Narrow Seas [33]

I finally found some time to nudge the coastal forces project a little closer to completion, with a flotilla of six mid-war S38 Schnellboote ready for basing, give or take some extra detailing with a drafting pen and some white highlights. I'm struggling to think of a way to give them a bit of colour contrast, so may try to add some running lights or somesuch, if I feel brave enough. I'm going to base them up tomorrow, with some early war models to finish off while the paint dries on the textured bases.

Some Corner of a Foreign Field

I read the designer's review of these new squad level two page fast play ultra-modern skirmish rules in Wargames Illustrated yesterday, so thought I'd take a closer look. Now, I'm not a fan of gaming current conflicts, far from it, but these two page fast play rules caught my attention due to the mechanisms they employ to reflect combat 'stress' and the 'fog of war', for want of a better term.

The system also has the big advantage from my perspective of only requiring a half a dozen figures per side on a 2'x2' playing area, being eminently scaleable down to 15mm or even 10mm. I downloaded a copy plus half a dozen army lists for less than the cost of a pint via Wargames Vault and will be giving them the once over for some Vietnam, Cold War gone hot in Norway or 'imagi-nation' AK47 Africa applications.

I've also read good things about 'No End in Sight' but that's another story...

War at Sea in the Ironclad Age

Here's the latest reading material, which I've read before but is still worth a re-visit, especially as I'm currently tinkering about with the 1/2400th scale Rugen project. This is a good general overview of the development of ironclad warships, in all their multivarious forms, and includes some excellent illustrations, maps and diagrams.

On a related note, I've decided to add a second gunboat force to the Prussians, consisting of two first class gunboats and four 2nd class gunboats, to represent the third gunboat division operating from it's base in Swinemunde. I really like the Tumbling Dice gunboat models and, at £2.40 for three of them, there's a minimal hit to the wallet.

Back of a Postcard Ironclad Rules

 

 

A few years ago I had a very enjoyable game of the Battle of Lissa in 1/2400 with a friend at the club, using his own home grown back of a postcard ironclad rules, aptly titled 'A Postcard from the Adriatic'. These really were very simple but gave a very good game, with plenty of action and some edge of the seat moments, although in the end my Austrians won the day.

 

I'm sure Dave, who is tragically no longer with us, wouldn't mind if I posted them here, as they could be adpated to the Second Schleswig War with very little difficulty. In fact, this was the project that we set out on back in 2008, which I'm now hoping to finally complete. It's just a shame that Dave isn't around to enjoy it with me.

 

A Postcard from the Adriatic

Back of a Postcard Rules for Ironclad Fleet Actions in the 1860s

Turn Order

1.       Move

2.       Enemy Ships Fire

3.       Resolve Ramming attacks

Movement

All undamaged vessels can move at up to 10 kts (10 cm)

Damaged vessels can move at up to 5 kts (5 cm)

Crippled vessels must remain stationary

Combat

Opposed dice rolls (defender cannot damage attacker)

Attacker: D6 + Attack Factor + Tactical Factor

Defender: D6 + Defence Factor

Vessel	Close Range < 16 cm	Normal Range 16 – 40 cm	Long Range 40 – 60 cm	Ramming*	Defence Factor
Italian Ironclad	4	2	1	5	4
Austrian Ironclad	4	2	X	5	4
Ship of the Line	5	3	X	1	2
Frigate	3	2	X	1	1
Corvette	3	1	X	1	1
Aviso	1	1	X	1	0
Gunboat	2	1	X	0	0
Merchant	X	X	X	1	1

 

*Ramming must be at 45-90 deg of target broadside, smaller angles result in minor collision. Rammed and rammer must halt immediately.

Tactical Factors

+2           Target crippled or stationary

-2            Attacker Crippled

-1            Attacker Damaged

-1            2^nd Broadside if firing both broadsides

Combat Outcome

If target’s total is less than, but more than half attacker’s total it is:

·         Crippled if already damaged

·         Damaged if so far undamaged

If target’s total is half or less than half the attacker’s total it is:

·         Crippled at normal range if so far undamaged

·         Damaged at long range if not yet crippled

·         Otherwise sunk

© David Spender 2008

Prussian Screw Gunboats!

I'm a bit busy at the moment but have dipped into Bismarck's First War in search of some scenario ideas beyond the Battle of Rugen / Jasmund. On April 14th 1864, the Prussian 3rd Gunboat Division, under the command of Lieutenant Commander Arendt, had...

'..a brief skirnish with Tordenskjold and the steamer Geyser, Commander Jacobsen (567 tons, two smoothbore 60 pounders, two rifled 18 pounders, 9 knots). the gunboats fired some 20 rounds without effect and, as Geyser closed the range, they withdraw. The Danish ships did not open fire.'

Another fascinating 'what if' that will allow me to add another half a dozen of the very cool screw gunboats to the Prussian Baltic squadron, even if the outcome might be fairly one sided. The side wheeler Geyser might be a bit of a problem but I'm sure I can find something to stand to use as a suitable model.

I've also received a small but timely order from Tumbling Dice which includes a set of Imperial German and Danish ensigns that I'll use to identify the opposing forces. I'm not sure if the Imperial German ensign is correct but it will definately look the part!

2000th Post!

Blimey.

I've just noticed that the last post was the 2000th that I've inflicted on the blogosphere since I started Jim's Wargames Workbench, way back in 2009. I have to apologize for the extensive quantity of bumpf, drivel, ramblings and fluff that I've padded out the blog with over the last five years but, hopefully, there's been a little something in all the guff to keep you interested along the way.

Thanks for sticking with it.

:O)

Jim

Project Airfix

 

We have an activity week at school in July and I've decided this year to return to model making rather than Warhammer 40K, which has fizzled out over the last couple of years and hasn't had enough uptake to be viable. I used to do a 1/72nd scale tank modelling week, which included a day trip out to the Tank Museum, but that required a lot of organisation above and beyond the call of duty. It was good fun but drove me mad when the kids screwed up really simple things, over and over again!!!!

 

 

Anyway, this year I've decided to try out the Project Airfix option, with all three kits for the kids to glue together and paint up. I'm surprised there isn't an AFV or ship kit option but aircraft will be fine, as long as they are careful when they assemble and paint them. As they'll have three kits to make they should be able to learn from their mistakes as they go along, so that they have at least one decent model by the end of the week?! 

Rugen 1864 Update

It was back to work today so things have been a bit hectic. As a result, I've only managed to re-base the Prussians on some ERM laser cut mdf rectangles, which I decided to do to make movement and the firing arcs a little less complicated. The bases are a bit wide but that will allow me to add some texturing to blend in the metal bases and to add some labels, so that the ships can be easily identified.

The Skjold

The Sjaelland

The Tordenskjold

I've also sorted out the Danish squadron, which I'll assemble and rig once the Prussians are out of the way. The Danes definately have the edge over the Prussians, although they have a slight disadvantage in terms of speed, especially with the sedate pace of the Skjold. It will be interesting to see how the lightly armed but more nimble Prussian gunboats and corvettes stand up to the heavier but slower opposition?

I don't fancy Von Jachmann's chances...!

Prussian Baltic Flotilla 1864

Here's the first half of the Rugen / Jasmund mini-project ready for painting. The back row consists of the screw corvettes Nymphe and Arcona (with spars made from cut down staples), the steam paddleboat Lorelei and the first class gunboat Comet, all pinched from the closest models I could find in the Tumbling Dice range. I've had to do some fiddling around but I think they look the part.

Lorelei and Nymphe

To the fore are the five second class screw gunboats, the Hay, Hyane,Wespe, Scorpion and Pfeil, using the very nice Tumbling Dice generic screw gunboat model. These really are lovely. I've also started to paint up the 1/600th coastal forces E boats but these may well have to wait while I crack on with the 1/2400th scale Danish and Prussian ships over the next few days.

The Battle of Jasmund (Iron and Fire)

I've been looking again at the naval side of the Second Schleswig War with a mini-project in mind for the Battle of Jasmund (or Rugen depending on which side you were on). This was a minor skirmish in the naval war but quite significant nonetheless, as the Prussians failed to break the Danish blockade of the Baltic ports due to the local superiority of the Danish fleet.

There's a brief description here, which together with the background notes in Iron and Fire (p18-19) and my other sources, provides pretty much everything needed for a scenario write up:

Battle at Rügen

On March 17, 1864, Prussian naval forces attempted to break the Danish naval blockade. The corvettes ARCONA and NYMPHE departed Swinemünde on an easterly course to investigate whether any Danish ships were around. As no Danish presence was realized at first, the Prussian ships changed to a westerly course and was reinforced by the paddelwheeler LORELEY and 6 steam gunboats. Then the combined Prussian squadron headed north in line abreast. As it was level with Jasmund the Danish force, sighted the Prussian squadron.

The Danish force consisted of the propeller frigate SJAELLAND the ship of the line SKJOLD, as well as the 2 corvettes THOR and HEJMDAL and was commanded by Rear Admiral C. E. van Dockum. This force was shortly afterwards reinforced by the propeller frigate TORDENSKJOLD. When sighting the enemy, the Danish force immediately weighed anchor and headed south directly against the Prussian squadron. 

Shortly afterwards there was a fierce exchange of fire between the two sides without any serious damage on either side. After less than one and a half hour the Prussian squadron withdrew south. The Danish force did not succeed in cutting off their retreat. Never the less the Prussians did not manage to break the blockade, but the incident meant that the Danish Navy still had to maintain a large presence for continued blockade.

 http://www.navalhistory.dk/English/History/1848_1864/TheNavy1864.htm 

As you can see, not a lot happened but there's quite a few 'what ifs?' that would make this a viable and interesting game. So, having rummaged through my 1/2400 scale Tumbling Dice ironclads box, I've managed to assemble the forces for both sides, give or take a little fudging to make things fit and some extras to go beyond the Jasmund / Rugen engagement:

The Danish Squadron

Rear Admiral Van Dockum

Skjold (ASV3 2nd Rate 90 guns HMS Hero)

Sjaelland (ASV5 Frigate HMS Phoebe)

Tordenskjold (ASV8 Small Frigate HMS Arrogant)

Heimdal (ASV11 Screw Sloop)

Thor (ASV 11 Screw Sloop)

Dannebrog (ASV45 Armide)

The Prussian Squadron

Kapitan zur See Von Jachmann

Arcona (ASV8 Small Frigate HMS Arrogant)

Nymphe (ASV15 Screw Corvette)

Lorelei (ASV16 Paddle Corvette)

Screw Gunboat Flotilla

Comet (1st Class)

Hay (2nd Class)

Hyane (2nd Class)

Pfeil (2nd Class)

Scorpion (2nd Class)

Wespe (2nd Class)

(all ASV13 Screw Gunboats)

There are a few compromises here but the pictures I've found of the various ships and gunboats match up fairly well with the models in terms of size and appearance. I still need to find a suitable Aviso for the armed yacht Grille, which played a role in later skirmishes, but that's a minor omission. A merchant steamer would also be useful to act as the Danish armed merchant Freya, which was the focus of a later skirmish.

I think this could be a lot of fun and shouldn't take too long to put together, especially as the models are easy to paint, have their own bases already provided and are designed for handling, unlike the Hallmark ships which are more finely sculpted and a therefore a bit fragile. I'll put this on the 'to do' list for sometime in the not too distant future.