"Mission Hvar - Adriatic '44" Topic

Hi All,

We launched the new terrain and R-Boote into the mix today, for a scenario inspired by the exploits of the British 24th Special Service Flotilla which was operating in the Adriatic during the late summer of 1944, and which presented a mission idea for a SO agent insertion onto the Dalmatian island of Hvar, under the noses of the German garrison troops and shore batteries there. Needing to keep the German players occupied (and unsuspecting of anything unconventional), they were charged with bringing in a Marinefahrprahm troop convoy to port, with a group of Raumboote to sally forth to rendezvous and screen the convoy in.

Here's the board during turn 2, with the British MTBs (reinforced) moving forward and preparing to turn landward to engage the nearest shore battery, which if knocked out, would allow the approach of the other Vospers carrying the special liaison team to land -

The R-Boote, seeing their southern shore battery under attack, sail aggressively to interdict the enemy, and to also screen the incoming convoy as best as possible –

Hoping to take advantage of this screen, the MFPs proceed with utmost haste (but so slowly to Hvar).

During the confused melee, the shore gun is successfully destroyed, and the Yugoslav Partisans have flashed the signal to bring the agents in to the landing point – see light lower-left corner (thanks Fitz for that great piece!). In the meantime, a Vosper has run aground, and all boats in the vicinity are taking a beating -

As the British press their attacks, and the R-Boote fight to hold their position, torpedoes find one of the MFPs, and crack her in half, spilling a company of infantry into the choppy night seas. Still, the guns of the remaining convoy barges are scoring telling results – the British flotilla is in shambles, and in the end only the two Vospers detailed towards the landing are able to make it back home (mission accomplished by each side, but the British MTBs have paid very dearly for their aggressive tactics) -

FlyXwire presented a fun scenario to be sure. Well thought out, superbly painted ships and wonderfully crafted terrain set the scene for an afternoon of action. Players had multiple things to consider as attempted to fulfill their primary and secondary missions with what we hoped was engaging for all of them. As part of the GM team with FlyXwire I had my day fulfilled when I saw the Vosper run aground and another collide with an R-Boote.

I've not previously been convinced by "Cruel Seas" but that is one heck of a scenario, and just enough – but not too much – of an account of the game.

Thanks Advocate (I don't have a blog, so debate whether to post our lengthy AARs here).

Without Fitz doing the heavy rules-end during our games, I'd be leaving each session with a huge headache (even though the rules are very playable), just the extra moving parts in a scenario can equal more GM'ing hassle – teaming up has made doing Cruel Seas so enjoyable for me. Fitz also provided his barges and scows to this scenario for even more moving parts (and they were a fun addition)!

Speaking of moving parts, Warlord has released their Siebel Ferry models now (the Heavy Flak version), and this scenario template above can be further tweaked with their addition – to feed in or out as mobile shore batteries, and even for coastal escort duty (imagine assigning the Luftwaffe Siebels to a single player, and seeing if any inter-service friction occurs in-game between them and their Kriegsmarine comrades – not that we would ever encourage that sort of thing in-game would we?). ;)

It's cool how one model addition to this game can open up more scenario opportunities.

Thanks Advocate (I don't have a blog, so debate whether to post our lengthy AARs here).

I personally enjoy lengthy AARs on TMP. Also, I may be wrong, but the more TMP posts there are, the better for our Editor (he can comment on this…).

MH

Brilliant as usual! Great scenario and great models. Well done gentlemen. Am working on a critical hit table for land targets.

Joe

Joe, very nice!

I made a unit card up for each shore battery in this game, and surmised what possibly to include in the card's status box (Crew Status is all I left), and included as additional equipment Optional Gun Director and Optional Radar – none of which was available for this scenario.

Looking forward to what you and Fitz might come up for crits on land targets.

FlyXwire is being kind as to my involvement. I am just running charts for the game and hoping for boats to run into one another(which I consider to be a victory for me every time I help with these scenarios). With 6-8 players we have, the normal questions, comments, some cutting up here and there. Our sharing the GM duties makes the game significantly easier. FlyXwire is available answer situational questions, measure ranges, provide the necessary vessel speed information & I then process the To-Hit, damage numbers and critical hit indicator cards (we have modified the CH chart to a differing one for each side and use a card draw for the results).

I have been bitten by the Cruel Seas bug thanks to guys like FlyXwire for inspiration. I am actually waiting for Black Seas.

Great write up.

Would love to play a game with you both sometime. What modifiers are you using g for land targets? I keep going g back and forth.
What is black seas?

Joe, no modifiers so far (other than the obvious stationary firing shore battery).

Black Seas, uo oh, better look away while you can!

Still looking? Well we warned you……it's Warlord's upcoming sailing ship game, with 1/700th? scale minis.

link

Btw, I'll hopefully be watching threads on the forum here authored by guys like Mysteron for this one……and hope to resist getting into another Black Hole game system to my wallet. ;)

Fly. Thinking at least a -2 to hit a gun as it is a very small target
Black seas looks interesting;particularly the models. I really like post captain for sailing rules

A great write up and a superb looking table. It's creating my own scenarios that makes Cruel Seas games such fun IMHO.

*Very* good-looking game, gentlemen!

Oooh, I might be in trouble with Black Seas… I thought WHHistorical's Trafalgar was a pretty decent set of rules, if unfortunately named since the rules seemed to me to be much better as single-ship duels or small squadron actions.

And plastic Frigates would really make my day.