tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1180842210652027738.post6422621671226282546..comments2024-03-20T07:12:33.857+00:00Comments on Mark's wargaming - anything but a one!: Battle of Coronel (Game Report)Mark J Abbotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04015653752709259399noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1180842210652027738.post-64145026047470564872014-11-02T17:05:41.759+00:002014-11-02T17:05:41.759+00:00Four years late! Just read your report whilst work...Four years late! Just read your report whilst working on models of the combatants for a later game. I have to say I disagree with the earlier comment, and based on research through copious resource materials and a bit of wargame experience the battle result seems fair and plausible, certainly thrilling. We wargamers do have something of a tendency to stick it out when all is falling apart around us, so the heavy losses on both sides seem about right. For instance, during our recent refight of the Battle of the Yalu, the Chinese recovered from their initial losses and proceeded to destroy the Japanese main force, which nevertheless stuck it out as did the Flying Squadron until more than fifty per cent losses caused a reappraisal and retreat. So, both British and German forces' continuation of this fight to the bitter end poses no problems for me.<br />As far as the effects of 9.2" fire against the Scharnhorst is concerned, I am totally happy with that. Most rule sets use an appreciation of actual effects in combat against different armour and target types to give a fair simulation on the tabletop, and in point of fact those heavy guns were not of a particularly old type at all, having been designed in the late 1890s to pierce battleship casemate armour at close range - dealing with armoured cruiser belts was well within their capability. Perhaps it's also worth pointing out for other readers' benefit that the German armoured cruisers at the Battlke of Falklands were running at full steam from the British squadron; thus the twelve-inch fire was from fore turrets at long range against fast, evasive targets, with only a few chances for wing turrets to engage - that's why it took hours to destroy Scharnhorst and Gneisenau with such heavy guns, not a measure of their strength or armouring at all. Also very nice to see a Drake class cruiser doing what William White designed the class for, ie; running down and killing commerce-raiding cruisers, and doing it well.<br />Poor old Canopus, her armour was no better than Good Hope's, so if she'd not been there, one wonders whether the outcome might have been the same as in the historical battle; yes, her presence definitely would have made a difference. Ultimately i would be fascinated to see what would happen if HMS Defence had been sent to join Cradock, thus freeing up Monmouth to join Glasgow in hunting the light cruisers whilst Good Hope and Defence fought the two Scharnhorsts - about as fair an alternative scenario as it's possible to envisage.<br />Great report. Bravo.Giv75https://www.blogger.com/profile/16951475191180441531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1180842210652027738.post-259437732734787292014-11-02T16:58:14.874+00:002014-11-02T16:58:14.874+00:00This comment has been removed by the author.Giv75https://www.blogger.com/profile/16951475191180441531noreply@blogger.com