Raiders!

 

Fisherman Jock 'Kipper' McJock was used to the warships based in Loch Ewe putting to sea at all hours, wreaking havoc with his kipper shoals. But this blustery morn they were hammering the clappers 'fit tae burst' before they had even exited the breakwater! A proper flap was on, that was for sure!

My time on the late, lamented and most recent iteration of the Exeter was a happy one. But I think of the WW2 Exeter as an 'economy' model - a cut down County class with only six 8" guns instead of the usual eight:

The same could be said of the Arethusa class light cruisers - cut down versions of the Leander class, with only three turrets instead of four:

As they rang on full speed to meet the raiders, they were going to miss those extra guns!

Classifying the Lutzow is not easy. Initially launched as the Deutschland, the name was changed for political reasons, as its sinking might predict the fate of the nation it was named for...Called a Panzerschiff by the Kriegsmarine, a 'pocket battleship' by the Brits and an Armoured Cruiser by the USN. It was a modern build, but designed for commerce raiding rather than taking on other heavy cruisers...

Force 'E' disperses: the cruisers will from the anvil whilst most of the Tribals are set away to form the hammer...

In Nimitz, there are advantages from sailing in lines astern as formations, as you get to shoot as one...

But, as you are committed to a certain minimum movement depending on what speed you ring on...

I struggled to get the DD's all in a row. The German cruisers had no such troubles though!

After both forces hammered up or down the mineswept channel the forces made contact:

As the ships interweaved there was a sharp exchange of gunfire and a vortex of torpedoes!

At the cost of severe damage from gunfire from the Lutzow and Konigsberg, Zulu suceeded in putting a torpedo into Lutzow's engine rooms, reducing her buoyancy and speed! Huron also torpedoed a German destroyer, sending her to the bottom!

After another exchange of gunnery, which saw Afridi go down to Davy Jone's locker, Lutzow and consort broke through the melee:

The Royal Navy now had to some thinking to do:  transition into a stern chase using forrard guns only or rely on broadsides to prevent the Lutzow's escape?

Broadsides did penetrate her armour, but did no critical damage...

Back to the chase then!

But the British had one last trick up their sleeve - Galatea still had 3 torpedoes from her starboard tubes remaining. Her boilers glowed a dull red as she sped along the edge of the minefield...

Attempting to get a firing solution on the Lutzow before she disappeared into the North Atlantic wastes...all the while, Exeter pummeling away with her 8" broadsides!

But it was all to no avail - battered and slowed, Lutzow eluded the pursuit and slipped away into the murk. A German victory!

Battle of Jackson's Ferry

The Wollongong Wargamers were looking for a casual Valour & Fortitude ACW scenario to practice for our forthcoming Antietam mega game...Daniel offered to 'throw something together' and in the end came up with an intriguing and original scenario which was in every way 'Epic'!

The besieging Yankees were supported by the firepower of the USS Cincinnati: 

A City-class ironclad stern-wheel casemate gunboat capable of bringing to bear the equivalent firepower, in V&F terms, of two smoothbore field batteries upon the garrison of Jackson's Ferry.

However the Rebel defenders were well ensconced in the town and adjacent entrenchments, and had heavy firepower of their own - 2 siege mortars. 

The besiegers were drawn up in overwhelming strength...

Despite having to leave a skeleton cordon to warn of any Confederate relief attempts:

Which, after dicing for arrival time and route, were not long in coming, from all points of the compass!

As the Union player, I sensed I had little time - certainly none for any subtlety! In went the blue waves:

Meanwhile the Rebel relief forces were closing on all sides:

The thin blue line holding the outer perimeter intially held up well...

Long enough for the Union to gain a foot hold over and into the rebel entrenchments:

But the Rebel relief columns were pressing ever closer:

And the few guns and thin line of skirmishers had to fall back:

But with the town now mostly in Union hands...

The outer perimeter could be reinforced!

As dusk fell, so did the town. 

After some crafty card play doubling Union objective points for the town, and both sides having suffered brigade defeat points, it was a minor Union victory 5-4. Huzzah!