After losing control of the Crimea Peninsula in an engagement sinking most of the German fleet OKW ordered the Kriegsmarine to rapidly reinforce the region and regain control of the Sea, restrict Soviet shipping and block reinforcements landing.
 |
| M41 Minesweeper |
The Security detachment and Sboat Flotilla along with their barracks, stores and a large fuel convoy arrived at Sevastapol in mid Febuary. The Flotilla spent the first week mining and sweeping the approaches to Sevastapol before sallying out to engage and destroy the Soviet squadrons covering the water side flank of the Infantry defending the Communications Network. As the Soviet Infantry force attacked the Heer infantry the Kriegsmarine charged the Soviet Fleet supporting the land assault.
Using the random scenario chart from Close quarters we randomised the Start location, the terrain, the weather and scenario rules. This scenario was simple, kill the enemy and preserve your own force.
Turn 1
Turn 1 saw the fleets close directly with each other, the soviets moved off their minesweeper towards the island.
Turn 2
The MTB's closed and raked each other with 37mm, 20mm, 12.7mm and Small arms fire putting down an E boat.
Turn 3
The Fugas moved into a good firing position before unleashing on an R-boat, the Escorting Bronekater then deployed smoke the screen the Minesweeper.
The Germans began pushing forwards through the melee strafing the G3 torpedo boats as they went
Top of turn 3
The veteran Bronekaters both got hit with Rudder steering results and a G3 was lost to an S38b.
The tough R-boats close with Bronekaters
Turn 4 and 5
The M41 Minesweeper and Rboat closed and finished off the Bronekaters before the Remaining Bronekater and Fugas Minesweeper ended the M41 Minesweepers career. At the end of the game, the Russians sunk all but one ship which only had 26 of it's original 90 hull points, the Kriegsmarine sunk 3 Bronekaters and 2 G3's with a 3rd Running off of the board by accident and counting as a loss. The German player won 11 to 9, it's a little perplexing to me how the VP's are organised considering a G3 is worth the same as a S38 despite the S83 have almost 4 times as many hull points and a R boat is worth the same as a Bronekater, despite having 3 times as many hull points.
