Over the course of the game, which lasted from June 3rd to June 6th, there was a combined total of six air attacks. In the first, launched at 0500 on June 4th, the US caught the IJN unprepared, sent the carriers Soryu and Zuiho to the bottom and damaged the Kaga, but took fearfully heavy losses in aircraft, particularly torpedo bombers.
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| First US strike on the IJN main fleet. |
With the location of the US task forces now pinpointed, the Japanese retaliated with a strike which sunk the Enterprise but in which Hornet, crucially, escaped any damage. Both sides launched simultaneous attacks on the afternoon of June 4th, and, again, it was the US Navy that had the better of the exchange. The battleship Haruna and carriers Hiryu and the partly damaged Kaga were destroyed, and while the IJN was able to damage both Hornet and Yorktown, neither was sunk (how different this result could have been had a hit or two registered against Hornet in the first strike!).
Both sides lost each other overnight and it was not until June 6th that further strikes were able to be launched. With both fleets now desperately low on aircraft, the US aborted its final attack in the face of formidable anti-aircraft factors, and the IJN, despite the best efforts of its gallant pilots, was unable to penetrate the anti-aircraft screen to get at the Hornet and Yorktown.
At game end Midway was safe: the IJN had lost four carriers and the vast majority of its experienced pilots; the US its entire torpedo bomber force, half of its dive bombers, and the carrier Enterprise. It was a very bloody affair indeed.
Thanks to Pat for a close-fought and entertaining game!
[Didn't realize there was no 'edit' feature for comments here. I just wanted to fix a typo!]
ReplyDeleteExcellent write-up, Aaron, and I'm looking forward to redeeming myself (or more likely, experiencing further ignominy) in our rematch!
I really like this game, and consider it superior to the 1991 version. The 1964 Midway is a perfect example of the less-is-more approach to wargame design.
I did find the Vassal interface for this module a bit of a struggle at first, but once I added a second monitor to accommodate all the boards, tables and record sheets it became a lot easier to handle.
Hahaha, yes, an extra monitor would be useful! Fortunately, my one's a decent size, so it's not a big issue (unless playing as the IJN, I suspect!).
DeleteCheers,
Aaron
Indeed a fine system and a regular on the table in the early days. There is a bit of a rush on at the moment to re-print old titles, I wonder whether this is on any company radar.
ReplyDeleteWe're certainly spoiled for choice when it comes to quality board wargames these days, aren't we? There are so many it's impossible to keep up!
DeleteInteresting sounding game, Aaron. My mom had a half-brother (whom she never met) who supposedly was shot down during the battle. His friends who saw this wrote a letter reporting this to my grandmother who had left him in Japan and was already living in Hawaii.
ReplyDeleteWow, that's a bit of family history there, Dean! My wife's grandfather used to say that his unit was training to be used as suicide bombers against tanks when the war ended. Sobering to think what times they were!
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