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Post by ewaldvonkleist on Aug 15, 2023 15:15:38 GMT -6
British Admirals will have a lot of explaining to do for sure! Can you attack in the English channel and disrupt allied logistics to France?
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Wiggy
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Post by Wiggy on Aug 15, 2023 15:37:34 GMT -6
I am certainly prepared to start some destroyer raids deeper into the channel now, though the French and British have thoroughly mined the Dover-Calais gap - to the point it would take a protracted minesweeping campaign backed by capital ships to break through, dealing with the shore batteries in something Dardanelles-like I'm afraid. The Grand Fleet still has some teeth, and they'll have to be dealt with first. Worse, rumour has it that the French are transferring some dreadnoughts from the Med...
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Post by ewaldvonkleist on Aug 15, 2023 15:52:05 GMT -6
I am certainly prepared to start some destroyer raids deeper into the channel now, though the French and British have thoroughly mined the Dover-Calais gap - to the point it would take a protracted minesweeping campaign backed by capital ships to break through, dealing with the shore batteries in something Dardanelles-like I'm afraid. The Grand Fleet still has some teeth, and they'll have to be dealt with first. Worse, rumour has it that the French are transferring some dreadnoughts from the Med... Much enemy, much honour.
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Wiggy
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Post by Wiggy on Aug 17, 2023 7:14:30 GMT -6
Week 93 - All or Nothing
November has come. The Italians are reeling from the disaster at Caporetto, while who knows what is going on in Russia - whether revolt or revolution, the general collapse of Russia is certainly in German interests. Surely they must pull out of the war soon? In any case, with these developments it looks like a number of divisions will be freed for the western front. Nobody says it, but everyone is thinking it: the fate of the war may well be decided by the coming Spring offensive.
At sea, intelligence indicates the enemy can muster 30 capital ships to our 28. Crews are eager for battle, despite the privations of the war, and I intend to give it to them and put the Royal Navy to bed once and for all. Our recent operations have been far from Scapa Flow, which may have reduced the odds of an engagement, so the plan has been changed for this week's battlecruiser sortie (maybe I ought to give them a break!). A sweep off Norway, and an attempt to raid one of the Northern convoys. Intel suggests that the British are escorting them with heavier ships to deter cruiser raids, so jumping them would be an added bonus that would force the RN to come to their aid. Our submarines have been ordered to cluster to the north to give us some advance warning.
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Wiggy
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Post by Wiggy on Aug 22, 2023 15:00:50 GMT -6
Operation FestungThe large battlecruiser force departs for the north in the early afternoon, after some delays owing to condenser trouble on Goeben. Weather is calm with an easterly wind. By midnight, the force has reached the Norwegian coast without trouble, though with the lighthouses blacked out it is unwise to stick too close to the shore. At 0300, as the helmsman completes the turn to port to make for the convoy routes, the on-duty radioman on Graf Spee scribbles with his pencil to decode an urgent message. It is short, and grounds to wake the captain:"sigint poss BCF south of D Bank STOP cse intent unknown STOP" As morning approaches, there is a second message - a submarine report corroborating the information. Battlecruisers off Norfolk, where we had struck in the past two operations, sweeping east towards our own bases, far, far south of the position of the Scouting Group. It is an unusual operational picture - each force nearer to the other's bases. What ships the High Seas Fleet can muster are made to raise steam, though a few divisions must be consolidated.Situation on the 2nd day of the operation.Not the full fleet, but the best we can do at this hour.
With a Zeppelin detailed to shadow the enemy force, and our own forces astride the predicted enemy course, it seems an action is inevitable. Set course to intercept!
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Wiggy
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Post by Wiggy on Aug 23, 2023 8:36:00 GMT -6
Our battlecruisers plod back southwards towards the predicted position of the enemy. It is a long transit at cruising speed, taking an afternoon and a night to get as far south as Dogger Bank, by which time our Zeppelins have lost their track owing to the darkness. The nights are getting much longer now that winter is approaching.
The cruiser Regensburg, pressing ahead through the red twilight to reach its daylight post before sunrise, stumbles into a group of unknown warships, which promptly open up on her. She quickly reverses course as shells rain down about, and radios for help. The radio is not necessary; the wet morning air has quickly carried the sound of gunfire north to Graf Spee, not to mention the flashes in the distance illuminating the grey shapes on the horizon, which are now becoming backlit by the rising sun. Crews are called to action stations - helmets are doled out, hatches are sealed, and guns are made ready. This may be a long day.
It appears to be battleships. As their scouts skirmish with the retreating Regensburg, the leaders are identified as Queen Elizabeth-class dreadnoughts, turning west to present broadsides. Fast, well armoured, and with eight 15-inch guns, these are the previously unseen threat I have been worried about. How many are there? Can our battlecruisers withstand their fire?
With the enemy turn to the west, there is no chance of linking up with the fleet in time if I choose to give battle now. More battleships are coming into view by the minute. We are already in gun range of each other, with the meeting in low light, and day is fast coming. Turn west and fight, or east to disengage?
Situation on the morning of the 3rd day, with the Scouting Force to the NW and Fleet to the SE.
One by one, the battlecruisers turn to starboard, and elevate their guns.
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Wiggy
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Post by Wiggy on Aug 23, 2023 11:52:17 GMT -6
The Early Morning
Firing begins at 0800, with the QEs aggressively closing the distance on a north-westerly course. Evidently the opposing commander wants a close-in brawl to leverage their armour advantage, as well as get upwind of us. None of our initial salvos seem able to find their mark, while the British shells have begun to find the range, screaming in and clanging off the turret faces of Lutzow and Prinz Eitel Friedrich. There are some second thoughts about giving battle so readily. Regensburg, at risk of being overrun, zig-zags desperately.
However, we have the speed advantage (the slowest ship being von der Tann at 25kn). As the British charge forwards, our lead division makes maximum revolutions to try and hook around ahead. This leaves the second division bearing the brunt of the shooting, within secondary battery range no less, but achieves the desired effect: crossing the T.
The British are forced to bear away after suffering a number of heavy hits - though nothing critical, from what can be observed. These dreadnoughts are more resilient than the older types. Only now can the whole enemy force be observed: four Queen Elizabeths, four other dreadnoughts (Orion? Delaware?), and seven heavy cruisers at the rear. That's 8 BBs and 7 CAs against my 9 BCs, on paper a worrisome fight. We continue to use our speed to engage only the front part of the line until it has borne away fully to the south. Eventually, with the range opened a little and the QEs running south, I decide to cut astern of the line, lest they cross our T in return. While the QEs can take serious punishment and keep fighting, the old, thinly armoured cruisers at the back surely cannot. With luck, we might be able to cripple the most vulnerable part of the opposing force in a few passes, and get a better return on our limited ammunition.
Changing tack - focus fire on those cruisers!
The strategy seems to work, as a number of hits are scored. Some of the cruisers look like wrecks above the waterline, and some have lost speed, causing them to bunch up. A torpedo attack by our trailing destroyers gets a few hits in as a result, while the smoke of battle has kept the fire from the dreadnoughts from stinging too harshly.
At this time, about 0920, already busy radio traffic intensifies further. Far to the southeast, the HSF's beeline for the battle has been interrupted. From what can be made out over the wireless, they have stumbled into an enemy force of battlecruisers - the BCF is also at sea!
Situation later in the morning of the 3rd day. Two battles at once!
The Scouting Group is fighting the Grand Fleet, while the High Seas Fleet is now fighting the Battlecruiser Force. Neither can reinforce the other. The fate of nations will be decided today.
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Post by ewaldvonkleist on Aug 23, 2023 12:55:52 GMT -6
Can you control all divisions manually in SAI or only the lead division? This promises to become a very intense battle! And certainly very stressful given that the two fleets are far apart and given the importance of the engagement, are better checked on minute-by-minute. And with ships leaving the line and destroyer divisions breaking apart into single ships, the chaos is only going to get worse...
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Wiggy
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Post by Wiggy on Aug 23, 2023 17:36:35 GMT -6
I could handle every division myself if I wanted to, but I'm playing rear-admiral's mode which restricts you to commandeering divisions within sight of the force flagship. I usually leave all I can on AI control, its my preference mainly for brevity but also arguably for realism.
There is plenty of chaos to come indeed! Two battles at once is difficult, I may detail them in series rather than in parallel - though I'm not sure yet.
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Post by Wiggy on Aug 24, 2023 6:27:58 GMT -6
The Battle in the West
Our battlecruisers continue to press the attack against the British armoured cruiser squadron, keeping them at an arm's length to take advantage of the gulf in fire control and gun range. The leading ships appear to be attempting to withdraw, their fire still obscured by the battery-smoke. Once again we tack astern to keep up the barrage, while the first cruiser, a Warrior-class, falls out of line.
Our targets begin to become strung out.
The cruiser squadron is no more, with most ships aflame. They were never built to withstand this punishment.
In its death throes, one of the armoured cruisers still has a sting in its tail - it scores a torpedo hit on Lutzow that starts heavy flooding. She has to reduce speed sharply to begin repairs, but it does not look good as seawater gushes in without reprieve.
The chase after the dreadnoughts in the distance is resumed, pressed almost recklessly in order to catch up and resume the gunnery duel, even though not much ammunition remains.
As we are the laggards, for a time the entire opposition can shoot up our fast leading trio, with Graf Spee especially taking punishment. However, our well-drilled crews manage to score hits at range, despite the onslaught. One particularly lucky shot sends Orion to oblivion.
Graf Spee begins to burn.
Hindenburg is the first to expend all her ammunition, soon followed by other battlecruisers. This last thunderous explosion leaves a hanging, burning cloud that obscures the rest of the retreating ships from view, punctuating the battle. It is the right time to break off the engagement. Though we haven't badly hurt the most prized of our opponents, I don't think, the battlecruisers have managed to sink a hefty tonnage of warships while minimising damage in return - bar Lutzow and Graf Spee, whose fate is yet to be decided.
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Wiggy
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Post by Wiggy on Aug 24, 2023 7:24:48 GMT -6
The Battle in the East
While all this has been going on, the High Seas Fleet has, in total surprise, run into the until-now-undetected BCF at an almost perfect right angle.
The initial Anglo-Japanese salvoes are devastating, with us presenting a target lined up such that ranging hardly matters: any shots down our bearing are likely to hit something. The bridge on Sachsen is obliterated, while a turret on Salamis is disabled. Thankfully the flagship Bayern bounces a few rounds, including a thankfully glancing shot off the conning tower, which was otherwise destined to send command and control into disarray. Instead of blindly piling into the line, the order to turn to port is somehow transmitted down the divisions. Soon we are in a position to shoot back properly, to the distaste of the leading Kongo-class which bears away to try and speedily open the range, now the pendulum has swung the other way.
It appears to be eight or nine battlecruisers, including the Japanese and the 'Splendid Cats', against our three battle divisions (and a mollycoddled pre-dread division bringing up the rear, of course). Hits are not forthcoming for either side at first, but as the battle develops to the northwest both sides begin to find the range. We are at a clear speed disadvantage.
The Japanese begin to open the range by bearing to the north. We try to follow, with some pot-shots being exchanged upwards of 20,000 yards' range. The hope is to push them towards our minefield, but the faster battlecruisers can outrun us and arc gently to port to keep ahead and run for Scotland.
Can we drive them onto the minefield?
The situation at midday.
The leading division leaves us in the dust. The five-ship rear guard, slowed by repeated hits, begins to become separated.
Cowardice or saving what you can?
We attempt to box off the remaining battlecruisers and drive them eastwards, all while the shelling continues. One more Kongo-class escapes the cordon around to the north. It is late in the day at this point and ammunition is running low. Uncharacteristically, none of the battlecruisers have exploded yet - the British have learnt the value of safe ammunition handling.
As night approaches, both battles are successfully wrapping up, with the vans of both forces escaping but their rears badly mauled. One by one the remaining battlecruisers begin to succumb to our fire, but they are tough cookies with a hefty destroyer escort that I daren't close with. Night eventually falls with a number dead in the water, but not definitely confirmed as sinking.
Situation in the late afternoon of the 3rd day.
Night as some continued hunting comes to an end.
The busy day is concluded, and both forces make to return to base.
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Post by ewaldvonkleist on Aug 24, 2023 16:25:47 GMT -6
Successful battle. How many shells does your typical ship carry? In RtW I like to have at least 120 shells and usually go for 130-140, but RtW3 captains have never heard of trigger discipline, so this is required to make it through a battle.
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Wiggy
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Post by Wiggy on Aug 24, 2023 16:55:30 GMT -6
Yes, and aftermath to come!
Most large calibre guns in game come with 90 rounds, smaller ones 150 by default, so this needs some management. As in reality, this isn't really enough for one fleet to annihilate the other in a day, critical hits aside. I believe the Germans use a mix with some SAP shells, perhaps a third each HE, SAP, and AP?
You can always order divisions to hold fire, I often do this when I don't want to waste shells on sinking ships.
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Wiggy
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Post by Wiggy on Aug 24, 2023 17:50:35 GMT -6
Aftermath of the battle
That night, captains convene in Wilhelmshaven to compile their reports on the events of the battle. Adding up the results, it is quite a haul. Not an obliteration, but we have taken a horrendous toll on the Royal Navy, inflicting a grave blow to Entente fighting power and the morale of the British public.
The sinkings were not all in our favour, however. The torpedo launched by the dying Defence managed to create uncontrollable flooding on Lutzow. She had to heave-to and have her crew taken off by her escorts.
A regrettable loss.
Scorecard.
Track map of the two engagements.
Our advantages managed to conspire together today - our better armoured battlecruisers could handle the weakened enemy battle line, while their thinner-belted ones could not. The inclusion of 14 and 15-inch armed ships in our lead divisions was crucial to inflicting early damage, while the British decision to bring along the armoured cruiser squadrons led to their inevitable destruction (though this was more down to desperation to make up the numbers than anything else). The start of the engagement at sunrise, an unlikely event on its own, meant there was no cover of darkness to slink back to after a couple of hours like there often have been in midday meetings. Finally, the success of our intelligence to track the enemy (if not the battlecruisers!) in concert with Zeppelin and submarine reports allowed us to zero in well-informed for battle. Go home Tommies!
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Wiggy
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Post by Wiggy on Aug 24, 2023 18:39:22 GMT -6
Epilogue
Admirals, captains, officers, and ratings alike arose to the sound of church bells ringing throughout Wilhelmshaven. What they didn't know was that all of Germany was waking up to the same thing.
Peace! Peace at last.
With Russia collapsing into civil war, Italy humbled at Capporetto, France wracked by mutinies and unable to evict a swelling number of German divisions from their soil, despite countless bloody offensives, it was already a bad year for the Entente. This battle, the Battle of the North Sea, 11th November 1917, was the straw that broke the camel's back. With repeated sackings at the top of the RN Admiralty, vast losses in France, and the crippling of a once Grand Fleet, Parliament has been won over to the alarming prospect of the British Empire becoming moribund if they don't immediately sue for peace - without control of the sea, Britain is isolated and doomed.
This was part of a death spiral of Entente bickering - the Russians folding, dragging down the Romanians with them, there existing no united command structure, the Italians clamouring for more aid on land and sea, the Japanese furious at the loss of Kirishima, every ally simply irate at the others' incompetence. The French would not send a battle division to the British, 'du pain pour les canards' Painlevé is rumoured by the press to have remarked, to diplomatic outrage. Passchendaele has seen perhaps 400,000 drowning in the oceans of mud. Everyone is tired of the war, there is despair and only despair.
Thus it has ended. Foreign minister von Kühlmann has received an Entente delegation in Geneva, and an immediate ceasefire has been declared, with proper terms to be hammered out in the coming weeks.
Loss map - the graveyard of navies.
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