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Post by captainloggy on Aug 19, 2019 9:44:06 GMT -6
February 1907
The numerous Marsala- and Cagliari-classes were sent in for a refit. In essence, 4in guns were replaced by 6in guns, proper splinter shields were added to all mounts and fire control was upgraded.
March 1907
Several unrelated events passed this month. Russia tried to take over the Portuguese colony of Angola, but was successfully deterred by an international force led by our fast battleship Dante Alighieri of the Napoli-class, accompanied by several Turbine-class destroyers. Scientists also developed the concept of placing three high-calibre guns into one turret, allowing for efficient increases in broadside firepower. However, the traverse speed, reload speed and mechanical reliability of these turrets is expected to be impaired by this system.
May 1907 Upon a great offer from one of our shipyards, a fifth Lepanto-class ship, the Lombardia, was lain down. All remaining protected cruisers were sent in for refits.
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Post by captainloggy on Aug 20, 2019 10:56:17 GMT -6
December 1907
The naval secretary wished for new detroyers. In order to get 24 of them, the Mosca-class were cut down to 200t patrol boats. Also, scientists found a method to put an additional turret on the aft deck step, which could theoretically fire over the last one, although it is unclear if that practice would be safe for the crew of said last gun turret.
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Post by captainloggy on Aug 20, 2019 12:53:50 GMT -6
April 1907
The Russians foolishly sent an ultimatum in the hopes that they would get a cheap win. Now, however, we are at war. The Russian Navy possesses: -13 battleships (to our 11) in the following classes: -Imperator Pavel I-class (4): 15'500t, 18 kn, 2x2 12in, 7x2 6in, 2 TT (sub), 9in belt -Imperator Aleksandr I-class(4): 15'500t, 18 kn, 2x2 12in, 7x2 6in, 2 TT (sub), 9in belt -Poltava(2): 14'900t, 18 kn, 2x2 12in, 7x2 6in, 2 TT (sub), 9,5in belt -Gangut(3): 14'900t, 18kn, 2x2 12in, 12 6in i.c., 4 TT (sub), 9in belt
-19 armoured cruisers (to our 10), of which 8 might endanger our Roma-class Bs (very good CA designs, we have nothing comparable!) -18 protected cruisers (to our freshly modernized 27), which are heavier than ours on average -39 smaller craft (to our 46) The first Lepanto-class BC is due to be completed in 4 months, while no Russian capital ships are expected to be completed this year.
May 1907
In a daring action, our STB Squalo ambushed, torpedoed and sank the Russian CA Ryurik off Gibraltar when she, along four other cruisers, tried to enter the Mediterranean.
Armoured cruisers Marco Polo and Vettor Pisani are successfully raiding Russian shipping in the Kattegat approaches.
June 1907
The Russians are said to be converting several civilian vessels for military purposes. Meanwhile, US forces have sunk a Russian destroyer in a skirmish. The Russian main force fell for the trap and pursued the US scouts, resulting in the battleship Imperator Nikolai leading the squadron to come under heavy gunfire. She eventually capsized after two torpedo hits. Unfortunately, the US protected cruiser Tucson was heavily mauled in the engagement and later had to be abandoned due to numerous fires raging throughout the ship. She was then scuttled by torpedoes from the friendly destroyers that picked up her crew.
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Post by captainloggy on Aug 21, 2019 5:27:42 GMT -6
August, September, November 1908 Finally, our battlecruisers Lepanto, Leonardo and Leopardo were commissioned were commissioned into the Regia Marina. We also sank a Russian CL.
April 1909
The war ends without border changes.
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Post by captainloggy on Aug 21, 2019 12:32:49 GMT -6
January 1911
Finally, after the completion of all L-class BCs, comes our first dreadnought design, the Taranto. Two have been lain down, with the budget to allow for more soonly. They displace 30'100 tons, boast a speed of 21 knots, have a main armament of 9 15in guns arranged in three triple turrets on the centreline and also have good torpedo protection (TPSII). Ten 6in guns per broadside round out the armament, with heavy armour applied especially to the main turrets.
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Post by cabalamat on Aug 21, 2019 22:00:17 GMT -6
January 1911
Finally, after the completion of all L-class BCs, comes our first dreadnought design, the Taranto. Two have been lain down, with the budget to allow for more soonly. They displace 30'100 tons, boast a speed of 18 knots, have a main armament of 9 15in guns arranged in three triple turrets on the centreline and also have good torpedo protection (TPSII). Ten 6in guns per broadside round out the armament, with heavy armour applied especially to the main turrets.
Are you sure the speed isn't 21 knots?
They look decently armed and armoured.
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Post by captainloggy on Aug 22, 2019 5:45:04 GMT -6
January 1911
Finally, after the completion of all L-class BCs, comes our first dreadnought design, the Taranto. Two have been lain down, with the budget to allow for more soonly. They displace 30'100 tons, boast a speed of 18 knots, have a main armament of 9 15in guns arranged in three triple turrets on the centreline and also have good torpedo protection (TPSII). Ten 6in guns per broadside round out the armament, with heavy armour applied especially to the main turrets.
Are you sure the speed isn't 21 knots?
They look decently armed and armoured.
Right, they have a design speed of 21 knots. Sorry for that.
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Post by captainloggy on Aug 25, 2019 11:33:58 GMT -6
December 1911
Over a diplomacy crisis (on who makes better cheese), war has arisen with France. The French Navy has: -1 dreadnought battleship, the Masséna: 19'300t, 17kn, 6x2 11in (8 guns per broadside), 14 6in, 4 TT (sub), 11.5in belt
(Slower than anything we have, inefficient gun layout, no real threat to our PDN's) They also have a 5 Nantes-class dreadnoughts under construction, which are estimated to be completed around the same time as our Taranto-class)
-6 battlecruisers (to our 5) in the following classes: -Duquesne-class (5): 17'400t, 25kn, 2x2 13in, 14 6in, 4 TT (sub), 8in belt (overall inferior to the Lepantos, but deadly to our CA's) -Marseille: 21'700t, 23kn, 4x2 14in (6 GPB), 16 6in, 4 TT (sub), 6in belt (powerful, but lightly armoured) -15 battleships (to our 8) in various classes, 14'000-16'000t, 17-18kn, 2x2 12in, 12-16 6in, 7-10in belt (just your standard PDN) -18 armoured cruisers (to our 10) in various classes -27 light and protected cruisers (to our 26, although theirs are heavier on average)
-56 smaller craft In the first engagement of the war to the north of Corsica, we have sunk the french battlecruiser Tourville. First skirmishes of the land forces in the Alpes were indecisive, while we are beginning to pull troops together on Sardinia to set over to Corsica.
Attachments:
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Post by cabalamat on Aug 26, 2019 4:02:28 GMT -6
December 1911
Over a diplomacy crisis (on who makes better cheese), war has arisen with France. The French Navy has: -1 dreadnought battleship, the Masséna: 19'300t, 17kn, 6x2 11in (8 guns per broadside), 14 6in, 4 TT (sub), 11.5in belt (Slower than anything we have, inefficient gun layout, no real threat to our PDN's) They also have a 5 Nantes-class dreadnoughts under construction, which are estimated to be completed around the same time as our Taranto-class)
-6 battlecruisers (to our 5) in the following classes: -Duquesne-class (5): 17'400t, 25kn, 2x2 13in, 14 6in, 4 TT (sub), 8in belt (overall inferior to the Lepantos, but deadly to our CA's) -Marseille: 21'700t, 23kn, 4x2 14in (6 GPB), 16 6in, 4 TT (sub), 6in belt (powerful, but lightly armoured) -15 battleships (to our 8) in various classes, 14'000-16'000t, 17-18kn, 2x2 12in, 12-16 6in, 7-10in belt (just your standard PDN) -18 armoured cruisers (to our 10) in various classes -27 light and protected cruisers (to our 26, although theirs are heavier on average)
-56 smaller craft In the first engagement of the war to the north of Corsica, we have sunk the french battlecruiser Tourville. First skirmishes of the land forces in the Alpes were indecisive, while we are beginning to pull troops together on Sardinia to set over to Corsica.
Screenshots of the ships in question & the almanac would be nice.;
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Post by captainloggy on Aug 28, 2019 12:02:30 GMT -6
The international situation after the start of the war.
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Post by captainloggy on Aug 29, 2019 12:17:30 GMT -6
March 1912While the French Mediterranean Fleet had conducted operations in Northern Africa, the Regia Marina hadn’t sat by idly. Instead, a sortie had been undertaken in full strength to intercept French forces north of Corsica. The scouting forces, led by the battlecruiser Leonardo, established first contact in the late morning, maneuvering to cut off their French counterparts from home ports. Meanwhile, the fast Italian battleline, led by Leonardo da Vinci, soon closed in from the south, thereby placing themselves between the French battlecruisers and their main force. These soon realized their perilous situation and made for a run south, thereby steadily closing the range with the Italian battlecruisers, who mirrored the movement. The French flagship, Marseille, received multiple hits in the process, which destroyed a turret and disabled another. The damage forced he to shear out of line, making her an ideal target for Leonardo’s and Lepanto’s torpedoes, two of which connected. The Italian battleships meanwhile, not willing to risk a direct engagement with the superior French battleline, came around north and took on the engagement with the French battlecruisers, while Italian battlecruisers and light forces chased off the French main force. Several destroyers were lost in the process, with another French battlecruiser fatally damaged. As night closed in, both main forces disengaged, while the battlecruisers resumed their duel, leading to the demise of yet another one on the French side. However, the fight had also taken its toll on Italian forces, with Dante Alighieri sinking due to progressive flooding after a torpedo hit and numerous hull punctuations in the bow and stern areas. Lepanto only narrowly escaped the same fate, she sank at her mooring in La Spezia at around 3am, but has been refloated and moved to a drydock for repairs. Sorry for not having an after-battle screenshot, I hope you can follow the description. Final losses: France: 3 BC, 2DD Italy: 1 B, 7 DD
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Post by captainloggy on Aug 30, 2019 7:11:48 GMT -6
May 1912Another major action this spring occurred off Cape Bon. The French fleet was on the way to operations off the Libyan coast, when they were once again intercepted by Italian forces which had, as fishermen’s reports came in about large enemy naval forces having passed by, sortied from Naples. The leading elements of both fleets, consisting of armoured cruisers, made first contact at around 7am. Italian battlecruisers, again led by Leonardo, attempted to cut the enemy scouting forces off of their main fleet, which I deem currently to be too strong to take on. This time, the coup worked, as French CAs and their escorting destroyers scattered southward. While Italian scouting units chased them towards the Tunisian coast, Gloire had her rudder disabled, leading to her being pounded by the entire Italian battleline as it passed by. The swift Italian battleships then engaged their French counterparts, forcing them to deploy in line. Under the cover of a destroyer attack, which scored several torpedo hits, they then withdrew and joined the chase after the French cruisers, cutting off any escape to the eastern Mediterranean. This cruiser force, pincered in between the coast and Italian heavy guns, was utterly destroyed, only two escorting destroyers escaped into the port of Tunis. The Italian fleet, with ammo running low and several ships damaged, returned to Sardinia while narrowly avoiding the French, content with having dealt a further significant blow to the enemy. Final losses:
France: 4 CA, 8 DD Italy: 3 DD
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Post by captainloggy on Sept 6, 2019 4:00:41 GMT -6
July 1912
Upon receiving reports that a large convoy from Algeria was due to depart to France soonly, a cruiser force led by the Pisa sallied forth to intercept it. However, the two forces missed each other in the night and the Italian ships turned around. Shortly after this maneuver, however, silhouettes were spotted starboard in the night. Just as these reports came in, an explosion straddled Pisa and a white plume rose up against her hull. Then, a second blast ripped the old cruiser apart and sent nearly all of her crew, including the rear admiral in charge of the operation. Nevertheless, the remaining force charged on into what turned out to be the French convoy and its escorts, sinking nearly all of the merchantmen as well as two protected cruisers who had escorted them before withdrawing under the heavy gunfire of two French armoured cruisers. Final losses: Italy: 1 CA, 3 DD France: 2 CL, 5 DD amongst numerous transports
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Post by captainloggy on Sept 11, 2019 12:42:18 GMT -6
October 1912
Following their recent defeats, the French were rather reluctant to meet in battle, and thus the late summer of 1912 passed without action. As autumn storms made an invasion of Corsica less and less likely and after their crushing defeat at the hands of Italian land forces at Briançon, the French high command decided to shift forces from Corsica back to the mainland under heavy naval coverage. A small Italian cruiser force, consisting of Ravenna, Cagliari, and six destroyers made way to intercept what Italian command believed were just a regular assembly of merchants with light escorts. Instead, the force was ambushed by several armoured cruisers with escorts. The outnumbered and outgunned Italian ships first desperately tried to reach the transport. When the appearance of further escorting cruisers made this attempt futile, the Italian ships dashed again to escape, but all but two destroyers were sunk, taking only one old French protected cruiser with them who had received a torpedo hit from the dying Ravenna. Final losses: Italy: 2 CL, 4 DD France: 1 CL
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Post by captainloggy on Sept 12, 2019 7:57:58 GMT -6
November 1912
Encouraged by their recent, if small, victory, the Marine Nationale challenged the Regia Marina to a fleet battle once more. French secret services deliberately let their Italian counterparts intercept orders for raids on coastal shipping around Sicily. In response, major parts of the Italian fleet were moved to Trapani, waiting for the French to sally from Tunis. This they did, and on a clear November morning, the mighty fleets met. While the Italians headed west, the French approached from the south, directly engaging the Italian battleline with all their forces. Regina Elena was heavily damaged in this engagement, she was detached and sent back to Trapani escorted by a squadron of destroyers. Meanwhile, the very best ships of the navy, the battlecruisers, raced to the rescue of the line. Together, the Italian heavies led their French counterparts on a chase northwest in an attempt to distract them from the Regina Elena trying to escape east. Admiral (not Captain) Loggy also hoped the French battlecruisers would overextend on a prolonged chase, which happened in part only: Lyon had been severely slowed by a 12in hit to her machinery, and while Lille did get ahead and was heavily shelled when the Italian line doubled back, the slower French battle units, which had maintained relative cohesion, soon chased the Italians away after a brief fire exchange which would have decisive consequences later, but for now concluded the engagement with the Italians turning away and finally shaking their pursuers off at nightfall. However, Italian command wasn’t satisfied with the engagement results and sent out several destroyer squadrons in search of damaged French stragglers. One group was successful in this as they found and sunk the French pre-dreadnought Richelieu, which had taken severe structural damage in the last firefight in the evening, with her machinery disabled by splinters getting down her funnels and jamming the coal intakes. The destroyers sent out a wave of close-range torpedoes against her and the mauled battleships rolled over after two of the deadly fish connected. Another squadron bumped into the enemy main fleet and managed to score three torpedo hits on enemy pre-dreadnoughts before all but one were sunk. In another occurrence that night, armoured cruiser San Giorgio found the limping battlecruiser Lille and put torpedo into her before both ships turned away. This went down in history as the only instance when an armoured cruiser sank a battlecruiser, a ship type specifically designed to counter them. Apart from these occurrences, there was no more contact between hostile units and both fleets made for port. Final losses: Italy: 5 DD France: 1 BC, 3 B, 1 DD
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