Post by skibble on May 24, 2019 21:04:21 GMT -6
Just lost my entire battleline in a convoy escort mission, on the first turn of the war, without sinking a ship in return.
Saw the war coming and forgot to mobilize the reserves...
Ended up with my one 500T 1989 'Museum' DD as the only DD present.
Did not help that the mission started at 6 in the morning, and on turn 1 'Enemy Spotted' followed by several 'TR hit by torpedo!' "TR hit Mine'
The entire enemy fleet appeared to be present (5BB, 3BC, several CA/CL squadrons 3-4 Flotilla of DD)
The 6BBs (one completed 2 months prior, one other 4 months prior) were at the heart of the convoy. Less then 5000feet from the nearest enemy ships. Sunrise was in 10 minutes and the Enemy was between the (Un-escorted) Battle-wagons and the CVL.
It did not go well.
While the BBs survived the first 30 mins they were rapidly taken apart by the BB/BC mix, their DDs having appeared to have expended most of their Torpedoes on the Convoy (Of which there were no survivors... the enemy did not bother rescuing any and i had no ships left to do it)
Scattered hits by Torps on the BB line but nothing to serious except 1-2 knots slowed. Formed up to skirt their formation and cover the CVL but it was already to late. The Sun cam up and their entire armada was less the 10000 feet away. The was a spirited gun duel but weight of fire was telling and none escaped.
The Malta base was a mere 30NM away and its airfield failed to get the alert, Leaving all the ships to their Doom.
Escapees were a CVL conversion and a pair of old CA that were escorting it. Thought the CVL did try to contribute, getting into gun range of a DD squadron before being forced to turn away to launch its CAP. Its airstrikes did manage to hit a few ships, but none sank.
And to cap it off, the AI decided to head for port with the CVL, and like the Idiot I am I let it dock while it still had a full deck of aircraft...
What are your stories of Failure on your part?