The Naval SITREP is an open source supplement for the Admiralty Trilogy Group-series of naval combat wargames. Published twice a year, I am woefully behind in assessing what was offered in 2023 but here I explore how I might use the last two issues for my naval wargaming.
The Naval SITREP Issue #64 from April 2023 features a Finnish Hamina-class guided missile boat on the cover. The Finnish Navy and Border Guard is the “feature” naval force in this issue. That means Issue #64 delivers the full details of ship, submarine, aircraft, weapons, and naval combat systems in an extensive Annex A – Ships, Annex B – Aircraft, and weapons and systems annexes (Annex D – Naval Guns, Annex D – Surface Missiles, and Annex J – Surface Radars). If your interest is in situations pitting the Finns against the New Big Bad BearTM this data will be very useful.
The second major article in The Naval SITREP Issue # 64 is “Naming Chinese Missiles, Part 1” by Chang Lei. This is an excellent “open source intelligence” type of article that is reminiscent of the types of articles that I read in the 1980’s about the Soviet Navy. That said, there is no real “game value” in the article beyond a better understanding of the various names behind the many weapons systems. In some ways I pine for the olden days of the Red Big Bad BearTM with NATO names for weapon systems instead of indigenous project numbers. I guess my longing for NATO names in part explains why NATO symbology on wargame counters doesn’t offend me…
The cover of The Naval SITREP # 64 hints that the issue addresses “WW I Submarine Mining.” The actual article, “Mining French Harbors in WW I” is actually much more; in fact, this 17-page article is fully half of the issue’s 32 pages. The article is not a historical monograph on mine warfare around French Harbors in the Great War, but a complete campaign covering one year (!) of sorties by a German UC II-class minelaying submarine from Zeebrugge to target ports and it’s return. The complete rules for the campaign, maps, special rules, data annexes for ships, submarines, and aircraft, and tables are included. Frankly, I am a bit surprised that this campaign did not get the Tattletail treatment which would have seen it sold as a stand-alone product for a few dollars.
The balance of The Naval SITREP #64 is a collection of small rules clarifications for the Dogfight Speed Modifier in Harpoon and thoughts on laser dazzlers in the same game. The book review in the issue is Tsar Bomba: Live Testing of Soviet Nuclear Bombs, 1949-1962 by Krysztof Dabrowski from Helion Press.
Overall Grading: B. I like the Finnish Navy but, as I prefer to focus on Indo-Pacific or Black Sea scenarios, the fleet info is more informative than immediately useful. The French mining campaign is very interesting but maybe a bit too much of a commitment requiring as many as four scenario plays…assuming you don’t get sunk!
The Naval SITREP Issue $65 from October 2023 is another 32-page production. The issue starts out with the Harpoon scenario “Escape From Aden” which was used at the Historicon 2023 convention. The stated intent of the scenario “introduces players to the very latest Chinese and US ships and technology in a manageable size.” At four pages the scenario is certainly smaller and likely more manageable than many others.
Dreadnought lovers will very likely enjoy the next scenario, “Patmos,” designed for Fear God & Dread Nought. This “what if” scenario is based on the situation in late September 1911 where the Italian Fleet sortied to search for the Ottoman Fleet but didn’t find it.
“Naming Chinese Missile, Part 2” follows in Issue #65. This is followed by an interesting article, “The Guns of SMS Emden” which discusses some of the doubts as to whether SMS Emden carried 5.2cm guns on its final sortie from Tsingtao in 1914. This article is straight-up historiography with no game play mentioned.
Gameplay returns in “Vorschlaghammer,” a scenario for Command at Sea. This is an alternative Bismarck breakout scenario that focuses not on the Hunt for Bismarck but defense of a convoy. An interesting scenario if for no other reason than it focuses not on the famous ship duel and hunt but on the vital mission of convoy protection and how Bismarck presented a threat to those ships.
The feature rule upgrade in Issue #65 is “Localizing a Submarine Contact with Sonobuoys” which is actually a great primer on how that mission works. Other rules of note in Issue #65 include a Q&A on ASW and air. Both are for Harpoon.
The feature fleet in The Naval SITREP #65 is The Iranian Navy and Revolutionary Guard. The timing of this feature is perhaps fortuitous given the events of today and the situation in the Red Sea and Indian Oceans relative to the Iranian Navy and Revolutionary Guards.
Amongst the other articles are two book reviews. The one on Black Shoe Admiral – Frank Jack Fletcher at Coral Sea, Guadalcanal, and Midway confirmed for me why this book was already part of my personal library.
Overall Grading: A. Issue #65 is very much a gamer’s issue with three scenarios for three different games in the Admiralty Trilogy Series. As world events have played out the feature fleet, the Iranian Navy and Revolutionary Guard, is now “required reading” for those wishing to game out potential current events.
Feature image courtesy Admiralty Trilogy Group
The opinions and views expressed in this blog are those of the author alone and are presented in a personal capacity. They do not necessarily represent the views of U.S. Navy or any other U.S. government Department, Agency, Office, or employer.
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