Modern Naval - Airpower

1/1200 Aircraft for a naval game open up a whole new range of possibilities.  They are reasonably detailed and easy to put on decals.  This pair of AWACS, one for each side, in simple schemes are a little bit more expensive than a 1/600th aircraft for some reason.

However,  the scale distortion isn't massive when used with 1/3000th scale shipping.  And most likely that we might go back and add these into the MNB:GW project that we started as Intel cards

Modern Naval - Shipwreck

Yes, something new.   With the messing around we did with MNB:GW and the small set I painted up I suppose it was inevitable that I would try to do something more with them.  I added a PLAN starter fleet from Navwar plus a Liaoning carrier for some Pacifc area action.  Not too sure if I am going to go full speed ahead with a US Navy counter but I do have a couple of Ticonderogas and Arleigh Burkes to paint up to go with the two O H Perrys from the first purchase.

I might even end up just using these with MNB:GW anyway but for now I have bought Shipwreck from Vandering Publications.  It has a good following and is in the realm of fast play.  Played it through solo last night and hit a couple of issues, but that is always the same when learning a set of rules from scratch.  The rules themselves do have a step by step run through which is very helpful but didn't cover what I ended up doing.  My bad ;)

So now have an idea that I need markers for a couple of things which will be on a 20mm x 15mm base so that 3 markers fit the snugly along the side of the base without getting in the way too much.

Modern Naval - Update Feb 2014

Oh well something new.  As if that was not going to happen.  The messing around we did with MNB:GW a while ago left several unpainted NAVWAR 1/3000 Ships unpainted and unloved.  With all the rain over the last couple of weeks I thought about getting them painted.  

So I did and as a result ended up adding a modern Chinese Starter fleet from NAVWAR plus a Liaoning carrier; two Ticonderogas and 3 Arleigh Burke Flight IIAs.

I took the existing Sovremmeny as well which had a soviet scheme and added that to the PLAN fleet as well.

The  bases of most of the ships is now a strange 25mm x 60mm size which sort of fits my current storage. Given a base coat of the Old GW Fenris Grey, which I am now nearly out of so need to find a replacement, and then used some of the Vallejo Heavy Gel 27.591 which is a brilliant gloss.

The US Carrier has had a bit of messing around with as well with deck markings, elevators and catapults all now marked out.  I also took a file to some 1/3000 F-18s which arrived and added them to the flight deck.  Will add more over the next couple of weeks as this goes.

The Liaoning in progress with the gel just applied. Need to look at the deck markings and see what I can make up.

MNB:GW - Campaign Expansion

The Campaign expansion for Modern Naval Battles: Global Warfare arrived this morning from Spirit Games (who are my most go to supplier of wargaming goodness).

The card pack was the usual high standard from DVG with several new ships for existing fleets, a representation of the Indian Navy with some "interesting" stats; Additional targets both land and sea based; Strategy and Mission cards to create the scenarios and a new rules sheet.

We played a mission from the short campaign option to get a feel.  I took the JMSDF and Josh took the Indian Navy to give them a try out.  Resounding victory for the Indian navy.  They have a good range of ships with Cruise missile capability which destroyed the 3 land targets in succession.  I couldn't get ahead of the curve despite limiting his hand with a surprise attack in the first turn.

New Rules

• There is now a mechanism to limit the number of shots when launching high damage strikes with missiles and torpedoes.
• You are now limited on the number of defensive cards you may play in a turn.
• You can only buy ships or Strategy cards from your fleet during a turn.  New additions to your fleet come by deducting points from your VP total.
• Initiative in the campaign switches back and forth.
• Your Strategy cards come off your fleet total and your mission limit.
• You can buy new strategy cards using VPs but you cannot buy a replacement strategy card for one you have already played.
• Some missions limit the number of VPs on the table which probably affect your Fleet choice.

Game Play
The Game played like most standard missions.  The Viraat is a command vessel which added +1 card to Josh's hand.  He used Inspiration quite early on as well which gave him an additional three cards in the second turn.  The Indian ships have a good mix of SSM and Cruise Missile capability which was hard to stop as I forgot to enforce the Ordnance depletion roll.  He had brought on a Sub as well which I couldn't deal with.  The mission was about killing his missile shooters and protecting the targets than killing things for me which meant he could do some attrition as well.  I managed to get a larget bomber strike onto his fleet however screening ships moved two of the attacks onto one of his FFG which didn't disrupt his shooting.  I think in my last turn I had one ship active which I chose not to commit.  30-0 and Josh only needs 10 to win.  As we played the game using today's date his reinforcement options are limited and he has used some of his strategy cards up early so if we carried on I could probably scrape some points back, but as he scored maxmimum points early on it would be hard.

Lessons Identified (because we always fail to learn from them)

• Some of the Indian Navy ships have an evade capability which isn't to be scoffed at and makes them harder to kill. Don't think you have an easy kill.
• The Campaign rules need a thorough reading a couple of times before playing.
• The new defensive limitation can be a killer so be aware.
• Remember to use the Ordnance depletion rules

Modern Naval Battles: Global Warfare in Miniature

Modern Naval Battles: Global Warfare is a card based naval combat game from DVG.  It is fantastic.  So good that I have both the ship expansion and the Campaign module and we have played on a regular basis at home.

The youngest is a keen gamer and has helped out in a lot of games and has come up with some good ideas himself.  He wanted to play MNB with models and I had seen someone else take the idea forward as a starter.  Okay what did that mean.  The fleets themselves do lend themselves to miniatures play.  There is some fantastic work out there with 1/700th ships which picqued the interest.  This MNB:GW 1/700th Game Report is an excellent example of the larger scale.  My budget and eyesight however don't go that big so we have downscaled somewhat to use NAVWAR 1/3000th scale ships together with 1/600th scale airpower (and possibly missiles).

We haven't decided on playing surface as the idea is to introduce some concept of movement into the game which seems to be possible (thinking here of a straight double the range indicators and use a hex system)  and then allow ships to move 2 hexes per turn.  This might allow the land based targets and amphibious warfare ships to have some context.  But to start with this will be RAW.  I think we might use the "Passive" defense option to locate a submarine in the opponents half of the table though which does seem to be a viable option.

Anyway early days.  Our starter pack has about a dozen or so ships in an eclectic mix.  US CVN, JMSDF DDG, Krivak III FFG, OH Perrys, Knox Frigates, French Lafayette etc.  The idea is for a small outlay we can gauge the size of the table/model to get a general feel for what may or may not work.  Current thinking is 4" hexes and a 3' x 3' board which is plenty of sea room.  Another one of those lets see how this develops.

Photos etc to follow and more updates once the metal arrives.

Modern Naval 1/700th Availability

Updated as at 19 Aug 12

Name	Class	Nation	Type	Pennant/VCS	Manufacturer
Akula	Akula	CIS	SSN		Hobby Boss
Lenin	Alfa	CIS	SS		Arii
Kiev	Kiev	CIS	CVG		Aoshima
Kiev	Kiev	CIS	CVG		Trumpeter
Kiev	Kiev	CIS	CVG		Aoshima
Minsk	Kiev	CIS	CVG		Aoshima
Minsk	Kiev	CIS	CVG		Trumpeter
Minsk	Kiev	CIS	CVG		Aoshima
Kilo	Kilo	CIS	SSK		Hobby Boss
Admiral Nakimov	Kirov	CIS	BCGN		Dragon
Frunze	Kirov	CIS	BCGN		Trumpeter
Kalanin	Kirov	CIS	BCGN		Trumpeter
Kirov	Kirov	CIS	BCGN		Trumpeter
Marshall Ushakov	Kirov	CIS	BCGN		Dragon
Pyotr Veliky	Kirov	CIS	BCGN		Dragon
Pyotr Veliky	Kirov	CIS	BCGN		Dragon
Pyotr Veliky	Kirov	CIS	BCGN		Trumpeter
Krivak II	Krivak II	CIS	FF		Skywave
Admiral Kusnetsov	Kusnetsov	CIS	CVGN		Trumpeter
Nanuchka	Nanuchka	CIS			Dragon
Oscar II	Oscar II	CIS	SSBN		Hobby Boss
Marshall Ustinov	Slava	CIS	CG		Trumpeter
Moskva	Slava	CIS	CG		Trumpeter
Varyag	Slava	CIS	CG		Trumpeter
Vilna Ukraina	Slava	CIS	CG		Trumpeter
Boevoy	Sovremenny	CIS	DD		Skywave
Sovremenny	Sovremenny	CIS	DDG	DDG-434	Dragon
Sovremenny	Sovremenny	CIS	DDG	DDG-618?	Skywave
Typhoon	Typhoon	CIS	SSBN		Hobby Boss
Typhoon	Typhoon	CIS	SSBN		Dragon
Admiral Chabanenko	Udaloy	CIS	DD		Trumpeter
ADMIRAL ZAKHAROV	Udaloy	CIS	DD		Skywave
Udaloy	Udaloy	CIS	DD		Skywave
Abukuma	Abukuma	JMSDF	DE	DE-229	Hasegawa
Chikuma	Abukuma	JMSDF	DE	DE-233	Hasegawa
Jintsu	Abukuma	JMSDF	DE	DE-230	Hasegawa
Oyodo	Abukuma	JMSDF	DE	DE-231	Hasegawa
Sendai	Abukuma	JMSDF	DE	DE-232	Hasegawa
Tone	Abukuma	JMSDF	DE	DE-234	Hasegawa
Asagiri	Asagiri	JMSDF	DD	DD-151	Skywave
Ashigara	Atago	JMSDF	DDG	DDG-178	Skywave
Atago	Atago	JMSDF	DDG	DDG-177	Skywave
Yoshino	Chikugo	JMSDF	DE	DE-223	Skywave
Haruna	Haruna	JMSDF	DDH	DDH-141	Skywave
Hiei	Haruna	JMSDF	DDH	DDH-142	Skywave
Harushio	Harushio	JMSDF	SS	SS-583	Hobby Boss
Hatakaze	Hatakaze	JMSDF	DDG	DDG-171	Skywave
Shimakaze	Hatakaze	JMSDF	DDG	DDG-172	Skywave
Hatsuyuki	Hatsuyuki	JMSDF	DD	DD-122	Skywave
Hyuga	Hyuga	JMSDF	DDH	DDH-181	Aoshima
Chokai	Kongo	JMSDF	DDG	DDG-176	Hasegawa
Kirishima	Kongo	JMSDF	DDG	DDG-174	Hasegawa
Kirishima	Kongo	JMSDF	DDG	DDG-174	Skywave
Kongo	Kongo	JMSDF	DDG	DDG-173	Hasegawa
Kongo	Kongo	JMSDF	DDG	DDG-173	Skywave
Myoko	Kongo	JMSDF	DDG	DDG-175	Hasegawa
Myoko	Kongo	JMSDF	DDG	DDG-175	Skywave
Minegumo	Minegumo	JMSDF	DDK	DD-116	Skywave
Harusame	Murasame	JMSDF	DD	DD-102	Skywave
Harusame	Murasame	JMSDF	DD	DD-102	Skywave
Kirisame	Murasame	JMSDF	DD	DD-104	Aoshima
Murasame	Murasame	JMSDF	DD	DD-101	Skywave
Murasame	Murasame	JMSDF	DD	DD-101	Skywave
Murasame	Murasame	JMSDF	DD	DD-101	Aoshima
Samidare	Murasame	JMSDF	DD	DD-106	Skywave
Yudachi	Murasame	JMSDF	DD	DD-103	Skywave
Ohsumi	Osumi	JMSDF	LST	LST-4001	Tamiya
Shimokita	Osumi	JMSDF	LST	LST-4002	Tamiya
Oyashio	Oyashio	JMSDF	SS	SS-590	Hobby Boss
Setoshio	Oyashio	JMSDF	SS	SS-599	Arii
Shirane	Shirane	JMSDF	DDH	DDH-143	Skywave
Soryu	Soryu	JMSDF	SS	SS-501	Skywave
Asakaze	Tachikaze	JMSDF	DDG	DDG-169	Skywave
Sawakase	Tachikaze	JMSDF	DDG	DDG-170	Skywave
Tachikaze	Tachikaze	JMSDF	DDG	DDG-168	Skywave
Onami	Takanami	JMSDF	DD	DD-111	Skywave
Onami	Takanami	JMSDF	DD	DD-111	Aoshima
Takanami	Takanami	JMSDF	DD	DD-110	Skywave
Asagumo	Yamagumo	JMSDF	DDK	DD-115	Skywave
Yamagumo	Yamagumo	JMSDF	DE	DD-113	Skywave
Shi Lang		PLAN	CV		Trumpeter
Type 033		PLAN	SS		Hobby Boss
Type 039A		PLAN	SS		Hobby Boss
HMS Astutue	Astute	RN	SS		Hobby Boss
HMS Ark Royal (1991)	Invincible	RN	CVH	R-07	Dragon
HMS Invincible	Invincible	RN	CVH	R-05	Dragon
HMS Tireless	Trafalgar	RN	SSN	S-88	Arii
HMS Trafalgar	Trafalgar	RN	SSN	S-107	Arii
HMS Triumph	Trafalgar	RN	SSN	S-93	Dragon
HMS Turbulent	Trafalgar	RN	SSN	S-87	Arii
HMS Antelope	Type 21	RN	FF		Dragon
HMS Newcastle	Type 42	RN	DD	D-87	Dragon
HMS Sheffield	Type 42	RN	DD	D-89	Dragon
HMS Sheffield	Type 42	RN	DD	D-89	Dragon
HMS Sheffield	Type 42	RN	DD	D-89	Dragon
HMS Exeter	Type 42 Batch 2	RN	DD	D-89	Dragon
HMS Liverpool	Type 42 Batch 2	RN	DD		Dragon
HMS Manchester	Type 42 Batch 3	RN	DD		Dragon
HMS York	Type 42 Batch 3	RN	DD		Dragon
HMS Daring	Type 45	RN	DD		Dragon
HMS Dragon	Type 45 Batch 2	RN	DD		Dragon
Kang Ding	La Fayette	TAIWAN	FF		Bronco
USS Albany	Albany	USN	CG	CG-10	Dragon
USS Arleigh Burke	Arleigh Burke	USN	DDG		Hobby Boss
USS Arleigh Burke	Arleigh Burke	USN	DDG		Skywave
USS Cole	Arleigh Burke	USN	DDG		Dragon
USS Curtis Wilbur	Arleigh Burke	USN	DDG	DDG-54	Skywave
USS Porter	Arleigh Burke - Flight II	USN	DDG		Skywave
USS Pinckney	Arleigh Burke - Flight IIA	USN	DDG	DDG-91	Dragon
USS Roosevelt	Arleigh Burke - Flight IIA	USN	DDG	DDG-80	Dragon
USS Blue Ridge - 1997	Blue Ridge	USN	LCC	LCC-19	Trumpeter
USS Blue Ridge - 2004	Blue Ridge	USN	LCC	LCC-19	Trumpeter
USS Mount Whitney - 2004	Blue Ridge	USN	LCC	LCC-20	Trumpeter
USS Mount Witney - 1997	Blue Ridge	USN	LCC	LCC-20	Trumpeter
USS Enterprise	Enterprise	USN	CVN		Revell
USS Fort Worth	Freedom	USN	LCS	LCS-3	Dragon
USS Freedom	Freedom	USN	LCS	LCS-1	Dragon
USS Coronado	Independence	USN	LCS	LCS-4	CyberHobby
USS Independence	Independence	USN	LCS	LCS-2	CyberHobby
USS Missouri - 1991	Iowa	USN	BB		Trumpeter
USS New Jersey - 1983	Iowa	USN	BB		Trumpeter
USS Wisconsin - 1991	Iowa	USN	BB		Trumpeter
USS Knox	Knox	USN	FF		AFV Club
USS Long Beach	Long Beach	USN	CGN	CGN-9	Dragon
USS Dallas	Los Angeles	USN	SSN	SSN-700	Dragon
USS Los Angeles	Los Angeles	USN	SSN	SSN-688	Hobby Boss
USS San Franscisco	Los Angeles	USN	SSN	SSN-711	Hobby Boss
USS Greeneville	Los Angeles - Improved	USN	SSN	SSN-772	Hobby Boss
USS Nautilus	Nautilus	USN	SSN		Skywave
USS New York	New York	USN	LPD	LPD-21	Dragon
USS Abraham Lincoln	Nimitz	USN	CVN	CVN-72	Trumpeter
USS Carl Vinson	Nimitz	USN	CVN		Revell
USS Dwight D Eisenhower	Nimitz	USN	CVN	CVN-69	Trumpeter
USS John C Stennis	Nimitz	USN	CVN	CVN-74	Trumpeter
USS Nimitz	Nimitz	USN	CVN		Revell
USS Nimitz	Nimitz	USN	CVN	CVN-68	Trumpeter
USS Nimitz - 1975	Nimitz	USN	CVN	CVN-68	Trumpeter
USS Theodore Roosevelt	Nimitz	USN	CVN	CVN-71	Trumpeter
USS Ingraham	O.H Perry	USN	FFG	FFG-61	Dragon
USS Pegasus	Pegasus	USN	PHM	PHM-1	Dragon
USS Jimmy Carter	Seawolf	USN	SSN	SSN-3	Hobby Boss
USS Seawolf	Seawolf	USN	SSN	SSN-21	Hobby Boss
USS Chandler	Spruance	USN	DD	DDG-996	Dragon
USS Conolly	Spruance	USN	DD	DD-979	Dragon
USS John Rogers	Spruance	USN	DD		Arii
USS Oldendorf	Spruance	USN	DD		Arii
USS Spruance	Spruance	USN	DD	DD-963	Dragon
USS Bunker Hill	Ticonderoga	USN	CG		Arii
USS Mobile Bay	Ticonderoga	USN	CG	CG-53	Dragon
USS Mobile Bay	Ticonderoga	USN	CG	CG-54	Fujimi
USS Mobile Bay	Ticonderoga	USN	CG	CG-54	Arii
USS Monterey	Ticonderoga	USN	CG	CG-61	Dragon
USS Normandy	Ticonderoga	USN	CG	CG-60	Dragon
USS Phillipine Sea	Ticonderoga	USN	CG	CG-58	Dragon
USS Ticonderoga	Ticonderoga	USN	CG		Arii
USS Vella Gulf	Ticonderoga	USN	CG	CG-72	Arii
USS Yorktown	Ticonderoga	USN	CG		Arii
USS Phillipine Sea	Ticonderoga Flight II	USN	CG	CG-58	Dragon
USS Virginia	Virginia	USN	CGN	CGN-38	Dragon
USS Kearsage	Wasp	USN	LHD	LHD-3	Revell
USS Wasp	Wasp	USN	LHD	LHD-1	Hobby Boss