This weekend the local HMGS-South group played a Russo-Japanese War naval game using the Seekrieg 5 rules. The scenario included battleships from the Battle of Tsushima.
The battle was fought in calm seas and hazy weather, visibility 12,000 yards. The lead ships started about 12,000 yards apart.
Japanese ships in a single line ahead:
Mikasa, Asahi, Fuji, Shikishima, Chin Yen
Russian ships in two divisions, each in line ahead:
Kniaz Suvarov, Imperator Alexander III, Borodino, Orel
Oslyabya, Sissoi Veliki, Navarin, Imperator Nicolai I
Crew quality was randomized, with the Japanese having a probable advantage:
Japanese:
1-20% +1
21-80% +2
81-100% +3
Russian:
1-30% -1
31-90% 0
91-100% +1
The battle opened with the Borodino class ships firing at the four new Japanese battleships, the Oslyabya firing at the Chin Yen and the four Japanese battleships firing on the lead pair of each Russian division. The guns of the remaining ships would be out of range for several turns. The Japanese soon switched to firing their primary guns on the four Borodino class and their secondary guns on the older Russian ships. The Imperator Alexander III lost an engine room on the first turn, forcing her to leave the formation. That was the story for the rest of the battle, with the Russian first division taking most of the damage.
After 14 turns and more than four hours of real time, the damage was:
Russian:
Kniaz Suvarov 3 tiers, speed reduced to 7 knots
Imperator Alexander III 1 tier, speed reduced to 9 knots
Borodino light damage
Orel 8 tiers, speed reduced to 11 knots,
– no main battery, sinking
Oslyabya light damage
Sissoi Veliki light damage
Navarin light damage
Imperator Nicolai I light damage
Japanese:
Mikasa light damage
Asahi light damage
Fuji light damage
Shikishima 1 tier, speed reduced to 8 knots
Chin Yen 1 tier