Silent War (WWII sub campaign dynasty)

[WSUCougar]

Silent War is a highly-regarded solitaire board game by Compass Games. It simulates the American submarine campaign in the Pacific during World War II. An overview of the game can be found HERE. Compass will soon be adding Steel Wolves, which is a Battle of the Atlantic version from the German U-Boat perspective.

The game mainly consists of sending subs out from their bases to operational areas (the South China Sea, for example), then simulating their patrols based on various factors like target density and types, relative Japanese ASW, sub effectiveness (using various ratings), and random events. There’s also a lot of cursing involved due to the really crappy American torpedoes. Nothing like scoring a hit on a fat, juicy target and it having no effect due to a dud, eh? *sigh*

This dynasty will track the overall progress of the campaign, as well as describing certain highlights (and lowlights) for individual submarines. Due to the large number of subs, I won't be tracking their every move, but for added flavor and immersion, I will assign any volunteers in this thread as sub captains, and will use famous actors and sports/historical figures as captains of the remaining subs. If anyone wants to sign on as a sub skipper, let me know and I will put you in the mix as things proceed. Please note, for attacks on convoys, whether you wish to be Aggressive or Cautious. Aggressive captains will risk their boats/lives to sink more tonnage; Cautious captains will generally live longer (this is not aprt of the game rules, just something I've added for the dynasty).

I will keep things “in character” for the turn reports, and add out-of-character (“OOC”) comments in italics at the end.

At start, we have nine different classes of submarines, as follows:

S1 class:
These are the old sea dogs; short-ranged and weak.

New S1s:
Upgraded in everything but defense, these are solid attack submarines.

New S2s:
Another point better in both attack and defense over the New S1 class, these puppies are #2 in terms of potency.

P1s:
Can hit harder and have twice the range of the S1s, but still relatively weak.

P2/3s:
Can target one more ship than the P1 class.

Ts:
These are the best subs we’ve got in 1941.

Cachelot:
A small class of wimpy subs with decent range.

Argonaut & Narwhal:
These are individual subs, with super-long range and a strong defense rating. Narwhal is even tougher than Argonaut.

Select your sub from the following list:

SUB
Argonaut Gene Hackman
Cachelot (Cach) Al Pacino
Cuttlefish (Cach) Tom Cruise
Dolphin (P1) Dan Marino
Drum (Gato) Qwikshot
Gar (T) Kevin Costner SUNK
Flying Fish (Gato) Brett Favre
Gato (Gato) st. cronin
Grampus (T) SUNK
Grayback (T) Kevin Spacey
Grayling (T) WSUCougar
Greenling (Gato) Kiefer Sutherland
Grenadier (T) Alec Guiness
Grouper (Gato) Mel Gibson
Growler (Gato)
Gudgeon (T) Matt Damon
Narwhal (Narwhal) John Wayne
Nautilus (Narwhal) Captain Nemo
Perch (P3) George Clooney
Permit (P3) Paul Newman
Pickerel (P3) Jack Nicholson SUNK
[color="gray"]Pike (P1) William ShatnerSUNK
Plunger (P3)
Pollack (P3) Ardent Enthusiast
Pompano (P3) Harrison Ford
Porpoise (P1) Henry Fonda
S-18 (S1) Joe Gibbs
S-23 (S1) Bill Belichek
S-27 (S1) Mike Martz
S-28 (S1) SUNK
S-34 (S1) Brad Pitt
S-35 (S1) Jack Del Rio
S-36 (S1) Martin Sheen SUNK
S-37 (S1) James Cagney
S-38 (S1) Jimmy Stewart
S-39 (S1) Burt Reynolds
S-40 (S1) Frank Sinatra
S-41 (S1) Kirk Douglas
S-42 (S3) Mike Holmgren
S-43 (S3) Jeff Fisher
S-44 (S3) Bill Cowher
S-45 (S3) Marty Schottenheimer
S-46 (S3) Gary Cooper
S-47 (S3) Mike Shanahan
Sailfish (NS2) James Garner
Salmon (NS1) Humphrey Bogart
Sargo (NS2) Russell Crowe SUNK
Saury (NS2) Arnold Schwarzenegger SUNK
Sculpin (NS2) Mustang
Seadragon (NS2) Sean Connery
Seal (NS1) Tom Hanks
Sealion (NS2) Errol Flynn
Searaven (NS2) Edgar Allan Poe
Seawolf (NS2) Wolfpack
Shark (P2) Captain Quint (Jaws)
Silversides (Gato) path12
Skipjack (NS1) Gregory Peck[color="Red"]SUNK
Snapper (NS1) Clint Eastwood
Spearfish (NS2) John Gruden SUNK
Stingray (NS1) Steve McQueen
Sturgeon (NS1)
Swordfish (NS2) MrBug708
Tambor (T) Neon Chaos
Tarpon (P2) Robert Mitchum
Tautog (T) Warhammer
Thresher (T) Capt. "Deacon" Harrison (ntndeacon)
Trigger (Gato) Bruce Willis
Triton (T) BYU 14
Trout (T) Lt. Cmdr Rob Nielsen (Coffee Warlord)
Tuna (T) Bill Parcells

The game is processed in weekly turns, and the main campaign begins in Week 2 of December 1941. At start, there are a host of subs based in Manila (Philippines), several at Pearl Harbor, and a handful at sea or being repaired in port.

[WSUCougar]

Total ships sunk: 62
Total tonnage sunk: 194,000

Sunken tonnage leaders:
18,000 = Wolfpack (Seawolf): (3)
16,000 = Humphrey Bogart (Salmon): (3)
12,000 = Errol Flynn (Sealion ): (4)
10,000 = Henry Fonda (Porpoise): (3)
10,000 = Rob Nielsen (Trout): (3)
10,000 = James Garner (Sailfish): (1)
9,000 = Sean Connery (Seadragon ): (3)
9,000 = John Wayne (Narwhal): (2)
8,000 = Mel Gibson (Grouper): (2)
8,000 = Paul Newman (Permit): (2)
8,000 = Mike Shanahan (S-47): (2)
7,000 = William Shatner (Pike): (3)*
6,000 = "Deacon" Harrison (Thresher): (3)
6,000 = James Cagney (S-37): (2)
5,000 = Clint Eastwood (Snapper): (1)
5,000 = Tom Hanks (Seal): (1)*
5,000 = Bill Parcells (Tuna): (1)
4,000 = WSUCougar (Grayling): (2)
4,000 = Edgar Allan Poe (Searaven ): (2)
3,000 = Sir Alec Guiness (Grenadier): (2)
3,000 = BYU14 (Triton): (1)
3,000 = Brett Favre (Flying Fish): (1)
3,000 = Joe Gibbs (S-18): (1)
3,000 = Robert Mitchum (tarpon): (1)
3,000 = path12 (Silversides): (1)
3,000 = Warhammer (Tautog): (1)
3,000 = Bruce Willis (Trigger): (1)
2,000 = James Stewart (S-38): (2)
1,000 = Bill Belicheck (S-23): (1)
1,000 = Kevin Costner (Gar): (1)*
1,000 = Russell Crowe (Sargo): (1)*
1,000 = Tom Cruise (Cuttlefish): (1)
1,000 = Matt Damon (Gudgeon): (1)
1,000 = Steve McQueen (Stingray): (1)
1,000 = Neon Chaos (Tambor): (1)
1,000 = Brad Pitt (S-34): (1)

*Lost at sea

[Coffee Warlord]

Lt Commander Rob Nielsen cannot resist the calling of the USS Trout.

The men of the Fighting Trout kill things. Caution does not win wars.

[WSUCougar]

So you've selected the Trout option...very good.

[Coffee Warlord]

You knew bloody well that the Trout was gonna be snapped up immediately.

Pity there's no Squid.

[st.cronin]

I will take the Argonaut!

[MrBug708]

Swordfish!

[Warhammer]

Lt. Commander Warhammer reporting for duty on the Tautog. I would be honored to skipper her to half the reputation that she had during the Pacific War.

[BYU 14]

I'll take the Triton

[WSUCougar]

Preparing to go to sea...all captains and crews to their boats...any additional volunteers, sign on now.

(I'll assume all of you who signed on are aggressive captains unless you tell me otherwise).

[st.cronin]

Hoo yah.

[ntndeacon]

It's the Thresher for Me. Capt. "Deacon" Harrison here

[WSUCougar]

I've filled out the rest of the active boats with some famous names. I've left some openings in the ones that will soon be operational in case we have more guys sign on.

[WSUCougar]

As the war in the Pacific opens,

• S-36 (Sheen) is deployed in the Lingayen Gulf near the Phillipines;
• Argonaut (st. cronin) and Trout (Nielsen) are near Midway;
• Tambor (Costner) and Triton (BYU14) are near Wake Island;
• Gudgeon (Damon), Plunger (Willis), Pollack (Pacino), Pompano (Ford), and Thresher ("Deacon" Harrison) are at sea near the Hawaiian Islands.

The rest of our subs are in port, including Seawolf (WSUCougar) and Swordfish (MrBug708) in Manila, and Tautog (Warhammer) at Pearl.

[WSUCougar]

December, 1941, Week 2

In the shock and chaos that follows the devastating suprise attack on Pearl Harbor, none of our subs are able to score any hits against Japanese task forces. However, the bulk of the submarine fleet puts to sea, in transit to their patrol zones.

Of note:

Tambor (Costner) encountered a heavily-escorted naval task force near Wake Island and was damaged in the ensuing action. Gudgeon (Damon) missed a similar opportunity in the Hawaiian Islands. No other sightings were made.

Sailfish (Garner) was engaged and damaged en route to the East China Sea from Manila. She will be forced to return to base.

Seawolf (WSUCougar) and Swordfish (MrBug708) deployed to the Marianas, Tautog (Warhammer) to the Marshalls. Argonaut (st. cronin) and Trout (Nielsen) remain near Midway. Thresher ("Deacon" Harrison) returned safely to Pearl.

[Poli]

Gimme something, dang it. I can't believe I wasn't included immediately.

[WSUCougar]

Originally Posted by ardent enthusiast

Gimme something, dang it. I can't believe I wasn't included immediately.

Heh...I was waiting for you to show up.

Pollack, Gudgeon, Cachelot, Narwhal, Pompano, and Plunger are all at Pearl. Take one of those boats and I'll bump one of those captains for ya.

[Poli]

Cachelot, please.

[WSUCougar]

Cachelot:
A small class of wimpy subs with decent range.

Okay...you sure?

[WSUCougar]

December, 1941, Week 3

The week begins with bad news: Luzon (Philippines) has fallen to the Japanese. Three subs – Permit (Newman), Pickerel (Nicholson), and Tarpon (Mitchum) - are re-routed to help evacuate personnel and gold, and Tarpon is damaged in the operation. S-36 (Sheen), Sealion (Flynn), and Seadragon (Connery) are forced to abandon Manila and put to sea.

With Manila lost as a base, Fremantle (Australia) becomes operational, as well as the sub-tender Holland in Surabaya (Java Sea).

ULTRA (“Magic”) intelligence points toward additional Japanese activity in the upper South China Sea and the Bonins.

Preparations go well at Pearl, and four subs – including Thresher (“Deacon” Harrison) – are made ready for putting to sea next week.

In the Aleutians, Dolphin (Marino) misses two cracks at a giant, 15,000-ton merchantmen before being chased away by destroyers.

Argonaut (st.cronin) sighted a carrier with escorts near Midway, but couldn’t maneuver to get a shot. Both she and Trout (Nielsen) are returning to Pearl.

Swordfish (MrBug708) and Tautog (Warhammer) moved into the Bonins; Swordfish hit a tanker with a dud torpedo, then was damaged in the subsequent depth-charging. Tautog missed two chances at a tanker. Both must return to base.

In the Marianas, Seawolf (WSUCougar) hit a small freighter, but it didn't go down and managed to limp off, and the accompanying destroyer then damaged the sub. Searaven (Poe) had better luck, sinking a 3000-ton freighter. First blood!

Saury (Schwarzenegger) found a carrier in the East China Sea and took a decent shot at it, but missed. It damaged a small freighter but did not sink it. He’ll be back.

Sculpin (Hackman) stuck a torp into a 5000-tonner and damaged it, but mechanical problems thwarted efforts to polish off the victim.

In the upper South China Sea, Seal (Hanks) found a huge convoy and damaged a 3000-ton freighter, but couldn’t “seal the deal.” S-37 (Cagney) dodged an encounter with an enemy submarine.

Finally, Spearfish (Gruden) has not been heard from and is feared lost.

Status:

Argonaut (st.cronin) – Just returned to base at Pearl
Pollack (Ardent) – Prepping for sea at Pearl.
Seawolf (WSUCougar) – En route from the Marianas to Pearl (damaged)
Swordfish (MrBug708) – In the Marianas, en route to Pearl. (damaged)
Tautog (Warhammer) En route from the Bonins to Pearl
Thresher (“Deacon” Harrison) – Just deployed to patrol in the Aleutians
Triton (BYU14) – Just returned to base at Pearl
Trout (Nielsen) – Just returned to base at Pearl

[Poli]

Didn't notice that, transfer me to the Pompano.

[WSUCougar]

Originally Posted by ardent enthusiast

Didn't notice that, transfer me to the Pompano.

She's already put to sea. You can have the Pollack. Man your boat!

[WSUCougar]

December, 1941, Week 4

S-37 (Cagney) and S-41 (Douglas) were diverted to support the defense of Corregidor.

S-40 (Sinatra) was damaged by depth charges in the Marshalls.

In the Aleutians, Thresher (“Deacon” Harrison) found some juicy targets, missed on its first attack run, and then got pounced by no less than four enemy destroyers, including one of the deadly “diligent escorts” dubbed that for their tenacity. Fortunately, Thresher escaped unscathed.

No other sightings were made.

Seawolf (WSUCougar) and Swordfish (MrBug708) both returned to Pearl, but will be laid up for some time with heavy damage.

Status:

Argonaut (st.cronin) – Refitting at Pearl
Pollack (Ardent) – Just deployed to patrol in the Marshalls
Seawolf (WSUCougar) – Laid up at Pearl with heavy damage
Swordfish (MrBug708) – Laid up at Pearl with heavy damage
Tautog (Warhammer) - Just returned to base at Pearl
Thresher (“Deacon” Harrison) – On patrol in the Aleutians
Triton (BYU14) – Refitting at Pearl
Trout (Nielsen) – Just deployed to patrol in the Marshalls

[WSUCougar]

OOC: Let me add that so far, we are royally sucking out. One ship sunk?!?

[Coffee Warlord]

The Trout will fix that momentarily.

Damn shame we couldn't nab that carrier.

[Coffee Warlord]

And I see me and Cap'n AE are on the hunt together in the Marhsalls.

Excellllent. We shall use his boat as bait.

[WSUCougar]

January, 1942, Week 1

Reinforcements have arrived from States: Cuttlefish (Cruise), Grayling, and Tuna (Parcells). MrBug708 has been offered the Grayling while Swordfish is being repaired; otherwise, WSUCougar will take Grayling out.

The Battle of the Coral Sea was fought, and the Dolphin (Marino), Pollack (Ardent), and Trout (Nielsen) have been diverted to the Caroline Islands op area in search of the wounded Japanese carrier Shokaku. Pollack did find a Japanese task force in the Carolines, but couldn’t obtain a firing position. Dolphin and Trout had no luck at all.

Thresher (“Deacon” Harrison) shifted to the North Pacific chasing ULTRA-detected Japanese shipping activity; it hit a 5000-ton freighter with a dud, and then had to withdraw due to destroyer pursuit. Perch (Clooney) had similar dud frustration in the Java Sea. Pickerel (Nicholson) got jumped by a “diligent escort” in the Java Sea and had to make a run for Fremantle.

Salmon (Bogart) bagged a fat 10,000-ton freighter for our 2nd kill of the campaign! We needed that one, Bogey.

Sargo (Crowe) got jumped heading out to its patrol area and was forced to turn around and head back to Fremantle.

Saury (Schwarzenegger) has not been heard from and is feared lost.

Status:

Argonaut (st.cronin) – Just deployed to patrol in the Marshalls
Pollack (Ardent) – En route to Pearl
Seawolf (WSUCougar) – Laid up at Pearl with heavy damage
Swordfish (MrBug708) – Laid up at Pearl with heavy damage
Tautog (Warhammer) - Refitting at Pearl
Thresher (“Deacon” Harrison) – Refitting at Pearl
Triton (BYU14) – Just deployed to patrol in the Marshalls
Trout (Nielsen) – En route to Pearl

[WSUCougar]

January, 1942, Week 2

Snapper (Eastwood) was damaged by a Japanese bomber in the South China Sea.

Permit (Newman) sank a 3000-ton freighter, while Tarpon (Mitchum) missed two cracks at an unprotected tanker in the Coral Sea.

Tuna (Parcells) damaged a freighter in the Aleutians but it escaped.

Argonaut (st.cronin) – was withdrew after being attacked by a Japanese patrol plane, and Triton (BYU14) hit a freighter with a dud in the Marshalls. Searaven (Poe) fired a lot of fish there as well but didn’t hit anything.

S-36 (Sheen) has not been heard from and is feared lost.

Status:

Argonaut (st.cronin) – Just returned to base at Pearl
Pollack (Ardent) – Just returned to base at Pearl
Grayling (WSUCougar) – Just deployed to patrol in the Aleutians
Swordfish (MrBug708) – Laid up at Pearl with heavy damage
Tautog (Warhammer) - Just deployed to patrol in the Aleutians
Thresher (“Deacon” Harrison) – Refitting at Pearl
Triton (BYU14) – Just returned to base at Pearl
Trout (Nielsen) – Just returned to base at Pearl

[Poli]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

blah wog blah

SILENCE, WOG!

[WSUCougar]

I can really empathize with the American sub skippers at this stage of the war. The poor and/or dud torpedo characteristics are just brutal.

[Neon_Chaos]

Throw me into the fray.

[sachmo71]

Where's the Tench class?

[Warhammer]

I'm being sent to the Aleutians? I want to be near Singapore near the shipping lanes going to the Indian Ocean and coming up from Java and Sumatra.

[path12]

Reporting for action.

[WSUCougar]

Originally Posted by sachmo71

Where's the Tench class?

Not 'til 1944, ace.

[WSUCougar]

Neon Chaos and path12, do you want current boats or to wait a couple weeks (two game turns) to grab a new T-class boat? I've got Skipjack and Tambor available pier side at Pearl if you want 'em.

Gar, Grampus, Grayback, and Grenadier arrive in February 1942.

[Poli]

Garrrrr!

[Neon_Chaos]

Tambor for me.

[WSUCougar]

Originally Posted by Neon_Chaos

Tambor for me.

She's yours. Report to your boat and prepare for sea.

[WSUCougar]

January, 1942, Week 3

The Dutch East Indies have fallen, and S-37 (Cagney), S-39 (Reynolds), Sealion (Flynn), Shark (Quint), Perch (Clooney), and Pickerel (Nicholson) were all diverted to assist in the Allies’ evacuation.

In the Marshalls, Plunger (Willis) sank a 3000-tonner. Pompano (Ford) hit a tanker with a dud and then got chased off by two destroyers.

The Aleutians had active Japanese ASW, and only Grayling (WSUCougar) was able to hit anything – a 5000-ton tanker – and that only damaged it.

Status:

Argonaut (st.cronin) – Refitting at Pearl
Pollack (Ardent) – Refitting at Pearl
Grayling (WSUCougar) – On patrol in the Aleutians
Swordfish (MrBug708) – Laid up at Pearl with moderate damage
Seawolf (Wolfpack) – Laid up at Pearl with heavy damage
Tambor (Neon Chaos) - Refitting at Pearl
Tautog (Warhammer) - Just returned to base at Pearl
Thresher (“Deacon” Harrison) – Just deployed to patrol in the Marshalls
Triton (BYU14) – Refitting at Pearl
Trout (Nielsen) – Refitting at Pearl

[Wolfpack]

I'm in. Naturally, I'd be inclined for the "Seawolf", but I see that's taken, so I'll take whatever's on offer.

[WSUCougar]

Originally Posted by Wolfpack

I'm in. Naturally, I'd be inclined for the "Seawolf", but I see that's taken, so I'll take whatever's on offer.

No, you can have her - I just moved Costner over since he was the Tambor's skipper before.

Welcome...now go sink something.

Edit: Once your boat is fixed. heh

[WSUCougar]

January, 1942, Week 4

ULTRA (“Magic”) intelligence points toward additional Japanese activity in the East China Sea and South Philippine Sea.

Seadragon (Connery) nailed a 3000-ton freighter in the South Philippine Sea. Way to go, Bond!

The Marshalls were very active. Thresher (“Deacon” Harrison) came across an undefended convoy there, unleashed multiple torps, and hit a tanker with not one, but TWO duds. Bet that was a fun night in the officers’ mess, eh?

Also in the Marshalls, Pike (Shatner) recorded the first multiple-sinking patrol, dropping a 3000-ton merchant and a 1000-ton POS. Starfleet would be proud. Porpoise (Fonda) dodged one of its own circling torpedoes and sank a 1000-ton ship as well.

Up in the Aleutians, Sturgeon (Gibson) bagged a 3000-tonner.

Nice week for the good guys!

Status:

Argonaut (st.cronin) – Just deployed to patrol in the North Pacific
Pollack (Ardent) – Just deployed to patrol in the Marshalls
Grayling (WSUCougar) – Just returned to base at Pearl
Seawolf (Wolfpack) – Laid up at Pearl with moderate damage
Swordfish (MrBug708) – Laid up at Pearl with moderate damage
Tambor (Neon Chaos) - Just deployed to patrol in the Solomons
Tautog (Warhammer) - Just deployed to patrol in the Solomons
Thresher (“Deacon” Harrison) – Just returned to base at Pearl
Triton (BYU14) – Just deployed to patrol in the Aleutians
Trout (Nielsen) – Just deployed to patrol in the Aleutians

[ntndeacon]

Darn stupid Duds. We were not amused and The torpedo officer got an earful to check the inventory better.

[Warhammer]

Woo hoo! We're off to the Solomons! Just a quick question, when can I go on the top secret Operation Petticoat?

[Poli]

You forgot the [secret]tags.[/secret]

[Warhammer]

Oh yeah, I am requesting that Ensign Pulver be transfered to my boat effective immediately. We need some levity on this ship.

[path12]

Originally Posted by WSUCougar

Neon Chaos and path12, do you want current boats or to wait a couple weeks (two game turns) to grab a new T-class boat? I've got Skipjack and Tambor available pier side at Pearl if you want 'em.

Gar, Grampus, Grayback, and Grenadier arrive in February 1942.

I'll wait for the Grampus.

[Poli]

GARRRRRRRR!!!!!

[Poli]