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Post by hmssophia on Jun 16, 2019 18:19:30 GMT -6
Honestly I feel totally honoured by all of yalls contributions Breaking character for a bit - no thank you! I like this kind of interaction. It's the only thread with no bug reports. Though you'd better beat the Americans or Admiral Sir Robert Nelson is going to look remarkably foolish! I had a lecturer who once sang heart of Oak to us and its always stuck in my head. (Eric Grove. Amazing historian, and a choirist) I'll try to keep the damn yanks at bay!
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Post by mycophobia on Jun 16, 2019 20:48:17 GMT -6
The last few days update had really been an awesome read. Bravo!
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Post by renlybaratheon on Jun 17, 2019 0:25:57 GMT -6
Honestly I feel totally honoured by all of yalls contributions It was just too good a story not to help along. Keep up the great work
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Post by hmssophia on Jun 17, 2019 7:05:02 GMT -6
The British responded to the loss in the Caribbean not with depression and resignation, but with determination to find a way to bring about the ruination of the colonies. For the first time in history the Royal navy turned away from it's battleships and capital ships and looked to new technology for salvation. Twelve new submarines were laid down to expand the service, as well as three Brilliant class third rate cruisers, four destroyers of the Dee class and six corvettes prepared for mine sweeping and coastal patrol. Thus would begin a campaign not to met the US Fleet in Mahanian decisive battle, but to take the lessons of the Jeune Ecole and fight a war in trade and raiders. The Americans would be starved out of this war by submarine and cruisers. The Tragedy of HMS JupiterHMS Jupiter was not intended to be anything but yet another ship of her class. Ordered some twelve months after the first three sisters of the Mars class, Jupiter would add to their ranks and swell the numbers of Royal Navy Dreadnoughts with her modern oil-fired design. But that was not to be the case. She would not be finished before the dawn of 1915 and the Battle of Puerto Rico came while she was still in the slips. Her hull hadn't even touched water when that disaster struck the rest of her class. By the time she began fitting out she would not be the fourth of her class, she would not see the rest of her squadron. Instead she would be the only surviving ship of the Mars class, a unique reminder of what the Royal navy had suffered. She would later be nicknamed 'the Lonely Warrior' by her crew. February was a tragedy for the navy in a different way - parliament appropriated funds that had been put aside for the paying of the Mars class' costs, funds that were intended to be redirected for new construction, and directed them to the army instead. A promised invasion from Canada was being formed up in those Northern climes and they were suggesting that the army could succeed where the navy had failed.
The American cruisers spent the early months of the war skulking around the East Atlantic coast and large resources had to be given over to trade protection. They must necessarily have been receiving support from some European power, a frustration for the Royal Navy, but it would not save them all. E-17, a small coastal submarine on patrol in the channel, spotted lights on the horizon as the sun sank. They doused lamps and approached on the surface slowly, creeping up on their prey, figuring that they had spotted some American merchant trying to slip through the fleet that they could put down with ease. It was not a merchant, however, but the USS Memphis. A large armoured cruiser, fat with fuel and ammunition bound for any British ship they could find. Instead she found two torpedoes amidships and slipped beneath with barely a murmur. E-17 returned to port, jolly roger flying with a brand new kill marking sewn on. At the same time, British light cruisers on the American coast began to harass trade, light ships, torpedo boats and escorts wherever they could be found. The brilliant class, armed with five inch guns, equipped with mine rails, capable of 25 knots, these were the ships that were leaned on during this phase of the war. They would sail due South from Halifax or Saint John they turn West to come in at New York and Norfolk and other yards from the Ocean. Paired with the long range British submarines operating in the area, they caught many light ships and sank them without losses. In the Pacific old armoured cruisers like HMS Cressy and HMS Diadem continued to serve with honour, hunting destroyers and making the US regret not stationing additionalforces out there.
The Bolton Paul Bulldog joined the Walrus in service in 1915 as a Fleet Air Arm experimental aircraft. Smaller, lighter and with only a single pilot, the Bulldog was foreseen as a scout that would be carried by HMS Border Knight, taken alongside the fleet and used when the battle line was out on patrol. Fast at 84 knots (almost 100mph), she would outpace the walrus by some way, but she had barely half the range and with a light load could only stay airborne for a couple of hours. Eighty-five miles would be perfectly good for scouting and spotting... but the machine gun the Bulldog carried in her blunt snout didn't inspire confidence in the future of these aircraft at sea.
In 6 months of war there had been only one decisive battle. Since that fateful day, the British have adapted and adopted new strategies to bring about the end of the US Navies new found confidence. Memphis, Jenkins, Fannon, Chicago - ships sunk without British loss, with British skill and dogged determination. Though submarines have gone missing, their crews honoured by silence at the war office, they are being replaced as time passes. Thus far the US had not found a way to respond to this new type of war. And things would only worsen as more light forces came off the British slips.
The US are spreading their fleet, trying to push across the Pacific and Atlantic. The Navy is being criticised for it's 'cowardly' prosecution of the war. How do we proceed? [ ] Ignore the naysayers - We are pulling this back slowly. [ ] Trim the Home and Mediterranean Fleet, deploy additional light forces elsewhere [ ] Find somewhere to deploy the battleships - we can find a use for them.
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Post by rob06waves2018 on Jun 17, 2019 7:15:15 GMT -6
Telegram Naval Department, War Office to Admiralty
WHY ARE THERE NO BATTLESHIPS ON ACTION STATIONS STOP I READ THAT NO USE HAS BEEN FOUND FOR THEM STOP DIRECT IGNORANCE OF MY EXPRESS ORDER STOP COWARDICE IS NOT ACCEPTED BY THE NATION NOR BY ME STOP IF FLEET IS NOT DISPATCHED TO EAST COAST IMMEDIATELY REPEAT IMMEDIATELY I WILL TAKE COMMAND OF JUPITER MYSELF STOP RUN FROM SUPERIOR FORCE IF NECESSARY BUT HEAVY UNITS REQUIRED BY DUTY STOP HIS MAJESTY AGREES AND THREATENS TO GO WITH ME STOP WORK IT OUT STOP
ADM R NELSON WAR OFFICE STOP
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Post by garrisonchisholm on Jun 17, 2019 8:02:50 GMT -6
"We must mass the fleet and defeat the American Navy! The losses we have incurred cannot be made good by merchant raiding lest we drag the war on for 5 years! There is no post now for a battleship unless it is Halifax!!"
- Georg Listener, Newcastle, Quayside Precinct Constabulary, Lock-up #4
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Post by baileinneraora on Jun 17, 2019 8:14:10 GMT -6
Admiralty Dossier on Recommended Actions for the Fleet in North America for the next 6 months
Summary
- The Jeuene Ecole is proving somewhat effective and is recommended that interdiction of enemy supplies continue in this manner
- The Main Battle Line should see an engagement when favourable odds are possible, it is necessary to destroy some portion of the enemy capital fleet to ensure our own supply lines as they remain under threat
- A naval invasion of the state of Maine is possible in conjunction with a Ground assault that would seek to cut the state off from the rest of the enemy forces, this should be pursued only if several capital units of the enemy are sunk
- Raids on enemy coastal emplacements and merchant shipping should be pursued more aggressively to sap enemy morale and anger its home front into forcing it to make rash decisions
- DO NOT seek an engagement with the full strength of the enemy fleet or said fleet is in a position to come to the aid of an enemy vessel
- The Navy must not bow to public or parliamentary pressure on matters it is ignorant of (see HMS Captain)
- More details and possible targets including broad outlines on Operations to engage them enclosed within
Captain Richard Douglas RN DSO
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Post by hmssophia on Jun 17, 2019 20:23:58 GMT -6
"Dearest Nelson, While it may never be said my blood runs yellow, I have learned many things since that fateful December morn six months ago. The prosecution of this war cannot fall solely to the Dreadnoughts and, indeed, to rely on them to heavily will only invite a repeat of Puerto Rico. I trust you to understand my reticence to allow your fleet to deploy to the shores of the Americas. These are dangerous times and those are perhaps the most dangerous of waters and I will not risk aging ships against the Yankee pride. Soon there will come a time when I will trust you to bring those heavy guns to bear against our old foe - but today is not that day. Remain at Scapa Flow. Retain your command.
As always, yours, The Admiral"Letter from the Admiral to Admiral Nelson CinC Home Fleet, May 1915The June offensive saw the British Expeditionary Force under Haig in Northern America, supported by elements of the Canadian Army, push South across the border and into the United States proper. Vicious urban fighting took place in small American towns strung along the border and the unprepared and weak US Army suffered heavy casualties which the veteran Empire forces were much more suited to. Japan, in their alliance with the United Kingdom, was able to funnel massive funding not only to their armed forces in order to 'contribute to the peace and stability of the Pacific' but also into the acquisition of advanced technological prowess from their erstwhile ally. Airship designs, engineering understanding, even something as simple and observable as fleet operation strategy - all were purchased at high price from the Admiralty. With significant funding under their belts, the Admirals looked to the dockyards with glee. Admiral Nelson finally got his battle, though in no way was it the battle he expected. Whilst patrolling the channel with four ships, the Battle cruisers Invincible and Invulnerable along with the Dreadnoughts Redoubtable and Victorious, he came across a pair of American raiders, namely USS Louisville and USS Columbia. Both were sunk in short order, reducing the American forces by a pair of cruisers, one of them a first class vessel of 12,000 tons. Fourteen survivors were pulled from the waters after the much hailed British victory of the Battle of Cross Sands, an action that began the rejuvenation of the country. Britain would reclaim the seas, even if she had to fight tooth and nail for it. "If the Royal navy wishes to succeed in this war, it must approach it with a combined arms strategy. The submarine may be unbritish and cowardly, the aircraft may be untested and novel, but these along with our Dreadnoughts, our cruisers and our brave torpedo men are what is needed to win victory. It is almost a year now since that tragic battle, and thus far these tools are almost untested. Foolish, I say, foolish. We must have them. Britain must have them." Michael Donovan, MP, speaking in parliament September 1915 We can now build sea plane bases and we have just launched the sea plane carrier HMS Border Knight. We must consider the future: [ ] Focus, dear admiral, focus. Warships win wars. [ ] A few bases in the UK and the med wouldn't hurt - expanding our airship bases perhaps. [ ] We can create a ring of air bases around the world to allow for mail, transport, and strikes against any enemies!
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Post by garrisonchisholm on Jun 17, 2019 20:54:56 GMT -6
(What do expenses look like? I can have the good Mr. Listener offer something more sensible (or inane ) if I have a better picture.)
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Post by hmssophia on Jun 17, 2019 21:14:29 GMT -6
(What do expenses look like? I can have the good Mr. Listener offer something more sensible (or inane ) if I have a better picture.)
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Post by rob06waves2018 on Jun 18, 2019 3:05:55 GMT -6
FAO Captain, HMS Border Knight Dear James,
Congratulations on your promotion dear fellow! It is way past the time for it. Your mother and I are very proud. Martin has joined the newly-formed RNAS so he might even end up serving aboard your vessel!
At my end, the war's not progressing as I'd like. The doddery old fools at the admiralty have decided that it's too dangerous to dispatch the fleet from Scapa. I almost wish those cruisers hadn't been caught trousers-down in the bloody Channel. It just vindicated the cowards' position. The whole point of this war is to reduce the American battlefleet to a manageable size, and no amount of damned frog jeune ecole tactics will achieve that. I'm currently corresponding with the King about that so I hope they'll listen to him. Otherwise, it's onto the Jupiter for me!
I'm pushing for new dreadnoughts to replace those lost in the Caribbean but they will take about 2 and a half years to build an entire class. At least they should be better armed than the Mars class.
I am so glad that you have the command of the float plane vessel. New technology is often slow to be acknowledged in this navy so it is gratifying to find such a cutting-edge vessel, especially with one's own son at the helm!
Your loving Father
[Letter from Admiral Sir Robert Nelson to his son commanding the Border Knight]
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Post by garrisonchisholm on Jun 18, 2019 8:33:45 GMT -6
"There is only one course for England to take! England must lash themselves to the mast! Drake Duncan and Howe we must fight! Every ship of the line in the Navy must be concentrated! We need a Line Engagement or by God this England I will not call mine!!"
...
"That is all to the good Mr. Listener but the question the Court had in fact asked was 'how do you plead to the charge of public indecency'"?
- Georg Listener, Newcastle Constabulary, 'The Dock'
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Post by hmssophia on Jun 18, 2019 16:36:56 GMT -6
The first two true air stations had their foundations laid in September of 1915 - Naval Air Station 1 (Harwich) and Naval Air Station 2 (Scapa Flow). Expansions to the long standing airship bases, both would serve the fleets based out of their ports in different ways than they had before. NAS 2 would be the base of the 102 Air Squadron equipped with four flights of four De Havilland Walrus flying boats. Meanwhile, NAS 1 would house 103 Air Squadron (8 DH Walrus in two flights) and 202 Air Squadron with three flights of BP Bulldogs for a total of twenty aircraft at the coastal base. 202 AS was also the port-side squadron of the aircraft carried aboard HMS Border Knight, which developed a working routine in the following months. The war of attrition ground on, with the sinking of USS Terry and a multitude of merchant vessels. But it could not simply go on forever so easily. E-28, operating in the mid-Atlantic under Captain Harry Mitchell, made a mistake that would end these happy times. He sighted a target, ordered his boat beneath the waves, and approached silently. With a launch of two torpedoes, he ordered the boat to turn away and departed for home. But the merchant was not an American flagged vessel. Instead the SS Archangelsk was a Russian passenger liner travelling East from South America and as night fell, she sank with all fourteen hundred of her passengers. This disaster was reported the next day in all national newspapers and international opinion of Britain and the Royal Navy in particular fell spectacularly. The submarine service was almost blacklisted and wearing dolphins was a surefire way of getting oneself excluded from any social club. E-28 was tied up in port in preparation for an inquiry. The men were dour, quiet and rarely requested leave after their return to Portsmouth. Captain Mitchell left the boat one cold night, disappeared into the dark, and never returned. Avro approached the Navy just a few weeks after the Archangelsk disaster with something they considered quite special. They had bought a Bulldog privately, fitted it with a new engine, removed the floats and added an additional .303 machine gun. The so called 'Gannet' was not considered useful for service however, what with the lack of any purpose beyond shooting down other aircraft and thus Avro was refused. Apologies meant nothing. Good feeling meant nothing. Even the inquiry meant nothing to the Russians. Reperation discussions fell through in late November and by early December they had joined an alliance with the Americans and had declared war against the UK. Thus the side were drawn in a war of global alliances, a so called 'World War' or so said the tabloids. Of course new participants meant new targets. In the first month of war alone, British raiders caught and sank nine Russian and four American merchants. "Now we are at war not just with the Americans, but with the Russians as well. I wonder, do they think this is a war they will win? The Russians mean nothing really, more tired crews, more blockade work, but I swear that we will win this. They are losing destroyers and cruisers at a rate of knots and though we have our own losses as well I do not believe they are enough to turn the tide. But just because we can win, does that mean that we should? After Puerto Rico, the Jupiter, the Archangelsk... do we deserve to win? Is it right that we should carry on this war for however many years it will take, that we should sacrifice so many young men to the oceans deeps? I fear I am becoming weak in the face of violence. In the face of war. What will become of me in the coming years, I wonder? Already I am grey of hair and deep wrinkles run across my face. What will I look like in time?"
Diary of the Admiral, Late 1915The Empress of India enters service in a month. We have aircraft on station in Britain. But must the war change? [ ] Crush the Russians as soon as possible. [ ] Continue the slow roll of raiding [ ] Escape the war as soon as possible - peace at all costs.
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Post by rob06waves2018 on Jun 18, 2019 16:55:12 GMT -6
Urgent Communique Admiralty
FAO Admiral, Home Fleet Operations
We are now fighting the war on two fronts. This is not sustainable, even for the Royal Navy. Signal Scapa to weigh anchor and engage the Russian battle fleet. Leave only essential defensive ships in the Americas. The Russians must be crushed such that blockade can be maintained by a skeleton fleet. Once this is complete, resume full fleet operations in the Americas. The US is the greater threat but we cannot beat them while the Russians threaten our supply lines.
Admiral Sir Robert Nelson, War Office
[Instructions regarding the entrance of Russia into the war]
"It is regrettable that such an event would occur but such is the nature of war. The Russian intransigence would have to be dealt with at some point. It makes no odds to our glorious navy which will fight and destroy both enemies at once. Our officers and sailors will carry on with their duties and crush the Russian fleet, such as it is, before refocusing on the American War, with the assistance of the army. Pressure will, of course, be maintained in the Pacific theatre, by our Japanese allies. Thank you."
[Statement from the Admiralty upon declaration of war against Russia after the Archangelsk incident]
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Post by rugnir on Jun 19, 2019 6:19:11 GMT -6
I say - We have beaten the russians once this century, and by golly we can do it again!
The Americans are the real threat, but we have managed this far since the disaster without bringing our battleships to bear against them, and I'm quite sure we can continue raiding their coasts.
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