Forumini Madagascar Campaign

jfkziegler · Forumini Madagascar Campaign

I decided to create a War at Sea campaign game for play here on the Forumini. It works just like the A&A Campaign on the Avalon Hill site worked. In other words, each week I will create a storyline and a scenario, and I will ask everyone to play out the scenario and report the results back to me via PM. After analyzing the results, I will post a new storyline and a new scenario for the next week.

The campaign revolves around the island of Madagascar in early 1942. The Japanese and Germans plan to seize it and use it to cut the Pacific and Indian Oceans off from the Atlantic Ocean. The British and Americans aim to stop them. The scenario is entirely fictional, as are most of the characters.

jfkziegler

Round 1 Storyline

Admiral Hideo Maroka was troubled. His reinforcements had not yet arrived, and his scouts reported the presence of a British fleet off the Ivory Coast. If his German allies did not arrive soon, he would have to face the British fleet alone. If Madagascar fell, the British convoys would be able to re-supply India, and that would seriously hamper Japanese operations on the Asian mainland. He downed another cup of tea, and resumed his worrying.

For his part, Admiral Heinz Goenitz was in good spirits. France was in German hands, the Germans were winning victory after victory against the British in North Africa, and now the Japanese had seized Madagascar, cutting off the supply lines between the British and their colonies in the Far East, especially India. If Madagascar could be held, the British wouldn’t be able to draw on the resources of those colonies, and Britain itself would slowly be cut off. Sure, the entry of the United States into the war complicated things some, but Goenitz was confident that the British would be forced to surrender before the full force of the United States could be brought to bear.

Goenitz sat back in his chair and smiled. He was in no rush to reinforce the Japanese. He was confident that the British wouldn’t be able to bring enough forces to bear to threaten the Japanese before his German reinforcements could arrive.

Of course, had Goenitz known that Admiral Richard Farleigh’s Twelfth Fleet was already off the Ivory Coast, he might have hurried up a bit. Farleigh knew that the loss of Madagascar was a disaster for the British, and he aimed to reclaim it as soon as possible. If the Germans and Japanese were allowed to set up a permanent submarine base off Madagascar, British convoys through the area would be little more than sitting ducks.

Farleigh knew that his strategy was risky. He believed that the Japanese would be expecting an assault to come through the Suez Canal, down the coast of East Africa, and hit the island from the north. Farleigh believed that by going around the Cape of Good Hope, he could catch the Japanese defenders unaware. Knowing that speed was of the essence, and knowing that his supply ships couldn’t keep up with his warships, Farleigh detached a small force of warships and sent them ahead to begin the attack. With any luck, they would catch the southern part of Madagascar unaware and score a decisive victory to begin the campaign.

Almost a world away, Admiral Eddie Jones knew nothing about what was going on in Madagascar. After the loss of his battleship in the Pearl Harbor attacks, Jones had been assigned to desk duty, helping to plan the eventual U.S. counter-attack. It was important work, but it didn’t suit Jones well. He needed to be at sea, to feel the salty wind against his face. That was what he signed up for the Navy for, not to be stuck behind a desk. Every day, he cursed the Japanese for sinking his battleship, and promised that he would have his revenge someday.

Little did he know that his chance would come this day. A messenger came into Jones’ office, saluted, and said, “Sir, Admiral Nimitz wishes to see you.” Not wanting to disappoint Admiral Nimitz, Jones got up and rushed right to Nimitz’s office. Walking in, he saluted, and then asked, “You wanted to see me, Sir?”

“Eddie, I think I have the perfect mission for you,” said Nimitz. “The British garrison at Madagascar has been overrun by Japanese assault forces, and they are requesting aid. I want you to assemble a force and bring it to Madagascar. With any luck, you’ll get there in time. Any questions?”

Jones shook his head no. “Very well, then, dismissed,” said Nimitz.

Within two days, Jones was steaming for Madagascar, the salty wind in his face. He only hoped he wouldn’t be too late.

Just before dawn on the morning of the third, the British advance force came upon the Japanese defenders off the southern coast of Madagascar. Unfortunately, Farleigh’s deception had apparently failed, and Maroka’s defenders were ready for the British forces. Knowing they would be in for the fight of their lives, the British fleet prepared for battle.

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Round 1 Scenario

Situation: The British fleet must capture several strategic areas in order to cut off the Japanese fleet and force the Japanese to retreat. The Japanese seek to get to these areas first in order to prevent the British from taking them.

Fleets: Both the British and the Japanese may use 100 points to construct their fleets. The year limit is 1942.

Map: There are several areas off Madagascar where the British fleet might have encountered the Japanese fleet. Accordingly, roll a die to choose a map out of the War at Sea Advanced Rulebook.

Victory: Victory is achieved as per a normal 100 point War at Sea game. Objectives are worth 50 points, and the goal is to score 150 points.

Deadline: The deadline for the completion of Round 1 is July 18, 2008.

jfkziegler

I haven't seen any responses or heard anything, so I have to ask - is there any interest in this? I don't want to waste my time if no one is interested.

swarbs

I'm rediculously busy for the next month, but I'm sure I could persuade packertim to play some of these out with me if you can wait that long. Otherwise, I'm sure he or Okie would be willing to try it out, especially on-line.

jfkziegler

Thanks for your response, swarbs. But seeing as how you are the only person to show any interest in this at all, I am declaring this idea dead. It's unfortunate, because I think this could have been a lot of fun. I don't know why nobody showed any interest in it.

ericjohn

My $0.02:

- People may not check this sub-forum that often???

- I think the reason the A&A campaign was interesting that it was clear how the battle outcomes affected the larger campaign. Maybe if you let people see a glimpse into a larger campaign with its own set of rules that would be interesting. As it is, whether the Japanese or UK won this battle it wasn't clear what impact that had in the scheme of things

- Another good thing about the A&A campaign was that it wasn't linear, there was a lot going on at once which added to the overall complexity and interest

- One thing that would be cool, but which they largely missed out on in the A&A campaign would be to make the battles more varied. People play vanilla 100 or 150 point matches all the time. Add some spice - restrict the available unit lists, post a custom map, make up some unique victory conditions, or variable conditions like random reinforcements or something. Not canned like a scenario, people should still have some discretion, but something to add interest over a standard battle

My thoughts FWIW...

anyway I used this match as an excuse to play a couple of solo battles, but I was mostly trying out some unusual fleets so I didn't post the results... First time UK tried a Hood fleet and died as expected, and second time IJN tried an air-heavy fleet and died as expected... Smile

The_lucky_Y

I´ll would give this a try....

Campbjj

My gaming group just finished playing this out at my house so I will PM in a few minutes.

jfkziegler

Cool. If a few people PM me their results, I can compile them and post a storyline for the second round.

Campbjj

Did you get it?

jfkziegler

Got it, and thanks! Now if I get a few others, I should be able to write an interesting battle report and hopefully a new scenario. Smile

Campbjj

Hopefully, My gamer partners were pissed that my swordfish kicked the **** out of them.

Task Force 57

Flash News Report!

British Heavy Units heading for cape town! Vice Admiral Terrence Forbes RN. abandons hunt for lone German raider in S. Atlantic with his 2 hunting groups and orders them to the Indean Ocean...

Churchil reported furious at admiral taking matters into his own hands...

Hm cruisers Norfolk, Suffolk and destroyers Jesabel and Jobe (Force N) arrive to warm welcome from Smutts... Speculation rife that Forbes will not be recieved officialy when his Carrier group (Force R) arrives tonight. Hms Ruler (flag) , her sister ship HMS Arbiter and escort Hms Javelin will arrive around 11pm local time.

Forbes is rumoured to have requested replacement squadron of F.A.A swordfish Torpedo bombers from local air base following severe losses on both his CVE's from heavy seas and general wear-and-tear during his fruitless two month pursuit of Pocket battleship Goben still rumoured to be lurking in south atlantic.

More follows.