5 replies to this topic

[jwsleser]

This is hopefully the first of many posts as we embark on playing the DTMB Campaign game. It will be a few months before we actually start the campaign as we finish collecting the necessary ships and master the GQ3 and DTMB rules. I thought I would post some of our preparations to lead up to the start.

 

The Dutch. The major combatants of Dutch Navy stationed in the NEI consisted of four cruisers and seven destroyers. Several more ships were nearing completion and would have deployed to the NEI but the German invasion in May 1940 disrupted that plan. By the time these new ships were ready, the campaign in the NEI was over. 

 

The Dutch Squadron in December 1941. Not included in the picture is Hr. Ms. Sumatra. Although present in the NEI, she was still under refit with serious engineering plant problems (among other issues). Manning was also a problem as the fall of The Netherlands cut the NEI off from its source of replacements. Cross-decking was common as ships enter refit/repair and their crews transferred to other ships to complete their complements. While in the DTMB Campaign game, Sumatra wasn't never operational and was transferred out of the area early in the campaign. I plan to get Sumatra in the near future as she is a ship used in DTMB to help play balance. 

 

https://themanchuria...h-squadron.jpeg

 

The Dutch destroyers in the picture are correctly organized for the campaign (the organization in the DTMB is incorrect, see Bosscher De Koninklijke Marine in de Tweede Wereldoorlog, deel 2 Bijlage 9, and Womack The Allied Defense of the Malay Barrier 1941-1942, p.50). The Divise Torpedobootjagers 1 consisted of Groep I (Hr. Mrs. Van Ghent, Witte de With, Kortenear), Groep 2 (Hr. Ms. Piet Hein, Banckert), and Groep 3 (Hr. Ms. Eversten, Van Nes). 

 

https://themanchuria...h-cruisers.jpeg

 

The two main Dutch cruisers, Hr. Ms. De Ruyter and Java. 

 

https://themanchuria...utch-tromp.jpeg

 

​The destroyer leader Hr. Ms. Tromp. While considered a destroyer leader, she was never assigned to the destroyer groups and was reclassified as a light cruiser. 

 

I have the floatplanes, but have yet to finish painting them.

 

v/r  Jeff

[W. Clark]

On GT4 if the Allies roll a "7" for their Theater Event then they can activate the Sumatra at Surabaya. She is limited in speed by an unrepairable engine hit to 20 knots. Her CRT rolls for gunnery are up 1 roll. Her damage control rolls are up 2 and she has green morale. In addition, she is considered unreliable and is subject to "Ship Availability" rolls that she has to pass in order to sortie. Other than that, she is just like Java; a "5.9" non-rapid firing cruiser without torps. I see no reason, however if at some point you want the what-if, that a house rule agreement between both sides allowing her to appear at the start in full working order could not occur. It would represent (IMHO) the Dutch having made different choices on ship maintenance prior to the campaign. You could add her VP value to the IJN VP total as a play balance if you thought it to be needed.

 

WMC

[Jim O'Neil]

Looks very interesting, wish I were closer. 

[JAHinson]

Jeff and I have started our first campaign game.  This play through I am playing the Allies and Jeff is playing the Japanese. We immediately ran into a question.

 

For Allied Theater event, the allies rolled an "8" resulting in:

 

Reinforcement. Add HMS Durban and HMS Stronghold to WESGROUP OB (Force Z). These

ships are available after this turn.

 

The question is concerning "These ships are available after this turn".  What does that mean?  When one checks the Turn 1 list of ships on page 49, one finds HMS Durban and HMS Stronghold already listed.  Why would it say "These ships are available after this turn" since they will already be available on Turn 1?  Should these ships in fact be included in the mandatory Force Z sweep CD?  Is rolling an "8" just a null?  (For purposes of this play through we treated it as a null)

 

A second question concerning HMS Tenedos.  She is listed under the General Intelligence, however it takes a theater event to not detach her, we are assuming that she is detached and the General Intelligence contains perhaps inaccurate information?

 

Appreciate any insights from folks, especially folks who have played this very interesting campaign multiple times.

 

Jere

[jwsleser]

Jere

 

Dave answered your question, but weirdly wasn't able to post it here. Reposted below.

 

The Turn 0 Allied Theater Event for HMS Durban and HMS Stronghold simply means they are available a turn early.  The intention is they are added to the mandatory Force Z Allied sweep.  "These ships are available after this turn" was intended as a clarification the ships are not removed after the one turn they show up, as described in 2.4.2 Additional Naval Command Decisions.

 

WRT HMS Tenedos, historically she sailed with Force Z, but was detached on 9 December, being low on fuel.  On her way to RTB, she was to radio for reinforcements.  Thus, she was not present the remainder of Force Z's mission, when on 10 December HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse were sunk by air attack.  Her Theater Event means she was not detached, and is thus present for the remainder of Force Z's mission.

 

Dave Franklin

[JAHinson]

Awesome, Thanks Dave (and Jeff for reposting).  Makes great sense.