Battle of the River Plate, sort of...

I rediscovered my 1:6000 WW2 Naval collection this morning.  With a huge electrical storm closing in on Cyprus today some gaming seemed the best thing to do with my time  I went for early 
war, and some cruiser actions.  As a wargamer I added in some what if... angles.

The Battle of the River Plate was the first naval battle in the Second World War and the first in South American waters. The German cruiser Admiral Graf Spee was loose in the South Atlantic  and one of the hunting groups of Commonwealth cruisers discovered her off the South American coast.

In my version of history Admiral Scheer (and note that the Brits thought that the Spee was in fact the Scheer) has escaped into the South Atlantic.  The Admiralty has however realised that a second German capital ship, the Blucher, a Deutschland class heavy cruiser, and the Nord-Reich, an auxiliary supply vessel, have made the journey to join her.  


A naval task force has been sent in pursuit of Blucher, hoping to meet with her before the Germans can unite their capital ships.    

In the first game I gave the Commonwealth four cruisers.  HMS Exeter, Ajax and Achilles all fought at the River Plate so were my first choice.  HMS Cumberland was refitting in Port Stanley in the Falklands and so missed the battle, but rejoined the squadron in time to blockade Graf Spee in Montevideo.  For my alternate history Cumberland would be with her sisters, and the first game would have them fighting the Pocket battleship Admiral Scheer.  

The Scheer was sighted at 12000 yards, against the Commonwealth Squadron which was steaming parallel in two divisions, Ajax leading Achilles, and to starboard Exeter leading Cumberland.  The rules would be GQ3, really super detailed, so this one would take a while!

Sheer opened fire as the Royal Navy split forces, their lines diverging.  Ajax came under fire, and immediately took damage as Scheer ranged in.   The other Royal Navy ships began to range in on Scheer, but it was too late for Ajax, as both her front turrets were lost and she was severely damaged.  Making smoke Ajax fell out of line, circling away.  Achillies speed was reduced after a shell exploded among her boilers.  Both light cruisers were out of the fight.

Exeter`s 8 inch guns managed to range in on Scheer, and caused some damage, but the Germans now turned their guns on Exeter and Cumberland.  Trading salvos Exeter was silenced and slowed to a minimum speed.  Her bulkheads gone and clearly sinking by the bow.  Cumberland running past her made smoke to cover herself as Scheer turned away.  

I decided that Scheer had done enough, and turned for the table edge heading for the horizon.   With Cumberland nervously shadowing her the Scheer went in search of Blucher.

The General Quarters 3 rules are really some of the most detailed I`ve ever used.  I quite liked them but it made for a very slow game.   I may have to cut them down to size a little, but overall I`m on to someting with them.  The photos show that this is an empty battlefield.  My 1:6000 ships are lovely models, and they really convey the sense of distance needed for WW2 naval.  

So it`s on to game 2.  The Battle Cruiser HMS Renown, of 15 inch guns, with the Carrier HMS Hermes and her (814) squadron of Swordfish torpedo bombers, have followed Blucher to the South Atlantic.   Next time it`s a bigger game altogether (and may even need two games?)