North American Campaign - interlude - minelaying

 This little campaign is loosely based on events in the Spanish American War and Russo Japanese War.  As a test of the Funny Little Fleets pre-dreadnought rules there are a number of planned scenarios - ship to ship action, attack on a fort and all leading up to a squadron action.  In the margins other things are being tried out, such as minelaying - which had a key role at Port Arthur.

The model of the Red/White/Blue minelayer (USS Boom) is based on a toy which I came across online.

It is also an opportunity to deploy searchlights from the fort.

The searchlight troops are a Tunstill recruiting party, being redeployed here.

The mine rules are very much a work in progress - more to follow.

A lantern slide of mines in action at Port Arthur.

Searchlights at Port Arthur

A model of a toy Japanese minelayer, found online - with thanks.

North American Campaign - Game 2 - the attack on the fort

 

Dawn

 The Red/White/Blue squadron approaches the outer harbour defence fort.  The armed yacht Plutocrat leads the way, and the squadron then retires to open fire at first light.

The defenders are in place, and ready. 

Swank opens fire with her main armament, and Queasy fires from a closer position.  Both ships are ‘over’ with the first rounds.

Before the fort can return fire, there is a remarkable climactic interlude – high winds and a rain storm erupt!  The Plutocrat disappears! A percentage dice is rolled - Plutocrat receives 10% damage.

Alas rain stops play.  This is early summer in Hay on Wye - so all seasons can appear in one day.  

Everything is utterly soaked.

Alas, the toy soldiers and ships have to go away … but just for now.  The Red/White/Blue squadron retires over the horizon and in the fort, it is time for tea. 

The game continues …