Miniature Wargames

WWI Naval Battle – Interception of the HSF

As a counterpart to a recent hypothetical battle where the German battlecruisers were sent into the channel to intercept the BEF transports, this scenario assumes the High Seas Fleet demonstrates in the North Sea to draw the Grand Fleet away from the channel. The GF intercepts the HSF as it moves south along the Danish coast toward the Jade.

Scale: 1/6000 miniatures, 500 yards/in ground scale.

Rules: Computer code in development.

Visibility 14,000 yards. Wind northwesterly at 12 knots. Seastate 2.

Status at the end of the game: BEF2-status

Damage output file: BEF2-output

Plots of ship movements:

first 40 minutes BEF2-plot-1to40

last 50 minutes BEF2-plot-40to90

total BEF2-plot

North is to the the left and the Danish coast is off the table to the rear. When sighted, the GF was across the path of the HSF. This photo is several turns later.

The British dreadnoughts have turned south to avoid German torpedoes. The German dreadnoughts have all taken damage and turned to the west to clear the Danish coast.

A British AC has blown up. British dreadnoughts continue south, chased by German torpedo boats.

The battle lines attempt to reform, but slower damaged ships start to fall behind.

At the point where we stopped, both battle fleets had taken significant damage and it was expected that a lot more ships would soon be sunk.

WWI Naval Battle – Return of von Spee

The German Asiatic and Mediterranean squadrons are attempting to return to Germany in September of 1914. Scouting Group I has evaded the British in order to escort them back. While coaling in Faxa Bay Iceland, they are caught by the Battlecruiser Fleet.

German light cruisers were required to stay stationary for the first three turns (15 minutes) and were limited to an ordered speed of 10 knots on turn 4. German heavy ships were required to stay stationary for the first four turns and were limited to an ordered speed of 5 knots on turn 5 and 10 knots on turn 6. The Goben and the three battlecruisers of the 2nd BCS were limited to 22 knots due to maintenance issues.

Scale: 1/6000 miniatures, 500 yards/in ground scale.

Rules: Computer code in development.

Visibility 22,000 yards. Wind northeasterly at 25 knots. Seastate 3.

Status at the end of the game: RvS status

Damage output file: RvS output

Plot: RvS plot

The British enter Faxa Bay from the west. The German ships are anchored, facing into the wind.

The British CLs are heavily damaged, mostly by the 15cm guns of the German BCs.

Inflexible has blown up in the upper left, and the wrecks of two British CLs are in the lower right.

The game was stopped at this point due to the time and to avoid the long gunnery duel which would have followed.

Gutshot Game – The Above Average Seven

Saturday the local HMGS-South group played a game of Gutshot, in which seven tough gunslingers defended a western town from bandits. We played through the game twice. Each time the town was saved, but not without some highly cinematic deaths among the gunslingers. One player learned that playing with dynamite is dangerous.

The town-folk are hiding inside. A few will help out in the second game.

In the second game the bandits use more cover in their approach.

Bandits rush into a building. Four have a point blank fight with a gunslinger armed with two sawed-off shotguns. Nobody survives on either side.

One gunslinger is trapped under a fallen horse for a time.

The bandit leader, having sacrificed most of his men, leaves in a rush.

Rapid Fire – Eastern Front Battle

This weekend the local HMGS-South group played a Rapid Fire game. German and Soviet forces, mostly armor, race to take a crossroads and set up AT guns.

German tanks take up positions using the stone walls for cover.

Tigers lurk, looking for targets.

Soviets reach the road across from the German positions and a bloody exchange of fire begins.

Casualties and failed morale checks cause the advantage to shift back and forth.

The Soviets have the crossroads, but have few tanks left. Gunning down the last of the German AT crews wins them the game by a hair.

WWI Naval Battle – Skagerrak, July 1914

After the battle in the Fehmarn Belt, the surviving British ships passed through the Kattegat to the Skagerrak. There they were met by the other division of the 2nd Battle Squadron (four Orion class dreadnoughts) and the battlecruiser New Zealand (assigned to the 1st BCS at this time). This force was then intercepted by German ships from Wilhelmshaven.

Scale: 1/6000 miniatures, 500 yards/in ground scale.

Rules: Computer code in development.

Visibility 16,000 yards. Wind northerly at 16 knots. Seastate 3.

Status at the end of the game: belt4 IO

Damage output file: Belt4 output

Plot: belt4plot

View looking North. The fleets meet just north of Danish coastal waters. Several British ships have damage from the previous battle.

German CLs screen a TB attack and are destroyed. British maneuvers avoid torpedo hits.

The fleets race NW towards the Lion, heavily damaged in the previous battle.

As the range closes, both side accumulate damage. The wind favors the British.

The Lion is protected and the German fleet turns toward home. A course error sends the British DNs straight toward the German guns. The Orion blows up and the Monarch drops out of line.

The German intention to break off is thwarted since several DNs are slowed by flooding.