This is a great four-cornered scenario for casual or tournament play. Initially designed as an introduction to the basic CaS movement and gunnery system, we've played it at several conventions, where it has become very popular with veteran naval gamers. The briefing is the same for each side except for the forces, which can be either American, French, Italian, or German. Location: Territorial waters surrounding the South Sea island Kingdom of Oz. The time is 0900 local, July 19, 194x. Operational Situation: Oz, an island kingdom rich in natural resources, was discovered hidden within a mysterious fog bank only two years ago. Immediately world powers began to vie with one another for the rights to exploit this pearl. Three days ago the King of Oz was enroute to the Hague to sign a treaty granting exclusive mineral and oil rights to a foreign power in exchange for protection and technology. Two days ago the King's yacht was sunk by torpedoes from an unidentified submarine. Competing nations quickly assembled battlegroups of fast warships to race for Oz and "protect" it from other nations exploiting the King's death. Tactical Situation: While on station in the haze surrounding Oz, your squadron has sighted enemy warships of varying size and shape. It is estimated that at least three other navies have warships in the area, circling the island like sharks before a feeding frenzy. Environment: Within the fog bank surrounding Oz; no wind, sea state 1, and visibility 5%. Inside of the fog bank in a fifteen (15) nm radius from the shore of the island; wind is at 090° at 10 knots, sea state 2, and visibility 75%. Enemy Forces: Suspect enemy squadrons consist of fast capital ships and escorts like your own squadron. Enemy Orders: Suspect enemy orders are to seize control of Oz and its resources by any means. Enemy Victory Conditions: Decisive: Enemy forces are the only surviving forces within the 3 nm territorial limits of Oz. Tactical: Enemy forces have the predominance of surviving forces (most ships) within the 3 nm territorial limits of Oz. Your Orders: Claim island Kingdom of Oz as a protectorate of your nation. To issue this claim your squadron must be within the 3 nm territorial limits of Oz. Prevent other nations from attempting the same by stopping any enemy ship from reaching the 3 nm territorial limits of Oz. Engage enemy ships as necessary to accomplish your mission. Your Victory Conditions: Decisive: Your squadron is the only surviving force within the 3 nm territorial limits of Oz. Tactical: Your squadron is the predominant force (most ships) within the 3 nm territorial limits of Oz. Setup: Four sectors surround the island of Oz based on the cardinal points: Green (000°-090°), Red (090°-180°), White (180°-270°), Blue (270°-000°). The inner edge of each sector is along an arc 7 nm from the coast line of Oz. The outer edge of each sector is along an arc 10 nm from the coast of Oz. The recommended scale for this scenario is 1" = 250 yards. Squadron commanders are free to select formation, course, and speed, but must provide formation, course and speed to referee(s) prior to game start. Special Rules: Each squadron is to have written orders for four turns in advance, until it has fired or has been fired upon. Optional Rule: "Permission to Fire." Because of unique weather and atmospherics surrounding Oz, wireless communications with relay stations are haphazard at best. Squadrons are not permitted to commence hostilities until in receipt of permission to engage or until fired upon. A die roll of 5 or 6 on a D6 grants permission to commence hostilities. Referees and Squadron commanders will secretly roll the die during the detection phase of each turn. Changes to orders may then be plotted for the next turn or reaction fire if a target is available. The "Permission to Fire" die roll will cease once all four squadrons have been fired on. American Forces: Alaska Alaska class BC (flag) Guam Alaska class BC New Orleans New Orleans class CA Minneapolis New Orleans class CA French Forces: Dunkerque Dunkerque class BC (flag) Strasbourg Dunkerque class BC Suffren Suffren class CA Dupleix Suffren class CA German Forces: Scharnhorst Scharnhorst class BC (flag) Gneisenau Scharnhorst class BC Admiral Hipper Admiral Hipper class CA Blucher Admiral Hipper class CA Italian Forces: Guilio Cesare Conti di Cavour class BC (flag) Caio Duilio Andrea Doria class BC Fiume Zara class CA Pola Zara class CA Gunboat After Action Report Ship Charts for Gunboat Scenario Set Up Correction BT Back to The Naval Sitrep #14 Table of Contents Back to Naval Sitrep List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1998 by Larry Bond and Clash of Arms. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com