The Spanish Civil and Chaco Wars

The entire Chaco collection. There is a soon to be published book from Helion on the naval dimension - gunboats and such like - which I will add but other than some figures from Irregular that should be pretty much it.

The back of the box. This is an old school hex and counter game that is largely the same as the original, just a lot better looking!

I flirted with the Chaco war some years ago but never really did much with it. This proved to be a mistake and I blame Compass Games wholeheartedly for making me revisit it!

Many years ago I played an old GDW board game designed by Frank Chadwick and Marc Miller called, perhaps unsurprisingly, Chaco. At the time I only played the game and did little research into the war as a whole. My last dabble in the period was when Irregular Miniatures released their 15mm range which, although modest, had pretty much everything you needed to raise the opposing Bolivian and Paraguayan armies.

For a variety of what seemed like good reasons at the time, I quietly disposed of the whole lot as it had sat on the shelf of shame with little chance of progressing to the tabletop.

To bring this story up to date I noticed some while ago that Compass Games had taken the original game and brought it up to date in respect of the board and counters (it now has a mounted board with larger counters that are far more attractive than the original version) and so when Second Chance Games included it in their catalogue and then their sale, I snapped a copy up!

Naturally this meant that I would need to reacquaint myself with the period and this coincided with a couple of titles heavily discounted on eBay, along with the withering rump of an Amazon gift card. These additional titles were speedily acquired, along with an updated version of Adrian English’s The Green Hell entitled The Chaco War and published by Partizan Press in hardback. So where is this heading? Well the heart part of me would love to raise a couple of representative forces in 15mm, probably with the Portable Wargame in mind. The head however, is saying to exercise restraint. I will have to think about this as I have W-A-Y too many other things to think about, not to mention the small matter of an editorial deadline. We shall see. In any event there may be a short term occasional solution which I will explain at the end of this post.

The Spanish Civil War afloat. Again, another small project idea and like the Chaco War, something that I have looked at previously.

The naval dimension of the Spanish Civil War is something that I have looked at in the past but again, not in a sustained way. It is something I have in mind to revisit and so the inevitable fleshing out the library prior to looking at models has begun with the acquisition of the above. 1:3000th would be the scale of choice for this and mercifully it would need many models to have a representative set up. Again, one for the project list. The trouble is, there comes a point where all the small projects become a huge big project which usually means that things are either parked on the shelf of shame or disposed of!

Try before you buy….

As luck would have it, my old friend Mr. Nick Huband already has table ready forces for both the Chaco and the Spanish Civil War afloat so I reckon I might be bending his esteemed ear for a cheeky game or two in the not too distant future, purely in the interests of research, naturally….

ACW and Imagi-nation Napoleonics

The standard two-decker on the right and my filed version on the left. The plastic is very hard so it took a lot of careful wok to get the hull reduced and more importantly, level!

I was really firing on all cylinders yesterday! In a burst of productivity I was able to finish the ship specs for the American Civil War ships for the new book - a week ahead of schedule. In doing so I made the decision to split the ship specification section into two parts - the first being how to spec any given warship (including a few historical examples, something I did not do in The Portable Ironclads Wargame) and with the second being the pre-generated specs I have been working on. Next up will be the ship charts and once they are ready I reckon a cheeky little ACW naval game may well be in order.

I took delivery this morning of a whole pile of generic 18mm-ish hard plastic Napoleonic types - infantry, cavalry, artillery, a warship and two sizes of building - to add to the pile I picked up from Bob Cordery a few years back along with the ships from Mark Cordone. These are the same figures used in the Worthington Games Napoleon’s War series along with a US game called Viktory II (that is how it spelled for game purposes).

For the moment it is the ships that I am particularly interested in as I have an age of sail itch that is becoming more and more insistent. As mentioned in a previous blog entry the model is a stylised two-decker in full sail but minus a ‘spanker’ - the big sawn-off triangle sail at the rear of the ship. Well, I have a cunning plan to rectify this involving a certain well-known naval rules author and a willing 3D printer!

I was able to fashion a single deck warship by filing the lower hull - the plastic is very hard so it took some work - but am unsure about three-deckers. I will give that some thought.

Some suitably generic buildings - I have a dozen of each size which will give me enough for a couple of small towns/villages. They are easy enough to ‘pimp’ with the addition of walls etc.

The buildings are suitably generic and ‘Monopoly-esque’ and again, in that hard plastic. They will be very useful for a few ideas I have as I wanted something smaller than my old standby ‘Town in a Bag’ wooden buildings.

Horse, foot and guns. They are rather elegant models and again, suitably generic. The infantry are around 18mm tall.

The figures themselves are perfectly usable as they are and certainly for imagi-nations they are ideal, as Mark Cordone with his wonderful armies has shown. Something else to think about then (again!).

Gunboat Diplomacy

S.M.S. Iltis

I have always had a fondness for gunboats. This probably stemmed from the very first naval wargame command way back in the late 1970s during an action fought as part of the famous Madasahatta campaign run by Eric Knowles. My ‘command’ was a pair of German gunboats - Iltis class as I recall - tasked with harbour defence and coastal patrol duties. For this action they spent the entire games circling frantically in the inner basin of the main German naval base whilst under battleship calibre bombardment by the RN blockading force. They survived unscathed and I even managed to score a single hit with a 3.4” gun against one of the RN battleships - a fact of which I was ridiculously pleased with. However, my delight was short lived as Eric announced after the conclusion of the action that the two gunboats were subsequently scuttled by their crews so as to avoid capture….

Anyways, aside from starting my lifelong interest in naval wargames it also gave me the aforementioned fondness for gunboats.

Gunboats. Some very nice Ospreys, the magnificent River Gunboats, Send a Gunboat and Tigris Gunboats - a great account of the gunboat operations along the, you’ve guessed it, the Tigris! Not illustrated but also in the collection is The Phantom Flotilla and Mimi and Tou Tou go forth - both of which cover the Lake Tanganyika expedition in the Great War.

I have accrued a modest library of books on the subject of gunboats with the American Civil War collection alongside. Missing from the above and certainly something I would like to learn more about is the use of gunboats on the great rivers of China - shades of the Sand Pebbles - and there are a few titles around that cover this, albeit a touch on the expensive side.

Gaming gunboats operations is a lot of fun as they tend to be almost skirmish level actions, with skirmish level action levels of details (that is a lot of levels!).  Rules are a no-brainer.

David Manley’s rules Steamer Wars, along with his three expansions (four if you also include my Hexed adaptation of the core rules) covering the Russian Civil War, European operations during the Great War and, by way of something very different, Lake Garda during the war of 1866 - are all excellent and give an already great game extra variety. All of these, along with his other naval related works, are available on Wargames Vault. 

Aside from the gaming aspect of gunboats operations I also really enjoy making the models in my customary simple looking style. It will be no surprise then, when I say that I have a few ideas on the go….

Halfway Through….

Two of my research sources - Paul Silverstone’s excellent book and the ship cards from Yaquinto’s Ironclads board game. These are really helpful for gun locations.

I am of course, referring to the ship specifications part of the new book - not the whole thing mind - more specifically, the Union ships for the American Civil War. Rather naively I fell into the trap of thinking that this would be quite straightforward - just a few tweaks to those already published in the Portable Ironclads Wargame - but not so. It has not been difficult to do but it has taken longer than I expected, mainly due to checking the artillery carried and in which direction it could fire. Bearing in mind I am using single hexes per model rather than two.

The Confederates are next, and they should be finished in a week or so. This is just as well, because once they are complete the plan is to try them out at the club once the Russo Japanese War has been signed off.

The Great War will then follow and once that has been covered it will be on to the main text. The rules snd ship specs needed to be prepared first for obvious reasons - it means that I can get in some meaningful testing. There will be three battle reports in the book so I should soon be a position to to start thinking about them.

It is moving along, steady as she goes….

Bots Going On?

Way back in September last year I wrote the following blog post:

Bots the matter? 2,000,000 plus or is it?

Well, it looks like they are at it again as my page views have gone bonkers and I reckon I will be at the 3,000,000 by the end of the month!

It really makes a nonsense of having page views as there is no way I have that level of engagement within the blog-o-sphere.

In other news….

ACW specs for the new book are very close to completion and the plan is to run a few games using my collection to give them a run out. I am also looking (again) long and hard at some gunboat actions using the hexed version of David Manley’s excellent Steamer Wars rules. 

Oh, and something Conan related, by way of a complete change…. ;-)

“Crom!”

Thoughts on the Recent Battle

The Russian cruiser Oleg beginning to have a bad day….

I have been fortunate in that so far the testing of the rules for my new book has been conducted using real players. This makes for a pleasant change as when I was writing the Portable Ironclads Wargame nearly all the testing was conducted on a solo basis. There is no doubt that having real players attempting to break one’s rules really helps to focus the mind!

Having said that, the last battle I fought was a solo effort and was played with a specific aim in mind that would probably not have happened using live participants! 

It threw up one key issue which was easily fixed. You may recall that I had a procedure in place for determining the location of any damage points inflicted. Basically for each hit a D6 was rolled to locate where the damage was inflicted. I must admit to being a fan of such a system although I prefer to keep it limited to hull/superstructure and weapons rather than everything including the ship’s cat or the wardroom drinks cabinet. The system worked but it did mean another round dice rolling and it felt very much as though it unbalanced the flow of action. It needed changing or something.

I opted for the ‘something’ option and have dispensed with it entirely - or have I? Hit location adds to the feel of a set of naval rules and such an honourable process cannot be easily discarded - so I have not. The system I am now using is determined by the number of hits scored - essentially, the more hits scored the greater the ‘spread’ of damage. This is not new, and anyone that has played Wooden Ships and Iron Men, Air Force and many other games besides will recognise the similarity. This approach works well for ‘normal’ hits so the exciting and exotic damage is reserved for the Critical Hits table. This was the other thing that caused me a few issues - Critical Hits, ore more specifically, what triggers them. I have changed this ever so slightly based on the new damage/hit location system. In a nutshell, flotation point damage is the key - not guns etc and before anyone says ‘what about magazine hits etc?’ These are included in the Critical Hits section so fear not, if you want to see an exploding battle cruiser the potential is still there!

With these various ‘soupcon’ changes the biggest single advantage though, is that for firing guns only a single round of dice rolls per calibre firing is required. This balances out the process immeasurably and adds to the flow of the action.

I feel far happier having done this!

An Affair of Outposts, Yellow Sea, November 1904….Game Number 79 Part 2.

 

The initial staring positions - the Russians are on the left whilst the Japanese are on the right. The two sides were using a similar cruising formation, concentrating the heavier units in the centre with the lighter cruisers deployed as a screen. The Russian formation was more compact than that of the Japanese.

The Russians. The protected cruiser Oleg leads the Aurora in the centre column, flanked by the Izumrud on the port side and the Jemchug on the starboard.

The Japanese. Similarly to the Russians the central column consists of the protected cruiser Kasigi closely followed by the Chitose and flanked by the Niitaka on the starboard side and the Tsushima on the port.

Vice Admiral Dewa Shigeto, aboard his flagship, the protected cruiser Kasigi, observed the approaching Russian squadron with deep satisfaction. His orders were to scout ahead of the main bulk of the fleet and to sweep aside any Russian opposition. The expectation was that their most likely opposition would be cruisers and so when four columns of smoke were sighted in the distance he was confident this would be the case. As the distance between the two forces closed so the expectation was confirmed - four protected cruisers, two large and two smaller. The two larger cruisers were tentatively identified as the Oleg and the Aurora with the smaller being the Izumrud and the Jemchung. He was aware that the two big Russian cruisers could outgun his command - despite the range advantage his eight guns conferred - but he knew the calibre of his commanders and their crews and so was confident that they would prevail. The potential cost of a victory was something he would dwell upon later but for now there was a battle to fight. Vice Admiral Dewa Shigeto, and every man under his command, would do their duty, with honour, and make their ancestors proud.

Aboard the Russian cruiser Oleg the first reaction upon sighting the fast approaching Japanese cruisers was one of surprise. Captain 1st Rank Leonid Dobrotvorsky, commander of the Russian scouting group, was not expecting to meet any Japanese ships this early in their patrol. He, and most of the crew under his command, were secretly hoping for a ‘clean sweep’ - no enemy contact but with orders executed fully. When the composition of the Japanese force became clearer he allowed himself to relax a little. Four ships, for the most part they looked similar to his own command. No matter, he thought as he felt confident in the firepower that the Oleg and the Aurora could bring to bear. He was secretly relieved that the two larger Japanese ships did not appear to be armoured cruisers - there were far too many of them to deal with - so he ordered his ships to increase speed and close the range with the enemy formation as soon as possible.

Aboard the ships of both sides the crews sweated and cursed whilst bringing the guns to readiness until all fell silent, with just the incessant thrum of the engines vibrating throughout the ships, the swish of the waves and the clipped orders of the officers the only sounds being heard. The atmosphere was uniformly tight and filled with both apprehension and expectation. It would not be long.

Turn 1. Both sides seemed to a similar plan in that their screening ships headed in the opposite direction to the heavier units. The Russian Oleg and Aurora (the top two ships on the left)attempted to head off the the Japanese Kasigi and Chitose (the top two ships on the right) and at this stage the Russian flagship did not expect to come under fire.

The two opposing commanders were seemingly of one mind as the two forces simultaneously split into two separate elements heading in opposite directions. Fortuitously the split meant that both sides would be facing their opponents equivalent ship types - heavier against heavier and lighter against lighter. The two large Japanese ships, Kasigi and Chitose possessed a crucial advantage though, in that they were both armed with a pair of 8” guns - one fore and one aft and it was those that opened fire first. All four 8” guns targeted the leading Russian cruiser, the Oleg.

Eight inch shells from both the Kasigi and the Chitose quickly found the range to the large Russian cruiser and after a forest of shell splashes all around her came the ominous rumbling crump with flashes of sparks and black, soot-like smoke indicative of multiple hits. In short order two starboard six inch guns were knocked out along the starboard side and the hull was heavily damaged. Mercifully, her engines were unaffected but being unable to reply with her artillery due to the range was a bitter pill to swallow for Captain Dobrotvorsky - his close range advantage had, in one fell swoop, been removed.

Vice Admiral Shigeto, his face an impassive mask, was inwardly delighted with efficient way the Russian cruiser had been pounded at range. Now it was time to administer the coup de grace. With little time to lose he ordered his two cruisers to a complete one hundred and eighty degree turn. The Kasigi was still completing the manoeuvre when the looming bulk of the Russian flagship approached off the starboard bow. The ensuing broadsides from both ships as they passed harkened back to the age of sail with the guns fired as soon as they could bear. Confusion reigned supreme on both ships as shot after shot wreaked havoc on the decks and in the hulls - ear-splitting explosions, the screech of tortured and twisted metal, the cries of the wounded and the shouting of orders. Miraculously, despite having most of her artillery destroyed, the Kasigi was still able to steam unimpeded. Not so the Oleg.

Captain Dobrotvorsky knew that the ship has taken a fearful battering - guns dismounted and the ominous sight of twisted bulkheads and water appearing everywhere it was not supposed to. A wounded sub lieutenant, his head sporting a bloody bandage, made his way onto the wreckage of the bridge and confirmed the news. The ship was flooding.

Turn 2 - The North. Kasigi and Chitose boldly swung around one hundred and eighty degrees and so the Japanese flagship was now broadside on to their Russian opposite number and at point blank range! A fusillade of 6” guns from the Russian flagship - the Oleg - battered the Kasigi and knocked out her main guns - fore and aft - followed by the complete starboard secondary broadside. Her hull also suffered extensive but fortunately not heavy damage. The Kasigi was not to be outdone though. Both her main guns missed but her secondary and tertiary batteries certainly made up for it. The combination of rapid firing artillery, close range and a large target meant that shot after shot struck home - eight hits in all meaning that a critical hit was also inflicted. Of the eight hits inflicted five of them were flotation hits with the odd three being two secondaries and a tertiary gun. The critical hit was a telling one though - a roll of 5 meaning a flood

Turn 2 - The South. The Russian Jemchung and Izumrud fell in with the Japanese Tsushima (leading) and her sister, Niitaka. Both the Russian ships opened fire at the rearmost Japanese cruiser - the Niitaka - and scored a couple of hits. Both Russian ships launched torpedoes but failed ignominiously in the attempt (two rolls of 1!). The two Japanese ships then pounded the Jemchung into scrap and she was soon in a sinking condition.

Turn 2 - The North. Meanwhile, following their one hundred and eighty degree turn, the Kasigi, with the Chitose following closely behind, proceeded to engage the Oleg at point blank range (the white markers represent hits, the black is for a critical).

The Kasigi suffered nine hits in all and the scores you see above were the location rolls. The three 6s took care of both main 8” guns and a flotation point, the four 5s took care of the three secondary guns with a flotation point. The single 1 was also a flotation point. Whilst the Japanese ship lost most of her starboard artillery, the Russian was less fortunate as her hull took the brunt of the damage, with telling effect.

The situation for the Russian squadron was grim and it was about to get worse. The Jemchung was sinking  by the bows (her roll of 6 meant that it would take six turns before she slipped beneath the waves) and the Oleg had, alongside all her other damage, a flood to deal with. The dice roll of 6 meant that it was uncontrollable and so she to would sink. To add insult to injury, her sinking roll was also a 6 meaning it would take six turns for her to go under.

Turn 3 - The South. With the Jemchung sinking, her sister ship, the Izumrud, chose discretion rather than valour and immediately head away from the action. The Tsushima and the Niitaka did not pursue.

Turn 3 - The North. The Kasigi, heavily damaged, headed away to join up with the Tsushima and Niitaka who would act as an escort for the battered flagship. Meanwhile the Chitose sped around the sinking Oleg and fired a parting shot with her aft 8” at the rapidly departing Aurora, inflicting minor damage on the Russian as she did.

Vice Admiral Shigeto was pleased. His flagship was heavily damaged but sinking not one but two Russian cruisers was a tremendous result. His ancestors would be pleased as he had done his duty with honour. He ordered the Kasigi to break off and rejoin the remainder of the squadron. He also signalled to the Chitose to disengage and rejoin. It had been a good day.

Captain Dobrotvorsky knew the ship was doomed but she showed little sign of disappearing quickly. The remaining ship’s boats were being lowered and the wounded transferred to them. The scene was orderly and disciplined. He mused over his plan and thought that but for the 8” guns of his adversary the outcome could have been very different. Such were the fortunes of war.

So What Did I Learn Then?

I really enjoyed this brief but highly contrived action! The rules worked well although I will think about firing again. I am happy with the ranges and damage etc but I would like to streamline it further if I can. Having said that, when ships get up close and personal the resulting fireworks display will tend to be impressive as anything and everything that can bear and shoot will join in the fun. This definitely feels correct for the pre dreadnought period.

All in all then, a great way to spend a couple of hours and it has certainly given me much to think about and to take forwards as the rules develop.