6 replies to this topic

[simanton]

GQ II battle 2009. "And now for something completely different...."

Attached Files

•  battleofoostende1940 (NXPowerLite).pdf   6.52MB   35 downloads

[simanton]

One of my infamous "oddball" actions giving Iron Duke a final curtain call in her gunnery training ship configuration. Hey! If you've got the model and it's armed, why not get her into a fight?

[Phil Callcott]

I enjoyed reading that.

Thanks, Phil

[W. Clark]

Great AAR. I agree, the Iron Duke needed to be pounding the PBS from the start. If I understand correctly the Germans had to close to do much to the Duke with their 11 inch while any hit from her 13.5 is really 2 hits because of EDR.
A massed topredo attack by the Brits is one way, but the Brits could have slowed down and got astern of the Duke behind smoke and ready to pounce on any German effort to close. That way the Germans closing have their fire is reduced to end on fire. Also the Brits are not exposed to German fire as long before they can attempt to torpedo the closing Germans.
Of course I'm thinking of this as if I was doing it with GQ 3.3 but it would probably work with any rules.
I'm surprised the Brit didn't realize after losing the first destroyer that he was going get beat piecemeal if he didn't change his tactics.

[simanton]

Sheldon Olds, the British commander, is building his experience with naval gaming but his learning curve was still climbing back in 2009. Having been impressed by the use of smokescreens in previous games (he commanded the Argentine cruisers in The Battle of The River Plate 2 1945) he hadn't gotten the hang of when to use them and when not to. His initial formation was due to a misinterpretation of the significance of the U-boat wireless transmission. It was meant to tip him off that the Germans were aware of his force and would intercept it, but he read it as meaning that U-boats were a primary threat! Rules were GQ II, I plan to phase in III after I've experienced it at Enfilade. With her main armor belt removed, Iron Duke was credited with CA armor.

[Frank]

"His initial formation was due to a misinterpretation of the significance of the U-boat wireless transmission. It was meant to tip him off that the Germans were aware of his force and would intercept it, but he read it as meaning that U-boats were a primary threat!"

That's a realistic representation of intelligence. You can have information, but you still have to guess the enemy's intentions. Very interesting engagement. Most of the time, smoke screens are used to avoid enemy gunfire, and cover withdrawal. Their use on the offensive is problematic, as you have seen. Wonder what the range would be on the Iron Duke's old guns. Thanks for posting this. Should get around to running the complete Battle of Lunga Point, then posting it.

[simanton]

Yes, that's how intel does/doesn't work! It may or may not be accurate (U-boat ID of Iron Duke as Repulse, for instance) and it may or may not be interpreted accurately! Which is why it can add a fun element to a game. I have seen no information indicating modification to Iron Duke's guns, mountings or cordite charges post WWI, so they should still have been 23,740 yards @ 20 degree elevation. As the game used GQ II rules with its generic ranges, they fell in the 13"-14" column with a maximum range of 144" with air spot required to shoot beyond 117" (For this game, Emerald's Walrus was not available for spot, recon only.) Spee/Scheer's 11" were 142" with air spot beyond 115". Although the Arados were up, the Germans used direct visual spot.