"Why naval wargaming?" Topic

Thank you for resurrecting the thread. For me, I think it can be attributed to my early success at a wargaming convention 40 years ago.
I can still recall I was running an R-class BB assigned to escort a convoy when we encountered a German force that included Bismarck. For a while I was successful at inflicting damage without receiving any in return. Of course, my luck eventually ran out, but it was fun while it lasted.
After that, I think it was the fact that the ships were so distinguishable with their own history. They were not 1 of 100s (or even 1000s).
They were the Bismarck, the Hood, the Yamato, the Arizona, the Yorktown, each with a unique history.
And then, of course, the models just look cool in formation.

When I originally posted on this thread, I should have mentioned the low bar to entry compared to land wargames. Buy a couple packs of figures and you're off to a small start on a long project, but buy a couple ships and you've already got a game.

I don't know if it has been mentioned already, but there is a uniquely low scenery threshold, which is a blessing when running games at a distant convention.

Happy Independence Day to my US brethren.

B

I was at NSA Fort Meade, MD when a naval gaming club set up a WWI naval scenario at the rec center which I signed up for.

All we did was maneuver the ships and give firing orders. I'm not sure which rules we were using in 1973. I had the German BC Derfflinger and was up against the Swedish Sverige. The Sverige needed to close the range on me and I turned to cross the "T" on him while firing broadsides.

We needed to visually estimate the range to the target and the refs plotted the salvo and rolled for the results. I got the range on him when I crossed the T and landed a salvo from stem to stern. After much die rolling they announced the Sverige took a magazine hit and blew up.

The only rules I like are "Cordite and Steel" and "Sea War" as they reflect the gunnery and damage/damage control simulations that I think represent it best historically.

I've thoroughly enjoyed reading and researching books on naval warfare.

The games I've seen at conventions look unrealistic because the models are too large. I use 1:6000 scale models.

Wolfhag

That sounds like Fletcher Pratt. Great game but best if played on the floor with 1/700 ships.