GARDEN NAVAL ACTION

                     DOMINION WARGAME.... AMERICAN and SPANISH FLEETS ENGAGE

On the First of May an American fleet comprising warships, gunboats, and transporters clashed with a similar sized fleet belonging to the Spanish Empire. The outcome of this action would decide the fate of Savannah, Georgia. Note, all firing in this game was alternate, rather than simultaneous. 

The Spanish fleet at anchor, but ready for action.

                                                                 THE ACTION BEGINS 

  

Residents in the city were awoken in the early morning to booms far out at sea. Some claim to have also seen flashes of light, although this is doubtful. 

To the surprise of the Americans, the Spanish had received word of the Chesapeake departure from their spy network (D5), and their fleet was fully prepared. Indeed, the Spanish lookouts were first to sight their enemies (Dice). and their guns opened up at full range. 

On the first exchange, the Spanish scored a hit on the American flagship Congress,  knocking out its engine! An impressive start.

In the second round, the Spanish hit the American riverboat and a gunboat, but neither hits on their hulls were effective.  The Americans did the same to the Black Monitor. There was a lot of this going on.

In the third round, the Spanish hit the Congress again, but the shell bounced off! But another on a gunboat was designated an infrastructure hit, which is deducted from the Weight, or Lives.

But in the fourth round the Americans took out one of the guns on the Black Monitor. I should mention, both sides were largely aiming at their opponents flag ships. In the fifth round, despite being reduced to five shots, the Spanish knocked out the riverboat gun. Nothing in round six, and the hits in round seven failed to cause damage, they should have gone for infrastructure! In round eight, an infrastructure hit on the riverboat, but more importantly they hit the Congress, and took out one of her guns. The Americans were now down to four working guns.

On round nine the riverboat infrastructure was hit again. Rounds ten to twelve were ineffective. So the Spanish fleet was more than holding its own.

                                                                            PART TWO

Nighttime obliged both sides to cease firing. The American fleet remained stationary, not least because their flagship's engine was knocked out, and would require towing. The Spanish, however, used the cover of dark to approach a short distance closer.

No sooner had the morning rays of the sun exposed the ships than the second day of action commenced. The Americans being first to open fire this time (Dice).

Nothing of importance occurred during the first three exchanges. But in the fourth round, the Americans silenced the second gun of the Black Monitor. Both sides were now down to four working guns. 

In round six, the Americans scored a hit on a gunboat. Choosing the Hull, they threw a D6, and the magazine exploded!

In the seventh round, the Spanish commander sent messages to his transport ships to steam south at full speed. But the Spanish had some satisfaction is seeing the American riverboat obliged to retire. With three infrastructure hits and no working gun, it was unwise to remain. The final five rounds were largely misses or ineffective.

With this second day of action concluded, the Americans discovered on the third day that the Spanish fleet had gone. The Americans had won.

                                                                              Result

One American ship was badly damaged, one ship slightly damaged. The flagship engine would need replacing. Unable to pursue, they docked in Savannah for repairs. The Spanish flagship is unable to fire, and a gunboat was sunk with all hands lost, they returned to St.Augustine. 

                                                                           Conclusion

While the game played perfectly well, I missed having an amphibious dimension to the game. Some land batteries, some smaller craft attempting to land troops, and a town to capture would have been more exciting to me. I also feel, with hindsight, too many hits were wasted hoping for major Gun or Hull impacts, so only one ship was seriously threatened by the accumulated hits on the infrastructure. But, that was my choice, another player would have played differently. As mentioned, it was fun to play but visually not worth a gallery of photos, in my opinion. Still, it was a treat to use the matchstick firing cannon on some toy boats on a sunny day in the garden.

                                                                              Footnote

This game was a success, and it has stimulated me to expand the number of figures I can utilise to man each ship. This mainly involves reducing the size and repainting bases, but requires about twenty-four figures for each nationality, although officer uniforms are fairly generic for all nations. 

                                                                     DOMINION NEWS

Two American armies are now approaching St.Augustine. It is very likely that their navy will follow. A siege of that city is very likely. A truce has been confirmed in Canada between the British Empire and the United States, the conflict will now be fought between politicians. The Royal Navy has informed the United States that the Chesapeake, New York, Rhode Island, and Boston blockades are suspended. No one knows what the French are doing.                                                       

                                                            STATE OF THE NAVIES IN 1914

HISTORICAL NOTE. I came across this chart giving a return of ships operating with the principal navies in 1914. It really does show just how powerful the Royal Navy was. 

                                                                       PLEASE NOTE

I'm in the process of putting my property on the market in a few days, I just can't handle the large garden, have finished updating the property, and a family member works in a neighbouring town. It would be nice for him to be situated there. This will considerably reduce future posts until all, hopefully, has been sorted. (Thanks Brad, MJT, Donnie, Roger, Graham, and others, for your blog interest.... will try to post occasionally.)

                                                                                MGB