Line of Fire, Path of Light - A Naval Standoff by the Lighthouse in Dark Waters

I see fellow bloggers plays naval wargames from time to time. Some really 'small scale' and others as part of scenarios in larger 'Toy Soldier scale'. This made me want to try out some naval wargames myself. Earlier this year I 3D-printed some naval 'Benchies' for a 'Benchy Battle', which I also used for Battle Benchy Board Game. Despite being Benchies I thought I could use them for other naval games too if I found some interesting budget rules to play.

The Rules

This year I've also played a wargame with 'Basic Battle 2.0' rules by Grey Army Gaming. These are very generic rules which can be used for a lot of different (war-) games. - Even for simple naval wargames as suggested by the game designer. So despite not being specific Naval wargame rules, I think 'Basic Battle 2.0' will work even better for a small naval standoff than my Old West shootout. 

Preparing the game

I already had 2 small Fleets to meet each other in combat. But the sea is an open area so I wanted to add some visual interests and obstacles which the ships needed to avoid, and force them to maneuver around. From my 'Benchy Battle' I already had some 'islands' and wrecks of sinking ships. I wanted to add a some of more obstacles to my battlefield and 3D printed an island with a lighthouse and some more rocks to serve as small island and cliffs (which I probably also can use as desert rock terrain in other wargames):

I also 3D-printed some mine-field markers, which would work as obstacles (but not cover) and force the ships to move around them. These were simply just 3D-printed in 2 colours and kept unpainted:

The Scenario

The Lighthouse in Dark Waters are located in a very disputed border area between The Republic of Benchy (Navy B) and The Free State of Benchy (Navy A). Navy B has moved into the waters and laid mines to claim the waters as their own. The minefields are now guarded by Navy B. The Navy A flotilla will try to gain control over Dark Waters and the Lighthouse by making Navy B step down or defeating them.

Forces:

• Navy A:

From left to right; Gunboat (3 wound number), Corvette (4 wound number) and Battleship (6 wound number)

• Navy B:

From left to right; Battleship (6 wound number), Corvette (4 wound number) and

Gunboat (3 wound number)

Mission:

• For both navies; To eliminate the opponent to gain control of the waters of the Lighthouse outside 'Benchy Islands'.

The Game

Time:    1 hour and 30 minutes 

Turns:   21

Result:  Technically a win for Navy A in turn 13, and a definitely win for Navy A in turn 21.

The Republic of Benchy's Navy (Navy B) has positioned their ships around the Lighthouse to protect the minefields they have laid in the waters as to claim the waters as their own:

The Free State of Benchy also make claims to the 'Dark Waters' surrounding the lighthouse, and send a flotilla (Navy A) to force Navy B to retreat and leave the waters:

When the Navy A's Gunboat tries to break through the outer minefield, Navy B's Battleship and Gunboat instantly opens fire. -And scored a hit:

This did not prevent the Navy A's Gunboat to return the fire against it's equivalent foe. As did the Navy A's Corvette and Battleship as they were approaching. The incoming fire was massive and Navy B's Gunboat got hit and changed course to seek cover behind an island:

The Navy A Gunboat decided to pursuit the fleeing Gunboat from Navy B, but received another volley of fire and another hit by Navy B:

The Navy A Gunboat opened fire again against the Gunboat B as it was maneuvering into Line-of-sight, but missed. By this time The Navy A Corvette was sneaking around the island from the other side:

Both Navy A' Gunboat and Corvette decided to ram the Navy B Gunboat from both sides, and succeed:

The Navy A Corvette decided to reverse into cover and out of LoS, as the Navy B's Battleship was approaching the scene:

When the Navy B's Battleship entered the scene it immediately opened fire on the Navy A Gunboat, but missed:

The Gunboat tried to outflank the Battleship by going further into the minefield. -But it didn't move fast enough and received a direct and final hit:

Both Navies had lost their Gunboats now:

Meanwhile the Navy A Battleship had entered the waters east of the lighthouse, and opened fire on the Navy B's Corvette; And scored a hit:

The Navy B Corvette returned the fire but missed:

This was developing into a duel as Navy A's Battleship opened fire again, and scored a critical hit to Navy B's Corvette:

While Navy B's Corvette was returning fire again, the Navy A's Battleship moved towards the Corvette and it's shot missed:

Moving into point-blank-range the Battleship fired at the Corvette again but missed:

The Corvette returned the fire again and did not miss:

The Battleship was still moving and rammed the Corvette bow-to-bow:

It was a success as the Navy B's Corvette sunk:

Now Navy A's Battleship could take up the hunt for Navy B's Battleship (which had recently sunk the Navy A's Gunboat at this point), but the shell fell short:

Navy B's Battleship was now fighting this battle alone, and opened fire against Navy A's Corvette and scored a hit:

It opened fire against the Corvette again before it managed to move away, and scored another hit:

But Navy A's Battleship was closing in from behind and opened fire again. Another miss:

After receiving two hits Navy A's Corvette decided to maneuver away and get some distance to Navy B's Battleship, which opened fire again but missed:

Navy A's Battleship was closing in on it's foe equivalent and opened fire again, but missed:

Since Navy A's Corvette was not to be seen, Navy B Battleship turned around and opened fire on Navy A's Battleship on point-blank-range and scored a hit:

The distance between those two Battleships was very short by this point, so Navy A's Battleship rammed the other bow-to-bow unsuccessfully. By this time the Navy A Corvette had re-entered the battle and was closing in on Navy B's last ship:

Navy B's Battleship saw the risk of being outflanked and turned around and was hastily steering out of Dark Waters:

Both Navy A ships gave the Navy B's Battleship a salvo and scored one hit. The game was technically over at this point as the Navy B was driven away from the waters:

But the Navy B's Battleship was still in pretty good condition, and it knew that both the Navy A ships was starting to take a toll, so it decided to return to have another try to fend the intruders off:

Navy B's Battleship opened fire on the enemy Corvette as soon as it got in sight, but the maneuver was too fast and it missed:

Now both Navy A ships opened fire on the B Battleship, and scored a couple of hits:

As the Navy B's Battleship seemed to be outflanked again, it turned around and rammed Navy A's Battleship...

...but did not manage to cause any damage to it. Being danger close the Navy A's Battleship set full reverse and backed out of this danger situation while firing (but missed):

Then the Navy A's Corvette opened fire and managed to hit with a shell:

Navy B's Battleship tried to move out of the situation again, but was moving very slowly. Perhaps it had taken too much damage already. Navy A's Battleship opened fire one more time and hit with another shell:

Navy B's Battleship was so heavily damaged now, so the Navy A Corvette gave full throttle and rammed the Battleship mid-ship:

It was a successful attack, and made Navy B's Battleship sink. It seems that the flotilla sent by The Free State of Benchy completed it's mission with minimum loss, and re-claimed sovereignty of Dark Waters by the lighthouse again.

Conclusion

Don't be put off just because these rules are named  'basic' and originally targeted at kids. I've played by these rules before, but then with figurines. I think these rules worked great, almost even better, with vessels or objects as well. I had a great time playing them, and really recommend you to try them out as well. The rules for Basic Battles 2.0 can be found on this link.

The Battle Benchy Board Game 1.0.0

Despite confusingly similar names, this game is not the same naval wargame I played and reviewed earlier in the 'Benchy Battle' bloggpost. The game I'm going to play and review in this bloggpost is called 'The Battle Benchy Board Game 1.0.0' (rules is in the file section) and claims to be similar to Warhammer 40000. Even if it's name claims to be a Board Game, it's actually a miniature tabletop game meant to be played  with (specific) 'little Benchies'. I've never played any Warhammer games before so I have no idea how similar they actually are, but I do have a fleet of Benchies, so I'll give these rules a go. 

The STL-files on the page where I found the rules suggests that you can 3D-print wrecks to block line of sight, so I'll just use the wrecks from my previous 'Benchy Battle' and place them where my ships run out of health. 

The Scenario

The scenario will be the same as my previous 'Benchy game'; Navy B are protecting the water of the coast of 'Benchy Islands', while Navy A will try to defeat them and gain control of 'Benchy Islands'.

Forces:

• Navy A

From left to right; Gunboat, Corvette and Battleship 

• Navy B

From left to right; Battleship, Corvette and Gunboat,    

Mission:

• For both navies; To eliminate the opponent to gain control of the coast of 'Benchy Islands'.

The Game

Time:    1 hour and 8 minutes 

Turns:   10

Result:  A win for Navy A by a very narrow margin. 

Navy A was keeping a steady course for Benchy Islands:

When Navy B observed Navy A's offensive course, Navy B was seeking cover in sheltered waters:

It was not too obvious for Navy A where Navy B was located anymore:

Navy B was just lurking inshore, waiting:

When Navy A was approaching the Navy B Corvette made a reposition as the Navy A Battle Ship was heading towards the strait it was seeking cover in:

While in the open the Navy A Battleship turned and gave the Navy B Corvette a broad side and got a couple of hits before it reached cover:

When Navy A was entering the range of fire, the Navy B Battleship moved and gave the Navy A Corvette a 'broad side' a scored a couple of hits:

The Navy A Corvette returned fire and scored a couple of hits too:

This was the situation at the end of the initial clash:

The Navy A Corvette moved out of the Navy B Battleship's line of fire and tried an attack on those 2 Navy B ships hiding behind the small island, and scored another hit on that B-Corvette:

Navy B's Battleship took up the pursuit and gave that A-Corvette the Coup d'état:

Navy A's Battleship moved further into the strait to try to to fall Navy B in the back, but at the same time they were moving out to open waters:

But the Navy B Battleship came into sight, and the Navy A Battleship opened fire and scored another 2 hits:

The Navy A's small Gunboat sneaked around the island and clashed into the Navy B's small Gunboat. The Navy A boat opened massive fire...

...which the Navy B boat wasn't able to save:

At this point the Navy B's Battleship moved into position to return fire against the battle ship from Navy A, and hit with 3 shells:

An overall view of the situation at this point of the battle:

Navy B's Corvette retaliated Navy A's small Gunboat's attack... 

and sunk it in one salvo:

At this time the Navy A's Battleship had moved into a better firing position and gave Navy B's Battleship a final bombardment:

Now it was only Navy B's Corvette vs. Navy A's Battleship left in the battle:

The smaller Corvette tried to out maneuver the larger Battleship and opened fire and hit with one shell:

The Battleship turned around and gave the Corvette a broad side.

The smaller Corvette couldn't survive that massive fire, and sunk:

The attacking Navy A had the last floating ship, and it was heavily battle damaged at this point. This was a scanty victory for Navy A, which now controlled the sea of Benchy Islands

Pros

• The rules are free. The rules are easy to play.
• The rules are actually easy and only 4 really short pages long, but it feels like they're written unnecessarily complicated.

Cons

• This game uses specific types of 'naval' Benchies. I guess you can substitute the different kind of ships. I just played the game with the Benchies I had sorting them after 3 different 'classes'; Heavy, Medium and Light according to the rules and using their actually number of guns for weapon stats. My ships doesn't have rotating turrets either as suggested in the rules, so I'll just have to imagine my turrets turns to get Line of sight. 
• Turn sequence seems very unclear in the rules. I played it by rolling for activation each time for a ship, and a turn ended when all ships on both sides had activated. 

Conclusion

After playing this game I have a feeling that these rules are quite not finished yet. -Like the rules for activation is missing completely. The rues are also unnecessarily complicated written and should be simplified perhaps even with charts. I also think the rules are too specific for the 'Navy Benchy'-models the game designer intend to use for his games, and it would be better to categorize the ships into 3 or 4 different Classes based upon size and weaponry. Due to these shortcomings the rules are absolutely playable, and I did have a good time playing them out on my table. You could too.

I still have my 'Benchies' so I'll think I'll move on and try them out with some other free rules. Please follow my blog and find out.