Our Thursday Afternoon group mustered in at Miniature Market Cave Springs for a hypothetical ironclad battle from the 1860s. Using “Iron & Fire Rules” , presented by Steve Lowry.
Based upon the post American Civil War Diplomatic issue near crises of the “Alabama Claims” of the US against the British Government. Our scenario premised that a US Naval Squadron of Ironclads moved against a British fleet at Halifax Canada.
The Royal Navy started at anchor but with steam in the boilers as the US forces came into view. The job for both sides was simple The British needed to escape, the Americans needed to prevent that from happening.
The US (Steve T. Kevin F. Greg D. Jay C and DJ took on the the Royal Navy (Mark J and Mark W) as the sides cleared the decks and closed rapidly.
Jay took the lead with his fast and heavily armored turreted casemate and went straight down the middle to bottle up the British and successfully rammed the British Flagship. This lead to a chain reaction by Mark J of British counter rams the following turn (some successful, some less so) as the middle of the map started to look like a bad traffic accident.
Mark W initially laid back firing broadsides but it became clear the American armor plate was going to be tough to overcome at long ranges. Real damage by the British would have to be either up close or very up close by ramming the Americans.
The remainder of the American Fleet engaged as best the could while closing at flank speed sometimes getting a hit or two most times just bouncing off the Royal Navy’s armor plate. When the range finally closed the US 15” smoothbores began to penetrate and rack up some serious damage numbers against the large vessels.
With the afternoon running out and folks needing to move on in their day, the game was declared a draw at the end. The Royal Navy had failed to break out of Halifax, but the US Navy had failed to sink any enemy ships.
Thanks to all the players who made it by to roll dice. Thanks to Miniature Market Cave Springs for their continued support.
