Micronauts WWII - Test Play

Couple of days ago, the 3 of us (YS Oon, Hyiktsay and myself) had a play test following the Micronaut WWII rule set. This is our 2^nd game playing using this rule – with the 1^st occurred more than a year ago.

The main agenda with this test play is with hopes to familiarize ourselves in view of the up coming campaign duly entitled “The Last Patrol” – settings from 1939 onwards till end of WWII. The campaign feature is ahistorical and hence, we are not going to be too critical on chronological of events. To top it all off, we are also going to assume the Axis powers (the players) had made contact and call to port in all waters involved in the conflict. The campaign is courtesy of YS Oon – acting as game master.

Belligerents

Kriegsmarine	Imperial Japanese Navy
Order of Battle: 1 Emden Class Light Cruiser 1 Z1 Class Destroyer	Order of Battle: 1 Tenryu Class Light Cruiser 1 Shiratsuyu Class Destroyer 1 Kamikaze Class Destoryer

The naval engagement took place in the year 1939 - a clear Saturday noon with calm sea. No submarines and air patrol sighted during the period.

3 IJN warships - comprising of the CL Tenryu Light Cruiser (flagship), escorted by DD Shiratsuyu and DD Kamikaze – making their way west on a bombardment mission. While at the north eastern horizon 2 Kriegsmarine warship of CL Emden (flagship) and a DD Z1 type warship were on their way to intercept the IJN forces.

Although both fleets were not immediately spotted by one another, however, both sides were wary.

It took no longer than 5 minutes since the 1^st sight of the approaching fleets - The Kriegsmarine warships took aim and let loose all available guns at CL Tenryu at a range of 14 Kyds – dealing superficial damages. The IJN returned fire on the approaching warships to no avail.

With its escort still remaining behind, CL Tenryu increased speed and sailed south to take cover from an island while giving its escort time to maneuver. Seeing this, the Kreigsmarine warships fittingly responded and press southwards on IJN’s location.

Barely 5 minutes later, second round of gunfire erupted with CL Emden caught the IJN warships crossing it’s T. CL Tenryu took the brunt of CL Emden’s broadside guns – taking out a turret and sustained damages to its hull. On the return end, both CL Tenryu and DD Shiratsuyu successfully landed critical hits on CL Emden – among the damages includes its turrets and rudder – effectively slowing down the warship significantly. With the range closed in, both fleets launched their torpedoes.

Subsequent exchange managed to further cripple the Kriegsmarine flagship with an explosion to its aft magazine which virtually took out its aft’s guns.

In the midst of the engagement, the Kriegsmarine warships once again caught CL Tenryu crossing its T and shots made to no avail.

Barely 20 minutes since the 1^st engagement, the severely crippled CL Emden and its escort returned to port. IJN warships did not give chase and maintained its course for bombardment mission.