Spanish American War -Future Plans

Now that my Pre-Dread fleets are coming off the slips at a furious pace I am making plans to put them into action using Naval Thunder Rise of the Battleship II supplement.

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Almost three years ago I completed the OoB for the SPAN-AM fleets, but soon found that gaming the actual battles were extremely one-sided.  As a result I started to build the additional units for historical hypothetical scenarios for the same time period using Americans, Spanish and even Germans.

American SPAN-AM OoB

I have had several ideas for scenarios, but this past weekend I stumbled on the Avalanche Press game 1898, which focuses on the SPAN-AM war naval actions.  The beautiful thing is it comes with a scenario book which includes the two historical battles along with several hypothetical engagements.  Some of the hypothetical scenarios are exactly what I was thinking with proposed OoB.

Expanded Spanish Fleet

The scenario book even goes a step further to include some Post RJW American vs. Japan engagements.  Basically the IJN to include re purposed captured Russian ships vs. Great White Fleet.

Basically my gaming concepts have been validated and I now have some OoBs to work with to put together some engagements with all these models I have built.

1898 Map

If you are not familiar with Avalanche Press they offer a great line of both WWII (SWWAS) and WWI(GWAS) line of naval games that all include beautiful counter, maps and scenario books.  At one time I owned just about all the titles with aspirations of using them to play out campaigns.  I realized my dreams were probably a bit to big and I sold off my collection.  Now many of the titles are out of print, but every so often you can still find OoP editions in excellent condition as I did with 1898.

Current German forces

I am traveling for vacation the next couple weeks, but when I return I look forward to trying some of these out as well as finishing my remaining Americans.  I am also putting in a small order for a handful of other models to complete some of the scenarios so they will be here when I return.

In the meantime I will also be looking for an affordable copy of AP Great White Fleet which contains many more hypothetical scenarios for this time period.

Pre-Dread Project Germans (Part 2) Complete

Now that I have started again the ships are coming off the slips at a very quick rate.  Depending on the complexity of the masts I am able to complete 4 or more in a 2-3 hour session at night.

In two nights I was able to complete the remaining twelve Germans using a bit of an assembly line process so while one set was drying I was working on others.

SMS Braunschweig Class Pre-Dreads Battleships

Armored Cruisers

Gazelle class cruisers

Bremen Class cruisers

With 16 ships including 6 Battleships 2 Armored cruisers and 8 cruisers the Germans should be able to mount a serious threat.  My initial thoughts are a hypothetical campaign to reinforce the German Asiatic squadron to contest the Americans in the Philippines.

Complete German Fleet

Next up is to complete the Americans.  Good news on that front.  After soaking the American ships in "Simple Green" for several days I was ready to give up as try another method.  When I pulled out a ship I was able to scrap/peel off the primer in large chunks with my finger nail.

Good news for the Americans the bad primer will come off

Once I clean up all the ships I can start work on them as well.

Then on to either completing the full Great White Fleet or starting work on the Jutland project.

Pre-Dread Project - Germans (Part 1)

Time to move onto the Germans.  As stated earlier these will pose a hypothetical opponent for the Americans.  Historically there were tensions between the German Asiatic fleet and Commodore Dewey after the battle of Manila.  I plan to expand on that what if scenarios.

German fleet in dry dock

I plan to work on 1-2 classes at a time to expedite progress.  Tonight was the Pre-Dreadnought Brandenburg class of four ships.

Masts were pretty straight forward on these models with two sizes of wire.  Not much difference from one ship to the next except I was able to find painting of each showing that they had different red rings on the funnels which distinguished each ship of the class.

Brandenburg Class

Note the funnel rings

I was not real impressed with the Panzerschiffe model when I first saw it.  Now that I have seen drawings a pictures of the actual ships they are a decent rendition.  the masts and the inking really made them pop.

SMS Worth

If I can continue at this pace the Germans may be ready for battle after the weekend.

Pre-Dread Project-Spanish (Part 2) Complete

Well it took me almost 3 yrs to get back to these, but I was able to complete the Spanish Fleet in less than 2 days. 

The last 7 ships were only two different classes, but the masts were a bit more difficult with all the spars.  on the second group of 5 I did recall that painting the main mast first which helps with gluing on the spars tremendously and reduces the excess glue visible at the joint.  Will remember to do this as I move on to the Germans and then remaining Americans.

Cristobal Colon may be mislabeled

Less visible Glue at the joints on the masts

Also it appears I may have one of the small cruisers mislabeled, will have to go back and do a bit more research on that class.

Complete Spanish fleet

Now on to the Germans.....




German fleet entering dry dock

Pre-Dread Project - Spanish (Part 1)

Today I finally put words into action after a 3 year hiatus I built and painted my first ships.  My intent was to just do the Battleship Pelaya, but it all came back so easy I just kept going until diner.

Pelayo during mast construction

Completed Pelayo

As a result I was able to complete 7 of the 14 Spanish ships that were scheduled to join the fleet.  I am very satisfied with the results.  In some ways I think they even look better than the first ones I did as I have learned new techinques while I was away.  Last time I did not use acelerator for my gluing and that now make a big difference in speeding the projects along.

Cruiser Carlos V

The models are Panzerschiffe.  The sculpts are pretty basic, but with some inking, dry brushing and the addition of masts they definately give a good feel for the ship they represent.

Trio of Protected Cruisers

I attaked these largest to smallest and by class.  I only have 7 more models, but they are the smaller older vessels with losts of masts and spars, so may take a bit longer.  Assembeling 3or 4 at a time does make it move along though.

Seven new additions

Although these ships did not participate in either of the two historic Naval battles they will make for some interesting hypotheticals.

Full Spanish Fleet for now

With any luck I will complete the Spanish this week.

Pre-Dreads New life for an old project

USS Olympia in Action in Manila Bay

It is just shy of three years since I stared this project and I have finally come back to finish it.  As I explained in a previous post my naval gaming has been on hiatus while I pursued other historical gaming interests.  With those projects firmly established I have now come back to my roots to sail the high seas once again.

Savo Island scenario in July

In the past month I have had the opportunity to engage in naval warfare twice and it has certainly given me the itch to get back.  I know I missed the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Jutland, but I still aspire to build those fleets.  I am currently in talks with my gaming cohorts to do just that with a goal of assembling the fleets in the next year for a massive scenario at a con next year.

Jutland Animation in honor of 100th Anniversary (24min)

Before I start a new naval project I remembered my Pre-dread project I began in 2013.  It was derailed for two reasons.  1st when I primed half the ships I had a problem and the primer frosted (created clumps) which had never happened to me before.  2nd I discovered Bolt Action and had no looked back.

Untouched Pre-dread collection

I pulled out the box that has been holding my unfinished pre-dreads for the past couple of years and sorted them today.  Fortunately nothing is lost or broken.  I was able to identify all 54 ships which will soon be based and labeled.

Ships sorted

As I write this two ships are soaking in Simple Green in an attempt to correct the mishap with the white primer.  I am fully dedicated to completing these before I move on to any other major hobby project.

Primer mishap

Hopeful fix

The models are all Panzerschiffe and I plan to install masts the same as I did with my other SPAN-AM and Russo-Japaneses war fleets.

SPAN-AM American Fleet

Spanish fleet

As discussed in my blog almost three years ago the purpose of these fleets is to fight out hypothetical engagements.  When I constructed my SPAN-AM historical fleets I quickly learned that in no way are the historical engagements even close to being balanced which does not make for a very good war game.

Completed Panzerschiffe model

By adding more Spanish my hope it to fight some hypothetical What-if actions.  Historically the Spanish did mount and relief effort for the Philippines including the old battleship Pelayo.  The relief was called back to home waters, but what if it had successfully navigated its way to the pacific to face off against Dewey.

Spanish and German additions

I have also compiled as sizable German contingent to represent a possible threat to America at the time of the war with Spain or shortly after.  I am also adding may more American units and could even distort history to play out a show down with Japan or Russia using my already complete RJW fleets.

American reinforcements

Of course for any of that to happen the ships need to be finished.  My plan is to reinforce the Spanish first and then go from there and finish this project before X-mas so I can get a few games in.

More to come........

Battle of Denmark Strait -Hood Vs. Bismarck

Last week I had the opportunity to get the ships out and teach a new player.  Denmark Strait is a classic engagement and a great introductory scenario.

Since it was just the two of us I gave Steven the choice of commands after a brief run down of the rules for Naval Thunder.  Without hesitation he chose the British.


As the German player my goal was to sink one of the two British ships and exit the battle area via the South East corner.  The British goal was to sink the Bismarck while still having one ship survive.

Bismarck sights British ships on the horizon

My strategy was simple Target HMS Hood with both ships each turn since they fired in different phases Bismarck (Battleship) and Prince Eugen (Cruiser).  Steven focused on Bismarck suffering the negative for the extra splash marker since both Hood and Prince of Whales fire in the Battleship phase.


The German guns have a slightly longer range and better penetrations, but the British have more , so this really comes down to a slug match.  Surprisingly we both scored hits in the opening round of fire at long and extreme.

Bismarck is straddled by opening salvos

Bismarck made for the exit while the British fire was extremely accurate.  fortunately the mechanical issues with the Prince of Whales was an issue of the fire power of the British would have been more devastating.

HMS Hood takes and early 15in shell causing a fire to erupt

While Bismarck took all the punishment Prince Eugen was able to keep the hopes for victory alive.  She scored a critical bridge hit on HMS Hood.  As a result Hood's remaining officers decided they no longer had the stomach for battle and turned for safety leaving PoW to keep up the fight alone.

Giants continue to batter one another

In the meantime the British gunnery had reduced Bismarck to a wreck removing all four of the main turrets. With little hope of victory Prince Eugen closed with PoW to get within torpedo range.  Pow then shifted her fire to PE delivering some crushing blows.

Bismarck suffers Engine damage as well as losing guns at a rapid rate.

PE stayed in the fight and delivered two torpedo salvos the second hitting with 2/3 fish sending PoW to the bottom.

Despite taking punishing blows Prince Eugen delivers torpedo salvo

Again, it was a bad day for the British Navy as it was historically.  This time though they managed to inflict severe damage to both German units who would be lucky to limp back to port.

Crippled Bismarck limps to safety as Prince Eugen covers her retreat

The Planned first war cruise for Bismarck will certainly be delayed if the ship can even be salvaged.


Steven proved to be a great Captain for his first time out quickly gaining his sea legs.


Look forward to sailing the high seas again and teaching more potential sailors this great game.