Thinking outside the box (where I usually get into trouble), but what if we were to give it a spin off of Blockade Duty?
"International Boundary Patrol" - This unit rolls one extra attack die when making Main Gunnery while on your side of the map.
This is different from Blockade duty in that it removes the requirement of the opposing ship being on your side. I think it would work excellently with Drive Off and mitigates the units slow speed.
My take after all the conversation. M11 10 9 8 2nds 6 5 4 AA 4 Armour 6 10 3 Speed 1
SA installation protector: this may set up beside any installation on your side of the map may not capture objectives on turn 1 or 2. SA battery silencer. Points around 16
Picking this discussion up from a few months ago. What about a forward deployment SA? It wouldn't necessarily need to be new. Guard Ship, Coastal Deployment, etc. With a speed of 1, this ship is going to very hard to use from the deployment row in most games, and as result, isn't likely to be taken if other suitable options are available. A number of other slower, older armored cruisers and pre-dreadnoughts in the game have been treated similarly.
I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way. - Captain John Paul Jones
My take after all the conversation. M11 10 9 8 2nds 6 5 4 AA 4 Armour 6 10 3 Speed 1
SA installation protector: this may set up beside any installation on your side of the map may not capture objectives on turn 1 or 2. SA battery silencer. Points around 16
Picking this discussion up from a few months ago. What about a forward deployment SA? It wouldn't necessarily need to be new. Guard Ship, Coastal Deployment, etc. With a speed of 1, this ship is going to very hard to use from the deployment row in most games, and as result, isn't likely to be taken if other suitable options are available. A number of other slower, older armored cruisers and pre-dreadnoughts in the game have been treated similarly.
+1
COASTAL DEPLOYMENT (REVISED) - This unit may deploy adjacent to a coast or island sector on your side of the map. If you do, this unit can't claim an objective on turn 1 or 2. (Pantera, Elli, HNoMS Norge) (Vainamoinen)
EARLY DEPLOYMENT - This unit may deploy in any sector on your side of the map. You may deploy one cruiser or destroyer in this unit's sector. Each unit deployed this way can't claim an objective on turn 1 or 2. (Schleswig-Holstein)
GUARD SHIP - This unit may deploy in any sector adjacent to a coast or island on your side of the map. If deployed this way, this unit can't move until it has been attacked. (San Giorgio)
Or a simpler version of Early Deployment:
Detached Operations - This unit may deploy in any sector on your side of the map. If you do, this unit can't claim an objective on turn 1 or 2.
I think Coastal Deployment is probably the best fit.
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Another thought might bebto allowe herbto move +1 to bring herself into main gun range. Cloning torpedo run so to speak. Otherwise, give it SHs sa - iirc the circumstances are similar for both ships, engaging enemy units from anchor in port. As opposed to the strategically deployed histories of most of the coastal deployment units. Bit of variation
The wiki suggests it might qualify for lead the attack.
Give it flag. 2 flag 1s wont hurt and this switch hits between spanish republican/nationalist factions.
Nothing battery or convoy related please Installations are a tiny part of the game and general offensive sas have more practical uses and still representative of thr history.
Perhaps raider hunter +v cruisers and auxilaries
The republican crews efforts at the beginning of the civil war could aldi be highlighted. Something defensive
I have a crazy idea for Espana. In addition to Flag 1, have a SA that adds +1 to initiative if Espana is paired with another Spanish BB or cruiser. Call it The Armada or something.
Is there another Spanish BB in the Team cards? While I find the idea of channeling the Spanish Armada kind of amusing, the Spanish fleet in the 1930s and 1940s was pretty far from Armada-ish.
I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way. - Captain John Paul Jones
Wolfpack for BBs, I hadn't thought of my idea that way. Shortly after I posted my Armada idea, I did start thinking it might be too much of an initiative boost for a minor. Though the Dutch can do something similar.
Is there another Spanish BB in the Team cards? While I find the idea of channeling the Spanish Armada kind of amusing, the Spanish fleet in the 1930s and 1940s was pretty far from Armada-ish.
True. I was thinking in terms of invoking the long history of Spain's navy, with the idea that if the Spanish can mass two or more major fleet units, something is going right for Spain. I also had an idea of adding a negative to my Armada idea, where the bonus doesn't apply if the opponent also has a Spanish unit, a reference to the civil war. But that idea seemed a bit depressing to me.
I do still like the idea of some kind of forward deployment for Espana. She wasn't a very fast ship and wouldn't be able to keep up a lot of the other Spanish DDs and Cruisers, so if she was going to matter in a battle it would have required some kind of advantageous positioning. There are are a handful of similar, older ships with those SAs and they can be extremely useful.
I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way. - Captain John Paul Jones