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| 25 JAN 2011 at 10:00pm |
docjonesCenturion
Posts : 39
Joined: 31 DEC 2010
Status : Offline | [font=cambria]Time: 0:49.06[/H1] [font=calibri]A minute after being torpedoed, the first picket ship sinks as shown in the screenshot below. This is the first loss of the battle. The Maury, Drayton, Lamson and Lardner are all waiting for the main Japanese column to hit the torpedo ambush, before striking again.
[font=calibri]Fourth lesson learned: Make sure to use the flagship when changing bearing. In the screenshot below, the Northampton has become detached from the Honolulu, because I changed its direction back at 0:54.04 rather than the flagship.
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| 25 JAN 2011 at 10:02pm |
docjonesCenturion
Posts : 39
Joined: 31 DEC 2010
Status : Offline | [font=cambria]Time: 0:47.52[/H1] [font=calibri]The lead ship of the Japanese main column enters the kill zone and takes a torpedo! That is two for two in ambushes. The screenshot below indicates the hit.
[font=calibri]Fifth lesson learned: Be more aggressive in attacking a column. While I was able to damage the lead ship, my attack did not threaten any of the other ships in the column. I intend to correct that when I have the Maury, Drayton, Lamson and Lardner attack the remaining ships of the column.
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| 25 JAN 2011 at 10:05pm |
docjonesCenturion
Posts : 39
Joined: 31 DEC 2010
Status : Offline | [font=cambria]Time: 0:47.23[/H1] [font=calibri]In the screenshot below, the second Japanese picket destroyer enters the kill zone, veers sharply east, and emerges unscathed. Sometimes a torpedo ambush does not succeed. This means that the Fletcher and Perkins will have to slug it out with the picket destroyer while I direct the Maury, Drayton, Lamson and Lardner to charge the Japanese main column. The Maury and Drayton will attack from almost directly fore while the Lamson and Lardner dash in from the column’s starboard flank. These are risky moves on both fronts. The Japanese ships are better at gun duels than the American vessels, and closing with them could be a mistake. I am willing to risk it, for the opportunity to take out multiple ships in a cross fire torpedo attack.
[font=calibri]I have not forgotten about my cruisers, they are maintaining their distance to the northeast of the Japanese main column.
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| 25 JAN 2011 at 10:07pm |
docjonesCenturion
Posts : 39
Joined: 31 DEC 2010
Status : Offline | [font=cambria]Time: 0:47.18[/H1] [font=calibri]Yes! In the screenshot below, the second Japanese picket destroyer is hit by a torpedo and sunk! In the future, I will not be so hasty in judging the success or failure of a torpedo ambush. And I am three for three in torpedo ambushes!
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| 25 JAN 2011 at 10:09pm |
docjonesCenturion
Posts : 39
Joined: 31 DEC 2010
Status : Offline | [font=cambria]Time: 0:46.00[/H1] [font=calibri]In the screenshot below, the Maury, Drayton, Lamson and Lardner have fired a total of sixteen torpedoes in their ambush of the Japanese main column. Notice that all four ships are turning away in the same direction as the Japanese column is heading. This is to avoid having the Japanese column change direction to chase any of my destroyers. The location markers laid out northwest to southeast identify torpedo tracks for the Lamson and Lardner. These tracks should hit at least two Japanese destroyers, if they maintain their current speed and bearing. The two sets of location markers positioned northeast to southwest represent torpedo tracks from the Maury and Drayton. These tracks could hit a Japanese destroyer, if they alter their course or speed in an attempt to evade torpedoes from the Lamson and Lardner. Track time on these torpedoes range from two to two and a half minutes. The fireworks will come between 0:43.30 and 0:44.00. A successful ambush here will likely decide the scenario.
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| 25 JAN 2011 at 10:11pm |
docjonesCenturion
Posts : 39
Joined: 31 DEC 2010
Status : Offline | [font=cambria]Time: 0:45.46[/H1] [font=calibri]The Lamson is hit, but not seriously, about 14% damage. See the following screenshot for the report. Note the swarm of torpedoes emanating from the Maury, Drayton, Lamson and Lardner.
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| 25 JAN 2011 at 10:13pm |
docjonesCenturion
Posts : 39
Joined: 31 DEC 2010
Status : Offline | [font=cambria]Time: 0:43.52[/H1] [font=calibri]One of the Japanese destroyers is hit by a torpedo. Based on the time, it would be from the Lamson or Lardner. The screenshot below indicates that the destroyer is disabled.
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| 25 JAN 2011 at 10:20pm |
docjonesCenturion
Posts : 39
Joined: 31 DEC 2010
Status : Offline | [font=cambria]Time: 0:43.37[/H1] [font=calibri]A second destroyer is hit by a torpedo. Judging from the time, it was a torpedo from the Lamson or Lardner. The following screenshot shows that the destroyer hit fifteen seconds ago has sunk. These last two torpedo hits should have decided the scenario. I just need to be careful not to lose too many ships in finishing off the remaining Japanese destroyers.
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| 25 JAN 2011 at 10:22pm |
docjonesCenturion
Posts : 39
Joined: 31 DEC 2010
Status : Offline | [font=cambria]Time: 0:40.38[/H1] [font=calibri]In the screenshot below, the Drayton fires its last two torpedoes at the pair of Japanese destroyers that are chasing the Lamson and Lardner. Then the Maury and Drayton change bearing to NW for an engagement with a third Japanese destroyer. Again, it may not be wise to get into a destroyer gun battle, but at this point in the skirmish, I do not believe that I can gain position for torpedo attacks.
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| 25 JAN 2011 at 10:23pm |
docjonesCenturion
Posts : 39
Joined: 31 DEC 2010
Status : Offline | [font=cambria]Time: 0:40.32[/H1] [font=calibri]Very bad news! The Lamson is hit again and reduced to a speed of 19 knots. I can only hope that the Lamson survives long enough to draw the two Japanese destroyers into the torpedo trap that I have set up. The screenshot below shows the condition of the Lamson.
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| 25 JAN 2011 at 10:28pm |
docjonesCenturion
Posts : 39
Joined: 31 DEC 2010
Status : Offline | [font=cambria]Time: 0:40.13[/H1] [font=calibri]The following screenshot announces the sinking of a Japanese destroyer. This is the first sinking that is a result of gun fire alone. The other five have all involved torpedo damage. I give credit for this sinking to my cruisers, which were concentrating their fire on the Japanese destroyer. I have directed the Lamson to steam due S, still hoping to draw the two Japanese destroyers that are chasing it into the path of the Drayton’s torpedoes.
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| 25 JAN 2011 at 10:29pm |
docjonesCenturion
Posts : 39
Joined: 31 DEC 2010
Status : Offline | [font=cambria]Time: 0:39.11[/H1] [font=calibri]The Lamson is not going to make it. In the screenshot below, it is hit once more. I have directed the Fletcher, Perkins, Maury and Drayton to close with the two remaining Japanese destroyers. Perhaps they can do some damage while the Japanese focus on finishing off the Lamson.
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| 25 JAN 2011 at 10:31pm |
docjonesCenturion
Posts : 39
Joined: 31 DEC 2010
Status : Offline | [font=cambria]Time: 0:38.29[/H1] [font=calibri]The Lamson is dead in the water. The screenshot below shows it disabled.
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| 25 JAN 2011 at 10:32pm |
docjonesCenturion
Posts : 39
Joined: 31 DEC 2010
Status : Offline | [font=cambria]Time: 0:37.43[/H1] [font=calibri]As I expected, with the Lamson disabled, the Japanese destroyers stop chasing it, changing their bearing to due S and WSW. The screenshot below shows them clearly evading the Drayton’s torpedoes and walloping the Perkins. Neither Japanese destroyer has taken any damage, and they are beginning to decimate my destroyer force.
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| 25 JAN 2011 at 10:35pm |
docjonesCenturion
Posts : 39
Joined: 31 DEC 2010
Status : Offline | [font=cambria]Time: 0:37.24[/H1] [font=calibri]The Lamson is sunk. That is my first loss of the scenario. I direct the Perkins to steam SSW, hoping to avoid losing it, as well. I order the Lardner to engage the two Japanese destroyers from the east.
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| 25 JAN 2011 at 10:36pm |
docjonesCenturion
Posts : 39
Joined: 31 DEC 2010
Status : Offline | [font=cambria]Time: 0:35.32[/H1] [font=calibri]In a matter of two minutes, one of the Japanese destroyers went from “No Damage” in the screenshot above to “SUNK” in the screenshot below. It looks like my firepower will overwhelm the remaining Japanese ship. This is fortunate, as the Fletcher has suffered 38% damage in the last two minutes. Time to mop up.
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| 25 JAN 2011 at 10:38pm |
docjonesCenturion
Posts : 39
Joined: 31 DEC 2010
Status : Offline | [font=cambria]Time: 0:34.35[/H1] [font=calibri]The Fletcher is disabled, while the single remaining Japanese destroyer has only suffered “Light Damage” (See screenshot below). The only outstanding question to answer is “Will the Fletcher survive the scenario?”
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| 25 JAN 2011 at 10:39pm |
docjonesCenturion
Posts : 39
Joined: 31 DEC 2010
Status : Offline | [font=cambria]Time: 0:34.10[/H1] [font=calibri]The last Japanese destroyer is sunk, but the Fletcher did not survive. The scenario ends with the screenshot below.
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| 25 JAN 2011 at 10:41pm |
docjonesCenturion
Posts : 39
Joined: 31 DEC 2010
Status : Offline | [font=cambria]Victory Dialog[/H1] [font=calibri]Here is the final tally in the dialog box below. A major victory for the Allies, as we sunk eight Japanese destroyers, while losing two with one damaged. I owe the victory to the combination of radar, ship control and effective destroyer tactics. And I am pleased that the game is able to demonstrate the value of these elements. In the actual battle, the Allies were not successful for a number of reasons, some of which I discovered on my own, as I learned to play the game.
[font=calibri]
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| 25 JAN 2011 at 10:44pm |
docjonesCenturion
Posts : 39
Joined: 31 DEC 2010
Status : Offline | For those of you who made it this far, thanks for reading my AAR. I hope it gave you some understanding of the game. If you are interested in the Torpedo Tracking Tool (TTT) that I mentioned in the AAR, it is an Excel spreadsheet. I am revising it, so that people other than me can actually use it. Please PM if you would like a copy once it is ready for prime time.
Doc Jones
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