January-March 1942 A Down in Flames Campaign for ZERO! By Roger Horky Development Note: Of the many historical secure Malaya and the Philippines armies, the Dutch and their British, armies campaigns that were considered for inclusion in before the scheduled attack on the NEI American and Australian allies held out ZERO! but were rejected, for whatever reason, in February 1942. However, the for nine days before surrendering. surrender The none was more difficult to omit than the campaigns went so well that the capitulation marked the end of the NEI Netherlands East Indies (NEI) campaign. Japanese were able to advance their campaign. Indeed, it was the last eliminated during the timetable for invading the NEI by four weeks. selection process, and oddly, the decision was THE AIR WAR made almost by accident. As many of you are On January 11, 1942, Japanese forces The Netherlands East Indies campaign is aware, the game was originally supposed to be based in the Philippines invaded both an especially interest interesting subject for Down called "Flying Tigers." One of the playtesters Celebes and Dutch Borneo (British in Flames (DiF). The wide variety of observed that it would be prettyy silly to publish possessions on Borneo had been under aircraft that participated in the campaign a game with that name if the AVG wasn't attack since December). Neither island is particularly noteworthy. In addition to represented. Thus, the Burma campaign went was very well defended, although the the aircraft employed by the two main into ZERO!, leaving the NEI for this issue of Dutch, Australians and Americans all belligerents, the NEI campaign also C3i. contributed air units to the fight for involved British, Australian and The Japanese attacked the Netherlands lands Borneo. Both islands fell to the Japanese American airplanes (indeed (indeed, players will East Indies (NEI) primarily to secure its in less than a month. need almost every airplane card in rich natural resources. urces. The growing Shortly after taking Borneo and the ZERO! for this campaign). Japanese empire desperately needed Celebes, the Japanese conquered Malaya, The majority of the British and both rubber and oil, neither of which which they then used as a base for the American aircraft that served in the NEI were produced in the home islands. The conquest of Sumatra. That island, most came from Malaya or the Philippines. 1941 Dutch embargo on petroleum of it uninhabited, was even less well The Japanese captured thousands of exports to Japan provided a suitable defended than Borneo and the Celebes. allied soldiers and sailors during their reason for going to war. The Dutch had largely abandoned it, conquest of these territories, but a large The NEI was very vulnerable in 194142. 42. leaving the British refugee air force from number of British and American airmen Dutch regular troops numbered 25,000, Malaya to hold it. The fighting on were able to escape to the NEI with although an additional 45,000 poorly- Sumatra lasted but two weeks. their aircraft. The British, flying trained territorial guardsmen could be At the time of the Sumatra invasion, the Lockheed Hudsons, Bristol Blenheims, called upon in an emergency. gency. The small Japanese attacked and occupied Hawker Hurricanes and Brewster air force was equipped with an odd Amboina, Timor, Lombok, Bali and Buffaloes, fell back to Sumatra. Sumat The assortment of second- and third-class other islands in the eastern part of the Americans, equipped with Curtiss P-40P machines. The navy lacked acked capital ships, NEI. They were then ready for their Warhawks and Boeing B-17B Flying operating just a handful of older assault on Java, the central island of the Fortresses, withdrew to Java. A submarines, destroyers and cruisers. No archipelago. Although it was the best- shipment of Douglas A-24's A (the US additional forces could arrive from the defended and most- populous island in Army variant of the SBD Dauntless), in mother country, as the Netherlands had the NEI, its downfall seemed assured. Australia awaiting shipment to the been under German occupation since The Japanese controlled the land, sea Philippines, went instead to Java. All Al of May 1940. and skies in every other part of the these machines were combined with the However, the Dutch East Indies were region, and could attack Java from every Dutch air force to create ABDAIR, the protected somewhat by geography. Both direction except the south. air arm of ABDA, the joint American American- Malaya and the Philippines lay between The defenders of Java gave a good British British-DutchAustralian command Japan and the Dutch colony, so the account of themselves. The Japanese established to defend the NEI. Japanese could not attack directly. They landed troops on both the eastern and Surprisingly, the Dutch component of had to neutralize the two intervening western ends of the island on March 1, ABDAIR employed very few Dutch- Dutch territories before invading. Accordingly, 1942. Caught between two built aircraft. The NEI had been cut the Japanese attacked both regions in early December 1941 in an attempt to Netherland East Indies: ZERO! off from the mother country since the The Imperial Japanese Army Air Force not well coordinated and were usually spring of 1940 and the ML-KNIL (IJAAF) employed its usual assortment of under strength. The invaders were able (Militaire Luchtvaart-Koniklijk Nederlands aircraft in the NEI campaign. The agile to take Tarakan and controlled all of Indisch Leger, the aviation branch of the Nakajima Ki-27 'Nate' was the primary Borneoeo by the middle of February. This NEI Army) had to look elsewhere for IJAAF fighter, but its equally nimble action is represented by Mission #12 in the equipment in the subsequent eighteen successor, the Nakajima Ki-43 'Oscar,' NEI campaign. months. Great Britain, at the time was the also served in large numbers. The On January 19, 1942, the Japanese world's largest aircraft craft producer, had been Mitsubishi Ki21 'Sally' and Kawasaki Ki- conducted a large-scale large air attack on the at war since 1939 and could spare few 48 'Lily' were the most common IJAAF city of Darwin (also called Port Darwin) airplanes for foreign sales. The Dutch bombers used in the NEI. The Mitsubishi in northern Australia. Aircraft from the thus had to acquire most of their aircraft Ki-46 'Dinah' reconnaissance aircraft also carriers ers Kaga, Akagi, Hiryu and Soryu (all from the United States. The two most played a large role in the campaign. four lost at Midway the next June) struck common types of aircraft operated by the The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) had, in the airfield, a railyard, seaplanes at ML-KNIL in early 1942 were the essence, two separate air forces during anchor, the American destroyer Peary and Brewster B339D fighter (an export World War II (one land- based, one most of the forty-seven forty other ships in the version of the F2A Buffalo) and the carrier-based) and both saw action during harbor. Some seven merchant vessels Martin 139WH bomber (a variant of the the NEI campaign. Carrier-borne aircraft were sunk, as was the Peary. All eleven of B-10/B-12 series). The Dutch had such as the Mitsubishi A6M2 'Zeke' the American P-40 P Warhawks defending enough of both types to equip several (Zero) fighter, the Aichi D3A 'Val' dive the city were destroyed. Later that same squadrons of each. They also possessed bomber and Nakajima B5N 'Kate' day, a formation of Mitsubishi G4M one squadron of American-built built Curtiss Curtiss- torpedo- /level-bomber were employed 'Betty' bombers visited Darwin, their Wright CW21B Demons, a rather primarily against naval targets (although primary target being the various airfields disappointing fighter design, and a they were used against targets on land as in the area. Most of the facilities bombed slightly smaller number of Curtiss H-75A 75A well). The IJN's land-based air arm, in the two raids were heavily damaged. fighters, the export version of the P-36 equipped primarily with G4M 'Betty' and Casualties were high, numbering some Hawk. The NEI's naval air service, the G3M 'Nell' medium bombers (both 243 killed and 330 wounded. These battles MLDKNIL (Marine Luchtvaart Dienst- Mitsubishi designs) was used both for are represented by Mission B in the Java KNIL), was equipped with Consolidated ated attacks against targets on land and raids campaign. PBY Catalina and Dornier Do24K flying against shipping. boats. The exodus from Singapore took place in The IJN had a third air arm—its seaplane the second week of February 1942. The The Australian contribution to ABDAIR force. Most Japanese invasion fleets Japanese had pushed the British out of was fairly small. The largest part of the included a seaplane tender or two, Malaya by the end of January and began Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) was especially when no aircraft carriers were preparing to invade Singapore, the island in North Africa, supplementing British available. These vessels carried such fortress ("the Gibraltar of the Orient") at units in the struggle against the Germans. aircraft as the Aichi E13A 'Jake' and the the southern tip of the peninsula, to So many Australian aircraft were Mitsubishi F1M2 'Pete' (both observation which the British forces had withdrawn. with committed to the fighting in the floatplanes), and served as a base of The desperate British began a hasty Mediterranean that when war came to the operations for the big Kawanishi H6K evacuation of the city, employing employ Pacific, Australia was dangerously unpro- unpro 'Mavis' flying boats. The highly- merchant ships, fishing vessels, coasters tected. The United States Army Air maneuverable 'Pete' saw a lot of action in and any other seaworthy craft they could Forces (USAAF)) took over much of the the NEI campaign. They were even find. The Japanese high command, not responsibility for defending Australia. employed as fleet-defense fighters at wanting to make the same mistake the Because they had so few aircraft to times. Germans had in May 1940, vowed that spare, the Australians provided but a there will be no Dunkirk at Singapore. The NEI campaign had other features handful of aircraft to the defense of the Any vessel entering the Straits of Malacca DiF players will enjoy besides the variety NEI. These amounted to a couple of was subjected to air attack. Japanese land- land of aircraft. The first of these actions was squadrons of Lockheed Hudson and ship-based ship aircraft sank as many as the defense of Tarakan on the island of bombers and Commonwealth CA-1 70 vessels of all sizes in the waters south Borneo. The Japanese landing at Tarakan Wirraways. This last type, a locally- of Singapore. Some two to five thousand on January 11, 1942 signaled the produced variant of the North American people, eople, both service personnel and beginning of the NEI campaign. T-6 Texan trainer, was originally civilians, were killed. The evacuation Defenders on the ground were quickly intended for the army cooperation role. ended when Singapore fell on February overwhelmed. The Dutch, Australians However, the situation in the NEI was 15, 1942. This action is represented by Mission and Americans had to rely on air power so desperate that Wirraways were used 15 in the NEI campaign. to repel the invaders. Sadly, their efforts as interceptors on occasion. were Most of the vessels that escaped from south of Tjilitjap. The captain radioed for evacuated by B-17, B B-24, PBY, LB-30 (a Singapore went to Sumatra, which was help but no fighter aircraft were available. B-24 24 variant) and anything else that had itself invaded on February 14, 1942. The The Japanese lost contact when night fell the range to reach Australia (some went Japanese supported the invasion with a but were able to relocate the vessel early westwards, flying to India by way of fairly large task force that included a the next day. At 0700 hours two Sumatra Sumatra—the Japanese had left some of couple of cruisers, the light carrier Ryujo formations of Mitsubishi G4M's began the civilian airfields on that island and a large number of destroyers. The bombing the aircraft tender. The Langley intact). Civilians had to rely on the British on Sumatra made several survived the first wave but not the commer commercial airlines—the DC-3s of attempts to locate and bomb the second. A small force of A6M2's strafed KNILM (the Dutch Indies branch of Japanese fleet, but failed to damage any the ship while bombs rained down from KLM) and the 'C' 'C'-class flying boats of of the larger ships. They did, however, the G4M's. The Langley was devastated. QANTAS (the Australian national sink a couple of transports. These battles Her bridge was destroyed and her water carrier) continued their regularly regularly- are represented by Mission 17 in the NEI mains crippled. When the P- 40's on her scheduled flights between Australia and campaign. deck caught fire the ship was abandoned. Java almost until the last minute. An American destroyer rescued most of The ABDA flotilla sent to attack the The Japanese air forces did not actively her crew, then sent her to the bottom Japanese invasion fleet and its support seek to hinder the evacuation but, with a torpedo. The Langley's sinking is group met with a similar lack of success. inevitably, encounters between Japanese represented by Mission A in the Java campaign. The two naval bodies never made fighters and Allied trans transports did occur. contact with one another. The ABDA On March 3, 1942, IJN aircraft made The Japanese so completely controlled fleet, however, suffered a number of air another visit to Australia. On that day, a the he airspace over Java that any airplane attacks while in the area of Banka Island. formation of A6M2's belonging to the venturing into the sky was at risk. Several None of its ships were sunk but two 3rd Ku, based on a captured airfield on military and civilian transports were shot destroyers were lightly damaged. These Timor, raided Broome, a small port city down over the Indian Ocean. These incidents are represented by Mission #16 in the in the Northern Territories. The raiders incidents are represented by Mission 6 in the NEI campaign. attacked the local airfield and strafed Java campaign. seaplanes at anchor in the harbor. There The only major naval battle of the NEI One other interesting feature of the t NEI were no interceptors based at Broome campaign was the Battle of Java Sea, campaign is the presence of so many ace but one Zero was destroyed by which took place on February 27, 1942. pilots. Although no Dutch airmen antiaircraft fire. This incident is not It was a major defeat for the Allies, who achieved ace status during the campaign, represented in the campaign because the missions lost two cruisers and three destroyers. a number of American, British and could not be balanced due to the lack of defending Two other cruisers were damaged. The Japanese fliers did. When I began writing this aircraft. Japanese ships suffered only minor article I thought that I would have to create some damage. The action delayed the invasion The IJN's only carrier raid against a target new skilled pilot counters to go with it. Imagine of Java by twenty-four hours at most. in the NEI took place two days later, my surprise to discover that the best aces of the Few aircraft were involved, so it is not when aircraft from the carrier Ryujo NEI campaign were already included in represented in this game. attacked Tjilitjap on the southern coast of ZERO!. The funny thing is that the ace pilots Java. The city was the last port on the for ZERO! were chosen only because they served The day had not been a good one for island still under Dutch control and had in the campaigns in that game—how gam useful they Allied naval forces. The Japanese had been attacked earlier in the week by IJN might be in any other game or campaign was sunk the USS Langley. Langley, the first land-based bombers. The harbor was full never considered. American aircraft carrier (it had been of ships loading and unloading reconfigured as a aircraft tender in equipment and personnel. The carrier- 1937), was carrying a load of much- needed fighter aircraft to Java. The based aircraft bombed the dock, RULES seaplanes and freighters in the harbor and Allies had been sending aircraft from the city itself. Some 200 buildings were Components Australia to the NEI since January, and, damaged and destroyed. This battle is This campaign was designed to require only the though bombers could fly the route represented by Mission C in the Java campaign. components included as inserts in this issue and directly, shorter-ranged ranged aircraft such as from the game ZERO! Players will need no target fighters had to stage in Timor for A lucky handful of civilian and military sheets, aircraft cards or pilot counters from any of refueling. When the Japanese captured personnel managed to escape from Java the other DiF series games. Timor in mid- February, the Langley, before the island surrendered. Most carrying a large number of P-40s to went by sea but a few were able to The ML-KNIL ML Brewster 339D was Burma, was diverted to Java to augment arrange for air transport. British, virtually identical to the RAF Brewster the island's defenses. She never got Australian and American service Buffalo I and USMC/USN Brewster there. On February 26, 1942, a Japanese personnel were F2A, both of which appear in ZERO!, patrol plane spotted the Langley about consequently no Dutch Brewster 339D seventy-five miles aircraft ircraft cards have Netherland East Indies: ZERO! been included with this campaign. Players bound turns is NOT reduced by aircraft should use either the F2A or Buffalo I speed. aircraft cards from ZERO! to represent 7. After the first two missions have their "Brewsters." been played, the Allied player may then employ any or all of his surviving Mission #5 in the Java campaign actually interceptors to oppose the third and requires four A-24 aircraft. The A-24 24 was final Japanese wave. The surviving the US Army variant of the Douglas SBD interceptors retain whatever damage they sustained in their earlier mission. Any Dauntless. Use the SBD cards from surviving interceptor with a skilled ZERO! for these aircraft. pilot counter assigned to it retains that The campaign includes one new target skilled pilot counter. All surviving type, the Light Carrier. This target was interceptor leaders begin this third mission with a full hand of cards (contingent upon originally included in ZERO!, but was their current damage status). The removed late in development. The other interceptors may begin the third mission EXODUS FROM SINGAPORE: half of the target card contains the log at any altitude (contingent upon type NEI Mission 15 for the campaigns, as well as charts for and damage status). The third mission The target for Mission 15 is always a allocating planes for the two carrier has one (1) target- bound turn. This is freighter (but the attacking aircraft vary). strike missions. The log can be NOT reduced by aircraft speed. Each time that special Mission C is photocopied by players. 8. All missions have two (2) home-bound selected, a second random action card draw turns. Again, this is NOT reduced by is needed to determine the type(s) of aircraft aircraft speed. assigned to the attack. Special Rules 9. Whatever resource the allied player chose when this mission was selected is CARRIER STRIKES: not used but is considered expended. Java Missions B (Darwin) 10. Japanese aircraft carry bombs only. and C (Tjilitjap) Procedures for the both the Tjilitjap and Darwin carrier strike missions are as If NEI Mission 15 is selected more than follows: one time during a campaign/phase, each 1. The Japanese player secretly assigns each of his three waves (A, B and C) to attack a attack is considered to be against a different different target (1, 2, 3 or 4). He also ship (damage to any one target is not retained secretly assigns each of his escort groups from one attack to another). If a ship (D and E) to a different wave. survives an attack, it is assumed to have 2. The Allied player secretly assigns each of reached its destination safely. The Allied his interceptor groups (X and Y) to player earns 10 VPs for each ship that is defend a different target. attacked but not sunk. 3. Both players secretly assign initial altitudes for all waves, escorts and FLEET ACTIONS: interceptors. NEI Missions 16 (ABDA fleet) and 17 (IJN 4. Both players reveal all of their fleet) assignments. Procedures for Fleet Actions are as 5. If the Allied player has assigned an follows: interceptor group to a target that will not Each time that Mission 16 or 17 is selected, a be attacked (one that did not have a wave second random action card draw is needed to assigned to it), he may re-assign that EVACUATION OF JAVA: determine the specific combination of target interceptor group to a target that will be Java Mission 6 and aircraft types involved. Draw card and attacked (one that did have a wave 1. The Allied player receives one (1) PBY refer to the Target Matrix tables (see page 33). assigned to it). Only interceptor group and one (1) B-17E. may be assigned or reassigned to a single 2. Using scratch paper, the Allied player INVASION OF TARAKAN: target. secretly identifies which of his aircraft is NEI Mission 12 6. Play the missions in the following carrying civilians and which is carrying Each time that Mission 12 is selected, a order: military personnel. second random action card draw is needed First play the mission involving 3. The Evacuation mission has a six-turn to determine the specifi specific combination of interceptor group X. duration. target and aircraft types involved. Next play the mission involving 4. Evacuation mission takes place at interceptor group Y. Those missions to which an interceptor Medium Altitude. 5. Both the PBY and the B-17 are consid- New Resources group was originally assigned have ered "patrol aircraft" for the purposes ABDAIR Aces: three (3) target-bound turns. Those Draw one action card to determine resource of calculating Victory Points. missions to which an interceptor group received: 6. Allied player is awarded further VPs was reassigned have two (2) target- according to following schedule: bound turns. The number of target- ABDAIR fighter: B5N, D3A, F1M2 and/or A6M2. Japanese receives one L/W of Ki Ki-43 Oscar fighters if Draw one action card to determine resource player receives one L/W of Ki-43 fighters attacking aircraft are Ki Ki-21, Ki-30 and/or Ki- received: and skilled pilot Kato if attacking aircraft are 48. Japanese player receives one L/W of HM2 Ki-21, Ki-30 and/or Ki-48. If attacking Pete airplanes if attacking aircraft are G4M, aircraft are allied, draw one action card to G3M, B5N, D3A, F1M2 and/or A6M2. determine resource received: Japanese player receives one L/W of HM2 Pete airplanes if attacking aircraft are Allied and target is invasion forces, seaplane base, patrol (over water), freighter A6M2/F1M2: Japanese player receives one L/ or any type of naval na target. Japanese player W of A6M2 Zero fighters if attacking aircraft receives one element of Ki Ki-43 Oscar fighters are Japanese. Japanese player receives one if attacking aircraft are Allied and target is L/W of HM2 Pete airplanes if attacking Carrier Strike Darwin: Disregard mission drawn ground forces, airfield, patrol (over land), aircraft are Allied and target is invasion forces, and play Java Mission B, Carrier Strike small city or railyard. seaplane base, patrol (over water) or a Darwin, instead. Allied player does not freighter. Japanese player receives one element receive the resource(s) he chose but they are Mechanical Problems: Draw one Action Card of A6M2 Zero fighters if attacking aircraft are considered to have been expended. before the start of the first Target Target-Bound Allied and target is ground forces, airfield, turn. If a Red-bordered Red card is drawn the patrol (over land), small city, railyard or any Carrier Strike Tjilitjap: Disregard mission drawn opposing player must select one formation type of naval target. and play Java Mission C, Carrier Strike aircraft to be removed from the mission. Tjilitjap, instead. Allied player does not He may then reorganize formation. Neither A6M2/Ki-43: Japanese player receives one L/ receive the resource(s) he chose but they are player receives VPs for the removed W of A6M2 fighters if attacking aircraft are considered to have been expended. aircraft. Japanese navy (G4M, G3M, B5N, D3A, Fl M2, and/or A6M2). Japanese player receives Crew Morale: May only be taken by the player Sneak Attack: The opposing player may not one L/ W of Ki-43 fighters if attacking who is bombing. That player receives an extra adjust altitude, play cards respond or draw aircraft are Japanese Army (Ki-21, Ki-30, 5 VPs for each friendly bomber (Light or any cards during the first turn of the and/or Ki-48). If attacking aircraft are allied, Medium) to have gone over the target and mission. You may declare the altitude of Japanese player may choose which type to returned Undamaged. The opposing player your aircraft after viewing the opposing play; subsequent uses of this resource will receives an extra 5 VPs for each Bomber he player's starting altitudes. alternate Army and Navy aircraft. Destroys. USS Langley: This resource may not be A6M2/Ki-43 (Sakai/Kato): Japanese player receives Experienced Aircrews: Treat all non-Skilled Pilot used on the last mission of the campaign. one L/W of A6M2 fighters and skilled pilot counters as having a "P" Skill (this does not Do not play the mission drawn; instead Sakai if attacking aircraft are G4M, G3M, apply to Wingmen). All of your fighters may play Java Mission A (4x G4M, L/W A6M2 start the Mission carrying bombs if they are vs. CVL). The A6M2's may carry bombs. If capable of doing so. the CVL is sunk, no other action is necessary. If the CVL survives the attack, the Allied player receives one L/W of P-40E Ki-43/F1M2: fighters as a resource, to be used in any one Japanese player later mission. These are in addition to the resources listed on the campaign sheet.