The First Convoy, September 1939

First Convoy in the Phoney War, 14-18 September 1939.

A Harpoon Commander's Edition scenario for the EC2003 Battle for GIUK Gap Battleset and the HCWW-101110 World Wars era Platform Database.

That's an essay of building an historic and realistic scenario, and as consequence, something boring for most of the time, with some moments of terror, as in the real world ASW operations, in this case in the Western Approaches. And probably most of the played scenarios will be finished with a draw. Playtesting after built the scenario reflects it is more playable in the Red/German side.

It reflects the Phoney War in all his splendour and peculiarities, with though fighting in the sea lanes, in opposition to the calm land and air fronts. It reflects also the very limited UK ASW capabilities at the war start, the approximative initial Order of Battle of the RAF Coastal Command and his historical bases (Most of the Hudson represents Anson MkI, Sunderland MkIII represents Sunderland MkI, and minor types as Stranraer, London, Lerwick or others are not represented, some Air Stations only with detachments are neither in play), merchants sailing unescorted, also is depicted OB-4 (OB stands for Liverpool - Outward (North America)) the first convoy attacked in WWII by German submarines, the great number of German submarines operating at this time in the sector (in patrol from before the hostilities, his number was later inferior because maintenance and transit times), with his approximated historical positions (Including the after the Cold War infamous U-34, who sunk the Spanish Republican submarine C

-3, my grandfather boat, in the Spanish Civil War, in the covert Operation Ursula), and also is present the fleet carrier HMS Courageous and her nimble escort, the last attempt to employ the large fleet carriers as ASW platforms ...

Ironically, in the Phoney War time period Hitler was attempting to seize the peace with Great Britain, and the objective victory reached by the Kriegsmarine sinking the Courageous was contrary to the Fuhrer interests, and dismissed by him.

The represented historical Coastal Command bases and squadrons are:

AXa RAF Leuchars EGQL, 233 Sqd RAF Coastal Command (Hudson MkI/II).

AYa RAF Thornaby, 224 Sqd Det (Hudson MkI/II), 220 Sqn (Hudson MkIII), 608 Sqd (30?xAnson MkI=15xHudson MkI/II).

AZa RAF Aldergrove EGAA, 224 Sqd. Det (Hudson MkI/II), 502 Sqd Anson I (30?xAnson MkI=15xHudson MkI/II).

BAa RAF Gosport, 224 Sqd (Hudson MkI/II).

BBa RAF Prestwick EGPF, 102 Sqd, 30?xWhitley MkIII (represented by MkII).

BCa RAF Thorney Island, 48 Sqd (30?xAnson MkI=15xHudson MkI/II).

BDa RAF Sullum Voe, 201 Sqd with London I, London II, Stranraer, represented by 2xSunderland III.

BEa RAF Mount Batten, 204 Sqd (8?xSunderland I represented by 4xSunderland III).

BFa RAF Bircham Newton, 201 Sqd, (30?xAnson MkI=15xHudson MkI/II).

BGa RAF Pembroke Dock, 210 and 228, Sqd, (8?xSunderland I each, represented by 4xSunderland III).

BHa RAF Warmell, 217 Sqd, Anson I (30?xAnson MkI=15xHudson MkI/II).

BIa RAF Montrose, 269 Sqd, Anson I (30?xAnson MkI=15xHudson MkI/II).

BJa RAF Detling, 500 Sqd, Anson I (30?xAnson MkI=15xHudson MkI/II).

BKa RAF Dyce EGPD, 612 Sqd, Anson I (30?xAnson MkI=15xHudson MkI/II).

Some British DD not are of the exact time period represented, but most of them are historically correct and present in the Western Approaches operations in September 1939.

The ahistorical SOSUS or CAESAR contacts on German submarines can be considered as representations of SIGINT or HUMINT detections.

Enrique Mas, July 2012.