Solo Campaign Scenario 1: A Matter of Honour

ARA Nueve de Julio

A Matter of Honour

27th February 1899

A Solo Mini-Campaign Scenario for Tsushima

Argentinian Briefing

You are Captain Gregorio Auguerriberry, officer commanding the protected cruiser Nueve de Julio.  You have been ordered to conduct a patrol of the Beagle Channel, west of Navarino Island, in defence of Argentinian territorial waters. You have orders to board and impound any Chilean merchant vessels that cross into Argentinian waters. You have also been authorised to use force, if necessary, to deter any interference by Chilean warships but only if fired upon first. 

You are steering a course of 270°, due East, at half speed (11 knots). Your starting position is at any point 2nm (20cm) from the Western short table edge.

Chilean Briefing

You are Captain Jose Maria Villareal, officer commanding the Chilean protected cruiser Ministro Zenteno. Your orders are to challenge Argentinian attempts to deny Chilean merchant shipping passage of the Beagle Channel. You are aware that Argentinian naval forces have already impounded several Chilean merchant vessels and, in a flagrant act of aggression, have forced a freighter aground, shelling the crew as they attempted to abandon ship. 

This has caused popular and political outrage in Chile, with widespread condemnation of Argentinian attempts to challenge Chilean sovereignty. Your orders are to intercept any Argentinian warships in Chilean territorial waters. You are confident that you can use force, if required, to deter any further acts of Argentinian naval aggression. This morning, you have ordered full steam ahead in order to engage a potential target, in the expectation that Argentinian warships are patrolling to the west of Navarino Island

You are steering a course of 045°, due West, at full speed (20 knots). Your starting position is at any point 2nm (20cm) from the Eastern short table edge.

Objectives

The Ministro Zenteno must inflict one-third hull damage and at least one critical hit on the Nueve de Julio, after which honour has been served and Captain Villareal will disengage, attempting to evade via the eastern edge of the table.

The Nueve de Julio must force the Ministro Zenteno to withdraw by inflicting one third hull damage and at least one critical hit, after which Captain Auguerriberry may choose to disengage or continue the attack on the Chilean cruiser. However, orders prevent the Argentinians from initiating any action, so the Chileans must fire first before the Argentinians can open fire. 

Special Rules

The crew of the Nueve de Julio have been exercising with the Inspection Squadron of the Argentinian navy and have achieved a high degree of proficiency in gunnery (+1 to hit for gunnery only)

The crew of the Ministro Zenteno are veteran seamen and highly experienced (+1 to seamanship for all initiative rolls)

Weather

The Weather is Light with Rain (-3nm for spotting). Spotting range is reduced to 15nm (150cm)

The Wind is from the East, Force 7 (smoke drifts 7cm, to hit chances for small calibre guns -1). 

The Sea State is 4 (-1 chance of a hit on light cruisers, all torpedo attacks -1).