ncc1717

WWI Naval – Grand Fleet Deployment

Theoretical deployment of the Grand Fleet in accordance with the Grand Fleet Battle Orders, page 41, Dec 1915 (Volume III Jutland, from Clash of Arms). Page 40 states that “the order of the High Seas Fleet is that shewn in the O.X.O. papers.” What the ‘O.X.O. papers’ were is unknown.

There are fewer German flotillas than the diagram, but Jellicoe overstated the number of boats that might be present. He expected that his destroyers would be outnumbered by as much as 2 to 1 (GFBO Destroyer Addendum page 1, 1/10/15). Also left out are the German “4th and 5th Battle Squadrons” which are on the diagram on the disengaged side of the HSF. These were older pre-dreadnoughts that probably never sortied with the HSF in the North Sea.

The ground scale is 1 inch = 500 yards or 1/18000. The ships are 1/6000 scale Figurehead miniatures and as a result the spacing of the ships is about 1/3 of what it should be.

British at the top, German at the bottom

Annotations roughly similar to GFBO diagram

WWI Naval – 1/6000 Scale Aircraft Carriers and Wrecks

1/6000 scale WWI ships. The SMS Santa Elena is a modified tramp steamer by Figurehead miniatures. The HMS Campania is scratch-built from styrene. Also some wreck markers.

Russian Black Sea Fleet seaplane carriers

Medieval Hail Caesar AAR

Saturday the local HMGS-South group played a game of Hail Caesar at the Dogs of War shop.

The fictitious Battle of Schwetz, June 1309, takes place in what is now northern Poland and is between the Teutonic Order and the forces of the Polish King Władysław I. Following the ‘takeover’ of Danzig, the Teutonic Order is on the march to take the nearby city of Schwetz. The Teutonic Order is intercepted by Polish forces outside the city.

The Order is on the right, the Poles on the left.

The Order have one mounted division and two foot.

The Poles have two mounted divisions and one foot.

Polish light horse and Order light foot each move to their right.

View from the opposite side. Polish foot and the Order knights are reluctant to advance. Polish light horse blunders around in the woods.

Ignoring the threat to their left flank, the Order advances in the center.

Order charges push back several Polish units, but the Polish archers repel two charges by knights.

Three Polish foot units break in one turn, breaking their division. The mounted Poles wisely decide to call it a day.

WWI Naval – 1/6000 Scale Light Cruisers

1/6000 scale WWI light cruisers by Figurehead miniatures. Most are shown in the squadrons present at Jutland.

1st Light Cruiser Squadron

3rd Light Cruiser Squadron

2nd Light Cruiser Squadron

1st Destroyer Flotilla

11th Destroyer Flotilla

Attached Light Cruisers, Seaplane Carrier and spare ships

4th Light Cruiser Squadron

IV Scouting Group

Mechanicsville – ACW Black Powder

Saturday the local HMGS-South group played a game of Black Powder at the Dogs of War shop.

This scenario is also known as The Battle of Beaver Dam Creek, 26 June, 1862. Three brigades of confederate infantry with two attached batteries and three off-table artillery batteries attack two Union infantry brigades and 5 artillery batteries in breastworks.