What do you think, about taking a wooden sailing vessel into a modern war?
After re-reading some of my books about naval history, I happened to wonder whether anyone else on TV Tropes would be interested in a game set aboard one of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary's 'Corsair Feet'. Made up of boats between 40' and 90' volunteered by private citizens to help the thinly spread Navy and Coast Guard protect merchant traffic from U Boats. Most were sailboats with auxiliary gasoline or diesel engines along with some motor yachts. Formed all along the east coast, they were supposed to patrol out to fifteen miles offshore. Crewed by all manner of characters from Coast Guard Auxiliaries, to Boy Scouts, to former rum runners, fishermen, beachcombers, college students, interested locals, and anyone else who claimed to be able to sail (whether they could or not).
Armed only with a machine gun or two, a radio, and four depth charges these (essentially) civilians provided all sorts of duties in support of the war.
So I suppose it boils down to this; who the courage to board a small sailing ship with a bunch of other civilians, to chase U Boats in the stormy Atlantic during WWII? Depending on interest, I'll put up some basic stuff for applications.
edited 12th Aug '11 12:04:34 AM by hotelkilo
Let God do His work, we will see to ours.
Bring in the candles.
What do you think, about taking a wooden sailing vessel into a modern war?
After re-reading some of my books about naval history, I happened to wonder whether anyone else on TV Tropes would be interested in a game set aboard one of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary's 'Corsair Feet'. Made up of boats between 40' and 90' volunteered by private citizens to help the thinly spread Navy and Coast Guard protect merchant traffic from U Boats. Most were sailboats with auxiliary gasoline or diesel engines along with some motor yachts. Formed all along the east coast, they were supposed to patrol out to fifteen miles offshore. Crewed by all manner of characters from Coast Guard Auxiliaries, to Boy Scouts, to former rum runners, fishermen, beachcombers, college students, interested locals, and anyone else who claimed to be able to sail (whether they could or not).
Armed only with a machine gun or two, a radio, and four depth charges these (essentially) civilians provided all sorts of duties in support of the war.
So I suppose it boils down to this; who the courage to board a small sailing ship with a bunch of other civilians, to chase U Boats in the stormy Atlantic during WWII? Depending on interest, I'll put up some basic stuff for applications.
edited 12th Aug '11 12:04:34 AM by hotelkilo
Let God do His work, we will see to ours. Bring in the candles.