Scenario specific rules

[resQscooter]

Hey guys, help me out. As mentioned in an earlier post, I will be co-hosting a scenario based on the 25 Oct 1944 Battle off Samar Island, to which I have written a couple of scenario specific rules. One for reloading aircraft (as a special action) and another for an earlier arrival of Kamikaze attacks.

New Special Action: Reload Aircraft!
Command check: Eight
Effect: Working furiously under enemy fire, a carrier’s deck crews may reload up to 2 flights of on board aircraft. These flights will be fully ready for launch in the next turn.
I decided to do this as a special action to represent the vagaries and chaos of a CVEs hangar deck under fire. They may reload in 1 turn but maybe not... The USN will have 6 CVEs on table and also have available Taffy I and II's aircraft on a random arrival basis.

Kamikaze Attacks
To make a Kamikaze attack an aircraft must be moved into contact with the target ship. Antiaircraft fire gains +1 to its AD as for torpedo/dive bomber attacks, as the Kamikaze aircraft is making a similar approach. AD and DD for the Kamikaze attack are made as per air launched torpedo (+1 for beam and may re roll 1d6 if a critical hit is scored). Hits are treated as “plunging fire”. Furthermore, to represent the extra explosives and fuel carried onboard the aircraft, the following modifications will be made to the aircrafts base statistics: increase Dodge score by 1, reduce dog fighting score to +0, and maximum damage is 1. Kamikaze attacks are Range: -, AD: 1, DD: 2+ base weapon DD, Special: AP, One-Shot. Once the Kamikaze attack has been resolved, remove the Kamikaze aircraft from play.
For instance:
Nakajima B5-N "Kate"
Type: Kamikaze Dodge:5+ In Service: 1944
Speed: 22 in. Dogfight:+0
Target: 5+ Damage: 1

I think this represents a Kamikaze attack pretty well. I especially like the "all or nothing" feel of 1AD. I know St. Lo was struck by Zeroes but I think we will use the Kate as modelled above. We are already pushing Madame History aside in so many ways, I don't think she will mind another little nudge :wink:

Anyway, mull this about and let me know what you think. The convention is the first week of October, and we are planning a couple of playtest session in the next week or so.
Best regards,
Scott

 

[juggler69uk]

DM did some carrier recovery rules that might work for you see link

http://www.btinternet.com/~david.manley/naval/VAS/VAS.html

 

[resQscooter]

Yes, we have messed around with DM's ideas. For a large convention scenario however, I want to try something with an already established rule and not add any bookkeeping. Thanks for the comment, though.
Scott

 

[juggler69uk]

No problem glad to help.

Though I did like the idea of only having the fighters back the next turn and waiting another turn for the rest

 

[DM]

I'd be careful making kamikazes too powerful. Penetration should be reduced (the impact velocity of the aircraft was generally lower than that which wuld be achieved by a bomb in freefall). However their fire-razing properties shoudl be enhanced. Reviewing the statistics regrading kamikaze successes during WW2 for something I was doing at work it is apparent that they were extremely effective against transports, carriers and destroyer sized ships or smaller, mainly through fire, but relatively ineffective against battleships and cruisers (in many cases the damage reported in BB and CA attacks is described as "minor fire").

 

[resQscooter]

David, that was my thought on penetration as well, though nothing so in-depth as "something for work". I just figured the aircraft would break up against a harder target such as a BB or CA but go right through a thinner target. My co-hort, on the other hand wanted them to have SAP (and he is running the USN!). I convinced him to just go with AP + plunging fire so the armored decks of the BBs could shrug off the extra damage. We will discuss it further and probably drop plunging fire. We do want them to have some game effect! Again, thanks for the response.
Scott

 

[Myrm]

Make Kamikaze more limited damage but automatically start a fire critical of some sort? Then you have a fire that has to be contained and its likely to cause issues in the wrong sort of ship.

Keep that 1AD rule - thats reflects it well.

 

[resQscooter]

OK, thanks for replies so far. After considering these replies and some more research, I have new thoughts on Kamikaze attacks:

Mitsubishi A6-M Zero
Type: Kamikaze Dodge: 3+
Speed: 26 in. Dogfight: 0+
Target: 5+ Damage: 1
In Service: 1944

Weapon: Kamikaze
Range: -
AD: 1
DD:2
Special lunging fire, 1 automatic fire started

To make a Kamikaze attack the Kamikaze aircraft must be placed into contact with the target ship. Resolve AA fire as per torpedo/dive bomber attack (+1 to AD roll). If the Kamikaze survives AA then resolve Kamikaze attack using normal procedure and modifiers. Kamikaze is treated as destroyed and removed from game after resolution.

Let me know what you guys think.
Scott