Monitor vs Merrimack What a Tanker variant

[Will Bailie]

Hi, all,

My friend Doug hosted a game of Hampton Roads using his What A Tanker rules variant for ACW Ironclads.  Blog post here:  https://willstoysoldiers.blogspot.com/2025/02/monitor-vs-merrimack.html

Teaser pix to show off Doug's scratchbuilt ironclads:

[vtsaogames]

Do the rules take into account Monitor's thicker armor and heavier 11 inch guns? The impact from them bent but didn't break the armor but the concussion knocked crewmen down. Virginia AKA Merrimack was a much easier target, while almost the only thing to hit on the Monitor was the turret and the much smaller pilot house.

Excellent scratch builds, way beyond what I could do.

[Aethelflaeda was framed]

Dang Purty ships, yessiree!  Love dat muddy water play’n surface too.

[Will Bailie]

Do the rules take into account Monitor's thicker armor and heavier 11 inch guns? The impact from them bent but didn't break the armor nut the concussion knocked crewmen down. Virginia AKA Merrimack was a much easier target, while almost the only thing to hit on the Monitor was the turret and the much smaller pilot house.

Excellent scratch builds, way beyond what I could do.

Yes, Monitor has better armour and heavier guns, which is offset by Merrimack having more guns to fire.  In our game, Merrimack managed many more hits but most of them had no effect due to Monitor making most armour saves.  One of the critical hits that Monitor took was based on a hit from the real battle when the pilot house was struck and the captains was out of action for a couple of turns.

The game involved lots of maneuvering as Merrimack tried to bring her broadside to bear while Monitor of course worked to avoid this!

[carlos marighela]

Interesting idea and seems like a pretty valid concept. Substitute rudders for tracks.

Very nice modelling of those scratchbuilds!

[Will Bailie]

Interesting idea and seems like a pretty valid concept. Substitute rudders for tracks.

Very nice modelling of those scratchbuilds!

Cheers!  One of the challenges is that you can build up steam or let it drop off, but your ship's momentum carries over from turn to turn, so if you're not careful you can easily run aground (table edges were standing in for the shoreline).

[HerbertTarkel]

I like big boats. I cannot lie.

[carlos marighela]

Cheers!  One of the challenges is that you can build up steam or let it drop off, but your ship's momentum carries over from turn to turn, so if you're not careful you can easily run aground (table edges were standing in for the shoreline).

Yeah, ships don't really come with brakes. Well I suppose there's the anchor but that's more of a park brake.

Sounds like it was a fun game.

[FierceKitty]

The Merrimack never fought the Monitor.

[Blackwolf]

Yeah, ships don't really come with brakes. Well I suppose there's the anchor but that's more of a park brake.

Sounds like it was a fun game.

They generally power the propeller in a different direction, a good example are the Sydney ferries coming in to dock.

[carlos marighela]

Oh come on! To keep the analogy alive, that's just selecting reverse gear.

At least ships never need to park on a steep incline.

[Blackwolf]

‘Tis true though.

And a definite groan,there is.

[vtsaogames]

The Merrimack never fought the Monitor.

Even contemporary Confederate newspapers called it the Merrimack. Wrongly, but then the Confederate Navy obviously hadn't done a proper PR campaign.

[carlos marighela]

You now have me imaging the focus group convened for such a campaign.

'OK Jethro, Elijah, Jebediah and Nathan. We have selected four potential names for our latest, fightinest vessel to take the war to them damn Yankees....

A. CSS Merrimack.

B. CSS Virginia.

C. CSS Butcher Holler

D. CSS Racist McBoatface

Which one do you prefer?

Jethro: 'Yeehaw!'

Elijah: 'Where's the RC Cola you promised me for doing this har survey?'

Jebediah: 'I like option 5. Yeehaw!'

Nathan: 'Are them bed sheets really a 300 thread count?'