Notes to self for WWI Naval Historical Scenario: December 15/16th 1914, TheScarborough-Whitby-Hartlepool Raid

The Phases of Battle (Sequence of Play)

Stage 0: The Scenario Set-Up and Historical Conditions

German Forces:

1st Scouting Group:

• Position: In Enemy Home Waters 
• Mission: Bombardment (Hartlepool/Whitby/Scarborough)
• Screening Force Cruiser/Destroyer (Alert)
• Battle Cruisers Status (Alert)
• Weakness: Dispersed Formation (Hartlepool, Whitby, Scarborough)
• Incorrect Assumption: High Seas Fleet will stand and fight

High Seas Fleet:

• Position: Distant Covering Force: Distant (Home Waters)
• Screening Force (Alert)
• Battle Squadrons (Complacent)
• Weakness: "Do not engage superior forces order"
• Weakness: Withdraw in face of superior or equal foe

German Intelligence: 

• Weakness: Complacent, over confidence
• Weakness: Assumption "No Battle Cruiser Force (BCF) or Grand Fleet (GF) at sea"
• Zeppelins (Inactive)
• Submarines (Inactive)

RN Forces

RN Intelligence: 

• Status (Active)
• Room 40 Advanced Warning of German Raid (Jellicoe)
• Weakness: Thinks HSF in Jade

Early Interception Force Battle Cruiser Fleet (BCF): 

• Position: Distant (Closing)
• Screening Force Destroyers/Cruisers (Alert)
• Battle Cruisers (Alert)
• Restriction: "Do not enter enemy home waters order"
• Special Ability: "Pursuit of 'Enemy Fleeing' override"
• Weakness: Rashness "Close with enemy"
• Weakness: Poor Signalling

Covering Force: Grand Fleet (GF):

• Position: Distant (Closing) 
• Screening Force Destroyers/Cruisers (Alert)
• Battle Squadrons (Alert)
• Weakness: Partial Deployment of 2nd Battle (Warrender) Squadron only
• Weakness:  "Do not enter enemy home waters order"
• Weakness: Submarine/Torpedo Trap Fear
• Weakness: Mine Trap Fear
• Weakness: "Do not needlessly endanger Grand Fleet"

Local Defense Force Land (Hartlepool):

• Advantage: Heugh Battery Gun camouflage
• Weakness: Complacent Status
• Weakness: Recognition - German Ships Assumed RN
• Local Defense Force Naval (Hartlepool)
• Destroyer Patrol at Sea (Alert)
• Cruiser Force in Harbour (Complacent)
• Submarine Force in Harbour (Complacent) 

Stage 1: German Advanced Penetration

• Forces Identified/Engaged 
• Mission Start Point - Local Defense Activation
• Naval Patrol (Destroyers)
• Turn Restriction (Iterate) to Achieve Mission Objectives
• Bombardment Damage Counting
• Defensive Shore Battery Fire
• Naval Force Escalation (Cruise/Submarine)
• Cessation of Bombardment

Stage 2: The Chase

• Initial Position - BCF Light Forces v 1SG Light Forces
• Screening Rolls for Contact (Visual)
• Strategic Map Positioning
• Command Dice Activation
• Tactical Map Positioning
• Simultaneous Movement
• Fate and Weaknesses

Stage 3: Tactical Engagement

Possible Outcomes of the The Engagement Phase
Repeat sequence until break out of loop

• Fight/Movement
• Force/Asset Commitment
• Gunnery
• Torpedo
• Morale/Confusion Status
• Tactical Orders
• Tactical Movement
• Break off (beyond visual contact)

Stage 4: Strategic Movement

• Chance to Evade or to Escape
• Return to The Chase Strategic Map
• If no Escape (break contact) implies chance to Escalate or End of Strategic Play and game
• Return to Stage 2: The Chase Screening Rolls for Contact (Visual)

To be continued: Solitaire Decision-Making Process considered  

Any comments or thoughts (including requests for more explanation) on the above appreciated ;)