{"title":"Cruel Seas","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"cruel-seas-us-navy-fleet","title":"Cruel Seas - US Navy Fleet","description":"\u003cp\u003eBy 1941 there were 29 total PT’s total in the US Navy, by December ’43 there were 29 squadrons. Indeed, by the end of the war the small ships, PT’s LCI etc. numbered 7,000 craft of 80 types. Many Early PT boats had up to 4 torpedoes and 2 twin .50 Cal guns in powered mounting, a heavy load for the day. As with most American hardware, this was only the start! Soon a 20mm was added at the stern as standard, useful for surface or air action. Then, enterprising crews frustrated by strafing the tough Japanese barges to negligible effect mounted a USAAF 37mm automatic gun (acquired from an Air Cobra) and found it most effective!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIndeed, America had not been blind to the possibilities of the coming war and took great pains to watch and learn from her allies and foes so that when war came, America was ready to put into place a building program that dwarfed all the other navies combined and led to the naval dominance that she still enjoys today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe US Navy Fleet Contains:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2 x Plastic Elco PT boat\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2 x Plastic Higgins PT boat\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1 x Coastal Cutter sub chaser (resin and metal)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1 x LCI-(L) landing craft (resin and metal)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e4 x LCM-3 landing craft (metal)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1 x F4U Corsair (metal)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShip Cards\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlastic Torpedo markers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNote: All Cruel Seas items manufactured by Warlord Games are 1\/300th (6mm) scale.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Warlord Games","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46362189693077,"sku":"782611002","price":99.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0700\/4101\/0325\/files\/782611002_Cruel_Seas_US_Navy_Fleet.webp?v=1756738724"},{"product_id":"cruel-seas-imperial-japanese-navy-fleet","title":"Cruel Seas - Imperial Japanese Navy Fleet","description":"\u003cp\u003eBetween the wars Japan reassessed its position with its navy, building the world’s first purpose-built aircraft carrier, the Hosho in 1921 and inventing its deadly fast and powerful type 93 24’’ oxygen fuelled torpedoes. They also decided that as their industrial might could not match that of the west, then they would have to have sharp, training tactics and a crew of superior quality to their foe, and for a while, achieved just this.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTheir battleships and cruisers were of excellent quality and their growing fleet or aircraft carriers would, after Pearl Harbor, give them the edge in the opening phase of the Pacific War. Excellent training, use of the Long Lance torpedoes and aggressive use of nighttime fast attacks with their destroyers also gave the allies a bloody nose before they learned to counter these attacks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImperial Japanese Navy Fleet\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCruel Seas focuses on the cat and mouse hunts that happened nightly in the Philippines, Guadalcanal and the Solomon’s. They could be IJN sub chasers stalking a crippled US submarine, or mine layers playing their trade at night. Most commonly it will be Japanese barge convoys defending themselves in shallow water against rapacious PT boats. Turning the tables, a late war game could be played out with American landing ships and the terrifying Shin’yo Kamikaze craft.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe IJN, therefore, is an interesting mixture of the very sophisticated and the very amateur, boldness being a connecting factor whether in battleships or tiny craft. It is a do or die force, get in close and things will go well, dither or maintain the range of the allied technology and firepower will overreach you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Imperial Japanese Navy Fleet Contains:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e6 x T-14-class MTBs (metal)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e3 x Maru-Ni kamikaze boats (metal)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e3 x Shin-Yo kamikaze boats (metal)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e4 x large Sampan (resin and metal - two of each canopied boat)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1 x Escort Type Hei minesweeper (resin \u0026amp; metal)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1 x Aichi D3A 'Val' (metal)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShip Cards\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlastic Torpedo markers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNote: All Cruel Seas items manufactured by Warlord Games are 1\/300th (6mm) scale.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Warlord Games","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46362189824149,"sku":"782612003","price":99.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0700\/4101\/0325\/files\/782612003_Cruel_Seas_Imperial_Japanese_Navy_Fleet.webp?v=1756738943"},{"product_id":"cruel-seas-british-royal-navy-fleet","title":"Cruel Seas - British Royal Navy Fleet","description":"\u003cp\u003eGreat Britain never built a vessel as fast or as deadly as the E-boats, instead, fielding many types of MTB and motor gunboats. After a slow start, the Royal Navy helped by construction in the USA, Canada and India, built an extraordinary catalogue of excellent small boats, supported by larger vessels which gave serious firepower and, using the characteristics of each boat to maximum effect, fielded mixed formations supported by destroyers or powerful gun equipped LCTs. They generally fought at night and using radar and radiotelephone, coupled with RAF and fleet air arm support and even secret information from intercepts they fought the Kriegsmarine to a standstill and by 1944, with hugely superior numbers and technological advantage truly ruled any waters which they chose to dominate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe British Royal Navy Fleet Contains:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2 x Plastic Early Vosper MTBs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2 x Plastic Mid\/Late Vosper MTBs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2 x Fairmile D (resin and metal)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1 x Armed Trawler (resin and metal)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1 x Bristol Beaufighter Mk Ic (metal)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShip Cards\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlastic Torpedo markers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eNote: All Cruel Seas items manufactured by Warlord Games are 1\/300th (6mm) scale.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eModels supplied unassembled and unpainted\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Warlord Games","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46362189889685,"sku":"782611001","price":99.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0700\/4101\/0325\/files\/782611001_Cruel_Seas_British_Royal_Navy_Fleet.webp?v=1756739102"},{"product_id":"cruel-seas-italian-regina-marina-fleet","title":"Cruel Seas - Italian Regina Marina Fleet","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Regia Marina was confident, had indisputably the most handsome ships in the world and referred to the troubled waters of the Mediterranean as Mare nostrum(our sea). By the start of the war, as well as capital ships, it fielded 59 destroyers and 67 torpedo boats, a fast class of small destroyers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn May 1942, at Germany’s request, the Regia Marina deployed four 24 tonnes Motoscafo Anti Sommergibile, or MAS boats, six CB midget submarines, five torpedo boats and five explosive boats to the Black Sea, and appear to have done well against merchantmen, barges and even a cruiser.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne exotic posting for the Italian light fleet was an expedition to Lake Lagoda and the Leningrad Siege. Four MAS boats, naval detachment K, teamed up with German and Finnish forces to blockade Russian forces. MAS boats 526, 527, 528, \u0026amp; 529 took part with minelayers, Siebel ferries and Finnish patrol boats, the whole force titled Einsatzstab Fahre Ost, a fascinating flotilla to collect and game with!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRegia Marina Fleet\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Italians favoured their fast small boats, typically the MAS boats ( Motoscafo Anti Sommergibile) weighing in at between 20 and 30 tons, smaller than most other nations small craft. They were, however, good boats and gave the Allies a tough time. They had a ten-man crew; their principal armament was two torpedoes and a 20 mm Breda A\/A on the rear deck. They were fast, very fast and could make up to 45 knots, outrunning all PT boats and British MTBs. By 1940 48 of the MAS 500 class were available.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnother excellent maid of all work for the Italian fleet was the Gabbiano-class Corvette. At 660 tons they carried a 100 mm main gun forward, three 20 mm A\/A and four 20 mm in dual mounts. They were also equipped with two torpedo tubes. These were excellent ships, well-built and pleasing to the eye, not fast (18 knots at best) but with good tactical options for a good commander.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn Italian coastal force is an attractive force to collect. The MAS boat, your main strike force, must use its speed and small size to survive, but although lightly armed and fragile, they are inexpensive boats to add to your fleet. Overwhelm them with numbers and manoeuvring, then hit hard with your torpedoes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Regia Marina Fleet Contains:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e4 x MAS boats MTBs (metal)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1 x Italian MZ Motozattera (resin and metal)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1 x Marinefährprahm - F-Lighter (resin and metal)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1 x Gabbiano-class corvette (resin and metal)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1 x CR 32 Fighter (metal)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShip Cards\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWakes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlastic Torpedo markers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eModels supplied unassembled and unpainted\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Warlord Games","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46362191003797,"sku":"782612002","price":99.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0700\/4101\/0325\/files\/782612002_Cruel_Seas_Italian_Regia_Marina_Fleet.webp?v=1756739228"}],"url":"https:\/\/tabletopstrategist.com\/collections\/cruel-seas.oembed","provider":"The Tabletop Strategist","version":"1.0","type":"link"}