The Singapore Sling Volume 2: News From Our PBEM Campaign

 Our naval defence correspondent "Neptune"offers another column from his vantage point at the Empire Lounge, Raffles Hotel (reflecting state of play in our PBEM campaign after two turns, with much information concealed for the purposes of OPSEC - ref).

TSINGTAO A FORTIFIED CAMP

Tsingtao in more pleasant times.

Neptune remembers Tsingtao as having a very pleasant climate, a curious German style rice beer, and some rather shocking Teutonic architecture.  However, he has just spoken to several English families on the last steamer out  before the declaration of hostilities, and they describe that the town and port now resemble an armed camp.   Apparently there has been an influx of young German men from the Fatherland, and much activity in the harbour, which was sealed off by armed naval guards.   The English report that they were taken to their ship at night, so were unable to see much.   We hope that Admiral Jerram will find and destroy what now appears to be a nest of Hun raiders.

OUTRAGE IN THE CAROLINES

Sources in the Telegraph Exchange inform Neptune that an urgent message was overhead from the French colony Tout Compris in the Caroline Islands.   The message, which was incomplete, reported that the harbour was under attack by an enemy warship.  While we are tempted to explain this message by reference to the excitable temperaments of our Gallic friends, it is equally possible that some Hun raiders put to sea before the commencement of hostilities.    Such a possibility is concerning but our faith in the Royal Navy abounds.

The French armoured cruiser Dupleix.

Neptune wonders if finding the guilty party will be the task of the Dupleix.  This fine armoured cruiser is the first French warship to be assigned to the Pacific, and we welcome her contribution.

 SS MATHERAN MISSING

SS Matheran in happier times.

The mercantile community is expressing concerns that a fixture of these coasts, the SS Matheran, is overdue.  Her last reported position was in the Caroline Sea, and there are fears that she may have encountered the same Huns who attacked Tout Compris.  

Neptune welcomes all tips and information, as well as drink offers.  He can be found most days at the Empire Lounge, at his usual table for the 4pm Happy Hour.

The Singapore Sling Volume 1: With News On the Naval Excitement in the Pacific

 Herewith a tongue in cheek narrative of "Swan of the East", the play by email game currently under way. M

From our correspondent "Neptune", from his vantage point in the Empire Lounge, Raffles Hotel, Singapore.

With war now broken out all over the vast globe, our eyes are firmly fixed on the Pacific and the drama being played out here as we await news from the battlefields of Europe.

WHERE IS VON SPEE?

Was it only this spring that Admiral Von Spee and his East Asiatic Squadron made a port visit here?  The belles of Singapore certainly remember with fond recollection his glittering train of young gallant young officers, and the many balls and soirees held in their honour.   Our understanding is that his squadron, now turned foe, are lurking at their base in Tsingtao, and it is hoped that the Royal Navy may soon bottle him up there.

A few other odds and ends are thought to be lurking about, including the light cruiser Koenigsberg, rumoured to be in one of Germany's East Africa ports, but we are told she poses little threat.

DEFENDERS OF THE EMPIRE

Like a naval version of the Round Table, the Royal Navy has a host of paladins who are equal to the task of defending the sea lanes and defeating the Kaiser's pirates.

Senior among them is the bluff old sea-dog, Vice Admiral Martyn Jerram.  His China Squadron is said to be departing Hong Kong as I write this to confront Von Spee in his lair at Tsingtao.

The handsome and experienced Rear Admiral Sir George Edwin Patey has the honour of commanding the Empire's first colonial squadron, the Royal Navy's Australia squadron.

Admiral Patey's flagship, HMAS Australia, is one of the Royal Navy's vaunted battlecruisers.  Fast and deadly, she is more than a match for anything the Kaiser has afloat in the Pacific.

From his base in South Africa, one of the Royal Navy's most seasoned salts, Rear Admiral King Hall commands the Cape Squadron.

While there are rumours that the German navy will try and sneak a ship or two around the Cape and into the Pacific, we have no doubt that Admiral King Hall and his crack squadron will see them off.

ALLIED ASSISTANCE

A source in the Russian consulate here in Singapore tells us that a powerful squadron of the Czar's navy has departed its based in Vladivostock to assist the Allied cause.   We hear that these ships are commanded by veterans and boast the latest technology, a surprise to us as we thought the Russian navy was wiped out by the Japanese, whom we also are told will soon be our new allies.   In this strange world, old enemies are new comrades.

If you have news that you would like to share with our correspondent "Neptune", he can usually be found in Raffles Hotel most afternoons starting at the 4pm Happy Hour, and he would be happy to accept your offer of a drink and news.

Mike's Fighting Ships: A Player's Aid for the Swan of the East PBEM Game

Lately my modelling and hobby work has focused on cranking out 1/2400 scale ships for the Great War naval campaign that I'm running.  I'd love to say more about it, but it's all hush hush.   I look forward to telling the story when it's all over.

This blog post shows off the work I've done lately (a mix of Tumbling Dice and GHQ models) and is intended as a player aid to help recognize ships when I send digital photos of what the players might be seeing from their bridges.  I won't identify the ships, I'll just show them photos of what they see.  So in lieu of Jane's Fighting Ships, here is Mike's Fighting Ships.   

German battle cruiser, Moltke class.  Ships in class:  Moltke, Goeben.  10 28cm (11"), 12 15cm (5.9") guns, speed 25.5 knots.

German armoured cruiser, Scharnhorst class.  Ships in class:  Scharnhorst, Gneisnau. 8 21cm (8.3"), 6 15cm (5.9") guns, speed 22.5 knots.

German light cruiser, Magdeburg class.  Ships in class:  Magdeburg, Breslau, Strassburg, Stalsund.  12 10.5 cm (4.1") guns, top speed 27.5 knots.

German light cruiser, Dresden class.  Ships in class:  Dresden, Emden.  10 10.5cm (4.1") guns, top speed 25 knots.

German light cruiser, Koenigsberg class.  Ships in class: Koenigsberg, Stettin, Stuttgart, Nurnberg.   Ten 10.5cm (4.1") guns, top speed 24.1 knots:

British battle cruiser, Indefatigable class.  Ships in class:  Indefatigable, Australia, New Zealand.  8 12" guns, top speed 25.8 knots.

British pre-dreadnought battleship, Swiftsure class.  Ships in class:  Swiftsure, Triumph.  4 10", 14 7.5" guns, top speed 19 knots.

British pre-dreadnought battleship, Canopus class.  Ships in class:  Canopus, Glory, Albion, Ocean, Goliath, Vengeance.  4 12 inch guns, 12 6 inch guns, top speed 18 knots.

British armoured cruiser, Minotaur class.  Ships in class: Minotaur, Shannon, Defence. 4 9.2", 10 7.5" guns, top speed 23 knots.

British armoured cruiser, Monmouth class.  Ships in class:  Monmouth, Bedford, Essex, Kent, Berwick, Cornwall, Cumberland, Donegal, Lancaster, Suffolk.  12 6" guns, top speed 23 knots.

British armoured cruiser, Drake class.  Ships in class:  Drake, Good Hope, King Alfred, Leviathan.  2 9.2", 16 6" guns, top speed 23 knots.

British armoured cruiser, Devonshire Class.  Ships in class: Devonshire, Antrim, Argyll, Hampshire,  Carnarvon, Roxburgh. 4 7.5 inch guns, 6 inch guns, top speed 22 knots.

British  Town class light cruiser.  Various sub-classes, 21 in all.   6-10 6" guns, top speed 25 knots.

Japanese protected cruiser,   Chikuma class.  Ships in class:  Chikuma, Yahagi, Hirado.  8 6" guns, speed 26 knots.

Russian protected (light) cruiser Askold, unique design. 12 5" guns, speed 23.8 knots.

Russian Izumrud class protected (light) cruiser.  Ships in class:  Izumrud, Jemtchug.  6 4.7" guns.  Speed 24 knots.

Armed merchant cruisers (converted passenger ships).   Used by both sides.  Varying light armaments and speeds.

A humble and typical merchant ship.