Saturday 19 March 2022

The Battle of Cap Blanc - A Broadside and Ram Scenario




I banged together a quick scenario for Broadside and Ram that I'm planning to play tomorrow, possibly outdoors if the weather continues to behave itself. In this scenario, a French naval squadron based in Bizerte is lying in wait for a Royal Naval squadron that is patrolling the coastline near Cap Blanc. The French commodore is an experienced commander, screening his ships behind the headland, and has a +1 AP rating. He can decide to sit tight and wait or at any time, order his squadron to full steam ahead, at which point the smoke from the ironclads will be immediately visible to the British, even if the ships themselves are still obscured. 

The Royal Navy commander is average, with a +0 rating, reflecting his underestimation of the enemy and the element of surprise. At the start of the scenario, the Royal Navy squadron cannot change course until it is in visual line of sight of the hidden French squadron, but must steam ahead at CS only. Each turn the Royal Navy can spend 2AP to make a lookout roll, requiring a 6 to spot a wisp of steam from the stationary French warships hidden behind the headland, which if successful allows the commodore to beat to quarters and go to MS if desired. 

On paper the Royal Navy squadron is better armoured but the French ironclads are faster, better armed and have a 4:3 advantage, the fourth British warship being a sloop. The fort may or may not play a role in proceedings, apart from acting as a lookout for the French, as it has a limited AF and DF of just 3 being armed with obsolete smoothbores with a range of only 6'', so pretty useless. The French objective is to cripple or shatter at least one of the Royal Navy ironclads then escape via the Eastern edge of the table, while the Royal Navy must cripple or sink at least one of the French ironclads, before steaming away to the West, either side being allowed to pursue until the enemy exits the scene. 

2 comments:

  1. Looking forward to the AAR - have fun :D

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  2. Will do. I've swapped out one of the Provence class for the Taureau..should be fun.

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