It has been awhile. I have just transitioned from full time to semi retired so much is happening. The good news here is I have time to format Flotilla Forward. It is done except for a QRS and the appendix. Will send it out for proofreading ( Chris am hoping you will do me the honors again) and then post it. As always, all profits will do to my local food bank; just in time for the holidays. The scenarios are playtested but after working on it for a week I wanted to play a quick game.
For those of you familiar with my land and air games this is between the two. It has blinds like PF but there is resource management like SF. Anyway I rolled up a dogboat captain I will follow in the channel. Gentlemen, I introduce you to Lt Phillips! He is from East Anglia and was a well known Yachtsman before the war. Due to his fame he gets +1 to all his interactions. He is a cheery fellow (+1 again) and is concerned about position so he wants to move up in rank and responsibility. He and his crew are average so obviously haven't seen much action yet, perfect for us starting out. You normally roll up a mission but I chose rescue because I wanted a short battle.
In Flotilla Forward you roll up environmental conditions as these were key in small boat actions. We got some chop [Beaufort 4], visibility about a mile and no fog/squalls. This is good as we are looking for a boat crew to rescue.
on to our story...
Lt Phillips is cruising the channel when he gets a distress call over the wireless. A lone vosper is sinking and needs help. [ 66% chance a small boat needs help.]
A beleaguered Vosper
Lt Phillips changes course and goes to help. This should look good on the AAR he thinks.
Phillips was fortunate to sight the vosper at almost a mile and steer towards it. The plan was he would pull up along side and determine wheither to take off the crew or tow while #2 circled and looked for Jerry. The scenario generated 2 enemy blinds for this mission. Both would turn out to be S-38 boats and they were lagging 3 turns behind the brits in their search.
Situation shortly before things got hairy.
As Phillips pulls up along side the Vosper they shout that an E-boat is coming in about 200 yards away. [ This battle the vosper had no weapons functioning.] #2 also spots the E-boat. This just got a lot harder thinks Lt Phillips...
All boats start plugging away at each other as the night lights up! Clearly towing is out of the question. The men from the Vosper come over quickly and the charges are set but this still takes time. Lt Phillips boat is literally a sitting duck as the 2 E-Boats pass and move to port continuing to pour fire onto her. #2 tries to support but he is too far away.
Lt Phillips is just about to start moving when an incendiary cuts a fuel line. [ this isn't in Flotilla Forward but in Crueler Seas]. Now a diesel boat has a 16% chance of catching fire but the poor dog boat is 50%. "Crap! Now we have to fight this fire." It is a losing battle...
The boat rapidly become engulfed in flames. The men from the Vosper leave a stricken boat for the second time that night. Fortunatly a Flower class ship arrives and the E-boats slink into the night. Lt Phillips and all the crew are rescued.
Great battle that turned on 1 critical hit. Lt Philips almost became a hero. Next time I can talk about post battle and about how blinds are managed.
Enjoy! I am...
Joe
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