Black Seas; West Indies Campaign: Jimmy saves the day.

Jimmy set up another game from the campaign for us, once again using the Black Seas rules. I hadn't taken part in the previous battle, where the French pulled off a miracle and managed to burn one of the British frigates. This time, the remaining frigate was escorting a merchant ship loaded with supplies for British outposts in the region when a French squadron of three brigs sailed out to intercept them.

SCENARIO: Jimmy
UMPIRING: Jimmy

SCENERY: SESWC

FIGURES & MODELS: Jimmy

1. Forces.

ROYAL NAVY

(Alasdair)

1 x Frigate

1 x Large Merchant Ship

MARINE IMPÉRIALE

(Andy, Bartek, Jimmy)

3 x Brig

2. The Game.

It was another French attack on a British convoy. Both sides were already depleted from previous battles, and the number of available ships was severely limited, but the French still had the numerical advantage. This time, Andy, Jimmy, and I, captains of French brigs, faced Alasdair, who commanded both British vessels. The British were tasked with getting the convoy through safely, while the French were ordered to prevent it.

This time, the wind favoured the French. We drove straight toward the convoy, skimmed past it, and plunged into a brief firefight. We managed to hit a British frigate, but the fire we started was quickly put out. While Jimmy and I slipped past the British with no serious damage, Andy was far less fortunate. His ship took a full broadside from a merchantman, sparking a blaze aboard the French vessel. Andy couldn't bring the fire under control, and his badly damaged ship was forced to withdraw from the battle. That left two French and two British ships still in the fight.

Thanks to a successful manoeuvre, we managed to get behind the British convoy. The British frigate had overstepped its mark and left the merchantman far behind. This allowed Jimmy and me to fire on the British ship with impunity. We should have continued, pounding the ship and forcing it to surrender, but I couldn't think of anything better. Instead, I decided to capture the ship by boarding her. As it turned out, it was a "brilliant” decision…

I sailed up to the merchantman and tried to board her, but my first attempt failed. I tried again and failed once more. The second time, however, I found myself facing a British merchantman that was forced to ram my ship, and the collision nearly proved fatal. My crew was on the verge of collapse and close to surrendering, but a swift withdrawal and a few makeshift repairs allowed my ship to leave the battlefield safely. Jimmy remained behind on the field of battle.

Meanwhile, the British frigate turned and moved to support the merchant ship, which was fighting alone. Jimmy, however, chose to take advantage of this. He manoeuvred his vessel between the frigate and the merchantman and opened fire in both directions. This time, his shots found their mark and inflicted devastating damage. The merchant ship hoisted a white flag, while the frigate burst into flames. The fire was uncontrollable, and the British warship nearly raised a white flag itself. In the end, the British frigate was forced to flee. Thanks to Jimmy, the French fleet emerged victorious, but it was a Pyrrhic victory, given the damage to the French ships and the long time required for repairs.

The campaign is ongoing…

3. Links.

SESWC:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/631841809210352

FLICKR:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720333168220

Cruel Seas: Take the convoy to the port.

Some time ago, Tim devised a mini-campaign using the Cruel Seas and Blood Red Skies rules. In the first game, the Germans tried and failed to clear the approaches to the port. In the second, the Luftwaffe was equally unsuccessful in covering a convoy heading to the port. As a result, the British dispatched a rather strong force of their own boats to destroy the German convoy. At least, that was their mission. However, while covering the convoy, the Germans had a new surprise in store: a Flakship, freshly painted by Tim!

SCENARIO: Tim Chant
UMPIRING: Tim Chant

SCENERY: Michael Schneider, SESWC

FIGURES & MODELS: Tim Chant

1. Forces.

ROYAL NAVY

(David, Tim)

2 x Fairmile D (1 x Veteran, 1 x Regular)

2 x Vosper I  (2 x Regular)

2 x Vosper II (2 x Veteran)

KRIEGSMARINE

(Alasdair, Bartek, Jimmy)

Port Squadron:

2 x S-100 type 

2 x R-23 type 

Convoy:

1 x Vorposten Boot flakship

1 x Tanker

1 x Freighter

2. The Game.

The Germans were tasked with escorting the convoy into port. The problem was the unswept minefields on the approaches to the harbour. These were to be cleared by two teams under the command of Jimmy and Alasdair. Each team consisted of an R-23 minesweeper and an S-100 torpedo boat. Alasdair was to reach the first section very quickly, clear it, and open my route into port, while Jimmy was to provide support from the other side. The Royal Navy was scheduled to appear in the corner of the table. I thought they would only show up partially, but they arrived in full force. This proved decisive, as the boats in port had their engines shut down and could only begin moving once the British boats entered the battlefield at full speed. My Flakship was the only cover.

Since Alasdair had chosen to move very slowly in the port and Jimmy had to take a detour to reach the enemy, I decided to carry out a risky plan. I ordered my Flakship to reduce speed and open fire on the approaching British boats. The ship mounted an 88 mm gun on its bow, which proved highly effective whenever it found its mark. Meanwhile, the convoy surged ahead, racing toward the harbour at full speed—15 knots—directly into the uncleared minefield.

I managed to cripple one of the gunboats, but the British firepower was so overwhelming that my own vessel was quickly reduced to a wreck. The convoy was left without cover...

A surge of torpedoes suddenly churned the water, forcing my tanker to throttle back. The freighter somehow threaded its way through the swarm, even taking one glancing, ineffective hit. For the moment, the convoy remained safe, but the British—still unpunished, as my port security was either creeping uselessly around the harbour or too far out to strike anything—began to tighten the noose around us.

At last, the Royal Navy got down to business, abandoning its ineffective torpedo attacks and switching to artillery fire. That brought the drama to a close. First, the freighter went down, followed shortly afterwards by the tanker. The convoy was completely destroyed. Meanwhile, my harbour screen slowly began to edge out of the port. It was in vain; there was nothing left to protect.

3. Links.

SESWC:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/631841809210352

FLICKR:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720333041685

Seven Years: Saxon attack on Russian positions near Warsaw 1764.

Another game from my fictional Second War of the Polish Succession. This time, it's a Saxon attack on Russian positions near Warsaw. We used the Seven Years' rules, written by Michael.

SCENARIO: Bartek Żynda
UMPIRING: Michael Schneider, Bartek Żynda

SCENERY: Michael Schneider, Bartek Żynda, SESWC

FIGURES & MODELS: Michael Schneider, Bartek Żynda

1. Forces.

SAXONY:

(Bartek, Tim)

CinC

1st Infantry Brigade

4 x Grenadier

2nd Infantry Brigade

4 x Muskeeters

2 x Light Gun

3rd Infantry Brigade

4 x Muskeeters

2 x Light Gun

1st Cavalry Brigade

1 x Cuirasiers (Guard)

1 x Dragoons (Guard)

1 x Skirmishers

2nd Cavalry Brigade

2 x Uhlan

1 x Skirmishers

Gun Battery

3 x Medium Gun

2 x Muskeeters (Small)

RUSSIA:

(Jimmy, Michael)

CinC

1st Infantry Brigade

2 x Guard Infantry (Guard)

1 x Grenadiers

1 x Light Gun

2nd Infantry Brigade

3 x Muskeeters

1 x Light Gun

3rd Infantry Brigade

3 x Musketers

2 x Light Howitzers

1st Cavalry Brigade

1 x Cuirasiers

1 x Dragoons

1 x Skirmishers

2nd Cavalry Brigade

1 x Dragoons

1 x Hussars

1 x Skirmishers

Gun Battery

2 x Medium Gun

2. The Game.

In our last game of this fictional war, the Prussians forced the Saxon corps to retreat south. In this game, I aimed to confront the Russians, who, after their victory at Warsaw, sought to influence the Sejm's elections to choose a candidate in line with Tsarina Catherine's wishes. Originally, Austrian forces were supposed to attack these Russian troops, but I didn’t want to compel Michael to bring in Austrians alongside his Russians. As a result, I replaced the Austrians with my Saxons.

The Russians occupied a fortified hill with part of their forces, and the Saxons decided to launch an assault with their main troops. The infantry, positioned in the centre, advanced rapidly, utilising a relatively large number of officers over two rounds. My light artillery took advantage of this situation and managed to destroy one of the Russian musketeer units with their fire. This forced Michael to redirect some of his troops from the field to the redoubt to defend it against the advancing Saxon assault.

The officer's harvest ended as quickly as it began, and in the next two rounds, I had none at all. Given the intense fire from the Russian guns, this situation became very troublesome for me. I began to suffer losses, which turned out to be the only ones I would experience. Meanwhile, the Russians remained passive, waiting for the Saxons to move.

We were finally able to make progress again. While my infantry on the left centre remained held up, those on the right advanced. This was all thanks to Tim, who started clearing the Russian left flank with his Uhlans. They first drove off the Russian dragoons and then the hussars, destroyed two light Russian cannons, and attacked the Russian musketeers on their flank. As a result, the Russian contingent outside the redoubt was completely eliminated!

The Russians attempted to save themselves by launching a cavalry charge on their right flank. Initially, the Russian cuirassiers engaged the Saxon cuirassiers, forcing them to retreat. However, when they charged the Saxon dragoons, the dragoons managed to repel the Russians. In a second round of engagement, the dragoons not only defended successfully but also charged back, ultimately destroying the Russian cuirassiers. As a result, the Russian attack collapsed, leaving the Saxon left flank secure.

With both flanks secured and the Russians suffering heavy losses, a general assault on their stronghold could commence. The Russians attempted to defend themselves by charging their dragoons against the Saxon infantry, but the charge was repelled. Eventually, the first Saxon units breached the battlements of the redoubt. At that moment, however, time for play ran out. The game concluded with a Saxon victory, which, thanks to the Uhlans' fierce charges, compelled the Russians to surrender. Now, with the Sejm safeguarded by the Saxons and the royal regalia in their possession, they could elect a suitable candidate for king.

Russian loses.

Saxon loses.

3. Links.

SESWC:

https://www.facebook.com/Seswc.co.uk/posts/1102295478594449

FLICKR: 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720332937559