Sunday, November 18, 2012

Dogger Bank-Memoir of Battle at Sea

One of the indelible images of the first World War is the photograph of the SMS Blucher sinking at the Battle of Dogger Bank. Tonight I refought the battle using Bob Cordery's Memoir of Battle at Sea rules, with a few modifications.

First, i used the same ratings for all of the battle-cruisers involved in the action . They were given a speed of 4 hexes per turn, a gun range of 10 hexes, flotation value of 12, and a critical point of 4. I also allow capital ships an 'anti- torpedo boat" fire range of 4 hexes. This has no bearing on the use of the main battery.

I restricted the guns on torpedo boats and destroyers to targets of "light cruiser' and smaller  classes.

I tried an experimental 'critical damage' rule. It is this. any "6" rolled against a ship is re-rolled. A 1-4 is still two flotation hits. A "5" is one flotation hit and a loss of one gun range/dice. A " 6" is a loss of one flotation factor and a loss of one hex of speed.



The battle opened with the British battle-cruisers gaining on the Germans. the German light cruisers and torpedo boats fanned out to set up a screen.One light cruiser is hit early.
 

Seydlitz leads the way home, followed by Moltke, Derflinger, and the armored cruiser Blucher.

"Yes, I have too much stuff on my shelves"

The light cruisers and torpedo boats form a scrum. The Germans try valiantly to slow down the British ships.


Hit by shells from the German battle line, then torpedoed, HMS Lion sinks suddenly.


Harwich force arrives, to sink or chase off the German predators. Tiger is also hit, while landing shots on Derflinger.


Tiger must leave the action, badly damaged. Harwich force begins to close in on the damaged and slowly moving Blucher.


Princess Royal, New Zealand, and Indomitable continue to pound the German ships.


Blucher slides beneath the waves. She was not fast enough to escape the British, and under-gunned to stand against them.


The British send a late salvo, sinking the Derflinger, as well. The other two German capital ships cleared the bar and escaped.


German losses were severe. One battle cruiser, one armored cruiser, two light cruisers, and seven torpedo boats. The British lost flag-ship Lion, one light cruiser, and three destroyers. Two battle-cruisers and three light cruisers were also severely damaged, and the British would be without them for a number of months.


GAME NOTES. The game was played on a 6x4 foot table. It took only thirty minutes to play out the action.

The critical damage rule worked well in this game, with the emphasis on a speedy get-a-way for the Germans, and a rapid pursuit for the British. Losing a point of speed was fatal to two German vessels.

I cut the number of actual destroyers and torpedo boats in half, and still had a table full of them. Next time I run this one, I will use a 1-3 ratio.

Next Week: A couple of book reviews.

15 comments:

  1. Interesting post Steven.
    As I write I can see a model of the Blucher made by a German pow out of scrap which was given to a member of my family for some kindness during the Great War.It takes pride of place on my bookshelf.

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    1. Hi Alan,
      I would love to see a photo of that model. Stories like yours are a reminder that even in the horror of war, humanity still could shine through.
      -Steve

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    2. Will post apiccie on my blog later in the week if i can.
      By the way do you know by any chance where I would get a crew/survivor list fom the Blucher?
      Alan

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  2. Looks like an fun game - I trust that Admiral Beatty was able to transfer his flag before the Lion sank!

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    1. Hi Stryker,
      First Rule of MoBaS: All games are fun games!
      Any reasonably balanced match-up will provide a good session.
      Admiral Beatty was seen after the battle, looking less debonair than usual....
      -Steve

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  3. Hi Steven,

    Wow! Great action and seeing the table full of your fantastic looking models is very inspiring indeed! The rules amendments are a neat idea and seemed to add a degree of flavour to the drama.

    Great job! I am going to be interested to see how you would fit Jutland on a 6 x 4 though!....;-)

    All the best,

    DC

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    1. Hi David,
      I had tried the battle earlier, with ONLY the battle-cruisers. I was really excited to see what a melee the smaller vessels could provide.
      I am seriously looking at buying several sheets of 4x8 foot marine plywood, painting and grid-marking them and playing outdoors next summer.
      BTW, final paintwork on your ship will take place today.
      -Steve

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  4. Steven,

    You have taken MOBAS to new heights! I never expected that it would work for such a large action, but with your rules changes it certainly does.

    Lovely models that have the 'look' of the ones that Fred Jane used ... but larger enough to see what they are and for each to have some individuality.

    A great battle report.

    All the best,

    Bob

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    1. Thanks, Bob,
      An honest, streamlined system can take a few tweaks without breaking. MoBaS does what Morschauser does; provide a game that is fast, fun, and has enough sense of "realism", without burying you in trivial detail. It is a reminder of why we loved our model soldiers and ships even as children. We wanted to be able to see "what would happen, if...." but had to finish between dinner and bedtime!
      There are times i wish I had made the ships about half that size, and could use a much smaller hex, but as i get older, I really appreciate being able to see what I am moving on the table!
      -Steve

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  5. Excellent action and I too would love to see you fight Jutland out on your table!
    Jeff

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  6. Steven

    Great stuff! I encourage an outdoor game - but use heavy sea mats!

    Cheers
    PD

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  7. Steven

    Because I'm loving your blog, tag you're it...

    http://singlehandedadmiral.blogspot.ca/2012/11/liebster-blog.html#.ULJSt6VgPzI
    Cheers
    PD

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    1. Peter, I am deeply honored. Tomorrow I will sit down and decide who my five choices will be.
      -Steve

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  8. Inspired by this blog I've created a page for experimenting with the MoBas rules, see here for information:
    http://3by2tactics.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/the-electronic-portable-wargame-at-sea.html

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    1. Pete, this looks really interesting. as soon as i finish remodelling my kitchen, I am going to spend about eight hours playing with this.
      -Steve

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