Sunday, 1 January 2012

Fletcher Pratt Naval Wargame - part 2

The RN ships as seen from the air.  The lead destroyer is just turning to the north. 
The game commenced with the appearance of the Royal Navy as Scharnhorst and Z31 weighed anchor.  As the Germans reached the mouth of the fjord Z31 began to lay smoke.
The playing area was about 40 feet across - plenty of 'sea room'.
Initial salvos from the Scharnhorst fell somewhat short...
...but soon Kapitan von Powell got the hang of it! 
The bespoke hand crafted shell splash markers may look to the uninitiated a bit like golf tees but I know readers of this blog are much better informed!  Blue indicates misses and red hits - generally from 2 or 3 guns.  White markers were used for torpedo hits.
The RN destroyers were also making smoke (some of it voluntarily) while frantically manoeuvring to avoid German shells.  Here the centre DD has placed a firing arrow setting the initial range at 34 inches.  More action in the final post coming soon!
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14 comments:

  1. David Crook1 January 2012 at 17:10

    Hi Tim,

    You have gotta love any war game involving golf tees, ahem, shell splashes, 40 ft of floor space and gamers on their hands and knees!

    Looks like a whole lot of fun!

    All the best,

    DC

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  2. Ray Rousell1 January 2012 at 19:05

    Interesting looking game, not sure about the shade of blue you used for the sea, it looks more like the Thames to me!!! he he!

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  3. Paul1 January 2012 at 19:53

    Best use of Tee's ever!

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  4. Peter Douglas1 January 2012 at 21:21

    Tim

    Great looking game. I'm jealous of the floor space. How much do you charge for the hand crafted bespoke shell markers?

    PD

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  5. Tim Gow1 January 2012 at 22:16

    David Crook
    When that combination of assets is available it'd be rude to not use it!

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  6. Tim Gow1 January 2012 at 22:17

    Ray Rousell
    Having only recently had the floor varnished, the management of the hall were less than enthusiastic about painting it all blue.

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  7. Tim Gow1 January 2012 at 22:18

    Paul
    Not a golfer then?

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  8. Tim Gow1 January 2012 at 22:19

    Peter Douglas
    The cost for each shell splash marker is £..........nah, you couldn't afford it.

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  9. Wg Cdr Luddite1 January 2012 at 23:01

    I suggested to Tim that we bring our children along to do all the hands and knees work, but he said that 'wouldn't be in the spirit of the game'.

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  10. Tim Gow4 January 2012 at 12:59

    Wg Cdr Luddite
    Nonsense - you know you just love resolving the gunnery!

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  11. Peter Douglas4 January 2012 at 18:31

    Tim

    Did any of the players try to use the floor pattern to work out the range? I've seen this done with FP games played on tiles or parquet floors. I've also seen players taking photos use their telephoto lens to measure ranges!

    PD

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  12. Tim Gow4 January 2012 at 22:29

    Peter Douglas
    Theoretically the floor pattern might help but the trick is to keep the game moving so quickly that players don't have time for such trickery. Infernal devices were confiscated on sight and the Kapitan of Scharnhorst surrendered his measuring tape before the game.

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  13. Geordie an Exiled FoG8 January 2012 at 22:55

    How did I miss this first time round?

    Well done Tim it looks a lovely game, I just wish I could have been there!

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  14. Tim Gow9 January 2012 at 12:20

    Geordie
    How indeed?
    You'd be very welcome to attend future games.

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