Fast Convoy ~ The Game

January 1st 1942. 

Fast convoy of 44 vessels using the Central Channel from Halifax NS to Liverpool.

HMS VERBENA is among the escorts, Commander David Chandler RNR, CO.

All crew rated as Skill 1.

1st Day: Depart Halifax in a violent Northeaster. Galley fires out. Convoy speed reduced due to weather. Verbena proves to be of sound construction. No mechanical issues reported, although like all of her class she'll 'roll on wet grass.'

First sector empty. 

2nd—6th Days: Violent storm continues. Conditions aboard increasingly miserable.

Second sector empty: 

Third sector, U-boat present but unable to attack due to weather conditions. 

4th—5th—6th Days weather continues to be foul. No encounters. Entering air gap.

7th Day: Weather improves to Snow. To boost morale after such a prolonged and miserable blow the Captain orders ‘Splice the Mainbrace.’ Crew mood lifted.

8th Day: Weather continues to improve, visibility poor.

9th Day: Foggy conditions. Night, with a waning half-moon. 

U-boat encountered on the surface at Long range. Corvette fails to detect it. 

U-boat attacks and sinks 8,000 ton MV Empire Horizon. U-boat sighted through drifting snow at medium range.

Verbena engages with 4” gun. On the second round being fired a bright yellow flash penetrates the drifting snow and an explosion is heard.

A temporary break in the snow enables lookouts to see U-boat crash diving. ASDIC contact made at close range.

Verbena drops depth charges. Oil observed on surface. Second attack made. U-boat forced to the surface, crew abandon ship. Submarine fatally damaged, sinks before an attempt to gather intelligence can be made. Prisoners taken, divided among other escorts.

10th Day: Weather worsens to violent storm, U-boat present but unable to attack due to conditions.

11th Day: Weather improves to heavy swell and slowly drifting fog.

12th Day: Weather improves but visibility still poor.

13th Day: Weather improves to good. Visibility excellent, sea-state calmer. Lookouts ordered to extra vigilance.

14th Day: Weather still good.

15th Day: Oil slick sighted. Verbena dispatched to investigate. Straggler 6,000 ton tanker MV Bainbridge sighted. A torpedo hit registered only a partial explosion, breaching compartment but failing to ignite fuel. Bainbridge placed under escort.

16th Day: Enter Liverpool roads. Prisoners sent ashore.

Commander Chandler awarded Distinguished Service Cross for sinking of U-boat. Preparations made for next convoy.

* * * *

So went my first game of Corvette Command. I enjoyed it, especially the feeling of tension I got when it came time to turn over the next sector of the route to see what awaited my sturdy ship. Verbena proved exceptionally lucky this first time out. Not only did she and her charges avoid two lurking U-boats due to the foul weather, the one enemy submarine that succeeded in making an attack was hunted down and confirmed destroyed. Not only that, the Random Event roll turned up a straggling ship from a previous convoy which a die roll confirmed to be a vital tanker thought sunk. 

This game looks set to be a keeper. I'm looking forward to seeing how Commander Chandler and company fare as the war progresses.

Corvette Command

A snowy weekend, I'm between other jobs, we're awaiting arrival of a new kitten to our family... Time to check out the Corvette Command rules.

The North Atlantic awaits...

This'll be my first game, so it's going to be a learning curve. We'll see how they play.

Still around...

...just not doing much gaming or model making right now. A combination of personal stuff, post-holiday blues and a busy spell of writing has left me with little time and less inclination for hobby stuff. I do have an idea for a Lion Rampant game involving the terrain of the recent Dux Brit. game. The free Corvette Captain rules on Jim Jackaman's Tea and a Wad blog also tempted me, so I downloaded the set to try out one of these days.

How we all feel...

Ridge and Furrow project ~ first step

Since my First Barons War figures saw action this year after thirty or so years languishing in the lead pile, I thought it high time I made some 15mm medieval scenery to match.

The ridge and furrow method of agriculture was one feature common to most of medieval Britain and lasted until the advent of large-scale field enclosures. Serfs living on their lord's land were given a ridge in a manorial field on which to grow crops. The ridges with their accompanying furrows were used year after year, and often handed down through families - with the lord's consent. The system made a permanent mark on the British landscape, to the delight of students of medieval history and the lamentation to those of older periods because of the destruction the ploughs caused to older archaeological deposits - especially Roman mosaics.

I had a piece of large corrugated cardboard which, when stripped of one side of paper, is about the right scale for the ridge and furrows. The tattered bits of paper will disappear when I apply the filler and paint.

Step two, reinforcing the back with strips of wood to prevent warping. 

I've used a piece of card to cover the wood strips while they dry, and a large heavy book to press it all down. More on this project in the next few days.

In the meantime my wife and I came across this charming little chap at a fund-raising sale yesterday.

He's not a nutcracker, but is in that style. The legend on his beer stein is Löwenbrau, Munchen, so I believe it's a promotional piece for the brewery. Inside is this rather alarming spike arrangement. Can anyone suggest what it might be for?

Raid on the Village ~ Part Two - The End

The raid on Coccium in Carnutii continues, and it's not going the Saxon's way...

The raiders begin to retire with their spoils.

Lord Cynbel the Magnificent leads the Companions in a fierce charge that arrives like a thunderbolt amongst the startled Saxons.

A group of looters is sent reeling back as their comrades slope away across the field with the goodies. Cedric the Quiet attempts a counter-attack to pin the Britons...

...but it fails.

Ebba orders a general withdrawal.

Cynbel the Magnificent isn't done yet. Close pursuit makes the Saxons jittery.

Thanks to a rare piece of accurate shooting from the British archers, Saxon Lord Wigmund takes an arrow in the leg. The Briton Militares close into combat with the loot-burdened Saxons.

The result is predictably bloody. Saxons fall in droves beneath the vengeful spears of the Britons. Hampered by his wound, Lord Wigmund breathes his last.

The Saxons' force morale plunges below zero and they break. The death of Wigmund following the terrible casualties inflicted on the Saxons during the raid was too much for the Sea Wolves. Dropping the loot they run for their lives.The Romano-Britons pursue, driving the raiders from their lands.

* * * *

Gaius Menusius scored heavily in the post-game wind up. This takes into account the prestige of his victory, recovery of the loot, the casualties inflicted on the Saxons in battle and during the pursuit, and the spoils gained from their bodies. Gaius is able to replace all his casualties right away, replace the losses from the summer's campaign during the down-time of winter AND score a thief's hoard in wealth. Thanks to the scale of his victory the icing on the cake is Gaius being named Menusius the Proud.

Ebba retreats to his hall, to rebuild his forces and his reputation over the winter months. His men aren't happy with him, but he's already paid off his king, and has a modicum of wealth to spend. He vows to avenge himself come the spring. For now, both sides are in winter quarters and the land of Britannia is quiet.

Raid on the Village ~ Part one

Ebba felt confident as his warriors advanced on the village. Then the early morning mist burned away, showing the British on a hilltop overlooking the target. Their watchtowers must've sighted him and gave warning. Still, with judicious deployment of his hearth guard he could face-off against his enemy whilst the warriors got down to looting.

Britons to the left, Saxons to the right.

The warriors enter the village while Ebba takes the hearth guard to face down the Britons.

Things aren't going well for the British - but the Companions are lurking close by...

Saxon warriors get down to good dishonest looting, but come up dry, even in the church.

Both sides take and give shrewd blows. The British milites retire, allowing the Companions to surge forward to deadly effect. The Saxon group has found loot in the next house!

The Companions make short work of their opponents.

Although his warriors are now heading off with the loot, the British milites have re-entered the fray, his hearth guard are decimated, and Ebba's now seriously worried...

Raid on the Village ~ Set-up

Murmurs in the Saxon ranks as to whether he's too rash for competent leadership have Ebba concerned. As a consequence Ebba made some slight adjustments to his raiding force, which were required by the loss of his Champion, Oeglath, and the late-demented un-lamented Oeric the Insane, as well as a number of warriors.

A newcomer to Britain joined the warband in the shape of Cedric the Quiet. A peasant-born fellow from northern Germany, he's 36 and of average build. Cedric does have a quiet air of authority about him, having earned it during the internecine warfare of his homeland. Faced with unemployment and penury he crossed the sea to find service with the new warlord, and perhaps some land to call his own. Appreciating the need for a capable leader, Ebba placed Cedric in command of the warriors.

Stepping up to replace the mighty Oeglath (or did he not run fast enough when called upon?) is Berhtulf. It remains to be seen if he can earn the title of Champion.

So, on to the first deployment for the Saxons, who made a good beginning, advancing quite a ways toward the village. Ebba kept hard to the left of the area and has pushed his bowmen out front, the better to interfere with British deployment.

I'm pleased with the way the bases and scenery merge with the newly-painted ground cloth. Using the same paint for all has paid off.

 

Romano-British deploy. Gaius Menusius stands near the dolmen, contemplating the field of battle.

The post-Roman period was one of deep superstition. As a house rule for the game I declared any group or formation nearing the ancient dolmen will give either a +1 to force morale for the British (fighting for the bones of their fathers and the temples of their gods), or a -1 to the Saxons (fighting on land which is not theirs may very well anger the spirit residing in the dolmen). 

Through the magic of the die roll the R-Bs appeared right beside it. Inspired by this Gaius decided to make a speech. Added to the dolmen's effect it boosted his personal status by one, and earned the R-B another Fate card. After his near-Pyrrhic victory of the summer, are things looking up for the captain of the Home Team?

Across the valley Ebba spied the approaching British and gave a speech of his own. It steadied his men (increasing the force morale by one) and improved his own status (by one). The stage is set... 

Ground cloth in action - Set up

It's time to revisit the Dux Britanniarum campaign and the final action of 472AD, this time using the new cloth with Autumnal scenery added. 

From the Saxon entry point. The green die marks the approximate position the Saxons will reach by the time the British appear.

From the Romano-British end. The red die marks the entry point

Having failed to conquer the Roman-British province of Durobrivae, Ebba the Saxon Warlord has decided on a late season raid on the village of Coccium in Carnutii. He hopes to lay his hands on some significant loot, especially from the church of St. Aimless the Confused. It'll keep his warband quiet after the grumbling that ensued from their defeat in pitched battle during the summer.

Roman-British General Gaius Menusius finally got his game on and handed the invading Saxons a defeat this summer. Unfortunately it cost him significant losses in his own army. Still, he got word of the Saxon raid in plenty of time and has managed to march his army to the scene to catch the raiders in the act. Maybe, just maybe, he'll put an end to that pestiferous Ebba once and for all...

In game terms it's not shaping up too well for Ebba & Co. They've failed to steal much of a march on the Roman-British, and Gaius Menusius is close enough to the village to put a major crimp in Ebba's looting.

I hope to play out the game over the weekend. Watch this space...

Gaming Cloth Upgrade ~ 40 shades of green

The first go-around to upgrade my gaming cloth is done, and I'm pleased with the result.

The craft paint sticks well to the cloth, and the materiel wicks the pigment far wider than expected, giving a lot more subtle shades of green. I used a thick stippling brush for the job as it gets the paint deep into the cloth. 

As it stands the cloth's usable now, but I think I'll give it another go-over with paint using a sponge to remove and distinct edges and vary it even more.