Fresh From The Shipyards: Escort Vessels For Torpedoes and Tides

Hello friends:

In my last post, "Convoy Chaos", I had some photos of some shamefully underpainted German vessels and even black primed targets (I mean, merchant ships).   Since then I've been working on getting them finished for their next encounter.

Here is the 3D printed Raumboote or R Boat.  The German term literally means "clearance boat" and they were wooden hulled, fast vessels that could serve a number of roles: minesweeping, air-sea rescue, and convoy escort.  Over 400 were produced and served in all theatres.   Later versions were upgunned and some had torpedo tubes added.

I found this model on Thingverse.  If you search for "Cruel Seas" you'll find a number of nice models from the various countries' coastal forces.   It painted up well.  I added a copper wire mast and some Skytrex crew.

This beast is a Skytrex resin and metal model M Class minelayer.   In German they were called Minensuchboot and I gather that, like the R Boats, they were versatile ships that could play a variety of roles.

The Skytrex model includes crewed weapons and I added some figures to the bridge.

The two- models side by side to give a sense of how big the M class ship is.  In 1/600 scale it’s a bit of a beast.

And another perspective shot with the Skytrex Bangor class minesweeper.

Finally here’s the latest model from the 3D printer shipyards, an armed trawler to beef up my RN escorts.   I have some spare weapons in my Skytrex bit box including a crewed 3” gun.  Again it’s a Thingverse model so not sure how accurate it is but it’s a sizeable ship and should give the E-boats pause for thought.

Cheers and blessings to your boats.

MP+

First Time At Sea With Torpedoes and Tides

 It took me a while but I finally put some boats on the table and took these rules by Thomas Brandsetter for a spin, and they were a lot of fun!

I started modestly, two British Fairmile MGBs (aka "Dog Boats" going up against two Kriegsmarine E-boats or S (for Schnell) Boats in the English Channel.  It was night, but rolling for the environment gave me two fog banks, a full moon on the south edge of the table, and one section of coastline.    Here the Germans, still on blinds, spot the first of the two Dog Boats, outside of gun range (torpedoes against such small craft would be pointless so it's all gun combat).

I was using earlier war stats for the S Boats, when they aren't equipped with bow guns, so the Germans turned broadside on as the British approached.   There was much inconclusive shooting.  The gunfire mechanics basically mean both boats roll a die, with apporpriate modifiers, and the side with the higher value either inflicts suppression or damage, or successfully defends.   I had forgotten to add the Combat Value of the ships (3 in both cases) to the results of the die rolls.   In T&T all ships have Traits or characteristics, and the S Boats have the Hard to Hit Trait, which means that sixes become ones.   This trait proved handy as the Germans, who were undergunned compared to the Fairmiles, evaded damage and both sides came away unscathed.

My 3D printed Fairmilles and the Skytrex German S-boats blaze away in the darkness.  The playing mat is by Geek Villain.

Having learned the basics of the spotting, moving, and combat rules, I ran out of time.  The undergunned Kriegsmarine ships raced off into the darkness.  

Most of what I've read of these coastal forces encounters was that they were quick and often bloody, but in this case everyone gets back to base with inflated stories of glory.

 

Next time I'll add some more boats and use the later war S Boat stats to make it a fairer fight vs the Fairmiles.   I have some larger ships in the dockyards so hopefully I'll put some fish in the water.

A fun and positive introduction to an interesting set of rules.

Blessings to your die rolls!

MP+