HOIST WITH HIS OWN PETARD.
Preamble. Naval Mines in WWI.
HMS Aurora in 1913.
During the initial period of World War I, the Royal Navy used contact mines in the English Channel and later in large areas of the North Sea to hinder patrols by German submarines. Later, the American antenna mine was widely used because submarines could be at any depth from the surface to the seabed. This type of mine had a copper wire attached to a buoy that floated above the explosive charge which was weighted to the seabed with a steel cable. If a steel hull touched the copper wire, the slight voltage change caused by contact between two dissimilar metals was amplified
and detonated the explosives.
Influence mines.
First used during WWI, their use became more general in WWII.
These mines are triggered by the influence of a ship or submarine, rather than direct contact. Such mines incorporate electronic sensors designed to detect the presence of a vessel and detonate when it comes within the blast range of the warhead. The fuses on such mines may incorporate one or more of the following sensors: magnetic, passive acoustic or water pressure displacement caused by the proximity of a vessel.
The Setting.
One of your scientists and his Engineer were testin a new Top secret form of Naval mine which he had developed. To trial the mine they were laying it from a Boat disguised as a fishing vessel off a small uninhabited Island somewhere just outside the territorial waters of the Dutch/German coast?
As the mine sank disaster struck. There was a terrible explosion.
The boat was wrecked men died, an the ship sank. As she went down only three men survived. The radio operator who continued to send S.O.S. messages until the waters closed over his head and the Scientist and his engineer who being on deck were shielded from the blast, which threw them overboard, and they managed to get ashore by hanging on to a large piece of wreckage and dog paddling it to the shore.
The S.O.S. message had been picked up by both sides and it was not long before the espionage networks of both had established what had happened.
The race was now on to( Repatriate/capture) depend on your outlook Chaps, the scientist and his engineer before the enemy does.
The table set up.
Both groups of protagonists will enter and exit in any order of your choice and from either one of the red X positions chosen at random for both sides. Each aircraft will enter in single file from that spot in successive cards played and at a height of your choosing. You may field as many aircraft as you wish of any type available at this period, with this exception. In order to pick up the two civilians two of your aircraft must be two seaters with only a pilot aboard. Because of the isolated position of the Islands, Scouts will only be able to dwell over them for six turns before having to return to base to refuel. Two seaters are carrying an extra tank of fuel so they will not be restricted in this way.
The Landing Ground.
As it is low tide there is a stretch of sandy beach on which aircraft may put down. Use the normal landing and take off rules for this. Only one aircraft has room to land and take off at a time although one may be making an approach as the other taxis off if you can arrange it. Any collisions at this juncture are terminal. If the runway is blocked by debris, you can all pack up and go home. The Navy will then have to send in a submarine to do the job for you. The Senior Service will never let you live this down, so don't make a muck up of it chaps.
The runway is 25cm long by 7cm wide. Should you be there after turn ten the tide will start to advance at the rate of !0 mm both lengthwise and width wise per three card turn.
NB. The item I used for the sandy beach was a strip of Glasspaper cut to shape. You need not field the offshore islets. I just popped them in for the aesthetics. I am not expecting anyone to cut up their coastline mat for this purpose. Just ensure that your sea area is the size of two regular games mats with your coastline one, or facsimile of one, tucked up into the corner and of the standard length and width of a mat.
Let's get those chaps home!
There is no draw in this game unless both sides fail. Bag the scientist and his engineer to win, fail and you lose.
Rob.
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