We broke out “Cruel Seas” and a few Elco PT Boats for a nighttime run against some Japanese supply barges making their way down the Slot hoping to avoid interception and deliver their cargo of badly needed ammunition and food to the Imperial Army on Guadalcanal. Weather conditions were fairly calm seas but and ink black night.
Pete, Eddie & Will took up the challenge of night patrol hoping to come home with the highest score and bragging rights at the “O” Club.
Players were allowed to start anywhere on the board pointed in any direction at any speed they chose. Spotting would be at their discretion at the beginning or end of their movement phase and would be by a random card draw. Sometimes they might find something, most times they would not. Any boat engaged in combat would not be allowed a spotting opportunity as it was felt the crew would be a bit preoccupied with the enemy at hand. If an enemy was spotted the card suit would indicate the direction of the enemy and another player would roll a D20 to provide the distance from the successfully searching vessel. A red card would allow the IJN to have the first shot, a black card would give that benefit to the US player. The player that finished off the target was the one that scored the points no matter how much others contributed to the effort.
It was a host of sampans both large and small, landing craft in various quantities and the occasional armed barge that showed up in this game. There was some ‘poaching” on occasion as a sampan or two still barely afloat was taken out by the next player up. While in general the Japanese did not fair too well, they did get in some good licks on all the players when returning fire or getting a lucky first shot.
After numerous searches and exchanges Eddie whose boat was pretty beat up (3 hull boxes left) elected to head for the exits and make his way back to safe harbor. It was at this point we totaled up the points and found that the win went to Eddie, with Will in second and Pete bringing up the rear on this outing.
Thanks to the players for giving this cooperative version of “Cruel Seas” a nice test run. Thanks also to Bill Doelling and John Nozka who helped out with keeping track of the battle and rolling some dice to represent the Japanese. Our continued appreciation to Miniature Market Rock Hill for their continued support of our gaming and group.
