Mad for War at Rapture, Part One

At the weekend the Rejects were at Rapture Gaming Festival at the Historic Chatham Dockyards.  

We enjoyed the opportunity in assisting the excellent and affable Barry Hilton, of League of Augsburg fame and author of Mad for War naval rules, to demonstrate his game of the Dutch Raid on the Medway, 1667.

Before I report on the game, let me share the excellent vessels at the dockyard.  All of which can be explored on board.  There is so much more at the docks and is well worth the visit

HMS Gannet, a sloop of the Victorian Royal Navy.  Built in 1878.

HMS Ocelot, launched in 1962 it was the last Royal Navy warship built at Chatham Docks.

HMS Cavalier, a CA Class Destroyer launched in 1944

And onto the game!

In short, this is the 2nd Anglo-Dutch War.  The Dutch want revenge for a raid that the English did the year before.  The English navy had been run down and neglected as royal coffers were empty for a number of reasons, recovering from the Great Fire of London in 1666 being just one of them.  The Dutch entered the Thames estuary attacked Sheerness and gained entrance to the River Medway where they proceeded to wreak havoc.  They captured the English flagship.  In all over 30 English ships were sunk, burnt or captured.  It was a disaster!  warning: there are better and fuller histories to be found.

Barry's board with a view over the Royal Chatham Docks of 1667.  The buildings are 2mm models from Brigade Models and the ships are 1/2400 scale.

Some English ships on the river Medway.

The first game we played represented the Dutch approaching Sheerness and seeking to pass the English and gain entrance to the Medway.  As an aside, and as someone who used to live in Chatham, the River Medway is affectionately and accurately also referred to as the River Mudway!

The Dutch have to get at least two ships off the table to the right of the fort that can be seen in the distance.

The English have fireships, which gives the Dutch something to think about.

The Dutch engage closely while the English light their second fireship.  Alas one misses and the other explodes doing damage but not enough to stop the Dutch gaining the River Medway.  Score one for the Dutch.

The second game represented the Dutch approaching the chain barrier that was stretched across the river to stop raiders.  To win the Dutch had to break through and capture the Royal Charles, the English flagship, before it can be towed to safety.

Barry explaining the scenario and ships to the Rejects.

The Dutch, on the right, approach the chain barrier as shore batteries open fire... to little effect.

The first Dutch ships break the chain, but now approach English gun ships.

However, the lead ships quickly neutralise their threat.

And continue to move on.

However, the river is narrow and the Dutch find themselves getting in each others way.

As the Dutch captains struggle to make sense of the situation and navigate the river and obstacles, the English are now towing the Royal Charles away.  However, one ship finds space and the chase is on.

The Royal Charles just needs to be towed off the table.  At the last moment the Dutch catch up and manage to execute a boarding action.  The English flagship is captured with nothing to spare. Phew!

So far the Dutch are on course to raid the dockyard... just.

With not enough time to play the last game, we opted for a short open clash.

The Dutch start in the bottom left. The English start with the wind advantage.

The English quickly engage.

And blow a Dutch warship out of the water.

However, the Dutch recover some equilibrium and the English suffer as this ship is raked from the bow.

And boarding actions are conducted, with the Dutch capturing two English ships.

Apologies for the poor battle reports.  A lot was happening with the games being very immersive.  A real credit to the rules which ensured close, tense and thoroughly enjoyable games

The next post will show the attack past Upnor Castle and on the docks themselves.