SunScream
05 Sep 06, 17:14
Mid morning, south of Weihaiwei. The Port Arthur attack was only a few days ago and the Russians are sortiing in force to attack shipping. So far the only loss was Korietz, torpedoed, although it took the torpedo boat with it.
Bayan, running interference for Novik, Askold and the slightly damaged Boyarin, turns North for Port Arthur. Shortly afterwards she is spotted by a Japanese cruiser group. It is the 22kt squadron of Yoshino, Kasagi, Takasago and Chitose. Captain Wiren decides to refuse combat and orders the ship up to her full speed of 21 kts. The Japanese are, predictably, aggressive. They ignore the weaker target of Boyarin, which disengages to the south, and swing into line, closing on Bayan. An impressively long stern-chase follows. Eventually, at 8km, shells start dropping around Bayan. Mostly eight and six inch. No-one is particularly worried, Bayan has a tough hide. As the range drops to 6km Captain Wiren orders the guns to fire on the lead Japanese cruiser, Yoshino. The 6 inch guns repeatedly report they are out of arc, following the "don't damage the paintwork" directive to the letter, and so the only gun firing is the single 8 inch at the stern. It is impressively accurate, but not accurate enough. No hits are scored by either side until the range drops to below 3500m. Bayan takes a couple of ineffectual hits. The helm is put over and broadsides are fired. Yoshino is rapidly ablaze with at least three distinct fires on board. Bayan shifts fire to the Kasagi and she, too, is soon burning. Fire breaks out on the Bayan as she shifts fire to the Takasago and after a couple of hits on the enemy cruiser Bayan returns to her northerly heading, surrounded by innumerable shell splashes. Gunshields prove ineffective at preventing damage and some of the guns are knocked out. The damage control crews get the fire under control and set to repairing guns. The Japanese swing back into line astern of Bayan, continually firing. Bayan's spotters report all fires appear to be extinguished on all the enemy ships. Yoshino takes an 8 inch hit and burns again.
The battle continues for hours. The Japanese slowly overhaul Bayan but can't do any permanent hurt. Fires are a problem but the damage control keeps on top of them. A few guns are wrecked. Bayan repeatedly sets Yoshino on fire (I lost count at 11 separate fires) and her crew always extinguish them. No hits appear to have caused any underwater damage and no speed loss is recorded by any ships. Bayan steamed into Port Arthur harbour as the sun was nearing the horizon and the Japanese sheered off from the defenses. Captain Wiren ordered extra gunnery practise for the 8 inch gunners.
Bayan had no 8 inch ammo left and only single figure 6 inch rounds. The endemic lack of firing pins meant the tertiary armament couldn't fire. Yoshino was not firing at the end, presumably her guns were dry. She was also on fire. Bayan had been on fire at least five times throughout the engagement. The other three cruisers were not firing very often.
It took me about four and a half hours to play through, speeding up the dull bits. It was all heart in mouth when the Japanese caught up as a couple of good hits would have made all the difference to either side.
What does this have to do with Askold?
As soon as the previous battle played through I saved and switched back to the campaign screen. I was immediately projected into a new battle.
This is the sight I saw:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/lawndart/Askold_in_trouble.jpg
Askold rammed Chiyoda and both ships stopped. I ordered Askold to accelerate and target the next in line, Naniwa. Everybody open fire on Askold. She lasted a total of eight minutes before sinking.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/lawndart/Askold_sinks.jpg
Chiyoda had suffered a few friendly fire hits and Naniwa had been hit a few times.
Askold had taken 69 4.7" hits, 337 6" hits and a 14" torpedo, ignoring the 450 or so light gun hits.
I think this must be a campaign bug, as I have seen this sudden spawn-to-collision before in an earlier campaign, again immediately after a long scenario which had map re-adjustments. I lost the Lyena in that battle, to four ACs.
So Askold is gone, lost by a sudden spawning in the middle of the enemy's fleet. :(
Bayan, running interference for Novik, Askold and the slightly damaged Boyarin, turns North for Port Arthur. Shortly afterwards she is spotted by a Japanese cruiser group. It is the 22kt squadron of Yoshino, Kasagi, Takasago and Chitose. Captain Wiren decides to refuse combat and orders the ship up to her full speed of 21 kts. The Japanese are, predictably, aggressive. They ignore the weaker target of Boyarin, which disengages to the south, and swing into line, closing on Bayan. An impressively long stern-chase follows. Eventually, at 8km, shells start dropping around Bayan. Mostly eight and six inch. No-one is particularly worried, Bayan has a tough hide. As the range drops to 6km Captain Wiren orders the guns to fire on the lead Japanese cruiser, Yoshino. The 6 inch guns repeatedly report they are out of arc, following the "don't damage the paintwork" directive to the letter, and so the only gun firing is the single 8 inch at the stern. It is impressively accurate, but not accurate enough. No hits are scored by either side until the range drops to below 3500m. Bayan takes a couple of ineffectual hits. The helm is put over and broadsides are fired. Yoshino is rapidly ablaze with at least three distinct fires on board. Bayan shifts fire to the Kasagi and she, too, is soon burning. Fire breaks out on the Bayan as she shifts fire to the Takasago and after a couple of hits on the enemy cruiser Bayan returns to her northerly heading, surrounded by innumerable shell splashes. Gunshields prove ineffective at preventing damage and some of the guns are knocked out. The damage control crews get the fire under control and set to repairing guns. The Japanese swing back into line astern of Bayan, continually firing. Bayan's spotters report all fires appear to be extinguished on all the enemy ships. Yoshino takes an 8 inch hit and burns again.
The battle continues for hours. The Japanese slowly overhaul Bayan but can't do any permanent hurt. Fires are a problem but the damage control keeps on top of them. A few guns are wrecked. Bayan repeatedly sets Yoshino on fire (I lost count at 11 separate fires) and her crew always extinguish them. No hits appear to have caused any underwater damage and no speed loss is recorded by any ships. Bayan steamed into Port Arthur harbour as the sun was nearing the horizon and the Japanese sheered off from the defenses. Captain Wiren ordered extra gunnery practise for the 8 inch gunners.
Bayan had no 8 inch ammo left and only single figure 6 inch rounds. The endemic lack of firing pins meant the tertiary armament couldn't fire. Yoshino was not firing at the end, presumably her guns were dry. She was also on fire. Bayan had been on fire at least five times throughout the engagement. The other three cruisers were not firing very often.
It took me about four and a half hours to play through, speeding up the dull bits. It was all heart in mouth when the Japanese caught up as a couple of good hits would have made all the difference to either side.
What does this have to do with Askold?
As soon as the previous battle played through I saved and switched back to the campaign screen. I was immediately projected into a new battle.
This is the sight I saw:
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/lawndart/Askold_in_trouble.jpg
Askold rammed Chiyoda and both ships stopped. I ordered Askold to accelerate and target the next in line, Naniwa. Everybody open fire on Askold. She lasted a total of eight minutes before sinking.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/lawndart/Askold_sinks.jpg
Chiyoda had suffered a few friendly fire hits and Naniwa had been hit a few times.
Askold had taken 69 4.7" hits, 337 6" hits and a 14" torpedo, ignoring the 450 or so light gun hits.
I think this must be a campaign bug, as I have seen this sudden spawn-to-collision before in an earlier campaign, again immediately after a long scenario which had map re-adjustments. I lost the Lyena in that battle, to four ACs.
So Askold is gone, lost by a sudden spawning in the middle of the enemy's fleet. :(