This Thursday we gathered at Miniature Market Rock Hill for Steve Lowry’s alternate history scenario American Jutland. Scrolling back to the First World War and the year 1916 we saw the German High Seas Fleet (Mark J. Tim L and DJ) trying to break out into the North Sea only to be greeted by the US Navy (Andrew B, Pat L and Jay C). Rules were General Quarters for WWII.
This was a battleship action only as the torpedo boats and destroyers were left in the rear while the big guys closed to range to slug it out. The German center under Tim L had the best of their battle line as he went straight towards Pat L who was equipped with some of the older American craft. Mark J turned to his right away from the rest of the German Fleet and was followed by Andrew that had the American state of the art Arizona and Pennsylvania firing their heavier 14” main battery.
DJ and Jay charged at each other with Jay scoring some early and effective hits repeatedly disabling the German turrets. The reduced firepower early on made itself felt at the game progressed on that side of the battle.
A few hiccups in the charts contributed to the German’s not scoring as well as they could have, but that is a function of our Thursday games to find out the anomalies and get them fixed for the scenarios later use at upcoming conventions.
Jay found that he was a master at scoring critical hits taking ou searchlights racking up seven during the battle. He did also score a magazine hit on one of DJ’s ships but some quick thinking on a petty officer’s part allowed the magazine to be flooded before the sparks slew.
Mark J & Andrew’s private battle required the addition of a table (known as the Black Sea) in order to keep them in the game.
Tim scored a perfect roll with something like 200 hits (slight exaggeration) in one dice roll late in the game against one of Pat’s ships.
The day went to the USN when the smoke cleared but was a victory at a cost as many of the ships would be speeding long periods in the shipyards following this engagement.
