Welcome back to the Indo-China campaign for Castles in the Sky from Osprey Games. Previously in the campaign the British lost control of the Kra Isthmus to French backed rebels. This caused issues with the British's proxy the Kingdom of Siam. Therefore, the British attempted to bombard and destroy a rebel smuggling base where arms and supplies were being funneled to the rebels on the isthmus. Commodore Duckworth was successful in his mission and bombarded the depot into scrap with the heavy batteries of the HMS Malayan. However, it was not enough to quell the unrest.
The French are leading the campaign 4 to 3. The Final Battle scenario is triggered at 7 points and the leader must be ahead by 2.
In addition, the French armored cruiser the Cuchinchina finished refit and repairs at Saigon and has re-entered the French fleet. This is a needed boost to the French fleet as the Hue is still on training maneuvers off Tourane. The British cruiser HMS Achilles is still undergoing repair work in Laem Chabang from the pounding it took against the French earlier. In addition, the HMS Corsair comes into today's battle down 1 armor point if it gets used at all.
Unlike the British, the French naval doctrine is reliant on the indirect approach. For many decades, there officers have focused on a school of thought known as the Juene Ecol. This approach focuses on less direct confrontation between ships, and more of a strategy of speed, maneuver, and sharp attacks by lighter forces. The French were pioneers of the destroyer, air torpedo, and the sky mine. With the British on the backfoot, Commodore Aubre has decide to continue to raise the stakes on the British commander.
Earlier, the British had tried to blockade repair parts from reaching the Cuchinchina in Saigon. With the HMS Achilles in port at Laem Chabang, Commodore Aubre has decided to return the favor. However, after the failure of the British blockade, the French officer chooses a different path. Instead of trying to actively blockade the area with his ships, he intends to mine the main trade routes into the port.
Commodore Aubre waits until the right time. A cloudy, moonless night is when he decides to strike for maximum surprise on the British. Of course, Laem Chabang and the HMS Achilles are important assets for the Royal Navy of Siam. Therefore, much of the British force is active in the area as well.
Forces:
L'Aire National
Camot- Commodore Aubre- Command 4
Charles Martel Class Heavy Cruiser (Battleship)
Cuchinchina - Captain Gourdon- Command 2
Gloire Armored Cruiser
Tourane- Captain de Genouilily- Command 2
Descartes Class Cruiser
Tromblom- Commander Morice- Command 2
Chasseur Class Destroyer - Sky Mines
The Royal Navy (of Siam)
HMS Malaya- Commodore Duckworth- Command 2
Queen Elizabeth Class Battleship
HMS Arrogant- Captain Knowles- Command 2
Arethusa Class Light Cruiser
HMS Medusa- Captain Butler- Command 2
Active Class Light Cruiser
HMS Corsair- Commander Montgomery- Command 4
Bull Finch Class Destroyer- Torpedo
Mission:
The French are the attackers and the British are the defenders in this scenario. The French are trying to lay as many sky mines as possible within 6MU of the center of the board at Alt 3.
However, there was a complication determined for this battle. This battle will take place at night, which reduces Line-of-Sight. In addition, there is also a layer of cloud cover at altitude 4 which also restricts visibility.
Set-up:
The battle will be played on a 48MU by 48MU board. We used a grid system to determine the terrain per the standard rules.
1= No impacting terrain
2= Mountain alt 3
3= No impacting terrain
4= No impacting terrain
However, the complications will be more than enough cover for this battle! It is going to get up close and personal. Both sides can deploy up to 6 MU in from their board edge at any speed of height.
The British are divided into two groups, the Malayan and the Medusa are heading for the drop zone at Altitude 3, while the Arrogant and Corsair are in a flanking force at Altitude 4 and 5. The Altitude 4 clouds will make this a tough battle to get line-of-sight.
The French are coming in on a corner edge, led by the Camot at altitude 4with the Tromblom flanking it. The Cuchinchina and the Tourane are also in formation but at altitude 5. They are making use of the cover of the clouds.
Turn 1:
Initiative: Both sides score two successes, and since the French are the attackers, they win. They decide to go first this time.
Move:
The Medusa, Arrogant, and Corsair all increase speed to 6 as they probe for the French ships. Ground observers spotted and reported the French ships moving into the area, and their target is clear to the British command. The HMS Malayan makes for the center of the trade route to protect it.
The French Camot and Tromblom stay in the cover of the clouds as they approach. The Tourane and Cuchinchina are following, but taking top cover and searching for enemy ships.
Battle:
None. No one has the range or line-of-sight. It is night time after all.
End:
None
Turn 2:
Initiative: The French get three commands to the British 1. They elect to go first again.
Move:
All force continue on target. The Arrogant and the Corsair are rocketing through the night at speed 8, while the Medusa slows to stay with the Malayan.
Battle:
No one can get a target at night and with the clouds. This will be a short, and intense firefight up close and personal when it happens!
End:
None
Turn 3:
Initiative: This time the British win three to 1, and decide to go first to get to the target zone before the French.... maybe?
Move:
The Malayan moves up and turns slightly to put the majority of the trade route under the guns of their broadside at Altitude 3. The Cuchinchina breaks off from the French fleet at Altitude 5, and turns towards the mountain and the reports of British ships in the area.
The Medusa moves up with its charge, as the Tourane stays high at Altitude 5 on the opposite flank of the French fleet.
The Arrogant drops to altitude 3, and into cruise's into the target area, hoping to get the jump on the French destroyer. However, she is taken by surprise as the Camot drops out of the cloud bank and blows smoke as she approaches the Light Cruiser rapidly! The Corsair stays high at altitude 5, but stays with the Arrogant. The Tromblom also speeds up and drops altitude to stay with the Camot, and begin her attack run on the target!
Battle:
The Camot is just out of range of the HMS Malayan thanks to the darkness of the night! However, the Arrogant quickly opens fire on the French pre-Dreadnought. However, the smokescreen does it's job and renders the Arrogant's weapons useless. A snapshot from the Camot's bow heavy battery also goes wide of the Arrogant.
End:
None.
Turn 4:
Initiative: ! command to 1, and the British maintain initiative. However, this time, they opt to let the French go first, so they can get position on them.
Move:
The Cuchinchina drops altitude and speeds up to 6. They are in the cloud bank. The Arrogant, spooked by the run in with the French battleship, gains height and races past the drop zone.
The Tourane keeps going ahead, confident their path will cross that of the Arrogant or Corsair. The Corsair keeps skimming the top of the cloud bank, reluctant to get stuck in too close due to their weakened armor.
The Camot drives back up into the cloud bank, and blows smoke with a Command. The British do not take the bait, and continue to cover the trade route, knowing the Tromblom will need to appear to drop her mines.
However, the Tromblom dives into the trade area, but maneuvers frantically to curve out of the area, and keep her Mine Launchers in position to mine the area. The destroyer is trying desperately to avoid the British fire.
The French go first a begin with the Tromblom popping Sky Mines into the target area! 4 counters are in the drop zone. Despite the Tromblom's efforts, she is in sight of the Malayan who makes a Fire for Effect order. The little French Destroyer is hit with 4 friction and 2 hits from the Malayan's Light Batteries.
The Tourane and the Arrogant exchange fire through the clouds. The Tourane takes the worst of it with 4 Friction and 2 hits, to the Arrogant's 4 friction. However, the Camot can also see the Arrogant, and fires with an obscured line-of-sight through their own smoke. The Camot's starboard light battery jams, but the Heavy and Mediums manage to add 4 more friction and 2 solid hits on the Arrogant!
End:
The Tromblom loses 2 armor from the Malayan's fire.
The Tourane has her screw fouled and rudder jammed by the Arrogant, while losing two armor.
The Arrogant's rudder is jammed and she lose 2 armor.
The Arrogant and the Tourane manage to unjam their rudders. However, the Tourane still has a fouled screw. The Camot repairs its starboard light battery
There is 16 Friction on the board. The two commandore's clear 18 total, so no friction remains in play.
Turn 5:
Initiative: Two commands to two, so the British maintain. This time, they want to shoot first, so go first.
Move:
The Corsair bravely turns about, and drops to altitude 3, heading straight towards the minefield in an attempt to clear it with PD. However, the Destroyer's plan may be thwarted as the Cuchinchina drops out of the clouds to cover the Mines.
The Malayan turns to bring the Cuchinchina under fire, while the Camot flies over her bow and continues to blow smoke. Meanwhile, the brave Tromblom turns back into the danger zone, and reloads more sky mines!
The Arrogant turns about to try to catch the Tourane, but she breaks contact by diving below the cloud bank, and breaking Line-of-sight. However, that maybe a bad idea as the Medusa and Malayan are also in the area.
Battle:
The HMS Malayan makes another Fire for Effect order, and opens up on the Tromblom with her light batteries. However, her gunnery is far less effective and only inflict 2 friction. However, her bow Heavy Batteries plaster the damaged Tourane!
The Cuchinchina fires on the Corsair, but only causes 2 friction. The Medusa's bow battery manages to hit the Tourane for 1 more hit, taking it down to 1 armor point left!
The Tromblom and Corsair exchange fire, with the Tromblom taking a hit and jamming her bow gun.
End:
The Tromblom lost 1 more armor.
The Tourane lost 4 armor and was crippled!
The captain of the Tourane chooses to strike his colors before losing the ship completely.
The Tromblom unjams the forward guns.
There is 10 Friction on the board. The combined commodore's can remove 14, so no friction remains.
Turn 6: Final Turn
Initiative: Both sides score 1 Command, so the British maintain the initiative and decide to shoot first.
Move:
The Arrogant circles the drop zone and goes below the cloud cover. The Toruane tries to disengage and drops to Altitude 2.
The HMS Malayan moves to cut off the Tromblom, with the Medusa in support. The Camot steals away in the cloud bank, while the Cuchinchina stays in the drop zone to exchange fire and support the Tromblom.
The Corsair races through the minefield in an attempt to clear the mines. The plan works as the Point defense blows up 1 mine, the other 3 attack and explode. However, the destroyer takes 3 hits passing through!
The Tromblom cuts across the drop zone, and stays in the Malayans stern arc to reduce incoming fire. However, she is still in position to drop her mines.
The Malayan Fires for Effect one more time. 3 hits from the Malayan light batteries strike the destroyer, and the Captain orders her to Brace. She shrugs off all three hits. However, she can not drop any Mines due to the command. The Malayan's stern heavy batteries also bounce off the Cuchinchina, causing 2 friction. The French armored cruiser cause two friction in return.
The Medusa's stern battery also fires on the Tromblom, who shrugs the hit.
End:
The Corsair loses 3 armor and has her screw fouled.
The Tourane and the Corsair are unable to repair their critical damage.
Conclusion
The British win the battle decisively, scoring two campaign points! Thanks to the Corsair's efforts, all the mines were cleared. The British then won the armor loss battle, losing 5 to the French 10. The Tourane's miscalculation to avoid the Arrogant, and stumbling into the front of the Malayan was a costly tactical error! This puts the British up 5 to 4 in the campaign!
The damaged ships try to repair what they can as they head for home. The HMS Arrogant is successful and manages to repair both armor losses. The Corsair also manages to repair the damage done by the Sky Mines, but is still down 1 armor point overall. The Tromblom fails to repair any of her damage, and limps back to French territory with 3 damage. The Tourane also fails to repair any of her damage en route, ship is in rough shape!
The Siamese government also manages to crush the rebels in the Kra Isthmus and reclaim authority in the region. The French backed rebels are forced back into hiding, and the Isthmus is back in the Royal Navy of Siam's strategic asset column.
Participants gain the following Experience:
Malayan: 15 + 10 = 25
Arrogant: 1 + 4 = 5
Corsair: 6 + 4 = 10
Medusa: 6 + 2 = 8
Camot: 10 + 3 = 13
Tromblom: 5 + 4 = 9
Tourane: 12 + 1 = 12
Cushinchina: 3 + 1 = 4
Tonkin and Tourane had both previously received experienced crew upgrades, and the Malayan gained a Stoke the Engines to help it gain speed in previous battles. This time, The Malayan gains Veteran Aircrew so they gain +1 on Evasive Maneuver checks. The Camot earns Disciplined Crew which allows them to remove their own Friction markers in the End Phase.
The British use the Phrae Nakron to complete repairs on the Achilles, which will take 1 more campaign turn. They use the recently freed Kra Isthmus to complete repairs on the Corsair. They convert Laem Chebang into a re-roll for next game.
The Hue has one more turn off Tourane to complete training. That leaves Hanoi and Saigon. Saigon takes in the Tourane for a complete refit and repair which will take 2 campaign turns. Hanoi begins work on the Tromblom and repairs 1 armor, leaving her down 2 into the next turn.
The government of Siam crushing the rebels in the Kra Isthmus and regain control of the territory was a set back to Commodore Aubre's plans. This put control of the region back into the balance, and the French forces failure to mine the airway left them on the back foot against an aggressive British commodore. Worse, the Tourane took serious damage and would have to refit. Despite the losses, the French embassy was comfortable with the situation.... for now.
The British and Commodore Duckworth were buoyed by their string of victories, and ready to go back on the attack. The critics in London of the Commodore were silenced. Captain Montgomery was treated as a hero for his brave mine run, and was content to let his differences with Commodore Duckworth be settled. The British were ready to attack.
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