"Forming Force Z in 1/3000th" Topic

Having completed the fleets for my Battle of Cape Matapan project in 1/3000th it's time to head to the Far East. A few photos can be found here.

link

Very nice. I have the capital ships and, like you, couldn't resist the two-tone scheme for Repulse while doing POW in grey for the same reasons as you. (And a lack of confidence that I'd do a decent job on the actual camouflage!)

Just wondering whether Minden Games "Destruction of Force Z" will work as the basis of a mini-campaign which generates some encounters …

Thanks for your feedback and comment.

I hadn't heard of this board game until I read your comment. Having completed a quick search I do wonder if the game could be used as well.

For what ifs you might add the other ships slated for Force Z that didn't arrive in time; "Exeter," "Mauritius," and the "I' class carrier (sorry, can't remember her name and don't have time to look it up).

Yes indeed some useful extras and therefore options. I would think Mauritius would have a reasonable AA capability.

I have Force Z on my to-do list, but I haven't thought any farther than dogfight gaming the most obvious "what if": put a fighter escort up and see if it's enough to save PoW & Repulse from the waves of IJN bombers (doubtful…). I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with it. I may borrow your "what if" ideas.

I am curious how the RN and IJN compare in night fighting. Maybe you'll tell me.

I have a model of Indomitable to send into the cauldron, but I've played dogfight games with all the planes she could have in 1941-42, and I don't think a carrier duel against the IJN would be any fun at all. It's basically asymmetrical for the whole war; early on the IJN has better planes in huge swarms, later when the RN gets Corsairs and Hellcats the IJN is already battered and spent.

Since I have multiple models of the KGV class, I plan to do one in Far East livery to go with Repulse.

- Ix

There is an Avalanche Press game on this topic: Eastern Fleet. Even if you don't like the SWWAS system, it'll have maps and lots of scenarios, real and planned and "what if".

- Ix

Someone else doing something similar:

link

Thanks for the interest, suggestions and links.

As to my project I am still very much considering options and of course painting models. Today in fact I started work on some additional ships, but they will take a while.

We actually gamed the air battle above Force Z using the Check Your 6 air combat game. We used the alternate timeline from the Martin Middlebrook "Battleship" book, where Admiral Phillips requests air cover as soon as the first Japanese shadowing plane is spotted on radar. Historically 243 squadron RAAF was actually designated as air cover and held in reserve waiting for the call that never came. We had 6 Brewster Buffaloes wading into the 27 Nell's & 8 Betty's that were sent to attack Force Z. Several were shot down and quite a few damaged, but what the Buffaloes were able to do was disrupt the torpedo and bombing runs and cause a lot of them to abort or miss altogether. Both Prince of Wales & Repulse took hits, but were both able to survive to fight again.
The 22nd Air Flotilla took about 40% casualties is losses and damage.

That precise scenario is on my "to play" list. I have all the pieces collected (except maybe 243 squadron RAAF decals), but there's quite a bit of painting to do. I'm short a few Nells, but I was planning to run them in waves anyway.

- Ix