In the Navy!

[has.been]

Two of the pupils in the school club asked last week for a Naval game.
Several possible choices came to mind, but I decided upon WW2.

I tracked down my copy of General Quarters, as they are easy for new
players to get their heads around. They also give a fairly quick game.

The problem was that although I had a LOT of ships I didn't have the stats
for most of them. Does anyone know where I can easily get hold of said stats?
The site I used to go to (last visited over 20 years ago) seems to have up
sticks & left town.
Reluctantly I sat down with the rules guide to converting information into
game play, pen, paper & the internet. Wikipedia gave me enough info. to
list Graf Spee, Exeter, Ajax & Achilles (Battle of the River Plate) If you haven't
seen the Black & White film I recommend you do.

Also Bismark, Priz Eugen, Prince of Wales & The Hood.
You should also watch the 'Sink the Bismark' film.

Just those few took me an afternoon & I have a filebox full of ships in need of stats.

Suitably equipped: Ships, stats, rules & one meter of deep blue leatherette effect
material from the local Dunhelms store (My blue cloth is far too big & unwieldy for
the tables at school) I arrived at the school club.
We tried The Battle of the River Plate
Three volunteers each took a Royal Navy cruiser & at the start I was in charge
of the Graf Spee.
MachsMechas then arrived (works at that school) & I duly gave him the Captain's chair.
I want it noted that the Graf Spee was in pristine condition at that moment

The lads soon started pounding the pride of the Nazi Raider fleet. Graf Spee gave
plenty back & both Ajax & Achilles were soon in need of major repairs, but they kept
firing. Meanwhile on Essex things were desperate, the Captain spilt his Pink Gin!
Well poor MachsMechas couldn't fire at everybody.
It wasn't long before the German ship was sinking & ablaze. Victory to the Royal Navy.
The lads said they had enjoyed the game, which is nice to hear.

The next day, today, Vodkafan was due to come around for a chat & a game. It seemed
a shame to not use all my recent hard work, so...
We played River Plate AND The Battle of the Denmark Strait.

Vodkafan decided to play German in both games, even though I pointed out that
if I kept The Mighty Hood above the waves I was doing better than History.

Few pictures as 1/3000th is not as photogenic as the 1/600th masterpieces from
LAF's own Yarkshire Gamer. Catch his wonderful water-spouts too.
80 = Graf Spee
81 = Exeter
82 = Ajax & Achilles
83 = Exeter takes a severe pounding, but the flag still flies. It also enables Ajax
        & Achilles to close without damage.
84 = Good shooting by the Royal Navy, especially Ajax (Yarkshire gamer! I used to have
        the 1/600th kit of this) finishes off the Graf Spee. Exeter will need a major refit though,
        & limps off to Montevideo.
85 = Prince of Wales & The Mighty Hood
86 = Bismark & Prinz Eugen
James made a tactical error at the start, racing Bismark forward while Prinz Eugen lagged
behind. This allowed me to ignor Eugens long range fire & concentrate both Battleships
on poor Bismark. Once again some excellent RN Gunnery (OK lucky dice by me) meant
the end of the Nazi Capital Ship.
87 = Death of Bismark.
It looked like Eugen was going to get away, as at that point she (almost untouched) was
much faster than the British ships who had gone several grueling rounds with the heavy-
weight slugger that was the Bismark, but...
as the light started to fail, & their prey opened up a lead on them, both Battleships fired
at long range. Not only did they both hit, but the damage was to Eugen's precious speed.
She was not going to slip the RN Hounds. James conceeded.

All in all three enjoyable games. Now all I need to add to my,'To Do' list is stat up over a
hundred WW2 Warships. HELP!!!!

[Kelly_]

Thanks for the report, looking forward to hearing the next steps on your General Quarters journey!

[has.been]

Ta Kelly. It has joined my (long) list of ongoing projects.
I always remind myself that if I completed EVERYTHING
I would have nothing to do.

[robh]

The problem was that although I had a LOT of ships I didn't have the stats
for most of them. Does anyone know where I can easily get hold of said stats?

I don't play GQ so do not know the specific presentation of the stat lines but, assuming they are standard you could look here:
http://www.seekrieg.com/Seekrieg4DownloadPage1.htm
The ship stats are open free download (rules too in the unlikely case you want to try them)

Or here:
http://www.naval-war.com
Also free but you need to register on the site first (all fine they don't spam you). These are the rules I use for 1/3000 WW2 Naval gaming. They are excellent. The presentation of the rules and ship data cards should be an object lesson to every rule designer everywhere.

[has.been]

Thanks Robh, I'll give them a look.

[BeneathALeadMountain]

The current GQ3 forces are in the book and then expanded in a series of nation specific comprehensive force electronic downloads available from ODGWs web shop. It’s a lot of work and covers most if not all things as far as I know.

Andrew
BALM

[Mako]

Which version of GQ do you have?

The ship stats are in the original GQ1 rulebook, so perhaps you only have GQ2?

Many have pre-filled cards at the end of the rules (beginning too - endplates?), and then there's a listing of many of the major vessels in a table format near the end of the booklet.

Sounds like some fun games.

I suppose I may need to pull mine out again too, just for grins.  Of course, that means I need to find and paint up some of my vessels as well.

[has.been]

Which version of GQ do you have?

I have GQ1 and GQ2. I don't know if there was some kind of problem
with my copies at the printers, but big gaps in the information. The
Germans for example have the stats for Destroyers at the bottom of
one page & then the Aircraft carrier (never actually sailed) at the top
of the next one!?!?
Nothing for Graf Spee, Bismark & Tirpitz.
 The games were fun, & don't need much scenery.

[Mako]

GQ1 has stats on pages 40 and 41 for World War II, IIRC.

There should also be a card stock supplement (gray card) with ship forms, stats, and a record sheet between pages 20 and 21.  My guess is you don't have that and you need it.

In GQ2 only World War I stats are provided.

[Mako]

I found these on-line (hope they help):

https://thomo.coldie.net/wargames/naval-wargame-rules/general-quarters-i-ii-defining-ships/

https://sites.google.com/a/coldie.net/thomo-s-notes/Home/Documents-and-Papers

[has.been]

Thanks Mako, that does help with how to work the Stats. out.
I was hoping that someone out there would have already done
all the number crunching & be willing to part with the pre-done
lists, leaving me to do the occasional unusual ship, or two.
 

[has.been]

I don't play GQ so do not know the specific presentation of the stat lines but, assuming they are standard you could look here:

All information is of use, so thanks for the links Robh, but looks like I'll have to do the number
crunching myself

[Mako]

Did you get the rules from Navwar, or a third party?

If from Navwar, I'd suggest contacting them to see if they can provide you with the inserts.  Might be worth doing, even if you didn't get it from them.  They might be willing to assist, especially if you purchase more items from them.

Send me a PM, and I'll see what I can do to help.

I did a quick search and didn't turn up any of the usual sources that used to be available for GQ1.  I'll inquire on some of the Facebook groups to see if there are any stats in the files sections there, or you can do that yourself if you are a FB member.

[has.been]

PM sent. Thanks.