Bullethead
29 Aug 06, 15:49
Just off the Assan Basin naval base, the guard flotilla of 8 1st class torpedoboats greated the dawn of 11 Feb 04 with cheers of "BANZAI!" Word had just been received that their colleagues in the Takeshiki and Masanpo flotillas had destroyed the Russian gunboat Mandzhur in the Tsushima Straits at about 0445, with only the loss of 1 of their own number. The news inspired the Assan Basin flotilla's crews. While others might have drawn first blood, those on the real front line were sure to do better, especially with the 1st of the supply ships due in later in the morning. They knew the Russians would be coming.
Sure enough, about 0900, the TBs spotted large amounts of smoke to the north and turned to investigate. As the TBs approached, they took up their battle formation of 2 divisions abreast separated by approximately 2000 yards and rang up flank speed. The Russians soon appeared over the horizon--the protected cruisers Askold and Novik leading a division of 8 destroyers, all in a single column on a reciprocal course, obviously closing for battle! But the TBs didn't hesitate. Knowing what havoc these ships could wreak along the Korean coast, the Assan Basin flotilla charged. They would all willingly sacrifice themselves to end this menace!
With both forces converging head-on at full speed, the range closed rapidly. The TBs' deployment was perfect, sandwiching the head of the Russian line exactly between the 2 racing columns of boats. Askold and Novik pressed on, their guns beginning to fire, but then the destroyers swung out of line. At first, the Russian destroyers took up a new station about 1000 yards on the cruisers' port beam. However, after only a few moments, they thought better of this and tried to get back astern of the cruisers. To do this, however, they had to turn in a big circle to the left because they were then even with the cruisers. Thus, the destroyers dropped far behind the cruisers and left them dangerously exposed. The Japanese torpedoboats took full advantage of this costly mistake.
At a range of about 5000 yards, both columns of TBs swung inboard to converge on Askold. Amazingly, none were hit until the leaders actually reached perfect launch positions close in on both of Askold's bows.
http://people.delphiforums.com/jtweller/Askold-Novik-01.JPG
Aotaka was hit hard as she put a torpedo into Askold's starboard quarter. Then she cut between the Russian cruisers and put her last remaining tube's fish into Novik's port bow at minimum range. Novik, still showing signs of minor damage from the Port Arthur attack, was mortally wounded by this torpedo and sank shortly afterwards. However, her guns continued to fire for a couple of minutes, further raking Aotaka and reducing her to a flaming wreck.
Seeing this, the rest of the flotilla concentrated on Askold, which was still making above 20 knots and firing with desperatation. Torpedoes criss-crossed the sea as one boat after another launched. Unfortunately, Askold was able to dodge many of them, and several of those that appeared to hit did not explode. At the height of the melee, Hayabusa scored on Askold's port quarter and the Russian cruiser began to lose way rapidly, although her guns continued to play havoc. Hato and Manazura were fatally damaged, Aotaka finally succumbed, and Tsubame was crippled. By this point, only 2 boats still had torpedoes remaining, but Chidori made the most of hers, putting 2 into Askold to port amidships. These hits finished the cruiser off and she sank almost at once, her skipper no doubt cursing his destroyers as the water closed over him.
http://people.delphiforums.com/jtweller/Askold-Novik-07.JPG
By now, the Russian destroyers were arriving belatedly on the scene. The surviving TBs, Hayabusa, Kari, Kasagi, and Chidori, put about and ran south as fast as they could as destroyer shells began to fall among them, lightly damaging Kasagi. Tsubame, a mass of flames and unable to keep up, but still with 2 guns working, turned north and drove straight for the oncoming Russians and soon attracted all their fire. She damaged the leader, Vnimatelni, but was quickly destroyed. However, her sacrifice allowed the 4 healthy boats to pull out of range without further damage.
It was a glorious day for the Assan Basin flotilla. Although half of them were no more, they had destroyed 2 of the largest threats in the Russian fleet and had forced the destroyers to leave the area due to lack of coal. Togo, who had watched the action from a nearby hill while his battleship was replenishing, awarded the survivors with cases of captured vodka.
Sure enough, about 0900, the TBs spotted large amounts of smoke to the north and turned to investigate. As the TBs approached, they took up their battle formation of 2 divisions abreast separated by approximately 2000 yards and rang up flank speed. The Russians soon appeared over the horizon--the protected cruisers Askold and Novik leading a division of 8 destroyers, all in a single column on a reciprocal course, obviously closing for battle! But the TBs didn't hesitate. Knowing what havoc these ships could wreak along the Korean coast, the Assan Basin flotilla charged. They would all willingly sacrifice themselves to end this menace!
With both forces converging head-on at full speed, the range closed rapidly. The TBs' deployment was perfect, sandwiching the head of the Russian line exactly between the 2 racing columns of boats. Askold and Novik pressed on, their guns beginning to fire, but then the destroyers swung out of line. At first, the Russian destroyers took up a new station about 1000 yards on the cruisers' port beam. However, after only a few moments, they thought better of this and tried to get back astern of the cruisers. To do this, however, they had to turn in a big circle to the left because they were then even with the cruisers. Thus, the destroyers dropped far behind the cruisers and left them dangerously exposed. The Japanese torpedoboats took full advantage of this costly mistake.
At a range of about 5000 yards, both columns of TBs swung inboard to converge on Askold. Amazingly, none were hit until the leaders actually reached perfect launch positions close in on both of Askold's bows.
http://people.delphiforums.com/jtweller/Askold-Novik-01.JPG
Aotaka was hit hard as she put a torpedo into Askold's starboard quarter. Then she cut between the Russian cruisers and put her last remaining tube's fish into Novik's port bow at minimum range. Novik, still showing signs of minor damage from the Port Arthur attack, was mortally wounded by this torpedo and sank shortly afterwards. However, her guns continued to fire for a couple of minutes, further raking Aotaka and reducing her to a flaming wreck.
Seeing this, the rest of the flotilla concentrated on Askold, which was still making above 20 knots and firing with desperatation. Torpedoes criss-crossed the sea as one boat after another launched. Unfortunately, Askold was able to dodge many of them, and several of those that appeared to hit did not explode. At the height of the melee, Hayabusa scored on Askold's port quarter and the Russian cruiser began to lose way rapidly, although her guns continued to play havoc. Hato and Manazura were fatally damaged, Aotaka finally succumbed, and Tsubame was crippled. By this point, only 2 boats still had torpedoes remaining, but Chidori made the most of hers, putting 2 into Askold to port amidships. These hits finished the cruiser off and she sank almost at once, her skipper no doubt cursing his destroyers as the water closed over him.
http://people.delphiforums.com/jtweller/Askold-Novik-07.JPG
By now, the Russian destroyers were arriving belatedly on the scene. The surviving TBs, Hayabusa, Kari, Kasagi, and Chidori, put about and ran south as fast as they could as destroyer shells began to fall among them, lightly damaging Kasagi. Tsubame, a mass of flames and unable to keep up, but still with 2 guns working, turned north and drove straight for the oncoming Russians and soon attracted all their fire. She damaged the leader, Vnimatelni, but was quickly destroyed. However, her sacrifice allowed the 4 healthy boats to pull out of range without further damage.
It was a glorious day for the Assan Basin flotilla. Although half of them were no more, they had destroyed 2 of the largest threats in the Russian fleet and had forced the destroyers to leave the area due to lack of coal. Togo, who had watched the action from a nearby hill while his battleship was replenishing, awarded the survivors with cases of captured vodka.