I ran the Pacific Jutland Scenario, mainly to get a small AAR and some screens. Needless to say, I am surprised at how realistic the naval battles unfold. The Key is to use squadrons, not full blown fleets. I.e, instead of a 24 BB TF to Represent the Grand Fleet, have 4 6 BB TFs representing each Battle Squadron. It works better, with more historical results.
Now, the AAR:
The basic premise of the small battle I forced: Japan, with supporting battlecruisers and predreadnoughts, lands at Suchow, just opposite Formosa. This draws the bulk of the Allied attention away from the main site, Camranh Bay in Indo China. The Combat report for the second day of the scenario (first day of battle:)
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/02/24
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Swatow at 46,42
Japanese Ships
BB Kashima
BB Katori
BB Mikasa, Shell hits 2
BB Hizen
BB Iwami, Shell hits 1
DD No. 8
DD No. 10
DD No. 12
DD No. 16
Allied Ships
BC Hood
BC Repulse, Shell hits 1
BC Renown
CL Courageous
CL Glorious, Shell hits 1
DD Valentine
DD Valhalla
DD Vanity
DD Vanoc
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Swatow at 46,42
Japanese Ships
BB Kashima
BB Katori, Shell hits 1
BB Mikasa, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
BB Hizen, Shell hits 3
BB Iwami, Shell hits 9
DD No. 8
DD No. 10, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD No. 12
DD No. 16, Shell hits 1, on fire
Allied Ships
BC Hood
BC Repulse, Shell hits 4, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
BC Renown
CL Courageous
CL Glorious, Shell hits 4, on fire
DD Valentine, Shell hits 1
DD Valhalla
DD Vanity
DD Vanoc, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Swatow at 46,42
Japanese Ships
BB Shikishima
BB Asahi, Shell hits 1
BB Fuji
BB Okinoshima, Shell hits 4, on fire
BB Mishishima, Shell hits 1
BB Suwo
DD No. 18
DD Enoki
DD Nara, Shell hits 1
DD Tsubaki
DD Kuwa
Allied Ships
BC Hood
BC Repulse, Shell hits 2, on fire, heavy damage
BC Renown
CL Courageous
CL Glorious, on fire
DD Valentine
DD Valhalla
DD Vanity
DD Vanoc, on fire, heavy damage
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Naval bombardment of Swatow, at 46,42
Japanese Ships
DD No. 16, on fire
DD No. 10, on fire
DD No. 8
BB Iwami
BB Hizen
BB Katori
BB Kashima
Allied ground losses:
42 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Port hits 1
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Coastal Guns at Swatow, 46,42, firing at TF 6
TF 6 troops unloading over beach at Swatow, 46,42
184 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese ground losses:
634 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
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Coastal Guns at Swatow, 46,42, firing at TF 6
TF 6 troops unloading over beach at Swatow, 46,42
187 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD No. 6, Shell hits 7
Japanese ground losses:
449 casualties reported
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Ground combat at Swatow
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 15413 troops, 109 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 5680 troops, 32 guns, 0 vehicles
Japanese ground losses:
25 casualties reported
The Japanese Escort Force fights two battles with a British Battlecruiser Squadron, and is later supported by the Escorting battleships. Mikasa will sink because of this, but the Repulse and Glorious return to Hong Kong after battle damage. In addition, thanks to heroic efforts, the transport fleet is unmolested
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/03/24
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Coastal Guns at Swatow, 46,42, firing at TF 6
TF 6 troops unloading over beach at Swatow, 46,42
164 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
DD No. 4, Shell hits 1
Japanese ground losses:
393 casualties reported
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Swatow at 46,42
Japanese Ships
CL Tsushima, Shell hits 12, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
CL Tsugaru, Shell hits 22, on fire, heavy damage
DD No. 4, Shell hits 1
DD No. 6
AP Aki Maru
AP Anyo Maru
AP Arizana Maru
AP Chowa Maru
AP Hanakawa Maru
AP Husimi Maru
AP Jinsan Maru
AP Kamo Maru
AP Karachi Maru
AP Kasima Maru
AP Keisho Maru
AK Kosei Maru
Allied Ships
BC Hood, Shell hits 1
BC Renown, Shell hits 4
CL Courageous, Shell hits 22, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
DD Valentine
DD Valhalla
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Night Time Surface Combat at 45,43
Japanese Ships
CL Tsugaru, Shell hits 37, and is sunk
DD No. 4, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
DD No. 6, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
AP Aki Maru
AP Anyo Maru
AP Arizana Maru
AP Chowa Maru
AP Hanakawa Maru
AP Husimi Maru, Shell hits 3
AP Jinsan Maru
AP Kamo Maru
AP Karachi Maru
AP Kasima Maru
AP Keisho Maru
AK Kosei Maru
Allied Ships
BB Agincourt, Shell hits 3
BB King George V
BB Ajax, Shell hits 1
BB Centurion, Shell hits 1
BB Orion
BB Thunderer
DD Huon
DD Torrens, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Parramatta
DD Swan, Shell hits 1, on fire
Japanese ground losses:
48 casualties reported
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Day Time Surface Combat, near Swatow at 46,42
Japanese Ships
BB Shikishima, Shell hits 16, on fire, heavy damage
BB Asahi, Shell hits 5, on fire
BB Fuji, Shell hits 5, on fire
BB Okinoshima, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
BB Mishishima, Shell hits 7, on fire
BB Suwo, Shell hits 5, on fire
DD No. 18, Shell hits 2
DD Enoki
DD Nara, Shell hits 5
DD Tsubaki, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
DD Kuwa, Shell hits 9, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
BB Agincourt, Shell hits 1
BB King George V, Shell hits 1
BB Ajax, Shell hits 7
BB Centurion
BB Orion, Shell hits 7
BB Thunderer, Shell hits 4
DD Huon, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
DD Torrens, Shell hits 7, on fire, heavy damage
DD Parramatta, Shell hits 1
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Ground combat at Swatow
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 15433 troops, 112 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 8560 troops, 44 guns, 0 vehicles
Japanese ground losses:
21 casualties reported
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/04/24
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TF 3 encounters mine field at Camranh Bay (34,46)
Japanese Ships
DD Hakaze
CA Kasuga, Mine hits 1
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Swatow at 46,42
Japanese Ships
AP Aki Maru, Shell hits 14, and is sunk
AP Anyo Maru, Shell hits 1
AP Arizana Maru
AP Chowa Maru
AP Hanakawa Maru
AP Husimi Maru, Shell hits 10, and is sunk
AP Jinsan Maru
AP Kamo Maru
AP Karachi Maru
AP Kasima Maru
AP Keisho Maru
AK Kosei Maru
Allied Ships
BB Agincourt
BB King George V
BB Ajax
BB Centurion
BB Orion
BB Thunderer
DD Parramatta
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Day Time Surface Combat at 45,43
Japanese Ships
AP Anyo Maru
AP Arizana Maru, Shell hits 8, and is sunk
AP Chowa Maru, Shell hits 7, and is sunk
AP Hanakawa Maru
AP Jinsan Maru, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
AP Kamo Maru, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
AP Karachi Maru, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
AP Kasima Maru, Shell hits 2, on fire
AP Keisho Maru, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
AK Kosei Maru, Shell hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
BB Agincourt
BB King George V
BB Ajax
BB Centurion
BB Orion
BB Thunderer
DD Parramatta
Japanese ground losses:
2851 casualties reported
Guns lost 8
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Ground combat at Swatow
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 15453 troops, 113 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 8463 troops, 44 guns, 0 vehicles
Japanese ground losses:
12 casualties reported
With the arrival of a British Battlesquadron, the escort Japanese predreadnoughts are all but destroyed. Shikishima will sink, but it is quite probably that most of the rest would founder if I had continued the scenario any longer. As a result, the transports must face the British guns alone. Their escorts, however, manage to knock out Courageous, who retreats to Hong Kong
AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/05/24
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Camranh Bay at 34,46
Japanese Ships
BB Ise
BB Hyuga
BB Fuso, Shell hits 1, on fire
BB Yamashiro, Shell hits 4, on fire
BB Settsu, Shell hits 1
DD Amatsukaze
DD Isokaze
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Sawakaze
Allied Ships
BB Iron Duke
BB Benbow, Shell hits 1
BB Marlborough
BB Emperess of India, Shell hits 6
BB Canada, Shell hits 2
DD Valkyrie
DD Vanisttart
DD Venomous, Shell hits 1
DD Verity, Shell hits 1
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Camranh Bay at 34,46
Japanese Ships
BB Ise, Shell hits 6, and is sunk
BB Hyuga
BB Fuso, Shell hits 1, on fire
BB Yamashiro, on fire
BB Settsu, Shell hits 3
DD Amatsukaze, Shell hits 1, on fire
DD Isokaze
DD Tokitsukaze
DD Sawakaze, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Allied Ships
BB Iron Duke, Shell hits 1
BB Benbow
BB Marlborough
BB Emperess of India, Shell hits 11
BB Canada, Shell hits 17, on fire
DD Valkyrie
DD Vanisttart
DD Venomous
DD Verity, Shell hits 1, on fire
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Camranh Bay at 34,46
Japanese Ships
BB Tosa
BB Kaga
BB Nagato
BB Mutsu, Shell hits 8, on fire
DD Hamakaze
DD Kawakaze
DD Tanikaze, Shell hits 6, on fire, heavy damage
DD Minekaze
Allied Ships
BB Iron Duke
BB Benbow, Shell hits 2, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
BB Marlborough
BB Emperess of India
BB Canada, on fire
DD Valkyrie
DD Vanisttart
DD Venomous
DD Verity, Shell hits 2, on fire
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Night Time Surface Combat, near Camranh Bay at 34,46
Japanese Ships
BB Tosa
BB Kaga, Shell hits 2
BB Nagato, Shell hits 1
BB Mutsu, Shell hits 9, on fire
DD Hamakaze, Shell hits 2, on fire
DD Kawakaze
DD Tanikaze, Shell hits 9, and is sunk
DD Minekaze, Shell hits 2
Allied Ships
DD Wren, Shell hits 1
DD Wishart, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 2, and is sunk
DD Witch, Shell hits 1
CA Dupleix, Shell hits 6, Torpedo hits 4, and is sunk
CA Desaix, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, on fire
CA Waldeck-Rousseau, Shell hits 7, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
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TF 4 encounters mine field at Camranh Bay (34,46)
Japanese Ships
BB Shikishima, and is sunk
AP Hakusan Maru, Mine hits 1
AP Kaedesan Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
Japanese ground losses:
81 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
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Day Time Surface Combat, near Camranh Bay at 34,46
Japanese Ships
BB Hyuga, Shell hits 1
BB Fuso, Shell hits 1, on fire
BB Yamashiro, on fire
BB Settsu, on fire
DD Isokaze
DD Tokitsukaze
Allied Ships
DD Wren, Shell hits 4, and is sunk
DD Witch, Shell hits 5, Torpedo hits 1, and is sunk
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TF 4 encounters mine field at Camranh Bay (34,46)
TF 4 troops unloading over beach at Camranh Bay, 34,46
Japanese Ships
DD No.3
DD No.1
CL Kiso, Mine hits 1, on fire
AP Hokumyo Maru, Mine hits 1, on fire, heavy damage
CL Kitakami, Mine hits 1, on fire
Japanese ground losses:
22 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
Coastal Guns at Camranh Bay, 34,46, firing at TF 4
97 Coastal gun shots fired in defense.
Japanese Ships
CL Oi, Shell hits 1
Japanese ground losses:
379 casualties reported
Guns lost 1
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Ground combat at Swatow
Allied Shock attack
Attacking force 15506 troops, 114 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 8424 troops, 41 guns, 0 vehicles
Allied assault odds: 3 to 1
Japanese ground losses:
81 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Allied ground losses:
500 casualties reported
Guns lost 26
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Ground combat at Camranh Bay
Allied Bombardment attack
Attacking force 4261 troops, 24 guns, 0 vehicles
Defending force 1831 troops, 4 guns, 0 vehicles
Japanese ground losses:
16 casualties reported
Engaging Japanese dreadnoughts proper, a second British Battle Squadron sees far different results than in the first WPO AAR. Ise takes a lucky hit, and explodes, while her comerades are damaged. While neither side has scored a knockout, the loss of Ise is damaging. Anxious to protect Indo China, the French cruiser, escorted by British destroyers, make a valiant charge at the dreadnoughts. They fight well, but are overpowered. Desaix is sunk, and in a few more days time Waldeck-Rousseau would probably founder.
Total Losses (not counting transports):
War Plan Orange is not slated towards one side or another. Luck, player skill, and leaders all combine to decide the outcome. In the first AAR, the British were trashed. But here, they put up a respectable showing.
