Vian's Destroyers v Bismarck pic's, Axis & Allies: War at Sea
Axis and Allies - War at Sea may not be the best for refighting historical actions. It's a beer and pretzel game for large fleet battles. There isn't much subtlety, its a bruiser of a game, roll buckets of dice and ships die quickly. Maybe Ideal for most wargaming clubs 3 hours of play. If you don't like the gridded cloth just use 6 inch range bands.
I tend to use historical battles as game scenarios. Maybe because I'm not a competition gamer and I find encounter battles with equal points values boring, sorry! But I have played A&A War at sea using equal points.
For this scenario visibility is one square or 6'' and rules for darkness are in play. The weather is bad - chuck some squalls down. The damaged Bismarck can either go straight forwards or left. Rules for hitting small ships (-1) Destroyers are HMS Mauri, Poiron, Cossack, Sikh, Zulu.
In the actual engagement, three seamen were killed on Zulu by a shell and an antenna mast lost on Cossack. 10 torpedo runs were made 16 fired and none hit. Later the destroyers fired starshells to guide in KGV and Rodney. Arguably Vian's assault helped demoralise Bismarck's crew.
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| Vian's destroyers search for the Bismarck |
Most hardcore naval wargamers prefer meaty rules like General Quarters, Salvo Fire or Seekreig. The latest 'light' offerings are Nimitz by Sam Mustafa and Victory at Sea II by Warlord Games.
Axis and Allies was an American game and there is a strong emphasis on using aircraft. But again it's for big fleet actions. Is it worth recreating the Swordfish planes attacking the Bismarck? Not really its a dice rolling exercise. But Force H (Ark Royal, Renown and Sheffield) against the Bismarck, that would be an entertaining 'what if' game.
So is Axis and Allies War at Sea worth getting into? Nope, it's out of production and the ships are now expensive collectors items. The large scale pre-painted ships are attractive but the escort ships suffer from 'bendy plastic syndrome.' You still have to base and label them ironically destroying their value to collectors.
Given that naval wargames are complex and large scales ships, are beautiful, but expensive. What is the entry point for WW2? I would say 1/2400 scale e.g. GHQ Micronauts or Panzershiffe. Sadly Davco's 1/3000 scale is out of production. In 1/1200 scale you can do the Demark Strait and Vian's attack, with Airfix and Revell ships and buy or 3D print the swordfish. Eagle did kits in this scale but they are now collectors items. .
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| In the dark Bismarck is found |
Axis and Allies was an American game and there is a strong emphasis on using aircraft. But again it's for big fleet actions. Is it worth recreating the Swordfish planes attacking the Bismarck? Not really its a dice rolling exercise. But Force H (Ark Royal, Renown and Sheffield) against the Bismarck, that would be an entertaining 'what if' game.
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| One DD lost, one crippled, Bismarck takes torpedo damage |
So is Axis and Allies War at Sea worth getting into? Nope, it's out of production and the ships are now expensive collectors items. The large scale pre-painted ships are attractive but the escort ships suffer from 'bendy plastic syndrome.' You still have to base and label them ironically destroying their value to collectors.
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| Daybreak: Rodney and KGV arrive on the scene |
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| A new game: Rodney and KGV close with the Bismarck |
For rules I'd go for Nimitz or Victory at Sea (first edition by Mongoose Publishing.) Warlord Games is arguably expensive but try the second hand market in a few years time. As for Axis and Allies, just make friends with someone who has a large collection and hasn't played it for a while.
For scenarios you can't beat Leonard R Heinz, Fire on the Waters webpage.
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