Scenario 1 - Convoy
The British force has been detailed to seek out and destroy a German convoy believed to be in the area. The convoy is making its way along the coast (Belgian/Dutch) and must be stopped.
British Forces: Mixed group of MTB/MGB.
German Forces: All the freighters/cargo ships. A mix of E-Boats/R-Boats to number one more than the British force. Possibly an armed trawler. Possibly also air cover (if the Germans are getting too much of a drubbing too quickly).
For a really nasty surprise (i.e. if the British are having it too easy), one of the cargo vessels can be an R-Lighter (an armed cargo vessel, armed with 1 x 37mm [Fwd/Bows], 2 x 20mm [Aft/Quarters], 2 x 15mm [Port], 2 x 15mm [Stbd]) which will defend while the other cargo vessels attempt to slip away.
The German force will be strung out over a wide area, with E-Boat/R-Boat pairs in front and at the side of the convoy. The armed trawler, if used, will be at/near the back. The German warships will turn into the attack to keep the British away from the cargo ships. The cargo ships will attempt to turn away from the British, but they only have a speed class of D.
Scenario 2 - Convoy Duties
The British force have been detailed to escort a group of light cargo ships along the East Coast.
British Forces: All MGBs and armed trawler, then the numbers made up with MTBs if necessary. All the cargo vessels. Possibly also air cover (if the Germans get too lucky).
German Forces: All the E-Boats and R-Boats. The U-Boat.
Determine where the coast is at the start of the game. The coast covers three of the eight 'arcs'. No German attacks can come from those three 'arcs' (note that the arcs will move around the board as the facing of the MGBs changes - the cargo ships will continue parallel to the coast and you should use them as a marker).
The cargo vessels will continue forward, regardless of what goes on around them. The E-Boats and R-Boats will make attacks in pairs from random directions, except from the three 'coastal' arcs. The U-Boat will attack from ahead (Fwd or Bows) of the convoy at a suitably dramatic moment (the Swordfish torpedo bombers could come in handy yet, Kenn).
Scenario 3 - Channel Clash
While on routine patrol, two mixed boat forces clash in the channel.
British Forces: Mixed force MGB/MTB.
German Forces: Mixed force E-Boat/R-Boat of equal size to the British force.
The Germans begin as a group as do the British. Determine where the Germans come in. Their tactic will be to close with the British force, blow through (depth charging as they go), turn and do it again. This should turn into a nasty little fight.
Scenario 4 - Channel Dash
A German warship is making a dash through the straits of Dover. The British force is sent to cripple it to stop it getting away.
British force: All MTBs, then numbers made up with MGBs if necessary. Air support.
German forces: Corvette. Air support.
This is a rather unbalanced scenario but the British have only to survive one attack run against the ship and break off. Obviously, they should use all torpedoes the first time they attack.
Scenario 5 - Channel Rescue
A British aircraft has gone down in the Channel and an RAF motor launch has gone out to rescue the crew, only to come under attack from prowling E-Boats.
British force: Mixed MGB/MTB. One unarmed RAF Vosper launch.
German Forces: Mixed force E-Boat/R-Boat of equal size to the British force.
The launch starts in the far Fwd arc with two E-Boats in one of the far Bow arcs. Further E-Boat/R-Boat pairs will appear as the scenario progresses. If the Germans are getting a real drubbing, have the U-Boat turn up.
Scenario 6 - Channel Rescue Redux
The British force is sent towards the location of a surfaced U-Boat (forced to the surface and damaged by depth charges dropped by a Walrus maritime aircraft) to capture or sink it. On the way, they run into a German force intent on rescue.
British forces: Mixed MGB/MTB.
German forces: One U-Boat (damaged - cannot submerge). Mostly R-Boats and armed trawler, possibly E-Boats to make up numbers to one more than British force.
The U-Boat starts in the far Fwd or one of the Bow arcs. One pair of R-Boats and the trawler start in either the far Port or far Stbd arc. Further E-Boat/R-Boat pairs will appear as the scenario progresses.
Back to Table of Contents -- Lone Warrior # 145
Back to Lone Warrior List of Issues
Back to MagWeb Magazine List
© Copyright 2004 by Solo Wargamers Association.
This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web.
Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com