Save the Ships! Overnight Wargaming and Board Gaming aboard the USS Edson | Bay City, MI | Nov. 7-8

Ahoy, wargamers, LARPers, boardgamers, and adventure seekers!

We’re hosting an overnight event called Save the Ships! Bay City 2026, and we’re looking for shipmates to join us. Bring your wargames, board games, and cards for a night of gaming aboard the USS Edson at the Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum. The main event is an immersive undersea warfare simulator staged in the ship’s command spaces, where you’ll man a battle station and fight a submarine vs. destroyer battle. Then stay the night and explore a decommissioned warship after hours!

This is a small-scale event, and tickets are limited due to space aboard the ship. Evening passes are available but if you want a berth, don’t wait.

EVENT DETAILS
Date: Saturday, November 7 to Sunday, November 8, 2026 (Saturday night to Sunday morning)
Location: USS Edson, Saginaw Valley Naval Ship Museum, Martin Street, Bay City, MI
Check-in: Saturday, 5:00 PM, outside the museum

IMMERSIVE UNDERSEA WARFARE SIMULATOR
At the event, participants can take part in a simulated naval battle from inside a real warship. Our immersive undersea warfare simulator takes over the command spaces of the USS Edson, complete with sound effects and battle lighting. Players man their battle stations and use real-world tactics to hunt and sink each other, submarine against destroyer. Whether you’re a wargamer, a naval history buff, or someone who just wants to see what it feels like to command a ship in battle, this can be a very fun experience.

BRING YOUR GAMES
This is a BYO games event, and the games are what make the night. Wargamers, we especially want you aboard. Bring your miniatures, your campaigns, and your favorite wargames, and set up on a real warship. Board gamers, tabletop players, and card game fans are just as welcome. Bring something to share, and plenty of people will be ready to play.

WHY YOU’LL WANT TO BE ABOARD

• An immersive submarine vs. destroyer warfare simulator in the ship’s command spaces, with sound and battle lighting
• An overnight stay on a historic warship, with the museum open to explore after hours
• Open gaming all evening: wargames, board games, tabletop games, and card games
• A small crowd, so it’s easy to find a table and a game
• Light dinner (pizza from Domino’s, plus drinks and water) and a light breakfast included!
• Adults, families, clubs, work groups, hobbyists, and naval enthusiasts are all welcome

THE SCHEDULE
Saturday

• 5:00 PM: Check-in begins
• 6:00 PM: Museum introduction, light dinner, and refreshments
• 6:15 PM: Open gaming begins and the museum opens for exploring
• 6:30 PM: Immersive undersea warfare simulator begins. Man your battle stations!
• 10:00 PM: Quiet hours begin in the berthing area, while late-night gaming continues in areas away from it

Sunday

• 8:00 AM: Wake-up call and light breakfast
• 9:00 AM: All guests and gear disembarked. Bon voyage!

WHAT TO BRING

• Your games (BYO!): wargames, board games, tabletop games, and card games
• Extra snacks and drinks
• A warm sleeping bag, or pillows and blankets. The vessel has limited climate control, so plan for a chilly night
• Closed-toe shoes (required for exploring the ship)
• Clothing appropriate for the weather
• Earplugs, if you’re a light sleeper. The berthing area is a semi-public space

GOOD TO KNOW

Whether you’re bringing your gaming club, your family, your work crew, or just yourself, there’s a spot for you on deck, but spots are limited. Grab your crew and sign up now at savetheships.org!

Questions? Drop them in the comments or reach out through the Ticketbud contact form and we’ll get back to you.

See you aboard!

Save the Ships! Bay City
Presented by Mudcrab Milsim

We hear so much about Pearl Habour with the American's coming into the war and of course the Titanic from Belfast on both sides but was there much outrage from our Allies across the pond?

I want to find specific pictures of old warships but google search sucks so I was wondering if anyone had any good resources to find this kind of thing

I pressume extra length was not for looks - so why was it so seemingly unnecessarily long?

Hola camaradas, la segunda imagen muestra un buque que no puedo identificar, párese tener vls del sistema 3k95 pero con una disposición que no concuerda con el proyecto 1155, se ve muy bajo para el proyecto 1143.4 y definitivamente no es el proyecto 1144.2, las estructuras que le siguen también me parecen muy inusuales

I'm planning to build a 1/350 diorama of IJN Yukikaze in action during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, specifically her torpedo attack that helped to sink USS Laffey. However, I couldn't find any good sources on which way she was launching the torpedo (port or starboard side)!

Most diagrams from history books simply show the IJN entering the battlefield from the west and the USN from the east, but the battle quickly descended into chaos and confusion, and the positions of the destroyers during their engagement were not specified.

The animation by The Operation Room and Drachinifel depicts the IJN destroyers on the starboard side of USN destroyers and travelling in the same direction (west), while the animation by House of History depicts the opposide, with both sides travelling north and IJN on the port side of USN.

Apparently the torpedo hit blew off the aft section of USS Laffey, and it's not specified (in the sources I could find) which side of the ship was hit. I'd really appreciate if someone can point me to a better source of information!

I believe it is well known that the USS Kidd is the only vessel in the US Navy authorized to fly the Jolly Roger. Attached is a picture of the Arleigh Burke Class DDG-100 USS Kidd flying the Jolly Roger. I have pictures of the Fletcher Class flying the Jolly Roger. My understanding is that DDG-993 was also authorized, but I can’t find any pictures of it flying the Jolly Roger. I don’t know if it ever did, but if it did, from where was it flown? Attached is a picture labeled A, B, C, D.

Anyone have knowledge or evidence of where on the ship the Jolly Roger was or would be flown? This is of particular interest to me since I am building all three versions in 1/350 scale.

Thank you!

I’m sharing a Crowdfunder from the National Maritime Museum Cornwall connected with HMS Campbeltown and Operation Chariot, the St Nazaire Raid of 28 March 1942.

The fundraiser is specifically for a specialist high-security, conservation-appropriate display case so that Captain Stephen Beattie’s medal group, including his Victoria Cross, can be brought to Falmouth and put on public display.

The fundraiser is not to purchase the medals themselves.

During Operation Chariot, HMS Campbeltown was packed with explosives and driven into the gates of the Normandie Dock at St Nazaire, helping put the dock out of action.

Lieutenant Commander Stephen Beattie commanded Campbeltown during the raid and was awarded the Victoria Cross for his leadership and courage.

The operation came at enormous cost. Of the men who took part, 169 were killed and 215 became prisoners of war, including Beattie. He remained in captivity until April 1945 and only physically received his Victoria Cross after his release.

There is now an opportunity for his medals to be displayed at the National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth.

Falmouth has a particularly strong connection to the story. The force taking part in Operation Chariot sailed from here, survivors returned here, and Beattie later made Cornwall his home.

The museum already cares for objects connected with Beattie and the raid, but a medal group of this rarity and historical significance cannot simply be placed in a standard museum cabinet.

A purpose-built case is needed to provide the appropriate level of security and environmental protection.

That case is what the Crowdfunder is raising money for.

If anyone here is interested in HMS Campbeltown, Operation Chariot, naval history or preserving historically significant objects, any donation or share would be hugely appreciated.

Crowdfunder:
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/beattie-victoria-cross-display

More about Operation Chariot and its Falmouth connection:
https://nmmc.co.uk/2026/09/operation-chariot-the-st-nazaire-raid-and-its-falmouth-connection/

It would be wonderful to see the medals of Campbeltown’s commander displayed in the port from which the operation began, while helping tell the wider story of the ship and everyone who took part in the raid.

Edit to add:

Just been in today and they have a painting of HMS Cambeltown on Display next to the fundraising display. I thought this subreddit would be most likely to enjoy the additional image.

I understand the Midway's were incapable of operating F-14s and that the introduction of the F/A-18 was huge in keeping them around. Seemingly they could operate the A-6 though so what exactly were the constraints on airframe type they could realistically operate. Say for instance the class held on to the Super Hornet era would they have been able to operate them?

The title is I hope pretty self explanatory, and I think it’s potentially an interesting discussion. Since the Second World War, automatic 57mm guns have become ubiquitous in many navies across the world as the smallest dual purpose weapon system.

But what if they were developed earlier?

Weight was so important and in theory ships could have used it as not only the medium AA but the whole dual purpose battery, saving a lot of space and displacement on say treaty cruisers while having more overall AA barrels. A deluge of 6 pound shells should make a mess of torpedo craft too if necessary.

However, I wonder if it also might have been in a very awkward place rendering it of limited utility. The weapons would be less agile and slower rate of fire than smaller calibers yet wouldn’t easily be able to use more complex forms of ammunition true dual purpose calibers could use. I imagine it’d very hard to make a timed fuse system work effectively. All while not being particularly effective as an anti-surface gun as it couldn’t be trusted to disable or sink enemy destroyers.

But what do y’all think?

(Obviously not real this footage). This is from a naval sim I'm building. I love the majestic 12 gun broadside of this ship!

While looks were not important in war, the main thing keeping rebuilt standard battleships from being the best looking is their new bridges.

I had not realized how thin the bridges were, for what I assume is to fit more weapons, and realized it makes them look off from most angles beside broadside, Nevada being the exception for me.

The New Mexico class, especially Idaho are also a much better looking rebuilt, Marylands partial refit makes her still look bulk all up like a dreadnought should in my opinion.

Anyone else think similar?

I was given this by an older relative, who informed me it had been on Tirpitz. As far as i'm aware, the Tirpitz only had two weaponshields on it. The other that i've been able to locate is in Lofoten Naval museum, as seen in the image attached in the link below.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tirpitz_Coat_of_arms_(Wappenschild)_found_in_wreck_of_WW2_German_Navy_Kriegsmarine_battleship_sunk_outside_Troms%C3%B8,_Norway_1944._Lofoten_Krigsminnemuseum_2019-05-08_DSC00339.jpg_found_in_wreck_of_WW2_German_Navy_Kriegsmarine_battleship_sunk_outside_Troms%C3%B8,_Norway_1944._Lofoten_Krigsminnemuseum_2019-05-08_DSC00339.jpg)

I am wonder if there's a way to authenticate the weaponshield, and from there know if contains any rarity, value or if i ought to donate it to a museum.

Thank you very much.

Would they still be effective vessels in the modern world, if given the right upgrades?

I know that the USS Cutlass (1944) still operates in the Taiwan Navy under the name Hai Shih (SS-791), but Isn't it also being supposedly decommissioned by the end of this year?

Rules:

• No drastic changes to the exterior (aka replacing conning tower, etc) but removal of deck guns are allowed.

That's it...

Looking forward to seeing everyone's choices and suggestions!

Why was all museum warships preserved in their latest configuration like the battleship Iowa rather than retaining WW2 configuration so that they can retain the catapult and kingfisher? Why were they modernized to be equipped with missiles if guided missiles ships already cover some of the roles?

dear redditors,

My grandfather and great grandfather worked at the Worst & Dutmer shipyard in the Netherlands, one of these ships they build was the Rustom, it was ordered by the Pakistan navy in August 1952, and launched on 29 Nov 1955, as I already stated both my grandfather and great grandfather worked on her before she was delivered to Pakistan and served from 1955 to 1990, I am currently modelling the ship and printing for my grandfather as a gift, the most useful source of information I have are the janes fighting ships books and until now I only got the building plans and 4 photographs but there are a few editions with actual photographs of her that I cant sadly get my hands on, I believe those are 1957-58 to 1959-60 and the 1964-65 edition, I would appreciate it so much if anyone has those books in there collection and would send me the page or the picture of her. thank you so much

The US ran out of common names for fish during WWII and started creating new ones for fish that only had scientific names. None of the articles I've seen with this fact actually include an example of a fish that got a new name. Does anyone know of any specific instances, or ideally is there a list out there somewhere?