Battle of the Falklands
A Full Thrust Scenario by Phil Broeders
Authors notes
This scenario is based on the The Battle of the Falkland
Islands, a First World War naval action
between the British Royal Navy and Imperial German Navy on 8 December 1914 in
the South Atlantic. The British, after their defeat at the Battle of Coronel on
1 November, sent a large force to track down and destroy the German cruiser
squadron. The battle is commemorated every year on 8 December in the Falkland
Islands as a public holiday.
Admiral Graf Maximilian von Spee commanding the German
squadron of two armoured cruisers, SMS Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, the light
cruisers SMS Nürnberg, Dresden and Leipzig, and the colliers SS Baden, SS Santa
Isabel, and SS Seydlitz attempted to
raid the British supply base at Stanley in the Falkland Islands. The British
squadron consisting of the battlecruisers HMS Invincible and Inflexible, the
armoured cruisers HMS Carnarvon, Cornwall and Kent, the armed merchant cruiser
HMS Macedonia and the light cruisers HMS Bristol and Glasgow had arrived in the
port the day before.
Visibility was at its maximum; the sea was placid with a
gentle breeze, and the day was bright and sunny. The vanguard cruisers of the
German squadron were detected early. By nine o'clock that morning, the British
battlecruisers and cruisers were in hot pursuit of the German vessels. All
except Dresden and Seydlitz were hunted down and sunk.
Scenario
You can run this as a stand-alone OR following on from the
Battle of Coronel IV (see previous post)
If as a stand alone make Side A full strength. If a follow-on allow basic repairs (1d6 damage
boxes replaced per damaged ship). If
Canopus was used on the previous scenario, do not use it in this one.
The ships of Side A are joined by three fuel carriers
(merchant ships). They plan to raid a
major refuelling station belonging to Side B – thinking it undefended. The fuel carriers will take as much fuel as they
can and then make their escape
The fuelling station is located near an asteroid in a small asteroid field known
as The Falklands. A number of asteroids are
to the side of the large asteroid, blocking the view (and hiding Side B’s fleet).
Side A must approach the refuelling station until the enemy
is spotted (see Setup). Once spotted Side
A can choose to stay and fight OR to run for it (based on victory conditions
below). The three fuel-carriers will aim
to run automatically.
Set-up
Place the refuelling station (any space station model will
do) on the LH corner of one short edge of the table (assuming a 6’ x 4’ table)
and the asteroids 1 ½ ’ from the short edge that the refuelling station is on
and about 1 ½’ (essentially screening
the refuelling station.
Fleet A arrives from the same short edge but the opposite
corner, led by the light cruisers with the refuellers in the rear.
Once Fleet A gets within 1’ of the asteroid field both fleets
are deemed spotted by each other and can open fire (assuming spotting through
the gaps in the asteroids).
Fleet B is then placed by Player B in a formation of choice between
the asteroids and the LH long side of the table.
Fleet A must escape by reaching the opposing short edge
The map below may help with layout
Opposing Forces
Player A
2 cruisers
3 light cruisers
3 merchant ships
Optional : if following on from the Coronel scenario maintain
damage less repaired damage (see above).
Player B
1 battleship (optional - see below)
2 battlecruisers
3 heavy cruisers
2 light cruisers
Optional – Canopus is a battleship (if not used in the Coronel scenario) which
has engine trouble and thus immobile but
can fire its weapons at any ship in range.
Canopus can be placed anywhere to the left of the asteroids.
Victory conditions
Player A wins a major victory by escaping the entire fleet off table
Player A wins a minor victory by escaping all fighting ships off table
Player B wins a major victory by destroying all the enemy
fighting ships
Player B wins a minor victory by destroying half the enemy
fleet (including the fuel ships)
Player B wins a minor victory by destroying 3 of 5 warships.