Falklands AAR

[steveburt]

We played a 'combined' Falklands game last night, with 4 players:
1. British Battlecruisers (Invincible & Inflexible)
2. British Cruisers (Kent, Cornwall, Glasgow, Carnarvon)
[The Carnarvon is omitted from the OB in the book, but it was my grandfather's ship, and I have his eye witness account of the battle, so it had to be on the table]
3. German Armoured Cruisers (Scharnhorst & Gneisnau)
4. German Light Cruisers (Dresden, Emden, Nunrberg, Leipzig).

A very good game - mostly two separate actions until near the end when the British armoured cruisers had finished the German lights and intervened against the Schanrhorst and Geniesnau.
The Scharnhorst very nearly survived ten turns for a draw - she had fled the battle making smoke after a magazine explosion stopped her firing for a couple of turns near the end.
The Germans even managed to get a torpedo hit (on the Glasgow), although their effect dice were terrible.

About 2.5 hours, and everyone really likes these rules - just the right level of detail, and some good interesting decision to be made.

 

[DM]

The Carnarvon is omitted from the OB in the book

Bugger, how is it that you miss out the most obvious cock-ups?!!!

Mea culpa - I must have done something daft when I was putting the final draft together

 

[steveburt]

I can come and hit you with his ceremonial sword which hangs on my wall if that makes you feel better?

 

[steveburt]

Another thing missing from the book - the combined Falklands scenario tells you to use the combined scenario map, which of course is not there, not that it is hard to work out.

 

[thomaso827]

In placing the Carnarvon back in the fleet, where in the column would it go? I'm working on building my fleets by the scenarios in the book and the Heligoland scenario in the e-Newletter, and I wanted to get this part updated. Thanks.

Tom Oxley

 

[steveburt]

Right at the back - it was slower than the other vessels, and was still coaling when the action started.

Maybe I should scan the little sketch maps my grandfather drew of the action showing relative ship positions?

 

[thomaso827]

That might be good. Any special rules about it's joining the fray if it was coaling at the start? Or just add it in line at the end? It will probably take a turn or two to come into action anyway, so perhaps that's enough.

Tom Oxley

 

[steveburt]

Just add it at the back - it got off late due to having to finish coaling, and actually followed the British battlecruisers (not the other cruisers) and got into action against the Scharnhorst and Gneisnau; it even scored a couple of hits near the end. According to my grandad's account, the shells took 26 seconds to reach their target.

The Canopus shot off a couple of salvoes from inside Port Stanley harbour early in the action, too, but I don't think it ever left the harbour.

 

[fjodin]

Do you have stat lists gor Invincible & Inflexible and for Harrier jets?

 

[Elrick]

Do you have stat lists gor Invincible & Inflexible and for Harrier jets?

They are talking about the 1914 battle: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Falkland_Islands

 

[fjodin]

Oops!

 

[afilter]

Great Post...I am lookig to do the same battle. How did you determine your ooB?

All the sources I have seen only include 5 German Ships...SMS Emben is not present.

In addition to the British Units you have listed I also show the HMS Bristol as part of Sturdee's Squadron.

TIA,

 

[steveburt]

The scenario is in the Rulebook, and the OOB is correct apart from the missing Carnarvon.

The Bristol was definitely not at the battle - I have my grandfather's eye witness account which lists all the ships.

 

[afilter]

The scenario is in the Rulebook, and the OOB is correct apart from the missing Carnarvon.

The Bristol was definitely not at the battle - I have my grandfather's eye witness account which lists all the ships.

Ok, what about the Emben? That is not listed in any historical account I have read including the AoD scenario. I believe it detached and lost prior to the Falklands engagement. Every thing I have read concurs that there were only 5 German ships in Spee's squadron.

I have a feeling Bristol is listed in some scenario oob because it could have supported in a Historical What if as it was at Port Stanley refuleing when the Germans attacked just at HMS Canopus(intentionally grounded) was, but technically did not take place in the running fight although it fired the first warning shots of the overall action.

That is awesome that you have a first hand account.

 

[AdrianH]

SMS Emden could not be present at the Battle of the Falklands due to a previous, terminal commitment at the Battle of Cocos.

 

[steveburt]

It's in the scenario as a 'What if' - we added it to beef up the Germans a bit.