Black Smoke and Sails

A new set of American Civil War Naval rules are out.  I talked with the author at his stand at Historicon.  He explained the rules and advised they were easy to play but realistic.   Having not played them I cannot comment but the rule sets sold out very fast and I missed getting a copy.

What I did get was a number of his excellent models.  These look really nice and have plenty of detail.  I believe they are 3D printed in resin but with some metal parts.  I picked up the USS Kearsarge and the CSS Alabama for my talk in May 2026.  When I returned next day most of the model kits were sold out.  So if nothing else these were very popular.  The models are in 1/450 scale so they are good sized.  Because of there size you will need a good size table to have room to move.  Most ships were about $24 each.

CSS Savannah

Part of the  stand at Historicon

CSS Alabama in the center

CSS Atlanta

USS Weehawken

USS Kearsarge

USS Sassacus and the CSS Albemarle, May 1864

 

USS Indianapolis, July 30, 1945

 

July 30, 1945, the Japanese submarine I-58 torpedoed and sank the USS Indianapolis.The ship sank in about12 minutes, with about 300 men trapped inside,  900 men went into the water. No distress signal could be sent.   Survivors endured exposure, dehydration, saltwater poisoning, and shark attacks. After four days four days a routine patrol plane spotted them.  Only 316 crew members survived the ordeal 

Most  know the story through this monologue in the movie Jaws.  Just brilliant acting from all three men;  Unforgettable.

Brody: "What's that one?"

Quint: "What?"

Brody: "That one, there, on your arm."

Quint: "Oh, uh, that's a tattoo, I got that removed."

Hooper: "Don't tell me, don't tell me...'Mother.'" [he roars with laughter]  "What is it..."

Quint solemnly clamps a hand on Hooper's arm: "Mr. Hooper, that's the USS Indianapolis."

Hooper immediately stops laughing: "You were on the Indianapolis?"

Brody: "What happened?"

Quint: "Japanese submarine slammed two torpedoes into our side, Chief. We was comin' back from the island of Tinian to Leyte, just delivered the bomb. The Hiroshima bomb. Eleven hundred men went into the water. Vessel went down in twelve minutes. Didn't see the first shark for about a half an hour. Tiger. Thirteen-footer. You know how you know that when you're in the water, Chief? You tell by lookin' from the dorsal to the tail. What we didn't know... was our bomb mission had been so secret, no distress signal had been sent. Heh." [he pauses and takes a drink]  "They didn't even list us overdue for a week. Very first light, Chief, sharks come cruisin'. So we formed ourselves into tight groups. Y'know, it's... kinda like ol' squares in a battle like, uh, you see in a calendar, like the Battle of Waterloo, and the idea was, shark comes to the nearest man and that man, he'd start poundin' and hollerin' and screamin', and sometimes the shark'd go away... sometimes he wouldn't go away. Sometimes that shark, he looks right into ya. Right into your eyes. Y'know the thing about a shark, he's got... lifeless eyes, black eyes, like a doll's eyes. When he comes at ya, doesn't seem to be livin'... until he bites ya. And those black eyes roll over white, and then... oh, then you hear that terrible high-pitch screamin', the ocean turns red, and spite of all the poundin' and the hollerin', they all come in and they... rip you to pieces." [he pauses] "Y'know, by the end of that first dawn... lost a hundred men. I dunno how many sharks. Maybe a thousand. I dunno how many men, they averaged six an hour. On Thursday mornin', Chief, I bumped into a friend of mine, Herbie Robinson from Cleveland- baseball player, boatswain's mate. I thought he was asleep, reached over to wake him up... bobbed up and down in the water just like a kinda top. Upended. Well... he'd been bitten in half below the waist. Noon the fifth day, Mr. Hooper, a Lockheed Ventura saw us, he swung in low and he saw us. Young pilot, a lot younger than Mr. Hooper. Anyway, he saw us and come in low and three hours later, a big fat PBY comes down and start to pick us up. Y'know, that was the time I was most frightened, waitin' for my turn. I'll never put on a life jacket again. So, eleven hundred men went into the water, three hundred sixteen men come out, and the sharks took the rest, June the 29th, 1945." [he pauses, smiles, and raises his glass]  "Anyway... we delivered the bomb."

- "Jaws" (1975)

Battle of Kings Mountain

 

The Battle of  Kiings Mountain.  Another super looking game.  While I have very little interest in the actual battle I was amazed at the terrain.  I was detailed to an event in the 1980's at the park so I am very familiar with the terrain.  They captured the look and feel of the battlefield perfectly.  Outstanding job guys!

Battle of White Plains

 

Since the Battle of White Plains was the very first reenactment I took part in (October 1972) I have always had a interest in the actual battle.   This game captured the terrain perfectly.  In addition Doug and Maria were great people and just really fun to talk to.  Both were very knowledgeable about the battles and she grew up in a house on the field of battle.

Fort Mifflin

 

Outstanding game based on von Donop's Hessian Grenadiers attacking Fort Mifflin 1777.  

The fort and terrain were some of the best reconstruction I had seen.  The gun boats in the river were a very nice touch.   

Hunting the Great White Whale Moby Dick

 “To the last I grapple with thee; from hell’s heart I stab at thee; for hate’s sake I spit my last breath at thee..."

Captain Ahab’s final words in "Moby Dick"

The Hunt for Moby Dick is a fun  game perfect for a late night at the convention.  You command a whale boat that tries to manoeuvre close enough to try and harpoon the whale. You might miss.   If you harpoon the whale it might drag you along as crew members fall over board or dive and drag your boat under the water.  In addition you don't know which way the whale will move or if it will dive under the water or where it will surface.   In addition the small boats tend to get in each others way and you may collide and sink about boat.  Lastly if you fall over board beware the sharks!

Battle of Princeton

  

A meeting engagement between Washington's army and a smaller British Brigade.  Based in the historical scenario but a few addition British units added to make the game a little more even.  In this game although the British put up a grand fight the more numerous Americans broke there right flank and center for a victory.

" Lets Go Surpise Mr Washington"

 

  The second game was a "what if" the British had reinforced Trenton.   The table saw the sane set up as the first game but thus time British reinforcements arrived.  If the first game was a American steamroller, this was more Stalingrad with 18th century troops.

Colonel Rall's terrible no good Christmas day!

 

Trenton with the Delaware river.

 Jim Purky is a master at creating beautiful and fun convention games.  For the last three years I was lucky enough to get in each of the games he put on that year.  Each was fun and a visual treat.  This year he put on three different games.  I made sure once registration was open I signed up for them so I didn't miss them.

Jim himself

The first game on Thursday morning was the historical Battle of Trenton.  Colonel Rall with three battalions of line, some jagers and two light guns are surprised by Washington and the entire Continental Army (8 battalions line and four guns).  Heavily out numbered the Hessians must hold on for four turns before they can try and escape the trap.  

 Jim went out of his way in creating a beautiful snowy landscape that felt cold!   Snow was everywhere; on the houses and the troops bases.  A really nice touch!

As far as the battle American artillery was placed (historically) on the high ground where they could sweep the two main roads in the town. Washington's troops  approached the town in a "L" formation on two sides.  Colonel Rall had his regiment to defend the town on his left, another battalion (Knyphausen regiment) in the orchard on the right and Lossberg regiment in the town.  On the left the advancing Americans decimated my small company of jagers and it was up to the Rall regiment to try and hold them off.  I managed to hold on for six turns before the regiment was down 80% and poor Colonel Rall was dead.  The Knyphausen held out just as long on the right.   With all gone, except honour the Lossberg and a gun managed to escape over the bridge.  All in all we did pretty good!

The American players

The Hessian players.  I got to wear the mitre cap! 
My friend Richard is on the right.

All the players were great and all got into the spirit of the game.  In one of those twists you can't make up my friend Richard Geottel,  who I have not seen in over 40 years was one of the Hessian players!  The last we had seen each other we were both privates in the recreated Colonels company 23rd RWF.  It was a heartfelt reunion and added greatly to our experience.  Thus experience couldn't get ant better!