Havoc 2015: Coral Sea AAR

**Savoir Faire** · 03-30-2015 05:04

We had a full day of WoG in central Massachusetts last weekend (3/28/15). Hopefully you will see AAR’s for the the first two games of the day in the WWI section. Teaticket and I ran this game in the evening for a table of 9.

We gamed the Japanese attack on the carriers Yorktown and Lexington, using house rules for ship movement and torpedo bombing. Japanese players flew Zeros, Vals and Kates, while the Americans fielded Wildcats, carriers and destroyers. The ships used AA fire per the book rules, direct fire, and had their own house-ruled movement cards. It was pretty incremental, but adding up over time.

Thanks to those who have provided some of the materials (in the files section) that we used in the scenario, particularly Gravitypool for his ship cards and C.F. Stout III for his torpedo rules.

This was the table arrangement to start:

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These were the home-made ship turning cards. There was a set for each type of ship. Unlike the plane maneuver cards, ships were not lifted and placed over the arrows of the card. Instead, ships were pushed and/or pivoted over the white triangles/boxes of the maneuver card --Essentially moving anywhere from an eighth to a quarter of an inch each maneuver phase:

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**Savoir Faire** · 03-30-2015 05:07

fast.git moving his Kate toward the Lexington (foreground). You can also see two AA markers in place:

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**Savoir Faire** · 03-30-2015 05:09

Two aces of the event. fast.git (top right), was the Japanese ace with 2 kills and a share in 5 others. Jay (center background) playing for the Americans had 3 kills and a share in another:

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**Savoir Faire** · 03-30-2015 05:10

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**Savoir Faire** · 03-30-2015 05:14

Here you can see the torpedoes in play. Kates dropped torpedoes and we tracked the torpedo movement in the maneuver phase (for a total of 5 turns), tracking the turns with a die. In the right foreground you can see the smoke and fire which is all that remained of the Lexington after a lone torpedo (D chit damage) drew an explosion with the first hit.

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**Teaticket** · 03-30-2015 05:19

Yes, we had a great day at Havoc. Here are the photos I took during the game. Chris (fast.git may have more to add)

Wildcats flying CAP ovet the Lexington prior to the action.

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The Japanese arrive...

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The Wildcats mix it up concentrating on the Kate torpedo bombers.

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A Zero is splashed.

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Fish in the water!

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A hornet's nest of activity.

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The Lexington is the center of the activity.

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Paul's torp hits the Lexington... where did it go? BOOM!!!!!!! The bomb bay was hit and a chain reaction of exploding ordinance blew the Lexington apart, sinking in seconds.

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A new wave of Wildcats lift off from the Yorktown.

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Too few and too far away...

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We called it as it was getting late and we pretty much figured the Vals would not get through the AA screen for any chance on hitting the Yorktown.

**Savoir Faire** · 03-30-2015 05:19

We employed a regeneration mechanic which allowed for the Wildcats to re-enter the game after a loss. Regenerated Wildcats were positioned to the front of a carrier to re-enter the action. Below you can see three in line for re-entry:

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**Savoir Faire** · 03-30-2015 05:23

A view of the regenerated Wildcats taking off from the Yorktown from the viewpoint of approaching Vals:

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**Nightbomber** · 03-30-2015 06:39

Iy must have been a blast-event there!

. Thank for sharing the report with us, Max.

Great to see old friends playing.

Congrats to Chris AKA fast.git, the Japanese Ace!

**Savoir Faire** · 03-30-2015 06:50

I should also mention that Paul was another Japanese flyer who deserves special recognition as he flew the Kate that sank the Lexington in a one-shot. Sadly, I don't have his photo. Perhaps Chris or Peter do.

**Teaticket** · 03-30-2015 08:00

Originally Posted by Savoir Faire

I should also mention that Paul was another Japanese flyer who deserves special recognition as he flew the Kate that sank the Lexington in a one-shot. Sadly, I don't have his photo. Perhaps Chris or Peter do.

Paul is on the corner (with hat on) plotting his moves.

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**Flying Helmut** · 03-30-2015 13:28

Great-looking game - thanks for posting!
I hope to do something similar one day, now that I have fallen to the Dark Side.............................

**matt56** · 03-30-2015 14:00

This looks like it was a lot of fun, Max! I love the carrier action - in fact, I'm looking for/contemplating picking up some WWI ships to use in Great War scenarios...I really like that you have the flat card representations as well as 3D models when they're necessary. Quite the swarm of fighters going at it there!

All the best,
Matt

**Marechallannes** · 04-23-2015 00:37

Missed to post a commet here in time, but the setting and the ARR is impressive.

Well done comrades.

**Flying Officer Kyte** · 04-23-2015 02:37

I would also like to add my compliments on a truly splendid looking game Chaps.
missed the original post due to Jury Service.
Rob.

**Teaticket** · 04-23-2015 04:29

We had a blast with this one. Next month at a game convention in Portland Maine, Huzzah!, I'll be trying the Yorktown at Midway.

**Gotham Resident** · 04-24-2015 09:26

That looks like a lot of fun.

**gully_raker** · 04-24-2015 18:26

That looked like a fantastic game!
Boy so many aircraft in the Air.

Well done to all who participated!

**Teaticket** · 04-25-2015 05:19

Originally Posted by gully_raker

That looked like a fantastic game!
Boy so many aircraft in the Air.

Well done to all who participated!

It was busy! Lots of planes for sure. Everyone flew 3 planes for the Japanese or 2 for the Americans. At one point I flew 6 Japanese filling in while co-running the game. My head is still spinning!

**gully_raker** · 04-25-2015 18:12

Originally Posted by Teaticket

It was busy! Lots of planes for sure. Everyone flew 3 planes for the Japanese or 2 for the Americans. At one point I flew 6 Japanese filling in while co-running the game. My head is still spinning!

Just as long as its your head Peter & NOT your Aircraft!