The Singapore Sling: Issues 12-14; 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 fourteen turns, with much information concealed for the purposes of OPSEC - ref).

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE FIRST  LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (with thanks to the FSL player for the excellent answers)

 Good day Mr Churchill and thank you for taking the time to speak to our readers, who are very interested in the progress of the war.    How would you say the war is going as of October 1914?

The war is going splendidly and we would soon drive the boche out of France and out of the war. The Royal Navy is the key to victory and we will keep our army supplied, the Germans blockaded and food in the mouths of every citizen of the British isles. And for what it's worth, Admiral Fisher and I are busy coming up with all kinds of plans that are guaranteed to shorten the war even more, if it lasts long enough for us to implement it. 

Most of the action appears to be in the Pacific, where the Germans are very active.   Can you confirm if their commander, Admiral Von Spee, is still alive?

While I'm not able to confirm if Von Spee is alive, I can assure you if he is it will not be for long. He can run but he cannot hide, and we will find him and send him and his crew of pirates to the bottom of the sea.

The Royal Navy seems to be having a hard time hunting down the Germans.   Since the war began, you’ve lost a modern battle cruiser and two old cruisers, and had a battleship and a modern light cruiser badly damaged.   Do these losses concern you?

Having a hard time finding the Germans? My dear sir, I know exactly where the majority of Germans are, they are in the cages we put them in before we send them back to Britain to perform useful things like farm work to compensate for our own menfolk being off to the wars. There's also a great many on their ships still manning their action stations at the bottom of the Pacific, that's where the Germans are sir, and don't you forget it!

War sir, is not a game, losses will occur, the biggest difference between the Royal Navy and the Kaiser's ragtag collection of pirates, is that we have the ships to cover our losses, and they are at present negligible, while the Kaiser has nothing to replace what he's already lost and will lose in the very near future.

What would you say to merchants and passengers afraid to travel by sea in the Pacific?

I would say they are more likely to drown in their own bathtubs than anywhere in the Pacific where the Royal Navy is present. All the members of the fairer sex can rest assured the Royal Navy will be their steadfast escort and will chaperone them to their destinations and see them deposited on shore safely and with all their frilly and lacy belongings. 

As for any men who would be afraid to travel in the Pacific, well sir, just let me state that any man who is so uninformed as to fear for his life in traveling to Asia, well a man like this should just as well stay home, because his presence in Asia will simply serve to lower the continent's average level of intelligence and serve no positive purpose in service of any company unfortunate enough to have hired him.

Do you have anything else to say to our readers. sir?

All Americans should have no fear to travel to anywhere in the British Empire. The Royal Navy has secured the sea lanes and have made travel during this German instigated war as safe as it was in previous times of peace. So feel free to visit Asia, visit the United Kingdom, there is no danger from any German influence and the King's subjects are always happy to meet and do business with our American cousins. Traveling the oceans is and will continue to be, child's play, I guarantee it.

STARTLING NEWS FROM MANILA

News has reached us of the recent arrival in Manila of the Norwegian merchant ship Gudrun, carring a motley and much welcomed collection or passengers.  The passengers are recently released captives of the famed German pirate ship, Emden, and formed the crews of the SS Clan MacTavish, SS Garlandstone, SS Manxman, and the Russian merchantman Grigory Stenkov.   The captives also included three imprisoned Royal Navy officers, including Commander the Right Hon. Geoffrey Sykes-Willoughby.   

Faithful readers will recall that in September, HMS Sydney nearly captured the Emden, and rescued the passengers and crew of SS St Osmund.   One of those rescued was Mr Midshipman Jukes, who dived off the Emden and swam to safety.  His three RN companions are now also at liberty.   Commander Sykes-Willoughby told the Sling's correspondent that the crew of the Emden treated them with impeccable courtesy, and treated them to a concert and variety show before embarking them in the Gudrun.   

A Brownie camera photograph taken by one of Gudrun's crew shows members of the Emden, and RN MIdshipman Jameson as the young lady (centre), after their highly successful variety show.

As Sykes-Willoughby observed, "Dashed fine fellows, those Germans, and a pity we shall sink them and kill the lot.  Pity, they are such good singers".  The Captain of the Gudrun was last seen heading for the German Consulate to redeem a promissory note for delayed cargo and for the replacement of the ship's wireless set, destroyed before she was allowed to depart the Emden.

WITH ADMIRAL KING HALL AT DAR ES SALAAM

The Sling has obtained a copy of Admiral King Hall's dispatch describing thrilling and successful operations to capture the German base at Dar Es Salaam.  Along with Tsingtao, now in Japanese hands, this news means that surviving German raiders have no refuge in the Pacific save the Port of Rabaul, which is closely watched by the Royal Navy and its allies.

My lords,

Pursuant to your orders, I have the honour submit the following account of recent operations conducted under my direction along the coast of German East Africa, specifically in the vicinity of Dar Es Salaam.

At first light on the morning of the 28th ultimo, HMS Ocean commenced a deliberate bombardment of suspected enemy coastal emplacements.  The firing was sustained for a period exceeding one hour, during which time no return fire was observed.  Upon cessation of the barrage, HMS Pelorus advanced inshore, leading a flotilla of ship’s boats, each bearing a detachment of troops for the purpose of landing and seizing the place.

The landing force comprised elements of the East Surrey Regiment and sepoys of the Rajputana contingent, under the command of Brigadier Lawrence.  I cannot sufficiently praise the energy and enthusiasm of this officer, whose conduct deserves my highest approbation.  The disembarkation proceeded without incident, and within a few hours the town was secured.  No resistance was encountered, and the gun crews of the Pelorus, though eager, were afforded no opportunity to engage.  The landing parties reported that the German garrison had largely absconded prior to our arrival.  Only a handful of invalids and medical personnel remained, who were taken into custody without difficulty.

Concurrently, our patrols in the Mozambique Channel received intelligence from native fishermen indicating that a German warship was observed proceeding up the Rufiji River.  It is now confirmed that the vessel in question is the Königsberg, which, faced with the overwhelming strength of the Royal Navy, has been withdrawn from active operations to lend support to German land forces.  While this removes the immediate threat posed by that vessel, it has necessitated the continued presence of one of His Majesty’s ships in the Channel to prevent any resurgence until such time as it can be finally destroyed, to which I shall attend with appropriate force.

I cannot conclude this letter without drawing their lordships’ attention to the conduct, discipline, and courage of the sailors under my command, during this operation.  The co-operation of the Army contingent has been nothing short of exemplary.

I have the honour to remain, 

Your obedient servant, 

Rear Admiral Sir Herbert Goodenough King-Hall

NEWS OF THE KONIGSBERG

SMS Konigsberg Visiting Singapore Before the War

As Admiral King Hall's dispatch indicates, another of the Kaiser's pirates has been vanquished.   While it appears clear now that she was able to destroy two of His Majesty's cruisers, HMS Pegasus and Astraea, off Madagascar, something damage in that fight must have forced the German captain to take refuge up the Rufiji River.   Forces under Admiral King Hall have now blockaded her and will see that she poses no further threat to our shipping.  As Commander Peters of the Admiralty observed, "Another of the Kaiser's pieces has been removed from the board".  

Your humble correspondent Neptune welcomes all tips and information, especially when accompanied by a drink offer.  He can be found most days at the Empire Lounge, at his usual table for the 4pm Happy Hour.  Ask Fernando the barman to point him out to you.

Swan of the East: Considering An Early WW1 Naval Campaign

 Some years back (2018 seems almost idyllic when viewed from the present) I had the good fortune to take some leave in Australia following a brief assignment at the Australian Forces Chaplain School in Canberra.  It was enough time to get to know Melbourne and Sydney and to generally fall in love with Oz.   Our hotel in the Sydney business district was beside Hyde Park, and strolling one day I came across both the Anzac Memorial and this trophy monument, a Great War naval gun.

At the time I knew enough about the Great War at Sea to recognize the name of SMS Emden, the famous German raider that gained a piratical but chivalrous reputation before being finally cornered and sunk by the Australian cruiser HMAS Sydney.  This 4.1 inch (10.5cm) gun was one of several recovered from the wrecked German light cruiser and was presented to the City of Sydney in 1917.  

At the time I made a mental note to learn more about the Emden, but it had to wait for six years until I went down a hobby rabbit hole of naval gaming.   That lead me to start collecting 1/2400 scale naval models from both world wars from GHQ.  Of course at some point I was bound to order an Emden model, which is currently almost painted and nearly ready for basing.

While this and some other GHQ Great War models were on order, I picked up this book by Wes Olson when tempted by a Naval and Military Press book sale, and it did not disappoint.  

 Olson's account of Emden's brief career is gripping, and his blow by blow account of her duel with Sydney was very conflicting, as I was cheering for both sides.   Of course he tells the amazing story of how Emden's Number One, von Mucke, who was ashore on a raiding mission when the battle started, led his party across the Indian ocean in a leaky sailing boat, how they fought Bedouins in Yemen, and were finally feted when they reached friendly Constantinople.  I realized that Olson provided more than enough material and inspiration to think about a WW1 naval campaign based on the Emden's career.  But how to structure it?

I then recalled that my gaming library's shelf of shame had a small game published by Avalanche Press called Cruiser Warfare (CW).  I've played other Avalanche naval games and found the tactical system wanting, but I had a second look at CW and realized that it could give me the framework for a campaign game.  CW provides an area map for ALL THE SEVEN SEAS!, simple rules for searches, raiding, convoys, coal supplies (vital in this period and the Kriegsmarine's Achilles heal), and a complete OOB for the German raiders and for the RN and allied fleets that hunted them down.  Of course the game includes Emden:

And her nemesis:  

The objective of the campaign game for the Germans is to rack up points by commerce raiding and knock off weaker allied warships, while the Allies want to protect their convoys and run the Germans down, focusing of course on their most powerful foes, Von Spee's East Asia Squadron.  

While the whole campaign is tempting, I concluded that a simple proof of my concept would focus on the Emden, starting with the outbreak of hostilities when she was in the German colony port of Tsingtao.   Her task is to escape Tsingtao before the Royal Navy blockading force arrives, find Von Spee and receive his orders for solo raiding.   The Allied goal is to find Emden (SOS calls from merchant ships are clues to her location) and sink her before she can do too much damage.   Any encounters between Emden and allied warships will be played out on the tabletop using Naval Thunder Clash of Dreadnoughts rules, although the game will likely end with one battle, as Emden is a gallant but fragile light cruiser, and naval warfare in this period was a pretty bloody rock paper scissors affair where speed and gunnery advantages were all (as proven by the Coronel and Falklands battles where the Germans outclassed the RN and then were in turn outclassed).  

I think there's the potential for a good internet-PBEM game here, with one player playing the role of Emden's Captain Muller and other players commanding various allied squadrons in a cat and mouse game.  A more complicated game could add two more German players commanding the solo raiders Karlsruhe and Dresden, but that's too ambitious for now.

So that's the concept, and once my Holy Week obligations are over, I hope to tinker with it some more and report on Emden's progress in a test game.  Stay tuned, me hearties!

Blessings to your gaming,

MP+

A New Look And An Artist To Follow

Today I’m celebrating my renewed interest in this blog with a new look for the header and a bit of a plug for one of my favourite artists.

 I discovered Tim Godden on Twitter a few years back and was immediately captivated by the poignant simplicity of his Great War artwork.   Tim’s characters are human, often youthful, and heartbreakingly vulnerable.   The art doesn’t hit you over the head with a message, and it seldom displays actual combat. It doesn’t have to.  Like the film sequences of the laughing, snaggle-toothed soldiers in Peter Jackson’s They Shall Not Grow Old, Godden reminds us that these were real people, with real hopes, fears, and emotions.

The image on the left of the header is one I personally commissioned from Tim, and depicts one of the famous Great War padres, Tubby Clayton.  It shows him as the kind host of Talbot House, or “TocH” as it was known in the War.   If you’ve ever been to Poperinge, Belgium, you probably know about it.  The image on the right of the header is entitled “Soldier Scholar” and I think we can all relate to the young man reading the book.   I also like the fact that both figures in the header are smoking pipes, a practice I have, sadly, discontinued but long enjoyed.

I have a triptych of Tim Godden prints in my war-games room.   The image on the right, though it didn’t photograph that well, is entitled “His First Night Patrol”.   I love the harsh geometry of the flare and the fragility of the three figures.  Will they make it back?   

 The figure on the bottom left shows a young Canadian soldier reflecting on his experience at Passchendaele.  The rain and the mud and his lost expression are highly evocative.  It was in my office for a long time, but as I prepare to retire in a year I’ve started moving things home.   This print seems a good addition to the games room, to remind me about what war-games actually speak of.

Finally, in our kitchen upstairs my fiancee Joy agreed to let me hang another triptych of Godden’s work, showing three Great War soldiers with cats.  Tim tells me that his three cats all agreed to be models!  Joy, who is very much a dog person, says the three images remind her of me, the cat-loving soldier she allowed into her life.  I am pleased that she likes them.

 

You can follow Tim on Twitter @TJGodden and you browse and even buy his artwork here.  Be warned that browsing may cut into your war-games budget, but I hope you will love his work as much as I do.

Blessings,

MP+