We played our first naval game in many years, using Minden Games' Graf Spee and Panzerschiffe models.
Bill commanded the pocket battleship Graf Spee, Tom had the cruiser Exeter and Dennis the light cruisers Ajax and Achilles. I umpired, this being our first try at the rules.
Contact was made off the coast of South America at about 24,000 yards. The Graf Spee was cruising from the northwest, while the Royal Navy ships were in line abreast heading north, Exeter on the left, Ajax in the center and Achilles on the right.
The Graf Spee turned to port and ran due east. The light cruisers moved to the northeast to head her off. The Exeter boldly made straight for the Graf Spee. Opening shots missed.
The Exeter closed rapidly and launched torpedoes at 10,000 yards. All missed. An 11 inch shell holed the Ajax amidships, slowing the light cruiser.
Exeter came up behind the Graf Spee and launched her last spread of torpedoes. Again all missed. One of Exeter's 8 inch shells struck the German's superstructure. Graf Spee responded by hitting the Exeter's bow, slowing down the British cruiser. The two ships ran due east at less than 5,000 yards range, while the light cruisers were at longer range to the south. Exeter and Graf Spee traded broadsides at close range, both missing. Then the Exeter scored a lucky hit on one of Graf Spee's turrets and ignited the charges in it. The turret was peeled open. Return fire holed the Exeter again and destroyed one of her turrets. The light cruisers closed in from the south, firing their guns and launching torpedoes – which missed.
The Graf Spee was holed again though she kept dodging torpedoes. A shell damaged the steering gear and the Exeter was unable to turn. In the excitement, the Graf Spee continued on a due east course, fighting all three British ships at once. I think she should have steered away from the Exeter and fought just the light cruisers. Exeter now scored another lucky hit, doing severe waterline damage and slowing the German ship down even further. The running fight continued for several turns, with damage on the Graf Spee and the Exeter mounting. The Graf Spee now turned to the west. Tom announced that a giant rubber band had repaired Exeter's rudder and brought her about, pursuing the Graf Spee. Eleven inch shells slammed into the Exeter, leaving her dead in the water. She scored a parting hit on the Graf Spee and then became a spectator of the fight. The light cruisers dodged around the German ship. Several torpedo attacks were launched, all missed. Gunfire continued, with some hits on the cruisers and some on the Graf Spee. The German ship was down below half speed, taking on water in several places.
It had become obvious that torpedoes were a close range weapon and too many attacks had been launched at long range. The Achilles now closed to within a thousand yards of the Graf Spee's stern, taking a turret hit and launching torpedoes. We all waited to see the result of this. Dennis rolled a three on two dice – the torpedoes must have been defective!
With all torpedoes gone, the light cruisers danced around the slow pocket battleship, trading shots at ranges under 5,000 yards. The Achilles was very lucky – a special damage hit from an eleven inch shell put her fire control out for a turn. Many of the other possible results would have sunk her or left her a burning wreck. The Graf Spee turned and got close enough to put a shell at 11,000 yards into the burning Exeter, knocking out yet another turret. The light cruisers now drew away.
The game was now to be decided by a single die roll – if the Graf Spee headed for Montevideo the British would win. If not, the Germans would count it a victory. Modifiers were -1 to the die roll for each hull or turret hit on the German, and +1 for the wrecked Exeter. The Graf Spee had too much damage – 5 hull hits and 4 turret hits, way more than she received in the actual battle. With total modifiers of -8 there was no reason to roll. The British won. The Exeter foundered and missed her 1942 date with Japanese aircraft. The light cruisers took off most of her crew.
We played 26 turns in about 2 and a half hours. I think we could play the turns faster next time. Also, the British now know about how many hits they need to inflict and could just break off the action sooner. The Exeter managed to get in close and do a lot of damage before being wrecked. Fortune favored the bold, this time. The dice gods smiled on Tom and his two special hits. Bill's dice weren't so good, especially his two special hits being rather lackluster. And Dennis' gunfire was at best average while the three rolled on the point-blank torpedo attack was incredible. I was amazed that none of his light cruisers were sunk. Aside from the dice, I think the Germans should have tried to shake the Exeter instead of running for mile due east at close range. But then the umpire always has 20/20 hindsight. We also won't need an umpire in the future, unless we have an extra hand.
The rules are simple, probably too simple for real naval buffs. But we are a bunch of landlubbers looking for a change from our usual powdered-wig battles and this did the trick.
goes to sea with the Terrain Mat.
