On December 7th, 1941, the US Navy could only boast 3 squadrons of motor torpedo boats, or PT boats (patrol torpedo) as they were named. PT squadron 1 was based on Pearl Harbor and the 12 boats opened fire on the incoming Japanese bombers, claiming 2 planes downed for sure and others damaged. Squadron 2 was based in Manila Bay of the Philippines and had a...
Regia Marina Fleet The Italians favoured their fast small boats, typically the MAS boats ( Motoscafo Anti Sommergibile) weighing in at between 20 and 30 tons, smaller than most other nations small craft. They were, however, good boats and gave the Allies a tough time. They had a ten-man crew; their principal armament was two torpedoes and a 20 mm Breda A/A...
In Cruel Seas we intentionally wanted submarines to work as a normal surface vessel. After all, powerful diesel engines propel them as fast, if not faster, than many escort ships in a convoy when surfaced. The bonus for a submarine is, of course, being able to vanish by diving, hiding from escorts to ambush the merchantmen at will. The disadvantage of...
Soviet Navy Fleet The Soviet Navy then is not a glamorous fleet for the gamer. Rather it’s a solid, unsophisticated affair, with no radar, little radio, few automatic cannons or other refinements. As ever with Russian forces, quantity has a quality all its own. Your best tactic is to get in quick, torpedo your target and escape fast as you are likely to...
The Imperial Japanese Army started developing small gunboats for close support of amphibious landings in 1924 and by 1927 had the AB-Tei gunboat. By WWII these would be diesel-powered. They would be transported to the landing zones on merchant ships. They were also used as patrol boats in rivers, harbors and coastal zones and to escort supply barges. In...
Close Quarters! includes eleven new historic scenarios, spanning the seas of this global conflict as well as a random scenario generator. Also included are expanded ship rosters for the seafaring nations and new rosters for the Finnish Navy and Yugoslav Partisan Fleet. New rules for amphibious invasions and experimental Q-ships are presented as well as...
In the summer of 1943, the primary mission of the PT boats was to interdict Japanese supply lines by shooting up the enemy landing craft (referred to as barges by American reports) being used to transport supplies. It was at this point that Pacific PT boats were upgraded to have 40 mm/37 mm cannon on the bow and stern. Three old Elco 77’ boats were...
A player who fields ‘tiny boats’ in Cruel Seas will find their use most entertaining and will undoubtedly make his opposing commander very worried indeed! The great strength of such vessels is their size but this makes them equally vulnerable to all manner of incoming fire. As the Japanese merchant marine became ever more depleted the humble Sampan became...
This Starter Set contains everything you need to command your flotilla in this fast-paced 1/300th scale tabletop game. Plastic components. Contents: A4 Softback Rulebook A4 Quick Start Guide with Painting Guides and Flags 6 Vosper Motor Torpedo Boats 4 E-boats 1 Set of Torpedo Markers 1 Set of Plume Markers 1 A0 Double-sided Battle Mat 3 Die-cut...