THE NARROW SEAS

In World War I, the Germans occupied the coast of Northwest Europe only as far south as the Belgian ports. German

occupation in World War II extended as far as the French port of Bordeaux, on the Bay of Biscay. The opportunities for

clashes between British and German coastal forces multiplied with so much more coastline occupied, as each side strove to

maintain naval superiority off its own coasts while harrying the enemy in its own waters.

This set of scenarios, spanning the years from 1939 through 1944, reflects the heightened naval activity caused by the German

occupation of the French ports.

First Blood in the North Sea -- Early in the war, a German mine-laying mission collides with a British

destroyer patrol.

Bey versus Mountbatten -- An offensive German sweep in the Channel meets a British patrol.

Turned Tables -- A German sweep into the Channel meets more than they bargained for.

The Toothless Terror -- The British go in search of a German blockade runner, but find something

different.

The Channel Dash -- Can the Germans run two battle cruisers up the English Channel right past the

Royal Navy?

New Arrivals -- The Kriegsmarine throws some new units into the Channel battles.

Odds and Ends -- Dribs and drabs from the Royal Navy and the Kriegsmarine find each other on a dark

night off the French coast.

Mousetrap -- A combined British and Canadian force hunts Germans in the Channel.

Riposte -- German torpedo boats collide with a Canadian destroyer patrol.

Against Neptune -- A German destroyer force attacks off the D-Day beaches.

Into the Breach -- German torpedo boats attempt a raid on the D-Day invasion forces.

Last Gasp -- The swan song of the German torpedo boat force.

Action off the Isle of Wight -- Early in the war, Mountbatten's 5th Destroyer Division has a chance to

cut some German torpedo boats off from their base.

Action off St. Nazaire -- British Hunt class destroyers supporting the St. Nazaire raid suddenly have

their hands full.

The Bee Swarm -- A Polish/British force goes hunting for German light units off the island of Jersey.

Escape to Boulogne -- The last of the German torpedo boats in the Channel tries to make its escape.

First Blood in the North Sea

HMS Jersey SETTING: Date: 7 December 1939, 0255 Location: Four miles south east of Cromer Knoll Light, north Norfolk coast, UK. History: From the Royal Navy Official Diary of events, “German destroyers ERICH GIESE, BERND VON ARNIM, HANS LODY departed Wilhelmshaven to lay mines off Cromer. En route, ARNIM had a mechanical breakdown and returned to port, but GIESE carried out her lay during the night of the 6th/7th escorted by LODY. While the mine-laying was in progress, destroyers JERSEY and JUNO, patrolling in the area, were sighted four miles SE of Cromer Knoll Light”. Conditions: The visibility is a Murky Night, base range 2244 yards(8.98 inches) Victory Conditions: a) For the British player, 1 point per destroyer sunk of left dead in the water. b) For the German player, 1 point per destroyer sunk of left dead in the water. Game Length: 24 Turns.

SCENARIO RULES: 1. The British Ships cannot alter course or exceed a speed

of 11 knots, until they sight a German ship. 2. Due to its use as a minelayer, ERICH GIESE carries

four torpedoes only.

ROYAL NAVY RN Division 1: Course 330, in line ahead. Juno (“J” Class – Flag) Jersey (“J” Class)

KRIEGSMARINE KM Division 1: Course 330, in line ahead. Captain Erich Bey Hans Lody (Type 34A - Flag) Erich Geise (Type 34A)

AFTERMATH: From the Royal Navy Official Diary of events, “GIESE torpedoed JERSEY at 0235/7th and left her badly damaged with Lt (E) J Le C Morris, Gunner (T) G L Blowers and eight ratings killed, and Cadet A R W Archibald, Surgeon Lt H G Silverster and ten ratings injured. Sister ships JUNO, JACKAL and JANUS assisted. JERSEY was towed by JUNO, and screened by JACKAL, which departed the Humber at 0600. JANUS, also in the Humber, did not leave until later in the morning when the visibility improved. Tug YORKSHIREMAN (251grt) later took over JERSEY and took her to Immingham. JUNO and JACKAL attacked a submarine contact near the location of JERSEY's torpedoing. JERSEY received temporary repairs at the Humber Graving Dock until 7 January and then proceeded to Amos Smith Dock, Hull where she was under repair until 23 September 1940”.

Bey versus Mountbatten

HMS Javelin SETTING: Date: 29 November 1940, 0630 Location: Twenty miles south of the Lizard Peninsula, Off the Cornish coast, UK. History: German destroyers GALSTER, BEITZEN, LODY departed Brest and destroyers JUPITER, KASHMIR, JAVELIN, JERSEY, JACKAL departed Plymouth on the 28th. In operations eight miles off Start Point late on 28 October, the German destroyers sank British tug AID (134grt) and barge B. H. C. 10 (290grt) and damaged French tug ABEILLE 14 (126grt). Five crewmen were lost and five rescued from the tug AID. Three crewmen were lost and five rescued from the barge B. H. C. 10. Destroyer JAVELIN sighted the gun flashes of the German destroyers attacking the small tugs. Conditions: The visibility is a Murky Night, base range 2244 yards(8.98 inches) Victory Conditions: for each side, 1 point per destroyer sunk or left dead in the water. Game Length: 24 Turns.

SCENARIO RULES: 1. Neither side can alter course or speed, until they

spot the other.

ROYAL NAVY RN Division 1: Course 270, in line abreast. Captain Lord Louis Mountbatten Javelin (“J” Class – Flag) Jupiter (“J” Class) Kashmir (“K” Class) Jackal (“J” Class) Jersey (“J” Class)

KRIEGSMARINE KM Division 1: Course 180, in line ahead. Captain Erich Bey Karl Galster (Type 36 – Flag) Richard Beitzen (Type 34) Hans Lody (Type 34A)

AFTERMATH: In the engagement twenty miles south of the Lizard, destroyer JAVELIN was hit by two torpedoes from destroyer LODY and lost her bow and stern. A/Lt J. I. A. Mitchell, Midshipman L. E. R. Jack, P/T/Surgeon Lt H. F. Sloan RNVR, forty three ratings were killed in destroyer JAVELIN. Lt E. T. L. Dunsterville was wounded. Attended by destroyer JACKAL, later the other three destroyers as well, destroyer JAVELIN was towed to Devonport by tug CAROLINE MOLLER (444grt) arriving from Falmouth. Destroyers KASHMIR, JERSEY, JUPITER were in a brief encounter with the German destroyers which were able to escape. German destroyer LODY was struck several times and all three German destroyers had splinter damage, but none suffered appreciable damage and no casualties were sustained. Destroyer JAVELIN was under repair at Devonport for thirteen months completing on 28 December 1941.

Turned Tables

Friedrich Inn SETTING: Date: 17 October 1940, 1700 Location: Mid Channel, Western Approaches, UK. History: Early on the 17th, German destroyers STEINBRINCK, LODY, IHN, GALSTER departed Brest to raid British shipping at the west exit of the Bristol Channel. German torpedo boats GREIF, SEEADLER, KONDOR, FALKE, WOLF, JAGUAR departed Cherbourg to act as a support force. The German destroyers were sighted at 0719 near Brest by British aircraft. Three convoys were in immediate danger, convoy OG.44 escorted by Sloop WELLINGTON, convoy SL.50 escorted by Armed merchant cruiser PRETORIA CASTLE, convoy HG.45 escorted by British escort vessel GLEANER. These convoys were ordered to steer west until the threat was dealt with. Light cruisers NEWCASTLE and EMERALD with destroyers JACKAL, JUPITER, KASHMIR, KIPLING, KELVIN departed Plymouth at 1100. Conditions: The visibility is a Haze Day, base range 22440 yards(89.76 inches) Victory Conditions: a) For the British player, 1 point per destroyer sunk of left dead in the water. b) For the German player, 1 point per cruiser with a speed of 0 and 2 points per cruiser sunk, 1 point per destroyer sunk. Game Length: 24 Turns

SCENARIO RULES: 1. Steinbrink is limited to a top speed of 26 knots. 2. Optional: The Theodore Reidel (Type 34A) also sortied with her sisters, but was forced back to port by boiler problems. Include her in KM Division 1. Also, the German destroyers operated with the 5

th Torpedo Boat Flotilla,

although these apparently were not in company when the British arrived. Include them as KM Division 2, on a course of 180, setting up within twenty inches (5000yds) of Lody. The Flotilla consists of GREIF (Flag), SEEADLER, KONDOR, FALKE, WOLF and JAGUAR all Type 23/24 class torpedo boats.

ROYAL NAVY RN Division 1: Course 180, in line ahead. Newcastle (Southampton – Flag) Emerald (Enterprise) RN Division 2: Course 180, in line ahead. Jackal (“J” Class – Flag) Jupiter (“J” Class) Kashmir (“K” Class) Kelvin (“K Class) Kipling (“K” Class)

KREIGSMARINE KM Division 1: Course 180, in line ahead. Captain Erich Bey Hans Lody (Type 34A– Flag) Friedrich Ihn (Type 34A) Karl Galster (Type 34A) Erich Steinbrinck (Type 34A)

AFTERMATH: The German ships were sighted at 1600 and an action ensued that continued until 1800 when the German destroyers had outdistanced the British force. No damage was received by either side, but destroyer JUPITER experienced mechanical problems limiting her speed before the engagement and light cruiser NEWCASTLE had a breakdown in number three boiler room in the pursuit. The British and German forces were never less than 18, 000 yards apart. Both forces were back in their respective ports early on the 18th.

The Toothless Terror

HMS Charybdis SETTING: Date: 23 October 1943, 0130 Location: Bay of Biscay, off the French coast. History: The British Dido Class of light cruisers were designed to be potent anti-surface, anti-air units, mounting ten 5.25 dual purpose guns. However, the 5.25 mounts went first to the King George V class battleships; the first of the Dido’s mounted only eight 5.5 inch weapons. Dubbed the “toothless terrors”, these ships soldiered on with their original armament. OPERATION TUNNEL Light cruiser CHARYBDIS with destroyers GRENVILLE, ROCKET, LIMBOURNE, WENSLEYDALE, TALYBONT and STEVENSON, departed Plymouth on the 22nd to intercept blockade runner MUNSTERLAND in the Bay of Biscay. Early on the 23rd, they were engaged by a force of German torpedo boats T.23, T.22, T.25, T.26, and T.27 of the 4th Torpedo Boat Flotilla. Conditions: The visibility is a Clear Moonlit night, base range 11560 yards(46.24 inches) Victory Conditions: a) The German player receives 1 point for each British destroyer or escort left with a speed of 0, 2 points for each destroyer sunk or the Charybdis left with a speed of 0 and 4 points for Charybdis sunk. b) The British player receives 1 point for each German torpedo boat sunk. Game Length: 24 Turns

SCENARIO RULES: 1. The Charybdis is a Dido class cruiser, but without 5.25

inch guns. She mounts 4.5 inch guns in open mounts in her A,

B, X and Y positions. Her C position mounts a 4 inch gun for

firing star shell. 2. Charybdis has 271, 281, and 285 radar. The destroyers and destroyer escorts have 281 and 285 radar. 3. Both British forces must continue on their initial courses until they spot the Germans. Once the Germans are spotted, the British must plot moves one turn in advance. 4. The Germans can move freely from the start of the scenario, as they are being vectored onto the British force by land-based radar.

ROYAL NAVY RN Division 1: Course 270, in line ahead. Captain Voelcker Charybdis (Dido – Flag) Grenville (U Class) Rocket (R Class) RN Division 2: Course 270, in line ahead. Limbourne (Hunt III Class - Flag) Wensleydale (Hunt III Class) Talybont (Hunt III Class) Stevenstone (Hunt III Class)

KRIEGSMARINE KM Division 1: Course 090, in line ahead. Commander Kohlauf T23 (Type 39 - Flag) T22 (Type 39) T25 (Type 39) T26 (Type 39) T27 (Type 39)

AFTERMATH: The Germans torpedoed both the Charybdis and Limbourne without loss to themselves. Charybdis was sunk outright; the British scuttled the crippled Limbourne.

The Channel Dash

The Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen during the 'Channel Dash' SETTING: Date: 12 February 1942, 1517 Location: English Channel. History: Scharnhorst and Gneisenau arrived at the French harbour of Brest a successful cruise against British merchant shipping. Once at Brest, the two battle-cruisers found themselves subject to increasingly effective RAF air attacks. Faced with continuing damage from the RAF and Hitler’s sudden intuition that Norway was about to be invaded, the Kriegsmarine decided to send the ships straight through the Channel north to Wilhelmshaven in company with the cruiser Prinz Eugen. The bold German move, conducted in poor visibility, took the British by surprise. RAF responses were feeble and uncoordinated; the Royal Navy pitched in with its only available forces – torpedo bombers, motor torpedo boats, and super-annuated World War I destroyers. The scenario depicts the destroyer attack. Conditions: The visibility is a Overcast/misty day, base range 11220 yards(46.88 inches) Victory Conditions: The British player gets 1 point for each torpedo hit. The German player gets 1 point for each British destroyer sunk. Game Length: 24 Turns

SCENARIO RULES: 1. The German ships have no torpedoes. 2. The Scotts have 271 radar.

ROYAL NAVY RN Division 1: Course 060, in line ahead. Captain P. T. M. Pizey Campbell (“Scott” Class -- flag) Vivacious (“V/W” Class) Worcester (“V/W” Class) RN Division 2: Course 060, in line ahead following Division 1. Mackay (“Scott” Class -- flag) Whitshed (“V/W” Class)

KRIEGSMARINE KM Division 1: Course 030. Vice-Admiral Cilax Gneisenau (Scharnhorst) KM Division 2: Course 030. Prinz Eugen (Prinz Eugen)

AFTERMATH: The old destroyers bored in through poor visibility to attain launch positions against the Prinz Eugen and Gneisenau, but all of their torpedoes missed. Although German gunfire lashed the ships, miraculously, none were sunk. The German ships escaped to German ports, but only after the Scharnhorst took significant damage from two mines.

New Arrivals

T25 SETTING: Date: 10 July 1943, 0304 Location: English Channel, north coast of Brittany. History: By July of 1943, the Kriegsmarine had commissioned and worked up two of its new large Type 39 torpedo boats. The new boats left their German ports to move down the Channel to Brest. They found the journey eventful, with shelling from coastal batteries, MTB attacks, and strafing from Typhoon fighter-bombers. Despite these perils, the two ships arrived at Brest fit for action. They were promptly given convoy cover duties, and, while serving in this capacity, came across three Royal Navy escort destroyers mauling a small coastal convoy. Conditions: The visibility is a Haze/Night no moon, base range 4488 yards(17.95 inches) Victory Conditions: a) The German player receives 1 point for each British ship left with a speed of 0 and 2 points for each ship sunk. b) The British player receives 1 point for each German minesweeper sunk and 2 points for each German torpedo boat sunk. Game Length: 24 Turns

SCENARIO RULES: 1. The British escorts have 285 and 286 radars. 2. The German torpedo boats have Seetakt radar. Because the British have radar detectors, they may manoeuvre freely once the German player uses radar. 3. The British forces must continue on their initial plotted courses until they spot the Germans or the Germans use radar. 4. The Germans can move freely from the start of the scenario, as they are alerted to the presence of the British by reports from the convoy.

ROYAL NAVY RN Division 1: Course 270, in line ahead. Melbreak (“Hunt III” Class -- flag) Wensleydale (“Hunt III” Class) Glaisdale (“Hunt III” Class)

KRIEGSMARINE KM Division 1: Course 090, in line ahead. T24 (Type 39 -- flag) T25 (Type 39)

AFTERMATH: The Germans were vectored onto the British by the convoy. The two big torpedo boats badly damaged Melbreak without taking any significant damage themselves.

Odds and Ends

HMS Wensleydale SETTING: Date: 4 October 1943, 0129 Location: English Channel, north coast of Normandy. History: The Germans used their torpedo boats as small destroyers, escorting blockade runners, screening coastal convoys, and covering mine-laying operations. Four of the boats, covering a coastal convoy in the Channel, fell in with a mixed British force of destroyers and escorts. Conditions: The visibility is a Haze/Night /no moon, base range 4688 yards(17.95 inches) Victory Conditions: a) The German player receives 1 point for each British destroyer or escort left with a speed of 0 and 2 points for each destroyer sunk. b) The British player receives 1 point for each German torpedo boat sunk. Game Length: 24 Turns

SCENARIO RULES: 1. The British destroyers and escorts have 285 radar. 2. The German torpedo boats have Seetakt radar. Because the British have radar detectors, they may manoeuvre freely once the German player uses radar. 3. Both British forces must continue on their initial plotted courses until they spot the Germans or the Germans use radar. 4. The Germans can move freely from the start of the scenario, as they are being vectored onto the British force by land-based radar.

ROYAL NAVY RN Division 1: Course 270, in line ahead. Limbourne (“Hunt III” Class -- flag) Wensleydale (“Hunt III” Class) Tanatside (“Hunt III” Class) RN Division 2: Course 270, in line ahead, directly behind Division 1. Ulster (“U” Class -- flag) Grenville (“U” Class)

KRIEGSMARINE KM Division 1: Course 090, in line ahead. Captain Kohlauf T23 (Type 39 -- flag) T22 (Type 39) T27 (Type 39) T25 (Type 39)

AFTERMATH: The Germans spotted the British first and launched torpedoes, but the British took successful evasive action when they detected the German radars. The battle then became a running fight between the U class destroyers and the torpedo boats, as the slower Hunts were left behind. Grenville and Ulster were moderately damaged in the gun battle; the Germans escaped unscathed.

Mousetrap

HMS Wensleydale SETTING: Date: 4 October 1943, 0129 Location: English Channel, north coast of Brittany. History: The Germans used their torpedo boats as small destroyers, escorting blockade runners, screening coastal convoys, and covering mine-laying operations. Four of the boats, covering a coastal convoy in the Channel, fell in with a mixed British force of destroyers and escorts. Conditions: The visibility is a Haze/Night no moon, base range 4488 yards(17.95 inches) Victory Conditions: a) Each side gets 1 point for each enemy destroyer or torpedo boat left with a speed of 0 and 2 points for each enemy destroyer or torpedo boat sunk. b) The German player receives 7 points for leaving the Black Prince dead in the water or sinking her. Game Length: 24 Turns

SCENARIO RULES: 1. The British destroyers and escorts have 285 radar. 2. The German torpedo boats have Seetakt radar. Because the British have radar detectors, they may manoeuvre freely once the German player uses radar. 3. Both British forces must continue on their initial plotted courses until they spot the Germans or the Germans use radar. 4. The Germans can move freely from the start of the scenario, as they are being vectored onto the British force by land-based radar.

ROYAL NAVY RN Division 1: Course 270, in line ahead. Limbourne (“Hunt III” Class -- flag) Wensleydale (“Hunt III” Class) Tanatside (“Hunt III” Class) RN Division 2: Course 270, in line ahead, directly behind Division 1. Ulster (“U” Class -- flag) Grenville (“U” Class)

KRIEGSMARINE KM Division 1: Course 090, in line ahead. Captain Kohlauf T23 (Type 39 -- flag) T22 (Type 39) T27 (Type 39) T25 (Type 39)

AFTERMATH: The Germans spotted the British first and launched torpedoes, but the British took successful evasive action when they detected the German radars. The battle then became a running fight between the U class destroyers and the torpedo boats, as the slower Hunts were left behind. Grenville and Ulster were moderately damaged in the gun battle; the Germans escaped unscathed.

Riposte

HMCS Athabaskan SETTING: Date: 29 April 1944, 0330 Location: English Channel, north coast of Brittany. History: The German survivors from the previous sortie left St. Malo on the night of April 29 to return to Brest. They were intercepted by two of the RCN destroyers from the previous action. Conditions: The visibility is a Haze/Night no moon, base range 4488 yards(17.95 inches) Victory Conditions: a) Each side gets 1 point for each enemy destroyer or torpedo boat left with a speed of 0 and 2 points for each enemy destroyer or torpedo boat sunk. Game Length: 24 Turns

SCENARIO RULES: 1. The British destroyers have 271, 281 and 285 radars and CICs. The German ships have Seetakt radars. 2. The British destroyers have no torpedoes. 3. The Tribals have twin 4 inch mounts in their X positions. These mounts may fire star-shell but may not engage surface targets.

ROYAL NAVY RN Division 1: Course 240, in line ahead. Haida (“Tribal” Class -- flag) Athabaskan (“Tribal” Class)

KRIEGSMARINE KM Division 1: Course 270, in line ahead. T24 (Type 39 -- flag) T27 (Type 39)

AFTERMATH: The Canadian destroyers surprised the Germans, but a torpedo salvo from T24 sank Athabaskan. Haida persisted in the attack and severely mauled T27. The damaged torpedo boat ran hard aground and became a total loss.

Against Neptune

ZH1 SETTING: Date: 9 June 1944, 0115 Location: English Channel, north coast of Normandy. History: Operation Neptune -- the Allied landings in Northern France -- brought a last spasm of activity from the Kriegsmarine’s surface forces in the Channel. On the evening of June 8th, a German destroyer division left Brest to strike at the Allied shipping off the invasion beaches. Alerted to the German sortie by an Ultra decrypt, the British mustered a strong force of British, Canadian and Polish ships to intercept the Germans. Conditions: The visibility is a Night/Haze /moon, base range 8976 yards(35.90 inches) Victory Conditions: a) Each side gets 1 point for each enemy ship left with a speed of 0 and 2 points for each enemy ship sunk. b) The German player receives 1 point for each ship exited from the north edge of the map. Game Length: 24 Turns

SCENARIO RULES: 1. Each German Type 36A destroyer has its forward twin 5.9 inch turret installed, thus giving it a twin turret in A position and single mounts in M, X, and Y positions.. 2. The British were listening in on the German tactical radio net, and got indications of when the Germans were firing torpedoes. Whenever the German player places a torpedo marker, the British player is entitled to know whether it is real or a dummy on a 1D6 roll of 1-4. The German player must place torpedo markers before movement is plotted. 3. The British and Polish destroyers have 271, 281 and 285 radar and CICs. 4. The Tribals have twin 4 inch mounts in their X positions. These mounts may fire stars-hell but may not engage surface targets. 5. Blyskawika is a British-built Polish destroyer. Treat her as an “L” class destroyer with 4 twin 4 inch mounts, but give her 2 triple 21” torpedo mounts. 6. ZH1 is a Dutch destroyer completed by the Germans. Treat her as an Isaac Sweers class destroyer, but with twin 4.7 inch mounts in the “A” and “X” positions, a single 4.7” mount in the “Y” position and 2 quintuple 21” torpedo mounts.

ROYAL NAVY RN Division 1: Course 210, in line ahead. Captain B. Jones Tartar (“Tribal” Class-- flag) Captain B. Jones Ashanti (“Tribal” Class) Huron (“Tribal” Class) Haida (“Tribal” Class) RN Division 2: Course 210, in line ahead. Blyskawika (Blyskawika -- flag) Piorun (“N” Class) Eskimo (“Tribal” Class) Javelin (“J” Class)

KRIEGSMARINE KM Division 1: Course 270, in line ahead. Captain von Bechtolsheim Z32 (Type 36A -- flag) Z24 (Type 36A) ZH1 (ZH1) T24 (Type 39)

AFTERMATH: The Allied force spotted the Germans on radar and manoeuvred to deliver a torpedo attack. The Germans spotted the Allies in the moonlight and counter-manoeuvred. A gunfire and torpedo melee then ensued, with the Germans putting up a determined fight in the face of Allied numerical superiority. Weight of numbers eventually told and the Germans broke off the action, losing ZH1 and Z32. The Allies lost no ships, but Tartar was heavily damaged by gunfire.

Into the Breach

HMS Ursa SETTING: Date: 10 June 1944, Location: English Channel, north coast of Normandy. History: The German destroyers had failed to have any effect on the Normandy landings, but the large German torpedo boats were also ready to try their luck. On the night of June 6-7 they missed battleships Warspite and Ramillies but sank destroyer Svenner. The Germans threw them into the breach once again on the night of June 9-10. Conditions: The visibility is a Night/Haze /moon, base range 8976 yards(35.90 inches) Victory Conditions: a) Each side gets 1 point for each enemy ship left with a speed of 0 and 2 points for each enemy ship sunk. b) The German player receives 1 point for each ship exited from the north edge of the map. Game Length: 24 Turns

SCENARIO RULES: 1. The Allied destroyers have 271, 281 and 285 radar and CICs. The German friendly edge is the south edge. The Allied friendly edge is the north edge.

ROYAL NAVY RN Division 1: Course 210, in line ahead. Glaisdale (RNN) (“Hunt III” Class-- flag) Ursa (“U” Class) Krakowiak (PN) (“Hunt II” Class)

KRIEGSMARINE KM Division 1: Course 090, in line ahead. T28 (Type 39 -- flag) Möwe (Type 23) Jaguar (Type 24)

AFTERMATH: Seeking the invasion fleet, the German ships fell in with an Allied destroyer patrol. The Germans fired torpedoes, which the Allied ships evaded, and retired without serious injury.

Last Gasp

HMS Scorpion SETTING: Date: 13 June 1944, Location: English Channel, north coast of Normandy. History: Time was running out for the Kriegsmarine in France, as the Allies brought more and more naval and air assets to bear against the dwindling German forces. In a last gasp, the German torpedo boats sortied once again. Conditions: The visibility is a Night/Thin fog /moon, base range 4488 yards(17.95 inches) Victory Conditions: a) Each side gets 1 point for each enemy ship left with a speed of 0 and 2 points for each enemy ship sunk. b) The German player receives 1 point for each ship exited from the north edge of the map. Game Length: 24 Turns

SCENARIO RULES: 1. The British and Norwegian destroyers have 271, 281 and 285 radar and CICs. The German friendly edge is the south edge. The Allied friendly edge is the north edge.

ROYAL NAVY RN Division 1: Course 210, in line ahead. Stord (RNN) (“S” Class-- flag) Scorpion (“S” Class)

KRIEGSMARINE KM Division 1: Course 090, in line ahead. T28 (Type 39 -- flag) Möwe (Type 23)

AFTERMATH: Again, the Allied destroyer patrol thwarted the German attempts to reach the shipping supplying the beachhead. Again, the German torpedo boats fired torpedoes at the screening destroyers and retired without result. But now time had run out for the Germans. On June 14, the RAF sank Möwe and Jaguar. T28 alone survived to return to Germany.

Action off the Isle of Wight

KMS Mowe (Type 23) SETTING: Date: 12 October 1940, 0300 Location: English Channel, north coast of Normandy. History: Spurred by a British battleship bombardment of Cherbourg, five German torpedo boats sortied to prey on merchant shipping and deliver a counter-bombardment. They sank a few ASW vessels, but ran right into Mountbatten’s 5

th Destroyer Flotilla on their trip back to

Cherbourg. Conditions: The visibility is a Night/Haze, base range 4488 yards(17.95 inches) Victory Conditions: a) For the Germans, 2 points per RN destroyer sunk or left dead in the water. b) For the British, 1 point per KM torpedo boat sunk or left dead in the water. Game Length: 24 Turns

SCENARIO RULES: 1. Greif has only two torpedoes in her A mount. 2. Neither side may alter course or speed until it spots the other.

ROYAL NAVY RN Division 1: is on a course of 270, in line ahead. Captain Lord Mountbatten Jackal (“J” Class -- flag) Jupiter (“J” Class) Jaguar (“J” Class) Kelvin (“K” Class) Kipling (“K” Class)

KRIEGSMARINE KM Division 1: on a course of 180 (due south), in line ahead. Commander Henne Greif (Type 23-- flag) Kondor (Type 23) Falke (Type 23) Seeadler (Type 23) Wolf (Type 24) The south edge is the German safe edge.

AFTERMATH: Mountbatten was in a position to cut the Germans off from their base, but they spotted the British destroyers first and dodged around them. A long stern chase followed with neither side doing damage to the other.

Action off St Nazaire

HMS Tynedale SETTING: Date: 28 March 1942, 0630 Location: Off St Nazaire, France. History: The British raid on St. Nazaire was meant to knock out the only dry-dock on the Channel coast capable of taking the Tirpitz. Two Hunt class destroyer-escorts were detailed to provide “heavy” support to the raiders. These were cruising off the port when the German 5th Torpedo Boat Flotilla steamed to the attack. Conditions: The visibility is a Clear/Night, base range 5780 yards(23.12 inches) Victory Conditions: a) For the Germans, 1 point per RN destroyer sunk or left dead in the water. b) For the British, 2 points per KM torpedo boat sunk or left dead in the water. Game Length: 24 Turns

SCENARIO RULES: 1. The Germans were unsure of their targets, and may only open fire if fired upon or after rolling a 1 or 2 on 1D6. Roll in each gunnery phase until a roll is successful. 2. Neither side may alter course or speed until it spots the other. The north edge is the German friendly edge.

ROYAL NAVY RN Division 1: Course 180. Lt. Cdr. Tweedie Tynedale (“Hunt” Class -- flag) RN Division 1: Course 180. Lt. Cdr. Jenks Atherstone (“Hunt” Class – flag)

KRIEGSMARINE KM Division 1: Course 180, in line ahead. Commander Schmidt Seeadler (Type 23 -- flag) Iltis (Type 24) Falke (Type 23) Kondor (Type 23)

AFTERMATH: The Germans pummelled Tynedale, but did not press their advantage. They turned away to the north, permitting the Hunts to return to their task of sheparding the withdrawing raiders back to England.

The Bee Swarm

M40 Minesweeper SETTING: Date: 14 June 1944, 0025 Location: English Channel, off the south coast of Jersey. History: Even after the invasion of France, the Germans continued to occupy the Channel islands of Guernsey and Jersey. Here, an Allied destroyer force tries its hand at harassing the light naval forces that the Germans based at the islands. Conditions: The visibility is a Clear/Night/No moon, base range 5780 yards(23.12 inches) Victory Conditions: a) The Polish player gets 1 point for each enemy ship left with a speed of 0 and 2 points for each enemy ship sunk. b) The German player receives 1 point for each ship steamed into St. Helier harbour and, 2 points for each enemy ship left dead in the water, and 4 points for each enemy ship sunk. Game Length: 24 Turns

SCENARIO RULES: 1. The Piorun and Ashanti have 271, 281 and 285 radars, and CICs. 2. The Ashanti has a twin 4 inch mount in her X position. It may fire star-shell but may not engage surface targets. There is a German shore battery located on the north edge 44,000 yards west of the east edge. It consists of 2 single 8.7 inch guns with a range of 24,000 yards (96”). 3. Piorun and Ashanti cannot approach within 4,000yds (16 inches) of St. Helier, due to the presumed presence of mines.

ROYAL NAVY RN Division 1: Course 030, in line ahead. Captain Gorazdowski Piorun (“N” Class -- flag) Ashanti (RN) (“Tribal” Class)

KRIEGSMARINE KM Division 1: Course 360, in line ahead. M343 (1940 Class – flag) M422 (1940 Class) M442 (1940 Class) KM Division 2: Course 360, in line ahead. M412 (1940 Class – flag) M432 (1940 Class) M452 (1940 Class)

AFTERMATH: The Polish led force ran into a group of six German coal-burning minesweepers. When the destroyers closed in for the kill, the minesweepers put down a heavy and accurate storm of gunfire. When the smoke cleared, M343 had been torpedoed and sunk, M412 had taken significant damage, and Piorun has taken several hits and suffered an ammunition fire.

Escape to Boulogne

HMS Melbreak SETTING: Date: 22 July 1944 Location: English Channel, north coast of Normandy. History: Only T28 survived the Allied bombing of Le Harve. She steamed for Boulogne on 21 July, in company with four S boats. On her way, she was sighted by Melbreak, another Channel veteran. Conditions: The visibility is a Haze/Night /moon, base range 8976 yards(35.90 inches) Victory Conditions: a) Each side gets 1 point for each enemy ship left with a speed of 0 and 2 points for each enemy ship sunk. b) The German player receives 1 point for each ship exited from the east edge of the map. Game Length: 24 Turns

SCENARIO RULES: 1. The Melbreak have 271, 281 and 285 radar and CICs. The German friendly edge is the east edge. The Allied friendly edge is the north edge. The south edge is land.

ROYAL NAVY RN Division 1: Course 270. Melbreak (“Hunt III” Class-- flag)

KRIEGSMARINE KM Division 1: Course 090. T28 (Type 39 -- flag)

AFTERMATH: The two Channel warriors traded gunfire for a time, but the T28 was able to slip away to her next place of refuge.