German East Asia Squadron Scenario Thoughts

[paul]

While from a practical point of view, von Spee may not have had a lot of realistic options beyond the course he took, there are many hypothetical scenarios which can be based around his other theoretical options.  He had a powerful force when concentrated in a region where the enemy had to spread forces and while achieving other objectives.  I am looking to spark ideas for scenario creation based on what was at hand within the Pacific and Indian Oceans.  Here are some examples to get the ball rolling:

1. Britain wanted Australian and New Zealand troops (ANZAC) shipped to the UK via Egypt.  This took the form of several large (20+ transports) convoys leaving Australia to Sri Lanka and then to Egypt.  An attack on one of these would be an interesting proposition as they weren't especially heavily defended (http://www.flotilla-australia.com/hmat.htm)
2. New Zealand quickly occupied German Samoa at the start of the war and von Spee tried to intercept them before they landed.  If he had been a day earlier, and hit the invasion force with even just his two big cruisers might be an interesting what-if (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupation_of_German_Samoa)
3. von Spee was particularly worried about HMAS Australia, and while he would suffer at the hands of two BCs at the Falklands, perhaps in the right circumstances the odds might be a bit closer with an Australian squadron which did not possess any other heavy vessels (CA+). 

Additionally: (Historical) A few of the minor cruiser's battles: The Battle of Zanzibar, The Battle of the Rufiji Delta, The Battle of Penang


Any other ideas?

[randomizer]

I have done both Penang and Zanzibar as uploaded scenarios but they were lost with the demise of the old NWS forum.  Well anyway a variant of the latter where HMS Pegasus is not broken down and the other two units of RAdm King-Hall's Cape Station command were within supporting distance of Zanzibar.

Penang was more difficult to write.  SAI operations around shorelines can sometimes prove more than the AI can reasonably manage and at Penang it needs to deal with proximity to shore and an island where the Allies remain at anchor (except for little DD Mousquet).  Also I needed to create a modified cruiser Zhemtchug with only a single gun, all that the real ship was able to bring into action in the event otherwise she invariably inflicted significant damage on Emden as often as not.  SAI has no mechanism for reproducing the element of surprise.

It would require significant changes to the map to redo the action in and around the Rufiji Delta and even given new geography to play in I really doubt that SAI AI could treat either Konigsberg or the British monitors effectively as it was designed for operations on the high seas.

Your proposed Indian Ocean convoy action is certainly do-able; I have written one that had von Spee's cruisers attack the convoy from Canada in October 1914 but never uploaded it as I later determined that the basic premise behind the situation was too improbable for my liking.  There was also some discussion with another Forum Member (on the old Forum) about a possible scenario where von Spee transited the Panama Canal into the Caribbean after Coronel.

A consideration for convoy scenarios is to represent the convoy and its close escorts as a separate, non-Player controlled force.  This can result in the convoy acting in a manner that may not entirely be in accordance with the desires of the defending Player but that is just one design possibility.

One issue with SAI and one-sided scenarios/situations is that the losing side is always available for the Player and so there is expectation from certain quarters that both sides should be winnable somehow.  This is not really the case in either of these actions, in both an Allied Player should lose (barring a lucky and decisive critical hit from which no defence is possible), the only real variable should be how badly.

Since there seems to be an interest I will clean up and re-post my Penang and Zanzibar scenarios but I would urge you to run with your own versions and different slants on the same event can be constructive.  Try to remember the limitations of the game and always think about how the AI will fight its side when the scenario runs.  Understand that not all historical situations can be effectively reproduced in SAI and some will likely be for all intents and purposes unplayable for one side.

Good Luck.

[paul]

Randomizer,

I am not too worried about strict historical accuracy compared to having an interesting context about remotely plausible confrontations, so am happy to bear that in mind with regards to the performance of the engine.

I found the Emden vs Sydney battle interesting even though it is not even, so I wondered if the others would be too. With regards to the convoy scenarios, given the escorting group of the first ANZAC convoy - 1 CA, 2 CL and 1 BC - it is interesting to see how you would protect such a soft target set. Quite a risky situation for the British.

[paul]

Here is my first attempt.  I chose to base conflict near Ceylon as it would have been one place where the convoy would have been more certain to be.  I am interested in feedback on the design.  

EDIT: Historical Settings have been fixed.

ANZAC Convoy.zip (6.79 KB)

[gb]

Jun 11, 2014 3:50:56 GMT -6 paul said:

Here is my first attempt.  I chose to base conflict near Ceylon as it would have been one place where the convoy would have been more certain to be.  I am interested in feedback on the design.  

Sorry, but apparently there is no German force

[kasuga]

You need in scen settings set german force to max, historical mode doesnt work.

[paul]

How odd, I have played the scenarios from both sides... let me see what I have missed.

[randomizer]

Jun 13, 2014 4:58:01 GMT -6 paul said:

How odd, I have played the scenarios from both sides... let me see what I have missed.

I had sent you a PM a couple of days ago.

[gb]

Jun 13, 2014 4:34:02 GMT -6 kasuga said:

You need in scen settings set german force to max, historical mode doesnt work.

Thank you very much!

[randomizer]

Interesting situation.  At the Rear Admiral difficulty it highlights both the Raider's Dilemma and to possibly a lesser extent the Escort's Dilemma.

The Raider's Dilemma of course involves how does one risk the high-value German units to draw the escorts or covering forces away.


0800 Local.  I have identified both Scharnhorst's and Ibuki with Minotaur in tow are off on the chase at 21 kts.  Sidney and Melbourne are closing in support.  Note that the distance from the convoy is already significant.


0827 Local.  The rearmost Scharnhorst has been hit hard and falls out of formation.  Ibuki and Minotaur have been hit repeatedly but so far their armour is preventing vital damage.


0905 Local.  Had to terminate the test due to a non-game related issue.  Gniesenau is badly damaged but the escorts have been pulled over 30-nm from the convoy.  Here's the Escort's Dilemma - how far do you pursue the attackers, leaving the convoy behind.

Suggest consider using the German light cruisers (perhaps even one) as separate forces and perhaps the AI may use them against the convoy.

Thanks for posting the scenario to test, hope to give another look Sunday.

[julianbarker]

Agreed re separate forces. Keeping the Germans as one force limits tactics and makes the game pretty predictable as the British have only one force to engage. More realistically, with five ships, the attacker should be able to use part of the force to engage the major escorts in an attempt to draw them off or otherwise neutralise them whilst some of the light cruisers engage the convoy.

[paul]

I have tried this and it does make it more challenging as the British player which is good, I just haven't gotten around to uploading it yet.

[paul]

Here is a version with the two light cruisers as separate forces:

Attachment Deleted

[yyz]

Jun 9, 2014 7:08:26 GMT -6 paul said:

3. von Spee was particularly worried about HMAS Australia

Sorry late, what is your achivement - 2 AC vs BC. Any chances for germans?

[paul]

yyz, no - got sidetracked and never got around to creating it!

Thanks for the prompt though, I've just come back to SAI and created a Baltic Sea scenario.

paul