Cruel Seas - The Power of Comrade Stalin

I think I mentioned I play World of Tanks on PC? There is an ongoing joke there about Soviet bias, and it particularly applies to the KV2 heavy tank and it's ludicrously inaccurate 152mm howitzer, which seems to defy all odds by hitting almost every time with devastating results. The joke is that if called upon, the cold dead hand of Stalin's Ghost guides the shells with unerring accuracy.

Its not just World of Tanks...............

I got my "official" Soviet fleet box over the weekend and rushed to get some of it ready for a game last night. Me and Paul D (my regular oppo) were going to try out the Convoy scenario, and my newly varnished Soviets were the escort. I took three Bronekaters (I'm going to call them Bronekaters for now as Warlord sell them as Project 1125s but they're actually 1124s) and a BMO armoured sub chaser. Paul was running with four S Boats, 2 early, 2 late. The Convoy was a Tanker and Merchant, both with a 3" gun mounted on the stern (but not modelled - yet).

My Bronekaters were using the "vanilla" stats for the Project 1125 in the rule book, even though I think they are "wrong" on a number of levels - see my earlier post here Bronekaters in Cruel Seas.

So over to the action. Turn one saw the Soviet Convoy sight some fast moving Fascists coming in, three from the port beam, one from just off the port bow.

Long range fire was ineffective against the main group, and all three put their torpedoes into the water at the first opportunity. The escorts tried to impose themselves between the vulnerable transports and the Fascist Sea Wolves and the transports turned to open the range to give them room to try and avoid the incoming torpedoes.

The Soviets did however manage to hit the S Boat approaching from the bow. Then the inexperienced gun crew on one of the merchants cried out "For Stalin!" and although they needed "silly" dice results their 3" shell smashed into the already damaged boat as though it had been a guided missile, causing three critical hits including blowing one torpedo tube overboard. The S Boat decided to turn away in the face of this heavy firepower. This was just a foretaste of what was to come.

Turn 2 and the Soviets had the initiative, moving one tanker to hopefully avoid the spread of incoming torpedoes. "Comrade Stalin, Inspire Us!" called the gun crew, and again, he did, this time an S Boat lost a gun and started to burn. The convoy started to think they have a chance.  The escorting Bronekaters now realised that the way to ensure damage was to call on the Leader, and in rapid succession their heavy guns started to get unlikely hits - fast moving S boat at long range? No Problem!

Meanwhile the Bronekaters thanked their leader for the wisdom of making them shallow draught as the torpedoes aimed at the transports passed harmlessly under their flat bottoms. Some fresh underwear will be required.

Turn 3 and the range was now officially "rather close".

German gunfire remained patchy at best, Soviet gunfire was almost supernaturally accurate hitting boat after boat, and that included the inexperienced gunners on the Merchant ships. One torpedo struck and badly damaged a transport, but by the end of the turn two S boats were already sank and a third was burning from stem to stern.

The last boat saw the writing on the wall and ran for home covered by smoke.

It was a fun and interesting game. Getting away from the issues of using Bronekaters as escorts for a moment (and indeed the strange stat line they have) they pack a surprising amount of "shooty" on a small hull for a reasonable points cost.

We still feel uneasy with the torpedo and "plume" rule - something that multiple Bronekaters can take advantage of btw - but we both can see plenty of gaming time and fun to be had with Cruel Seas in the future.   

Models - Tanker, S Boats and 2 Bronekates from Warlord, third Bronekater from Scotia - Grendel, BMO from Heroics and Ros. Merchant 3d print

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Cheers