Tigris 1914

A naval wargame set on the Tigris River during 1914

1. The Battle of Basra: The Ottoman and British naval forces face off on the Tigris River near Basra. The Ottomans aim to defend Basra and prevent the British from advancing further inland, while the British seek to establish control over the river to secure their position in the region.

The Ottoman fleet is positioned strategically to defend Basra, while the British forces approach from the Persian Gulf. As the player I need to manage the fleets effectively, utilizing a combination of gunboats, river monitors, and possibly even armed dhows or other local vessels. The Ottomans might have shore batteries to bolster their defenses, while the British can call upon air support from seaplanes or dirigibles for reconnaissance.

The Start

Friday 6 November 1914 British/Indian forces started to land in Mesopotamia from the Persian Gulf supported by old battleship Ocean (Capt Hayes-Sadler), sloops Odin, Espiegle, and including Government yacht Lewis Pelly, launch-tugs Garmsir, Sirdar-I-Naphti, Mashona, Miner, all manned, armed and commissioned by HMS Ocean.

 

HMS Espiegle

 

Odin, sloop, Epiegle-class, 1,070t, 6-4in/4-3pdr, Capt Hayes-Sadler in command and crewed by Espiegle, with convoy carrying Anglo-Indian expeditionary force, entered Shatt-el-Arab and came under Turkish fire. Odin in 40-minute duel silenced a 4-gun battery at Fort Fao or Al Faw guarding the Shatt-el-Arab entrance, hit twice and later fired on by riflemen from trenches. Espiegle hit entrenchments further upstream opposite Abadan (Rn/D/gb)

 

 

Game one, the Fao Landings

The fort on an outcrop dominating the river

Odin creeps inshore and starts to batter the firt

This Cadmus class tugboat is in 1:600.  Still needs some work.

Good shooting

The RN brings a wall down

Unseen shore battery.  Odin takes damage

But the salvo in return is stunning.  Three Turkish guns are wrecked.

The Naval flotilla takes on the battery.  Wiping it out.

And Odin turns back on the fort.

And Fao is looking shaky.

The Marine battalion begins its row ashore

The Marines lose a boat but three companies get ashore.

And the fort is pretty much done.

The Marines attack the Turkish reserves.

And finally the Phoona Brigade begins to land

The Turkish cavalry in reserve

The fort falls.

And the Turkish cavalry retreats.