Scenario 11

 

The Fight for Henderson (No Carriers)

A Hypothetical Scenario by James Lutz

 

Time: 2200, 15 June to 1200, 19 June (87 turns)

Weather: Scattered Clouds

 

Allied Order of Battle

BB Maryland

BB North Carolina

CA Astoria

CA Australia

CA Chester

CA Houston

CA Minneapolis

CL Helena

CL Juneau

CL Nashville

CL St. Louis

16DD, 2PG, 10AP, 9SS

 

Allied Ships’ Starting Positions

  1. All ships start within six hexes of the south board edge or within six hexes of the east board edge south of Ndeni.

 

Allied Planes’ Starting Positions

  1. At Espiritu Santo, Henderson, Ndemin and/or New Caledonia: 6 B-17, 2 Catalina, 15 P-40, 6 Wildcat, 14 Dauntless.
  2. At Australia, and/or Port Moresby: 5 B-17, 15 B-25, 12 B-26, 4 Beaufighter, 2 Beaufort, 6 Buffalo, 3 Catalina, 3 Hudson, 12 P-39,.

 

Japanese Order of Battle

BB Hiei

BB Ise

BB Kirishima

CA Ashigara

CA Haguro

CA Maya

CA Myoko

CL Abukama

CL Tama

CL Tatsuta

CL Tenryu

23DD, 4PG, 4AP, 14SS

 

Japanese Ships’ Starting Positions

  1. 1CL, 5DD, 4PG, 4AP start at Rabaul.
  2. All other ships start two hexes from the north board edge east of New Ireland; or enter on Turn 3 anywhere on the north edge west of New Ireland.

 

Japanese Planes’ Starting Positions

  1. At Buka, Kavieng, Lae, Rabaul, Shortland and/or Truk: 11 Betty, 3 Dave, 12 Kate, 4 Pete, 5 Mavis, 17 Nell, 18 Val, 25 Zero

 

Special Rules – Both Players

  1. Use base values as given in the “Eastern Solomons” scenario (#3).
  2. The Optional Rule - Expanded Ship Functions, 7. Ammunition Reloads, is compulsory.
  3. APs and APDs may transfer troops among themselves at the rate of 3 points per turn that the ships are anchored in port, including a captured port.

 

Special Rules – Allied Only

  1. All Allied bases have radar.
  2. Allied CV, BB, CA and CL have radar.
  3. Allied APs can unload only in the Henderson Field hex.

 

Special Rules – Japanese Only

  1. Japanese bases Rabaul, Lae and Shortland have radar.
  2. Japanese CV have radar.
  3. Japanese AP can unload only in any Guadalcanal hex.
  4. Japanese BB may be pre-designated as carrying HE ammunition and may be reloaded with same or normal when in port. BB with HE use a BHT value of 16 for bombardment. Their gunnery factors are reduced as follows: Hiei and Kirishima 8, Ise 7.

 

Special Victory Conditions

  1. The Japanese are awarded 1 VP for every point unloaded in any Guadalcanal hex.
  2. The Allies are awarded 25 VP if they unload at least 25 more VP in the Henderson Field hex than the Japanese unload on Guadalcanal.
  3. The player with the highest VPs wins provided he has at least 25 more VP than his opponent. Otherwise the scenario ends in a draw.

 

Scenario Notes

This scenario imagines that both side’s carriers are out of action. This is a battle of surface ships and land-based air units.