To Light the Torch 1942

Replay: Battle Report

by Ron VanderMolen

For a Variation of "To Light the Torch"

The only change made to the scenario as played at Origins and listed in this issue was that we swapped the BB New York for the CL Savannah. This left the one group with BBs Texas and New York, with New Orleans, Baltimore, Massachusetts and four DDs comprising the second group. The Germans sailed in column, led by Tirpitz, followed by Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, Prinz Eugen and Hipper. Radar contacts were made nearly simultaneously. Both sides held fire until they had more information. The German commander did, however, alter course, putting him on course to sail between the American groups. The other German ship commanders wondered at this, but didn't realize how fatal the move would be until too late.

Massachusetts opened the firing, followed shortly by Tirpitz, Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, Texas and New York. Initial results were in favor of the United States, as the Germans failed to hit on numerous early salvos (even though range opened at medium for most of the big ships). A penetration and detonation of a secondary magazine on Tirpitz, delivered by Massachusetts, started the Germans' slide to their doom. After four turns of exchanging fire, the German capital ships were all crippled (and on the next turn all would slide beneath the waves in a defeat of epic proportions. The German cruisers then turned tail and left at high speed for home. The Americans lost no ships, but Massachusetts (60%) and Texas (55% ) suffered major damage. New York was never hit, though targeted often. In all, it was a cheap US victory.

More CAS Scenario: Torch 1942

BT

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