The Road Chosen

I backed this print and play Kickstarter a few months ago but have only just got round to downloading the files for printing out. It's a solo tactical wargame of WW2 infantry and armour in NW Europe, a bit like Rifles in the Ardennes from what I've managed to gather, although the mechanics are different. I really like the artwork as well, which has a nice sepia, toned down quality to it. I'm planning to print and laminate all the bits at some point in the next few weeks and give it a try out when I have the time.

New Year's Resolutions

My New Year's Resolution this year is to play more board wargames, some old favourites and some new additions to the collection, most of which are second hand but in very good condition. For my presents this year, I have a quartet of great games, most of which can be played solo, especially Phantom Leader and Wing Leader, both of which I'm very keen to get started on. 

I've also bought myself some more games including Panzer Blitz, as I'm a veteran Panzer Leader player and love the game, as well as Lock n' Load Band of Heroes, so I can try out the Lock n' Load system. I've also just got hold of Manoeuvre by GMT, which ticks all the boxes for Beer and Pretzels wargaming, although not so great for solo play. I'm hoping to really dig into board wargaming again after having neglected this side of the hobby for far too long.

Corvette Command Campaign January 1942 (3)

January 1942

HMCS Windflower

Fast convoy (ON/59) of forty nine merchant ships from LIVERPOOL to HALIFAX, Nova Scotia

23rd January

After slight delay due to bomb damage to docks, convoy departs LIVERPOOL in poor weather, with rain showers and heavy swell. 

24th - 26th January

Good progress made despite inclement weather on passage North of Ireland. Weather partially clears as depression blows through but met office forecast for crossing is not good.

27th January

Poor weather returns overnight, with rain squalls and intermittent light snow fall as temperature drops to below freezing. 

09.46 Report of Coastal Command Avro Anson ditching due to icing in proximity of convoy. HMCS Windflower dispatched to conduct area search in last known position. A/C not located and crew assumed missing, presumed dead. C/O informed that this was a high priority research flight testing new A/S radar equipment, now assumed to have been lost with the A/C. At least Jerry didn't get his grubby hands on it! 

28th - 29th January

Weather deteriorates further to fog and intermittent blizzard conditions. Visibility reduced and risk of collision evident but good seamanship and a sharp lookout prevents any problems.

30th January - 1st February

Three days of rough weather, with high seas and storm force winds. Galley fires out so crew on cold rations and nutty. At least the U-Boats will be forced under for the duration. 

2nd February

Storm blows itself out with fog and snow showers reducing visibility, although sea state now light swell rather than choppy. HMCS Windflower ordered to search for three convoy stragglers, scattered by the storm, using RADAR and lookouts to locate missing vessels.

15.23 Lookout reports E/S on surface, bearing 030, 800yds off starboard bow. Identified as Type VII. 4'' gun at action stations, gets off two rounds, first falling short but second very close. Good show! 

E/S crash dives but ASDIC fails to make contact. E/S assumed to have gone deep and escaped. Number One, a pre-war artist of some repute no less, has made a rather good charcoal sketch of the action now hanging on the wardroom bulkhead. 

Stragglers not located so HMCS Windflower re-joins convoy.

3rd - 5th February

Slight improvement in weather conditions but fog and snow soon return after a brief break in the overcast. Visibility poor and constant watch kept in case of collision.

Inspection reveals storm damage to aft Mk VIII AA pom-pom mount, with traverse mechanism seized and one breech jammed by salt water corrosion. Temporary repairs made but AA now U/S until parts can be replaced alongside in Halifax.

6th February

Arrive HALIFAX. No ships lost to E/S whilst under convoy escort but three stragglers still missing. Subsequent ASR search locates lifeboat from M/V Algonquin (7000t). Survivors confirm sinking by E/S. No trace of M/V Ceronia (8000t) or M/V White Crest (4000t) assumed lost with all hands. 

END

That was a much quicker game, mainly due to the weather which prevented a U-Boat attack and because I now have a good grasp of the rules so don't need to keep checking things. 

The rough weather was great as it happened in the air gap south of Iceland and prevented the U-Boats from hitting the convoy, although the random sub on the surface meant I did get to try out the gunnery rules, with a very near miss resulting. The overall tonnage lost was down to the three stragglers, but only added up to 19000 tonnes, resulting in a major victory for the RN and 2 VP's. 

I now have seven days to repair, rearm and refuel before HMCS Windflower is back on escort duty!

Corvette Command Campaign January 1942 (2)

9th January

Weather remains good, with calm seas and good visibility. Lookouts on high alert as conditions ideal for E/S attack.

10th / 11th January

Weather still good due to high pressure system over Eastern Atlantic.

20.15 M/V Snowden (4000t) hit by torpedo. Crew taken off. U/Boat detected at long range by ASDIC, bearing 156. Tanker M/V Missouri (8000t) hit by torpedo and explodes. Survivors rescued but most of crew lost. Convoy reports several torpedo tracks spotted.

01.47 Suspicions of a Wolfpack confirmed by RADAR contact with surfaced E/S, bearing 230, but lookout could not locate as down moon and at long range. Torpedo tracks spotted by convoy but only one vessel hit, cargo liner SS Talbot Castle (10000t), crew and passengers taken off.

03.16 Torpedo hits M/V Sennen (4000t), cargo of ammunition explodes with no survivors, followed immediately afterwards by hit on MV Gratton (5000t), with crew picked up from lifeboats. No RADAR or ASDIC contact made but suspect E/S had launched spread of torpedoes.

03.40 M/V Portland Bay (4000t) hit by torpedo, crew abandon ship. A solid RADAR contact, bearing 178, with surfaced E/S at long range but lookout fails to locate. Suspect E/S submerges to evade detection.

05.38 Torpedo hit on M/V Lady Montgomery (9000t), survivors picked up by rescue ship. RADAR contact, bearing 214, with surfaced E/S at medium range. No visual identification. 

05.46 Torpedo tracks spotted by lookout and torpedo closing HMCS Windflower located by ASDIC, evasive manoeuvres, torpedo passes down starboard side but fails to hit. 

05.50 Torpedo hits tanker, M/V Shell Adventure (8000t) with cargo of aviation fuel, explodes with no survivors. RADAR contact with surfaced E/S confirms it has moved to long range, then lost as probably submerged. 

A costly night for the convoy but most survivors successfully picked up by daybreak. 

12th / 14th January

Weather generally good but deteriorates to poor conditions, with moderate swell and some rain showers. No further enemy activity as now within air cover of Coastal Command and destroyer escort Western Approaches.

15th January

Convoy arrives LIVERPOOL, in poor weather. Over night a bombing raid by E/A on docks and roadstead. HMCS Windflower engages with AA and claims one aircraft shot down. P/O Boucher and gun crew congratulated by C/O. Huzzah! No hits on convoy. 

END

That was a dramatic convoy with an attack by a Wolfpack of four U-Boats in ideal conditions at night. It was very hard to detect them, even with RADAR and eight ships were sunk, making a total of ten overall for the convoy. This means the Kriegsmarine have won a Minor Victory, having sunk 69000 tonnes of shipping, although they did lose a U-Boat in the process. I now have six days to repair, rearm and refuel before HMCS Windflower heads back across the North Atlantic with a new convoy!

Corvette Command Campaign January 1942 (1)

January 1942

HMCS Windflower

Slow Convoy (SC/63) of fifty merchant ships from St John's, Newfoundland, to Liverpool.

3rd January

Departed St John's in good weather and calm seas.

On A/S drill ASDIC U/S due to serious electrical fault and lookout reported that bridge range finder damaged by water penetration. C/O not amused.

Immediate repairs made to ASDIC set and range finder to be dismantled and lenses replaced. ASDIC now fully operational.

US Radio broadcast reports heavy bombing of Liverpool overnight.

4th / 5th January

Weather deteriorates to fog and snow showers. Danger of collisions in reduced visibility but good convoy discipline prevents any problems.

6th January

Weather slowly improves although still poor with heavy swell but visibility much better.

Bridge range finder now fully repaired.

7th / 8th January

Weather now good with high air pressure and low temperatures but excellent visibility. Clear skies and long nights will bring U-Boats, so lookouts on full alert.

19.47 U-Boat detected by ASDIC at long range during the night but evades and contact is lost. Several torpedo tracks identified by convoy.

M/V Texas Star (11000t) with cargo of aviation fuel hit by torpedo and blows up. No survivors.

05.54 U Boat detected at close range just before dawn after torpedo hits and sinks tanker M/V Empire Bell (6000t) with cargo of petroleum. Survivors picked up by rescue ship.

ASDIC maintains contact and two depth charge attacks made, with E/S forced to surface. Identified as a Type VIIC (U82). Crew abandon E/S and picked up by launch but U-Boat sinks before boarding party can get aboard. Suspect scuttling charges detonated by crew before they abandoned E/S. 

TO BE CONTINUED....  

That was a really good start to the campaign with plenty of opportunities to try out the key elements of the rules. I've only moved four sector squares due to zig zagging and the U-Boat attacks, with the wolfpack following up the first attack, but it's been a lot of fun so far. I also made lots of notes which always slows things down a bit but the actual game play is quite quick, especially when there is a blank sector counter. 

So far, I've had one random event and one U-Boat attack, as well as a mechanical breakdown in the very first turn, so pretty busy on the bridge of HMCS Windflower. At least a Type VIIC has been sunk and the C/O will get a DSC, while the ASDIC operator will get his mention in dispatches, just like my grandfather in very much the same circumstances! 

Keep tuned for the next instalment.

Corvette Command

It's been a very quiet year here, mainly due to the fact that I haven't been away on holiday, which is when I do most of my hex and counter board or print and play paper wargaming. Nevertheless, here's a new print and play game that I'm very keen to try out in 2022, the free convoy escort game Corvette Command, which you can download from the Facebook group or Wargames Vault. I've printed off all the bits so now just need to assemble them and get started on my own solo campaign. 

Wars of the Roses

 

Here's a new paper based project for a rainy weekend this Autumn, something I'd been meaning to try out for quite a long time but somehow never got round to. The set contains some rules by Andy Callan of Never Mind the Billhooks fame, but I quite fancy having a go with Neil Thomas' One Hour Wargame rules, as they are perfect for this sort of thing. It's in the post at the moment but I'll have a closer look when it arrives in a few days.