDWAY ... the torpedo bombers sank the Hornet and the Enterprise ... CAP had been neutralized and was only able to turn back about 10% of the inbound fighters. AAA was of minimal deterrence ... I think another 10% were repelled ... So, I think there were 3 steps of Kates targeted for each CV. The American return strike ... sunk the CVL Hosho and the CVS Nisshin and CVS Chiyoda. (the spotting reports were a little confusing for the Americans when the CVSs and CVL were reported as CVs and some of the reports were not exact. The American struck with 3 waves. The players decided to end the game at this point with the Americans withdrawing in defeat.
Topic: AARs for my ORIGINS "ACD presents" events (Read 6902 times)