Naval Wargames Society
Encyclopedia
The Naval Wargames Society (NWS) is interested in all forms and scales of maritime wargaming
, and has been so for more 30 years. The society was originally started by Phil Dunn, and the proprietors of Navwar and Skytrex. Originally, society games were held in Chessington
, and in later years moving to North Holmwood. 1994 saw the merger between the NWS and the "Battleship club", which was also started by Phil Dunn. The merger saw the NWS expand, with regional groups being established in Kent
(Ashford), Thames Valley
(Mortimer), Wessex
(Trowbridge) and Surrey
(North Holmwood), as well as a group (the "6th Battle Squadron") in the US.
In recognition of the society's goal to promote naval wargaming, and to act as a forum for the exchange of information, it produces two publications: a journal called "Battlefleet" published approximately once a quarter, and a monthly newsletter, "All Guns Blazing". Not only does the society encourage their members to write articles about wargaming and maritime history, but it also encourages member participation by frequently holding multiplayer naval wargames. As well as these games, the Regional groups of the society sometimes represent NWS at gaming conventions
, an example of this is the Lissa game run by the North Hull Wargames group.
Another feature of the NWS has been the organisation of a number of naval wargames "holidays". These have included groups despatched to the USA (Virginia
, North Carolina
, Alabama
, Mississippi
, Louisiana
), Germany
, Poland
, Greece
and to places of interest in the UK including Scapa Flow
. The aim of these trips is to visit as many places of interest, historic ships, naval museums (and book and model shops) as possible.
The NWS also ran its own wargames show called "Flagship". This was held at Fort Brockhurst
in Gosport
, UK. In recent years the NWS has staged a series of events on board HMS Belfast, starting with a recreation of the Battle of North Cape
on the 60th anniversary of that battle. Other notable events have included a 90th anniversary refight of the Battle of Jutland
at the national Maritime Museum, and bicentenary refights of the Battle of Kamperduin at the maritime museum in Rotterdam
, and of Trafalgar
at various locations in 2005.
Naval wargaming
Naval wargaming is a branch of the wider hobby of miniature wargaming. Generally less popular than wargames set on land, naval wargaming nevertheless enjoys a degree of support around the world...
, and has been so for more 30 years. The society was originally started by Phil Dunn, and the proprietors of Navwar and Skytrex. Originally, society games were held in Chessington
Chessington
Chessington is a town in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in Greater London, England. The Hogsmill river runs through it. Neighbouring settlements include: Tolworth, Ewell, Surbiton, Claygate, Epsom, Oxshott, Leatherhead, Esher, Kingston upon Thames and Worcester Park.-History:Its name...
, and in later years moving to North Holmwood. 1994 saw the merger between the NWS and the "Battleship club", which was also started by Phil Dunn. The merger saw the NWS expand, with regional groups being established in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
(Ashford), Thames Valley
Thames Valley
The Thames Valley Region is a loose term for the English counties and towns roughly following the course of the River Thames as it flows from Oxfordshire in the west to London in the east. It includes parts of Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, North Hampshire, Surrey and west London...
(Mortimer), Wessex
Wessex
The Kingdom of Wessex or Kingdom of the West Saxons was an Anglo-Saxon kingdom of the West Saxons, in South West England, from the 6th century, until the emergence of a united English state in the 10th century, under the Wessex dynasty. It was to be an earldom after Canute the Great's conquest...
(Trowbridge) and Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
(North Holmwood), as well as a group (the "6th Battle Squadron") in the US.
In recognition of the society's goal to promote naval wargaming, and to act as a forum for the exchange of information, it produces two publications: a journal called "Battlefleet" published approximately once a quarter, and a monthly newsletter, "All Guns Blazing". Not only does the society encourage their members to write articles about wargaming and maritime history, but it also encourages member participation by frequently holding multiplayer naval wargames. As well as these games, the Regional groups of the society sometimes represent NWS at gaming conventions
Gaming convention
A gaming convention is a gathering that centered on role-playing games, collectible card games, miniatures wargames, board games, video games, or other types of games. These conventions are typically two or three days long, and often held at either a university or in a convention center hotel...
, an example of this is the Lissa game run by the North Hull Wargames group.
Another feature of the NWS has been the organisation of a number of naval wargames "holidays". These have included groups despatched to the USA (Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
), Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and to places of interest in the UK including Scapa Flow
Scapa Flow
right|thumb|Scapa Flow viewed from its eastern endScapa Flow is a body of water in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, sheltered by the islands of Mainland, Graemsay, Burray, South Ronaldsay and Hoy. It is about...
. The aim of these trips is to visit as many places of interest, historic ships, naval museums (and book and model shops) as possible.
The NWS also ran its own wargames show called "Flagship". This was held at Fort Brockhurst
Fort Brockhurst
Fort Brockhurst is one of the Palmerston Forts, in Gosport, England. It is now an English Heritage property.Fort Brockhurst was designed by William Crossman in the 19th century to protect Portsmouth...
in Gosport
Gosport
Gosport is a town, district and borough situated on the south coast of England, within the county of Hampshire. It has approximately 80,000 permanent residents with a further 5,000-10,000 during the summer months...
, UK. In recent years the NWS has staged a series of events on board HMS Belfast, starting with a recreation of the Battle of North Cape
Battle of North Cape
The Battle of the North Cape was a Second World War naval battle which occurred on 26 December 1943, as part of the Arctic Campaign. The German battlecruiser , on an operation to attack Arctic Convoys of war materiel from the Western Allies to the USSR, was brought to battle and sunk by superior...
on the 60th anniversary of that battle. Other notable events have included a 90th anniversary refight of the Battle of Jutland
Battle of Jutland
The Battle of Jutland was a naval battle between the British Royal Navy's Grand Fleet and the Imperial German Navy's High Seas Fleet during the First World War. The battle was fought on 31 May and 1 June 1916 in the North Sea near Jutland, Denmark. It was the largest naval battle and the only...
at the national Maritime Museum, and bicentenary refights of the Battle of Kamperduin at the maritime museum in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, and of Trafalgar
Battle of Trafalgar
The Battle of Trafalgar was a sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the French Navy and Spanish Navy, during the War of the Third Coalition of the Napoleonic Wars ....
at various locations in 2005.