Second World War at Sea: Imperial and Royal Navy
Developer’s Preview, Part Two
By Doug McNair
December 2008

As promised, here is my preview of the latter five scenarios in our new downloadable module, Second World War at Sea: Imperial and Royal Navy. The first batch appeared a few days ago.

Operational Scenario Three
Raiding Pifka
May 1941

Nazi Germany would have been outmatched at sea by the Imperial and Royal Navy shown in these scenarios, but they did have an equalizer: the commerce-raiding armored cruisers known as "pocket battleships." Turning one or two of them loose against Austrian commerce might have reduced Austrian pressure against Germany's own vulnerable trade routes.

Note: This scenario uses both maps from Bomb Alley, and pieces from Arctic Convoy.

Developer’s Commentary

Here the pocket battleships Lützow and Admiral Scheer go a-raiding against Austrian commerce in the Mediterranean Sea. As in the Clash of the Teutons scenario, I adapted the coastal convoy rules from Arctic Convoy and Cone of Fire to the Mediterranean. A new Austrian convoy appears each day in a random port, and either heads to the Austrian port of Cattaro or away from it. As in Bismarck, the German ships set up off-board with Raiding missions and it is up to Austrian surface, submarine and air forces to locate them before they sink the Austrian convoys.

Operational Scenario Four
Triple Alliance
June 1941

If aligned with the Axis, a powerful Austro-Hungarian fleet would have completely altered the Mediterranean balance of power. But material superiority was not the Royal Navy's key to victory in World War Two. Britannia was not ready to put aside her crown easily.

Note: This scenario uses pieces and both maps from Bomb Alley, and transport pieces from Arctic Convoy or Bismarck (it doesn’t matter which).

Developer’s Commentary

Mike originally designed this as a scenario where joint Austro-Italian forces would bombard British ports around the Med and vice versa. But we already had one scenario that focuses on bombardment raids (Morning Thunder), so I reworked this one as a joint Austro-Italian invasion of British ports for the purpose of wresting control of the Med from Britain. I added Italian and Austrian transports plus port and airfield capture rules, and gave the Brits some starting minefields. The Austro-Italian player wins by capturing a certain number of British ports and scoring more VPs than the British player (he gets more VPs for unloading troops at major ports than at minor ports or airfields).

Operational Scenario Five
Allied Convoy
September 1941

A federal, constitutional monarchy in southeastern Europe would have found itself beset by totalitarian enemies on multiple fronts. Large-scale aid would be needed if Austria-Hungary was to survive another world war, and that could only come through the routing of convoys to Austrian ports.

Note: This scenario uses pieces and both maps from Bomb Alley, and transport pieces from Arctic Convoy or Bismarck (it doesn’t matter which).

Developer’s Commentary

Here’s a quick and simple scenario where Austria and Britain are allied against Italy. Austro-British forces are trying to shepherd a convoy from Gibraltar to Cattaro and the Italians are trying to stop them. The geography of the Med being what it is, the opposing sides will likely have multiple battles in the straits west of Sicily long before the convoy gets there.

Operational Scenario Six
Eastern Fleet
March 1942

With Britain's Royal Navy spread across a huge array of global commitments, the Admiralty would doubtlessly have asked for Austrian help in the Indian Ocean. Aircraft carriers would have been far more effective in those open waters than in the constricted Mediterranean, and large carriers with powerful air wings would have added far more to Allied power than the small carriers operated by the Royal Navy.

Note: This scenario uses the map and pieces from Eastern Fleet. Use all of the British task force counters plus three of the Austrian task force counters (they may all contain ships of either or both Allied nations).

Developer’s Commentary

Here this most improbable of SWWAS supplements explores the most improbable of circumstances: an Austro-Hungarian fleet helping Britain stop Japanese invasions along the Indian Ocean coast. The Austrians have two big aircraft carriers, each of which has a capacity of 12 aircraft steps (one step more than the Japanese fleet carrier Akagi can muster). This is a big help to the British, whose two carriers have a capacity around half that. The Austrian carrier-based bombers are also very powerful and will be a grave danger to any Japanese ships they get through to. But their fighter component is weak, and will have a tough time protecting the Austrian bombers from Japanese fighter cover.

Operational Scenario Seven
Island of Death
June 1942

Any scenario that posits the Austro-Hungarian Empire's survival into the 1940s opens multiple possibilities for renewed war. Would there have been continued armed conflict in this case? Mankind's sad history makes it likely. If opposed to Britain, Malta would have had almost as much strategic significance as it did in the actual event.

Note: This scenario uses pieces and both maps from Bomb Alley, and transport pieces from Arctic Convoy or Bismarck (it doesn’t matter which).

Developer’s Commentary

Here in a final reversal, Austria and Britain are at war in the Mediterranean but Italy and Germany are neutral. Austria has managed to keep Britain from reinforcing the Alexandria squadron, but Britain has control of the naval and air bases on Crete. The full might of the Austro Hungarian Empire attempts to wrest control of Malta or Crete (or both) from Britain in preparation for future Austrian expansionist moves in the Med.

That covers it for Imperial and Royal Navy. Stay tuned for even more alternative history from the fevered imagination of Mike Bennighof and tempered by Yours Truly!

Imperial and Royal Navy is now available — just Print and Play!