Our group here in San Diego had a good game of WaS last night. Eight of us refought the battle of Mers-el-Kebir. The result was a French victory as the fleet was able to sorte out of the harbor and escape. Losses for the french were 6 destroyers. Bretagne had a good day and sunk the HMS Hood with a Range Four shot. The French airforce gambled and hit the British carrier twice nearly knocking it out of the game as well. The British destroyers were nearly all sunk when the fleet sailed.
The end result French Victory!!!
Their ship their coffin The cruel dark sea their grave.
We used the actual historical order of battle for both sides, what ships/air craft were there, no what ifs. Since the ships were in port all the DD's made a slow roll, a one they failed and could not get under way. The older and newer battleships had to make their slow roll's to get underway as well.
Their ship their coffin The cruel dark sea their grave.
Sorry I could not visit San Diego during vacation Enjoy your play !
This battle is very tricky to represent in terms of game mechanics. THe ships being moored can be simulated, but in no case it is represented the fact that they were in very close ranks, making every broadside a danger if the range was correct. Another point is that all ships ad their back at the pier and could only fire properly with their rear turrets, which is a big problem for the Dunkerques. Maybe you can state they can't fire main guns until they are underway (as Strasbourg did, leading to the british TF to disengage).
jdagee: Games Empire has moved to the plaza on the northeast quarter of Claremont Mesa and Shawline St., still within easy walking distance of the old store.
Commander Sam: I wasn't there Monday (I had hoped to be) but I heard that the Brits were shorted the Resolution by accident. With one more battleship, old or not, the Brit players may have done a bit better (though my understanding is that the French players were seriously outrolling their British counterparts so perhaps not). Perhaps simple rules reflecting the challenges of fighting from within the crowded harbor: French forces only hit on 5 and 6 and any unit in the harbor can only move 1 until they clear the entrance, after which normal movement and gunnery rules apply. In the actual fight, the deposition in the harbor gave the French a serious disadvantage. I might also have added that only light ships could move the first turn but maybe that would be too many restrictions on the French.