To Light the Torch 1942

CAS Scenario: Introduction

by Michael W. Harris

It's early November, 1942 and the American Operation Torch convoy is finally approaching on the west coast of Africa. Then a scout aircraft reports, in the fading light before nightfall, that a flotilla of large German warships has been spotted closing on the convoy from the northeast.

KM Tirpitz

The American response to the threat is led into battle by battleships Massachusetts and Texas. The German squadron, under orders to crush the convoy, is headed by Tirpitz, with Gneisenau and Scharnhorst in company. Can the U.S. Navy drive off the Nazi thrust aimed at the vulnerable convoy, or will German surface seapower finally win a big battle and extinguish Torch before it ever gets lighted?

Location: About 40 nm north of Maderia Island. November 3, 1942. 0545 hours local time.

Environment: Heavy swells and wind from 315° at 18 knots. Sea state 4. Visibility 10%, increasing to 25% at 0600 and to 40% at full sunrise at 0655.

American Operational Situation: The Torch convoy is only days away from invading North Africa. A second front must be opened in order to find a way to beat Nazi Germany. The trip across the Atlantic was luckily without incident and no U-Boat attacks, although one or two unconfirmed periscopes were reported. The invasion timeline is tightly planned and must go forward or risk heavier resistance to the landings.

American Tactical Situation: Just before nightfall, a scout plane from Ranger reported a force of four or five warships rapidly heading south on an intercept course with the convoy. Because of oncoming darkness, they could not be identified. However, no Allied forces are known to be in the area, so they must be assumed to be hostile.

Both Task Group 34.1 and Task Group 34.8 have been tracking 3-5 contacts headed SSW at estimated 20 knots for last several minutes with surface search radar. The contacts bear 325 degrees at 19 nm from TG 34.1 and 020 degrees at 22 nm from TG 34.8.

American Forces: Covering Group (Task Group 34.1)

    Massachusetts (South Dakota class battleship)
    Tuscaloosa (New Orleans class cruiser)
    Wichita (Wichita class cruiser) DESRON 8
    Wainwright (Sims class destroyer)
    Mayrant (Benham class destroyer)
    Rhind (Benham class destroyer)
    Jenkins (Fletcher class destroyer)

Fire Support Group Northern Attack Group (Task Group 34.8)

    Texas (New York class battleship)
    Savannah (Brooklyn class light cruiser)

American Orders: The Covering Group and the Fire Support Group from the Northern Attack Group will intercept the hostile surface force. Protect the Torch convoy. Do not let German forces get past you to attack the convoy. Protect the battleships if at all possible. At least one must be capable of providing Naval Gunfire Support for the invasion landings.

American Victory Conditions:

Decisive: Sink or cripple (greater than 50% damage) two or more enemy capital ships without own battleships sunk or crippled and no German capital ship escapes south towards the convoy.
Tactical: Sink or cripple (greater than 50% damage) one or more enemy capital ships with no American battleship sunk and no German capital ship escapes south towards the convoy.

German Operational Situation: Two weeks ago a U-boat off the American east coast sighted a massive concentration of ships, much larger than any normal convoy. Any attempts to get close enough for a U-boat attack were prevented by a heavy destroyer screen protecting the convoy. Three U-boat wolf packs were stationed off the coast of England to intercept and overwhelm these defenses, but the convoy never arrived. Just in case the intended destination was the Mediterranean or Africa, the Naval High Command has sent a strong surface to the southwest coast of Spain to deal with the American force if it came that way.

German Tactical Situation: Just before nightfall a scout plane was sighted to the south, in the general direction of one of the estimated enemy positions. To be out this far from land must mean the aircraft was from a ship. Therefore, the fleet has changed course to follow and is rapidly moving to engage the enemy.

German Forces:

    Tirpitz (Tirpitz class battleship)
    Scharnhorst, Gneisenau (both Scharnhorst class battle cruisers)
    Prinz Eugen, Hipper (both Hipper class cruisers)

German Orders: Seek out and attack the American convoy. Sink as many transports as possible or force the convoy to change course to avoid you and thus upset any invasion plan. Do not overly risk Tirpitz.

German Victory Conditions:

Decisive: Sink or cripple (greater than 50% damage) one or more American battleships without own battleship or battle cruisers sunk or crippled and get at least one battle cruiser and cruiser (both less than 25% damaged) past the American screening force.
Tactical: Sink or cripple one or more American battleships without own battleship or battle cruisers sunk or crippled or get at least one battle cruiser and cruiser (both less than 25% damaged) past the American screening force.

American Setup: Standard distance between ships in column is 500 yards. TG 34.1 (includes DESRON 8) is on course 300 at 21 knots. All ships of the Task Group should start within 5 nm of Massachusetts. TG 34.8 is on course 020 at 21 knots. Savannah should be within 2 nm of Texas. Massachusetts bears 072 degrees at 19 nm from Texas.

German Setup: Standard distance between ships in column is 500 yards. Fleet formation is at players' discretion. Fleet course is 200° at 18 knots. All fleet forces must start within 5 nm of Tirpitz.

More CAS Scenario: Torch 1942

BT

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