Tuesday, May 6, 2025

War of Spanish Succession Naval @ 1/4800

Last Sunday (27th April that is), I headed to Julian's for another day of wonderful boating. This time it was a test run using his recently acquired and painted 1/4800th ships for actions of the early 18thC, War of Spanish Succession in particular.

We had intended to try out the rules 'General at Sea' (circa 2003), but a read through highlighted several deficits in relation to the way we want to represent these actions.
In the introduction, the author states, “In developing these rules I have drawn on lessons from the more recent spate of land rules that have used brigades as the basic unit and have applied them to naval warfare.” This was ominous.

Reading on, “Each stand represents between 3–4 rated vessels or 4–6 galleys.” Oh dear. This is a completely arbitrary grouping of ships; besides the fact that we definitely want a set that uses ships at 1:1.

It continues. Stands have a combat value based on the ships in the group. Not too bad, I guess, but a level of abstraction that we do not need?

Command and control is by command points. You guessed it, different types of manoeuvres cost different numbers of points. The speed of said manoeuvres is determined by aspect to the wind (yippee, some nautical flavour at last).

Combat “…reflects firing of guns, and at close range, both firing and boarding.” What?!
So, Julian made the executive decision that we'd use the tried and true "Grand Fleet Actions in the Age of Sail" and see what they produce in comparison to Napoleonic naval. He had been seeking an alternative set of rules simply to have a difference for a different period. Perhaps that difference could be obtained with the same 'horse'?
The actions of this period were MASSIVE, hundreds of ships per side, so for this test Julian set up a substantial, small action with five squadrons at sea.
Two squadrons of Danish at top, two of English in the centre and one of French lower left of photo. Positions after four moves. Wind coming from the right (West), so the English were initially running close to the wind, but would have the wind advantage for the entire action.
By turn 8, the Danish (right) and English squadrons had contacted. French a long way off.
First broadside. I mis-timed my attempt to cross the Danish line, so poor little 'Hampshire' copped it, losing some guns/crew (one gunnery factor).
The action developed, Rooke's lead squadron running down the Danish port, while Hopsonn took his squadron to their starboard.
Broadsides a plenty! Several Danish ships came under fire from two opponents.  The 'Droning Lvisa' tested for morale, but her remaining, brave crew did not strike, despite substantial damage and loss of crew-mates.
The fleets drew apart, save for a few parting shots (which we did not bother to calculate).
Another view of the same. Being too far away and at a disadvantage with the wind, the French fleet (top right) arrived after the action had ended. Likely a good thing for them as their small ships would not have fared well.

It was a fine little action, a good work out for the rules and enjoyable to boot!

"Grand Fleet Actions..." came through again. Sufficient 'nautical bits' to make them worthwhile using, picking up the difference 'tween the smaller, less well armed ships of this period and those of the later century/Napoleonic era and easily able to work through an action of 11 turns with 23 ships in just a few hours [we spent much of the time discussing, musing, checking details of ships, actions and commanders]. After three turns of intense exchange of broadsides the ships were damaged, but none had struck and most were still 'going concerns'. Had this been a Napoleonic action, several ships would have been dismasted, likely at least two struck and generally more damage and mayhem.

Another wonderful day and game. Thanks so much Julian and to you both for your always marvellous hospitality.

About the game

Rules: Grand Fleet Actions in the Age of Sail, edition 2.1, 2013
Nominal scale: turns represent ~10 minutes, ground scale 1/4800 (1 mm to 4.8 m)
Ships: 1/4800 scale Tumbling Dice

Next up, a Second World War surface action, perhaps testing a few sets and even a couple of actions? I will find out more on the 18th!

Meanwhile, I have succumbed completely and have unleashed my latent and long-held interest in carrier actions of the Pacific/north-east Indian Oceans.

Unpainted ships on a white ocean. Shokaku in the foreground, supported by Yahagi to her port and Kiso to starboard (not the greatest choices for supporting ships but, devotees close your eyes, I'll happily utilise them as generic light cruisers). At the rear, HMAS Australia, adapted from the kit of HMS Kent. Next builds in boxes in the background. The splashes of paint are some undercoat slapped on (literally) for those areas that would be difficult to access once built and to provide some 'stickiness' so that main guns can turn (which seems to have worked).

I have really enjoyed making these kits, the first ships that I have built in some 45 years, and am looking forward to the others. I used to make a lot of kits as a young fella (mainly planes of the Second World War, plus a few jets, the odd ship). Five years ago I made my first planes in years (First World War models) and enjoyed it immensely. I have not got back to paint these nor to build the others that I purchased back then, but am spurred on to do so; once this spate of ships are completed. That will be a little while.

Even though I am focussing on the carriers, plus, perhaps, a few destroyers, they have already 'exploded' in number. Another six are on the way this week. There won't be any more until kits for the early Japanese carriers are re-stocked (scheduled for August). I have four of them and four of the remaining later war carriers in mind(!). That will mean that, between us, we'll have the Japanese covered, as well as the early US, but leaves the numerous Essex-class plus several US light carriers. (Julian is focussing on surface ships, but is also looking at the Med. and Atlantic!). All in good time and after we have honed rules/a system to re-fight the actions, using 1/700 for the 'zoomed in' bits and Julian's 1/6000 for a larger representation.

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

Sink Lady Lex!

No, not a game of the 1942 Battle of the Coral Sea but an extracted scenario based on the attack on an isolated USS Lexington by carrier-based aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy. 

Game 1: USS Lexington seconds before being attacked by five Nakajima B5N ‘Kate’ torpedo bombers (to port and starboard) and three Aichi D3A ‘Val’ dive bombers coming from aft.

Battle of the Coral Sea infographic from Naval History Heritage and Command

Julian devised it as a test game, or games, of three potential sets of rules to allow us to stage refights of such actions as those dramatic days of 4–8 May '42.

The concept is simple. Movements of fleets, searches, launching of planes occur off-board while air attacks, air to air, surface actions (if any), even landings on islands are conducted on the tabletop. Our test of "Scramble!" showed us that Julian has found a set suitable for any air to air combat that we may wish to represent. Yesterdays mission: (hopefully) to determine the same for air to surface actions. Stephen joined Julian and me for the day's fun.

First candidate, "World War Two Naval Wargame Rules" by R A Ellard and J E Hammond.

I immediately warmed to theses since they were published in 1977 by Davco Publications so had a similar layout, vintage and approach as Action Under Sail.

'Lady Lex' opened up with her anti-aircraft batteries, the first step in the air to surface section of the rules.

The 'Kate's launched their torpedos.

Good shooting by Stephen destroyed one ‘Kate’,

...and damaged another.

'Boom!' One of the five torpedos strikes home.

The Lexington's anti-aircraft fire missed the three 'Val's, but they in turn missed the carrier. My dice rolling had been below par, so I was satisfied with a net of one hit to the carrier for 1.5 planes lost, although Stephen managed to stop the flooding within two turns. More importantly, it took a little bit to work through the rules, but after this single action we were comfortable with them, so they were the 'ones to beat'.

Second candidate, "Stations Manned and Ready II" by by Andrew Finch and Alan Butler

We were hopeful for these since we already have "Grand Fleet Actions in the Age of Sail", from the same 'stable', as a go-to set to recreate large fleet actions with tall ships in a single session ("Action Under Sail" being for such actions played over a longer period and with more devoted 'sailors in miniature'). Not so on this occasion.

They are of the same ilk as "Grand Fleet Actions..." so would be ideal if you want to represent a World War II naval battle on a single table or few tables and play it out in that manner, but lacked the detail for the approach that we want to take. We may have a go with them at a later stage should we wish to try a more standard tabletop game, but they were not the horse for the current course.

Third candidate, "War at Sea World War II Naval Rules" by an author whose name I did not note and cannot find online, so apologies to him.

I read the appropriate section of these while Julian was working through the mechanics of  "Stations Manned and Ready II". Initially I thought that they would exceed "World War Two Naval Wargame Rules", then was frustrated trying to find how to do an attack with torpedos, eventually working out that it was in an earlier section of ship to ship (ship-borne torpedos), so we plunged in...

We swapped roles. Stephen took the attacking Japanese and I tried my hand at running Lexington's defences.

An Aichi D3A ‘Val’ coming in to attack (Stephen's photo).

It was interesting. Although five years newer than "World War Two Naval Wargame Rules", these were more difficult to work through, required much back and forth through the pages and looking up of information that was needed for the calculations, e.g. the rate of fire of anti-aircraft guns, that was not provided with the rules. We got there in the end.

Stephen performed much better than I had. Two successful torpedo strikes (amidships and to the bow), plus two hits from the dive bombers to the rear of the flight deck. Flooding galore and likely a command to abandon ship and scuttle the old lady.

This artistic representation of the actual action by K. Nakamura looks pretty similar (public download from Naval History and Heritage Command, original "Property of Air Force Historical Division -Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio")

So, "War at Sea World War II Naval Rules" produced the result closest to the historical attack.
The Lexington was less fortunate. Larger and less manoeuvrable than the Yorktown, the carrier was pinned by a well coordinated attack by six aircraft, three converging from either bow. At 11.20 am she was hit twice on the port side, forward and amidships. Dive-bombing was less successful, only two light bombs hitting the ship although near misses buckled her hull plates. (https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/coral_sea/doc)
Despite this outcome in their favour they came a clear second as they were much more cumbersome to use. The chances of a hit were little different from "World War Two Naval Wargame Rules"; if I had rolled what Stephen did I would have achieved the same result. This is pleasing given the verisimilitude of the outcome. Importantly, we could envisage coming back to Ellard and Hammond's rules in six months and being able to pick them up again quickly. "War at Sea World War II Naval Rules" would not be a easy, for no better simulation or experience as a game—save for the added 'excitement' of a test for duds in a torpedo attack (which is included in the chance to hit in Ellard and Hammond's set).

So "World War Two Naval Wargame Rules" were the clear winner.

Another great game and day exploring a representation of history on the tabletop. Thanks so much for putting on the game Julian, to you and Gowri for your wonderful hospitality and to Stephen for making the trek out to join us.

I have resisted the urge to have a go at World War Two carrier actions myself, and am fortunate that I am able to help Julian to scratch that itch for the two of us, and Stephen as well. He has done it now though.
Julian: I am keen as ever to have a go at recreating Coral Sea, Midway and Eastern Solomons on the table top, so will assist you in any way possible to make it happen! 😀

Game Equipment

Ship and planes, 1/700 plastic kits.

Rules

Ellard RA & Hammond JE (1977) World War Two Naval Wargame Rules. Davco Productions. Skytrex reprint 1983 https://skytrex.com/products/copy-of-wwi-wargames-rules-roger-edward-bigg

Finch A & Butler A (2016). Stations Manned and Ready II. Naval Wargames Rules for the period 1885 to 1945 using ships and aircraft. A and A Game Engineering. http://www.aandagames.co.uk/smr2.html

War at Sea World War II Naval Rules (1982)

Further information

Australian War Memorial 'Battle of the Coral Sea, 4-8 May 1942' https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/coral_sea/doc

Eyre, DC. Aeropedia. The Encyclopedia of Aircraft in Australia and New Zealand https://aeropedia.com.au/

Naval Historical Society of Australia 'The Battle of the Coral Sea' https://navyhistory.au/the-battle-of-the-coral-sea/

Naval History and Heritage Command 'Battle of the Coral Sea Combat Narratives' (reproduction of declassified U. S. Confidential and British Secret documentshttps://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/b/battle-of-the-coral-sea-combat-narrative.html

The National World War II Museum 'The Battle of Coral Sea: A Retrospective' https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/battle-coral-sea-retrospective