Beyond Trent's Reach

With another good weather weekend, I offered up my yard for some outdoor gaming (with proper mask-wearing and social distancing). This time we decided to play Ironclads and Kevin came up with an alternate Battle of Trent's Reach scenario called "Beyond Trent's Reach." The scenario assumed the Confederate James River Squadron was able to make it past the Union obstacles and fortification (with the chance of some damage) to fight the Union James River Flotilla. The Confederates victory conditions were to exit their ironclads off the edge of the board without taking too much damage, while the Union tried to stop them.

Kevin also had some show and tell with the latest ironclad ships he had finished. None of which were involved in the battle, but it is always fun to have a little show & tell.

From the bottom to top USS Tuscarora, USS Dunderberg, and USS Mississippi with the Hunchback and Miami in the background

I set up my naval mats with some river banks and a little bend. We also threw out some shallows near the banks, but I didn't have them out when the picture was taken.

The James River (although the water is a little choppy for a river)

The Confederates started with the ironclads Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Virginia II, along with the gunboats Hampton and Nansemond. They set up first and rolled for damage from running the obstructions and forts. Overall damage was light, but the Fredericksburg did take some speed damage, slowing her down.

Gunboats near the bottom, Virginia II in the middle, then Richmond and Fredericksburg

The Union side started with the converted ferry Hunchback and sidewheeler Miami on the board with reinforcements coming on turns 3 and 6.

Union ships making a tactical withdrawl

Out-numbered and out-gunned, the Union ships started making their way down river hoping to meet with their reinforcements. But the initial Confederate shots struck home. On turn 1, Hunchback was set on fire.

Hunchback on fire

Then on the next turn a critical hit exploded Hunchback's boiler putting it out of action and sinking. Meanwhile, Miami was also taking some hits and got a rudder jam that forced it to turn back toward the Confederates.

Hunchback explodes while Miami's rudder is stuck in a starboard turn

Miami did get some good hits on the gunboat Nansemond, which failed a morale check and was forced to turn away from the battle. Nansemond would later recover morale, but played only a minor part in the rest of the battle. The other gunboat, Hampton, continued to battle away with Miami. The two boats had a minor collision and gunfire from Hampton set Miami on fire.

Hampton and Miami at close quarters

The ironclads also fired at Miami causing even more damage. The sidewheeler was soon put out of action and would eventually sink.

But things weren't all bad for the Union. On turn 3 the reinforcement roll gave them the twin-turret monitor Onondaga and the 90-day gunboat Itasca. Itasca moved up to engage Virginia II, while Onondaga went up the center.

The mighty Onondaga arrives

The problem for the Union was too many targets and not enough guns. Onondaga fired on Richmond, which was trying to slip down river along one bank, and also block Fredericksburg, which had fallen behind the other ironclads.

Onondaga in the center, Richmond at the top, and Virginia II at the bottom. Fredericksburg is just out of the picture to the left

Turn 6 brought more Union reinforcements with the arrival of the captured and re-flagged ironclad Atlanta and double-ended gunboat Massasoit. Atlanta entered near Onondaga (and the Confederate Richmond), while Massasoit rushed to help Itasca.

Massasoit (bottom) and Atlanta arrive to bolster the Union line.

Atlanta turned to fire at Richmond as Onondaga moved to engage Fredericksburg. Itasca and Massasoit were firing their large guns at Virginia II and taking some pot shots at the gunboat Hampton. But a critical hit on Itasca temporarily knocked out her boilers and forced her out of action.

Itasca and Massasoit take on Hampton and Virginia II (with Atlanta in the background)

But the way was clear for Richmond and Virginia II to make a run for the board edge for the victory points.

That left Fredericksburg alone to face Onondaga and Atalanta (yes, the gunboats were still there, but they didn't have much firepower to take on the Union ironclads).

Onondaga blast away at Fredericksburg, while barely noticing the little gunboat

Atlanta (on the right) also gets into the action

By this time Fredericksburg was close to the point of having to turn back due to damage. The ironclad had been heavily hit by the 15" Dahlgren guns and Brooke rifles and, due to its slow speed, probably would not have gotten away. At this point we decided to end the game.

Looking at the results, the Union lost two small wooden vessels and probably would have destroyed Fredericksburg. But the other two Confederate ironclads had escaped downriver in pretty good shape, which gave the Confederates the victory.

Overall an enjoyable game and fun to see the ironclads on the table again.