The Battle of the Java Sea, 1942

The Battle of the Java Sea - February 1942

A 1/2400 scale WWII naval wargame fought on Saturday, July 2, 2011

This scenario is based on the famous naval engagement, but assumes that the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) is attempting to stop a combined American-British-Dutch-Australian (ABDA) force from fleeing Java. IJN forces include 10 cruisers and 6 destroyers; ABDA musters 8 cruisers and 16 destroyers, and a handful of merchant vessels they must escort to safety. The Japanese vessels are overall of greater quality.

The battle was fought by the Gourmet Wargaming Club with 1/2400 scale miniatures at Richmond Game Central. We used the General Quarters 3rd Edition rule set.

Scroll down and peruse the photos to see how the game turned out.

Allied commanders at the pre-game briefing. There are looks of disbelief and desperation. (Par for the course at our games.)

Our referee (center) with Japanese commanders.

Things begin in earnest. Note the impressive dimensions of the table: 16 x 6 feet! The Japanese ships are laid out in neat lines on the north side of the map.

Allied squadrons--mostly destroyers--advance from the Java coast.

A Japanese commander measures ranges to bring early fire from his cruisers. This has to make the captain of a cargo ship or lowly destroyer a bit queasy.

Japanese squadrons turn and bear down on ABDA forces trying to escape to the northeast.

Dutch cruisers (foreground) and a host of other ABDA ships move by squadron. This is the east end of the board, the Allied right flank.

On the Allied left flank (west table end), HMAS Perth (left) and HMS Exeter move ahead of a couple of destoyers and a cargo vessel.

Le Fantasque (foreground) and USS Houston advance alongside a trio of destoyers.

Another trio of destoyers escorts a cargo ship.

Another squadron of old American destoyers advance in the center.

In the east, HMS Danae (foreground) is seen with HMAS Hobart.

The Dutch contingent holds ABDA's far right flank: Hr.Ms. De Ruyter (foreground) and Hr.Ms. Java, with a couple of Dutch destoyers behind.

The Japanese right flank consists of the Myoko (foreground) and Ashigara.

Japanese destoyers Inazuma (foreground) and Akebono.

As the label on the side says, this beauty is the Tone, along with three other cruisers. These ships hold the center of the IJN line.

Japanese destroyer Kamakaze.

IJN cruisers Mogami (middle) and Mikuma (above it), along with destoyer escorts. This squadron represents the Japanese left flank.

In the west, Allied squadrons steam out from the cover of the small islands. Exeter and Perth are closest to the camera.

Various ABDA destroyers lay smoke to shield the west-most ships from the gunfire of the Japanese center.

In the east, Japanese cruisers observe more smoke screens from the combined British-Dutch-Australian force.

Torpedoes are in the water! Each yellow paper rectangle represents a single spread.

USS Houston (bottom right) with destroyers.

The Japanese cruiser Ashigara is hit and catches fire!

Oh dear. An oil slick marks the point where a sinking Allied destroyer slipped beneath the water while still laying smoke.

Takao (right) looses a spread of torpedoes.

In the east, two more ABDA destroyers are abruptly sunk (marked by the oil slicks).

IJN cruisers Nachi (foreground) and Haguro blast away at the enemy's right flank.

IJN cruisers Mikuma (foreground) and Mogami fire at very close range. Mogami is fighting a fire--another indication that the ABDA force is far from toothless, especially at short range.

The cruiser De Ruyter presses forward.

IJN cruisers Ashigara and Myoko pass right behind HMS Exeter (left). More close range fire, and Ashigara is burning.

The destroyer USS John Paul Jones almost rams the Takao!

The De Ruyter burns as enemy ships pass through ABDA squadrons.

Cruisers Mikuma and Mogami (still burning) wades directly into the mass of destoyers.

HMAS Hobart keeps up a steady fire.

The long view.

A sizeable part of the Allied left flank seems poised to make a get-away. Only one or two destoyers are in any condition to lay smoke to cover the maneuver.

Allied cargo ships have been left behind, and face a very uncertain future with the Japanese destroyer Akebono hard upon them.

The cruiser Tone steams over the sinking wreck of an enemy destroyer.

In the east, Japanese cruisers Haguro and Nachi fire as fast as their crews can manage to keep the Allies from leaving the area.

The Hr.Ms. Java steams past the sinking hulk of the De Ruyter, screened by the destoyer Hr.Ms. Witte de With.

The Mogami (left) has extinguished her fires, while the HMAS Hobart (right) rushes past.

As our game ends, the Haguro and Nachi trade lethal shots with the Java at point blank range. The Japanese win the game by sinking a critical merchant tonnage, although the Allies console themselves that many of their capital ships escaped.

We hover above the briney blue, which seems to have more than its share of white dog hair and lint specks. Even with regular laundering, it's hard to keep the ocean clean. But I digress: good game, all!

After the tiny ships are removed, we enjoy the fruits of peace. Ah, velvety, chocolately peace! I'll have a big piece of peace, please.

Allied commanders at the pre-game briefing. There are looks of disbelief and desperation. (Par for the course at our games.)	Our referee (center) with Japanese commanders.	Things begin in earnest. Note the impressive dimensions of the table: 16 x 6 feet! The Japanese ships are laid out in neat lines on the north side of the map.	Allied squadrons--mostly destroyers--advance from the Java coast.	A Japanese commander measures ranges to bring early fire from his cruisers. This has to make the captain of a cargo ship or lowly destroyer a bit queasy.
Japanese squadrons turn and bear down on ABDA forces trying to escape to the northeast.	Dutch cruisers (foreground) and a host of other ABDA ships move by squadron. This is the east end of the board, the Allied right flank.	On the Allied left flank (west table end), HMAS Perth (left) and HMS Exeter move ahead of a couple of destoyers and a cargo vessel.	Le Fantasque (foreground) and USS Houston advance alongside a trio of destoyers.	Another trio of destoyers escorts a cargo ship.
Another squadron of old American destoyers advance in the center.	In the east, HMS Danae (foreground) is seen with HMAS Hobart.	The Dutch contingent holds ABDA's far right flank: Hr.Ms. De Ruyter (foreground) and Hr.Ms. Java, with a couple of Dutch destoyers behind.	The Japanese right flank consists of the Myoko (foreground) and Ashigara.	Japanese destoyers Inazuma (foreground) and Akebono.
As the label on the side says, this beauty is the Tone, along with three other cruisers. These ships hold the center of the IJN line.		Japanese destroyer Kamakaze.	IJN cruisers Mogami (middle) and Mikuma (above it), along with destoyer escorts. This squadron represents the Japanese left flank.	In the west, Allied squadrons steam out from the cover of the small islands. Exeter and Perth are closest to the camera.
Various ABDA destroyers lay smoke to shield the west-most ships from the gunfire of the Japanese center.	In the east, Japanese cruisers observe more smoke screens from the combined British-Dutch-Australian force.	Torpedoes are in the water! Each yellow paper rectangle represents a single spread.	USS Houston (bottom right) with destroyers.	The Japanese cruiser Ashigara is hit and catches fire!
	Oh dear. An oil slick marks the point where a sinking Allied destroyer slipped beneath the water while still laying smoke.	Takao (right) looses a spread of torpedoes.	In the east, two more ABDA destroyers are abruptly sunk (marked by the oil slicks).	IJN cruisers Nachi (foreground) and Haguro blast away at the enemy's right flank.
IJN cruisers Mikuma (foreground) and Mogami fire at very close range. Mogami is fighting a fire--another indication that the ABDA force is far from toothless, especially at short range.	The cruiser De Ruyter presses forward.	IJN cruisers Ashigara and Myoko pass right behind HMS Exeter (left). More close range fire, and Ashigara is burning.	The destroyer USS John Paul Jones almost rams the Takao!	The De Ruyter burns as enemy ships pass through ABDA squadrons.
Cruisers Mikuma and Mogami (still burning) wades directly into the mass of destoyers.	HMAS Hobart keeps up a steady fire.	The long view.	A sizeable part of the Allied left flank seems poised to make a get-away. Only one or two destoyers are in any condition to lay smoke to cover the maneuver.	Allied cargo ships have been left behind, and face a very uncertain future with the Japanese destroyer Akebono hard upon them.
The cruiser Tone steams over the sinking wreck of an enemy destroyer.	In the east, Japanese cruisers Haguro and Nachi fire as fast as their crews can manage to keep the Allies from leaving the area.	The Hr.Ms. Java steams past the sinking hulk of the De Ruyter, screened by the destoyer Hr.Ms. Witte de With.	The Mogami (left) has extinguished her fires, while the HMAS Hobart (right) rushes past.	As our game ends, the Haguro and Nachi trade lethal shots with the Java at point blank range. The Japanese win the game by sinking a critical merchant tonnage, although the Allies console themselves that many of their capital ships escaped.
We hover above the briney blue, which seems to have more than its share of white dog hair and lint specks. Even with regular laundering, it's hard to keep the ocean clean. But I digress: good game, all!	After the tiny ships are removed, we enjoy the fruits of peace. Ah, velvety, chocolately peace! I'll have a big piece of peace, please.