Historical Background
This is the second attempt by the Confederation regain battlespace superiority around the Solomon Archipelago. In many ways, this is a repeat of the Battle of the Eastern Solomon, but the clock has advanced for the Confed ground forces and the supply situation is getting desperate.
The battle lines are drawn and you are in command. The rest is history?
Battle Notes
Victory
First side to 15 points, or the side with more Victory Points at the end of 8 turns. The difference must be greater than 2 VP’s, otherwise the battle is a Draw.
Special Rules
• Deployment and forces are as shown in the map. Players may mutually decide to modify deployment by replacing all units with deployment markers and placing units using the hidden deployment rules (pg28).
• First Turn is determined by using standard rules from the main rulebook (pg12, Step 10).
• Carriers are used as per the “Carrier Starship Escalation Pack”
• The “Carrier Flagships” marked on the deployment map are optional as per page 1 of this Campaign Pack, and players can use standard “Flagships” instead. Inclusion (or not) should be by mutual player agreement
Further Player Options
If the players only have the basic game or lack any of the listed Escalation Packs (or simply by player agreement), the following modifications can be used:
• If the number of carriers are not available, simply use Battleship Models as substitutes (placing 3 Fighters alongside as normal). Additionally, deploy the Battleship Counters with the VP point side face up to remind players that the unit represents a Carrier
• If the “Carrier Starship Escalation Pack” is not available, replace all Carriers with Battleships.
• Historically, the Enterprise did avoid a strike by hiding in a rain squall, therefore players may agree to use the Space Rift Expansion. It should be deployed on the left in an agreed upon random way in the left quadrant between the Confed and Commonwealth ships.
Scenario Design Notes
For the Battle of Santa Cruz, not only did the IJN use an escort carrier as bait, but they moved a surface group forward to try and pursue the American carriers during the nights and catch them in a surface action. As a nod to this strategy, the major units of the Surface Force are deployed on the back row of the Confed board edge. There is a slim chance that they will reach the Commonwealth Carriers within the limits of the game, especially with the help of Combat/Command cards that confer bonus movement. Historically, the IJN Battleships did reach the Hornet at the end of the second day, but she was already an abandoned wreck and was finished off by Japanese destroyers.
I have to note that the barest of research will expose that this scenario in no way represents the historical geographic deployments of the combatants. So, before the hate mail commences, I fall back on the defense that this is simply an interpretation to game the same decisions and choices as its historical source. Thanks in advance.