Surprise Action: USS Oregon (BB3) 1898

This blog has been inactive for awhile.  This is mostly because I simply have not done much gaming in the last year to report on.  Like most the pandemic has cancelled many events in addition life has kept me busy as I prepared to retire from the Army after 30 years.

This past week I was invited by a friend to run Naval Thunder for a small group that has been gathering weekly to game while social distancing.  Last week we met for the first time and I ran three scenarios for them to teach the mechanics of Naval Thunder and get them started.  The three scenarios are classic battles from the rule book and great for teaching: Battle of River Plate, Battle of Denmark Straight, and 1st Guadalcanal.  The three players had such a good time they asked me to come back this week and do it again.

This has given me the opportunity to go through the book and dig through my collection of WotC War at Sea miniatures to out together more scenarios.  I have added Operation Catapult, Battle cruisers and war, and a Mediterranean brawl.

I addition, I decided to dig out my Pre-Dread collection.  I own the complete Russo-Japanese OoB as well as the Span-AM war OoB in 1/2400.  I have done all the Russo-Japanese battles at conventions in the past and they are a bit big for this group to accomplish in a day.  The historical battles for the SPAN-AM war are so one sided they really do not make for much of a game.  This lead me to explore what-if scenarios I have wanted to try.  

I own several Avalanche Press Naval games including 1898 which includes several what-if scenarios.  one of which if the hypothetical scenario of the Spanish Cruiser Squadron intercepting the lone USS Oregon as she made her way from the west coast around South America to join the fleet in the Caribbean

This is a scenario I have wanted to try for some time, but I was not sure how well it would play out using Naval Thunder Rise of the Battleship.  I was able to give it a test play today and was surprised by the results.

Spanish Squadron

Spanish intended to intercept USS Oregon South of Cuba before she could join the remainder of the Atlantic Squadron off the coast of Cuba.  Apparently this was a real concern for the American at the time.

USS Oregon

At daylight on the morning of May 24th 1898 the USS Oregon spots the Spanish squadron closing fast on her position as she steams North Easterly across the calm Caribbean seas.  Initial contact is made at a range of about 24,000 yards.  Oregon makes a slight course change northward in hopes of keeping the lighter guns for the Spanish at range as long as possible.

The outnumbered Americans open at maximum range and land the first blow

Once sighted Cervera knows he must close the range with the American Battleship as quickly as possible and attempt to cross the T in order to bring all his slightly lighter 11" main guns to bear over the American's 13" and 8" guns.

The faster Spanish close the distance 

USS Oregon opens fire with her forward guns and scores a hit on the lead ship Infanta Maria Teresa scoring a hit and starting a fire which immediately begins to spread.  The lead two Spanish ships return fire with their 11" main battery, but fail to find the range.  

Oregon's gunners are deadly accurate with the 2nd salvo

As the Spaniards continue to close the distance Oregon turns to bring her full broadsides of 13" and 8" main guns to bear on the Spanish Column.  In an amazing feat of gunnery all four 13" shells find their mark on the Spanish Flagship starting more fires, flooding and knocking out secondary battery guns.  Spanish damage control is struggles and manages to put out one fire while the original one rages and the Maria Teresa starts to take on water. 

Armored Cruisers unleash full broadside

The Spanish column starts to find the distance and hit the Oregon multiple times, but the 11" shells fail to penetrate the heavier American Battleships armor and only cause light damage.  Meanwhile the Marie Teresa is visible in distress an fires rage and if they do not contain the flooding the fire problem will take care of itself.  As a result, the American gunners shift fire to the second undamaged Spanish cruiser Vizcaya.   A combination of 13" and 8" shells find their mark causing serious damage to the Spanish Armored Cruiser including a major flood.

Spanish Flagship Succumbs to fire and flooding Fires start on Oregon

The Spanish flagship unable to bring the fire and flooding under control slips under the waves as Cervera prepares to move his flag to the undamaged Cruiser Alimrante Oquendo.  The highly motivated gunners aboard Oregon shift fire to the undamaged cruiser with a full broadside causing damage and a fire before Cervera can transfer his flag.  At the same time the two Spanish destroyers have managed to significantly close the distance well withing the secondary battery range of Oregon's gunners who quickly send the Pluton to the bottom.

With the flagship gone the Spanish decide they lack the nerve to continue the fight

With the flagship gone and two of the three remaining cruisers damaged, on fire or flooding the Spanish decided they have had enough for the day and decide to withdraw.  The Commander of the USS Oregon who is now busy fighting fires of his own is more than happy to oblige and allow them to leave as he does not have the speed to maintain a long pursuit.

Spanish still need to deal with ongoing damage before they withdraw

As the Spanish make their run away they must still deal with the on going damage.  It would not be a good day for Spain.  The Vizcaya soon developed a severe list and then turned turtle and capsized while Oquendo could not gain control of the fires of flooding and soon vanished below the waves.

Spanish damage control is overwhelmed by fires

This left the lone armored cruiser Cristobol Colon (lacking main guns) and destroyer Furor to retreat North back toward Cuba.  Despite the major victory at hand over the Spanish Squadron USS Oregon still had a fight on its hands against the on going fires that still raged.  It would not be a easy battle as fires initially spread igniting ready ammo.  Eventually the Americans were able to prevail and the badly damaged Oregon continue her voyage and limp north.  

In the end only the undamaged Cristobol Colon and Furor escape

USS Oregon will require major repairs and a refit and will not be available to the intended blockade of Cuba.  As a result of her stunning victory over Cervera's Squadron taking out the three strongest ships that blockade may no longer be required and easily handled by the American Atlantic Squadron. 

Span-AM Collection plus Germans for future What-ifs

Some of the Atlantic Squadron including USS Maine

US Asiatic Squadron

Spanish Cruisers

The results of this battle surprised me a bit.  Based on points in Naval Thunder the Spanish outnumbered and were stronger on paper than the lone American battleship.  Clearly the superior gunnery (Lucky die rolls) early on by the Americans played a huge part in the outcome.  The Spanish failing to make command checks after the flagship went down were just the nail in the coffin.  Even then the outcome was not clear as it took awile for the Americans to control the fires while the Spanish dice again continued to fail them causing the loss of two more cruisers one of which was still in fair condition except for the on going fire.

I look forward to giving this scenario another trail again soon and it seems very playable and not as lopsided as I initially suspected.

Cavalry in the Shenandoah-Little Wars 2019

This is the third and final entry for Little Wars 2019.  In addition to running three events myself, I assisted my good friend and gaming mentor Mark Anderson with his ACW Fire and Fury game.

Mark is a veteran gamer of probably close to 50 years with a very sizable miniature collection.  He owns the largest gaming miniature collection I have seen in person and it is probably not an exaggeration to say it numbers 40,000 or more figures in various scales from ancients through WWII.

Shenandoah Valley

He hosts a weekly gaming group at his home that meets probably 40+ times a year.  I was fortunate enough to be invited several years ago after meeting at Little Wars and since then myself as well as well as my boys have attended countless times.   The group meet to refight many historical battles in miniature.   While Mark hosts in his home and has a massive collection many of the group members bring and put on their games throughout the year.  This is a great way to playtest new ideas for upcoming conventions.  On any given week you can expect to find between 6-12 gathered to refight the event planned for that week.

Captured wagons being escorted

I tell you this so you understand that Mark does not do anything small.  His submission for Little Wars this year was no exception.  He decided on a hypothetical ACW scenario revolving around a Confederate Cavalry raid North to capture supplies and wagons and the ensuing Union response to try to recapture or destroy the wagons before they could get to safety.  In total each side had 2 cavalry divisions with Artillery and the confederates had a brigade of militia in addition.

Garrison duty

The rules used were Regimental Fire and Fury.  We enjoy both the Regimental and Brigade Fire and Fury for ACW.  We have also used the rule variants to run a number of AWI battles.  They perform very well and are great for a convention game as they are easy to learn, have a very well one quick reference sheet and produce somewhat realistic results.  This is where I and a handful of other "Irregulars" came in to assist Mark in judging and interpreting the rules for the 12 players who had signed up to play in the six hour event.


Rebel Militia

The gaming table was 6x15' and had more 15mm ACW cavalry then I had seen in any event.  We had play tested the scenario a couple times in the months prior to make sure it was somewhat balanced.  The Confederates start on the North end of the table escorting a large wagon train with a goal to get them off the southern end of the table past Winchester, while preventing the union cavalry in pursuit from destroying the wagons and capturing buildings.

Guarding the population center

Once all the players arrived they were divided into teams.  I did a quick explanation of the rules following the turn sequence and how to use the QRS.  Mark did an overview of the scenario and issued OoB as well as orders to the commanders.  The teams briefly divided to form their strategy and then the battle was on.

The OoB and orders were as follows:

Federal Order of Battle                 Low Casualties

1^st Cavalry Division          BG W. Merritt Gallant   6,560 Cavalry 24 Guns

 

1^st Brigade        BG G.A Custer Gallant                                        1,760     Troopers 6 Guns

1^st Michigan     Crack 12-8-5       Beach loading Carbine          480         9,8,7 Stands

5^th Michigan     Crack 12-8-5       Beach loading Carbine          480         9,8,7 Stands

6^th Michigan     Crack 10-7-4       Beach loading Carbine          400         8,7,6 Stands
7^th Michigan     Crack 10-7-4       Beach loading Carbine          400         8,7,6 Stands
6^th Battery N.Y. Lt.            Veteran 3 sections 6-3” Rodman Rifles

 

2^nd Brigade      Col. T.C Devin Able                                              1,600     Troopers 6 Guns

4^th New York    Veteran 12-8-5  Beach loading Carbine          480         9,8,7 Stands       

6^th New York    Veteran 10-7-4  Beach loading Carbine          400         8,7,6 Stands
9^th New York   Veteran 10-7-4  Beach loading Carbine           400         8,7,6 Stands
17^th Penn       Veteran 10-7-4  Beach loading Carbine             400         8,7,6 Stands
2^nd U.S. Battery B             Veteran 3 sections 6-3” Rodman Rifles

 Reserve Brigade   Col. A. Gibbs Able                                         1,600     Troopers 6 Guns

^1st U.S. Cavalry   Veteran 10-7-4  Beach loading Carbine         400         8,7,6 Stands
2^nd U.S. Cavalry Veteran 10-7-4 Beach loading Carbine          400         8,7,6 Stands
5^th U.S. Cavalry  Veteran 10-7-4  Beach loading Carbine         400         8,7,6 Stands
6^th PennsylvaniaVeteran 10-7-4  Beach loading Carbine         400         8,7,6 Stands
2^nd U.S. Battery D             Veteran 3 sections 6-3” Rodman Rifles

 

2^nd Cavalry Division                          BG William Averell

 1^st Brigade  Col. J.M. Schoonmaker Able                               1,600     Troopers 6 Guns

8^th Ohio            Veteran 10-7-4  Beach loading Carbine           400         8,7,6 Stands
14^th Penn         Veteran 10-7-4  Beach loading Carbine            400         8,7,6 Stands       
22^nd Penn         Veteran 10-7-4  Beach loading Carbine           400         8,7,6 Stands
1^st New York    Veteran 10-7-4  Beach loading Carbine           400         8,7,6 Stands
5^th U.S. Battery H      Veteran 3 sections 6-3” Rodman Rifles

 

1^st Brig., 2^nd Division IV Corps       Col. ATA Torbert Able       1,920

1^st New Jersey Veteran 12-8-5 Rifled Musket                          480         9,8,7 Stands
2^nd New Jersey Veteran 12-8-5 Rifled Musket                         480         9,8,7 Stands
3^rdNew Jersey  Veteran 12-8-5 Rifled Musket                         480         9,8,7 Stands
4^th New Jersey Veteran 12-8-5 Rifled Musket                         480         9,8,7 Stands
 5^th U.S. Battery                 Veteran 3 sections 6-12pdr Napoleon’s

 

 

General Merritt,

The enemy has just completed a successful raid into Clarke County with the objective of securing supplies they need desperately. A convoy of captured wagons has been sighted entering the Valley with the objective of reaching Winchester. You are to take your Division into the Shenandoah Valley to capture or destroy those wagons. You are also ordered to take Winchester, either occupy it or burn it and its’ railhead. You are also tasked with destroying all the farms and Plantations you can.

 Assigned to you for this mission is your 1^st Cavalry Division and 1^st Brigade 2^nd Division under BG Averell. 1^st Brigade 2^nd Division from VI Corps is also marching to assist you but we are not sure of when they may arrive.

 We have managed to out flank and penetrate the Valley with 3 of your 4 Cavalry Brigades. The enemy has brought up an Infantry Brigade to form a rear guard protecting the convoy at Dalton. Another Infantry Brigade may have been spotted protecting the bridge over the Shenandoah River near Winchester. Local guides tell us there may be a ford over the Shenandoah, this could be helpful. We believe Winchester to being held by Confederate cavalry and possibly the HQ for Wade Hampton’s Cavalry Division.

 We anticipate a tough fight, your forces are not strong enough to win this fight with frontal assaults only, stay mobile, maneuver where possible to gain an advantage. Remember your cavalry will have a hard time against his infantry. Destroy as much as you can and withdrawn your troop to our lines in Clarke County.

 Good Luck,

 Phil Sheridan

General Commanding

Confederate Order of Battle

 

A.N.V. Cavalry Corps  Maj. Gen. Hade Hampton, Gallant    4,800 Troopers, 16 Guns

                                                                                                                                                                               

3^rd Cavalry Division     Maj. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, Gallant        2,400 Troopers, 8 Guns

Lomax’s Brigade          BG L.L. Lomax, Able                        1,280 Troopers, 4 Guns

5^th Virginia            Crack     12-8-5   Rifled Carbine                 480        

6^th Virginia            Crack     10-7-4   Rifled Carbine                 400

15^th Virginia          Crack     10-7-4   Rifled Carbine                 400

Chew Battery       Veteran               2 Sections 4 12pdr Napoleon’s

 Wickham’s Brigade    BG W.C. Wickham, Able                    1,280 Troopers, 4 Guns

1^st Virginia           Veteran    12-8-5  Rifled Carbine                 480         9,8,7 Stands

2^nd Virginia          Veteran    10-7-4  Rifled Carbine                 400         8,7,6 Stands       

3^rd Virginia          Veteran    10-7-4  Rifled Carbine                 400         8,7,6 Stands

2 Virginia BatteryVeteran 2 Sections 4 3’ Rodman Rifles

 

4^th Cavalry Division   Maj. Gen Willman H.F. Lee, Gallant    2,400 Troopers, 8 Guns

 Chambliss’ Brigade  BG J.R. Chambliss, Gallant                  1,200 Troopers, 4 Guns

9^th Virginia              Veteran 10-7-4  Rifled Carbine               400         8,7,6 Stands

10^thVirginia             Veteran 10-7-4  Rifled Carbine               400         8,7,6 Stands

13^th Virginia            Veteran 10-7-4  Rifled Carbine               400         8,7,6 Stands

Pegram’s Virginia Battery             Veteran    2 Sections 4 12pdr Napoleon’s

 Gordon’s Brigade    BG J.B. Gordon Able                           1,200 Troopers, 4 Guns

1^st North Carolina Veteran    10-7-4  Rifled Carbine               400         8,7,6 Stands

2^nd North Carolina  Veteran   10-7-4  Rifled Carbine              400         8,7,6 Stands

5^th North Carolina  Veteran    10-7-4  Rifled Carbine             400         8,7,6 Stands

Hart’s S.C. Battery Veteran 2 Sections 4 3’ Rodman Rifles

 

Johnson’s Militia Brigade    BG R.E. Johnson, Able             1,200 Troops, 2 Guns

16 Virginia     Trained 10-8-5   Rifled Musket                       400         8,7,6 Stands

19 Virginia     Trained 10-8-5   Rifled Musket                       400         8,7,6 Stands

6 Militia          Trained 10-8-5   Rifled Musket                       400         8,7,6 Stands

3 Virginia Battery  Veteran 2 Sections 4 12pdr Napoleon’s

 

 General Hampton,

As you know the Shenandoah Valley is the breadbasket of the Confederacy more now than ever before. It is vital we defend as best we can. Last week General H.F Lee took his4th Division into Clarke County on a raid to capture supplies for the cause. He has been very successful; he is currently escorting a convoy of captured wagon through the lines to Winchester.

He is being pursued by both infantry and cavalry formations. I have placed a Gen. Johnson’s Infantry Brigade under your command to help cover their retreat and protect the valley. Gen Chambliss’ Brigade is escorting the wagon’s while Gen. Gordon’s has been sent forward to help cover the retreat.

Gen. Fitzhugh Lee’s Division is currently in and about Winchester. He tasked with protecting the Valley, Winchester and the captured supplies are a priority. Use the Infantry Brigade and your Division’s as you see fit. Lomax’s Brigade is at your Headquarters in Winchester and Gen. Wickham’s Brigade is off the table near Winchester. The fate of the nation is in your hands.

Yours,

R.E. Lee

Commanding, Army of Northern Virginia

 

Scenario Rules

No Road Movement Turn 1

Unit may not charge from off the table the turn they enter

 Point Costs

Each building destroyed or held at the end of the battle    5 pts

Each Wagon destroyed or captured.                                  10 pts

Bridge Captured                                                                 10pts

20% chance per stand to fire a building

 Contested Artillery Fire     1-5 Hits enemy, 6-10 Hits friendly

 

The battle developed as it did when we play tested.  The Confederates achieved some early success keeping the wagons just out of reach of the Union pursuers.

On the move

 The Confederate cavalry were divided into 1 division returning from the raid with another posted in the valley with the command in Winchester.

Deploy to meet the invaders

 The Union pursued the wagons as well as sent Custer South in an attempt to flank and cut off the rebels before they could escape

Long lines of cavalry

 Along the way the Cavalry from both sides as well as the rebel militia clashed at numerous points.

 While the Union managed to destroy a few wagons it appeared the Confederates would be successful in their objective early on as the Union was not able to achieve a decisive breakthrough

Here come the Blue Bellies

 The Rebel infantry took up a very strong defense in the center allowing the wagons to pass and attempted to hold off the pursuit.

Go Around if you cannot go through

Holding strong

 Many charges were made and checked as the union invaders tried again and again to break through to destroy the supplies.

Contested ground

Formed for the charge

Wagons hotly contested

Rear guard action

As time was about to expire the Union made a final valiant attempt to breakthrough the rebel lines and get to the wagons.  This time they were able to maneuver a lone regiment ahead of the wagon train and successfully cut off the escape route securing a narrow victory.

It resulted in a great day of gaming in which both sides seemed to enjoy themselves in what proved to be a nail biter right to the end.

As always Mark pulled off another epic event and exposed several new players to wonders of American Civil War gaming using Regimental Fire and Fury.

Not wanting to rest on their laurels the group has already been working for several months to prepare for a refight of Austerlitz later this year in 15mm.  In fact, much of the terrain bards used in this battle were newly constructed for the upcoming campaign and repurposed to represent the Shenandoah.

Rorke's Drift -Little Wars 2019

This was the first time I had the opportunity to run Rorke's Drift at Little Wars as I did not have it complete last time I was there in 2016.  Then we ran Isandlwana.  As a result it seemed appropriate since it was the 140th anniversary of the battle this past January.  I would have liked to run Isandlwana followed by Rorke's Drift like we did at Rock Con last October, but being solo Isandlwana is a bit much for one judge.

The event started at 5PM, but since snow and sleet were in the forecast the Little Wars organizer found me an empty table and I was able to set up in the morning and leave it up as a display throughout the day.  As I was assisting with Mark's ACW game next door I did notice it attracted a lot of attention throughout the day. 

Unfortunately the scenario really only accommodates seven players unlike Isandlwana where we have had 12 or more.. At game time all the tickets were sold and the table was full, there were a couple extras hoping to get in.  We had one no show, so we were able to accommodate an extra and a few other hung around to watch the action.

Only a couple players had experience with Black Powder (BP) which was fine as the system is so easy to teach and this particular scenario only uses BP as a framework with a lot of scenario specific components.  The beauty of BP is that it is so scalable and easy to bolt on additional mechanics to make a historical scenario.

For those not familiar with the history the battle occurred in the afternoon/evening of January 22nd 1879 into the early morning hours of January 25th.  Approximately 4500 Zulu attacked the drift which was defended by about 140 British Soldiers.   The Zulu did not coordinate their attacks well and the British under the direction of a Royal Engineer, LT Chard and their commander LT Bromhead were given ample warning that the Zulu were on the way and had constructed a hasty, but formidable defense around the hospital and store house using mealie bags and crates along with wagons.

Historically the British held out and 11 Soldiers were awarded the Victoria cross as a result of the Action.  While casualty figures are not exact the Zulu could have suffered as many as 1000 casualties of killed and wounded.  The British had less than 20 killed and about an equal number wounded.

Depending on perspective our players were either hoping to repeat history or drastically change it.

Rorke's Drift Set up for Display

Our scenario began with the British defenders alert that the Zulu were quickly approaching and manning the defenses while work parties continued to construct some of the unfinished defenses.  The British players did not know what direction the Zulu would come from or how many, just that there were a lot of Zulu off board on hand (39 units).  The British would only have 12 units plus their commanders available.

Redoubt in place

The Zulu players are only allowed to attack with only 1 eight stand IMPI the first phase which can come from only two of the three possible jump off points.  They are also given a number of fake stands (also 8 on phase 1) to place to simulate the fog of war.  These are revealed when they are shot at the first time.

Quick disclaimer, unfortunately my phone failed me and did not capture all of the great action that occurred throughout the game, so the report will be a bit abbreviated.




Defenders at the Karaal

Initial Assault from the garden

 The Zulu achieved some success in the first phase of the battle.  They were able to break two British units before wisely deciding the initial attack was spent and withdrawing.


Attack developing behind the hospital

Hospital being pressed

Hospital overrun

A chink in the armor as a second British unit gives way

 The Zulu commander wisely chose not the let up the pleasure and renewed the assault with portions of the other 3 fresh IMPI.  In attack phase 2 and each their after they are allowed to attack with a total of 12 units with 4 feints.

Assault from the front renewed

The second assault phase is all it would take.  Keep in mind that each phase can last multiple Black Powder turns, but no units are allowed to recover until the Zulu player withdraws and declares a passive phase.  This never happened.

The Zulu continued to press the attack. British commanders were slow to respond and probably kept troops defending the karaal and building barricades longer than they should.   This allowed the Zulu to break through the outer defenses and drive home the attack.

Ultimately they were able to destroy or shake more than half of the British units resulting in a complete victory for the Zulu.

This is not the first time the Zulu have won this scenario, but I believe it is the first time they have done it with only two phases of the possible 12.  Some of this is contributed to some excellent saves on the part of the Zulu and the overall inexperience of the players as a whole.

The most important part was that win or lose both sides seemed to enjoy the scenario and at least 5 were completely new to Black Powder so they learned the basic rules.

Hospital on fire

One of the more comical parts for me was when the Zulu started the hospital on fire and I placed the fire markers (Tea light candles that light up inside) all play stopped and everyone had to get up and take pictures.

Again, I apologize for the brevity of the report and lack of pictures.  I thought I was taking pictures throughout the event, but it may be time for a phone upgrade which I have been putting off.  :)

You can find the scenario I use here:
Rorke's Drift Scenario

If you want to check out the other Anglo-Zulu battle reports you can find them here:

Previous Rorke's Drift battle report

I always enjoy hosting these scenarios and this was no exception.  We had a great group of players who were great sports throughout the evening.

As this year is the 140th anniversary of the war it is my hope to present these battles a few more times at upcoming conventions.