A historical simulation

Por: André Geraque Kiffer

As the main characteristics of this period in the Naval War, we highlight that since ancient times, war at sea had been fought as on land, with shock weapons, bows and arrows on floating wooden platforms instead of battlefields. Cannons in the 16th century were still considered to be in fixed positions, with the intention of being fired independently, rather than in combination shots. Only from the 1590s begin to develop the technique of shooting together with command or “broadside” and the "battle lines" tactic. Based on the summary of battles, I try to analyze and highlight the decisive factors, before simulating alternative “what if…” hypotheses through a board game. In the simulations of these naval battles I will use combined adaptations between the board games "War Galley" and "Flying Colors" of GMT Games, thus characterizing well to have been a century of transition between the rowing ships for the sailing ships during the development of the war in the 16th century. During the analysis and simulation of wars, campaigns and battles whenever applicable, I will make use of my concepts on the Art and Science of War combined with the game of Chess.