Midway Cruiser Action

CaS Scenario

by Terry Sofian

Location: Midway Island 0500 hrs, 5 June 1942.

Operational Situation: This is a hypothetical scenario that takes place after the Battle of Midway. American carrier-based aviation tore the heart out Japanese Imperial Fleet. Four of the Emperor's best carriers were lost. For the Japanese, balanced against this disaster was the reported destruction of one or two of America's limited number of flattops. It was possible that there were no effective carriers in the United States Pacific Fleet. If this was so, only the runways on Midway's Eastern Island could support American air operations in the region. If a Japanese surface group could damage these facilities, the smaller carriers of the Aleutians Occupation Force could be brought to bear and Midway could still be taken. To this end, Admiral Kurita and Cruiser Division 7 were ordered to make a nighttime gunnery attack.

For its part, the Marine garrison on Midway is expecting just such an attack. Although Japanese carrier forces have been dealt a heavy blow, this still leaves plenty of battleships, cruisers and destroyers. Crouched by their weapons, Marine gunners have already dueled with a submarine, with inconclusive results for both sides.

Tactical Situation: Four Mogami-class heavy cruisers and two modern destroyers are speeding toward Midway to knock out its airfields. Because of the casualties suffered by the island's planes at Midway, there are few serviceable aircraft able to attack the Japanese surface ships. American coastal guns and patrol torpedo boats will have to defend the island.

Environment: Night, intermittent cloud cover (50%), visibility 25%. Starting at 0500 visibility increases one table every three Tactical Turns until it reaches 75% at 0536. Sea State 1, wind 135° at 5 knots.

American Forces (see map):

6th Marine Defense Battalion
Seacoast Artillery Group
Battery A (2 5 in/51)
Battery B (2 5 in/51)
Battery C (2 5 in/51)
Sand Island 7 in Btry
Eastern Island 7 in Btry
Sand Island Navy Btry (2 3 in/50)
Eastern Isl. Navy Btry (2 3 in/50)
3-Inch AA Group
Batteries D, E, F (4 3 in AA each) w/SCR-268 FC radar
Special Weapons Group
SCR-270 radar on Sand Island
3rd Marine Defense Battalion
Batteries D, E, F (4 3 in AA each) w/SCR-268 FC radar
Battery K (8 37mm AA)
Battery L (18 "dual 20mm" AA) Note: this weapon was an early-war expedient which consisted of 2 20mm AA mounted on a 40mm gun mount.
8 PT boats (PT 20 class, 77' Elco) in the lagoon.
Naval Air Station
SCR-270 radar in Eastern Island
6 SBD-2 Dauntless
5 SB2U-2 Vindicator

American Orders: Defend the island from enemy attack.

American Victory Conditions:

    Strategic Victory: Sink or cripple (50% damage or greater) three or more Japanese ships and prevent the Japanese from achieving their victory conditions.

    Tactical Victory: Prevent the Japanese from achieving their victory conditions.

Japanese Forces:

Cruiser Division 7 (Vice Admiral Kurita)
Kumano (Flag) Captain Kikumatsu
Suzuya Captain Kimura
Mikuma Captain Sakiyama
Mogami Captain Soji
(all Mogami -class CA)
Destroyer Division 8 (Commander Ogawa)
Asashio Commander Yoshii
Arishio Commander Kuboki
(both Asashio -class DD)

Japanese Orders: Destroy the airfield on Eastern Island.

Japanese Victory Conditions: Strategic

    Victory: Cut each runway at least three times and knock out two or more of the Marine batteries with 5 inch or larger guns.

    Tactical Victory: Cut each runway at least twice.

Special rules:

1) Runways as targets: Treat each runway as five separate size class A targets with 100 dp and no armor. To crater a runway, a section must take 50% or greater damage (50 points). No shells will hit the runways from short range.

Each Japanese cruiser or battleship has 10 turns of HE shells and 30 turns of AP shells. AP shells have their damage value halved against runway targets.

The Japanese can fire against aircraft shelters using the normal rules. There are 30 small aircraft shelters and 20 large ones.

2) Light AA fire: The 37mm and 20mm guns are deployed over both islands, along with numerous .50 cal and .30 cal machine guns. All aircraft at Low altitude within 1000 yards of the island are subject to a Light AA attack of 1.5 each Air Movement Phase.

3) PT boats are the only vessels in the the scenario that can safely negotiate the lagoon. They can get underway one Tactical Turn after enemy ships are detected.

Historical Outcome

Historically, the attack force was recalled before reaching Midway. During the retirement they spotted a US submarine and Mikuma and Mogami collided as they maneuvered to evade it. Marine bombers and naval aircraft found them the next day and finished Mikuma. Mogami escaped but was out of service for well over a year.

Variations:

Add Battleship Division 3 (minus second section) Rear Admiral Mikawa

    Kongo Captain Koyanagi
    Hiei Captain Nishida
    (both Kongo-class BC)

Replace the Marine Defense battalions with Army Coast Artillery Corps Batteries. The 7 inch batteries would still be used or they could be replaced on a one-for-one-basis with Army 8 inch M1888 guns on railway carriage M1918M1. The 5 inch batteries would be replaced on a one-for-one basis with M1918 155mm gun batteries. All other weapons would remain the same.

Bibliography:

Campbell, John, Naval Weapons of World War Two, Naval Institute Press, 1985
Heinl, Lt. Colonel Robert D., Marines at Midway, Historical Section, Division of Public Information, HQ, US Marine Corps, 1948
Prange, Gordon, Miracle at Midway, Viking Press, 1983
Silverstone, Paul H., US Warships of World War 2, Naval Institute Press, 1965
Handbook of Ordnance Data November 15, 1918, Washington Printing Office, 1918
Table of United States Army Cannon and Projectiles, 1918
TM 4-210 Seacoast Artillery Weapons, 1944

More Midway

BT

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