"GQ3 - Battle of the Java Sea" Topic

We played GQ3 tonight using the Battle of the Java Sea with the actual OB's (except Houston was given credit for all her turrets working)and starting positions.

The ABDA forces won a strategic victory by sinking the IJN CA Haguro along with CL Naka and 3 Fubuji class DD's plus a loaded troop transport for the loss of the HMAS Perth and HmDrs De Ruyter along with 2 Dutch DD's, 3 Brit DD's and 4 UD 4-stack DD's. The Exeter was heavily damaged but limped off covered by a relatively healthy US CA Houston and Dutch CL Java. Since the battle began at dusk, most of the action took place from 12,000 yeards down to as little as 3,000. The IJN sent 8 Kagero class DD's and the CL Jinstu on a looping course to cut off the Allied advance but the Dutch Admiral Doorman cut inside the blocking force and heavily damaged the second DD group and caused a combination of fire and flooding damage to the Haguro that proved fatal. The British DD Jupiter along with the 4 old US 4-stackers conducted what amounted to a death ride into IJN transports sinking one and crippling a second. Far better results than history.

Has anyone else tried any of the scenarios in the Netherlands Navy supplement for GQ3?

I hope to give Java Sea a try soon, adding the three British/Australian light cruisers and their destroyers that were diverted elsewhere.

Did the Japanese have much luck with their torpedoes, or did they primarily use gunfire?

The IJN did most of their killing with torpedoes from the CL Naka and the 6 Fubuki's along with the two heavies, Nachi and Haguro. The 8 Kagero's lead by CL Jinstu fired their entire torp load into empty space before doubling back to try and protect the convoy. They killed the British DD's Encounter and Electra with gunfire and forced Houston and Java to break off rather than run the gauntlet of reloaded tubes but otherwise did no harm.