CAPE MATAPAN 2220 28 March 1941 Background: March of 1941 saw British troops moving to Greece and German troops committed to North Africa. In late March, the Germans spurred the Italians to sortie with a strong force to disrupt the British convoys. Alerted by code-breaking, the British also sailed in strength to try to catch the Italians unaware. The first actions took place on the morning of the 28th, when the screening forces collided. The initial action was target practice for the Italians, with their 8 inch gun cruisers cautiously pursuing the shorter-ranged 6 inch gun cruisers of the Brities screen. Matters worsened for the Royal Navy when Vittorio Veneto came into action against the British cruisers, but improved when a British airstrike caused the Italians to break off the action. The night action portrayed here arose when Admiral Iachino detached a force to help an Italian cruiser damaged in the last British airstrike. Unknown to him, he was sending these forces directly into the path of the advancing British battle line. Forces: Royal Navy Division 1: Havock ( H Class - flag) Admiral A. B. Stuart (R.A.N) ( Scott Class) Cunningham Division 2: Greyhound ("G" Class - flag) Griffin ("G" Class) Division 3: Warspite (Warspite - flag) Valiant (Queen Elizabeth) Formidable (Illustrious) Barham (Malaya) Regia Marina Division 1: Zara (Zara - flag) Vice-Admiral Carlo Fiume (Zara) Cattaneo Division 2: Alfieri (Oriani - flag) Division 3: Gioberti (Oriani - flag) Carducci (Oriani) Oriani (Oriani) Set-up: N^ British Division 3 is on a course of 240 degrees in a line of bearing. The line of bearing runs along the 120-300 degree line, so that the four ships would be in line ahead formation if they turned on to either course. They are steaming in the order shown, with Warspite to the west. Valiant is 18 inches south of the north edge and 24 inches west of the east edge. British Division 1 is a continuation of Division 3 s line of bearing extending to the west. British Division 2 is a continuation of Division 3 s line to the east. Italian Division 2 is leading the Italian Divisions in line ahead on a course of 120. Alfieri is 16 inches south of the north edge and 35 inches west of the east edge. Italian Division 1 follows immediately after Division 2. Italian Division 3 follows immediately after Division 1. Pola is facing east, 27 inches south of the north edge and 26 inches west of the east edge. Victory Conditions: Victory is decided on points: a) 1 per destroyer sunk or cruiser left dead in the water; b) 2 per cruiser sunk or battleship or carrier torpedoed; c) 4 per battleship or carrier sunk. Special Rules. 1. The Italians must continue to steam on the same course at the same speed. No Italian ship may alter speed or course or fire guns or torpedoes until 2 turns after a British ship fires guns or 1 turn after an Italian ship is torpedoed. 2. No Italian ship may illuminate with starshells or searchlights unless it rolls a 1 on 1D6. An Italian ship rolling to illuminate still fires starshell from the mount or uses the searchlight, even if it fails to illuminate an enemy ship. 4. Base visibility is 5 inches, with a visibility level of -3 (-9 for the Italians) -- a dark night. 5. Valiant and Formidable have 279 search radar. 6. Pola is dead in the water with her forward engine room and 2 starboard boiler rooms aft of the engine room flooded. Only her secondary batteries can fire. 7. Optional: Rules 1 and 2 simulate the confusion that gripped the Italians in this action. To give the Italians more of a chance, ignore these rules.
Outcome: The British blasted the Italians with guns and torpedoes at point blank range, sinking or wrecking Zara, Fiume, Alfieri and Carducci without loss to themselves. Other British destroyers later sank the immoble Pola.
Warspite Navy Royal Navy Date 1940 Class Battleship Main Battery: 15 inch guns in 4 twin turrets 32 inches Fore and aft Secondary Battery: 6 inch guns in 8 single casements 13 inches Port and starboard Anti-air Battery: 4 inch guns in 4 twin mounts 21 inches Port and starboard Speed 3.00 6 boilers 4 engines Flotation Total: 79 DIW: 40 Sinking: 54 Torpedo 17.7-18 : ±0 20.5-22.5 : ±1 24 : ±2 Bulge: -1 to torpedo hits in way of locations 23-44 As refit in 1937. Officers Berths 11-12 Void Fuel Oil 1 13-14 Void Main Magazine A 15-21 Main A Main Magazine B 22-24 Main B, AAMGs Main Magazine B 25 Bridge, Secondary 1 or 2 Transmitting Room 26 Bridge, Forward Main Director Secondary Magazine 32 Bridge, Search Radar, AAMGs, Secondary Director 1 or 2 Secondary 3 or 4 Boiler Room 1 or 2 33 Secondary 5 or 6 Boiler Room 1 or 2 34 Funnel, Searchlight 1 or 2 Boiler Room 3 or 4 35 Funnel, Secondary 7 or 8 Boiler Room 3 or 4 36 Funnel, AAMGs Boiler Room 3 or 4 41 Funnel Boiler Room 5 or 6 42 Aircraft, Antiair 1 or 2 Boiler Room 5 or 6 43 Aircraft Boiler Room 5 or 6 44 Aircraft, Catapult Engine Room 1, 2, 3, or 4 45 Aircraft, Catapult, Antiair 3 or 4 Engine Room 1, 2, 3, or 4 46 Searchlight 3 or 4 Engine Room 3 or 4 51 Aft main director, Aft antiair director Engine Room 3 or 4 52 Void Main Magazine X 53-55 Main X, AAMGs Main Magazine Y 56-62 Main Y Fuel Oil 2, Propshaft 1 or 2 63 Void Fuel Oil 2, Propshaft 3 or 4 64 Void Steering 65 Steering Void 66 Void BR1 BR3 BR5 ER1 ER3 B1 B3 B5 E1 E3 V1 FO1 PM PM TR SM 7FP 7FP 7FP 5FP 5FP PM PM FO2 ST V2 1FP 2FP A B 1FP 2FP BR2 BR4 BR6 ER1 ER4 X Y 2FP 1FP 0FP 2FP 2FP B2 B4 B6 E2 E4 2FP 2FP 7FP 7FP 7FP 5FP 5FP
Malaya Navy Royal Navy Date 1940 Class Battleship Main Battery: 15 inch guns in 4 twin turrets 32 inches Fore and aft Secondary Battery: 6 inch guns in 8 single casements 13 inches Port and starboard Anti-air Battery: 4 inch guns in 4 twin mounts 21 inches Port and starboard Speed 3.00 24 boilers 4 engines Flotation Total: 79 DIW: 40 Sinking: 54 Torpedo 17.7-18 : ±0 20.5-22.5 : ±1 24 : ±2 Bulge: -1 to torpedo hits in way of locations 23-44 Barham similar. Officers Berths 11-12 Void Fuel Oil 1 13-14 Void Main Magazine A 15-21 Main A Main Magazine B 22-24 Main B, AAMGs Main Magazine B 25 Bridge, Secondary 1 or 2 Transmitting Room 26 Bridge, Forward Main Director Secondary Magazine 32 Bridge, Search Radar, AAMGs, Secondary Director 1 or 2 Secondary 3 or 4 Boiler Room 1 or 2 33 Secondary 5 or 6 Boiler Room 1 or 2 34 Funnel, Searchlight 1 or 2 Boiler Room 3 or 4 35 Funnel, Secondary 7 or 8 Boiler Room 3 or 4 36 Funnel, AAMGs Boiler Room 5 or 6 41 Funnel Boiler Room 5 or 6 42 Aircraft, Antiair 1 or 2 Boiler Room 7 or 8 43 Aircraft Boiler Room 7 or 8 44 Aircraft, Catapult Engine Room 1, 2, 3, or 4 45 Aircraft, Catapult, Antiair 3 or 4 Engine Room 1, 2, 3, or 4 46 Searchlight 3 or 4 Engine Room 3 or 4 51 Aft main director, Aft antiair director Engine Room 3 or 4 52 Void Main Magazine X 53-55 Main X, AAMGs Main Magazine Y 56-62 Main Y Fuel Oil 2, Propshaft 1 or 2 63 Void Fuel Oil 2, Propshaft 3 or 4 64 Void Steering 65 Steering Void 66 Void BR1 BR3 BR5 BR7 ER1 ER3 E1 E3 V1 FO1 PM PM TR SM 5FP 5FP 5FP 5FP 5FP 5FP PM PM FO2 ST V2 1FP 2FP A B 1FP 2FP BR2 BR4 BR6 BR8 ER1 ER4 X Y 2FP 1FP 0FP 2FP 2FP E2 E4 2FP 2FP 5FP 5FP 5FP 5FP 5FP 5FP
Queen Elizabeth Navy Royal Navy Date 1940 Class Battleship Main Battery: 15 inch guns in 4 twin turrets 32 inches Fore and aft Anti-air Battery: 4.5 inch guns in 10 twin mounts 20 inches Port and starboard Speed 3.75 8 boilers 4 engines Flotation Total: 77 DIW: 38 Sinking: 52 Torpedo 17.7-18 : ±0 20.5-22.5 : ±1 24 : ±2 Bulge: -1 to torpedo hits in way of locations 23-44 HIts Officers Berths 11-12 Void Fuel Oil 1 13-14 Void Main Magazine A 15-21 Main A Main Magazine B 22-24 Main B, AAMGs Main Magazine B 25 Bridge, Transmitting Room 26 Bridge, Forward Main Director Boiler Room 1 32 Bridge, Forward Antiair Director, Antiair 1 or 2 Boiler Room 1 33 Bridge, Search Radar, Antiair 3 or 4 Boiler Room 2 34 Funnel, AAMGs, Antiair 5 or 6 Boiler Room 2 35 Funnel, AAMGs Boiler Room 3 36 Funnel, Searchlight 1 or 2 Boiler Room 3 41 Aircraft Boiler Room 4 42 Aircraft, AAMGs Boiler Room 4 43 Aircraft Secondary Magazine 44 Aircraft, Catapult Engine Room 1 or 2 45 Aircraft, Catapult Engine Room 1 or 2 46 Searchlight 3 or 4 Engine Room 3 or 4 51 Aft Antiair Director, Antiair 7 or 8 Engine Room 3 or 4 52 Aft Main Director, Antiair 9 or 10 Main Magazine X 53-55 Main X, AAMGs Main Magazine Y 56-62 Main Y Fuel Oil 2, Propshaft 1 or 2 63 Void Fuel Oil 2, Propshaft 3 or 4 64 Void Steering 65 Steering Void 66 Void As refit in 1940. Included Queen Elizabeth and Valiant. AAMGs at main battery positions are not protected by armor. ER1 ER3 BR1 BR2 BR3 BR4 E1 E3 V1 FO1 PM PM TR B1 B3 B5 B7 SM 5FP 5FP PM PM FO2 ST V2 1FP 2FP A B 1FP B2 B4 B6 B8 2FP ER2 ER4 X Y 2FP 1FP 0FP 2FP 2FP 10FP 10FP 10FP 10FP E2 E4 2FP 2FP 5FP 5FP
Illustrious Navy Royal Navy Date 1941 Class Aircraft carrier Secondary Battery: 4.5 inch guns in 8 twin mounts 18 inches Four corners Speed 30 knots 6 boilers 3 engines Flotation Total: 83 DIW: 42 Sinking: 55 Torpedo 17.7-18 : ±0 20.5-22.5 : ±1 24 : ±2 Three ships in class: Illustrious, Victorious and Formidable. Indomitable, Implacable and Indefatigable were similar. Could operate air group of 36 planes. Note: Forward Aviation Gas space is actually a paint, dope and acetone store. Note: Use armor on left to determine penetration of hits affecting both high and low location. 1-2 3-4 5-6 Void 1 11-13 Void Void Void Void 1 14 Void Void Void AvGas 1 15-16 Secondary 2 Elevator 1 Secondary 1 Void 2 21-22 Secondary 4 Elevator 1 Secondary 3 Void 2 23-24 Hanger Hanger Hanger Fuel Oil 1 25 Hanger Hanger AAMGs Fuel Oil 1 26 Director 2 Hanger AAMGs Forward and Bomb Magazine 1, 2 or 3 31 Hanger Hanger Bridge Forward and Bomb Magazine 1, 2 or 3 32 Hanger Hanger Director 1, Bridge Boiler Room 33 AAMGs Hanger Search Radar, Bridge Boiler Room 34-35 Hanger Hanger Funnel Boiler Room 36 AAMGs Hanger Hanger AvGas and AAMG Magazine 1 or 2 or 41 Hanger Hanger AAMGs AvGas and Bomb Magazine Engine Room 1, 2 or 3 42 Hanger Hanger Hanger Engine Room 1, 2 or 3 43-44 Hanger Hanger Hanger Engine Room 1, 2 or 3 45 Hanger Hanger Hanger Fuel Oil 2 46 AAMGs Hanger Hanger Fuel Oil 2 51 Hanger Hanger Hanger Fuel Oil 2 52 Director 4 Hanger Director 3 Fuel Oil 3 53 Hanger Hanger Hanger Fuel Oil 3, Propshaft 1 or 2 54-55 Hanger Hanger Hanger Void 3 56 Hanger Hanger Hanger Void 3, Propshaft 3 61-62 Secondary 6 Elevator 2 Secondary 5 Steering 63-64 Secondary 8 Elevator 2 Secondary 7 65-66 Void 3 Void 3 Void 3 FM/BM1 BR1 AG/MGM1 ER1 AM1 2FP 8FP 2FP 8FP 2FP V1 AG1 V2 FO1 FM/BM2 BR2 AG/BM ER2 AM2 FO2 FO3 V3 ST V4 1FP 2FP 3FP 2FP 2FP 8FP 2FP 8FP 2FP 2FP 2FP 2FP 2FP 1FP FM/BM3 BR3 AG/MGM2 ER3 AM3 2FP 8FP 2FP 8FP 2FP
E/F/G/H/I Classes Navy Royal Navy Date 1940 Class Destroyer Armor None Main Battery: 4.7 inch guns in 4 single mounts 18 inches Fore Torpedoes: 21 inch torpedoes in 2 quadruple mounts 13 inches at 4.25 Port and starboard 2 special hits 16 inches at 2.75 Speed 4.50 3 boilers 2 engines Flotation Total: 27 DIW: 14 Sinking: 18 Torpedo 17.7-18 : ±1 20.5-22.5 : ±3 24 : ±5 Classic British inter-war destroyer design. Eight ships in each class, for a total of 40. Is had quintuple mounts. Similar in game terms were 6 Hs built for Brazil but taken over by the Royal Navy. These lacked Y mount. Also similar were 2 Is built for Turkey (Inconstant and Ithuriel) but used by the RN. These had quadruple torpedo mounts. Most gave up a torpedo mount later in the war to ship a 3 inch anti-aircraft gun. This is treated as an AAMG for game purposes. Fuel Oil 1 11-14 Forward Void Fuel Oil 1 15 Main A Forward Main Magazine 16-21 Main A Forward Main Magazine 22-23 Main B Fuel Oil 2 24 Main B Fuel Oil 2 25 AAMGs Fuel Oil 2 26 Bridge Fuel Oil 2 31 Bridge Boiler Room 1 32 Main Director Boiler Room 1 33 Funnel Boiler Room 2 34 Funnel Boiler Room 2 35 AAMGs Boiler Room 3 36 AAMGs Boiler Room 3 41 Funnel Engine Room 42-44 Torpedo A Engine Room 45-51 Torpedo B [AAMGs] Aft Main Magazine 52 Searchlight Aft Main Magazine 53 AAMGs Aft Main Magazine 54-55 Main X Fuel Oil 3 56 Main X Fuel Oil 3 61-62 Main Y Propshaft 1 or 2 63-64 Void Steering 65-66 Steering FO1 FM FO2 BR1 BR2 BR3 ER AM FO3 ST 1FP A&B 3FP B1 B2 B3 E1 X&Y 1FP 1FP 1FP E2 1FP 3FP 4FP 3FP 9FP
Scott Navy Royal Navy Date 1942 Class Destroyer Armor None Main Battery: 4.7 inch guns in 5 single mounts 16 inches Fore Torpedoes: 21 inch torpedoes in 2 triple mounts 4 inches at 5.50 Port and starboard 9 inches at 3.75 Speed 3.75 4 boilers 2 engines Flotation Total: 25 DIW: 13 Sinking: 16 Torpedo 17.7-18 : ±1 20.5-22.5 : ±4 24 : ±6 Later modified as escort vessels, but in this original configuration for the Channel Dash. AAMG is a 3 inch AA gun, only capabl of engaging aerial targets. Fuel Oil 1 11-13 Void Fuel Oil 1 15-21 Main A Forward Main Magazine 22-24 Main B Fuel Oil 2 25 Bridge Fuel Oil 2 26 Bridge, Main Director Fuel Oil 2 31 Search Radar Boiler Room 1 32 Funnel Boiler Room 1 33-35 Main M Boiler Room 2 36 Funnel Boiler Room 2 41-42 AAMGs Boiler Room 2 43 Torpedo A Engine Room 1 44-45 Torpedo A Engine Room 1 46 Searchlight Engine Room 2 51-53 Torpedo B Fuel Oil 3 54-55 Main X Aft Magazine 56 Main X Aft Magazine 61-62 Main Y Fuel Oil 4, Propshaft 1 or 2 63 Main Y Fuel Oil 4, Propshaft 1 or 2 64 Void Steering 65-66 Steering FO1 FM FO2 BR1 BR2 ER1 ER2 FO3 AM FO4 ST 1FP AB 3FP B1 B3 E1 E2 1FP XY 1FP 1FP 1FP B2 B4 4FP 4FP 1FP 4FP 4FP
Zara Class Navy Regia Marina Date 1940 Class Heavy cruiser Main Battery: 8 inch guns in 4 twin turrets 31 inches Forward and aft Secondary Battery: 3.9 inch guns in 6 twin mounts 15 inches Port and starboard Torpedoes: 21 inch torpedoes in 4 twin mounts 5 inches at 6.00 Port and starboard 2 special hits 9 inches at 4.75 13 inches at 3.75 Speed 4.00 8 boilers 2 engines Flotation Total: 71 DIW: 35 Sinking: 47 Torpedo 17.7-18 : ±1 20.5-22.5 : ±3 24 : ±4 Four ships in class: Fiume, Gorizia, Pola, Zara. Void 11-12 Catapult Av Gas 13-14 Void Fuel Oil 15-21 Void Fuel Oil 22 Main A Forward Magazine 23 Main A Forward Magazine 24-25 Main B Boiler Room 1 or 2 26 Aircraft Boiler Room 1 or 2 31 Bridge, Searchlight 1 or 2 Boiler Room 4 or Engine Room 1 32 Bridge, Main Director Boiler Room 4 or Engine Room 1 33 Bridge, Secondary Director 1 or 2, AAMGs Boiler Room 4 or Engine Room 1 34 Funnel Void or Engine Room 1 35 Funnel Void or Engine Room 1 36 Funnel Void or Engine Room 1 41 Secondary 1 or 2 Boiler Room 6 or 3 42 Secondary 3 or 4 Boiler Room 6 or 3 43 Torpedo 1 or 2 Boiler Room 8 or 5 44 Torpedo 1 or 2 Boiler Room 8 or 5 45 Secondary 5 or 6 Engine Room 2 or Boiler Room 7 46-51 Funnel Engine Room 2 or Boiler Room 7 52 AAMGs Engine Room 2 or Secondary Magazine 53-54 Torpedo 3 or 4 Engine Room 2 or Secondary Magazine 55 AAMGs Aft Magazine 56-61 Main X Aft Magazine 62 Main Y Props 1 or 2 63-64 Main Y Steering 65 Steering Void 66 Void BR1 ER1 E1 BR3 BR5 BR7 MM B1 8FP B3 B5 B7 4FP V1 V2 FM FM 4FP 4FP 4FP 4FP AM AM V3 V4 1FP 2FP A B BR2 BR4 PV BR6 BR8 ER2 E2 X Y 2FP 2FP 2FP 2FP B2 B4 4FP B6 B8 8FP 2FP 2FP Prps 4FP 4FP 4FP 4FP
Soldati/Maestrale/Oriani Classes Navy Regia Marina Date 1941 Class Destroyer Armor None Main Battery: 4.7 inch guns in 2 twin mounts 19 inches Fore Torpedoes: 21 inch torpedoes in 2 triple mounts 5 inches at 6.00 Port and starboard 2 special hits 9 inches at 4.75 13 inches at 3.75 Speed 4.75 3 boilers 2 engines Flotation Total: 27 DIW: 14 Sinking: 18 Torpedo 17.7-18 : ±1 20.5-22.5 : ±3 24 : ±5 Twelve ships in class. Maestrale class, with four units, and Oriani class, with four units, were similar in game terms. Camicia Nera, Carabiniere, Geniere and Lanciere had the midships mount shown. Fuel Oil 1 11-14 Forward Void Fuel Oil 1 15 Void Forward Main Magazine 16-21 Void Forward Main Magazine 22-23 Main A Fuel Oil 2 24 Main A Fuel Oil 2 25 Bridge Fuel Oil 2 26 AAMGs Fuel Oil 2 31 Bridge Boiler Room 1 32 Main Director Boiler Room 1 33 Void Boiler Room 1 34 Funnel Boiler Room 1 35 Funnel Boiler Room 2 36 Funnel Boiler Room 2 41 Torpedo A Engine Room 42-43 Torpedo A Engine Room 44-45 AAMGs [Main M] Engine Room 46-51 Torpedo B Aft Main Magazine 52 Torpedo B Aft Main Magazine 53 Searchlight Aft Main Magazine 54-55 Main X Fuel Oil 3 56 Main X Fuel Oil 3 61-62 Void Propshaft 1 or 2 63-64 Void Steering 65-66 Steering FO1 FM FO2 BR1 BR2 ER AM FO3 ST 1FP A&B 3FP B1 B3 E1 X&Y 1FP 1FP 1FP B2 E2 1FP 6FP 4FP 9FP