Ed Note: This scenario has been well-received at several conventions this year. It will also appear in Mike's upcoming "La Guerre Navale ." Location: About 40 nm Southeast of Sardinia. 27 November 1940. 1230 hours local time. Introduction: This fictional scenario is based on the premise that although mainland France has fallen, the Empire continues to fight on. Plans to evacuate the French government to safety in North Africa by units of the Navy had actually been drafted, but were delayed and never put into action after the speed of the German advance surprised everyone. For this scenario, there was no delay and the government and most of the Army was safely ferried to North Africa. The French Navy continues to honor prewar agreements with the Royal Navy and guards the Western Mediterranean against the Italian Supermarina and German U-boats. Operational Situation: In the after-math of the British attack on Taranto, the Allies thought they would have time to safely shuffle convoys around the Mediterranean while the Italians licked their wounds. Operation Collar was a complex series of convoy movements and diversionary strikes to get badly needed RAF personnel and equipment to Malta from the east guarded by French naval forces operating from North Africa. Simultaneously, fast troop transports would reinforce Crete and Malta from Alexandria under Royal Navy protection. However, on November 25 th , Italian Intelligence learned of the departure of the Malta-bound convoy from Gibraltar. Consequently the next day, a powerful Italian battle fleet sortied to find and attack the critical convoy. Tactical Situation: The Italian force is cruising easterly in search of the Allied convoy. Sporadic reconnaissance reports indicated a French force of at least two capital ships protects the convoy. Earlier aerial scouting reports have alerted the French to the presence of Italians, although their exact location and composition are still unknown. Environment: Calm and clear. Sea state 2. Visibility 60%. Sunset is at 1730 hours. Winds light and variable. French Forces: 1 st Battle Cruiser Division Dunkerque (Dunkerque class BC) Strasbourg (Dunkerque class BC) 1 st Cruiser Division Foch (Suffren class CA) Algerie (Algerie class CA) 2 nd Cruiser Division Colbert, Dupleix (Suffren class CA) 5 th Destroyer Division Lion (Geupard class DD) Cassard, Tartu, Chevalier (Vauquelin class DD) 7 th Destroyer Division Geupard, Valmy, Verdun, (Geupard class DD) Vautour (Aigle class DD) French Orders: Protect the critical RAF convoy bound for Malta. If elements of the Italian fleet present themselves, do not hesitate to destroy them. French Victory Conditions: Decisive: Sink or cripple (greater than 50% damage) enemy battleships without own battle cruisers being sunk or crippled and sink or cripple two enemy cruisers for every own cruiser sunk or crippled. Tactical: Sink or cripple enemy battleships without own battle cruisers sunk or crippled. Italian Forces: Italian Battle Force Vittorio Veneto (Littorio class BB) Guilio Cesare (Cavour class BB) 7 th Destroyer Squadron Freccia, Dardo, Saetta (Freccia class DD) 13 th Destroyer Squadron Granatiere, Fuciliere, Bersagliere, Alpino (Soldati class DD) Italian Cruiser Force 2 nd Cruiser Division Pola, Fiume, Goriza (Zara class CA) 9 th Destroyer Squadron Alfieri, Carducci, Oriani, Gioberti (Oriani class DD) 3 rd Cruiser Division Trento, Trieste (Trento class CA) Bolzano (Bolzano class CA) 12 th Destroyer Squadron Lanciere, Ascari, Carabiniere (Soldati class DD) Italian Orders: Find and destroy the Allied convoy. If elements of French or British battle fleets are encountered in superior number, do not risk battleships in engagement. If enemy is encountered in equal or inferior numbers, engage and destroy. Italian Victory Conditions: Decisive: Sink or cripple (greater than 50% damage) enemy battle cruisers without own battleships being sunk or crippled and sink or cripple two enemy cruisers for every own cruiser sunk or crippled. Tactical: Sink or cripple enemy battle cruisers without own battleships sunk or crippled. Setup: Standard distance between ships in column is 500 yards. The Italian Battle Force is on course 135°, speed 17 knots. The Italian Cruiser Force is on course 135°, speed 17 knots. Trento bears 215°, 14,200 yards from Vittorio Vento. The French Battle Squadron is on course 045°, 15 knots. Dupleix bears 155°, 25,100 yards from Trento. The RAF convoy is on course 100°, 12 knots. The convoy bears 200°, 60 nm from Strasbourg. If playing a refereed game, tear the formation map in half to force ship identification during the detection phases. Variations 1. The Italians have Regia Aeronautica support from Sardinia. Thirty SM.79 bombers of the 8 th Stomo are based 75 nm from the battle. The aircraft are allowed to take off after the French are detected and a message sent requesting air assistance. Use CaS rules section 4.6 for aircraft launch rates. 2. French submarines from Bizerte had been positioned to intercept Italian sorties around either side of Sardinia and are able to attack the Italian Battle Force. Requin and Dauphin (Requin class SS) are at periscope depth on course 335° at 5 knots. Requin is 10nm, bearing 165° from Vittorio Vento. Dauphin is 2000 yards on Requin's starboard beam. 3. The convoy is available for attack if the Italians can get past the French Battle Squadron. This also allows the French to regroup and engage while the Italians close and attack the convoy – which will defend itself. Force F Manchester (Gloucester class CA) Southampton (Southampton class CA) Hotspur (H class DD) Peony, Salvia, Gloxinia, Hyacinth (Flower class DE Clan Fraser, Clan Forbes (7500 ton transports, 15 knots) New Zealand Star (9000 ton transport, 15 knots) Historical Comment: This battle would have pitted the smaller, more modern French battle squadron against their intended foe. Unlike the real battle against the British, the Italians would have not faced an aerial threat since the French lacked carrier power in the Mediterranean. The results no doubt would have helped shaped future tactics and strategy of the war in the Mediterranean. CAS Ship Profiles Map BT Back to The Naval Sitrep #17 Table of Contents Back to Naval Sitrep List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1999 by Larry Bond and Clash of Arms. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. 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