Harbour Raid - part 1

Last Wednesday saw a return to Fletcher-Pratting.  The scenario was based on notes in John Curry's book .  The briefings are below - a future post will cover the action.  The photo above is a colour enhanced RAF recce photo which clearly shows Kongo in port.  The harbour was assembled from Triang Minic components together with some hills from the club terrain cupboard.

Royal Navy briefing

Following a recent action, the Japanese battlecruiser Kongo has put into a minor port for boiler repairs.  You are to prevent her putting to sea.  In order to draw off local Japanese forces, you must detach either Suffolk or two destroyers.  The remainder of your force must tackle the Kongo.
The harbour entrance is protected by a blockship and two 8” guns.
While Kongo is the main target, any damage caused to the harbour installations would be a bonus.
Force L
HMS Suffolk (8” cruiser)
HMS Gurkha
HMS Jaguar
HMS Jackal
HMS Javelin
HMS Janus

Imperial Japanese Navy briefing

Following a recent action, the battlecruiser Kongo has put into a minor port for boiler repairs. 
You must save the Kongo and get it to open waters.
The harbour entrance is protected by a blockship and two 8” guns.  Two destroyers are also present, one in port (with steam up) and one at sea.
The blockship is an old towed barge which can be moved into place when under threat (as soon as an enemy ship is spotted).  On it’s first turn it moves 1 knot, the second 2 knots, third 4 knots and on the forth turn reaches it’s 8 knot maximum.
Kongo only has one turret (2 guns) operational for the first 4 turns, then two until turn ten when a third turret can be used.  By turn ten the ship has steam pressure and can cast off and move (max 4 kts then doubling each turn until it reaches it’s maximum).
Kongo (see notes above)
Isokaze
Kuroshio

For our game, Martin and I did the umpiring.  Lloyd led the RN and decided to detach Suffolk.  He led his flotilla from aboard HMS Gurkha.  The other RN commanders were Ian, Tony and Dave.
The Japanese were led by wily and inscrutable John, assisted by wily and inscrutable Jerry.
Interestingly, Kongo was the last major Japanese warship to be constructed abroad - in Britain (Barrow in Furness).