Trafalgar Game at the Club

I recently joined a local war gaming club, Army Group York.  Yes, I was just as surprised as you there is a club with standards low enough for me to qualify, but there you go.

After playing some wonderful games at the club facility, I wanted to run my first game there and went with and old standard - Napoleonic Naval.  Naval games are very easy to transport and look surprisingly good.

The scenario was simple - a combine force of French and Spanish ship had to escort a frigate with a special envoy aboard across the far map edge.

The French had 3 ships (upper center) which were a 2nd Rate and two 3rd rates.  The Spanish (lower center) also had three ships - a lumbering 1st rate and 2 3rd's.  They were escorting two frigates - one of which held the envoy - the British player did not know which Frigate the envoy was on.

The blockading British Squadron was similar in size with 6 Ships of the line - a 1st rate and 5, 3rd rates (upper left) plus two frigates (lower left)

The British admiralty looks on as they plot maneuvering around the Island - which way will the frigates go?

Lots of maneuvering

Contact - the Spanish line comes in a gun duel with the Victory's division and comes off a little worse for the exchange.

 The Franco/Iberian coalition changed plans midway during the game and kept the frigates to the right side go the board.  The Spanish were nominated to delay the British force and did so very well but paid for it in some sunk and disabled ships.  I am sure the French will remark upon there brave allies in their dispatches.

Ed's line of three 3rd rates closes in on the battered Spanish.  He managed to sink a 3rd rate outright and so massive damage to the 1st rate (the lead ship).  The Spanish still fought bravely with the 1st Rate managing to ram and grapple the Mars and was attempting to take her with a boarding action.

The other British division found itself out of place and couldn't catch the French as they escorted the frigates.  The wind was not our friend as it changed course several times and almost always put us in irons as it kept changing to come across our bows.

The two British Frigates got shot to pieces - Frigates should never take on Ships of the Line.  It doesn't end well......

We called the game as a French/Spanish victory and I think all the players had fun.  I'm sure I got a lot of rules wrong but thought the game moved along well.

I was using one of my Cigar Box double sided battle mats and it really worked well.  It's made of a fleece material which has the added benefit of showing the ship tracks as they moved across the table top.  That made it really easy for players top retrace movement when they made a mistake or re-thought something.

I was very pleased to learn that another club member has a collection of 1/1200 Langton's models.  We may even have enough to try and re-stage the Battle of Trafalgar!  Maybe.....

By the way, Ed and I are sporting some very stylish footwear!