Naval Thunder - The Battle of the Komandorski Islands - Mission Briefing

DATE                                                   : March 27, 1943, 600 hours

WEATHER/VISIBILITY/SEA STATE  : Clear, light breeze from SW, high overcast/Excellent

MISSION                                             : Allies to intercept and destroy IJN supply convoy
                                                             : Japanese to protect convoy

Order of Battle

Imperial Japanese Navy: Fifth (Northern) Fleet Cruiser Division 21 CA Nachi (F) (Myoko Class) CA Maya (Improved Takao Class) CL Tama (Kuma Class) Destroyer Division 21 DD Hatsushimo (Hatsuharu Class) DD Wakaba (Hatsuharu Class) D Convoy CL Abukuma (F) (Nagara Class) Destroyer Division 6 Inazuma (Akatsuki Class) Masamichi Ikazuchi (Akatsuki Class) Asaka Maru (“fast transport”) Sakito Maru (“fast transport”) Second Escort Force (Arriving as reinforcements due to delay) DD Usugumo (Fubuki Class) Attached directly to Fifth Fleet Sanko Maru (IJA chartered “slow transport”) Limited to 10 knots Cargo: food, ammo and building materials.

United States Navy: Task Force 16 Cruiser Division 1 CL 9 Richmond (F) (Omaha Class) CA25 Salt Lake City (Pensacola Class) Destroyer Squadron 14 DD 492 Bailey (F) (Benson Class) DD 606 Coghlan (Benson Class) DD 353 Dale (Farragut Class) DD 354 Monaghan (Farragut Class)

Mission briefing

IJN

1)     Repel the USN Strike Force by sinking at least 50% of their starting fleet to force a withdrawal of the USN fleet.

2)     Prevent the USN Strike Force from closing in to the convoy and do not allow the USN fleet reaching the convoy group area.

USN

1)     Locate and disrupt the transport convoy group which was reported to be at North West.

2)     Sink the CA Nachi and CA Maya to force the IJN to withdraw.

Special condition

1)   All captains of their vessel(s) will be receiving a card periodically representing the changing orders of the battle. Although this battle was purely a gunnery duel, the mindset of both Admirals was studied to understand the fateful decisions made. To represent this in the scenario, the “cards” received by the players represent the changing orders that will steer both fleet close and far during the engagement.

2)   At any point when a ship has taken 50% damage to its hull, the player controlling that particular ship may voluntarily withdraw from battle. Withdrawing the ship allows his ship to be preserved for future engagements - as that was the practice by the navies during WW2. At any point when a ship has taken 75% damage to its hull, the corresponding ship MUST make a withdrawal and all subsequent actions were to steer the ship towards the withdrawal area.