"Ironclads Game: Rock Con 2019" Topic

Randy Hardin ran an Ironclads scenario at Rock Con last October in Rockford, IL. The rules he used are from the original Yaquinto "The Ironclads" board game but using 1/600-scale Thoroughbred miniatures instead of cardboard counters. The scenario had USS Choctaw snagged mid-river. The Union dispatches a tugboat to free her, escorted by the ironclad USS Essex. Meanwhile, the rebels send five wooden paddle-wheel rams downriver to sink Choctaw before she can be rescued.

This first pic shows Randy's overall set-up: Essex and the tug are in the lower left corner, Choctaw in the middle and the rebel rams approaching at top.

Here are USS Essex and the armed tug Zouave:

The line-up of rebel rams. Three arrived immediately. The other two came on later.

CSS Little Rebel crashes into Choctaw while CSS General Van Dorn maneuvers to get another shot in. Despite three or four successful ramming attacks, Choctaw survived the engagement. The Union tug, however, was so badly damaged the crew abandoned ship and watched their vessel drift downstream.

Not the USS Choctaw the model is the USS Indianola. The scenario is based on actual history.

On the evening of 24 February, the Confederate ram Webb and Queen of the West, now Confederate-manned, overtook Indianola and attacked from each side, ramming her seven times before the ironclad, "in an almost powerless condition," ran her bow on the west bank of the river and surrendered.

Nice looking ships and scenario.

Oy! My mistake on that one. Yes, Indianola, not Choctaw. Thanks for the correction.

It is easy to confuse "one ship" in a class types. Still a great photos and story. Thank you.