Early WWII USN Naval Action - Four Stacker (USS Edsell), The Dancing Mouse takes on the IJN!

The early war USN Pacific actions stand between heroic, tragic and those that stray into the foolhardy. Caught strategically off guard the American (and ABDA command in particular) found themselves in precarious positions, consider the plight of the four stacker USS Edsell (see below, it seems that the most interesting posting in the USN in 1941, was one in teh Asiatic Fleet [please click link below]): 

https://www.history.navy.mil/about-us/leadership/director/directors-corner/h-grams/h-gram-067/h-067-1.html

This picture tells a thousand words and helps one to appreciate the enormity of the mismatch (see below, the last photograph of the USS Edsell [please click link below], those are 14" [battleship] and 8" [heavy cruiser] shell splashes): 

https://www.history.navy.mil/about-us/leadership/director/directors-corner/h-grams/h-gram-003/h-003-6.html

A more worrying interlude from the present, history in the making, is this Orwellian edict and disclaimer .. makes you think you don't know what you have got, until you lost the lot! They are going to put that tree in a Tree Museum.

Content on this website has been revised or removed to align with the President’s executive orders and DoD priorities in accordance with DoD Instruction 5400.17 “Official Use of Social Media for Public Affairs Purposes.”

Corona Virus Project 2c: USN DDs - Completed, Remembering when ...

This seemed such a long time ago now (see below, early war USN destroyers for the Coral Sea, Guadalcanal and Midway operations): 

I sense a need to return and start the Japanese opponents!

Midway (Re-fight) Take II

After a little taste of the "feel" of the Midway game from the previous week we decided it had to be done "head-2-head" with the former USN player volunteering to act as umpire to spice things up with added suspense in the "searches". It was now "double-double-blind" as we would not know where the other player was actively searching. This was going to be 'pants wetting stuff'. Drawing lots was thrown out of the window as the other IJN player from last time definitely wanted to "play red" (I think it was the lure of all that "kit"). So we started in earnest contemplative silence. All I knew was that the Japanese were heading to Midway in force. Midway was banging out searches and getting interesting CV results. I committed my B-17 squadron to a long range daylight raid. It annoyingly failed to find the Japanese Fleet on its first go (as often happened when the distance was great the enemy were not where you expected them to be) but despite the ponderous turn-around time a second B-17 strike found an IJN carrier force. The B-17 was immune to AA and CAP (aka a free attack) and was allowed a "low odds - high level attack" (see below, not what I had expected - the cunning IJN player had divided his force of four Fleet Carriers into "two groups of two", nevertheless I targeted the Kaga):

The Kaga disappeared in a cluster of water spouts, bombs dropping tantalisingly near but missing, then a game changing "direct ht" followed by billowing black smoke and flames. With "ready aircraft" on deck the 'poor Japanese damage control' rule came into effect and Kaga blazed out of control - doomed to sink, with her precious cargo of planes incinerated (see below, the US Army Air Force flyers had struck the first blood - big time):

There was a stunned silence, the IJN player knew this was not going to be a cake-walk now; the gods of fate and war seemed to be mocking him (see below, a gruesome dead-pool - the CAP were forces to ditch [but the pilots were picked so no Allied VPs] but 10VPs for the Kaga and 5 VPs for the five squadrons/flights lost = 15 Allied VPS):

Both players hunkered down for the main event. The IJN player was intent in wrecking Midway's search and offensive capabilities. His direct approach was ignoring the loitering fog-bank at the top of the map. Whereas the USN was actively using it to hide his carrier forces TF16 and TF17 - which was risky as it could 'blow away' by the fickle prevailing winds at any time (see below,  the plans as reconstructed [as I was not in a position to take photos of both players maps for obvious reasons] the Japanese bravely divided his forces to "flush out the Americans", whereas the USN concentrated their and stole into the enemy's backyard and attacked from behind):

US Plan: Hide and Seek

IJN Overlaid on US Plan: The many fingers of the Kit-Kat

The Japanese brought their carriers in close and hammered Midway. Initially the US Marine pilots had a chance to get a carrier but as only 50% [two flights/squadrons of attackers] of the attackers found the carrier, those that got through were hammered by a combination of deadly Zero CAP and AA fire, being brought down - had all four flights/squadrons arrived it might have been another matter The valiant US Marine defenders were thus doomed to be ground down, as the airport eventually became wrecked and non-operational (no planes left) with only one full strength US Marine ground unit remaining. Still the Stars and Stripes proudly flew over Midway. The only sign of the USN was a decoy DD Flotilla sailing south near Midway designed to look as if they were "pickets" for the US Carriers. This was to tempt the IJN attention south (see below, the Midway Ground defences look almost totally wrecked and a sole Buffalo Marine Corp fighter flight to protect it):

However as the IJN player basked in his triumph the USN player announced "carrier strike" of IJN CV group. The attack squadrons of Enterprise, Hornet and Yorktown swamped the air defences and sunk the Light Carrier Zuiho [5 Allied VPs], destroyers and damaged a cruiser [about another 5 Allied VPs worth]. I was hoping it was a IJN Fleet Carrier group but the IJN player had been playing very canny here, as I had not got my "grand prize". This was a stunning player shock to the IJN player as this came as a complete surprise - a literal "bolt out of the blue". "He's somehow got behind me" was all he could say. A second night phase then ensued (see photographs below, perhaps the raid was a little "overkill" .. but satisfactory):

US Air Waves: Three sent "two get through" (see below):

IJN CAP defend: The sole IJN Fighter is overwhelmed and the AA swamped (see below, even though one wave "missed" the target):

As sunk light CV (Zuiho), DD Flotilla and a damaged CA (see below, the BB was too tough to hurt):

Midway however was primed for invasion, but the transport fleets and Midway Bombardment force were being harassed by multiple US Submarine attacks during the day and night. Eventually some torpedoes got through. A transport was damaged and the damaged cruiser sank (another 4 Allied VPs). The Japanese order of battle was now looking very "holey" in places. However with three active Fleet Carriers and yet another Light Carrier in play the IJN was still as powerful as the "as yet" untouched USN TF16 and TF17 Carrier Groups. Dawn would see a Midway invasion fleet assembly and the USN had to commit their carrier forces. Unbeknown to the USN the IJN had split their forces, with half their carrier strength (the most powerful half) on the wrong side of Midway (see below, the US Sub Pickets attack the IJN Fleets during the night phase):

Dawn also caught the IJN looking in the wrong place and the Fleet Carrier Hiryu paid the price. This time their was a frantic CAP battle between Zeros and Wildcats before the Zeros attacked and shot up a couple of flights of torpedo bombers, but again the defences were swamped by all three US CVs attacking squadrons (every plane they could muster got through). The Hiryu exploded into a mass of wrecked metal along with a bevy of escorting destroyers and cruisers (another 5 Allied VPs for the CV, 4 more for the aircraft and another 6 to the damage to the surface ships - another 15 Allied VPs). The US Commander breathed a sigh of relief (see below, another surprise attack, this time with three waves getting through - carnage ensued and the IJN CV destroyer screen was sunk as an added insult - they would have been handy chasing off US submarines):

Midway on the other hand was being invaded and the US ground forces were slowly crumbling. It would take all day but they were doomed. The US TF16 and TF17 recovered their planes and attacked what IJN targets they could find, damaging a BB, sinking a CA and sinking more DD's, another 10 VPs worth but the USN now was forced to perform a tactical withdrawal as Midway fell (13 IJN VPs + another 8 from destroying air assets and the ships decoy USN DD Flotilla - caught by the Kaga's Air Fleet). The USN was now "unaware of where the surviving IJN Fleet Carriers were, so caution and discretion was the order of the day. Note: In hindsight the US Commander's suspicions (mine) were actually totally wrong and if I had hung around I could have well sailed into a trap! Both players agreed [a good] game over (see below, ...):

The VPs were tallied and the score was 2:1 in the USN favour (50+ USN to 20+ IJN). Midway had fallen and that would have strategic consequences for the security of Hawaii and the Aleutians. However half the IJN carrier force had been sunk and the remaining Japanese aircrews had suffered losses during the air battles over Midway. All three USN Carriers were intact and their air crews were virtually unscathed. The morale of the USN pilots would be soaring high. The most likely outcome would be the IJN would consolidate their Aleutian Carrier Force with the surviving Midway Carriers to seek battle with teh Americans. The USN Midway Group (TF16/17) perhaps a reinforced by other USN assets (CVs USS Saratoga and USS Wasp) would be tempted to re-take Midway. I think it could be time to paint up some of that 1/3000 Navwar Pacific War kit that's in the loft ;)

The Aftermath: Both Players were mentally exhausted ... we had played long past our mid-week stopping point and would be very tired but yet enthralled the next day, with events running back through our heads. Countless what-if scenarios to consider. There would be another contest to come for sure ...

Research Note: Interesting Article regarding Midway and Wargaming:
https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/moc-warfighter/vol1/iss11/5/

Command Magazine Ziplock Game: Midway (Play Test)

Of the Command Magazine Ziplocks series from the 1990's this (Midway) is my favourite and I reckon the most "pick-up and playable" game they produced. It was their "golden time" when IMHO they were winning against S&T. I have the game Ziplock but alas never picked up the Magazine and its detailed description of the midway campaign (see below, here are other more complicated Midway games out there, but this one strikes a nice balance between complexity and play-ability):

A simple map but intuitive orbat alongside it gathers everything you need together - a nice piece of game design (see below, the IJN display is shown below - tons of kit heading to Midway): 

The counters are clear and crisp - good quality production for the early 1990's. Red for the IJN, Blue for USN, Green [not shown] for Marine Units from Midway (see below, ships surface-air-move factors, planes air2air-air2ship-range - USN Wildcats (AF 5)are bounced by IJN Zeros (AF 7) nasty for the US!):

We played an earnest play-test, conducting searches and scenario deployments with the Japanese assault train moving steadily towards Midway, with the IJN CVs using a fog bank as cover to get in as close as possible to Midway without detection. The game played through and a mutual air-strike took place. The USS Yorktown was attacked by teh 1st and 2nd IJN Air Fleets. The Yorktown's planes missed their targets but the IJN arrived on time and en masse! (see below, Task Force 17's air defences were swamped):

The USS Yorktown was duly dispatched as well as some cruisers and destroyers with other damaged (see below, most units have two steps strengths, but some weak ones only one step - a hit on a CV has the unhelpful effect of prohibiting flight operations, which can mean a lot of ditched planes in the sea):

We played on a few more turns. The Japanese ahead with the Americans moving in to defend Midway with the USS Hornet and USS Enterprise. The IJN carriers are keeping a respectful three hex (out of air attack) distance. Midway itself is crammed with Marine aircraft and is in effect an unsinkable CV. The IJN plater (me) was waiting for the assault force to go in to wear down the attackers before "going after the carriers" - logic being that the US player will have to try and attack the IJN Invasion Fleet and would suffer losses in the process): 

You get an idea of how much kit the IJN player has(see below, look at all those counters to the right hand side):

I have heard it said by another ''credible wargaming source that the US Naval War College since 1950 have annually wargamed the Midway Campaign and the US side has never achieved a victory on the scale of the historical event. It would be great to corroborate this if at all possible.

Next: We decided that as good as it was as a two-player game we were going to play the full-thing with an umpire so Fog of War could really play its part.

Russo-Jap War Naval: Port Arthur Break Out (Part 6) Freedom or Death?

Yet another similar looking Russian photo of the "enraged" cruiser action (the lighter ships do seem to get hurt when they get hit). A this point the Japanese cruisers seem to have the upper hand. The Russian battleships seem to have a fairly straightforward run off table (see below):

A vicious round of gunfire sees a damaged Japanese battleship (red hit) top left, in the middle of the battle line, but in return a pounding of the Russian flagship causing a critical hit, a steering jam pointing her to the side of the table (away from the target bottom edge) and a morale failure which hurts even further the thought/chance of getting off table [insert Japanese smile "emoji"]. Meanwhile another "silenced" Russian protected cruiser but a huge crippling explosion on the lead Japanese protected cruiser ("silenced and dead in the water"). Additionally the Mikasa is majestically leading the two damaged armoured cruisers is leading the ad-hoc formation (the armoured cruisers are actually using their own command dice) back into the fray (see below):

Not caught on camera was the escape of the battered Russian protected cruisers to Vladivostok via courtesy of the of the world/table edge "fog bank". The Russian battleships were in chaos as despite fixing the steering the Russian flagship could not fix its morale as quickly. So as they headed for the wrong edge of the table the remaining (one had sunk) Japanese protected cruisers sallied forth in a "do or die" torpedo attack on the meandering Russian First Battleship Division. They took severe damage from the Russian battleships but also managed to silence the last remaining Russian cruiser [the Rurik I think] in the run in (see below):

A lot of action was missed but this photograph helps in a way fill in the missing gaps. In the top of the picture (middle) the old (obsolete) Japanese battleships are departing along with the Japanese protected cruisers. For all their valor they (the protected cruisers) scored no hits with their torpedoes. They did however delay the Russian battleships to allow the Japanese (modern) battleships and armoured cruisers to close to effective range. The Second Russian Battleship Division is seen middle right. It has to be said the Japanese obsolete battleships still managed to deliver telling blows on each Russian battleship, as all the Russians carry a red permanent damage marker. Honour, praise and respect for their courageous commander (aka we all thought he would get sunk). Down at the bottom of the picture the First Russian Battleship Division is making its bid for freedom. However the Japanese Battleship Squadron is "peppering" their tail vigorously. The Japanese armoured cruisers are once again in the fray in a supporting fire role [the lead two ships on the left], but trying not to block "line of sight" from the bigger more deadly battleship calibre guns (see below): 

The Russians are in the home stretch, they can literally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Then "kazam!" there is a huge explosion from the last in line Russian battleship [First Division], as she goes from "damaged", to "silenced", to then "crippled" (aka dead in the water). To remove the crippled status it would take too many "Command Points" so the Russian Admiral pragmatically knows she is doomed. Lightning then strikes twicw. "Kaboom!" In the background the Second Russian Battleship Division's rear ship also suffers a critical hit leaving her chugging along at half speed. Not what you wanted when you were two "full speed" turns from exiting! (see below):

Another "almost duplicate" Russian photograph. The only thing to add was that the unfortunate half-speed Russian battleship also became silenced (see below, well actually she is the one Russian ship you cannot see is off table top left silenced):

End Game: 

The game as it ended (there was a family keen to sit down and eat their supper) as night fell. Where have all the Russians gone? All off to Vladivostok I suspect apart from one crippled stationary battleship and one critically damaged half speed battleship (their names sadly escaped me) that the Japanese have eyes on sinking. A third lingers top right but will depart into the "end of the world" fog bank with her next move and there is nothing the Japanese can do about it (see below):

The verdict?

Well most of the Russian Fleet is off table heading to a friendly port (albeit some perhaps looking a bit like a battered colander). However they are shell torn (certainly the cruisers) and battle worn (battleship wise) but are free from imprisonment. The Japanese Admiral was keen to claim the two Russian "limpers" as sunk or captured. That would mean an even 4:4 ratio in battleships, but Tojo also has a squadron of armoured cruisers. Yes he did lose a couple of protected cruisers (and a few more damaged) but it was the battleships he was after. A tactical win! Now strategically the Russian can feel more happy. As he knows the Second Pacific Squadron (along with the Third Pacific Battle Squadron) is en route (if they can get past the Hull fishing fleet that is). So when they turn up instead on a breakthrough to Vladivostok Operation Mark II, Togo is facing a potential "pincer movement" and a fight for his life well outnumbered in modern battleships (the Russin "Borodino" class to be exact).

Tactical: Japanese

Strategic: Russian Advantage

The rules: Simple and brilliant, highly recommended, all I have to do is now go away and read them! As it was a "spontaneous game" we had just thrown a mat down without consideration about the "table edge end of the world" syndrome. Not a great matter here but something to consider for more meaningful campaign games .. where results from one game get pushed into another. The sum of little things counting!

Russo-Jap War Naval: Port Arthur Break Out (Part 5) Tooth and Claw

The Russian Admiral seemed to like to take very similar "pairs" of photographs. Perhaps Russian intelligence has developed a stereoscopic 3D image viewer? Anyway, top left you can see a pesky Russian destroyer flotilla have laid a defensive smokescreen to cunningly shield the main squadron of Japanese battleships from hitting the First Russian Battleship Squadron. Over to top right, the reverse situation is in play where a Japanese destroyer flotilla shield the Japanese Obsolete Battleship Squadron from Russian battleships. Meanwhile the two squadrons of protected cruisers (one Japanese and one Russian) fight it out at the bottom of the picture. One Russian protected cruiser has received critical rudder damage and it sailing in the "wrong direction". To the left hand side the Mikasa and the two Japanese armoured cruisers have reformed from their disorder and are attempting to reenter the battle. The Russians are hoping to vigorously "punch through" (see below):

The same scene from a slightly different angle. The Russian heavy forces look like they might just have enough momentum to push on through, if the Japanese Protected Cruiser Squadron can be disposed of (see below):

The smokescreens dissipate and a maelstrom of battleship gunfire erupts. Although it is within effective range the renewed opening bout of salvos are strangely bloodless. The Russian destroyer flotilla (now without torpedoes) which has strayed too close to the Japanese Battleship Squadron is however "damaged" for its troubles. The major conflict here is between the protected cruisers at the bottom of the picture  (see below):

Spot the difference? A missing orange tape measure? Note the Mikasa bottom left, taking "a pop" at the protected cruisers (see below):

Again the Russian Admiral was keen to take "composite" shots of the scene from various slightly different angles. Nice photographic composition (see below):

Note: The edge of the table seen [right] below is no good as the Russian Fleet has to escape to the bottom of the table, past the Japanese protected cruisers.

Panning out you can just see the "exit table edge" to the right hand side and the orange Japanese tape measure on the left hand side (see below, bottom right):

The cruiser action up close. In the initial exchange the Japanese were besting the Russians as all the Russian ships were carrying permanent "red damage" markers. It is just the question as to whether the Japanese can get in a killing blow. A second hit is "silenced", but a third would be "crippled". The only thing to add is that the Russian battleship van is also "carrying damage" with two out of three of the battleships carrying a "red" hit (see below):

The battle is approaching its climax!

Next: The Final Push

Russo-Jap War Naval: Port Arthur Break Out (Part 4) A Crisis Point in the Breakout Battle

The battle has formed as the Japanese Admiral Togo wants it. He it heavily engaged with a portion of the Russian battle fleet (thus having a slight numerical 4:3 advantage) and is trading blows to his advantage. Also by threatening to cross the Russian "tee" they are changing course, The old obsolete Japanese battle squadron (made of captured ex-Chinese battleships) is catching up and his protected cruisers are on course to intercept the Russian protected cruisers. Tojo is much more interested in stopping the Russian battleships from escaping than anything else (see below):

A close up of the battleship action sees that the Japanese have traded two 'red damage' hits given to one taken. At this point it is critical they follow up and cripple the engaged Russian battleship squadron by pressing home and taking the initiative (see below):

However the Japanese Admiral faces a dilemma as at the rear of his battle line, where the armoured cruisers are stationed in a separate division, they have been worsted by the Russian protected cruisers and long range battleship gunnery from the second Russian battleship squadron. The lead armoured cruiser is silenced with critical steering damage, swinging out of line of battle (see below):

Suddenly all is chaos. There is a profusion of destroyers laying defensive smoke screens (using the ever so useful 'belly button fluff' from the tumble dryer). A Russian destroyer flotilla shielding herself from the long range fire of Japanese obsolete battleships (see below, top left), a Japanese destroyer flotilla shielding the obsolete Japanese battleships from the Russian second battleship squadron (see below top right) and finally retreating armoured cruisers from the Russian protected cruisers and long range Russian battleship fire (see below, bottom right). Confused? That's how the battle was. Very confusing! In addition to all the smoke the Mikasa had suffered a second red hit silencing her and in addition took a critical steering hit. This deluge of damage demanded a morale test which Togo failed (in a very untimely and uncharacteristic way) and the Mikasa sadly limped out of line (see below bottom left above the Japanese protected cruiser squadron). The three remaining Japanese battleships still managed to maintain contact with the Russian first battleship squadron, keeping the contest "hot" (see below):

The Russian Admiral senses a chance to achieve his "breakout". He is over half-way down the table [two thirds if you look at the lead Russian protected cruiser squadron -see below bottom/middle right] and the Japanese barrier of impenetrable (mostly British made Vickers Armstrong) steel has been broken into three parts. The obsolete Japanese battleships are engaging the Russian second battleship squadron to their disadvantage, the three Japanese battleships are crossing the reverse "tee" of the Russian first battleship squadron and Mikasa has been recovered (spending lots of command points to remove the second red damage marker indicating "silenced") and has formed a composite battle squadron (see below, middle/bottom left) with the disengaged Japanese armoured cruisers. Finally the Japanese protected cruisers have positioned themselves in a good place to cross the Russian protected cruisers "tee" (see below):

The Japanese commander has command and control headaches. Togo needs to bring the disparate elements of his battle squadron together and attack the Russian battle squadron before they "turn the corner". This may mean sacrificing the obsolete battleships (well fully committing them .. to almost assured destruction ) and bringing the Mikasa back into the action as soon as possible. The down side is that the Russian Admiral, with an uncharacteristic national attribute (for a 1904-05 Russian Admiral), has been astute, resolute and has managed to coordinate and concentrate his forces effectively.

Note: At this point the Japanese Admirals camera phone "ran out of power". Fear not, the Russian Admiral took over and has supplied photographs from the "Russian perspective" of the second half of the battle. The "race to the edge of the table/world".

Russo-Jap War Naval: Port Arthur Break Out (Part 3) Fire All Guns that bear at the Bear!

The Russian destroyers sweep past their Japanese counterparts unabashed and bravely face the "obsolete Japanese battleship's secondary armament" which proves to still have teeth as well as ornate paintwork. One Russian destroyer flotilla is "dispersed" (some sunk, some damaged and some morale broken) and takes no further part in the battle. The second Russian destroyer flotilla conducts a torpedo attack but is unsuccessful (see below, red shell splashes indicate where the first Russian destroyer flotilla used to be):

From the "viewpoint of the gods". The Russian Fleet is steaming down the middle of the table, bar the destroyer attack on the top right of the photograph. The objective of the Russian Admiral is to breakout to Vladivostok with as much as his fleet as possible. The Japanese have him hemmed in on three sides (see below, Togo and the battle fleet to the bottom, protected cruisers to the left and obsolete battleships to the right):

The Japanese main battle line find the range of the leading Russian battleships. The Japanese Admiral chose (unwisely) to engage opposites and thus spread damage along the enemy battle line, whereas the Russian Admiral chose to concentrate his fire on the Mikasa (and Admiral Togo) and try and take him out of the battle (see below):

The IJN Mikasa bears the brunt of the Russian fire but sails majestically on (see below):

Meanwhile the Russian "protected cruisers" come into range of the two Japanese "armoured cruisers" trailing the main Japanese battle line and score a damaging hit on the leading Russian ship (see below):

Good shooting by the Russians "returns the compliment" and the IJN Nishin is rather unexpectedly damaged in the exchange of fire. At this juncture the Russians are in danger of having their "tee" crossed but paradoxically they need to surge through the enemy lines at all costs (see below):

Telling blows are being landed at this point. The Russians and Japanese are committing their battleships to a "slugging dual". The end of the table is an artificial "end of the world" and represents either a fuel limit or fog bank that saves/hides any ship that enters.

Next: Forcing the Gate (or not)

Russo-Jap War Naval: Port Arthur Break Out (Part 2) Action Stations

On patrol outside of Port Arthur, aboard the flagship Mikasa, Admiral Togo sees the unmistakable form of the Russian Fleet in battle order steaming directly at him. He sets in motion the signals to concentrate all the Japanese battle squadrons which are currently in three separate formations: The main battle squadron, a squadron of protected cruisers and a third squadron of obsolete old battleships (see below, "The Russian First Pacific Fleet" in a condensed sailing formation trying to bust the Japanese encirclement):

Sensing an opportunity to strike first the Russian commander orders his destroyers to concentrate on the obsolete Japanese battleship squadron (see below, in the top part of the picture two Russian destroyers head towards the Japanese battle line). If nothing else this desperate attack should delay their  arrival in the main theatre of action and increase the odds for the Russian breakout to be successful. As a countermeasure the Japanese Vice Admiral detaches his destroyer formation for protection (see below):   

Meanwhile the Japanese third force appears on the horizon. A squadron of four protected cruisers with another destroyer flotilla. Note: They are armed with small relatively calibre guns but carry torpedoes with are a greater threat (see below):

The Japanese destroyers trade blows with their Russian counterparts, however given the 2:1 odds some Russian destroyers are bound to get through. The Japanese obsolete battleships main their secondary armament in anticipation of a fierce battle to come (see below):

Away from the destroyer action the main contest begins at long range. The Japanese expertise in gunnery shows (or was it just the dice) as the Retvizan suffers the first serious damage of the contest. First blood to the Imperial Japanese Navy. Note: The significance of this is that it is permanent damage and cannot be repaired. This means the Russian ship has a negative Dice Roll Modifier (DRM) in its attack rolls (see below):

The van of the Imperial Russian First Pacific Battle Squadron (First Division) is surrounded in long range shell splashes. At this point it in teh proceedings it becomes apparent that the odds are 4:3 in the Japanese favour, as four Japanes battleships are firing to the three Russian Battleships. A small tactical advantage the Japanese wants to use, particularly as there are three Russian battleships lurking yet to be engaged (as in the The Imperial Russian First Pacific Battle Squadron, Second Division). Unbeknownst to the Russians the Japanese have actually lost two battleships that were struck by mines and floundered outside Port Arthur. To supplement their depleted battle line and make it back up to a round "six" Tojo has pulled in two armoured cruisers to "strengthen the line". However it is a very mute point as to whether or not these armoured cruisers really want to go toe-to-toe with a battleship, even if it is a Russian battleship. Currently they are sight seeing events at the back of the battle line (see below, the armoured cruisers are out of the picture but following on bottom right, a friendly squadron of Japanese destroyers can also be seen bottom right):     

Next: Time to Trade Big Blows