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

Cruel Seas: Mine Fields Everywhere!

In our next game, we used the Cruel Seas rules. This time, the Kriegsmarine was assigned to clear the minefields the Royal Navy had laid overnight, which had blocked the harbour entrance.

SCENARIO: Tim Chant
UMPIRING: Tim Chant

SCENERY: Michael Schneider, SESWC

FIGURES & MODELS: Tim Chant

1. Forces.

ROYAL NAVY

(Ben, Gordon, Tim)

2 x Fairmile D

3 x Vosper I 

2 x Vosper II

KRIEGSMARINE

(Alasdair, Bartek, Jimmy)

3 x S-38 type 

3 x S-100 type 

2 x R-23 type 

2. The Game.

A port located in occupied Europe. During the night, the Royal Navy successfully laid three of the four designated minefields. The Kriegsmarine had two boat groups stationed in the port: one, which I commanded, consisted of minesweepers, while the other, commanded by Alasdair, included torpedo boats for cover. Additionally, another group of boats, led by Jimmy, was scheduled for deployment. In the port's roadstead, a group of British boats under Gordon's command was stationed. Two support groups were moving toward the port: one, consisting of Vosper boats, was under Ben's command, while the stronger group, composed of Fairmile boats, was under Tim's command.

It all started with a minor disturbance in the harbour. With a minesweeper commanded by a less experienced crew in the lead, I decided to shift the positions of both boats. However, this manoeuvre made it difficult for Alasdair's boats to leave the harbour. Due to my unclear instructions, he was able to get only two of his three boats out, while the third was blocked by my vessels. Alasdair's manoeuvre, however, successfully drove away Gordon's boats, which had sought cover behind the incoming Royal Navy reinforcements. Jimmy's vessels then moved to confront them, but, without support amid the harbour chaos, they had to face the advancing British boats alone. Isolated and outnumbered, he began the fight bravely, though ultimately ineffectively.

Jimmy bravely fought against the overwhelming force of British guns and machine guns, but his efforts proved largely ineffective as the British guns and machine guns began to decimate his units. Soon, the first of his boats was destroyed, and the subsequent vessels suffered significant damage from British shellfire. 

After consulting with me, Jimmy decided to ram the enemy ships, causing chaos in Gordon's squadron. Two of his boats collided and sank as a result of this manoeuvre. Unfortunately, this tactic also cost Jimmy his last remaining ships. 

It was only after this that Alasdair left port, and I took my minesweepers to the first minefield. I successfully cleared the area, but due to time constraints, the game had to end. The Germans managed to create one safe route into port for the incoming convoy, destroying two British boats in the process, but at the cost of three torpedo boats. This resulted in a poor exchange for them and limited success overall. The game will, of course, continue in the future.

3. Links.

SESWC:

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

FLICKR:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720331791473/

Cruel Seas: To the Rescue.

We are at sea again, this time in small boats. Cruel Seas. We used the scenario To the Rescue from the main book. The Germans are about to rescue the Führer's favoured pilot who has just been shot down!

SCENARIO: Scenario 3: To the Rescue.
UMPIRING: Tim Chant

SCENERY: SESWC

FIGURES & MODELS: Tim Chant

1. Forces.

ROYAL NAVY

(Alasdair, Tim)

1 x Fairmile D (Regular)

3 x Vosper I (1 x Veteran, 2 x Regular)

KRIEGSMARINE

(Andy, Bartek)

1 x S-38 type (Veteran, Depth Charges)

2 x S-100 type (1 x Regular + Serch Light, 1 x Inexperienced)

1 x R-23 type (Regular)

2. The Game.

As I mentioned in the introduction, the Germans were assigned the difficult and highly responsible task of rescuing a shipwrecked man, who happened to be Hitler's favourite pilot. The rescue operation would undoubtedly receive significant support from Goebbels' propaganda, which would ensure fame and rewards for the captain of the boat that successfully carried out this feat.

The Germans divided their forces into two groups. The first group, made up of S-100 boats, was tasked with surrounding one of the islands from the south to rescue survivors. The second group was to encircle the island from the north, ready to assist in picking up survivors if the first group failed. Additionally, the second group was to provide cover for the first group. The British had a similar plan in place.

A firefight quickly broke out as the small British Vosper ships opened fire on the larger German boats. The Germans retaliated, dealing significant damage to the smaller British vessels. Nevertheless, the British continued to engage, impeding the Germans in their mission. Ultimately, the Germans were able to rescue survivors, but a race against time ensued, especially after the British boat Fairmile, armed with powerful guns, joined the battle. This likely caused panic among the German captains, as two of their boats ran aground on the rocks of the second island.

One of the German boats managed to escape the shallows, but unfortunately, the other crashed into the rocks. Nevertheless, the Germans withdrew from the battlefield with the surviving crew members. During the engagement, they sank two Vosper-class boats, while a third, severely damaged, was forced to retreat. Ultimately, the boat carrying the survivors left the battlefield, securing victory for the Germans.

3. Links.

SESWC:

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

FLICKR:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720329764077

Cruel Seas: The German Convoy.

This is another game using the Cruel Seas rules. In this scenario, the Germans are defending their convoy and have a new vessel at their disposal: a freshly painted R-23 minesweeper. They aim to safely escort their convoy to a port protected by minefields.

SCENARIO: Tim Chant
UMPIRING: Tim Chant

SCENERY: SESWC

FIGURES & MODELS: Tim Chant

1. Forces.

ROYAL NAVY

(Andy, David,  Jimie, Tim)

2 x Fairmile D

3 x Vosper II

2 x Vosper I

KRIEGSMARINE

(Alasdair, Bartek, Gordon, Michael)

3 x S-38 type

2 x S-100 type

1 x R-23 type

2 x Freighter

2. The Game.

The German fleet's mission was to escort the small convoy safely to port. Their journey involved first crossing open water and then navigating through the skerries, which were further protected by minefields—two of which were laid by the Germans and one that was laid at night by the RAF. The German strategy was to engage British boats with the R-23 and S-38, even if it meant sacrificing those vessels, while the other German boats would provide direct protection for the convoy. That was the plan...

The British launched a fierce attack, with their boats arriving one after another on the battlefield, immediately bombarding the convoy and its escort with a hail of bullets. A swarm of torpedoes also emerged in the water. The British initially focused their fire on the minesweeper, inflicting significant damage on its two six-pounder guns. In a short time, the boat I was commanding was destroyed. I was unable to get close to the enemy to deploy the numerous depth charges available. Perhaps next time...

The attack by Michael and his S-38 boats was ultimately unsuccessful. He attempted to ram the British vessels, but their agility allowed them to evade the assault and respond with gunfire. One of the German boats was out of range, while the other was sunk. As a result, the situation for the Germans grew increasingly dire.

The ineffectiveness of the German attack forced the convoy's close escort into action. Alasdair and Gordon took the lead with their boats. While Alasdair advanced, Gordon stayed close to the convoy. Alasdair opened fire, focusing his shots on Jimmy's two Vospers. He successfully sank both, but could not prevent the torpedo attack. The torpedoes were already in the water and were quickly approaching the ships in the convoy.

Torpedoes presented the most significant threat now. Although most of them were inaccurate, two directly targeted the first freighter. I managed to narrowly avoid the first torpedo, fired by Jimmy, but the second one, launched by Andy, struck the ship's bow and exploded, causing considerable damage. The ship was swiftly finished off by the guns and cannons from Andy's, David's, and Tim's vessels. 

There was still a second ship in the convoy, and all the torpedoes had already been fired, giving it a chance to reach its destination. However, there was one major problem: it faced an entire British squadron, and the only protection left, apart from one of Gordon's boats, was either too far ahead or sunk. Therefore, the chances of success for the second ship were quite poor.

Despite Gordon's desperate attempts (he managed to sink one of the Vospers), the British boats were given a free hand to fire on the German tanker. The six-pounder cannons struck the German ship repeatedly, ultimately causing it to sink. At that point, we were finished. The Royal Navy had once again emerged victorious.

Once again, we used a table that was too large. We played our game on a 4'x8' table, but only utilised half of it. Consequently, we did not test traversing minefields, navigating skerries, or similar challenges.

3. Links.

SESWC:

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

FLICKR:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/asienieboje/albums/72177720326367506