This is the 9th action of our upper Solomons campaign (based on the historical of Vella LaVella with OOB adjustments due to previous campaign losses).
2nd Vella Lavella 10/6/1943
Ref: “USN Against the Axis” pg. 201-206
“Command at Sea Rising Sun” pg 82
Time: 2235-XXXX
WX: Squalls (1x D6 in area with a max of 4), light breeze glassy = Force 2. 6 Kt wind. Smoke last 2 turns. Quarter Moon.
USN Forces IJN Forces
Selfridge (flag) Walker Akigumo (flag) DesDiv 10
O’Bannon Yugumo
Chevalier Kazekumo
Nicholas (flag) Larson Shigure (flag) DesDiv 27
Taylor Samidare
La Vallette Fumizuki (flag) Transport group
Matsukaze
Yunagi
4x barges (2 groups of 2)
4x PT {2 groups of 2)
2x SC (2 group of 2)
USN Mission: Interdict enemy supply mission. By sinking at least 50% of enemy small craft traffic. On completion of mission exit to south or east.
IJN Mission: Escort small craft to Vella Lavella to evacuate garrison of approximately 500 service troops. Small craft must exit south edge. DD escort to exit northwest.
Notes: Torpedo dud rate: USN = 1-3 (D12), IJN = 1 (d12).
USN may launch torpedoes on radar contacts.
IJN has 1xPete floatplane in the air. A roll of 1-2 on a D12 in the detection phase indicates the Pete has located the USN task force. Once located the Pete may illuminate 2x during the game. If illuminating the Pete may be attacked by short range AA fire but only ODD results on the AA table will have effect due to night. AA fire will reveal a ships position but not count as illuminated for gun fire purposes. It will cause a 2 columns left shift for visual detection.
Small Craft are engaged using the AA tables. Due to night engagement only ODD results have effect (unless targets can be illuminated).
Setup:
Vella Lavella is on the southeast edge of the table with the small craft formation starting in the northeast corner.
USN formation (Walker) in column with Selfridge in the lead bearing is 6000 yards due north of Vella Lavella course 270, speed 30kts.
USN formation (Larson) in column. Speed 30kts, course 000. Larson is an unknown distance from the southeast table edge. At the beginning of each turn roll 1 D4, on the turn when the total of the rolls equals 30 the formation arrives. The lead ship of the Larson formation will be place D6 NM from Vella Lavella on the south edge of the table (min distance from Vella Lavella will be 2 NM).
IJN DesDiv 10 in column with Akigumo in the lead 28000 yards bearing 280 from Selfridge. Speed 30Kts, course 180.
IJN DesDiv 27 in column with Shigure in the lead 5000 yards bearing 300 from Akigumo. Speed 30kts, course 170.
IJN Transport Group in column with Fumizuki in the lead 4000 yards bearing 340 from Shigure. Speed 10kts, course 090.
IJN small craft 2000 yards behind the Transport group formation. Speed 10kts, course any that brings it closer to Vella Lavella.
10/6/43 2235 local IJN in 2 formations screening for Transport Group of many small craft which also has a close escort of 3 old DDs. View is looking East toward Vella Lavella visible in the upper right corner. There is a heavy squall line between the IJN formations and the approaching USN formation. Red D6 on each squall indicates visibility into/out of the squall.
IJN have combined DesDiv 10 and 27 into one column with the intention of establishing a south to north patrol line keeping themselves between the small craft and any approaching threat from the east. The USN formation Walker (named for Division CO) is approaching at 30kts through the squall line. While the USN remains undetected their radar has already “painted” the IJN formation (noted by datum markers on the “blips”). IJN night acquisition maybe good, but it can't see a thing in the squall line.
2247 IJN begins a turn to the east while the USN formation emerges from the squalls. At just over 6000 yards both sides gain visual contact on the lead ships in each formation. Not a good position for the IJN commander who would have preferred to gain visual at longer range in order to execute a torpedo attack and retire behind smoke.
USN opens fire with the USS Selfridge and the rear ship in the formation (still undetected visually) firing star shells for illumination.
Akigumo is hit twice resulting in a fire on the fantail.
USN formation turns a few points to starboard while the IJN continues their turn to the north. Gun fire spreads up and down the line in each formation. Both sides over concentrating on the lead ships in the opposing formations. USN rapid fire 5” batteries tear up the Akigumo resulting in 11 hits at least 2 of which are to bulkheads. In return the Selfridge takes an engineering hit reducing her speed to 23kts.
Akigumo is pummeled
From a capping the T position the USN launches 14 torpedoes down the throat of the closing IJN formation (4 from Selfridge, 5 from O’Bannon and 5 from Chevalier). The IJN formation flagship having been riddled with 5” fire falls out of the lead to starboard. The rest of the formation hoping the bow on aspect and some judicious evasive maneuvers would carry them through the torpedo water unscathed were sadly disappointed. While the bow on shots missed the now leading Kazekumo the torpedoes continued down the formation striking Yugumo once and Shigure twice! Although one of the torpedoes striking the Shigure was a dud, the torpedoes that hit and exploded sank both DDs outright. (In this campaign it seems Tameichi Hara and the Shigure were not as lucky as in reality. Someone else will have to write “Japanese Destroyer Captain”! Tape marks in the pick represent the USN torpedo launch points. 14 fired, 3 hits and only 1 dud, not bad for the USN.
During this time Kazekumo also got off torpedoes firing 2 spreads of 4 with each in a separate arc.
To Be Continued
