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The Official Newsletter of Model Warship Combat, Inc. www.mwci.org Fall-2003

CALENDAR OF MWC EVENTS

November 22-23, 2003 Trotwood Turkey Shoot II Trotwood Park, Oviedo, Site Host: Rick King (See BOD addresses for contact info)

July 18-23, 2004 MWC National Championship Rolla, Missouri Site Host: Kevin Hovis (See BOD addresses for contact info)

The MWC 2003 Early Birds Late Announcement! The 2003 Early Bird Drawings, for early admissions for the club and for Nats, were done on time. The Combat Director Ted: That’s not a sink. My pump’s so good the announcement is very late. The winner of the Prize from Battler’s Connection level of the pond rises faster than my hull does.. for the early club entrance is Ron Horbul Photo by Mike Melton’s Brother from Minnesota. The winner of the prize because the experience levels favored from Swampworks for the Early Nats Nats 2003 the Allied fleet. Fee is Don Cole from Florida. Both Sunday: The ship testing went winners received the hull of their choice. The many questions and well, there were no sinks during speed complexities of balance trials. That evening, there was a bit of The 2003 Nats is in discussion on what the size of the the books. Every various split fleets would be. The day had excellent admirals had pledged to have balanced Dana’s new little . battling. fleets but then the definition of what was THE FLEETS: ‘balanced’ caused a disagreement. It OKAY, what’s that in our scale? The Axis was the smaller fleet this year, was decided that if the difference in the According to NJM Campbells like they are in most years. There were number of ships between a fleet’s A and article “Washington’s Cherrytrees” in 20 captains conning 19 or B fleet was three or less, that qualified as Warship No 1, “an important matter battlecruisers, and one cruiser as their balanced. which needed improvement in British main ships, with a total of 108 units. Monday: The battling on Monday ships was the capacity of the pumps, as The Allies had 22 captains conning 20 is very important, as it usually sets the those in the Baden could dispose of 8100 battleships and 2 as their main tone for the whole week. The Axis fleet tons per hour outside the main ships, with a total of 111.5 units. was trying a different strategy. As they machinery compartments, as against Despite the closeness of these numbers, had a fairly large contingent of smaller only 4450 tons per hour in the Hood….” the Axis were feeling like underdogs WWI battleships, they chose to group

Page 201 these ships into one fleet. Their fast the non-pumping ship slid under the battleships all went to the other fleet. It waves. The Axis gave a bonzai cheer. was their hope that by keeping their “We aim to please,” said Ted just before MWC OFFICERS and fleets grouped by similar speeds and his head went under and his straw hat Board of Directors turning abilities that they would be better floated off, as he recovered his ship from able to maneuver as a cohesive unit and the bottom. Before the sortie was over, President—Larry Dahl be able to frustrate the mixed Allied his wingman, Bob Hoernemann, who’d fleets. However, due to a frequency promised to ‘follow his wingman 1486 Oakdale Ave. West St. Paul, MN 55118 conflict, one of the fast Axis battleships everywhere’, had his Warspite follow 651-450-0275 sailed with the slow fleet, and was him to the bottom. These sinks were [email protected] accompanied by the lone Axis cruiser. balanced by the loss of Rick King’s Fleet Battle 1: The Axis slow fleet Scharnhorst in the first sortie, and Jeff V.P.—Patrick Clarke started off facing the tough nuts of the Lide’s Kirishima in the second. Jeff was 304 Regensburg Lane Allied A fleet. They lost three ships in given partial credit for his own sink, as College Station, TX the first sortie. Tim Krakowski lost he zoned in on punishing Grant Dahl’s I- 979-680-8283 radio control on his Fuso and she started boat. Grant was shooting back but Jeff [email protected] circling and getting blasted by triples was mauling him, but Jeff forgot to Secretary—Kevin Hovis until Tim declared his ship sunk. Jeff watch his own waterline and turn on his Lipp’s Baden went dead in the water and pump until it was too late to recover. 2295 Highway J Fredericktown, MO 63645 also got blasted and prop washed until “OH NO!!” was the cry as the 573-783-8381 she vanished. Luis Gomez’s cruiser Kirishima’s stern went under. [email protected] went down with light damage. Two At the end of the battle, the Axis more Axis were sunk in the second seemed to control the waves, as the Treasurer--Ted Brogden sortie. Four Allied fast boats hounded Allies were out of ammo. Brian Lamb’s 1703 Quail Valley John Bruder’s Vittorio Veneto, until she Colorado was the subject of a lengthy Iowa Park, TX 76367 sank, and Alan Oster’s Konig sank near chase as the was pumping 940-592-5066 the far shore with high damage. No one steadily. She was a proved to be a tough [email protected] sank on the Allied side, as Lars didn’t nut, and the subject of a speed test Chris Au make this battle. The Allies won this afterwards, but passed both trials easily. battle easily, 21,665 to 8315. The Axis fleet scored enough to take 20461 Northville Place, Apt. 2219 Northville, MI 48167 The Axis fast fleet did much better the battle, at 13,010 to 8450, but not against the Allied B fleet, which was no enough to make up the difference in the slouch either. The first sortie started combined score. Joel Goodman with the Contest Director, an Allied Monday Afternoon: 210 Zeblin Road member, losing radio control and his Allied A fleet vs. Axis Fast Fleet. Atlanta, GA 30342 ship sailed for minutes in a circle before This battle started with the usual Stern to 404-943-1894 [email protected] Dana Graham 30039 Avenida Celestial Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275 310-541-8477 [email protected] Chris Grossaint 6384 S.Dexter St. Littleton, CO 80121 303-694-1607 [email protected] or [email protected]

Richard King 157 Canal St. Sanford, FL 32773 407-322-7750 [email protected]

Mark Roe 1115 Shenandoah, Clawson, MI 48017 248-435-0680 A good sink deserves a ‘tip of the hat’. Photo by Chris Pearce Page 202 Stern faceoff, which held up for a few series of splashes flying twice the height both very close. Someone started minutes before the formations broke up. of his superstructure singing, “Auf Wiedersehen” as the hard About half of the Axis captains moved to The Allies won this battle 16940 to pumping Baden got very low in the the far side of the pond. Charley and 9125. water but just then Fluegel’s timer Tony Stephens stayed on the near shore sounded and Fluegel said, “No Thanks,” and faced off with the Au brothers, Allied B fleet vs Axis Slow fleet. and reached down and tapped his ship. among others, like Mike Melton’s The Axis Slow Fleet suffered from The Allies won this battle 11,445 to Arizona. Lars’ Bellerophon wandered in attrition in this battle. After fielding 9 8315. and got chewed up and took a nasty list, ships in the mornings battle, they were Tuesday: but was able to escape without pursuit. down to six at the start of the afternoon. The Allies would flip-flop their The first sortie ended with the Axis John Bruder had gone to the fast fleet fleets on Tuesday and Thursday, but as trying to entice the Allies to the far side, due to the lone frequency conflict. Alan the makeup of the fleets remained the and being refused. Oster and Luis Gomez’s ships were on same, we’ll refer to them as they were The second sortie was much the the bench. Jeff Lipp’s lightly damaged designated on Monday. As for the Axis, same. The group of Axis captains on the Baden went down early in the first sortie, they slightly modified their fleets. David far side grew slightly. Charley and Tony with Ted Brogden’s “It’s not the QE it’s Asman took his WWI AC Scharnhorst to Stephens stayed on the near shore and the Valiant!” standing alongside. Tim the fast fleet, while Mike Tanzillo battled their Nagatos against the Au Krakowski’s Fuso was shook loose from (Scharnhorst) and Bryan Finster brothers again. Meanwhile the the small Axis fold, and the small Axis (Nagato) went to join the slow fleet. Scharnhorsts and the other fast Jap ships contingent started chanting “Fuso come Fleet Battle 3: The Allied A fleet tried to entice the Allied ships to fight on back. Fuso come back.” Fuso faced off with the fast Axis again. They the far side at the Axis’ feet. After Tony eventually returned. Meanwhile the got a gift early on when Lars’ and Charley’s Nagatos sank, the Allies other Axis fought the defensive battle in Bellerophon started sailing in circles played with the idea, as ships darted in a small, self-supporting group. As the with a faulty battery. Driven into shore, and out, but no serious sorties were ammo ran low, the Fuso was separated the impotent dreadnought was soon attempted. Tim Beckett was heard again, and a pair of SoDaks and Ted’s settling on the bottom. Midway through continually calling, “Allies stay over Valiant ran him until he sank again. the sortie the Axis started losing ships. here!” Later the fast Italians went on a In the second sortie, Grant Dahl’s Tom Melton’s Nagato sank on the far run back and forth, chased by a slew of Indomitable seemed to get hung up on shore. Jeff Lide’s Kirishima was the North Carolinas, but soon returned to the shore, and attracted a lot of attention. center of a lot of attention, and sank at fold. Finally when some of the Axis The Axis punished him while they his own feet after a lengthy battle. The called five and started to dump their themselves were punished. There were Au’s and the Stephens brothers squared ammo, Jeff Lide’s Kirishima sent a no sinks, but Grant and Fluegel were off again. The slugging match, which

When a ship’s aground, the others come ‘round. Photo by Mike Melton’s Brother

Page 203 The Fuso makes a break for the open waters, but the Allied B Fleet decided that ‘no one should go out alone.’ Photo by Chris Pearce seemed to go on all week, had people used to check if a ram penalty would be chased by a squadron of North shaking their heads in wonder all week. assessed (it wasn’t.) Finally, Chris Carolinas. His father was in a similar The Axis duo came up short this time, Pearce’s NC was sunk in return, but the situation. Chris Kessler spent some time with both Tony and Charley sinking in sink wasn’t captured on tape. trying to shoot and block the fast Italians the first sortie. During one of the sinks, The second sortie had the fast ships and got several cat calls in response. one of the ships was bumped just as she running. Josh Bruder, among others, Rick King’s Scharnhorst was sunk, but was going under, and Bob H’s video was was walking the far shore while being not on tape. This may be the battle

The Axis Slow Fleet stern gunnin’ not runnin’ crew try to back up their boasts with their boats. Photo by Mike Melton’s Brother Page 204 him, as they had been chasing a damaged Axis (probably Jeff Lipp’s Baden). Finally Ty came out without his ship so that Don and Joel could finish off the sink. Bill Harvard, a rookie with an Invincible, had made it out onto the water for this battle. For his efforts he attracted the attention of the Axis Admiral, Bryan Finster, who started perforating Bill’s hull. Lars directed his sons Grant and Andy to come help out their fellow I-boat, and come they did. Except somehow Andy concentrated so much on The North Carolinas during a quiet moment, along with the Malaya. Finster that he sailed his Photo by Joel Goodman Inflexible directly into Bill’s now dead-in-the- where he was nearly off his five, and the Very close to sinking, the Valiant had to water ship. Bill sank soon afterwards. Allied fast ships had been left in the pump out before resuming the battle. Finster, after punishing the rookie, came dust, and he sank suddenly with less than Later, Ty Supanic’s Invincible sank, over after the battle and patched many of twenty seconds on his timer. Lou out in the middle. Ty stripped down, the 98 holes while coaching Bill on post- Meszaros’ VV also was sunk in second then dove headfirst in the water towards sink systems check-outs. sortie. The Allies won this battle 18245 his ship. But when he resurfaced it was The Allies won this battle 11205 to to 9340. like he’d done a summersault under the 8200. water. “Dang,” he said, as he started Campaign 1: If controversies The Allied B Fleet faced the Axis searching the bottom at his feet, far from happen at Nats, they usually happen Slow Fleet. The Axis had bolstered the where his boat went down. Seems that during campaign. The first campaign slow fleet with Finster’s Nagato and his head-first dive had knocked his had the Allied A fleet facing the Axis Mike Tanzillo’s Scharnhorst, while prescription glasses off and they too slow fleet. The battle started with the all David Asman’s WWI SMS Scharnhorst were now on the bottom. After finding the Axis battleships knocking down the had gone to the fast fleet. The battle them, he returned for his ship, which he undefended Allied targets, all, except started with the Axis in a cluster, and couldn’t find now. Don Cole and Joel one, that is. One of the Axis ships was Jeff Lipp’s Baden looked in tough shape Goodman were waiting impatiently for floating dead in the water and the early but recovered. The Axis stood up well, until most of the Axis had called five, then Alan Oster’s Konig was cut from the herd and finally sunk after a long chase, with lengthy portions of it done in reverse. It looked on the video like Alan turned off the pump a few moments before the sink. The second sortie had a strange one for Ted Brogden. While moving up to block Mike Tanzillo’s Scharnhorst from escaping from himself and Brian Lamb’s Colorado, the Scharnhorst’s bow caught the Valiant’s bow and the Colorado’s bow caught the Valiant’s stern. Together, the two ships pushed the Valiant over and sideways for several feet. When they backed off, the Valiant swung back drunkenly, full of water. The cruisers had more time to sparkle at this Nats Photo by Chris Pearce Page 205 controversy was whether it was ‘on the spite, was done mainly for the same cut off his pursuit. water’ when campaign started, and reason, as the Axis had scored big in the “The pickup battles saved the day,” whether it correctly ‘floated into port’ campaign battles the year before, and the more than one captain said later. when it’s five out of control expired. If Allied Admiral was worried about a Wednesday: that had been the main controversy, we repeat. As it was, the Axis won the As usual, there were several pickup would have been lucky. After downing combined battle by only a couple battles and one-on-ones out at the pond. the Allied targets, the Axis battleships hundred points. The Bruders were there, Tim Beckett, sailed down next to the Allied home Needless to say, many battlers, Chris Au, Chris Pearce, the Dahl boys, port. When the Allieds didn’t launch having spent time, money and a lot of and others battled during the afternoon. any convoy ships, the Axis ships started sweat to come to Perry to battle, and Night Battle: Night battle found calling five and dumping their ammo. then not battling, did not think much of eleven Allied battlers (Chris & Dave Au, Confused by the Axis tactics, the Allieds the tactics. A few left for the motel, Mike Melton, Tim Beckett, Chris Pearce, tried to take advantage of this frustrated by the afternoon’s events. Ron Horbul, Bob Hoernemann, Chriss unexpected tactic by launching every For those that stayed, several pickup Grossaint, Ty Supancic, Brain Lamb, convoy ship it could, even Dana battles were soon in action. A ‘Cruiser- and Kevin Bray) hitting the water. The Graham’s PT boat. The Olympic ran, Only’ battle took place that had several Axis fielded ten battlers (Jeff Lide, John Bob H’s CVL, Joel Goodman’s ship, and captains shaking their heads in and Josh Bruder, Lief Goodson, Fluegel, three LST’s all ended up on the water, amazement and questioning their Rick King, Mike Tanzillo, Kevin Hovis, sailing away from the Axis ships previous opinions on the smaller ships. Luis Gomez, and Bryan Finster) to face counting down their fives. As the Allied In a reverse of the fleet battles so them. For some reason Kevin Bray’s convoy captains reached their forward far, the Allied 26 second battleships took went down early with port, a cheer came from the Axis back on a fleet of fast Axis ships and Randy light damage (5-2-1). This received down at the other end of the pond. Luis Stiponivich’s VDT, sinking Bob many ‘bonzais’ from the Axis. As usual, Gomez had intentially sunk his cruiser, Hoernemann’s Warspite after a long there was mass confusion as well. Bob for an unseaworthy sink. The Axis Slow pummeling. Hoernemann found his Warspite being Fleet had withdrawn from battle, as no In another battle that had about a mistaken for Jeff Lide’s Kirishima. Axis warship remained to go on the dozen ships, a mix of VDT’s and VV’s Seem Bob’s white polar bear head on the water. The boatload of Allied points, mixed it up with the Lion, a gaggle of I- superstructure was mistaken for the sitting on the water in the convoy ships, boats, and a SoDak. Ty Supanic spent white range finder on Jeff’s ship by the did not count. The CD declared the his five running around and saying Allies. But to even things up, several battle over. Allies win 7499 to 2496. “Thank you” to several teammates who Axis made the same mistake and let Bob For the second Campaign battle, the Allied fleet decided to use a similar tactic. However, instead of bringing their warships off the water, they never launched any, instead starting the campaign with just a convoy ship on the water, which was quickly called over for no Allied ship being on the water. The Axis won the second campaign 6899 to 2500.

The reason for the Axis surrender in the first campaign was explained as being ‘the only way we could win’ as they did not want the Allies running up a big score against their slow fleet. The Allied response in the second sortie, which some of the Axis viewed Minnesota Bob’s Warspite and Jeff Lide’s Kirishima. The white objects on the only as being done in superstructures would be confused during night battle. Photo by Mike Melton’s Brother Page 206 shoot at them. Scorewise, three Axis, Fluegel’s Baden and the two Scharnhorsts, each took more than 1300 points of damage, while only Dave Au ‘s Revenge racked up as many. The Allies won the battle 6245 to 5870. Thursday: The Axis fleet abandoned the Fast/Slow fleet concept, and went with a more standard mix of fast and slow ships. The Allied fleets remained the same. Fleet Battle 4: The Allied A Fleet faced the Axis Mixed Fleet (#1) of Meszaros(VV), Asman (Nassau), Stiponovich (Agano), T.Melton(Nagato), King(Scharnhorst), Finster(Nagato), Roe(Scharnhorst), John Bruder (Italia), The Superlative (or Super-less?) Colorado of Brian Lamb. Lide(Kirishima), and Fluegel (Baden). Photo by Mike Melton’s Brother The Axis started this battle clustered on the corner where the pond bends, no Hovis (Bismarck), Gomez (Garibaldi), the Don Cole and Joel Goodman, and doubt trying to make it difficult for the Tanzillo (Scharnhorst), Goodson (VDT), was eventually sunk. In return, Ty Allies by standing on the corner and and Krakowski (Fuso). Supancic’s I-boat sank near the far shore making the Allieds jump back and forth This battle was a very close match, again. For his efforts, Ty got his picture behind them as the battle shifted. The basically being a stalemate. Things just on the front page of the local paper the Allies spent most of the first sortie didn’t look right for the Allies as Brian next morning. picking on Fluegel, and from his Lamb’s Colorado either launched The Axis won this one, a real scoresheet (129-30-28) it looks like he without it’s main superstructure, or lost squeaker, 10590 to 10585. took most of their bbs to the bottom with it early on. Then later Kevin Bray’s Campaign 2: The Allied B fleet his Baden. Lou Meszaro’s VV was Massachusetts sank again with light faced off with the Axis Mixed Fleet #2. declared sunk. Tom Melton’s Nagato damage. This battle was a little more closer to the also ran afoul of the Allieds and was The Warspite and the Fuso mixed it standard script. The Axis launched sunk. Jeff Lipp’s Baden was also seen up for a time. Then the action shifted to convoy ships, and so did the Allies. The sinking, her bow rising as she ran for the the Colorado, which had gotten stuck on Axis were sailing a squadron of Jap shore. the beach. Brian Lamb was trying his convoy ships, along with their German The Allies, in return, lost Lars. ship to get back off the mud, but Lief tankers, all of them being roughly the Lars’s ship was finally sailing on an Goodson maneuvered his VDT behind same size. The Allies countered with the even , at least until he sailed between the Colorado’s stern to keep him there Bigs (two Olympics), the Tinies (a troop the battling Au’s and the three big Jap while Lief called for more help. The of LSTs and a PT boat), and the boats of Finster, Lide and Melton. Warspite and a SoDak came to rescue Conventionals (a CVL, a CVE, and the In the second sortie the Allies Brian, and as a result the frustrated Axis best of scale Liberty). resumed the pursuit of selected pummeled the individuals. John Bruder’s Italia was Warspite for a while. chased by three NCs and the Malaya, Late in the first and survived. After he came off the sortie, Andy Dahl’s I- water, his pursuers joined the group boat lost partial rudder chasing Jeff Lide’s Kirishima. Jeff’s control and could only ship was getting pounded (he took even turn to the left. more hits than Fluegel did), and a large, Despite the calls to quarter sized chunk of his hull was attack, the I-boat dragging in the water. As Jeff’s ship escaped with light finally headed to shore to sink at her damage. captain’s feet, Fluegel quipped, “You In the second were doing fine when there were only sortie, the Colorado’s three of them…” superstructure made a The Allies won this battle 18955 to reappearance. Kevin 8840. Hovis’ Bismarck sank early on (see his The Allied B Fleet faced the Axis article on the how and The Allied CVL is escorted by Ty Supancic’s Mixed Fleet #2 of Tony & Charley why). Mike Tanzillo superlative rookie I-boat. Stephens (Nagatos), Alan Oster (Konig), was a main target of Photo by Chris Pearce Page 207 The standard script had each side who was dead in the water. At the end In the second campaign, a storm was running convoy ships, the Axis attacking of the battle he was one tuckered fellow, brewing in the distance, off to the south. shore targets, and the Allies ignoring but he had a big smile. Most battlers thought we were in for a

The Axis Flower Pot Run. Photo by Mike Melton’s Brother them. As far as standard scripts go, that In the end, it was a very close battle, soaking, but the battle was started was it. For one of their convoy runs, the which the Allies won 13800 to 13699. anyhow. Tim Beckett was wearing a Axis launched the Altmark with a flower Maybe the big question should be how big, dark raincoat, and looked like Darth pot on board. Jeff Lide had brought a the Axis ended up with that odd number Vader without the helmet, stalking up gross of these little doozies, all with of points. Did someone get penalized and down the shoreline. But the storm plastic plants and emblazoned with one point? skittered off to the east and other than a “Happy Nats” on the side, and one of the buggers had found itself placed on board. A mix of cheers and moans arose when the flower pot was shattered by a shot about 2/3 of the way through the Altmarck’s forward run. The Altmark was soon shattered and sinking on the shoreline as well. On the other side, the Allies were launching their Olympics with LST escorts. The Axis were ignoring the LSTs, interested instead in punishing the big, point-filled ships. Any time the Axis sidemounts got close to the big ships, the LST would ‘bump’ the attacker, who then by rule had to withdraw to shore for thirty seconds. The Axis, in another change in the script, spent the slow moments in the battle, seeking out isolated targets. First Ted Brogden’s Valiant was targeted and sunk. Doug Hunt’s cruiser was also corralled and put under. For the Allies, Don Cole was everywhere. Between shooting up Axis Another Axis convoy run, Mike Melton’s Arizona lowers the boom. convoy ships, his Alabama brought in a Photo by Mike Melton’s Brother convoy ship that couldn’t sail into the wind unaided. He performed another long tugboat job, bringing in a teammate Page 208 few wayward drops and some high warships in return, losing the light “It don’t matter, sink him,” winds we were left unscathed. cruisers Karlsruhe (Fluegel) and Agano instructed Fluegel. The Allies continued with their (Stiponivich), and John Bruder’s Italia. Then when the Kirishima finally David and Goliath teaming of Oly’s and And finally, the Best of Scale Convoy went down, Jeff could be heard saying LSTs. One Olympic nearly made a ship made a trip under to show off in “It never happened, it never happened.” complete run, the high winds buffeting it Davy Jones’ locker. He spoke the truth, his score sheet was out of position as it waited for the final The score in this one wasn’t as lost, so ‘it never happened’. minute before trying to sail into port, and close, but it didn’t seem to be that much In the second sortie, the battling then being unable to get turned properly different from the first. The Allies won continued hot and heavy between the with the winds and its hull filling with 13800 to 6951. SoDaks and the Axis fast boats, and Don water. The second Olympic made it Friday: With the article in the local Cole was after everybody, and at one point, Fluegel was his main target and quipped “If I could get some help, I wouldn’t be sinking.” But eventually Don’s Alabama succumbed, rolling slowly to the side and sinking to many Axis cheers. And just as unexpected, Ted’s Valiant, which had looked very wounded in the first sortie, was out there late in the sortie, working over Tom Melton’s Nagato along with Brian Lamb. The Axis won this one 13420 to 8030. Allied A Fleet faced the Axis Mixed Fleet #2 in the second battle. The battle started in the usual The campaigns saw a higher number of warship sinks than normal. The Fuso savors a fashion, the Axis in a Valiant sink. cluster just off the point. Photo by Mike Melton’s Brother. The Allied slow boats started off faciing them however. paper, and the encroaching horse trailers, down with their stern guns while the The Axis, in an unusual move, used we were prepared for spectators, but the Allied Fast boats sailed around them to their Scharnhorsts to knock down the incident with the cowboy on the four- put the pincers on them. So it was the Axis targets. Mark Roe seemed to get wheeler caught us by surprise. Au brothers facing off the Stephens most of them, while Rick King cleaned Fleet Battle 5: brothers stern to stern once again, and up the rest. Friday started with the Alled B Fleet the battling was hot and heavy. The NCs In another unexpected move, taking on the Mixed Axis Fleet #1. With culled the Fuso out from the Axis herd Fluegel took his convoy ship and sailed the issue decide, the combatants were a once again, but Charley called him back. along the far shore as he walked little more relaxed. Don Cole set the However, the Fuso succumbed later with alongside it, on the far shore. It didn’t tone for the battle by sailing through the relatively light damage, but then she’d help, his convoy ship was sunk. middle of the Axis defensive circle. Ty had a very hard week. Another ship that Some of the Jap convoy ships sailed Supancic, whose picture had graced the was every where was Leif Goodson’s with escorts, and some didn’t. There front page of the morning’s paper, was VDT. He was chewing up NCs and the were so many that some of them must’ve an obvious target. “Get the Media Boy,” Malaya, and swooping through the thick gotten through. Mike Melton’s Arizona was the cry. He put up a good fight and of the battle here and there. After a very was in among those ships attacking the sank out in the deep water again. lengthy battle his ship finally slowed and convoys, and then got caught and The other Allied sink in the first rolled on its side as it went down. punished himself. Finally escaping and sortie was Bob Hoernemann’s Warspite, In other action, Ron Horbul’s Lion counting down his five, he sailed for the which went down due to pump found itself the target of three Axis fast Allied port, only to run into another problems. Ted Brogden’s Valiant got ships, but he survived. In the middle of group coming around the point. He was very low in the water not once but twice, the furball Lars’ Bellerophon was trying sunk with about thirty seconds to go. and looked lucky to escape. to spar with Alan Oster’s Konig while There were more warship sinkings. On the other side, Jeff Lide was the two of them had to interrupt their Chris Grossaint’s Brooklyn was pinned getting punished again, at one point battles as other ships darted through the and sunk. But the Axis lost three hollering “Ow! Ow!”. middle. And out on the fringes Page 209 somewhere Dana Graham’s Prince of again. “Thanks, Ron,” said Wales was sunk with very light damage. Lars with a wry grin while In the second sortie the heavy Ron laughed and chuckled. battling continued. The Au brothers Not long after that, Bill chased Josh Bruder’s VV for a time, but Harvard’s I-boat, which the VV lasted out its five. had made it back finally Mike Melton’s Arizona started after his battle on Tuesday, working over Mike Tanzillo’s was sunk again. Scharnhorst, and was soon joined by the Finally, the Stephens Malaya to add to the carnage. The brothers were still battling, Nagatos and the Konig came to his but there weren’t many rescue, but the Scharnhorst slid under remaining Axis teammates the waves anyway. to help and so they were Meanwhile, the Bellerophon, which virtually surrounded. “She had been sparring again with the Konig, might go down, but she’s was pumping heavily and thus didn’t going down fighting,” said want to move around much as the battle Tony. He spoke the truth. moved away from her. Then Luis Then when it was just Gomez’s Garibaldi started sniping at the Charley left, he faced off Bell just as the Bell was joined by Ron three NCs, the Au brothers, Horbul’s Lion. “Let’s go sink us a and the Lion at the end. He cruiser,” said Ron, and Lars agreed. was sunk as well, but it was The cruiser didn’t run, and the Bell’s an excellent fight. bow gun was scoring on the cruiser After Charley went while the Lion tried to circle to the down, the cry went up, outside. Then the cruiser went out of “Where’s the Garibaldi?!” range of the Bell and Lars moved her out In sort of a mirror of after after the Axis cruiser. Lars was the week, the Allies won busy trying to see if his bow gun was this battle 18370 to 14710. hitting the cruiser when Luis said, The final score for the week “Whoa! BONZAI!” had the Allies winning The Bell’s movements had 187734 to 139780. overpowered her own pump and the impotent dreadnought had gone down The Stephen brothers Nagatos fought hard all week.

The Warspite sinks during Friday’s Flowery ending. Photos by Mike Melton’s Brother, Tom Page 210 part of the hit percentage. So, I The Allied fleet only improved guessed that for every 100 BBs that 1% but the Axis fleet was up 6%. could get shot only 75 did get shot. All of the Axis 2002 rookies must As you can see the Allies had an have improved their shooting in their 18.4% rate and the Axis had an new battleships. I also think the 11.8% rate. The best battle was by fast/slow fleet set up let the slow one fleet was 20.5%. Night battle ships get in more shots and not come was 3.7% for the Axis and 5.6% for off the water with lots of BBs in their Being someone who loves the Allied. guns. The total holes for the Allied numbers (Must come from 2002 my love of baseball) I was AXIS TOTALS WITH 75 BBs PER BATTLE PER GUN AXIS GUN UNITSALLIED HOLES AXIS BBs HITS % wondering how many of my 524 3235 419 993 39300 4647 11.8% BBs should hit their target. I had just built my first ALLIED TOTALS WITH 75 BBs PER BATTLE PER GUN ALLIED GUN UNITSAXIS HOLES ALLIED BBs HITS % battleship and was battling 451.5 4836 507 892 33863 6235 18.4% against Andy & Grant Dahl in TOTALS WITH 75 BBs PER BATTLE PER GUN a 2 on 1. We did this battle GUNS UNITSHOLES BBs HITS % three different weekends. 975.5 8071 926 1885 73163 10882 14.9% After the first weekend I was very disappointed in the MAIN WARSHIPS performance of my ship and 2002 2003 CLASSNUMBER OF SHIPS CLASS NUMBER OF SHIPS my marksmanship. I was ALLIED AXIS TOTAL ALLIED AXIS TOTAL only hitting with 8.5% of my 22022000 34483213 shots and thought I should be 4291146410 at 40-50%. My ship and 516756713 marksmanship did get better, 6133166 8 816 70447000 after the third battle my hits 48 42 were at 19.8%. But I still thought that I should be a lot higher. Of course this peaked my fleet were close to the same as last So, I found the scores Steve R. had curiosity and I got the scores from year, but the Axis saw a big drop in sent me for 2002 and started to look Tim K. for 2003. This data was a aboves and a big increase in belows at them and figure out the hit little bit more accurate as I had and ons. This would seem to follow percentage for each fleet. I was information on who sunk in the first the change in the type of ships at this surprised at what I found. The total sortie. I do not think that there were year’s NATS for the Allies. They hit percentage was only 14.9%. any ships that had a 1/2 unit pumps had only two cruisers this year and Now you have to know that I had this year. I thought that there was six last year and had more to do some guess work to get to that more damage at NATS this year. In “Haymaker” ships in 2003, 6 vs 1. number. I took the units for the ships 2002 the ships were spread all over This year the best fleet and subtracted 1 unit for each ship’s the big pond and there were separate percentage was Monday afternoon pump. Then I took that number as battles in the little pond. In Perry the the Axis slow fleet with 22.7%. The the Gun Units and multiplied it by battling seamed to be closer to shore worst fleet battle was the Axis fast 100 to get the total BBs that could be and in a smaller area, until the fleet Monday afternoon at 8.3%. shot. Then I added up the number of chasing started. I thought that the hit Night battle was 14.3% almost a holes and divided. I’m sure some of percentages would be higher this 10% increase! the ships had a 1/2 unit pump, so this year, and they were. The one on one and small fleet means I have a few too many 2003 BBs in the calculations AXIS TOTALS WITH 75 BBs PER BATTLE PER GUN already. I also did not have AXIS GUN UNITSALLIED HOLES AXIS BBs HITS % the info on who sunk in the 370.75 3516 447 974 27806 4937 17.8% first sortie and I did not have ALLIED TOTALS WITH 75 BBs PER BATTLE PER GUN the number of BBs left in ALLIED GUN UNITSAXIS HOLES ALLIED BBs HITS % captain’s guns at the end of 429 4441 607 1191 32175 6239 19.4% each sortie. This gives me TOTALS WITH 75 BBs PER BATTLE PER GUN even more BBs that did not GUNS UNITSHOLES BBs HITS % 799.75 7957 1054 2165 59981 11176 18.6% get shot and should not be

Page 211 battles fell a little below the rest of battle goes to Jeff Lide 203/17/13 or GEEZER-CODGER'S the scoring at 13.7%. Though Tim 233 total. Fluegel had the most ons QUESTION? B. and Chris A. hit 31.2% against in a battle and Tony Stephens had the by Bart Purvis Chris P., Andy & Grant Dahl, of most belows 36. The battlers with To see course both Andy & Grant sank with the most damage that did not sink are old friends, a lot of damage. Just looking at Chris Au 87/33/14 and Lief Goodson after a two- these two NATS it seems that an 89/29/15. Lief did sink later in the year hiatus, average battler will hit 16.8% of the week with 99/18/15, must be the was great. To time. So keep track of your hit quality and not the quantity. We all meet new percentage and see if you improve, remember Jeff Lide’s sink when he friends was over time you should. forgot to turn on his pump, but he absolutely Now for some useless had a lot of damage compared to wonderful. My thanks to all who helped me in my enjoyment of this year’s Nats. Although I didn’t bring a ship Joel Goodman allowed me to con his best of scale convoy ship on Tuesday afternoon and I had, to put it simply, a ball. Jeff Lide’s Battered Jap battlecruiser. It was a most photo by Mike Melton’s brother enjoyable and interesting information you can use to confuse Kevin Bray who sunk during night week for me. Thanks to all of the your wife. Most of you know that battle with 5/2/1. Out of 46 sinks attendees for making it so. Fluegel was the most damaged (Fleet battles only) 26 of them were I have seen several opinions on (13,130), but did you know that Dave in the first sortie. Eight warships the Internet about how we should Au was the most damaged Allied sank in campaign battles this year. balance fleets and insure that (10,730) and never sank? Not only Andy & Grant Dahl took more everyone has opportunity to battle. was Fluegel the most damaged but he damage in the two small fleet battles Many ideas have been bandied about. also had the most patching to do they did on Wednesday than the Balancing fleets according to ship 438/86/114 for a total of 638 holes. entire rest of the week: Andy numbers, units, speed, captains‚ Don Cole was the Allied that sniffed 122/15/17 154 week vs 132/17/41 capabilities have been mentioned. the most dope fumes 400/34/79 for a 190 Wednesday, Grant 114/20/68 This rule or that rule has been total of 513. The two battlers with 202 week vs 153/26/24 203 proposed. BOD involvement has the most free time during NATS Wednesday. Josh Bruder beat his been suggested. Are we perhaps were Chris Kessler 41/17/9 67 total dad John 55/5/26 vs 23/4/3 and Tom trying to reinvent the airplane? We and Luis Gomez 16/2/6 24 total. The Melton beat his brother Mike 21/2/15 don’t have this type of problem at Axis with the most aboves are vs 9/1/0 in one on one battles. our regional battles. Of course, if the Fluegel and Jeff Lide 438, ons: by Bob Hoernemann fleets are fairly even we like to battle Fluegel 86 and belows: Randy Axis/Allied even at regional battles. Stiponivich 118. The Allies had Don But if this type of split would be Cole 400 aboves, Brian Lamb 57 ons grossly uneven what happens? Why and Dave Au 145 belows. The prize the two admirals sit down together for most holes (And aboves) in one and choose two fleets that are

Page 212 relatively evenly matched in as many The Longest Five outside edges facing towards the ways as possible. So my question is: by Kevin Hovis right end of the pond. I ran up into Can’t we follow a similar process at Thinking back on the right end and waited out my five Nats? Yes, Nats is ALWAYS this past Nats, I’d next to the campaign target. Axis/Allied, but why not let the have to say, While there, I continued to cycle admirals sit down together on overall, I had a the pump. Since I was close enough, Sunday and attempt to relatively very good time. Also thinking about I could listen for the pump motor and evenly match their A and B fleets? the battling my ship was in, the heard absolutely nothing! I figured it Their objective, at this point, would LONGEST five minutes I’ve ever would be close to surviving out my not be scheming a winning strategy, experienced in my life happened five, but was worried the run to my but trying to insure that all captains during Thursday’s fleet battle. hiding place had pumped in quite a would have opportunity to put their It begins during the first sortie. bit of water. As I sat there sweating ship alongside that of the enemy in The Bismarck did well attacking the out the five, I worried that some mortal combat--in other words for Allied slow fleet in its humble Allied captains would find out what everyone to have maximum kapitan’s opinion. I helped put a few was up and come in to attack. That opportunity for fun. As things are holes into the Allied Admiral along furball seemed to get closer to the now the admiral can have fleet A be with trading shots with Don Cole, point of shore every second! Luis all ships except for the three 22 Joel Goodman and Ted Brogden. I Gomez brought his Garibaldi over second cruisers in B fleet. This is an lasted out the sortie and only called into the area near the targets I believe extreme, but a similar scenario has five after emptying the stern guns also on five. With two minutes left been played out before, for real. And and forward sidemounts with only a on my five, I could tell the Bismarck it is not fun to see a fleet empty most few extra rounds left in the was getting real low and it was going of their ammo in the water after the haymaker, taking 24-1-3 for damage. to be extremely close if I was to battle is over. Fast-forward to five minutes survive. Luis, in the mean time Let’s give our admirals an before the start of sortie two. Most stayed in the area, but would circle additional duty. Let’s have them get of the Axis fleet was putting ships out every so often. It might have together and balance the fleets as into the water. No one was heavily been the heat or worry, but I was best they can on Sunday so that all damaged except possibly the feeling a lump in my throat as I captains can have a reasonable Scharnhorst and Fuso. I put the watched the Bismarck get lower, and chance to do exactly what the have Bismarck on the water and ran it a lower, and lower. At about thirty come to Nats to do--battle. And little to test the systems. I also seconds left, the Bismarck took on a then, on Monday morning, the cycled the pump a few times. As slight port list and had only about admirals can begin to utilize all of noted above, there were only three 1/2” of freeboard showing above the the strategic and tactical cunning at belows in the ship, so the water water. In the meantime, Luis was their disposal to give their captains coming in wasn’t great and the pump circling around, if I remember the victory at Friday’s end. would go dry pretty quickly. As the correctly, he was out of control. Gentlemen, please remember Bismarck and its wingman waited for Luis’ wake then rocked the Bismarck that our primary objective at these the countdown to battle to go to zero, ever so slightly, but it was JUST shindigs is not to win, but to have more ships, both Axis and Allied, enough to finish off the sink. She fun. If we achieve this objective then entered the water and made ready for rolled to port and sank by the bow there are no losers. We will all win, battle. About every minute or so, I about a foot from shore. although one fleet’s captains will would cycle the pump to rid it of Post sink inspection revealed a most likely get a tad wetter. what little water was coming in. burnt-out Stinger motor as the culprit Ted Brogden called for battle to for the problem. Since this pump begin. I cycled the pump just about was my original spare installed due at the same moment and nothing to an impeller coming apart on happened! For about thirty seconds, Sunday, I didn’t have a quick I again tried to cycle the pump, exchange installation to replace the leaving it off for a short time to see if motor. However, with some help it could be a priming problem. from Charley Stephens, the Bismarck Nothing worked. I decided to call was ready for campaign that five out of control and go hide. afternoon. She wouldn’t hit the Fortunately for me, a big furball was water however due to another surrounding Mike Tanzillo and Tim problem I’ll save for another day… Fuso Points the way photo by Chris P. Krakowski while I was on the Page 213 2lbs just to ensure I have enough together and to a piece of plastic. Casting for Idiots ($30 + $40 + $60 – isn’t this getting The resin gets mixed up, poured, and or the confessions of an expensive for some turrets and a ……… it works! I have cast a turret! amateur turret maker couple of lifeboats?). Well, it does have a few flaws, so by Ted Brogden Okay! 4 days later and I’ve got maybe I can remake the second half everything. I finish the first half of of the mold and fix the problems. I don’t know about both molds, make new containment And I’ll make another attempt at the you, but I’ve always boxes, and flip the molds over so I lifeboat mold. But this time, I admired those can make the second half of the powder the dickens out of the first lifeboats and turrets molds. The instructions say to coat mold half and leave all the excess that some of our the first half of the mold with mold powder. So once again, containment captains make on their own. Since release powder and blow off the boxes, mold material is mixed and Steve and Charley don’t make turrets excess. So a cloud of dust later and I poured, and AGAIN I run out of for my QE and Rucker had one that pour in the mold material (just went mold silicon! The turret is covered would work for my ship, I figured it thru the first pound and into the but half the lifeboat is sticking out. might be a good time to see if I could second pound of the mold stuff. Sure Okay, I’ll live without the lifeboats. learn how to cast my own. So, how glad I purchased extra). And of course the turret mold will to proceed? Knowing nothing about 4 hours later, its time to cast come apart this time……. You get resin casting, I talked with Bryan turrets! I break down the the picture. Stuck again as one piece Finster since I know he makes some containment boxes and pry the mold (who writes these instructions, of his own turrets. Bryan assured me apart. Well, pry isn’t a good anyway?). I am able to cut the mold that it was easy and even Fluegel description, tear is more like it as the apart without completely destroying made his own lifeboats. Courage mold material has eaten the powder it, so a short time later I have finally fortified with that knowledge, I and stuck together. After cutting the cast 5 pretty good looking turrets. trekked out to the local hobby store second half of the mold into two Bottom line, I guess I’ve learned and purchased an Alumilite starter’s pieces, I am able to separate the mold a new skill, but I don’t know if I can kit ($30 – keep an eye on this), halves and the original. Okay, it afford it. Now if only I had some which I was assured had everything I looks bleak (and I do throw away the more mold silicon for those needed to cast some turrets. lifeboat mold as unusable), but I lifeboats…………………………. Back at the ranch, I carefully decide to try and cast a turret. The follow the instructions. I build the pieces of the mold are superglued containment boxes for the turret and the lifeboat. I mix the mold stuff together and note that it sure doesn’t look like much. I pour the mold material into the turret box – and it doesn’t even cover up the turret! AARGGH! Back to the hobby store, but no, they don’t stock just the mold material. They can order it. Guess I’ll sulk for a while and wait for it to come, Friday at the latest. Meanwhile it dawns on me that I don’t have enough resin for 4 turrets, so I find and order it online along with some mold release powder ($30 + $40). 3 weeks later, I give up on the store and Been wondering whatever happened to Curly? Curly dropped off the door prizes for order the mold material Nats with me in a big tub, and when I drove to his place after Nats to return it, I took this picture of his house. Hey Curly, better check those decimal points!! online as well. I order Page 214 “Taking One for the further damage on the Indiana. For water…how embarrassing. Don his troubles he eats bbs three at a starts to push me to the homeport, If Team…Wingman!!!” time. Kevin takes one for the team I don’t come in at a port it’s a sink. By Joel Goodman while Don bumps the Indiana in an More chum, more sharks. Josh attempt to jar her back to life. Bruder lines up the triple stern of his So there I Nothing works. Don attacks the Roma, and starts to work. I start to was…Nats 2003, Scharny as my five minute timer feel like a watermelon at a Gallagher Perry GA, part of expires. Survival! I touch the show. Don bangs away at the the sight host committee, Allied Indiana and she comes back to Indiana, trying to bring her back to Captain on B fleet, Attached to a life…hmmm, foreshadowing. life, but to no avail. Then the a fluke squadron of Sodaks, sun burnt, Next battle, second sortie. It’s of fluke happens the Roma’s stern excited, foolish and a frequent Wal- Ty Supancic’s turn to take one for guns hit the Indiana at the exact spot Mart shopper. the team. After looking for his ship and she fires back to life. No sink Monday, battle is called, Don far away from shore, Ty comes out here my friends! I had survived Cole in the USS Alabama, Kevin without it so the Sodak group can despite my building skills. I shot Bray in the USS Massachusetts and finish off a ship we had been back at the Roma a couple of times, me in the USS Indiana, match up and chasing. He was almost down when called five, and got off as a liability. take on a triumvirate of Scharnys. ‘Man in the Water’ was called. The I didn’t quite do the ‘happy dance’ We work well as a team, one Axis ship sits and pumps, while Ty but I was pleased not to have sunk. blocking while the other two engage. looks for his ship. The tension Friday was better, she ran well. Alas, their speed ends up too much mounts. Don and I try to remain But I did call every little weenie ram, and they evade our pursuit and make close but we drift away from the dead in the water 3 times will turn it back to their friends with moderate wounded Axis ship due to our you into a Nancy fast. I don’t mind damage. Things pretty much worked horizontal pump streams. The battle sinking, but I prefer it be from that way until Tuesday. is resumed and we finish her. Don damage and set off to do that very On Tuesday, the USS Indiana forgot to turn his pump on and thing. But it was Don’s turn to take experienced the same one for the team. design flaw as the Don was the marked South Dakota at the man for the Axis, but battle of Guadalcanal. he wasn’t going down The power of her own soft. He attacked the guns would trip the Kirishima, ate the hay breakers and shut down maker, and did his the electrical power to damage. I held off the ship…or maybe my her wingman, the soldering stinks. After Nagato, while Don a bump, the Indiana worked. The old went dead. It was late Kongo class ship in the battle, calling didn’t last but she got five out of control had her licks in. In the the effect of dumping second, sortie Don buckets of chum in the succumbed to the ocean to attract a great damage. white. Mark Roe picks Joel and Don chase the Fuso It turns out that up the scent. He Photo by Chris Pearce all those holes in you approaches swiftly, almost followed him. Shortly after, I bow aren’t really “speed holes” that bringing his triple stern guns to bear. get bumped and go dead, again. reduce wind drag after all. That will The Scharnhorst unleashes a salvo, Nonchalantly waiting my five, with teach you to trust Homer from the then another, and another, he backs Lief he figures out I’m dead in the Simpson’s. I took more damage on away to reset distance. Things look water and tries to prop wash me, but Friday than at any other time since bleak for the crippled Indiana. Out I only had 8 holes. I wasn’t going last years Friday battle. But that’s of the distance I hear a bugle; it’s the anywhere. I end my five and come another story wingman. Calvary. Kevin and Don to the off. rescue. Kevin intercedes and blocks Thursday campaign … bumped the Scharnhorst from inflicting by a convoy ship and dead in the

Page 215 types. This hobby has tried to cater individual to keep their own selves in The President’s to all these types ever since it started. line. The ‘rains of protest’ should Column: We can see what happens when the prevent the brushfires that we saw at by Lars balance is lost, the fun suffers. this last Nats from happening again Well, this issue I spent a fair deal of time soon. If not, then I would expect the has taken a great during Nats and immediately BOD to step in and act in the cases deal of time. I afterwards talking with folks on how where the lessons of this Nats were also spent a long we slipped up. It is my opinion that not learned. time pondering nothing that happened at Nats was In spite of it all, I still saw the title for the the result of anyone being outright many more instances of good Nats article. Nats always leads off malicious. It seemed to be mostly sportsmanship and good battliing at the Fall issue, as it should. Nats is egos that prevented folks from this Nats than we had problems, and the highlight of the whole battling thinking as clearly and as thoroughly I view that as a very good sign. season for many of us, and the as they should. For some it was Nats Award Winners: questions that came out of Nats bruised egos, for others the egos may Sportsmanship: John Bruder seemed to be ones that needed have been a bit high. My own Best of Scale: answers. But these questions have personal worst moment came when I Ron Horbul, Dana Graham always been with us. How do we was thinking how a certain strategy Best of Scale Convoy: Joel Goodman Rookie of the Year: Tom Melton balance the different types of looked from my own personal viewpoint, rather than that of the Most Feared Axis: Charley Stephens battlers, the perfectionists types Individual Combat: Tim Beckett other battlers. versus the ‘good enough’ types. The LifeLine: Ted Brogden “Fire Hard” types versus the “Fire I’m sure there are folks that Founders Trophy: Tim Beckett only as hard as we need to” types. think the BOD should’ve done more Class 6: Chris Pearce The “Highly detailed super perfect after Nats, either punishing someone Class 5: Chris and Dave Au scale” types versus the “That looks as an example, or setting more Class 4: Ron Horbul like scale from fifty feet” types. The stringent policies. The problem is Class 3: Chris Kessler Class 2: ‘Win at all costs’ competitive types the egos and personality problems Randy Stiponovich, David Asman versus the ‘don’t score, just fight’ will be with us always, and it will always be the responsibility of every Best Dressed: Rick King TASK FORCE 144 1486 Oakdale Ave. West St. Paul, MN 55118

"Every naval expedition we have attempted since I have been at the head of the government has failed, because the admirals see double and have picked up the idea, I don't know where, that you can make war without running risks." - Napoleon Personal Note: Sorry this issue is so late, guys -- Lars Page 216