New Battleship game making waves on bayfront

SANDUSKY — After floating the idea months ago, a life-size Battleship game anchored on land turned out better than anyone expected.A behemoth rendition of the famous board game made its debut Wednesday at Bayfront Bazaar & Brew within the Sandusky Bay Pavilion property.From children to adults, many challenged one another with several begrudgingly uttering that oh so famous phrase: "You sunk my battleship!"From left to right, Stephanie Voltz, Calee Lijewski, 9, Tyler Voltz, 3, and Connor Lijewski, 11, play a game of Battleship on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017, during the Bayfront Bazaar & Brew at the Sandusky Bay Pavilion.Its co-creators and captains of construction, Nick Lewis and Joseph Leiser, described the game's maiden voyage as a smooth sailing venture."I hope that this brings people together and teaches them about local maritime history," said Lewis, who is an assistant at the Maritime Museum of Sandusky.Nick Lewis, left, and Joseph Leiser stand next to the life-size Battleship games they built together on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017.The game represents a joint venture between the maritime museum and Sandusky's government. Both entities wanted to enlighten and entertain community members.It's also another way to help celebrate the city's 200-year anniversary, or bicentennial, taking place next year."This was just something that made sense," city recreation program supervisor Jason Werling said. "We combined the two, The Battle of Lake Erie and Battleship, to make a fun game that anyone can play."Werling said the game will sporadically appear downtown at different city-sponsored functions. This weekend, for instance, it should make an appearance at Schade-Mylander Plaza.Donations coming from the maritime museum's supporters and Downtown Sandusky Inc., collectively totaling about $2,000, covered all related expenses to build the oversize game.A player marks a "hit" while playing the Battleship game during the Bayfront Bazaar & Brew at the Sandusky Bay Pavilion on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017.The gameA partnership between the Maritime Museum of Sandusky and city government resulted in recreating the classic game of Battleship with, truly, a titanic twist.Players can step up on a 6-by-4, double-sided half-wooden, half-composite board. With gigantic pegs, they can plot and figure out where their opponents' larger-than-life boats are covertly docked.Names of each ship, meanwhile, pay tribute to American boats battling British Royal Navy personnel during the War of 1812's Battle of Lake Erie. The U.S. Navy defeated and captured six of their enemy's vessels to ensure control of Lake Erie.Among them:• American fleet: U.S. Brig Lawrence (five hits to sink), U.S. Brig Niagara (five hits), U.S. Brig Caledonia (three hits), U.S. Schooner Ariel (two hits), U.S. Schooner Scorpion (two hits)• British fleet: H.M. Ship Detroit (five hits to sink), H.M. Ship Queen Charlotte (four hits), H.M Brig General Hunter (three hits), H.M. Schooner Lady Prevost (three hits), H. M. Schooner Little Belt (two hits)Ships not playable: U.S. Somers, U.S. Porcupine, U.S. Tigress and U.S. Trippe; H.M. ChippawaSandusky bicentennial coordinator McKenzie Spriggs gazes at the life-size Battleship game, which debuted at the Bayfront Bazaar & Brew at the Sandusky Bay Pavilion on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2017.An inscription on a side panel provides more information:Battle of Lake Erie War of 1812As dawn broke the morning of Sept. 10, 1813, British vessels could be spotted just northwest of South Bass Island. The British fleet had six ships loaded with heavy firepower. In comparison, the American fleet had nine ships, although smaller in size and with less artillery. This was a prime location for a battle as the Americans had severed the British supply route along the northern shores of Canada.A series of fortunate events mounted in favor of the Americans, including a sudden change of wind and Commodore Perry's daring trek from the U.S. Brig Lawrence to the remarkably unscathed U.S. Brig Niagara. In addition, a collision between the British force's two mightiest ships, along with a shortage of high-ranking commanders that forced novice officers to lead the British fleet, ultimately led to a U.S. victory.The Battle of Lake Erie preserved the U.S. command of Lake Erie and forced the British forces to retreat to the Niagara frontier.The full details of the battle can be found at the Sandusky Maritime Museum in downtown Sandusky and Perry's Victory & International Peace Memorial Reach reporter Andy Ouriel at ouriel@sanduskyregister.com and follow him on Twitter @AndyOuriel.