Ulster Wargames Society - an aquatic day

Club meeting today and I partook of a naval game again (3 in one year after none in about 30 !) this time with an Osprey set Poseidon's Warriors run by Leslie.

I had a fleet of 20 Spartan Tiremes/Galleys against same number of Athenian vessels under Leslie.

Both sides had 4 Squadrons of 5 ships with each Squadron able to be classed as open decked light type (one hit wonders) or heavier Cataphract covered deck types also only taking one hit but with saving roll of 6.

Both sides could have an Elite squadron meaning faster ships for Athens and more Marines for Sparta.

No artillery or heavier ships so made for nice quick playing and easy to pick up game.

We managed to get two games completed with an early finish with no issues beyond how often a potentially game ending fleet morale test is taken (easy to house rule). 

First game ended with fairly low casualties as Leslies Flagship went to bottom and Fleet fled (ie rolled 1 on Morale Test)

Second game a more cagey affair as both fleets maneuvered a lot more and included some grain ships to capture which we both totally ignored.

I was lucky (I know !!!) and passed several Morale Tests (whether needed or not) whilst Leslie failed his first again despite losing 8 ships to my 13 in the end.

Fun game with some very nice 'toys', the ships being 1/1200th scale from Tumbling Dice and the islands from Langton Miniatures (now defunct ?)

First game

Two Athenian squadrons arrayed

Whilst Spartan heavies circumvent an island

And two more converge to launch an attack

Overview from Spartan right

The island pieces were very nice indeed

Second game

Islands more clustered (Grain ships in convoy in foreground)

I took a pummeling on my right in this game but Spartan morale held strong

Squadrons squeezed into narrows somewhat

Athenians managed to outnumber my right wing

Faster (ie Elite crew) light Athenians in convoy after one of my light Squadrons was sunk completely after a 'Kamikaze' style head on ramming charge (the heavy Athenians managed to save 3 of their 5)

So Sparta had to redirect a Squadron to contest straits

Also at club another naval game this time a Napoleonic bash using a test Too Fat Lardies set called I think 'Full Nelson '. 

This was British (more ships in action than current Royal Navy !?) against a French and Spanish fleet  with several players aside (2 ships each ?) and I believe it ended in a nominal British victory although apparently the British Admiral was cashiered as his flagship burnt to a cinder ? 

Langton ships (1/600th ?)