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Post by ninjapacman on Dec 23, 2019 16:52:57 GMT -6
The Battle of Dogger Bank; The Greatest Strategic Defeat Germany Ever Won
I'm going to preface this AAR with the circumstances of my posting this. I had decided to fight this battle in real time. I wanted to be able to create a blow-by-blow account of a fleet engagement like the Skaggerak. What I didn't expect though, was how long it would take me. I figured a battle fought in real time would only take 6 hours or so. I was wrong. I kept track and I clocked well over 32 hours playing the one battle. A large portion of that was writing up events, but I spent so much time on it nonetheless.
This battle was played all the way back in update 1.06, but due to wanting to complete certain after action reports, I never posted it, and it's been sitting on my computer all this time. I finally decided it would be a waste to never post it, and so here I am providing the Operational Failure that was the battle of Dogger Bank. I had originally intended to provide a full air report with names of pilots and their specific exploits, highlighting heroes like Lt. Best at midway, but I never was able to manage, so I'll be posting it without those.
This AAR is written in the perspective of a history book, looking at not only a blow-by-blow account of the battle, but also from a hindsight perspective. I've colored the text accordingly.
The Actions of the Carrier division are in Red.
The Actions of the Battleship division are in Blue.
The historical commentary by the book's author is in Purple.
Once again, I did play this battle in real time. The timestamps are exact and all information in Blue or Red is the information I had at the time it was written.
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Post by ninjapacman on Dec 23, 2019 17:41:54 GMT -6
The Battle of Dogger Bank was the naval part of Operation Nordenfreiheit. Germany had been at war with France since February 1955, and due to support from the Italians, the French held superiority of numbers by a large margin along the North Coast. They held a blockade of the Germans since August of 1955. The blockade held a heavy toll on the German supply situation, so Operation Nordenfreiheit was their attempt to break this blockade in late October 1957. The plan was a two part engagement designed to force a victory on the ocean so that Germany could control the sea around their home.
The first part was a land assault by the German army across Belgium and along the coast of northern France, hoping to make the French dedicate their ships to support of the land engagement. At this time, the German Navy was to sortie with heavy support from German land airbases. It relied upon the element of surprise and heavy land air support, both of which the Germans presumed they had. The operation was doomed to failure from the start for a variety of reasons, though.
Firstly, the French had captured a German officer and learned of the land portion of the engagement. Therefore they greatly fortified their northern land front with Germany. Even not knowing about Germany's planned naval engagement, they thought that would be sufficient defense, and did not allocate any ships to the area, leaving the french fleet fully intact in the north sea. Secondly, the German Navy was given the nonspecific order "Sortie and Destroy the French fleet" But no specific plan of operation. Furthermore, the German air forces that were supposed to support the battle were grounded on the morning of the engagement by incredibly thick fog that settled over their airfields. Unaware of this, the German fleet continued the operation and engaged without support. The French land based aircraft were also grounded, so land based air forces played no part in the battle, contrary to German after action reports which falsely declared attacks from French land aircraft.
The Germans would end up dealing significant damage to the French fleet, but only managed to sink one major warship. They failed to break the blockade in the Operation, but fearing powerful German land based air attacks, the French recalled their damaged and battered fleet for two weeks. Therefore the Germans technically accomplished their goal for that time period, but it was not enough to secure a hold in the region.
Furthermore, the two weeks it bought them were limited as the loss of all of their battleships in the north sea weighted incredibly heavily on their operations. Germany was forced to divert more and more funds internally as they suffered from the french blockade. The French Meanwhile, had four Battlecruisers, three fleet carriers, and 5 light carriers operating in the North Sea by the end of the month. Most of their battlecruisers had taken only superficial damage. This left the follow-up engagement on November 4th to the German destroyers still operating in the region. Even in a knife-fight night engagement, the destroyer torpedoes were incapable of sinking the french battlecruisers on their own, despite Terrible taking no less than 4 hits. Four Z-Class destroyers were lost.
The war ended less than a year and a half later in late January, 1959, with Germany gaining some small colonial territories, in exchange for paying some small reparations to France. The overall effect of the battle of Dogger Bank on the war was almost negligible. The blockade forced Germany to the peace table far earlier than they would have liked, having gained almost nothing in the land war, and having lost the majority of their light and escort ships. The war had lasted from February 1955 to January 1959, and neither side had gained anything from it. Both suffered much hardship and heavy costs on their economies.
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Post by ninjapacman on Dec 23, 2019 17:46:24 GMT -6
My fleet intel indicated the French Blockade was patrolling off the north coast of Emden, and so the Navy Sortied with everything it had. The Fleet was lead by our newest ship, Tirpitz. Many of my contemporaries have said that carriers are the way of the future, but the many battles that I’ve studied or been a part of over the past six decades have indicated that Battleships are still kings of the sea. Tirpitz is the king of Battleships, as far as I am concerned. This will be her first test of battle, but I have no doubt she will perform admirably. She leads the fifteen year old veteran Elsass and her sister Danzig. The two of them may be old, but they have proven again and again that they can easily dish out more damage than they take against enemy battleships 10 years their junior. I trust them to hold their own. In a battle a month and a half prior to this operation, Danzig suffered a dreadful flash fire in her forward two turrets which nearly blew the ship apart, were it not for the actions of her heroic crew. She has just come out of dry dock with fresh turrets, and some updated systems. Her crew has suffered though, and the loss of many brave souls will be missed. Elsass has patrolled alone many times, and her powerful radar has allowed her to have much experience in night engagements. She is so proficient in such battles that she has taken on entire enemy fleets by herself under the cover of darkness. I heard the enemy refer to her as the Beacon of the Baltic Sea, as all that was ever seen of her was the flash of her main guns. Her ill-fated french counterparts never even returned fire. She has sunk more than half a dozen enemy Capital ships on her own, and even more with the assistance of the fleet. I have no doubt hers is the best crew in the navy.
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Post by ninjapacman on Dec 23, 2019 17:49:20 GMT -6
Sortied with the battleships is my Carrier force. Six old carriers that have proven themselves well will hopefully be the lynchpin in the force that breaks the French Blockade. The force is led by the younger and more advanced Europa class, containing Europa, Asien, and Afrika. They are nearly a decade old, but their aircraft are new and fresh. Their crews are veterans, and should have no problems even in the most adverse weather. The only crew for which I am concerned is that of the carrier Asien, whose entire fighter complement was lost in a sudden baltic storm on the way to their target during the ill-fated battle of the Baltic Sea. Not one plane was recovered, and a long search turned up the bodies of but three brave aircrew. It is a loss that I fear will not go unnoticed in this battle. I only hope her replacement pilots are up to the task. The older twenty year-old Graf Zeppelins have something of a reputation as not carriers, but battleships. It is often joked in the fleet that they have used their guns more than their planes, but I do not think it’s actually a joke. There are multiple records of all three of the ships engaging enemy battleships or bombarding land targets. The crazy thing is that they actually record several good hits, and take minimal or no damage in return. While I was just a rear Admiral, plans were floated around to refit them, removing their main guns to put on more anti-aircraft armament and hangar space. The plans were scrapped however, when the crews (including the ships’ captains) very nearly revolted, petitioning the admiralty to not only keep their guns, but replace them with actual battleship calibers. The matter was settled with the ships being given a slight upgrade to their AA suite, and no further refit.
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Post by ninjapacman on Dec 23, 2019 17:58:13 GMT -6
The German Chain of Command is as follows:
Overall Commander
Admiral Messer -During an earlier war with the British, Admiral Messer was the commander of the Battleship Hessen, and later the overall commander of forces in Deutsche Ostasien.
TF 15 (Carrier Group)
Admiral Riese -He is an experienced veteran of two wars, including the war with the British, and the former commanding officer of Graf Zeppelin.
CarDiv 13
Admiral Schwencke -Another Veteran of the British war, he's formerly the Commanding officer of the Graf Richtofen.
CarDiv 4
Rear Admiral Pottgen
Cardiv 7
Rear Admiral Spier
TF 13
Admiral Schindler (CO of Elsass at Danzig during the last Franco-German War)
-A career officer, Admiral Schindler is a dedicated battleship commander who was the Commanding Officer of Elsass when she made herself the Queen of the Baltic in the last Franco-German war.
BatDiv 9
Rear Admiral Hoffmann -Recently promoted, he was the Commander of Danzig when she suffered the hits that nearly destroyed her a month and a half prior at the battle of Oland.
Desdiv 10
Commander Althaus
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Post by ninjapacman on Dec 23, 2019 18:10:29 GMT -6
The Order of Battle for each side is as follows:
Germany
TF 13
-BatDiv 9
Tirpitz(flag), Elsass, Danzig
---Desdiv 10
Z33(Flag), Z4, Z11, Z26, Z20, Z29
TF 15
-CarDiv 4
Afrika(Flag), Europa
---CruDiv 6
Scharnhorst(Flag)
-----DesDiv 5
Z23(Flag), Z1, Z9, Z15, Z22
-CarDiv 7
Asien(Flag), Graf Boelcke
---DesDiv 8
Z38(Flag), Z2, Z17, Z10, Z24
-Cardiv 13
Graf Zeppelin(Flag), Graf Richtofen
---Desdiv 14
Z19(Flag), Z21, Z8, Z14, Z27
France
TF 23
-BatCru 14
Montcalm, Duquesne, Leon Gambetta, Toulouse
---DesDiv 15
Obusier, Gabion, Fauconneau
-BatCru 25
Terrible, Marengo
---DesDiv 26
Massue, Epieu
TF 16
-CarDiv 7
Navarre, Landes, Alger
---DesDiv 8
Sarbacane, Arbusque, Fronde
-CarDiv 18
Orne, Soule, Painleve
--Desdiv 19
Flamberge, Baliste, Coutelas
-Cardiv 20
Joffre
--Desdiv 21
Bombarde, Pique
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Post by ninjapacman on Dec 23, 2019 18:25:34 GMT -6
The Battle of Dogger Bank can be broken down into 3 Parts 1) The Battle Line Action 2) The Switch 3) The Night Engagement
THE BATTLE LINE ACTIONIt was the morning of October 29th, 1957. The German force sailed from Emden shortly after midnight, preparing their attack. The land attack was not making much ground, and there were yet to be reports of French naval forces supporting against the German land forces. The German navy pressed on the operation anyways.
There was a light gust that that rose waves which made seaplane operation difficult, but it was determined carriers would still be capable of operations despite the conditions.
At 06:57 It was the Battleship Tirpitz that made first contact, picking up large enemy ships on her radar as dawn broke.
6:57 As all ships prepare morning search patterns, the Tirpitz’s advanced radar picks up an enemy. 6:58 battleships ordered full speed to engage target and keep it away from carriers. 6:58 All Carriers given order to turn East to escape battle area. They’ll soon have to turn west into the wind to begin launching aircraft.
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Post by ninjapacman on Dec 23, 2019 18:34:01 GMT -6
7:00 Torpedo/Scout Bombers already spotted for morning patrols on all carriers start launching (Arado 191B)
7:05 Being in a good position, batdiv 9 makes a turn to heading 208 to cross the enemy T. The enemy has been revealed to be multiple large ships.
7:08 Danzig fires the opening shots of the battle, engaging the second ship in the enemy line via radar at nearly 22,000yds. Target Straddled. Her Target was Marengo, one of the newest battlecruisers the French fielded that day.
7:10 Danzig fires her second full salvo, and scores a positive hit on her target. Tirpitz opens fire at the second enemy in the line as well. This incredible second salvo hit was from a range of 21,723 yards, making it one of the longest hits in history. Furthermore, it damages Marengo’s Fire Control System at a very early stage in the battle.
7:11 the closest two enemy ships opened fire at 20,000yds, and shots flew past Tirpitz, causing no harm.
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Post by ninjapacman on Dec 23, 2019 18:41:17 GMT -6
7:13 Tirpitz identifies the first ship in the enemy line as a Terrible-class BC, and switches her fire. Elsass opens fire on the Terrible-class as well.
Tirpitz’s radar picks up another enemy force about 6 nautical miles behind the first. Danzig’s fourth salvo scores another hit on the Target. This hit punches through Marengo's armor at the waterline, causing flooding. The Battleships are ordered to keep the enemy at range, so they remain within the zone of invulnerability.
7:17 Danzig scores another hit on the [Marengo]. Elsass’s 4th salvo scores the first hits on the Terrible-class BC. [Terrible]
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Post by ninjapacman on Dec 23, 2019 18:47:59 GMT -6
7:17 The Carriers have all reported their planes ready, and have begun spotting planes for strikes.
7:19 Tirpitz scores hit against Terrible. Both this hit and Elsass’s hits were hits to superstructure, and negligible. Terrible will end up suffering no more damage in the battle.
7:21 Carriers are given the order to launch a partial strike against the unidentified second force, suspected to be composed of enemy battleships. Their target is the French Battlecruiser Division 14. This strike will consist of Torpedo bombers from, Graf Richtofen, Graf Boelcke, and Afrika; and dive bombers from Europa, Asien, Graf Zeppelin, and Graf Richtofen. Fighter escort will be provided by Afrika. The Strike should be arriving close to 08:30.
7:30 Danzig reports consistent hits against her target, who by this point has taken no less than eight 16-in shells. As many hits as Danzig scored in this early stage of the battle, she failed to deal any critical blows to Marengo, save for the hit to the Fire Control System.
7:32 Danzig’s target has been identified as a Marengo-Class Battlecruiser, similar to the Terribles, but a little slower due to heavier armor protection. She doesn’t seem to be showing much damage for the multiple 16-in shells she’s taken.
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Post by ninjapacman on Dec 23, 2019 18:56:40 GMT -6
7:38 Carriers have started turning into the wind to launch aircraft.
The Terrible and Marengo class opponents have begun making smoke, deciding they weren’t able to face our guns. At this time, Battlecruiser Division 25 made a turn away, knowing they had ample support to rely on. The battleships are ordered to make an adjustment south to bring all guns to bear on the retreating foes.
7:40 As we are launching the strike against the enemy’s second formation, our scouts have brought word of the enemy carriers having been sighted southwest of the enemy battle line. It is a good thing the first strike held back half our aircraft to be able to engage their carrier forces. Our carriers are ordered course 280 to maneuver into a position north of the enemy to launch a strike against them.
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Post by ninjapacman on Dec 23, 2019 18:59:56 GMT -6
7:44 The battleships make a battle-turn North to engage the enemy second line.
All planes have left their respective flight decks. They are forming up over the carriers for a strike.
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Post by ninjapacman on Dec 23, 2019 19:03:40 GMT -6
7:47 Desdiv 10 has been ordered independent, and have turned to make a torpedo run against the enemy Battlecruisers. I hope their dispatch does not come back to haunt me later this day.
7:53 Having crossed their T, Batdiv 9 opens fire on the second ship in the enemy battle line from 23,300yds using radar. All of them opened fire on the battlecruiser Montcalm at this point.
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Post by ninjapacman on Dec 23, 2019 19:13:53 GMT -6
8:01 Their second line was identified as also having Battlecruisers, an Ocean Class [Montcalm] and a Terrible Class [Leon Gambetta] leading the pack. We suffered our first damage of the battle. The third ship in their line, an Ocean Class battlecruiser, put two shells into Danzig. At this juncture Danzig misidentifies her assailant as the Ocean class battlecruiser, Toulouse. It was actually the battlecruiser Duquesne. One shell hit her port fore 6in secondary battery, punching all the way through and out the other side before detonating next to the superstructure. The second hit her B turret, detonating on the face. The shock locked the guns up in firing position. For the moment, she can’t reload, and therefore can’t use her B turret. A shell from the enemy Terrible detonated in the top deck wardroom of the Tirpitz, causing only superficial damage to chinaware and a mahogany table.
8:04 A Third shell hits Danzig, punching a dent in her belt armor, but failing to penetrate. Danzig has identified her assailant as another Ocean-class. These shells were also from Duquesne, once again mistaken by Danzig for an Ocean class.
8:06 Elsass exchanges fire with the second ship in their line, an Ocean-class. It takes a 16-in shell, and returns a 6-in secondary shell which is seen to literally crunch into a small disk with a soft ‘plink’, not even denting Elsass’s reliable belt. Here it was actually Montcalm that Elsass hits, although the shell passes through without doing any serious damage. The return shot is not from Montcalm, but rather Toulouse. Montcalm's shells in this salvo are recorded as misses in her own after action report.
8:08 Danzig finds her mark, landing a shell on her target (Toulouse. Shell punches through minimal stern plating to do no actual damage) as the enemy makes a turn to disengage.
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Post by ninjapacman on Dec 23, 2019 19:29:16 GMT -6
8:16 First to arrive are 8 of the older Arado 191 B torpedo bombers from Graf Richtofen, who circle around south to make their attack run from the front, while dive bombers from Graf Richtofen and Graf Zeppelin make their approach from the north.
8:20 After the first attack run, it appears that all the Arado 191 Bs got all their torpedoes away. Two are trailing smoke, but none were shot down.
Tirpitz took a 16-in shell from the enemy Terrible that punched into her belt, almost making it all the way through. It detonated in the armor, causing spalling which ruptured steam lines in the engine room. There’s no serious damage, but Tirpitz can only make 26 knots now. The enemy’s battle turn was a fake. They have come back around after drawing us in. They’re now below our zone of invulnerability. BatDiv9 is turning to open the distance, but with our top speed reduced, it’s likely we will not be able to pull away. To make matters worse, Danzig’s Y turret suffered an electrical failure. For now it is out of action.
8:21 Two of the torpedoes strike home. Elsass's after action report notes two large geysers of water spout up from her target Ocean class’s starboard side at this time. Montcalm had taken two torpedoes on her torpedo belt from Graf Richtofen. Due to the torpedo belt, Montcalm took minimal damage.
8:22 Another shell [from Leon Gambetta] hits Tirpitz, but fails to punch through her belt. A 6-in secondary shell [from Montcalm] strikes Tirpitz just forward of the previous hit, but fails to dent her armor.
8:23 The Me 183 B Escort fighters from Afrika report enemy CAP, but recon from the battleships indicate only our aircraft in the area. It seems that the striking craft from CarDiv 4 are off course from their reported position, and engaging yet another new group of enemy ships. It’s a good thing they are escorted. Unfortunately, the slower and older aircraft of the German Carriers start suffering losses. Two torpedo bombers, one fighter, and one dive bomber are shot down by the enemy’s superior craft. They actually found all six enemy carriers. Joffre’s CAP fighters jumped on the fighter escort from Afrika while Painleve’s group attacked the bombers. It was true that the Me183 was several years old at the time, and obsolete compared to the very recently introduced french aircraft.
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