Tuesday, 20 May 2025

The Grand Finale

Tomorrow evening will see the battle that will form the grand finale to Developing the Portable Ironclads Wargame: The American Civil War being fought at the club. The scenario has been planned, the models and ship charts are ready, and I am really looking forward to seeing the action unfold!

The after action report will not be on the blog as it is reserved for the book but I will share some pictures of the protagonists by way of a taster.


The two sloops - the USS Brooklyn (forward) and the USS Richmond (aft) and the two ‘double-enders’ the USS Port Royal and the USS Octorara.


Two double-turreted monitors - the USS Winnebago (single white stripe) and the USS Chickasaw (two white stripes), the USS Keokuk and the single turreted USS Manhattan.


The ironclads CSS Manassas and the CSS Atlanta with the CSS Morgan and CSS Gaines


The looming bulk of Fort Gordon and the floating battery the CSS Memphis

The action will be fought over a 6ft by 4ft playing surface using my Hexon collection - the area is 21 by 12 hexes so there will be plenty of ‘sea room’ to fight over.

I am delighted to have finally gotten to this point and I am really looking forward to the game - and writing the after action report!



10 comments:

Geordie an Exiled FoG said...

Epic stuff, I love the fortresses

Peter Douglas said...

A great achievement David. Well done sir!

Steve J. said...

All very tasty and tempting there David, with the Hexon tiles working perfectly with the look and feel of your ships:)!

Jim Jackaman said...

This is going to be an epic encounter. Looking forward to the report and photos of the action!

David Crook said...

Cheers Geordie! It was fun to build for sure - the smaller is a floating battery.

All the best,

DC

David Crook said...

Thanks Peter! It has been a long road to get to this point but well worth the journey!

All the best,

DC

David Crook said...

Thank you Steve J! The Hexon will be out in force for this action - all 6ft by 4ft of it!

All the best,

DC

David Crook said...

Cheers Jim! I am sure the chaps will, it the words of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, “Make it so….”

There will be pictures and a report but these will be in the book when published - which should be soon as this is the last part of the text.

All the best,

DC

Robert (Bob) Cordery said...

Looking good for tonight’s battle!

All the best,

Bob

David Crook said...

Thanks Bob! Trust me when I say it was a hole heap of fun!

All the best,

DC