Post by afilter on Feb 5, 2011 13:21:44 GMT -5
I did this scenario for WaS and think it can be converted to NT.
"Catapult" Vengence
It is June 1940 as the German blitzkrieg drives through France. The French fleet manages to escape capture and relocates to friendly British ports as well as French North Africa. As the French government is negotiating terms of surrender the allies are eager to find out what will become of French fleet. The French navy cannot fall into German control tipping the scales in the Mediterranean and Atlantic challenging long time British control of the seas.
In late June as the French are negotiating terms to surrender Churchill and the admiralty launch operation “Catapult” to seize control of the French fleet or disable it before Germany can lay claim to it.
On June 28th, Force H was created under the command of Vice-Admiral James Somerville. The flagship for Force H was 'HMS Hood'; the battleships 'Resolution' and 'Valiant' and the carrier 'Ark Royal' with eleven destroyers made up this force. It was to be based in Gibraltar.
On July 1st, Somerville received his first order as the commander of Force H - "to secure the transfer, surrender or destruction" of the French warships in North Africa. On July 3rd, Force H arrived at Mers el Kébir and the commander of the French ships there, Admiral Gensoul, was given four choices:
1) Join the British fleet and continue to fight the Germans
2) Be escorted to the West Indies or to a British port
3) Have the ships disarmed at Oran under the supervision of the British
4) Scuttle the ships where they were harbored.
The most powerful concentration of French warships at the time was the squadron at the port of Mers-el-Kébir in French Algeria. This consisted of the old battleships Provence and Bretagne, the modern battleships (or battlecruisers) Dunkerque and Strasbourg, the seaplane tender Commandant Teste and six destroyers under the command of Admiral Marcel-Bruno Gensoul. British Admiral James Somerville of Force H, based in Gibraltar, was ordered to deliver an ultimatum to the French, stating:
It is impossible for us, your comrades up to now, to allow your fine ships to fall into the power of the German enemy. We are determined to fight on until the end, and if we win, as we think we shall, we shall never forget that France was our Ally, that our interests are the same as hers, and that our common enemy is Germany. Should we conquer we solemnly declare that we shall restore the greatness and territory of France. For this purpose we must make sure that the best ships of the French Navy are not used against us by the common foe. In these circumstances, His Majesty's Government have instructed me to demand that the French Fleet now at Mers el Kebir and Oran shall act in accordance with one of the following alternatives;
(a) Sail with us and continue the fight until victory against the Germans.
(b) Sail with reduced crews under our control to a British port. The reduced crews would be repatriated at the earliest moment.
If either of these courses is adopted by you we will restore your ships to France at the conclusion of the war or pay full compensation if they are damaged meanwhile.
(c) Alternatively if you feel bound to stipulate that your ships should not be used against the Germans unless they break the Armistice, then sail them with us with reduced crews to some French port in the West Indies — Martinique for instance — where they can be demilitarized to our satisfaction, or perhaps be entrusted to the United States and remain safe until the end of the war, the crews being repatriated.
If you refuse these fair offers, I must with profound regret, require you to sink your ships within 6 hours.
Finally, failing the above, I have the orders from His Majesty's Government to use whatever force may be necessary to prevent your ships from falling into German hands.
Negotiations failed and the British force was forced to open fire on the French still in port. During the attack the Strasbourg and 4 destroyers managed to sortie and flee to the port of Toulan. The remainder of the French fleet lay in shambles at Mers el Kebir including the French Battleship Dunkerque.
Somerville then turned his attention to the new Fast battleship Richelieu which was being held up at Dakar. He dispatched the HMS Ark Royal and HMS Resolution to assist a sizeable taskforce that included HMS Hermes, HMS Barham which were already at Dakar monitoring the Richelieu.
On the Morning of July 4th the French were outraged to learn of the tragic turn of events that had occurred the night before. They could not believe their ally would turn on them and vowed revenge. On the evening of July 4th the French counterattacked bombing the British at Gibraltar causing heavy damages. The task force Somerville had sent to Dakar was intercepted by two French subs and in a daring attack two torpedoes slammed into HMS Resolution bringing her to a halt. A third torpedo then rocked the old battleship amid ship sending fires deep inside which ignited a magazine almost sinking the ship leaving her crippled. After battling fires all day the task force turned back early in the evening with the Resolution in tow.
At the same time as darkness fell the Richelieu sailed from Dakar taking the British by surprise. As the British maneuvered to intercept a powerful salvo slammed into the HMS Hermes setting her afire. The HMS Barham quickly returned fire to no avail. This night would belong to the French. The Barham was straddled by the next salvo. As the Captain ordered a hard right rudder the third salvo scored a direct hit knocking out the X turret and the rudder. The Richelieu and her escorts escaped into the night leaving the Hermes ablaze and the Braham crippled.
As the shocked British sailors struggled to save their ships the HMAS Australia, and three destroyers were dispatched to give pursuit and shadow the Richelieu who was now sailing east to rendezvous with the remainder of the French Navy in the Med.
Additionally, the admiralty ordered the HMS Rodney and HMS Illustrious enroute to Gibraltar from the Home fleet to join up with the shadowing force and Hunt the Richelieu.
A French cruiser force was in route from Toulan which linked up with the Strasbourg and her escorts. The incomplete, but dangerous Jean Bart also set sail from Casablanca.
Events are in motion for a powerful show down with the remnants of Somerville’s Force H and the powerful French battle group. The French are determined to exact complete revenge for the unprovoked attack on their sovereignty.
Somerville knows he must intercept and destroy the Richelieu before it can unite with of other French warship to form an even more powerful combined taskforce.
Order of Battle:
British:
Force H:
HMS Hood (SSD77)
HMS Valiant (SSD61)
HMS Ark Royal (SSD4)
HMS Kent (SSD99)
HMS JAVELIN (SSD262)
HMS KELVIN(SSD264)
HMS JERVIS (SSD270)
HMS JUNO(SSD271)
British Shadowing force:
HMAS Australia (SSD96) Proxy
HMS NIZAM (SSD283)
HMS NAPIER(SSD279)
HMS KIPLING(SSD278)
Hunting Task Force:
HMS Rodney (SSD69)
HMS Illustrious(SSD5)
French:
Dakar Group:
Richelieu (SSD5)
LE TERRIBLE (SSD82)
LE MALIN (SSD81)
Toulon Group:
Strasbourg (SSD9)
SUFFREN (SSD15)
Gloire (SSD26)
Gorges Leygues (SSD25
Montcalm (SSD24)
AIGLE (SSD68)
GERFAUT (SSD69)
MILAN (SSD72)
Jean Bart (SSD6)
Deployment:
1.Force H starts on East end of Map
2.Dakar Group deploys on West end of Map
3.British Shadowing Group enters West end of Map on Turn 3
4.British Hunting TF enters West end of Map on Turn 5
5.Toulon Group Enters North East Corner of Map Turn 6
6.Jean Bart Enters South East Corner of Map on turn 9
Objectives:
British:
100 Points if they Prevent the Richelieu from crossing the center of the map and linking up with other French forces
French:
50 points if the Richelieu exits the East end of the Map
50 extra points for each British BB or CV sunk
Victory:
Highest point total wins
Again, this was a scenario I originally developed for playing WaS on a large map 8'x4' and the point systems are differrent. I was alot of fun and resulted in some very close outcomes. In WaS aircraft and subs play a bigger part.
I suspect this will need to be significantly tweaked for NT, but I believe it has promise and I like the alternate history aspect.
Discussion............
"Catapult" Vengence
It is June 1940 as the German blitzkrieg drives through France. The French fleet manages to escape capture and relocates to friendly British ports as well as French North Africa. As the French government is negotiating terms of surrender the allies are eager to find out what will become of French fleet. The French navy cannot fall into German control tipping the scales in the Mediterranean and Atlantic challenging long time British control of the seas.
In late June as the French are negotiating terms to surrender Churchill and the admiralty launch operation “Catapult” to seize control of the French fleet or disable it before Germany can lay claim to it.
On June 28th, Force H was created under the command of Vice-Admiral James Somerville. The flagship for Force H was 'HMS Hood'; the battleships 'Resolution' and 'Valiant' and the carrier 'Ark Royal' with eleven destroyers made up this force. It was to be based in Gibraltar.
On July 1st, Somerville received his first order as the commander of Force H - "to secure the transfer, surrender or destruction" of the French warships in North Africa. On July 3rd, Force H arrived at Mers el Kébir and the commander of the French ships there, Admiral Gensoul, was given four choices:
1) Join the British fleet and continue to fight the Germans
2) Be escorted to the West Indies or to a British port
3) Have the ships disarmed at Oran under the supervision of the British
4) Scuttle the ships where they were harbored.
The most powerful concentration of French warships at the time was the squadron at the port of Mers-el-Kébir in French Algeria. This consisted of the old battleships Provence and Bretagne, the modern battleships (or battlecruisers) Dunkerque and Strasbourg, the seaplane tender Commandant Teste and six destroyers under the command of Admiral Marcel-Bruno Gensoul. British Admiral James Somerville of Force H, based in Gibraltar, was ordered to deliver an ultimatum to the French, stating:
It is impossible for us, your comrades up to now, to allow your fine ships to fall into the power of the German enemy. We are determined to fight on until the end, and if we win, as we think we shall, we shall never forget that France was our Ally, that our interests are the same as hers, and that our common enemy is Germany. Should we conquer we solemnly declare that we shall restore the greatness and territory of France. For this purpose we must make sure that the best ships of the French Navy are not used against us by the common foe. In these circumstances, His Majesty's Government have instructed me to demand that the French Fleet now at Mers el Kebir and Oran shall act in accordance with one of the following alternatives;
(a) Sail with us and continue the fight until victory against the Germans.
(b) Sail with reduced crews under our control to a British port. The reduced crews would be repatriated at the earliest moment.
If either of these courses is adopted by you we will restore your ships to France at the conclusion of the war or pay full compensation if they are damaged meanwhile.
(c) Alternatively if you feel bound to stipulate that your ships should not be used against the Germans unless they break the Armistice, then sail them with us with reduced crews to some French port in the West Indies — Martinique for instance — where they can be demilitarized to our satisfaction, or perhaps be entrusted to the United States and remain safe until the end of the war, the crews being repatriated.
If you refuse these fair offers, I must with profound regret, require you to sink your ships within 6 hours.
Finally, failing the above, I have the orders from His Majesty's Government to use whatever force may be necessary to prevent your ships from falling into German hands.
Negotiations failed and the British force was forced to open fire on the French still in port. During the attack the Strasbourg and 4 destroyers managed to sortie and flee to the port of Toulan. The remainder of the French fleet lay in shambles at Mers el Kebir including the French Battleship Dunkerque.
Somerville then turned his attention to the new Fast battleship Richelieu which was being held up at Dakar. He dispatched the HMS Ark Royal and HMS Resolution to assist a sizeable taskforce that included HMS Hermes, HMS Barham which were already at Dakar monitoring the Richelieu.
On the Morning of July 4th the French were outraged to learn of the tragic turn of events that had occurred the night before. They could not believe their ally would turn on them and vowed revenge. On the evening of July 4th the French counterattacked bombing the British at Gibraltar causing heavy damages. The task force Somerville had sent to Dakar was intercepted by two French subs and in a daring attack two torpedoes slammed into HMS Resolution bringing her to a halt. A third torpedo then rocked the old battleship amid ship sending fires deep inside which ignited a magazine almost sinking the ship leaving her crippled. After battling fires all day the task force turned back early in the evening with the Resolution in tow.
At the same time as darkness fell the Richelieu sailed from Dakar taking the British by surprise. As the British maneuvered to intercept a powerful salvo slammed into the HMS Hermes setting her afire. The HMS Barham quickly returned fire to no avail. This night would belong to the French. The Barham was straddled by the next salvo. As the Captain ordered a hard right rudder the third salvo scored a direct hit knocking out the X turret and the rudder. The Richelieu and her escorts escaped into the night leaving the Hermes ablaze and the Braham crippled.
As the shocked British sailors struggled to save their ships the HMAS Australia, and three destroyers were dispatched to give pursuit and shadow the Richelieu who was now sailing east to rendezvous with the remainder of the French Navy in the Med.
Additionally, the admiralty ordered the HMS Rodney and HMS Illustrious enroute to Gibraltar from the Home fleet to join up with the shadowing force and Hunt the Richelieu.
A French cruiser force was in route from Toulan which linked up with the Strasbourg and her escorts. The incomplete, but dangerous Jean Bart also set sail from Casablanca.
Events are in motion for a powerful show down with the remnants of Somerville’s Force H and the powerful French battle group. The French are determined to exact complete revenge for the unprovoked attack on their sovereignty.
Somerville knows he must intercept and destroy the Richelieu before it can unite with of other French warship to form an even more powerful combined taskforce.
Order of Battle:
British:
Force H:
HMS Hood (SSD77)
HMS Valiant (SSD61)
HMS Ark Royal (SSD4)
HMS Kent (SSD99)
HMS JAVELIN (SSD262)
HMS KELVIN(SSD264)
HMS JERVIS (SSD270)
HMS JUNO(SSD271)
British Shadowing force:
HMAS Australia (SSD96) Proxy
HMS NIZAM (SSD283)
HMS NAPIER(SSD279)
HMS KIPLING(SSD278)
Hunting Task Force:
HMS Rodney (SSD69)
HMS Illustrious(SSD5)
French:
Dakar Group:
Richelieu (SSD5)
LE TERRIBLE (SSD82)
LE MALIN (SSD81)
Toulon Group:
Strasbourg (SSD9)
SUFFREN (SSD15)
Gloire (SSD26)
Gorges Leygues (SSD25
Montcalm (SSD24)
AIGLE (SSD68)
GERFAUT (SSD69)
MILAN (SSD72)
Jean Bart (SSD6)
Deployment:
1.Force H starts on East end of Map
2.Dakar Group deploys on West end of Map
3.British Shadowing Group enters West end of Map on Turn 3
4.British Hunting TF enters West end of Map on Turn 5
5.Toulon Group Enters North East Corner of Map Turn 6
6.Jean Bart Enters South East Corner of Map on turn 9
Objectives:
British:
100 Points if they Prevent the Richelieu from crossing the center of the map and linking up with other French forces
French:
50 points if the Richelieu exits the East end of the Map
50 extra points for each British BB or CV sunk
Victory:
Highest point total wins
Again, this was a scenario I originally developed for playing WaS on a large map 8'x4' and the point systems are differrent. I was alot of fun and resulted in some very close outcomes. In WaS aircraft and subs play a bigger part.
I suspect this will need to be significantly tweaked for NT, but I believe it has promise and I like the alternate history aspect.
Discussion............
