The Battle of Tobago. 1939.
Players: Peter & Philip
Referee: moif
Supported by naval elements of the Venezuelan National Forces, Rear Admiral Samuel Howard sails east to find and destroy the Soviet fleet which is preventing the full blokade of Venezuela. Neither side has a clear idea about the full size and strength of the other, but each has gathered intelligence. The American ships are clearly bigger and more up to date, the Soviets have the advantage of air support from the main land.
Round one: 0800-0900 hours. No contact.
Admiralty Rules
Note - Subject to revision whilst I work out the numbers.
Element type Attack Defence Hardpoints
Battleship +4 +3 4
Cruiser +2 +2 3
Destroyer +1 +1 2
Submarine +2 +2 1
Spotter plane - +2 -
Torpedo bomber +1 0 1*
* Torpedo bombers can only attack once, but they can support each other.
Element Quality
(O) 0
(S) +1
Flagship +1
Speed is measured by squares per round. Each square is roughly 10 x 10km. A damaged ship can only move at one square per round. Each ship can move once per round, unless damaged, at which point, speed is reduced to one square per round. Submarines which dive also reduce speed to one square per round. Otherwise, speed is based on the historical data of the ships involved. Generally; Slow: 1. Regular: 2. Fast: 3. Aircraft: 5
Example;
HMS Revenge. Battleship (S). Attack: +5. Defence: +4. Hard Points: 4. Speed: 3.
Commanded by Captain Grantham Coleridge. A Revenge-class battleship with
a
displacement of 30,450 tons and a complement of 940 officers and men.
Armaments are eight 15-inch guns, fourteen 6 inch guns, two 3 inch AA
guns, four 3-pdr guns and 21 inch torpedo tubes. Docked at Port of
Spain.
Combat occurs when an enemy ship is spotted and within range. An initiative roll determines who fires first, unless one side has used a spotter plane to gain the advantage. Spotter planes grant the chance to fire first, and a +1 surprise combat factor for the first combat round. Spotter planes have no direct combat capabilities against war ships, but they can engage other aircraft.
Torpedo bombers can only attack once, but they can support each other with up to three additional aircraft.
Combat outcome is determined in the same manner as the Bayonet rules. When a combat round ends with one side doubling the other then the loser has been destroyed. When a combat round ends with one side having more then the other, but not doubling them, then the loser loses a hard point. If all hardpoints have been lost, then the losing element is obliged to withdraw due to battle damage, and this also counts as a defeat.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The American Fleet
USS Tennessee Battleship (S). Attack: +6. Defence: +4. Hard Points: 4. Speed: 3.
Status; Fully operational.
Commanded by Rear Admiral Samuel Howard. A Tennessee-class battleship
with a displacement of 49,950 tons and a complement of 1,464 officers and
men. Armaments are twelve 14 inch guns, twenty five 5 inch guns and two 21 inch torpedo tubes. USS Tennessee carries four Vought OS2U Kingfisher spotter planes. (VIDEO)
USS Pensacola Cruiser (S). Attack: +3. Defence: +3. Hard Points: 3. Speed: 3.
Status; Fully operational.
Commanded by Captain Reginald Smith. A Pensacola-class cruiser
with a displacement of 17,577 tons and a complement of 530 officers and
men. Armaments are ten 8 inch guns, four 5 inch AA guns, two and six 21 inch torpedo tubes. USS Pensacloa carries four Vought OS2U Kingfisher spotter planes. (VIDEO)
USS New Orleans Cruiser (S). Attack: +3. Defence: +3. Hard Points: 3. Speed: 3.
Status; Fully operational.
Commanded by Captain Jonathon Watson. A New Orleans-class cruiser
with a displacement of 9,950 tons and a complement of 1,015 officers and
men. Armaments are nine 8 inch guns, eight 5 inch AA guns and eight .50 inch machine guns. USS New Orleans carries four Vought OS2U Kingfisher spotter planes. (VIDEO)
USS Raleigh Cruiser (O). Attack: +2. Defence: +2. Hard Points: 3. Speed: 3.
Status; Fully operational.
Commanded by Captain Burke. An Omaha-class light cruiser with a
displacement of 9,508 tons and a complement of 458 officers and men.
Armaments are four 6 inch guns, eight 6 inch guns, four 3 inch AA guns,
ten 21 inch torpedo tubes, two hundred and twenty four mines. USS Raleigh carries two Curtiss SOC Seagull spotter planes.
USS Dewey Destroyer (S). Attack: +2. Defence: +2. Hard Points: 2. Speed: 3.
Status; Fully operational.
Commanded by Captain Louis Fairfax. A Farragut-class destroyer with a
displacement of 1,726 tons and a complement of 160 officers and men.
Armaments are five 5 inch guns, eight 21 inch torpedo tubes and four .50
AA machine guns.
USS McDougal Destroyer (O). Attack: +1. Defence: +1. Hard Points: 2. Speed: 3.
Status; Fully operational.
Commanded by Commodore Jack Johnson. A Porter-class destroyer with a
displacement of 2,597 tons and a complement of 195 officers and men.
Armaments are eight 5 inch guns, eight 1.1 inch AA guns and eight 21 inch torpedo tubes.
USS Reid Destroyer (O). Attack: +1. Defence: +1. Hard Points: 2. Speed: 3.
Status; Fully operational.
Commanded by Captain Carmichael Holmes. A Mahan-class destroyer with a
displacement of 1,500 tons and a complement of 158 officers and men.
Armaments are five 5 inch guns, twelve 21 inch torpedo tubes, four .50 cal MG AA and 2 × depth charge stern racks.
USS Preston Destroyer (O). Attack: +1. Defence: +1. Hard Points: 2. Speed: 3.
Status; Fully operational.
Commanded by Captain Ian Baker. A Mahan-class destroyer with a
displacement of 1,500 tons and a complement of 158 officers and men.
Armaments are five 5 inch guns, twelve 21 inch torpedo tubes, four .50
cal AA MG and two depth charge stern racks.
Milazzo Destroyer (O). Attack: +1. Defence: +1. Hard Points: 2. Speed: 3.
Status; Fully operational.
Commanded by Capitán Felipe Larrazábal. An Azio-class destroyer with a
954 tons displacement and a complement of 71 men and officers. Armaments
are two 4 inch guns, one 3 inch gun and forty mines.
Dardanelli Destroyer (O). Attack: +1. Defence: +1. Hard Points: 2. Speed: 3.
Status; Fully operational.
Commanded by Capitán Antoni Torres. An Azio-class destroyer with a 954
tons displacement and a complement of 71 men and officers. Armaments
are two 4 inch guns, one 3 inch gun and forty mines.
USS Tarpon Submarine (O). Attack: +2. Defence: +2. Hard Points: 1. Speed: 3/1.
Status; Fully operational.
Commanded by Commander Harry Lime. A Porpoise-class submarine with a
displacement of 2,000 t (submerged) and a complement of 64 officers and
men. Armaments are six 21 inch torpedo tubes ( sixteen torpedoes
carried), one 4 inch deck gun and two .30 machineguns. Submarines
can move submerged, rendering them invisible unless they attack first.
They can be used to find enemy ships, attack or support the attack of
another vessel.
Intelligence Reports:
_The Soviet Fleet was last reported to the north east of Tobago. Intelligence indicates the Soviet Fleet is both smaller and inferior in quality.
_The British Battleship HMS REVENGE is docked at Port of Spain. She was seen preparing to leave port within the last 24 hours. Avoid an engagement at all costs.
_Observors in Guiria have noted several twin engined bombers being loaded with torpedoes. Local gossip indicates an imminent aerial attack on the fleet.
Your Orders:
The Soviet Fleet's presence is preventing the full blokade of Venezuela. For as long as the Soviet Fleet is on station, then the Soviet Union can continue to supply the Communists via Guiria.
Find the Soviet Fleet and either force it to withdraw, or destroy it.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Petropavlovsk Battleship (S). Attack: +5. Defence: +4. Hard Points: 4. Speed: 3.
Status; Fully operational.
Commanded by Admiral Yuri Soloviev. A Gangut-class dreadnought with a
displacement of 24,800 tons and a complement of 1,149 officers and men.
Armaments are twelve 12 inch guns, sixteen 4.7 inch guns, one 3 inch AA
gun, six 12.7 mm machine guns and four 17.7 inch torpedo tubes.
Admiral Istomin Cruiser (S). Attack: +3. Defence: +3. Hard Points: 3. Speed: 3.
Status; Fully operational.
Commanded by Kontr-Admiral Georgi Obukhov. An Admiral Nakhimov-class
cruiser with a 7,600 tons displacement and a complement of 630 officers
and men. Armaments are fifteen 5.1 inch guns, four 2.5 inch AA guns, two
18 inch submerged torpedo tubes and one reconnaisance seaplane. Admiral Istomin carries two Beriev Be-2 spotter planes.
Osmotritelny Destroyer (O). Attack: +1. Defence: +1. Hard Points: 2. Speed: 3.
Status; Fully operational.
Commanded by Kapitan Vladimir Ledkovsky. An Ognevoy-class destroyer with
a 2,950 tons displacement and a complement of 250 officers and men.
Armaments are four 5.1 inch guns, two 3.3 inch guns, six 1.5 inch AA
guns, two triple 21 in torpedo tubes and eighty mines.
Engels Destroyer (O). Attack: +1. Defence: +1. Hard Points: 2. Speed: 3.
Status; Due to arrive at the fleet by midday.
Commanded by Kapitan Oleg Komansky. An Orfey-class destroyer with a
1,260 tons displacement and a complement of 150 officers and men.
Armaments are four 4 inch guns, a 40 mm AA gun, two machine guns, nine
18 inch torpedo tubes and fifty mines.
Zabiyaka Destroyer (O). Attack: +1. Defence: +1. Hard Points: 2. Speed: 3.
Status; Fully operational.
Commanded by Kapitan Sergei Zhurbin. An Orfey-class destroyer with a
1,260 tons displacement and a complement of 150 officers and men.
Armaments are four 4 inch guns, a 40 mm AA gun, two machine guns, nine
18 inch torpedo tubes and fifty mines.
Nezamozhnik Destroyer (O). Attack: +1. Defence: +1. Hard Points: 2. Speed: 3.
Status; Fully operational.
Commanded by Kapitan Anton Denisov. A Fidonisy-class destroyer with a
1,760 tons displacement and a complement of 168 officers and men.
Armaments are four 4 inch guns, two 2 inch guns, eight 1 inch AA guns,
two 12.7 mm machine guns, four 18 inch torpedo tubes and eighty mines.
Yakov Sverdlov Destroyer (O). Attack +1. Defence: +1. Hard Points: 2. Speed: 3. Status; Due to arrive at the fleet by midday.
Commanded by Kapitan Filip Romanscov. A Novik-class destroyer with a
1,760 tons displacement and a complement of 168 officers and men.
Armaments are four 4 inch guns, one 76.2mm AA gun, nine 21 inch torpedo tubes and fifty mines.
Shch-214 Submarine (O). Attack: +2. Defence: +2. Hard Points: 1. Speed: 3/1.
Status; Fully operational.
Commanded by Kapitan Pyotr Ilyushin. A Shchuka-class submarine with a
displacement of 704 tons (submerged) and a complement of 38 officers and
men. Armaments are four bow torpedo tubes, two stern torpedo tubes (ten
torpedoes carried) and two 1.8 inch semi-automatic guns. Submarines can move submerged, rendering them invisible unless they attack first. They can be used to find enemy ships, attack or support the attack of another vessel.
L11 Sverdlovets Submarine (O). Attack: +2. Defence: +2. Hard Points: 1. Speed: 3/1.
Status; Fully operational.
Commanded by Dmitri Bryantsev. A Leninets-class submarine with a
displacement of 1,327 tons (submerged) and a complement of 53 officers
and men. Armaments are one 100mm gun, one 45mm gun, six 21 inch bow
torpedo tubes (twelve torpedoes carried) and twenty mines. Submarines
can move submerged, rendering them invisible unless they attack first.
They can be used to find enemy ships, attack or support the attack of
another vessel.
6th Bomber Squadron Ilyushin Il-4 torpedo bombers (S). Attack: +2. Defence: +1. Hard Points: 1. Speed: 5.
Status; Fully operational.
Commanded
by Podpolkovnik Alexander Timoshin. Armaments are one Type 45/36 torpedo per bomber. Comprised of six Ilyushin Il-4 bombers, which can be deployed against multiple targets, but with only one attack per aircraft. Torpedo bombers can support each other, with a maximum of three aircraft in the supporting role, as according to the Bayonet rules. Based at Guiria.
Intelligence Reports:
_The American Fleet was last reported to the North of Caracas, moving eastwards at high speed. HQ anticipates an imminent confrontation.
_The British Battleship HMS REVENGE is docked at Port of Spain. She was seen preparing to leave port within the last 24 hours. Avoid an engagement at all costs.
_The American Carrier USS HUNTER remains at Maracaibo leaving the American fleet with little to no air cover.
_Moscow sends a communication: You have reinforcements arriving in four hours. Two escort destroyers (
Engels and
Yakov Sverdlov) have been diverted from the latest supply convoy.
_Torpedo bomber Nr 6 spots a civilian steam ship
SS Corgi roughly 4km to the north of the Paria Peninsula (R12).
Your Orders:
Defeating the American fleet is unrealistic. It is larger, has better ships and it can call upon reinforcements. The American Government will not back down, but they can be made to suffer a serious propaganda defeat if the American public sees that they have suffered heavy losses. Your orders therefore are to find and sink the American flagship USS TENNESSEE and then withdraw. Since you only have one spotter aircraft available, you must rely on your submarines and the 6th Bomber Squadron to find and eliminate your target.
-
-
-
-
-
-
