Victory at Sea: Tokyo Express Solo Play Supplement
This solo play supplement for Victory at Sea puts you in command of a US Navy squadron, tasked with interdicting the titular Tokyo Express.
The Tokyo Express
With their isolated garrisons in New Guinea and the Solomon Islands under sustained attack by US forces, Imperial Japanese Navy planners needed a way to resupply their embattled troops. Unable to move in daylight because of marauding aircraft, they began loading supplies onto destroyers, using the vessel’s speed to complete the journey in a single night, reducing the chance of air attack. The Japanese named these supply runs “Rat Transportation” because they took place under the cover of darkness.
The supply runs began in the summer of 1942 and continued until the capture of Guadalcanal in the winter of 1943. Originally, the Allies called the runs “Cactus Express,” but the name was changed to Tokyo Express in press reports to preserve Guadalcanal’s military code name.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
• A copy of the Victory at Sea starter set
• A set of Tools & Counters, dice & a tape measure
• A 3’x3’ play area
• A copy of these rules
• At least 6x US Navy Destroyers (any type)
• At least 3x IJN Destroyers (any type)
• 1x USS Chicago & 1x USS Northampton
• 1x Kumano, 1x Furutaka & 1x Mogami