DANG 2019 - The King's Ships Were at Sea

The 2019 version of DANG (Dave’s Annual Naval Game) was The King’s Ships Were at Sea – World War I in the North Sea (the game title is based on James Goldrick's book title). The mini-campaign covered naval operations in the North Sea from November 1914 through January 1915. Historically this timeframe included several German raids on the British coast and up through the Battle of Dogger Bank.

German Torpedo Boats at Jutland - by Claus Bergan

The players began arriving at my place around 9:30 AM and we spent the next hour catching up on things and talking about the projects we are all working on and planning.

The game area set up with my new naval gaming mats

After that we split up into two sides with Scott, George, Mark, and Charlie taking the Germans while Arthur, Dale, Dave C, Kevin, Bill, and David S as the British. I then went of the general situation and talked through the operational rules. The operational rules were my own homebrew. Each operational game turn represented two weeks and, as with most of DANG games, each side had missions they could assign to their forces and would earn victory points for completing the missions and sinking enemy ships. For the tactical (battle) rules, I went with the Battleship Captain rules from Minden Games.

The game would start in the second half of November 1914. Historically, things appeared to be going well for the Germans; von Spee’s squadron had won the Battle of Cornell and they had recently completed a bombardment and minelaying operation near Yarmouth.

The German’s primary goal was to draw the British capital ships into advantages battles and sink or damage them to reduce the odds against their fleet, with a secondary mission of attacking Britain’s east coast with bombardment attacks and minelaying operations. The British were trying to maintain the long-distance blockade and defend against the German raids, but they also would have opportunities for offensive action.

The North Sea operational map for the campaign

Each side planned their missions for the first turn. The Germans were required to conduct a bombardment or minelaying mission, with the option to do both. So, they decided to repeat the bombardment and minelaying raid in the Yarmouth/Lowestoft area. This mission would use the battlecruiser squadron for bombardment and the associated light cruiser squadron to lay mines. Additionally, the German battleship squadron would back-up the mission by patrolling the region southeast of Dogger Bank (zone C3 on the operational map). This would put them into a good position to catch any British forces that were pursuing the raiders as they returned to port.

The British were only required to conduct a defensive patrol. But decided to follow the best traditions of the Royal Navy and go on the attack. They planned their own minelaying mission off the German coast (zone C4 on the operational map). The mission would be supported by the seven battleships of the 1st Battle Squadron and the armored cruisers of the 3rd Cruiser Squadron. The battlecruiser squadron was let behind to try to intercept any German raids.

With the missions planned, it was time for the referee (me) to check for submarines, radio intercepts, and spotting by airships.

Royal Navy Intelligence in Room 40 intercepted and decoded many radio transmissions that indicated the Germans had a major fleet operation underway with many ships moving toward Yarmouth. The Royal Navy decided to continue with their planned operations, believing they could lay their mines and then the battleships would be able to cut-off the German raiders as they tried to return to port. They were feeling confident about their chances of inflicting some serious losses on the Germans.

Meanwhile, one of the Zeppelins scouting around Scapa Flow spotted the British battleships leaving port and reported that the ships were heading southeast. The Germans also decided to continue with their planned missions, but they also sent a few more ships to join the battleships in zone C3.

With the stage set, the action kicked off when Harwich Force (4 light cruisers and 2 destroyer squadrons) sighted the German battlecruisers near Yarmouth. The Royal Navy staff discussed their options and ordered Harwich Force to fall back while Beatty’s battlecruisers were dispatched to catch the German raiders. The Germans were happy to let the British light cruisers and destroyers go away while they laid their mines and shot up the town.

Next the British lights cruisers scouting ahead of the minelaying/battleship force sighted smoke and then German battleships. The British minelaying cruisers dumped then mines as the whole force cleared for action.

Each side setting up for the battle

German battleships near the top, cruisers near the bottom, and torpedo boats outside the photo

British battleships near the bottom and cruisers near the top

The battleships for each side were set up on opposite map corners, with their lighter forces directly facing the enemy battleships. The Germans kept their battleships in separate groups, while their armored cruisers. light cruisers, and destroyers looked to close with the British. The British got their battleships into a line ahead formation, leaving four armored cruisers and four light cruisers, operating in two line-ahead formations, to cover the rear of the formation. This left two light cruisers (HMS Blanche and HMS Boadicea) as a screen in front of the formation.

British battleships form up in line ahead formation

As the ships closed the shooting began. Each side took some damage, but nothing serious. Then the German battleships connected on the armored cruisers leading the rear formations. HMS Devonshire was wrecked by a German broadside, while HMS Antrim caught fire and would later sink.

Devonshire hit and sinking

Antrim on fire

At the front of the British formation, HMS Blanche and HMS Boadicea found themselves facing four German light cruisers and four torpedo boat flotillas. The light cruisers did their best, but there were too many Germans around and they were taking heavy damage. The commander of the torpedo boat flotillas saw and opportunity here and made a charge around the British cruisers to close with the battleships. It was about this time that a sailor on a Grand Fleet battleship was heard to say “Does anyone know why we don’t have any destroyers with us?”

German torpedo boats bracket the battleships

Having closed to optimal torpedo range, the German torpedo boats unleashed their fish with deadly results. The two leading battleships, HMS King George V and HMS Ajax, each took multiple hits and began to sink.

HMS Ajax hit by torpedoes

HMS King George V and HMS Ajax sinking after torpedo hits

Flashing back to Royal Navy planning for the turn, a decision had been made to leave the assigned destroyer squadrons behind to conduct a defensive patrol. The question of why the destroyers were left behind would be asked several more times, with the response being “I guess that is what the Board of Inquiry will be tasked with finding out.”

The British did strike back, starting a fire aboard the armored cruiser Prinz Heinrich and then sinking it with a torpedo shot.

Prinz Heinrich hit and on fire

Prinz Heinrich takes a torpedo hit (which will help put out the fire)

With two of their seven battleships sinking, the British ordered a withdrawal. When the casualties were all counted up, the Royal Navy had lost 2 battleships, 2 armored cruisers, and two light cruisers. The Germans lost an armored cruiser and a torpedo boat flotilla. Each side had other ships with damage, but only one of those (another British armored cruiser) was very serious.

The British also recalled their battlecruisers, since it was felt that they would probably be facing both the German battlecruiser and battleship formations.

With the situation looking grim, the British checked the current Victory Point totals. Seeing how far behind they were, they decided to concede the game. This ended the campaign a little earlier than expected, but gave us time to convene the Board of Inquiry to talk through the good and bad things each side had done (the general verdict for the Royal Navy was "mistakes were made."). It also gave me a chance to reveal some of the other interesting missions that were required for later months, such as supporting the Cuxhaven Raid and a mission that could have set up a repeat of the Battle of Dogger Bank.

DANG 2019 participants

Overall, the game turned out well and everyone seemed to have a good time (although I’m sure the food and beer helped with that). I really liked how the new game mats looked and I think the Battleship Captain rules worked pretty well for the mid-size action. They were sort of a throw-back to the old Avalon Hill Jutland rules, with some nice additional chrome. With that, DANG XVIII (18) is in the books.

Ships for DANG 2019

DANG 2019 is less than a week away. I finished up my ship painting last week and have the ships mounted. All that is left is adding some labels so everyone can tell which ship is which without a course in WW1 ship recognition.

I took some photos, but the lighting and my camera did not want to cooperate with each other, so they turn out very good. I've posted them below, but I hope to get some better photos before and during the game.

The battlecruisers Tiger (left) and Derfflinger (right)

For a quick recap, DANG 2019 will cover naval operations in the North Sea from November 1914 through January 1915. Basically from the start of German raids on the British coast through the Battle of Dogger Bank. I could have done up the whole Grand Fleet and High Seas Fleet for the game, but I went with a more limited (and historical) view of using the battlecruiser squadrons for both sides, one battleship squadron, and some odds and ends with armored/light cruisers and destroyers. The ship models are all 1/2400 scale from Panzerschiffe.

I painted the German ships with light gray for the hull and superstructures; except for the destroyers, which were dark gray. The larger ships got light wood color for the decks, while the light cruisers and destroyers decks were painted brown for the tiling.

German battlecruisers (with Blucher tagging along at the end of the line)

For the German battleships, I went with the Helgoland and Nassau class, seen below with a light cruiser in the lead. You can see the different deck color for the cruiser.

German battleships

I also included some German armored cruisers, but the photo wasn't very good.

Out of focus German armored cruisers led by a light cruiser

For the Royal Navy I went with dark gray for the hull and superstructures (maybe too dark) while the destroyers were black. Similar to the Germans, the larger ships got light wood color for the decks, while the light cruisers and destroyers decks were painted brown for the tiling.

British battlecruisers (obviously being observed from a Zeppelin)

The Royal Navy battleships are the Orion and King George V class, also pictured with a light cruiser to show the different deck colors.

British battleships

The Royal Navy also gets a armored cruiser squadron.

Devonshire class ACs of the 3rd Cruiser Squadron

Along with light cruisers and destroyers

A Royal Navy destroyer flotilla

As usual, I've come up with my own basic set of operational rules for assigning missions, setting up battles, and repairing ships. For the tactical rules, I decided to go outside the usual rules and use Minden Games Battleship Captain. Minden has a lot of naval games, along with some other interesting looking games.

The Battleship Captain rules are sort of a throwback to the old Avalon Hill Jutland game, but with lots of optional rules and covering the pre-dreadnought era through World War II (but no aircraft). The rules are pretty easy and they should be able to handle a good number of ships without bogging down. The optional and advanced rules add some flavor to the basic game, which should keeps things interesting and provide a period feel. 

I'll see how everyone else feels about the rules on Saturday. Photos and an after-action report to follow soon.

2019 NHMGS Game Day at the Museum of Flight

On Saturday, November 23, the Northwest Historical Miniature Gaming Society (NHMGS) joined the Northwest Scale Modelers and Lake Sawyer Hawks Radio Control Club at the Museum of Flight for the annual Hobby Day.

A view from the NHMGS gaming tables at the museum

The event was well attended and many museum goers stopped off to look at the displays and ask questions. We even had several that joined in some of our games during the day.

The Northwest Scale Modelers had tables under the SR-71.

One of the Northwest Scale Modeler tables

The Radio Control Club was in the side gallery, mainly due to the size of their planes.

A radio-controlled P-40 and Spitfire

Our information tables were set up in front of the gaming tables, with figures, rules, and reference materials.

One of the NHMGS information tables

We four gaming tables and two gaming sessions. The morning session had a 6mm Vietnam War game with the Vietnamese trying to take out an American helicopter LZ, a Star Wars X-Wing Fighter game, World War I naval - prelude to Jutland game, and a British attack on an Italian convoy.

The American LZ in the center of the table

X-Wing fighters on the attack

Cruisers getting into action before Jutland

Since Kevin and I were running the convoy attack game, I have more photos and a better description of the action. We used David Manley's unpublished Air War 1940 rules for the game. We had 4 British players (flying Blenheims IVs, Beauforts, and Swordfish out of Malta) up against 4 Italians (flying CANT 1007 patrol bombers, CR.42s, and MC200s). The Italians had a lot of ships and area to cover, but the British didn't have a lot of weapons (bombs and torpedoes) to take out the ships.

View before the British entered the map

Beauforts on the starboard side of the convoy taking on the CANT bombers and heading for the ships

Blenheim IVs attacking the front of the convoy

Beauforts on the port side of the convoy make it to the ship before the CR.42s can attack, but their bombs missed

The Blenheims from the front both hit the lead merchant and sink it

The Beaufort coming from the starboard side gets lucky with a bomb hit that takes out another merchant

The Swordfish were able to drop their torpedoes just before the MC.200s reached them, sinking another merchant

The British sank three merchants with only one plane lost and several damaged. Overall a victory for the British.

The afternoon session had a Black Seas game, a Wings of Glory WWI game, and repeats of the Jutland and Convoy games.

Black Seas game in progress

Wings of Glory fighters make a pass

The afternoon convoy game was joined by a few museum visitors (2 British and 1 Italian). None of them had every played this type of game before. But after a couple turns, they were flying and fighting on their own without any troubles (at least from the rules). Which is a good testament to how easy David Manley's rules are to pick up.

Second Convoy game in action (the Sopwith Camel wasn't part of the game, but a kit that museum goers could purchase and put together with some modeler assistance)

Blenheims only do minor damage as the CANT blasts away at them

The Swordfish get a tanker, but the MC.200s tailing them knock down both torpedo bombers

The British didn't do as well in the afternoon game, losing 3 aircraft while sinking a tanker and damaging two other merchants.

Overall, everyone seemed to have an enjoyable time and we were able to get some information about gaming out to the general public. The annual event is (almost) always a good time and it is fun to share the hobby with people that have never seen miniatures.

The museum had a space-animal themed Christmas tree at the entrance

Preparing for DANG 2019

We finished up voting for my yearly naval game: DANG (Dave's Annual Naval Game) and for this year's game the voters selected The King’s Ships were at Sea (the game title is based on James Goldrick's book title). The mini campaign will cover naval operations in the North Sea from November 1914 through January 1915. This basically covers the timeframe of German raids on the British coast through the Battle of Dogger Bank.

German battlecruisers at the Battle Dogger Bank by Willie Stoewer (from britishbattles.com)

Each side will have missions to complete each month and some options for arranging their forces. I will make up my own operational rules covering the different missions, random events, and set up for tactical battles (which I often do for DANG games). I haven’t decided which rules to use for the tactical battles yet. I’m thinking about GQ3 Fleet Action Imminent, which would be more interested if there are fewer battles, and David Manley’s Si Vis Pacem, which would provide for quicker resolution of battles. I’ll talk it over with a few people to see what they think.

For the ships, I looked around at several options, include Navwar (1/3000), Panzerschiffe (1/2400), and War Times Journal (1/3000 or 1/2400). War Times Journal ships are 3D printed and while there is a decent selection of ships, they did not have all the ships I wanted for the game. Navwar seemed like a good option, having all the ships needed, but I didn’t want to take the time to mail in my order (or deal with setting up a fax), so I decided to pass. That left me with Panzerschiffe and the order was made through their website. The ships arrived in a timely manner and I've started painting them up.

ship painting in progress

I'll post more ship photos when I finish them.

I think it will be a pretty interesting game with two or three good battles. But the players often have their own ideas about things should play out. I’m sure we will get at least one good battle.

DANG started in 2002 and this is DANG XVIII (eighteen). Here are links to recaps of DANG from before 2010, the 2010 Lepanto game, the 2011 American Civil War river game, the 2012 War of 1812 Lake Ontario game, the 2013 Operation Landcrab game, the 2014 Cogs of War game, 2015 The Shores of Tripoli game, 2016 The Big Stick game, 2017 Seastrike game, and last year's Siege of Charleston game. 

New Naval Gaming Mat

I haven't been doing a lot of hobby stuff for a little while, which meant I didn't have much to blog about. Things started picking up again near the end of October and now I find myself with a back-log of blog items.

Some of the things for upcoming posts include the upcoming NHMGS Game Day at the Museum of Flight, preparations for Dave's Annual Naval Game (DANG) 2019, and some rule reviews.

But this post is about the new naval gaming mats I recently purchased. I've always used fabric for my gaming tables (cloth or felt) and have generally been satisfied with the results. Felt can be a little hard to keep clean and the miniature sometimes catch on the fabric. You can also run into gaming table "mini-mountains" where tables of different heights meet. But these issues are really just inconveniences. This year I decided to splurge a little and get some mouse pad material mats.

I looked around at various online stores and decided to go with the ocean mat from TABLEWAR. I ordered two 6 ft x 4 ft mats. While one would be good for most games, I got two so that I can put them together to cover a 6 ft x 8 ft table.

The link above will give you a good idea of the overall mat appearance, but here are a few photos with some of my ships in various scales.

1/700 scale escort and merchants

The same convoy from a different angle

A Cruel Seas 1/300 S-boote

1/6000 Japanese carriers

1/6000 U.S. Navy ships

The printed waves look really good with the larger scale ships. They seem a little large for 1/6000, but not too bad (just some stormy weather).

The mats are thin (but sturdy feeling) and easy to roll, they should smooth out any game table "mini-mountains" and the mouse pad backing should prevent (or minimize) any slippage on the table

Semi-folded mat with the small TABLEWAR logo.

The mats also come with carrying cases, making carrying the mats around somewhat easier.

Rolled up mats and cases

Overall, I'm pretty happy with the mats. They will get their first game use later this year at DANG.

It even looks good in black and white