Battle of San Bernardino Strait

Battle of San Bernardino Strait

25 Oct 1944 – The U.S. has begun to invade the Philippines near Leyte Gulf and Japan has responded with Operation Sho-Go. The IJN plans for the powerful Center Force to transit San Bernardino Strait and engage the landing craft. Admiral Halsey has formed Task Force 34 to guard the passage, leading to a clash of U.S. fast battleships vs. Japanese heavies in the pre-dawn.


I'm not ready to post details yet but here are a few pics of work in progress.

Here is the board and map of the strait, looking approximately to the northeast. The battle will be in darkness. 




Samar terrain in progress:


Luzon terrain in progress with topographic overlay:


Task Force 34

USS Washington (BB 56)
USS Alabama (BB 60)
USS Iowa (BB 61)
USS New Jersey (BB 62)

USS Cleveland (CL 55) [Vincennes]
USS Cleveland (CL 55) [Biloxi]
USS Montpelier (CL 57) [Miami]
USS New Orleans (CA 32)
USS Wichita (CA 45)

USS Hoel (DD 533) [12 Fletcher class DD]
USS Hoel (DD 533)
USS Hoel (DD 533)
USS Hoel (DD 533)
USS Taylor (DD 468)
USS Taylor (DD 468)
USS Taylor (DD 468)
USS Taylor (DD 468)
USS Kidd (DD 661)
USS Kidd (DD 661)
USS Kidd (DD 661)
USS Fletcher (DD 445)

USS Bagley (DD 386)
USS Patterson (DD 392)

PBY Black Cat


Center Force

Sho-Go Yamato
Nagato
Kongo
Haruna

Haguro
Chokai
Kumano
Suzuya
Chikuma
Tone
Yahagi
Agano [Noshiro]

Takanami [3 Yugumo class DD]
Takanami
Takanami

Hatsukaze [3 Yugumo class DD]
Hatsukaze
Hatsukaze

Isokaze
Yukikaze

Hatsukaze [2 Kagero class DD}
Hatsukaze

Shimikaze