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Does General Quarters work for the interwar period Pacific Campaign 1920 – WW II


Question posted at ODGW.com from Naval gamer.

“I am interested in war gaming the pacific theater from War Plan Orange in the 1920 through WW2. I have the following questions:

1. General Quarters 3.3: Does it contain enough ship data to play the US and Japan through this time period?
2. Does the Sudden Storm supplement contain the ship logs needed for that conflict, or is it just a campaign game with scenarios?
3. To model a USN - IJN conflict in the mid 1920's would I need Fleet Action Imminent?

Thanks”
Lonnie Gill, author of GQ 3.3 and more, responded to the question with the following:

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Sounds like quite a project. We’ll be interested in hearing how it progresses. In answer to your questions, GQ 3.3 by itself does not have all that you need to game the full period 1920 – 1945 in the Pacific, but the GENERAL QUARTERS system does!

GQ 3.3 provides coverage for the 1939 – 1945 period, while FLEET ACTION IMMINENT covers the WW I through 1920 period. Most of the rules are quite similar, but FAI has differences to reflect the earlier technologies and weapons systems. The WW I NAVIES SUPPLEMENT specifically provides the combat charts (Gunnery CRT , Torpedo CRT and related tables) for the IJN and the USN, along with the Ship Logs needed for front line ships and more modern pre-dreadnoughts and armored cruisers through 1920. It also provides the data for WW I aircraft and small craft.

SUDDEN STORM, while focused on the 1937- 38 time period, contains what is needed to cover the later ‘20s and 1930s. Specifically, it provides the combat charts for the interwar era and Ship Logs for almost every front-line ship in the IJN and USN in the Pacific in 1937 down to DDs, submarines and even the more important auxiliaries. The more than 10 pages of Ship Logs (at 24 per page) include the Kako class CLs in their earlier single gun 7.9” turret configurations, Mogami class CAs with 15 x 6.1” guns and Akagi and Kaga in their multiple flight deck configuration. These ships formed the mainstay of the IJN in the interwar period as they came online. Similarly, the USN ships are all in their interwar configurations and include most of the Omaha class CLs and a sizeable number of four–piper DDs, along with the BBs, cruisers, newer DDs and the intriguing flight deck cruiser, which was authorized, but never actually built. The Ship Logs cover the ships that were commissioned or modernized in the ‘20s and ‘30s - before the advent of radar or the Type 93 so called “long lance” torpedoes - thus representing the combat capacity in the interwar period. Aircraft Formation Cards and airships (dirigibles) are also provided.

In addition, the free download Bonus Files contain more Ship Cards, aircraft cardstock counters for every front line aircraft flight in 1937, ZRS Akron and Macon “flying aircraft carriers” and even 1:2400 scale maps of the coastal defenses of Manila and Truk. A partial gap would be with some of the aircraft in the ‘20s as many of the aircraft in SUDDEN STORM date from the late ‘20s and early ‘30s like the Japanese A2N, B3Y, B2M, B3M, Ki-2, Ki-10 and H1H1 or the US BFC, F4B, BG-1, O3U, P6, P12, P26, T2G (T4M), PK-1 and P2Y. There are also Flight Logs for every carrier and most major Pacific airfields, circa 1937. These would be useful for the ‘20s as well. The more than 150 pages of Bonus File also cover ground defenses and options for Japanese fuel usage, developments in AA capacity, LTA and extended range bombers which add additional scope for the interwar period.

Further, if you would like to add the major ships canceled by the Washington Naval Treaties, the free CHERRY TREES SUPPLEMENT provides their Ship Cards and data. In addition, data for merchant ships and convoy Ship Cards are available in the free MSS (MERCHANT SHIP SYSTEM) SUPPLEMENT.

The only things not covered by the GENERAL QUARTERS system are the non-existent ships from the Bywater novel. These existed only in his imagination and reflect his 1925 projection of what ships might be like in 1932. But, as we know, naval development evolved differently and these vessels were never part of the opposing navies’ plans or projections.

Use of the appropriate parts of the GENERAL QUARTERS system and its free supplements will enable you to simulate Plan Orange and the evolving situation in the Pacific, or any part of it, without the Deluxe Ship Logs. The whole span of years should be quite a daunting project. We look forward to reports on how it’s going and want ship along vicariously as you recreate history.

Best of Luck,
LONNIE

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Thanks Lonnie for the reply and insight.

Remember you can post questions, After Action Reports, and pictures on the ODGW website. We look forward to hearing from you.



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