On the eve of the 217th anniversary of Trafalgar, the Wollongong Wargamers just had to bring out the wooden ships and iron men!
 |
| The Combined Fleet (Franco-Spanish) |
But still, playing Trafalgar in an evening? Surely the triumph of hope over experience!
We'd played a practice Black Seas game the previous week so we should at least get the fleets into contact and allow Nelson to close and bring on his desired 'pell-mell' battle and break up the Combined Fleet's line.
The British Lee and Weather Columns made their stately approach...
But instead of heading directly for the Combined Fleet to break the line, they turned down wind for a dead run, increasing from Battle Sails to Full Sails. There wasn't much wind about, but they weren't going to leave any to waste!
For their part, the Vanguard squadron of the Combined Fleet knew they had to act fast if they were not to sail off the edge of the world. The turned into the wind, preparatory to taking skill checks to tack through the wind...
Only the Achille, 74, had the seamanship skills to make it. However the main body distracted attention from this embarrassment with an opening volley of 32 pounders!
The lead ships of each Royal Navy column responded in kind!
With veteran crews and the standard +1 for being British, the RN's gunnery wrought dreadful devastation...
But whatever skills the Combined Fleet lacked, resulting in an increasingly disordered line, there was no shortage of courage!
Frustrated by the light airs, and anxious to bring on a pell-mell action, the frigates that made up the rear of both British Columns wore out of line to speedily do battle on their own account...
In the scenario the wind never changes direction, but even so the chaos in the Combined Fleet's line meant for some complex reckoning for attitude to wind!
As the range closed destruction was general: superior British gunnery was to an extent matched by the sheer firepower erupting from the Spanish First Rates!
As Caesar/Lord Nelson managed to bring on his pell-mell action, we were running out of time...
But the Combined Fleet team took heart that Bailey's gunnery started a fire aboard Victory!
Trafalgar really needs an all day game to do it justice, but this was a fun way to commemorate the Immortal Memory!
A lovely looking game and wonderful collection of ships. I don't know how often wind changes direction in real life, but can see how wind change can bring a strong dynamic to these games, but the 'no wind change' condition for the scenario seems a fair one.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind comment Norm. Yes obviously the wind remained westerly historically, but unfortunately the players know this. The perennial wargaming conundrum!
DeleteA cracking game to behold, but not a period I have much knowledge of to be honest, but I do appreciate some fine models, which were certainly on display here.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Steve, very kind.
DeleteWow, amazing game, but ooof! how rich are you guys?
ReplyDeleteThanks mate - well these collections have taken a few years to gather!
DeleteOne of the beauties of Black Seas is a fleet really doesn't cost that much to build or take that long to paint, especially in comparison to other wargames. The plastic 3rd rate squardron box is great value and a joy to assemble.
DeleteHearts of oak, fantastic looking naval game. Makes me want to rejoin the RN, sadly a bit over the hill now. Thanks for posting an excellent blog.
ReplyDeleteBZ that man.
Willz.
Thanks Willz much appreciated shippers!
Delete🤣 "Scientifically bathtubbed," love it! Great report and pics as ever Sparker and fun to sail the high seas once again!
ReplyDeleteThanks mate - yes just cram everything on the table! Your ships in particular are too nice to leave in the box. Glad you enjoyed it
DeleteI had great time and a fun game. The fleets looked just wonderful on the table
ReplyDeleteThanks Darren - glad you enjoyed it!
Delete