Nimitz - Operation Freya (1/3000 Ships)

At last a use for my 1/3000 WWII Navwar naval collection (huzzah), the Nimitz rule set and its hypothetical introductory scenario, Norway 1940 - Operation Freya a RN v KM battlecruiser clash, let the dice roll and decide history (see below, slowly collected over many decades part of my 1/3000 collection which I consider as an ongoing proect): 

I guess the intention in the scenario (from Sam Mustafa's website download section) is to be a WW2 version of a Dogger Bank 'fast and furious' battlecruiser clash, with one side (RN) having destroyers and one side (KM) having a light cruiser, both sides having something capable of firing torpedoes (see below, the ships were fast out of their starting blocks with the KM hurling caution to the wind and sending in their light cruiser [Nurnberg] for a torpedo attack on the RN Hood and Repulse): 

Nurnberg was crippled and sunk, but her sacrifice was not entirely in vain (as the RN battlecruisers paid her some main armament attention) as she allowed the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau to deliver painful blows to the Mighty Hood, taking structural points away (see below, one crippled RN destroyer stays attending to the British main force [aka hiding], while the two healthy attack the German battle cruisers [gulp]): 

With HMS Hood suffering yet again (and the British return shells bouncing off Krupp armour) t'was "the better part of valour" this time for the British as they retired off table under cover of a threatened or rather attempted torpedo attack (see below, the rules showed the nice premise of a running battle - jumping between tactical and operation game boards was possible - something previously hinted at but not really supported by other tactical rules sets): 

I liked the scenario (and the way Nimitz was playing [without cheese]) so much I decided to play it again, this time over at a friend's house who had a much better "sea mat" than me! In a short summary, the British need to get lucky early or the German armour works in the KM's favour over the course of a long range gunnery dual. Note, players don't seem to be the classic missing smoke-screens, not just yet at any rate (see below, in the first run through we forgot about rolling the "dice for advantage" [I like this little tweak] - nothing is equal so KM rolled well enough to "have the advantage2, so they can watch the RN set-up in a limited "floor space" and choose their angle of attack from anywhere in their half of the board (see below, the RN force opt to make a high speed run [hence the yellow counters on their ships]):  

The RN strategy is "run fast, shoot with a full broadside and then get lucky" whereas the KM felt an uncontrollable urge to charge at the enemy with the Nurnberg - two separate [unrelated so I don't think it's genetics] German players did this (see below, in the exchange the Scharnhorst suffered light damage [structural] and the KM player learned it pays to "move fast when you can" because you are harder to hit - even if it makes your shooting slightly worse): 

The Nurnberg meets a watery grave from a bucket load of torpedoes from the leading RN destroyer (which was crippled in the process - a medal for someone) - Nurnberg's back was broken and  she went straight down (see below, he RN's strategy was working for two thirds of their battle plan - keep going fast, shooting away with full broadsides but alas missing with their shooting - whereas the KM just "got lucky" and HMS Hood (that fateful old girl) suffered accordingly, losing lots of structure points and a nice 15" turret to boot):     

A RN admiral discussion concluded that whereas the German armour was saving them from serious damage and the Admiralty would like to get HMS Hood back to Scapa to be repaired (see below, the two fresh RN destroyers were able to chase the German battlecruisers away as the RN battlecruisers disengaged):  

After seeing what torpedoes can do to KM ships the German admiral was satisfied to claim honours and retire just after the British had retired from the map (see below, the game worked really well, credit to the Germans in both games with sound tactical victories - note in the Halsey campaign this would be set up for a nice running battle over several encounters and other Task Forces trying to intercept [or hide if you were a convoy], all good stuff): 

This all bodes well for this rule system methinks and future battles. Nimitz is easy to pick up, fun to play and gives more or less, plausible historical results in a much quicker time than the likes of GQ II (my previous preferred WW2 naval rule set). I can recommend watching the SaturdayNightFights of the Armchair Dragoons fame, playthrough of Operation Freya:

https://www.armchairdragoons.com/events/wn/saturdaynightfights-operation-freya-for-nimitz/

Murmansk Convoy Ships: 1/3000 Navwar

 Seen from a distance, a sneaky German recon plane spies its target in the cold, northern waters - radios its position and expect all hell to break loose (see below, my "dirtied up" [aka with a rusty brown wash] Navwar, 1/3000 British Convoy): 

This is in preparation for "Halsey" Murmansk Convoy operation, with tactical game play using "NIMITZ".

Now this is an interesting game: Atlantic Chase - GMT Games

From the moment I saw this game advertised on the GMT P500's I knew there was something special about it and after wantonly staring at it over several visits I finally subscribed, six months later a very heavy thud on the doormat announced the beast had arrived (see below, lovely box art of "you know who" as they are making their breakout run into the Atlantic in search of convoys):   

Oh, it has not disappointed me, in fact I feel very invigourated as it shows a fresh new approach to naval campaigning .. but more of that later. The rules are beautifully laid out and theer are accompanying explanatory videos. Even better, I had the great fortune to receive great 1-2-1 tuition via Table Top Simulator (TTS) at the recent Connections Online Conference hosted by the Armchair Dragoons for the Connections family based in the US. 

I must give a shout out to Karl and Tom for their sterling work in instructing me on the nuances of the game as we hunted down the Bremmen! Now that was one German ship I do not have in 1/3000 scale as she is a fast liner!

Battle of the Denmark Strait Re-Fight using GQII

The RN Battle-cruiser Force (HMS Hood and HMS Prince of Wales [RHS-top below]) has intercepted the German Raiding Squadron[bottom left] in the Denmark Straits thanks to the good work of Admiral Wade Walker's cruiser squadron (see below, historical starting conditions as per David Manly's blog post, with the only exception that we could not position HMS Suffolk on table - she is deemed off table to the rear, [HMS Norfolk top-middle]):

A close up of the German Raiding Squadron (see below, the KM Prince Eugen leads the KM Bismarck):

Seeing an advantageous tactical position the German Squadron turns to try and cross the "T" of the RN Battle-cruiser Force (see below, the Prince Eugen leading is in a very exposed position, but she may inadvertently take some of the heat off the Bismarck - shortening the range at this point may be seen as a controversial choice but it intends to make life awkward for the RN and hurt the Hood):

First moves over, broadside firing commences (see below, the German Commander [me] is choosing a very aggressive [too?] tactic of closing the range and is prepared to have a "knife fight in a phone box" - this could be a very quick and bloody affair):

To the shock and horror of the German Commander [me] the RN gunnery is good, the Bismarck takes hull and armament damage and the KM Prince Eugen is straddled by HMS Hood - but no damage, the RN player was going historical in this regards):

The British keep throwing good dice, they must drill very hard (see below), another hit ["0"] and another "roll on the critical hit table, please" (see below, everybody was expecting a magazine explosion at some point in the battle):

The Germans (aka the Bismarck) is giving the Mighty Hood hell, as she looses two flotation boxes and is reduced to 6 cm speed (see below, Vice Admiral Holland (aka Renko) is absorbing the punishment to close the range and then turn his two full broadsides on the Bismarck - [post script] I did forget this was also a critical on the Hood, but nought save an extra flotation box damage came of it [no catastrophic explosion]):

Bismark plays "follow the leader" part way through her actual move (see below). We were playing the GQ Squadron Rules so this could lead to tactical awkwardness - personally I think that the Bismarck would just do her own thing [in the real battle Lutgens ordered the KM Prince Eugen away from the battle rather than waiting on attracting battle damage]. As it happened at the end of teh move Bismarck maintained a full broadside on her target, the mighty HMS Hood (see below, firing is taken at end of movement despite salvos taking place throughout the move - it is just one of those "rule mechanism things"):

HMS Hood is still suffering from accurate early German firing (see below, both British sides are only firing half their broadsides as their rear arcs are covered):

Again the RN hit the KM Bismarck with telling blows (see below, a turret is "abstractly" put out of action, 25% of the big hitting power is gone - it has to be said that HMS Hood is looking a battered ship too):

Another hit (by HMS Prince of Wales) on the Bismarck and this time a "critical hit" that causes a serious fire (see below, the red counter demoting a fire burning out of control and extra half hull box damage):

The Hood then smashes a broadside into the KM Prince Eugen, destroying two full hull boxes and reducing her immediately to 6 cm of speed (see below, both German ships commerce raiding days are over as a lengthy spell in dry dock would be a minimum):

HMS Hood soaks up more damage but I see no "catastrophic exposition" just a steady advance to a point where she can make a turn to expose her full broadside and that of the Prince of Wales (see below, Admiral Holland must have nerves of steel):

At least good German "Damage Control" puts the fire started by the critical hit out (see below, the Germans at this point have received far more critical hits than the British RN ships - fate, fickle fate):

The KM Prince Eugen has to [? - maybe it was as well that I continued for a chance or threat of a torpedo attack] turn away because of the battle damage she has taken (see below, luckily she does not obstruct the Bismarck's shooting for the next round):

Likewise HMS Hood buckles away releasing the PoW, her speed reduces to 6 cm and she has a "turret" missing (see below, as the Prince of Wales is much further back she can still fire "over the Hood"):

Again the British ships fire with telling effect, the Bismarck (at the bottom of the picture) is clearly losing this exchange (see below, the Bismarck really wants to dispatch the Hood with a quick killing blow - this Admiral Holland has done better than his historical counterpart and now can effect a 3/4 killing broadside):

Bismarck covered the withdrawing Prince Eugen and takes yet another critical hit [black marker] in the process (see below, the Prnce Eugen herself is now being engaged by the British cruiser HMS Norfolk - which thankfully misses):

HMS Norfolk in return is straddled by some very good shooting by the Prince Eugen (see below, this is quite off putting to Vice Admiral Wade Walker, but no real damage is done):

The British have now reached their desired position where both battleship (PoW )and battle-cruiser (Hood) broadsides can be targeted at short range on the Bismarck, this will be the "short and brutal affair but on the wrong side of the statistical line from the German perspective (see below, although very tough the Bismarck cannot this amount of punishment for long):

Especially when the British gunnery is as crack-shot as this (see below, another German battleship  turret disappears and yet another critical hit alongside more flooding): 

Bismarck is a mess. Her bridge is gone, her fire control is gone and she is limping along at 3 cm (see below, credit to her manufacture that she is still afloat at this point):

Both German ships are now engaged in separate duels to the death. The crew of the Prince Eugen are dismayed to see another RM County Class cruiser (HM Suffolk) enter the fray (see below, the German Atlantic Raiding Squadron is racing to a Wagnerian fiery ending (see below, the fighting prowess of both ships are now reduced to a shadow of their former selves):

With only one gun firing defiantly the German battleship with fight on to the last (see below, not even the arrival of a fleet of U-Boats and tug boats would save her now):

The KM Bismarck is now more wreck than fighting warship as all forward propulsion fails (see below, I don't think she will be around long enough for a damage control repair party roll for "impulse power" recovery):

The end is in sight for the German battleship and the KM Prince Eugen has left it too late to make a tactical exit (see below, the Royal Navy gunnery has been excellent):

Gone but not forgotten (see below, the combined weight of broadsides from the "Mighty Hood" and a 100% functional HMS Prince of Wales puts paid to any ambitions of German "Cruiser Warfare" in the North Atlantic):

KM Prince Eugen puts a straddle on HMS Norfolk as it closes the range. This critical hit put takes out the bridge and with it Admiral Wade Walker. This day will not be without loss for the Royal Navy (see below, the two British County class cruisers bar Eugen's exit):

Telling fire including another critical hit puts paid any hope for the escape of the Prince Eugen (see below, this extra damage added to the earlier fore from HMS Hood had doomed her to a watery grave):

The KM Prinz Eugen disappears to the murky depths of Davy Jones Locker, courtesy of a barrage 14" shells from HMS Prince of Wales, 15" shells from HMS Hood and 8" shells from HMS Suffolk and HMS Norfolk (see below, no independent commerce raiding operation for you - who finally killed her is up for debate as all firing is simultaneous):

The end of the KM Bismarck om close up (see below, 1:1200 scale model diorama succumbing to the might of the Royal Navy bombardment):

The game was tense but ended up with the mathematically expected result. Good game and GQII seems to once again stand the test of time (since 1977) unlike the KM Bismarck in this scenario.

The British Admiralty have also posted a blog post of the re-fight which is well worth a look [savaging the German Admiral somewhat]:
https://twtrb.blogspot.com/2019/06/denmark-straight-some-naval-gazing.html

"E-Boat bearing Green 20!"

The sharped eye lookout spotted a sinister shape lurking in the (displaying no wake as I had forgot to put one in the picture) and cried out in alarm (see below, my first factory fresh German S-Boat):

Just the basic colours (not even a highlight). I will slip a coat of matte varnish on her ready for the first Cruel Seas scenario. All I have to do is paint up a couple of Vospers! I started with my Airfix Acrylic primer followed by a Vallejo Black Wash.

Painting Notes: 
I had a hard time acquiring the correct '50 shades of grey' as per the Cruel Seas painting guides but I did get the legendary Vallejo Model Colour London Grey to which I painted the S-Boat deck. The light (Vallejo Sky Grey) grey was subbed by Vallejo by the Vallejo Game Colour Stonewall Grey. Oak was in turned replaced by Beasty Brown (decking) and Panzer Periscope was replaced by Imperial Blue (windows). That just left gun metal for the torpedoes, with the top quarter of the fish (or "eels") painted black. I did not bother with the fleck of gold at the rear of the torpedo as suggested in the painting guide. Still to do is a little "grey highlighting" but I can get away without this in the first instance. 

Wish Me Well on Cruel Seas (the Warlord Games Version)

A "Merry Little Xmas" present to myself indeed (See below, and more successful than the "air blown" Happy Snowman shown in the background):

Warlord Games had a little problem with the shipping as they are sending on the "wake markers" as soon as they get them, which all-in-all as there is plenty of reading and assembling to be done in the meantime.

Myself a veteran 1/600 Skytrex range I am looking forward to see how it plays and hope for a game or two over the Christmas period and early New Year. I think it is a "Game in a Box"  to my mind. I cannot see myself running after the "bigger items" as they would be almost too big to get on table (admittedly there are some "big" 1/200 - 1/350 - 1/400 model ships about). I cannot see myself travelling far outside of the North Sea as the other theaters have "lesser appeal" (famous last words). I think January's WI may carry some more Cruel Seas ships which is good news even if they are repeats!

 

December 2018 issue of Wargames Illustrated with the Cruel Seas "Boat" Sprue

Sequence of actions: Big kid enters candy store, sees best candy ever, buys one (restrains himself from buying two but then orders the bigger "pre-order" Starter Set) and takes it home and immediately starts eating or rather making it (see below, the "candy" bar):

Said "big kid" puts together the "candy" and is one happy big kid [albeit no longer in the "candy shop"] knowing that at least the "candy" has been assembled is ready for the 'painting tray' (see below, or on closer inspection are they ready .. drum roll?):

I have a piece left over and it does not seem to go obviously anywhere! Have I missed a bit of a gun somewhere? It seemed to be parked where all the other gun bits were, but I don't want to go just sticking a bit on any old thing! Dilemma! (see below, middle left hand side - the mystery piece):

I did a Warlord Games S-Boat Google search but all the images seem to look like the S-Boats or E-Boats (take your pick) I have assembled. Sadly the "sprue" was considered so straightforward it came without instructions ... argh. Any help appreciated (and thanks in advance) .. they may be crew seats!

PS: I also notice that the "sprues" were a mixture of RN Vospers and KM E-Boats. They seem to be selling really fast! In fact no RN Vospers were left by the time I picked up my copy.

WATU - Western Approaches Museum at Liverpool

Hats of to the volunteers from DSTL, the RN, the RCN, the Defence Academy and the ubiquitous PaxSims gurus for helping create this event. Something I would have loved to have seen in the flesh but the write-up is almost as good as being there (see link below):

https://paxsims.wordpress.com/2018/09/08/watu-wargame-report/
Visiting this museum is on my "bucket list".

Like the organisers I truly believe WATU was an astounding "one of a kind" establishment. It being a very important cog in the machinery that helped win The Battle of the Atlantic by bringing together the men and material (or true operational characteristics of the machinery) together with sound operational tactics in a unique gladiatorial training arena. It even broke down the prejudicial barriers of the sexes - woman (WRENS) doing "more than a mans work". The softer feminine assistance (see the Cruel Sea) during the game helped the learning experience. Although undoubtedly a high pressure environment for the officers, WATU was still "a safe place to train" in the Constructivist Psychology sense of the word, before meeting the real adversarial enemy who asked for and took no quarter.

If you wish to see the other side of the tale, take a trip on the Mersey Ferries to see U-534 recovered from the seabed lodged at the Woodside Ferry Terminal, something I was able to do last Father's Day (see below, OK sad dad that I am I got a "tank ruler" and "Tommy tea mug" as well, a triple win):

Now I will have to check out my naval wargames collection now for a U-Boat convoy battle game, I think I have copy of AH Submarine somewhere. It would be interesting to contrast the "after the battle" thoughts on simulation with the "in-period" artefact to see how close or far apart they are.

Brought some "friends" back from the Isle of Wight with me: KM Scheer and KM Lutzow (1:1200)

Holidays offer unexpected opportunities. Sometimes you come across the most sumptuous of things in the most unexpected places, like a haberdashery shop. Along with the cotton reels and needles there were hundreds(?) of ex-magazine (Del Prado?) miniatures - mostly planes and Sci-Fi machines. However these pocket battleships caught my eye (see below):

I have a couple of County Class WWII British cruisers courtesy of the Airfix 1/1200 "Sink the Bismarck" set but I could do with a couple of Leander light cruisers! The scale .. well it will do for me as 1/1200 ;)

Alternatively, these two and the KM Scharnhorst against HMS Hood and perhaps HMS Suffolk! Fletcher Pratt beckons!

The Battle of the Denmark Strait 1941: Battle Set-Up - It is all in the Angle of Attack (80 degrees of separation)

Reading through the historical accounts of the battle from various sources and studying the maps has been really interesting. From this the consensus seems to suggest the following battle set-up (see below):

• Germans enter bearing 220 degrees
• British enter bearing 300 degree
• Range 26, 500 yards at first shot from HMS Hood
• German ships will be slightly ahead making British X.Y turrets "out of arc"

The last pre-show run through of the rules and kit we've put together and ever so kindly been lent. It revealed that the odds show the Bismarck "gets it" (again) unless she gets 'lucky' early on. The final fate of the KM Bismarck is shown below (Note: We used the 1/3000 ships are used for the gunnery "plot" and the 1/1200 ships to indicate how the ships appeared to be damaged and when they are being straddled [and by whom]):

The higher level plot showed the 'bird's eye view" (see below, RN at bottom, HMS Hood (left) leading slightly damaged [down a turret but at full speed] and an untouched HMS Prince of Wales (bottom right) whereas the KM Bismarck is well and truly battered laying dead in the water (top right) with only one turret working. The KM Prince Eugen (middle left) is desperately trying to close to a "good" torpedo range on the Hood [aka to slow her down] before trying to make a run for it):

References and sources used to date are as follows:

• The Loss of the Bismarck: An avoidable Disaster (Graham Rhys-Jones)
• Hood and Bismarch: The Deep Sea Discovery of an Epic Battle (David Mearns and Rob White)
• King George V Class Battleships (V.E. Tarrent)
• German Capital Ships and Raiders in World War II, Volume 1: From Graf Spee to Bismarck 1939-41 
• Hunting the Bismarck (C.S. Forester)
• Pursuit (Ludovic Kennedy)
• The Bismarck Chase: New Light on a Famous Engagement (Robert J Winklareth)
• Battleship Bismarck: A Survivor's Story (Baron Burkard Von Mullenheim-Rechberh)

Naturally any additional sources of information would be greatly appreciated