War at Sea
Allied Nations
- Australia
- Brazil
- Canada
- France
- Greece
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Poland
- Soviet Union
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Allies stat table
Axis Nations
Neutral Nations/Installations
Sets
- War At Sea
- Task Force
- Flank Speed
- New Starter
- Condition Zebra
- Set V (Fleet Command)
- Surface action
- First Strike (Forumini Expansion Deck A)
- Infamy (Forumini Expansion Deck B)
- Battle Line (Forumini Expansion Deck C)
- All Hands on Deck (Forumini D)
- Action Stations (Forumini E)
- Dead Reckoning (Forumini F)
Unit Card:
Set - Rarity - Number
Condition Zebra - Rare - 18/40
History:
RaySpruance
USS Houston was a Northampton class cruiser commissioned in 1930. While not the best armored under naval treaties of the time, the design was solid and in the case of Houston, equipped with a flag suite. Prior to the outbreak of WWII, she was stationed in the Philippines serving as flagship to the US Navy's Asiatic Fleet. Upon outbreak of war, being the only US heavy unit in Asian waters, she was withdrawn south towards Australia and the Dutch East Indies. She fought in the early days of the war, losing the use of her #3 turret due to shellfire. Unfortunately, being only one of a handful of heavy units, she could not go back for repairs. Houston was incorporated into the ABDA Command (American British Dutch Australia) in order to defend the oil producing regions of the Dutch East Indies.
With several foreign contemporaries, Houston fought in the the Battle of Makassar Strait (where she lost the use of her #3 turret) and despite fighting well in the Battle of Java Sea, ABDA's naval command was shattered. Units had to flee from the area as best they could. Houston was accompanied by another cruiser HMAS Perth during the retreat. On March 1, Houston and Perth found an anchorage for Japanese transports unloading troops onto Java and immediately pounced. They managed to destroy one transport, cause three others to beach, but a squadron of Japanese destroyers reinforced by cruisers Mogami and Mikuma ultimately sank both Perth, then Houston. Captain Albert Rooks was posthumously awarded this nation's highest military honor, the Medal of Honor.
Reviews:
mercenary_moose:
A nice alternative to USS Boise; Houston has similar mains, secondaries and AA, trades off Rapid Fire for Desperate AA, and gains Tough Cruiser and Flag 2 for a point more. A very solid unit overall that gives USN players yet another great cruiser.
Tincancaptain: (after Condition Zebra)
Good prewar heavy cruiser, stats are solid, Flag 2 is unneeded for the US but now they have a 1941 option other then USS Enterprise. 9/10
