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Introduction:
This fictitious battle explores a possible Japanese attack in earnest against French colonial holdings in Indo-China at the beginning of the 20th Century. A clash of empires.
The Japanese send in their navy to sweep aside opposition in preparation for the landing of ground forces to complete the occupation of enemy territory.
We played this game with 1/1000 scale metal ships--with the exception of the second French squadron of armored cruisers, which were scratch-built 1/1200 scale models.
Rules used were Fire When Ready second edition.
The Wargame:
Against orders, one squadron of Japanese armored cruisers steamed into the channel between the island and the mainland. There they were met by the best French vessel available, the Jamappes, and a stealth attack with torpedos by the smaller vessels hiding behind the island. The Nshin was holed by torpedoes, but not before taking the Jamappes with her. The remainder of that Japanese squadron steamed through the channel, wrecked the other two French ships, but suffered rudder damage that took them out of the fight.
Meanwhile, the second Japanese squadron wheeled to face a new squadron of French ships. The opponents wheeled around one another, trying to deliver decisive blows. The game ended with armored cruisers damaged on both sides, none fatally.
The French fought hard, but once the Japanese repaired the other armored cruisers, French naval forces would surely have had to withdraw to save themselves.
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Japanese Forces:
1 squadron with 3 armored cruisers: Yakumo, Tokiwa, and Kasuga
1 squadron with 3 armored cruisers: Nshin, Adzuma, and Asama
French Forces:
1 squadron of 4 small vessels: the torpedo boat destroyer Durandal and 3 torpedo boats.
1 squadron of 3 ships: the coast defense ship Jamappes, the ironclad ship Admiral Duperré, and the monitor Tonnerre.
1 squadron of 3 armored cruisers: Gloire, Jeanne d'Arc, and Dupuy de Lôme.
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The battlefield; the French approched the island from the bottom, the Japanese from the top.
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The scenic center island, a quaint destination for French tourists and missionaries.
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An impressive palatial structure in Indo-China. (Can be purchased in pet shops; check the aquarium section.)
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Coast defense Ship Jamappes (at top) and the top-heavy monitor Tonnerre steam out of the mouth of a local harbor.
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The French (bottom) steam out to meet the first Japanese squadron (above the island).
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Both Japanese squadrons under full steam. The armored cruisers of the closest squadron are the Nshin, Adzuma, and Asama.
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The other squadron of Japanese armored cruisers includes the Yakumo, Tokiwa, and Kasuga.
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Too close for comfort! The Nshin is hit by gunfire from the French Jamappes, catches fire, and becomes the target for the small French vessels.
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As the Japanese squadron steams into the channel, the Nshin is engaged by the French coast defense ship Jamappes.
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The other Japanese squadron wisely avoids the narrow channel.
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The Nshin is in the thick of the fighting, and is torpedoed by the smaller French vessels. The Jamappes bravely circles in front of the enemy, using its own exhaust trail as a smoke screen.
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The number 20 was the roll required to successfully torpedo the Jamappes. Such skill! The stricken Nshin makes the roll to take the French vessel out of the fight.
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The rest of the Japanese squadron forces the channel, to be met by the French torpedo boats.
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A French squadron of armored cruisers--the Gloire, Jeanne D'Arc, and Dupy de Lôme--steam to the rescue.
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A close encounter between mismatched vessels. Half of the boats were sunk immediately without scoring any more torpedo successes.
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The French ironclad Admiral Duperré suicidally engages the armored cruisers.
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The second Japanese squadron turns about to engage the French newcomers.
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Two stricken ships in the channel witness the brutal struggle of the French ironclad.
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The fresh squadrons exchange fire and prepare to manuver.
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The French monitor Tonnerre blasts away at the armored cruiser Adzuma.
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The ironclad limps into the channel between the sinking hulks.
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French amored cruisers circle the Japanese Yakumo, and deliver fire from many directions.
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The monitor Tonnerre is devastated by Japanese fire, and sinks--but not before damaging the enemy.
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The full weight of the second French squadron falls upon the Yakumo, but she withstands the holocaust.
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The surviving smaller French vessels--the torpedo boat destroyer Durandel and a single torpedo boat--flee behind the island.
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