While LST 325 was docked in Nashville, I took photos, then juxtaposed them with images taken during of the ship during World War II and posted the lot on HistoryNet, if you’d like to check them out. http://www.historynet.com/photos-of-lst-325-floating-tribute-to-the-wwii-generation.htm. Sure hope they can get it off that Kentucky sandbar without too much damage. That’s close to where a ship took out a bridge a year or so ago, isn’t it? Strange happenings on the Cumberland.
Posts Tagged Naval
Nashcon 2011 American Civil War Ironclad Game Introduction 
by the Nashville Cats !
Those familiar with previous Nashcons ( held this year Friday, May 27, 2011 thru Sunday, May 29, 2011 just outside Nashville ) are aware that my son and I usually put on one “bucket ‘o dice” monster game with some 24 feet of troops or ships. In previous years we played the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaclava, the Russian attack at the River Alma in the Crimean war, a massive German invasion of Great Britain in WWII and – last year – saw the return of the ever-popular Pirate Game. Read the rest of this entry »
As per the most recent posting about the Nashcon 2011 ACW Ironclads game, click on: 12.25.2010Flottila Rules to download the rules. I have inserted only a few of the ship charts to show how the rules operate. Later I will put up the scenario and the balance of the ship charts. 
David Raybin
Given that the theme for NASHCON 2011 is the American Civil War, there were two only two options for my annual convention Mega game: A European Intervention Scenario in 28mm and a highly revised Ironclads game in 15mm. I last ran the Intervention game in 1996 ! There were hundreds of English, French and Confederate miniatures mixing it up with hundreds of Yankees, Austrians and Prussians. It was fantastic but the thing was so huge that it broke up into several discrete battles on the 24-foot board. Perhaps I may yet run this at some future convention if I can get a team of folks to help me lay thing out.
So that “left” the ironclad game I ran about 4 years ago. This is certainly not a small game. I have about twenty 15mm ships which can be deployed on the 20 foot blue tarps. The rules are a variation of Bob Duncan’s Gunboat Diplomacy which has been around for years and has always resulted in wonderful games. Being designed for the later steam and coal era the vessels bristle with serious shell-firing artillery. This is heart-stopping wargaming at its best.
My first attempt at a variation of Bob’s rules was the ever-popular Barnacle Bill; A Pirate’s Life for Me. That produced the artillery rules which allowed folks to fire at will. The next step was to move two hundred years forward and have some ship duels on the rivers of the American Civil War.
The last ironclad game “worked” but the scenario was flawed. A premature submarine attack sunk the Hartford and clogged the river channel. The ships came to a halt and shot each other to pieces. There was just not enough maneuvering to create excitement.
“Excitement” was solved last year with my 28mm Pirates game and the virtual doughnut board. This allowed a ship to sail off one end of the board and reappear at the other end. I will use a variation of this for Nashcon so there will be plenty of “room.” More later, for now, here are some photos of the fleet. All are in 15mm. Some are Old Glory and others are resin display models which I waterlined. David Raybin
Turkey Wars PIRATE GAME !!!
Nov 29
Turkey Wars
Lord Al (who played in the Game) and Baxter Key hosted Turkey WARS at the Shop. There were lots of games. I was allowed to escape from the house of relatives and put on my Pirates game. This is a mini version of the Premier Nashcon 2010 game which will run on a 20 foot board. Here we had an eight by six albeit with fewer ships. The object was to capture and hold Skull Island. The pirates who were first ashore were attacked by cannibals but eventually made their way inland and held the island till the end. Skull Island was placed smack in the center of the board which resulted in a wild circular melee. That ended when the wind shifted. The boats paired off and had at it. Major Bill captured another ship when all the crew were killed off. Pete held the island till the end although his crew were being killed in droves. This was a lot of fun. The rules stood up and I will fine tune a bit and then run them up. And Oh yes, here are some photos. The boats are various sources. Several are full hulled ships that I waterlined. The pirates are all 28mm from various brands. AAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHH.
David Raybin
Gunboat Diplomacy at Uncle Bob’s Backwater ~~
By David aaaaaaarrrrgggggh Raybin
Now boys THIS was a game. Chinese pirates attacked by British gunboats in 28mm. A dozen players. A cast of thousands. The Brits were to capture or sink the pirates. Now we know why the Chinese boats were called Junks. They were shot to fish bait. But still a hell of a game. Duncan’s naval games are first-rate mate. And yes, the fellow with the silly pirate hat is me. Duncan is wearing the ball cap. Click on the PHOTOS to make a larger image Carry on !!!
