No Jerry, the Other Starboard!

I managed to get down to the CLWC on Monday evening for a game of ironclads. It is a game I am enjoying at the moment. Having played a few recent games I think I am getting the hang of the rules. So queries and clarifications are not required for every other move, no doubt to the relief of every other player.

The Hecate between two French Central Battery Ships

Monday's game involved a fictitious Anglo French engagement off the coast off Cherbourg circa 1880.  I had under my charge a shiny new turret ship HMS Hecate, part of a British squadron of four vessels. They were lined up against three French Central Battery Ships, Colbert, Trident and Océan which raced in to intercept our squadron while on its way to bombard Cherbourg.   

HMS Devastation Ramming the Trident 

At the earliest opportunity I charged head long into the French fleet to scatter them and in the process hopefully cause a bit of damage. Managing to place the Hecate in-between two of the French ships I brought my two twin gun turrets to bear at point blank range at the closest and fired a salvo which promptly missed everything. The French returned fired knocking out my rear turret and blowing a hole in my hull.  The following round, in an effort to extricate myself from the embarrassing situation I'd got myself into I was hit again causing my front turret to jam.

The Colbert on fire 

Thankfully my fellow players on the British side displayed more competence that I and importantly, more effective gunnery than I. They blasted holes in, and set fire to one of the French number. While I sailed around attempting to ram a French ship purely out of revenge for firing a total of 3 torpedoes at me.  Naturally I missed and almost collided with another British ship.  In the final round I managed to un-jam my front turret and destroy the remaining weaponry of the French ship Océan.

The final positions with HMS Hecate near the top of the picture sailing towards Océan

At this point it was decided that we should stop since due to time.  One of the things I enjoy about Ironclads in Action is how much I learn from playing the game about a period which I do not know a great deal about.