SCENARIOS AND VARIANTS:

NEW SCENARIOS FOR DREADNOUGHT

A Mediterranean Excursion

By George Lyon

A close review of any extended period of military operations will usually reveal a number of conflict situations too insignificant in implications to be dealt with by historians. These events could have turned out differently. Their possibilities make take on unusual significance to players of Dreadnought who seek historically-based scenarios only to find that the admirals of 1906-1945 failed to take the needs of today’s wargamer into account in planning and executing their operations.

The following scenarios take a step towards changing that. Now, Cunningham’s elusive Genoa Bombardment Force will be intercepted by the superior Italian reaction force that failed to locate it 1941. The often irresolute Italians will summon the determination (and the fuel oil) for a last glorious throw of the dice in an attempt to break up the invasion of Sicily.

As you will see, all scenarios are taken from the Mediterranean theatre, one of the bloodiest of all areas of naval operations in World War II. (See S&T 26, p.27). The historical notes supplied with each scenario provide a brief summary of the situation as it developed and of the assumptions that have been made to make the scenario possible.

Of necessity, some liberties have been taken with the OB regarding cruisers and destroyers, and where aircraft carries were actually present they are assumed to have managed to avoid surface combat. Any effect they may have through the launching of air strikes is provided for in each scenario’s special rules.

PUNTA STILO (Calabria), 9 July 1940

ORDERS OF BATTLE AND DEPLOYMENT

British Player:

Warspite (134)

Royal Sovereign (151)

Malaya (133)

L21

L22

L31

D31

D32

D33

hex/facing/speed

E 1408/N/5

E 1409/N/5

E 1410/N/5

E 1406/N/5

E 1209/N/5

E 1609/N/5

E 1607/N/5

E 1207/N/5

E 1412/N/5

Italian Player:

Conte de Cavour (921)

Guilio Cesare (922)

C61

C71

C72

D61

D62

D63

D64

D71

hex/facing/speed

F 0408/N/5

F 0409/N/5

F 0407/N/5

F 0410/N/5

F 0405/N/5

F 0207/N/5

F 0210/N/5

F 0607/N/5

F 0610/N/5

F 0411/N/5

GAME LENGTH

20 Game-Turns

BASE VISIBILITY

Nine hexes

SPECIAL RULES

Italians may not cross lines formed by the south and east edges of the initial map configuration.

VICTORY CONDITIONS

British must sink or wreck one of the Italian capital ships and score more victory points than the Italian player or they lose.

HISTORICAL NOTES

The Italian force was returning to Taranto after escorting a large convoy to Benghazi. The British attempted to cut off the Italians thinking that they could be taken by surprise. However, the Italians, aware of the British presence, actually sought battle in the friendly waters off Calabria within range of their land based airpower.

 

CAPE TUELADA, 27 November 1940

ORDERS OF BATTLE AND DEPLOYMENT

British Player:

Gibraltar Force

Renown (241)

C21

D21

D22

Alexandria Force

Ramilles (153)

C22

L21

D23

hex/facing/speed

E 1810/NE/6

E 1910/NE/6

E 1711/NE/6

E 2009/NE/6

Enters per special rules

Italian Player:

Vittorio Veneto (931)

Guilio Cesare (922)

C61

C71

C72

D61

D62

D63

hex/facing/speed

F 0809/NW/6

F 0910/NW/6

F 0608/NW/6

F 1010/NW/6

F 1111/NW/6

F 0609/NW/6

F 0708/NW/6

F 0908/NW/6

GAME LENGTH

16 Game-Turns

BASE VISIBILITY

Eight hexes

SPECIAL RULES

Alexandria Force arrives on game turn six from the North at the British Player’s discretion, but not less than 20 hexes from the nearest Italian unit. British must specify board section of entry on Turn 5.

VICTORY CONDITIONS

Italians must score more victory points than the British and exit both Italian capital ships from the west edge of the original map set up with equal or fewer unrepaired hits than those inflicted on the two British capital ships.

HISTORICAL NOTES

The British attempted to pass a convoy eastward through the Mediterranean from Gibraltar. Their Gibraltar force was to be relieved by the Alexandria force with both forces providing strategic support during the most dangerous part of the convoy’s passage. In actuality, the Italian attack on the convoy was made by light forces, submarines and aircraft. The Italian battleship force never encountered either the convoy or the British capital ship escort. This scenario assumes that a capital ship encounter did take place.

BOMBARDMENT OF GENOA, 9 February 1941

ORDERS OF BATTLE AND DEPLOYMENT

British Player:

Renown (241)

Malaya (133)

C31

D31

D32

hex/facing/speed

C 0611/NW/6

C 0712/NW/6

C 0511/NW/6

C 0710/NW/6

C 0513/NW/6

Italian Player:

Vittorio Veneto (931)

Guilio Cesare (922)

Andrea Doria (924)

C71

L61

D71

D72

hex/facing/speed

E 1905/NW/6

E 1804/NW/6

E 2005/NW/6

F 0106/NW/6

E 1603/NW/6

E 2003/NW/6

E 1806/NW/6

GAME LENGTH

20 Game-Turns

BASE VISIBILITY

Twelve hexes

SPECIAL RULES

1. British may not move North or East of lines formed by the North and East edge of the original map section deployment.

2. Due to the presence in the vicinity of the British aircraft carrier Ark Royal, the British player uses the following procedure to simulate air attacks made by the Ark Royal’s aircraft. On each turn the British Player rolls two dice. On each turn on which the result of the roll equals six the British Player is allowed to make a separate 1-1 attack against any one ship unit of the Italian force which is not otherwise being attacked on that turn. This attack is resolved at the same point at which the gunnery combat is resolved.

VICTORY CONDITIONS

Italians must sink or wreck either Renown or Malaya and score more victory points than the British Player to win. Achieving one of these conditions means a draw. Achieving neither means a British victory.

HISTORICAL NOTES

After the British had successfully carried out a naval bombardment of Genoa (although failing to do any further damage to the Caio Duillio which was docked in the harbour for repairs) the Italians sent out a force in order to cut off the British withdrawal. Althought the Italians were in a good position to intercept the withdrawing British, the British escaped with the aid of bad weather. This scenario assumes good weather and a successful Italian interception.

DEATH RIDE OF THE ITALIAN NAVY, 12 Juky 1943

ORDERS OF BATTLE AND DEPLOYMENT

Allied Player:

Massachusetts (463)

Texas (342)

New York (341)

Warspite (134)

Malaya (133)

Renown (241)

C31

C32

L31

D41

D42

D43

hex/facing/speed

E 0607/NE/5

E 0405/NE/5

E 0306/NE/5

E 0908/NE/5

E 0808/NE/5

E 0709/NE/5

E 0505/NE/5

E 0707/NE/5

E 0806/NE/5

E 0206/NE/5

E 0508/NE/5

E 0609/NE/5

Italian Player:

Littorio (932)

Roma (933)

Andrea Doria (924)

Caio Duillio (923)

L61

L62

L71

D71

D72

hex/facing/speed

B 0412/SE/5

B 0312/SE/5

B 0511/SE/5

B 0410/SE/5

B 0513/SE/5

B 0611/SE/5

B 0211/SE/5

B 0609/SE/5

B 0213/SE/5

GAME LENGTH

16 Game-Turns

BASE VISIBILITY

Seven hexes

SPECIAL RULES

Neither side may leave original map area. (Exception: see Victory Conditions)

VICTORY CONDITIONS

Italians must sink or wreck one Allied capital ship other than the BB’s Texas and New York or exit two or more capital ships having no unrepaired damage from the south edge of the original map area or score more points than the Allied Player or they lose.

HISTORICAL NOTES

The Italian OB represents what was available to repel an invasion of Sicily. (Vittorio Veneto was repairing bomb damage). This scenario presumes the Italians possessed adequate luck and resolve to advantage of night and bad weather conditions that restrict the use of Allied air power.

The Allies respond by assembling a scratch force of their own capital ships (including New York and Texas, far better suited to bombardment missions) to prevent the Italians from interfering with landing and supply operations. The Italian Player has the option of trying to sink at least one more Allied capital ship for the sake of la gloire or of doing damage among the Allied troop and cargo transports by exiting the map. At the end of sixteen turns, the first of a series of Allied airstrikes, launched when the weather cleared a bit, begins the obliteration of the Italian force.

MOVES nr. 30, published December/January 1977