Another surprise benefactor of the ‘no dreadnought’ list building format is the A/H Kriegsmarine. This is because of the Radetzky class pre-dread.

Yes she is far more expensive than the cap ships we have discussed so far but she is a perfect match for the torpedo spam list. She has protection 1, M size and eight first class directed guns. She is faster than most pre-dreads so she takes longer to chase down with torpedo boats. This gives your light cruisers more time to spend shooting at them. As a result you can run a list with one less light cruiser to protect your BB’s.

BATTLE SQUADRON

Flagship

SMS Radetzky (1911) [105]

Battleships

SMS Erzherzog Franz Ferdinand (1910) [105]

SCREENING SHIPS

Light Cruisers

SMS Saida (1914) [23]
SMS Zenta (1899) [23]
SMS Szigetvár (1901) [23]

SUPPORT SHIPS
Destroyer

SMS Balaton (1913) [33]

SMS Tátra (1913) [33]

SMS Huszár (1911) [18]

Destroyer leader

SMS Helgoland (1914) [23]

Points: 386/400

The Novara class in this list are a part of your torpedo attack. Leaving your BB’s with only the two Zenta class LC to keep them safe. Lead your attack on your enemy BB’s and AC’s with the cheap and nasty Huszar then follow up with twelve torpedoes from the rest of the boats.

There are lots of points left for the two fire control upgrade cards to really make those 12″ range band guns hit home.

Let’s talk about all out attack.

BATTLE SQUADRON

Flagship

HMS King Edward VII (1905)

Battleships

HMS Africa (1905)

HMS Hibernia (1905)

SCREENING SHIPS

Light Cruisers

HMS Challenger (1904), HMS Encounter (1905)

HMS Topaze (1904), HMS Sapphire (1905)

‘Eddie’ is the RN’s poster boy. All guns no protection. Yes 1 really makes a difference. Having three of these ‘six gun supermen’ is all about beating your opponents ability to take evasive action. Your opponent shakes one set of ranging in and you just start with another from your next King Edward. This list will punish your opponent for taking an armoured cruiser as well. Don’t forget two sets of directed guns means two different directed gun targets! Send the 4+ FP guns at an armoured cruiser while hitting a BB with the 3+ guns.

Range is the asset you are looking for here. Put these three at the very back of your deployment zone and let the 12″ range band on their guns make all the difference.

This list has a two tiered defense. Put your two Challengers out into the middle of the table to utilize their nasty long range gear and the Topaz will finish off what gets through them. Feel free to lose all your cruisers as long as the 267 points worth of Eddies are left. If you do have a DD break through all that, check out the aggressive self defense these pre-dreads have. Seven 12/18 guns.

I hope you give this format a go. It really is a completely different experience from the ‘Open’ format. Next time we discuss the ‘Chase the HMS Dreadnought’ format.

If you are interested in this style of play don’t forget day three of CANCON 25′ still has spots available.

Cheers and a happy 2025 to you!

-Ben