Fleet expansion

I have not got out to my wargaming shed much these past couple of weeks. Not had as much time during the day, many of the nights have been freezing—so too cold to venture out there—and I have been having a bit of a 'block' regarding constructing models and painting. I have though, managed quite a bit of planning and some purchases—always easy to click that 'add to cart' button isn't it?!

A bit like my aim for 'battles of the revolutionary-Napoleonic wars', I want to recreate 'all’ of the naval battles of the Pacific War, especially those involving carriers. For each action, my plan is that we will play out an historic scenario, an alternative scenario and a campaign scenario. The ‘campaign’ scenario will be based on the result/accumulated results of the previous historic one(s), taking account of other events that occurred historically, to come to a new, ‘campaign' version of the action. Perhaps some actions will not occur at all in this realm?

Julian and I have been discussing those for the first action, Pearl Harbor, and I have begun to put down notes for each of the scenarios for it. The historic scenario will have the Japanese attacks as they occurred, with American reactions once the first wave has gone in. The alt-scenario will have the Japanese attacks as planned, but the Yanks will be a bit more prepared (but not overly) and will not dismiss the ‘contact’ on their radar as ‘merely a flock of birds’. I do not expect this alt-scenario to be dramatically different from the historic one, save perhaps for fewer American ships sunk and more Japanese planes lost. Naturally, there will not be a campaign scenario for Pearl Harbor, but I may add in a ‘let’s say’ scenario. This would occur on 8th December, where, let's say, the Japanese fleet remains to attack again and combats what escapes from Pearl Harbor which may be joined by the Enterprise group, probably unknown to the Japanese initially, and perhaps the Lexington group. We’ll see.

Once we get there, Pearl Harbor will be our first real ’test’ of the rules-approach that we are planning. Then it will be all about ’42. That gives us heaps and heaps to attempt. There were mobs of actions and it was when the Japanese were at their most ‘competitive’. This also focusses purchases.

3D printed ships, front to back: New Orleans class heavy cruiser, Brooklyn class (St Louis subclass) light cruiser, Porter class destroyer and Farragut class destroyer. There is a little bit of 3D print 'flashing' to remove.

I purchased some 3D printed ships to see what they looked like and am really happy with them, so will be getting more for the ships that I cannot get as kits and some of the destroyers for which I ’need’ several individual ships. They are Allan’s Models c/- Dobbies Hobbies in Canada and are priced at wargame prices. I have seen some that go for US$50–60, or more, plus postage. They are lovely models, but, surely, they cannot be serious?! Clearly priced for collectors, not wargamers.

I have also bought in some ‘reinforcements’ in the form of further kits, with a few more on their way.

A haul of additional ship kits, courtesy of a sale on Tamiya sets at Hearns Hobbies in Melbourne!

As you can see, I am still very much in the mode of 'capacity building'. I think that I have got through my minor 'block' and, with a clearer calendar, some warmer weather later in the week, I should make some tangible progress towards painting for that test game of the attack on Shokaku.

In the meantime, I have Denmark Strait re-dux at Julian's on Wednesday. This time we'll be using Seekrieg fifth edition rules, which we both expect will be the duck's nuts for what we are looking to represent in a surface action.