"Some USN, IJN, and IJA for Bag the Hun" Topic

All,

Well, I've spent the past few days ignoring the eight thousand projects I already have going on (particularly, my Cuba Libre Imagi-Nation, my Platoon Forward campaign with modified KR-16, single games of Chain of Command, and working on 6mm Napoleonics) to resurrect something I bought and primed last year but hadn't done anything with since.

I've been chatting with Joe Legan on TMP and his blog, and on a whim I picked up his "Squadron Forward" from TFL. Well, I'd love to play an early war, Pacific campaign, so that's where my efforts have been the past few days and here are the fruits of my labor. Everything here is from PicoArmor, with Dom's Decals.

The photos are on my blog:
blackhawkhet.blogspot.com

Here's a teaser:

Predator…

and Prey.

I've got enough aircraft to do what I want to do, and I've got a bunch of Axis and Allies War at Sea 1:1800ish minis (couple carriers, couple BBs, a few CAs, CLs, and a bunch of destroyers). What I don't have is a suitable playing surface; maybe a blue sheet with some hand-drawn squares/hexes? Whatever it's going to be, it's gotta be cheap, I've spent well more than my wargaming allowance lately…

In my dreams I'm playing an interconnected campaign for the Solomons in 1942/43, with Platoon Forward for USMC/IJA ground battles, Squadron Forward for air, and Flotilla Forward (which I don't yet own) for some PT Boat action. Also, maybe see if I could bump that up in echelon for some bona fide night-time surface action in The Slot. Each one of these would not just be interconnected, but impact each other. I have no idea how I'd ever pull that off…

So, more realistic, at least in the short run, is maybe a Squadron Forward campaign to follow a Carrier Air Group. Maybe a fictional carrier; I like doing fictional units, not because I'm scared of history/'real life,' but fictional allows me to see more action than guys did in real life. Stop the scoffing, what I mean is, in real life guys fight in one battle their whole life and its too much action, but for wargaming campaigns, you want non-stop action, you don't want the 6-month rest and refit that occurred in real life. So using a fake carrier, I could have it in action in late December 1941 for a fake relief of Wake/Philippines battle, then making the raids on the Gilberts, Marianas, Marshalls, supporting the Doolittle raid, the Aleutians in early 1942, present at Coral Sea and Midway, then super engaged in the Solomons campaign.

I'm not sure of the the totality of what I'm looking to do, but my intent is certainly to have a heavy amount of interaction with the entire Carrier Air Wing, which is why I did up fighters, dive bombers, and torpedo bombers. I need some Japanese float planes (Emilys maybe) and float fighters (Rufes). I'd like to have some a PBY or two as well, and maybe a Kingfisher. I need PicoArmor to produce later US carrier aircraft, particularly the Avenger.

So what do I name my aircraft carrier? I was trying to think of some famous Marine battles that hadn't been used. I'm not coming up with much… Chapultapec is one I've never heard (as a US ship name); Tripoli was a 60's to 90's helicopter carrier. I can't use anything from WWII as the point is to have the ship in service prior to December 7, 1941 so that I can get right into the fighting. I was considering USS Corregidor, but then I read it was a CVE later in the war… How would everyone feel about a USS Guantanamo (from the amphib landing during the Spanish-American War)? Maybe a USS Daly or Butler?

I dunno… It doesn't have to be Marine related, I suppose.

V/R,
Jack

a large piece of blue felt available from any fabric store and a white or black stencil pencil to mark out your hexes. use a steel or hard plastic hex as a pattern and just mark corners…you will have little chicken feet marking your hexes…takes a bit of time but is less expensive than buy already made mats.

Go ahead and buy a HOTZ Mat worth the money and will look better.
When I figured out I would have to draw over 200 little hexes on a sheet on my hands and knees $90 USD bucks seemed like a good price!

link
…and no I do not work for HOTZ.

Nice planes!

As for the terrain – $5 USD blue flat sheet from Wal Mart, with some variegated/mottled blues and greens added if you want to be fancy. Hexes via template from Litko (pricey, but accurate, easy, and reusable).

Doug

Monday Knight Productions has decently priced basic felt mats that can come with hexes – that's where I got mine for BtH over the seas.

Great paint jobs on the planes. Tumbling Dice has the later war planes, available through Dom as well as TD directly. Or Brookhurst in the US, but I go to Dom.

For your carrier, what about an obscure AWI battle, to join the Saratoga, Lexington, Yorktown. I was going to suggest the USS Musgrove Mill, but it looks like it was a civilian ship during WWII; USS Hanging Rock maybe?

Excellent Work!

Jack,

Those planes look great! I second the Monday Knight felt sheets. I have one for my sea battles. I also think the AWI battle name is a great idea for a carrier; how about Washington's Crossing?
Since you and I seem to think a lot a like I wrote some more specific rules on air to ground bombing (and flak) that included better descriptions of ship damage for air games in one of the Lardie specials called "Brag the Hun".
Will have to think of an easy way to connect air, land and sea together.
Enjoy!

Joe

Thanks for taking a look guys.

Regarding the playing surface, I actually have a couple Hotzmats, and I'll take a look at Monday Knight, but I really need to do this cheap.

I'm really having a tough time with my ship name; it seems the US Navy has commissioned quite a few ships since 1775, making it difficult to come up with something that hasn't been used (and I say thought including ships all the way to the present). I keep looking at Chapultepec or Montezuma, but those aren't the grandest of names for a US carrier.

I have been giving some thought to (as has been mentioned) the Revolutionary War. Also thinking about Civil War and War of 1812. I will continue to entertain all recommendations as I'm not doing too hot on my own…

Joe – You know you're right, it seems like we see eye to eye on quite a bit. Two years ago I bought the Lardies' Bag the Hun Compendium with all the various articles, and using your article(s) for AA, air to ground, and air against ship is my plan.

I have no idea how to fit it all together, an I don't know how to even approach it. To make it somewhat comparable I think they's have to all be scaled up, i.e., maybe Brigade/Regiment Forward, Air Group Forward, and Task Force Forward. Someday…

V/R,
Jack

Jack,

I'm thinking…. :)

Joe

Joe,

Something I've been pondering lately is a really simple sort of WW2 surface warfare rules. You know, the kind where you're actually the Admiral/Commodore, and the decisions you make are where to put your ships and who they engage, destroyers charge in for torpedo runs or screen with smoke, etc…

I'm thinking of stuff for damage options: no more "A turret is out and where do I send my damage control parties," more like "ship is sinking and nearest DD/CL must come alongside to pick up survivors" or "main armament out of action, must retire, if Sqn/Flotilla flagship subordinates retire too."

Armament would be broken down into 4 to 6", 8 to 12", and greater than 12", with possible main and secondary and torpedo. Heavy on spotting and some random events for orders not received/misunderstood, friendly collisions, and friendly fire.

When I bought Squadron Forward I also picked up Triumph of the Will. Units are battalions and stands are companies. This (or something like this) could be perfect for the ground combat portion. You could use Plt Fwd, scaled up: type A is infantry battalion, B is armor, C is support (arty).

And you'll think this is hilarious! Like I said, everything needs to be bigger in echelon; Bag the Hun and using individually based aircraft would get too bogged down. Have you ever seen Axis and Allies War at Sea/Condition Zebra/Task Force,etc… minis? The aircraft are multi-based, that is, each stand has three aircraft on it. I've been contemplating the idea of the stand having an aggregate combat factor and losing airplanes is simply the stand sustaining hits.

I don't have enough time for all this!!!

V/R,
Jack

Jack,

Those are some great ideas. Plt Fwd could easily be scaled up.
Regarding making aircraft multi based you can do that and I think it will work. I am not sure all three elements will really be affecting each other. I am thinking of somehting much more simple. :)
With WW II naval rules, e-mail me off line at the_legans4@msn.com
Off to see some american football in London now!

Cheers

Joe

Joe,

You're killing me!!! I'm a die-hard Steelers fan, I can't believe you're getting to see them in London. Having said that, I must admit you might not be in for the greatest football game ever; neither the Steelers or the Vikings are doing all that well this season…

"I am not sure all three elements will really be affecting each other."

I suppose I don't mean fully intertwined, but certainly losing an air battle may mean losing air cover which could cause a convoy to not make a run up the Slot, or a heavy barrage by battleships could put an airstrip out of action for a bit. A surface engagement defeat could mean no reinforcements for the ground elements. Winning a fighter sweep means air superiority, and that side can use close air support in the next ground engagement. I think there are ways to do it.

V/R,
Jack

I'm holding you personally responsible for the Steelers embarrassing themselves (again), Joe!!!

Having said that, it looked to be an entertaining game (I was pulling my hair out and can't believe Roethlisberger choked)…

V/R,
Jack

Jack,

Great game! My airmen sang backup for Gene Simmons for the national anthem and then we participated in moving all those banners out for the pregame stuff.
It was a Vikings home game so we all got vikings flags to wave. To top it off seats on the 38 yard line 8 rows back. Nail biter of a game too. Fun time had by all.

Cheers

Joe

Joe,

It emphatically was NOT a great game ;)

After reading you were wearing Vikings colors, I stand by my earlier comments that this travesty was your fault and, should we ever meet in real life, we shall have words!

V/R,
Jack