... at "Little Wars" [convention], 23Mar96. Before I report on the outcome of this model warships battle (using my "Naval Action" rules/tables), I'd like to mention/ reiterate the value of wargames conventions as sources of new and used military and naval books, art, miniatures, etc. --especially reference-type works, dealing with ship/weapon classes, camouflage schemes, etc. ... as well as fertile arenas of interest in such disciplines, just awaiting cultivation by teachers, curators, and archivists. There was also a beautiful collection of MUSEUM QUALITY-built 1:700 waterline model warships which probably was auctioned off for a pittance, later that evening. (I had to leave ... or miss my sister-in-law's *superb* "stuffed salmon" dinner ... which my son Robert would not allow! :-( ) Although we got to the convention before 8AM, sign-in and setup delayed our beginning for about an hour. We had 7 players, plus myself and Robert. I took the British destroyers (ELECTRA, ENCOUNTER, and JUPITER), a distinguished gentleman took PERTH and EXETER, Jim Beck took the Dutch cruisers DE RUYTER and JAVA, another fellow took HOUSTON and the four old U.S. 4-piper destroyers, and Robert took the Dutch destroyers (EVERTSEN, KORTENAER, and WITTE DE WITT ... or is it WITT DE WITTE ... anyway ...). "Bob" took the Japanese heavy cruiser NACHI, "Jeff" took HAGURO, "Dave" took light cruiser NAKA and the 6 best Japanese destroyers, and Shawn Francis(sp?) took JINTSU and the remaining, older Japanese destroyers. Basically, we had to get one cruiser or two destroyers -- undamaged -- past the Japanese warships, to massacree transports packed with Invasion of Java Japanese troops, beyond. The Japanese strategy was to put their destroyer flotillas (with their light cruiser leaders) on the flanks, apparently so that they might catch the Allied fleet in a long-range 24" torpedo crossfire. (Their heavy cruisers stayed at the center of this funnel-like formation. Of course, Japanese heavy cruisers sported formidable 24" torpedo batteries, as well.) We wiley Allies feinted a similar strategy and then "exited stage-right," toward Shawn Harvey's ships, hoping to smother his torpedo batteries with shellfire and to bore through to the fat, helpless transports. Alack!, Shawn can "dump" and reload torpedoes with the best of us, and HOUSTON and later DE RUYTER succumbed to 2 Japanese destroyer torpedoes apiece. Meanwhile, my Brit destroyers made our run on the Japanese heavy cruisers, with the left-flank Japanese destroyers in hot pursuit, attempting to rejoin the battle. We didn't make it to the heavies, but my last 5-tube torpedo salvo (from JUPITER) damaged/*slowed* NAKA, removing it as a factor in the game's outcome. Then EXETER went down, skewered by heavy cruiser torpedoe salvoes, after damaging/slowing HAGURO. (As I remember, Robert's Dutch destroyers had succeeded in damaging/slowing NACHI, already.) The U.S. 4-pipers and Dutch cruisers raked Shawn's JINTSU and destroyers with fire, damaging all of them but one destroyer ... which sailed on through the Allied fleet ... and "friendly" Japanese torpedoes ... as though blessed. However, the 4-pipers were all damaged or sunk by the game's final phase, as well. It was 1PM, and we had gotten through about 13 turns -- 1 hour and 5 minutes of historical time. PERTH was just about to break past the Japanese lines (and plunder the transports, off-floor to the rear), when our time/gaming space ran out. Everyone seems to like "Naval Action," and the vote was unanimous to give the "Hero of Little Wars" (or whatever it is called) medal to Shawn, for his devastating "defense" of the Japanese right flank ... not that he had any choice in the matter, of course. :-) Although it was a good time and the "Little Wars" organizers were very solicitous and helpful, the $12.00 per person per day -- or club membership fees, etc. -- is *much* too expensive, and I think I'll pass up next year's. I think I *will* make the "At Last A Con" convention in St. Louis on the first weekend of May. Ray Runge just about broke my arm, on Saturday, persuading me to be there. :-) Commodore Lou Coatney mslrc@uxa.ecn.bgu.edu 309/836-1447 From: Patrick Collins Subject: Little Wars On Mar 27, 6:44pm, Louis R. Coatney wrote: >Before I report on the outcome of this model warships battle > (using my "Naval Action" rules/tables), I'd like to mention/ > reiterate the value of wargames conventions as sources of > new and used military and naval books, art, miniatures, etc. > --especially reference-type works, dealing with ship/weapon There were more book sellers than game sellers, it seemed. Columbia was there, and had games of Napoleon and Euro Front (the whole thing) going on. Unfortunately, I got there just as they were ending. Prosek's was selling lots of COMMAND games, and there were S&T books, selling off the old SPI library. A rather neat WWI air mini game was there - HOSTILE AIRCRAFT. For USD 36, you get the rules, two lead planes, and two 3-D stands to base them on. The stands allow rotation, banking, loops, etc. Everything you need to get started. The planes were the ever popular Camel and DR1, I believe. It seemed a very easy system to learn (I spent some time talking with the rep.), and the stands gave a very nice "feel". I liked it better than the BLUE MAX system I played in. Of course, getting blown up in a two seater AFTER I had overflown the airfield (my mission) didn't help! >Although it was a good time and the "Little Wars" organizers were > very solicitous and helpful, the $12.00 per person per day -- or > club membership fees, etc. -- is *much* too expensive, and I > think I'll pass up next year's. I agree. Had I not spent two hours getting there, I would have left. I also didn't appreciate the fact that no one mentioned the "tickets" you needed to PLAY a game. I think ROCKCON at half the cost and about the same amount of gaming space is MUCH more reasonable. I doubt I'll return next year. ROCKCON has better food, as well. -- Regards, Pat Patrick R. Collins Pat_Collins@csg.mot.com * "Bother," said Pooh as he ordered "Fix Bayonets!"