Jay's Wargaming Madness: Toulon Harbour

Friday, May 10, 2019

Toulon Harbour - Breaking the Siege

Here is the scenario for Toulon Harbour along with some progress updates and our preparations for the game.

This is a fictional scenario that is marginally based on the Siege of Toulon (29 August - 19 December 1793). The British control the harbour of Toulon and the Tour Royale fort. Napoleon has control of the two other forts in the harbour (Fort de l'Eguillette and Fort Balaguier).

A combined French/Spanish fleet are attempting to retake the port and force the British out. Historical note - yes, technically at the time of the siege the British and Spanish were allied - but this is a fictional scenario!

Game Rules/Notes/Information

We are using 1:300 scale Napoleonic ships for this game. The hulls of the ships are from Old Glory's line (Masters of the Broadside Napoleonics). The sails and masts are 3D printed sets (printed via Shapeways). The bases/name tags are laser cut from Adam Clark. No gluing the ships to the bases - they have screw holes pre-cut so all ships are screwed down to their bases. Name plates can be popped out and changed easily. Rigging is metal rat lines from the Old Glory ship set and black thread from the fabric store. Flags and pennants are made by me and printed off on my trusty colour laser printer and cut out. Cannons for the decks are from Langton Miniatures. Finally, the port covers are 1/8th inch square cardboard from cereal boxes.

The mats are from Deep Cut Studio, each mat being 4 foot by 6 foot in size.

The rules being used are from this site - home brew - entitled Beat to Quarters. You can download the rules from here. Each ship has a ship card for stats and tracking damage. You can download the full fleet list for the battle of Trafalgar here (fleet cards for this scenario in the Order of Battle sections). Fleets are organized into squadrons of 2-4 ships.

Rules screenshots below.

Wake templates for the ships are below. This are intended to be printed off double-sided and cut out so you can flip them over each turn to indicate which ships have activated. They are used to mark the current sail settings for the ships (full sail - top, battle sail - middle, and easy sail - bottom).

1st and 2nd rate ship wake template
(Green activation side)

1st and 2nd rate ship wake template
(Orange activation side)

3rd and 4th rate ship wake template
(Green activation side)

3rd and 4th rate ship wake template
(Orange activation side)

5th and 6th rate ship wake template
(Green activation side)

5th and 6th rate ship wake template
(Orange activation side)

Broadside arc and wind gauge templates

Turning templates

Scenario Map

Below you'll find the scenario map and table layout. We use 1:300 ships (yes, big ships!) so the table is large. The French squadrons deploy coming from the right side of the map while the British squadrons deploy coming from the top most part of the map. Wind direction is in a Northeastern direction as indicated on the map.

Scenario Map

Table size - each square is a 4 foot by 6 foot ocean mat

The most excellent Adam Clark has been busy at work on the forts (shore batteries). He is laser cutting MDF for the main structure, then laser cutting a stone textured face for the walls. You can see finished work and work in progress below.

Fort Balaguier

Fort Tour Royale

Fort Balaguier (left) and Fort de l’Eguillette (right)

Fort de l’Eguillette

Needless to say, absolutely awesome work here by Adam. Looking forward to seeing these on the table during the game.

Objectives

With Napoleon's land forces closing in every day, the position in Toulon has become untenable. The British fleet must break out of the harbour to fight another day. The British can gain victory points for damage inflicted to French/Spanish ships and forts - as well as for exiting ships to the open ocean (leaving the table edge noted on the scenario map).

British Victory Points are awarded for the following:

Partially damaged ships that have not struck their colours, been sunk or have been captured:

+2VP for each full 5 points of Hull damage inflicted on enemy ships or forts (Fort Points).
+2VP for each full 5 points of Rigging damage inflicted on enemy ships.
+1VP for each full 5 points of Crew damage inflicted on enemy ships or forts.

Sunk, captured or ships that have struck their colours:

+5VPs for sinking a enemy flagship.
+15VPs for capturing/sinking an enemy 1st or 2nd rate ship or destroying an enemy fort.
+10VPs for capturing/sinking an enemy 3rd or 4th rate ship.
+5VPs for capturing/sinking an enemy 5th or 6th rate ship.
+XVPs for each enemy ship that has struck their colours at games end. Award VPs as above but at -2VPs per condition.

Scenario specific conditions:

+5VPs for each friendly ship that escapes to the open ocean.

The French/Spanish fleet is determined to retake the port of Toulon and force the British fleet from the harbour. The French/Spanish can gain victory points for damage inflicted to British ships and forts.

French/Spanish Victory Points are awarded for the following:

Partially damaged ships that have not struck their colours, been sunk or have been captured:

+2VP for each full 5 points of Hull damage inflicted on enemy ships or forts (Fort Points).
+2VP for each full 5 points of Rigging damage inflicted on enemy ships.
+1VP for each full 5 points of Crew damage inflicted on enemy ships or forts.

Sunk, captured or ships that have struck their colours:

+5VPs for sinking a enemy flagship.
+15VPs for capturing/sinking an enemy 1st or 2nd rate ship or destroying an enemy fort.
+10VPs for capturing/sinking an enemy 3rd or 4th rate ship.
+5VPs for capturing/sinking an enemy 5th or 6th rate ship.
+XVPs for each enemy ship that has struck their colours at games end. Award VPs as above but at -2VPs per condition.

Note: Damage to ships that escape to the open ocean are still counted for victory points. They can just no longer be sunk/damaged as they are removed from play once they move off the table edge.