This is an after action report from "South China Sea" run at Drums 4, using Shipbase III computer monitored game system. This scenario used the historical British force of the Prince of Wales (BB), Repulse (BC) and four destroyers (DD). The DDs ranged from average to poor. The Japanese opposition was what could have been assembled if Japanese air power had not located the British. The Japanese have the Kongo and Haruna (BC), Nachi and Hagura (CA) and four destroyers (DD). The Japanese DDs were far superior to the British DDs. The scenario was set as a meeting engagement at night, which limited the sighting range.

Each side deployed their forces in an unusual formation for naval engagements. The Japanese were in two groups on different headings, while the British had a column of DDs moving parallel to the two large ships in column. After 12 turns of movement at eight knots on their initial deployment course, contact was made. This brought the Haruna & two DDs into contact with the Prince of Wales & two DDs. The large ships targeted each other while the DDs launched torpedoes and fired at each other. Three of the DDs were sunk. The surviving Japanese DD withdrew to reload its torpedo tubes.

On the 3rd turn of combat, the Prince of Wales was set on fire. This allowed all of the Japanese heavy ships to spot and fire on it. While the Prince was taking a pounding and damaging the Haruna with return fire, the Repulse was trying to get into sighting range. By the 4th turn the other four DDs had closed, launched torpedoes and fired on each other. A single Japanese again was the sole survivor. By the 5th combat turn, the Repulse got into spotting range of the damaged Haruna and opened fire. At this point, the Prince of Wales changed targets to the Hagura with the guns still working. On the 6th turn, the heavy guns of the Prince sank the Hagura.

The 7th turn had two major events. A 14" shell from the Prince found the magazine in the Nachi and blew her up. The Prince was hit by a 24" torpedo and took considerable damage, including damage to its propellers. This limited it to 4 knots (one inch in game scale) movement.

The game was called after 3.5 hours of play (nine combat turns). The Japanese had lost two heavy cruisers and two destroyers. The Haruna had taken 90% damage and the Kongo about 5%. The British lost all four destroyers, the Prince of Wales was at 95% damage and the Repulse about 5%. The Shipbase III system uses percentage of tonnage lost to calculate victory. The Japanese won with a ratio of British to Japanese tonnage lost of 1.06 (a very close game).