SWWAS Video AAR - South Pacific - Uncle Albert and Admiral Halsey
An after action report for Avalanche Press - South Pacific - Uncle Albert and Admiral Halsey. Great scenario and one of the few that has battleships slugging it out although I didn't get that far, losing USS Washington to... wait.. you have to watch it to see the action.
https://youtu.be/HOKRfF5DM5c
Admiral Nimitz in September, 1942 was losing patience and faith in Admiral Gormley in the Solomons campaign. Gormley was not acting with force and aggression and even refused to go from Nouméa to Cactus to assess the situation. Nimitz made the tough decision to replace the commander of the Watchtower operation and replace him with Halsey who had zero problem operating in a front line position and had no problems with aggressive action. His first order after taking over on September 18th was to order a recon in strength up the slot the night of the 22nd. TF64 arrived at the west end of the slot at about the same time Admiral Kondo's bombardment force approached Henderson Field from the west. Tonight was going to be a slugfest.
There are special rules galore in the scanario from prescribed movement guaranteeing contact to Shenkeidan 3 bombardment for the Hiei and Karishima and HE loaded for all the cruisers for the bombardent group.. Sighting range is three for the Japanese and 2 for the Navy unless the Japanese are firing.
I brought the two forces together as specified loosely in the special rules as the American forces strung out on the line of advance with the Fletcher and Benham leadiing the rest with the slower Washington moving back to the rear of the line as the faster ships passed her (due to special rules).
As the bombardment group and their covering force ran into the American lead destroyers, they got a load of hits in on the Benham and sank her but fast. Fletcher got off a good torpedo at Kirishima, but did not make the confitmation of the torpedo representing the excrible Mark 14 torpedoes with the defective exploders. Withdrawing toward the main body, Fletcher made it a few more minutes and then was burid in fire from the Destroyers. Kongo and Haruna from the distant escort came in at that point and with their cruisers unloaded on Washington, doing some real damage.
For the rest, have to check out the movie.
If you own South Pacific, you can download the extension from
https://www.was-fc/com after mailing me to confirm you are an owner of the physical game.
If you don't own South Pacific it is available from Avalance Press.
