USN vs. Kriegsmarine

 After a long lay-off, we returned to the unfriendly seas to stage a combat between the German Navy and an intercepting US force.  Game system is Naval Thunder, which I find to be the perfect balance between playability and a sense of realism.  For surface combat at least.  Air and submarine operations need tweaking IMHO.  

Not a many pictures as usual, we played out the whole action in two hours, which is another plus for the system.  Click the pictures to enlarge, comments are always welcome.

The Kriegsmarine: clockwise from the left, three Karl Galster destroyers, the light cruiser Nurnberg, the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen, the "pocket battleship" Lutzow, and the Bismarck.  The breakout attempt would see the destroyers and Nurnberg return to port after seeing the squadron off, with the three big ships splitting up for commerce raiding.

Determined to stop them are two Fletcher-class destroyers, the light cruiser Brooklyn, the heavy cruisers Pensacola and Wichita, and the new, fast battleship Massachusetts.  They are to stop the Germans from reaching the shipping lanes at whatever the cost.

Since all the large US ships are equipped with radar, Admiral Rondou decided to lay smoke to start.  Unfortunately the Brooklyn was juuuuuuust beyond the smoke and attracted the Bismarck's attention right away.

The "Big Mammie" scored a penetrating hit on the Bismarck which in turn led to secondary ammo explosions and another fire.  Elsewhere, the Brooklyn lashed out at the Z21 with her buzzsaw 6" batteries.

A signalling glitch created a traffic jam among the Americans, while the battered (or so she claimed) O'Bannon fled for the table edge.  Damage control took care of Bismarck's fires and bridge hit.

As the range inevitably closed, damage was given and taken.  The Brooklyn continued to attract unwanted attention, as did the Pensacola.  The 11" guns of the Lutzow were small in number, but were ripping gaping holes in the cruisers.  The Z22 went down, which left the Nurnberg and Prinz Eugen to face the heavy cruisers and Brooklyn.

The Brooklyn must now break off, reduced to just 5 floatation points.  The heroic O'Bannon will exit this turn.  The Nurnberg and Fletcher will succumb to cumulative damage this turn.

Top to bottom: the Bismarck, Lutzow and Z20 start a general pursuit.  The Z20 is particularly fixated on finishing off the Brooklyn.

All alone now, the Prinz Eugen is determined to go down in the best tradition of blue-water sailors.  Planning a torpedo attack on the Wichita and a ram on the Massachusetts.  A staggering broadside from the Wichita put an end to their plan.  It was not all American though, a lucky hit from the Z20 ended a promising career for the Brooklyn, sending her under.  Secondary fire from the Massachusetts made the Z20 pay the ultimate price.

Sadly, the damage control ops aboard the Massachusetts kept creating ready ammunition explosions and more fires.  Such that the "Big Mammie" succumbed to her damage, just as the Bismarck was in similar dire straits.  The Lutzow had been sunk by the Pensacola so the Bismarck was all alone with her 5 flotation points so the engagement ended as the three surviving ships (of 13 starting with both sides) headed for badly needed repair.  Of course, some of those could have just been mission kills and not sunk, but sinking is so much more dramatic.

Some bizarre dice rolls and joking among friends kept the bloody brawl light hearted and filled with laughter.  Next time the British will try their hand against the Italians in the Mediterranean.  Till then, fair winds by with you.

Red Tide, Coming in Waves!

 No, not an ecological post on the ocean, but a report on our recent Empire (V) game where the armies of Prussia and England combined to take on corps of Danes, Austrians and French in 1813.  Empire of course is a game intended to allow individuals to play the role of corps commander but still enjoy the finesse of battalion level play.  A move-counter move system where command and control are critical to reacting to the changing situation on the battlefield.

A view from the Prussian deployment end.

And then from the Allied table end.

Initially the Prussians in four "brigades" were tasked with
holding the river line, which had no effect on movement.

The allied starting position, with terrain to deal with.

Contact!  The O'Reilly Chevaulegers charge, and charge
and charge...

At the end they had obliterated two battalions caught
unprepared, and broke a hasty square.

Suddenly and unexpectedly, the British arrive on the Danish
flank, who quickly redeploy to face them.

Elsewhere, the Brandenburg Hussars defeated a Danish 
regiment.

The Austrians now arrive to engage all of von Bulow's corps.

The British, led by the Foot Guards, begin the inevitable 
evisceration of the Danish infantry.

The Danes, all crack troops in this game, mass to assault
Yorck's boys.  The Prussians have a Landwehr regiment,
a crack regular regiment, and a Reserve regiment pictured
top to bottom on the right.  The Hussars are shot in the flank 
and quickly flee.

Likewise the O'Reillys were shot in the back and routed away.
But a major force is coming, with the French not far behind.

The combination of hot dice and the powerful British ratings
become a buzz saw ripping great holes in the line.

The Austrians, noting the absence of Prussian cavalry, deploy
into line and begin musketry duels along the front.

Move and counter-move as the Austrians open an avenue
for the French infantry.

Prussian Landwehr hold the center against veteran Austrians.

Danish cavalry forces a "square" that is cannonaded.

The second British division, under Graham, awaits their
opportunity for blood-letting.

A protracted firefight develops in the center with losses
given and taken, but no change in position.

A crushing mass is gathering against the Prussian right.
Blucher joins the fight.

As the British cavalry moved to turn the flank, a division of
previously unknown/unseen cavalry appears and sabres clash.

The crack(sic) Danes press the gap between the British and
Prussians.  A reservist regiment takes up the challenge.

Blucher orders the second division under Yorck to redeploy
to the right.  They comply as the fighting rages in front of them.

In the next hour, the division takes up position to thwart
the French turning action. 

The Danes are valiantly resisting the British onslaught
but it is only a question of time.

The British come to the support of the Prussians and eliminate
the threat to the gap between armies.

The heroic 14th Landwehr regiment not only hold off the
Austrian lines, but even win a melee against a column.

Superior tactical deployment kept the British at bay for a
time but the way is now clear to the allied army rear.

The right-most Prussian "brigade" is shattered, but a 
breather will result and the new troops are fresh.

The French are some distance away for the moment.

As von Bulow's corps is reduced, the Landwehr grudgingly
retire from the edge of the creek.

And the game came to a close.  We originally scheduled many more hours for play but the French suggested we end it.  The Danes were shattered, but von Bulow's corps was also in desperate straights.  The arrival of Yorck's second brigade would stabilize the situation on the Prussian right though.  The game served as a brutal reminder of how tough the British are when they get to fight on their terms and there is no tomorrow.  While the foot guards won the action on their side easily, they wouldn't be a factor for the battle tomorrow with the losses they took.

Till the next one: Vorwärts!

All Roads Lead to Washington

To prepare for a late summer "Mega-game" some of our Johnny Reb stalwarts gathered to get up on the rules again and also to test out scenario ideas.  In tonight's game four players start with two infantry brigades on table.  The Confederates have a smattering of cavalry and are expecting reinforcements later.  (Damn work life!)  We have experimented with each side having the same or different objectives that are kept secret.  In this game the Rebs need to exit the table on the corner road.

As always, comments, corrections or suggestions are welcomed.  Click on the copious pictures to "big up" them.  

Initial deployment, with the exit point upper left.  All units
were rated even, no green or elites.

The Reb column.  Initially some brigades had set starting points.

My command US Regulars and seasoned troops look to
swing wide and hit the Rebs in the flank.

Throwing caution to the wind, the Rebs race to the road
and can see the table edge.

Soon though the "smattering" of Reb cavalry becomes the 
"smashed" cavalry.  The Iron Brigade moves to close the gap.

Anticipating(?) my move, the Rebs send troops out to 
protect their flank, leaving the other command to open the road.

Each side grabs favorable ground and gets deployed.

It appears the Union left is in a good position, but it is
a thin blue line.

Action becomes general on the Union right with losses taken and
given.  The yellow marked figure means the unit is Shaken.

Things look better for the seasoned brigade as some 
catastrophic dice rolls remove some Reb units.

The left, where a table edge hugging maneuver threatens
to unhinge everything.  The blue flag markers indicate orders
issued, as Johnny Reb is an order based, simul move system.

Oh cheese and crackers!  Two fresh Reb brigades enter
the fight, thankfully the dice placed them a distance away.

The US Regulars, having driven off the first Rebs, must
now prepare to receive a fresh attack.

Seeking to take pressure off the left, a limited attack is
planned against the left-center.  It is highly successful.

But likely isn't going to save the day.  The Reb numbers
are simply overwhelmed the shot up and reduced Yankees.

The Union right is stable for the moment but that will
just mean a good withdrawal. 

"I know you don't want to, but retire to the other side of
the creek."

There is little to be done to stop the Alabama Tide.

Advancing a bit to see the extent of the disaster as the
previously charging Yankees rally back.

All over but for the Rebel Yells.

The destruction of the Union left was skillfully done, aided by some wretched dice.  Just when the turning operation on the right might have been getting started, the arrival of fresh brigades put an end to such dreams.  A good time was had and we felt freshed with the mechanics of our favorite ACW game system.  Next time Johnny Reb!