quote:
Originally posted by JustinScott
(I know I'm simplifying history, deal with it)
During WWII the Allied forces fought to keep the shipping lanes open, while the Axis fought to strangle it.
Good general premise to start with!
quote:
Setup:
Allied
Warship count: Twice the count of Axis Warships & 1/2 the count of Allied Merchant ships
Merchant ship count: Twice the count of Allied Warships
Axis
Warship count: 1/2 the count of Allied Warships
Merchant ship count: None, or 1-2 raiders that look like the allied merchants...
In reality, you're probably going to have to go with whatever shows up on battle day. The 2:1 ratio of Allied:Axis may or may not be what you actually get, but that really isn't all that important. If the teams have advanced notice of the scenario, they can plan & make sure they get enough ships. If not, it's their own fault & they have to deal with it, just like 1:1 navies.
quote:
Rules:
All Allied Merchant ships are to be in the water, circling the pond at all time.
[\quote]
You really should provide something for the cargo ships' captains to do, besides just be bearing fodder. They need a way to win, not just be targets.
What some groups do is set out buoys at either end of the pond. Cargo ships must go once around each buoy to register one "run". Scoring is based on the total number of cargo runs completed.
What I like to do is set up 2 or more ports. Ports are simply areas defined by floating booms, large enough for a few ships to get inside & maybe turn around, with at least 1 gap to get in & out. No shooting is allowed into, out of, or within the port areas, making them safe havens. Cargo ships in port are safe, but aren't earning their keep, which is their incentive to move into harm's way. Objective of those running the cargo ships is to get some number of transits completed, or some amount of gross tonnage "delivered". I like the "tonnage delivered" option best because it gives the most flexibility of how to achieve.
[quote]
Axis objective:
All Allied merchant ships sunk within 10 minutes.
At least 1 operational warship, to "defend the motherland".
Allied objectives:
At least 1 merchant ship still operational after 10 minutes.
At least 1 operational warship, to "protect the queen".
That's not very much time. The armed ships are basically going to get only 1 shot, if that. I like battles that run all day!
JM