Action Stations...attack the convoy

Following last week's Stingray game, we're sticking with the naval theme...

I really do need to iron my rubbish sea cloth

It's been a  while since my Coastal Forces boats have had an outing so this week we planned a game using the most recent edition of Action Stations, which have always been my go-to rules for this setting.  I have tried Cruel Seas (which is where the models come from) but found it a bit oversimplified, even with the variant  rules by David Manley  (Action Stations author) which appeared after CS came out.  Cruel Seas does work well for multiplayer games but as there were only 2 of us it was a good chance to see what the most recent edition of AS looked like. 

Mostly the the rules are the same but some things seem to have been simplified and streamlined.  There is less book-keeping with movement and damage which is a good thing but the core rules remain the same.

For our game I'd wanted to have something vaguely historical so found an account of an action from 1941 in the Osprey MTB vs E Boat book which sees British MTBs and MGBs intercepting a German convoy.  The British attacked in waves with 2 Vospers initially making their attack and a 3rd MTB following up behind a few turns later.  At the same time as the 2nd MTB arrived, some Motor Gun Boats also attacked, trying to draw off the escorts... or at least that's what happened historically!  In our game the MGBs weren't quite so committed

Each counter might (or might not) be a boat

Initially the boats moved as blinds (or 'blips')... more skilled crew get more markers adding to the confusion.  I'm not convinced we got this bit right...boats moved surprisingly close to each other before being spotted.  Looking back I think I should have reacted sooner.  We ended up deploying all the boats as we were both getting a bit frustrated with this part of the rules... I need to go and read them more closely I think.

Uh oh...

The 1st British MTB deployed and launched both of its torpedoes towards one of the cargo ships.  The range was just right and, although 1 torpedo missed completely, the other struck the freighter on the port bow with resounding clang... a dud!!!  The MTB then sped up and headed off table as fast as it could, its work now done.

As it passed between the freighters it was illuminated by a flare and drew lots of fire from the escorting S Boats and was quickly sunk.

The 2nd MTB fired its torpedoes at the 2nd freighter which, despite some desperate maneuvering, couldn't avoid them and both struck it on the port beam (I'm now throwing nautical terms around like I know what I'm talking about... my dad would be proud!!)  These both hit and exploded causing massive damage to the freighter, sinking it straight away.

The MGBs now sped past the sinking freighter and decided not to attempt to support their remaining MTB comrade and headed off into the night!

This left one remaining Vosper to take on the surviving freighter.  A lucky shot from the escorting armed trawler which had been chugging  along slowly beside the freighters destroyed one of the 2 torpedo tubes, leaving just one torpedo to sink the freighter.  Somehow the MTB managed to survive the hail of cannon fire from the 2 S Boats and fired off the torpedo which hit the freighter square on the bow.  I'd hoped that the narrow angle might result in a miss but no.. the torpedo hit, and wasn't a dud this time, sinking the 2nd freighter, and the last Vosper sped off into the safety of the darkness.  

A successful hunting trip for the Royal Navy with 2 freighters being sunk for the loss of 1 MTB.

Great rules and a fun game... definitely need to check on the hidden movement part though.  It feels like an important part of these type of engagements but didn't really work for us.  I suspect it was down to my reading of the rules rather than any flaws in the system!