Screening minelayers in the Baltic with Flotilla Forward

Flotilla Forward is 70% done.  Finally got off my duff and started to work on the scenarios.  Have worked on raids, convoys and now screening of minelayers.  Still fixated on the eastern front.  Mine warfare was not a big part of Black Sea operations so had to move to the Baltic for this one.  Fortunately I had a flotilla rolled up pre Cruel Seas for my MO-4 boats. They have had 4 missions and have a good reputation. [ works similarly to Squadron Forward]  So...

Capt Lt Marinesko had his orders.  Patrol the outmost mine barrier while several Tral minesweepers tidied it up a bit.  He would take 2 boats with him and the junior captains/crews as this shouldn't be to difficult. 

Characters
Capt Lt Marinesko  glum/wealth      former enlisted     Eagle eye      Green
Lt Semyon               evil/  wealth                                                        Green
Lt Ranacev             sensible/alcohol                                                   Green

Baltic  1942   Daylight   visibility 2 miles    sea state   2

The MO boats on patrol.  Semyon above, Ranacev below and our good Capt Lt in the middle

Marinesko skirting the rain squall.

3 blinds enter the opposite edge.  Though Marinesko is green, since he has the "eagle eye" trait he sees as a veteran. 

He identifies 2 raum boats even though they look like S-boats. 

The Germans are excellent at camouflage!  I have ordered Warlords Raum boats though. 

 Marinesko orders a starboard turn and Semyon misses it and is late. This will become important later.

As the battle is joined Marinesko is confident. Lt  Ranacev is coming up to join.  Though the Raum boats are heavier he out guns them.  [ Russian 45mms were poor though so they -2 hps from their dice]   Unfortunatley the German fire is more accurate than the russian fire and Marinesko's boat begins to take damage.

A German minesweeper shows up and begins to shell the Russians from afar with its 4 inch gun.

Unfortunately a 4 inch shell finds Lt Ranacev's boat taking the front 45mm gun and most of the bow!
He retires before having even fired a shot at the Raum boats.

Meanwhile a Russian minesweeper arrives to the sound of guns...

and begins to fire at the german minesweeper.  Unfortunately they are green as well so the odds of a hit at over a mile are slim.  They also start to take damage. 

Towards end game.  The minesweepers trade shots.  The raum boats are making a 180 degree turn.  Lt RRanacev is leaving behind smoke.  Capt Lt Marinesko, his ship 66% damaged, has also turned for home behind smoke.  Lt Semyon, since his is not following close behind fails to see the signal and will be delayed in his turn. 

This allows both Raum boats to concentrate fire on him and with some excellent shooting manage to sink him.  Behind the smoke screen neither Marinesko nor Ranacev notice.   

The Russian minesweeper also breaks off the engagement.  

Fun game that played quick.  With all the russians green and all germans average the Russians were outclassed.   I still gave the germans the win though as the russians did lose a patrol boat. 

Post game Lt Semyon's crew is rescued and they are not happy about being abandoned.  Capt Lt Marinesko feels, with some justification, that had Semyon not missed signals he wouldn't have been left.  No one is happy and since Semyon is evil by nature he will not let this die.  He is now trying to undermine Marinesko though Marinesko hasn't realized the extent yet.   Morale in the flotilla has dropped from 8 to 7. Worse, Capt 2nd rank Antov has pulled one of their boats for a separate mission so with 2 boats in the shop and one lost the flotilla is down to 3 boats right now.   Capt Lt Marinesko will have his hands full trying to take this Flotilla Forward!

Enjoy!

Joe