Fairweather
15 Dec 07, 11:51
Here goes my first attempt at an AAR…
Battle of the Bay
With Port Arthur no longer being safe, I prepared to intercept the Pacific fleet, hopefully in daylight, in the Yellow Sea. However, despite several close encounters, I could never effectively engage the Russians. At dawn the following day, however, of the SW coast of Korea, the Russian fleet was discovered inshore of my fleet, and at the centre of the mouth a bay. As a result, they fled North, straight into the bay (possible AI improvement for Jutland?!), and the Combined fleet pursued in three columns. The most easterly comprised Togo’s six battleships, the centre column was made up of the 8 armoured cruisers, and the western column comprised the chitose squadron and six other cruisers. The turn commenced at 6.20, and soon over 50 ships were charging into the bay. The Russians then attempted to cross the T of Togo’s squadron, resulting in a general turn to port, unmasking the after turrets of the Battleships and armoured cruisers, who opened fire at 7.15. During the action, four of the Russian Battleships continued heading north, leaving the rear three battleships, Retvizan, Peresyvet and Pobyeda to engage my fleet unsupported, although little damage had been done so far by either side . At 7.40, these three Russian battleships altered course as if to charge my line, but shortly after starting the turn Pobyeda blew up, and the Russians retreated up the bay. All of my ships ceased fire and continued into the bay, with the Russians staying close to the eastern shore. The Russians maintained a sporadic fire for five more minutes, hitting Yakumo and destroying her after 8" turret.
The Russians continued up the bay for some time, then altered course to the west (as they realised, belatedly, that it was a dead end), with my ships also altering course, so that the two sides were running parallel, with the opposing battleships around 6-7000 yards apart, and with the armoured cruisers formed up to the south of Togo’s squadron, firing over their heads. The chitose’s group was moving down the western coast of the bay, having been trying to catch up with the fleet for some time. Both sides opened fire again at around 7.50, with the Russians concentrating on Mikasa and Yakumo, who had been detached from the other armoured cruisers, and had somehow ended up ahead of the battleships. My ships concentrated fire on the Peresyvet. The Russian squadron made a 180 degree turn not long afterwards, heading back east. Little damage was done by either side until 8.13, when the biggest fluke I’ve ever seen happened. A 12" shell, fired by Asahi, flew wide of the Peresyvet, and hit Retvizan. Retvizan, having suffered no damage up to this point, exploded. After picking myself of the floor, I shifted fire to Tsaeravitch, as she was now leading the remaining Russian ships straight back out to sea. Mikasa was also hit hard, losing a 12" turret and suffering from fires. She pulled out of the line. Yakumo was also hit, losing most of her port 6" and 3" batteries. At 8.20, Asahi also had to pull out of line, and the battle appeared to be swinging back to favour the Russians.
Meanwhile, the Bayan was leading Pallada and Diana down the west coast, heading for the open sea. Yakumo exchanged fire with Bayan, causing serious damage and fires, despite her own firepower having been halved by earlier damage. By 8.25 both Tsaeravitch and Peresyvet were showing moderate damage, with a serious fire raging amidships of the Tsaeravitch. By 8.30 she was slowing down, with the Russian squadron circling back round to the north .My Fleet was now heading roughly east, with the Chitose group, exchanging fire with the Russian cruisers heading north. Yakumo, now with only a handful of operational guns, retired to the South East. At the same time, Sevastapol, Poltava and Peresyvet all nearly collided, as they were now travelling much faster that the damaged Tsaeravitch. As a result, many hits were scored on all three. The chitose group was pursuing the Russian cruisers north, sinking Pallada, and moderately damaging the Diana. Bayan was someway ahead but badly shot up.
By 8.45 it was obvious that Peresyet was doomed. By this stage, only three of the eight Russian 10" and12" turrets were still firing. However, only two of my own battleships were undamaged, and their ammunition was low. Therefore, the fleet broke of and headed south, with all ships ceasing fire 10 minutes later.
I have to say I was initially delighted with the results of this battle. Despite serious fire damage to Mikasa, Asahi and Yakumo, none of my ships were lost. However, I had seriously over estimated the damage suffered by my battleships. None of my ships suffered more than light damage, excluding Yakumo, although by the end of the battle all of the armoured cruisers were out of ammunition, apart from Adzuma. Furious with my mistake, three battleships and the Adzuma were detached to pursue the Russians, but they were unable to catch up. Never the less, 4 battleships were sunk and two damaged. To my surprise, Bayan and Diana were also lost, along with Pallada.
It was a far from tidy battle, yet, for my first major battle, I was quite pleased!
Battle of the Bay
With Port Arthur no longer being safe, I prepared to intercept the Pacific fleet, hopefully in daylight, in the Yellow Sea. However, despite several close encounters, I could never effectively engage the Russians. At dawn the following day, however, of the SW coast of Korea, the Russian fleet was discovered inshore of my fleet, and at the centre of the mouth a bay. As a result, they fled North, straight into the bay (possible AI improvement for Jutland?!), and the Combined fleet pursued in three columns. The most easterly comprised Togo’s six battleships, the centre column was made up of the 8 armoured cruisers, and the western column comprised the chitose squadron and six other cruisers. The turn commenced at 6.20, and soon over 50 ships were charging into the bay. The Russians then attempted to cross the T of Togo’s squadron, resulting in a general turn to port, unmasking the after turrets of the Battleships and armoured cruisers, who opened fire at 7.15. During the action, four of the Russian Battleships continued heading north, leaving the rear three battleships, Retvizan, Peresyvet and Pobyeda to engage my fleet unsupported, although little damage had been done so far by either side . At 7.40, these three Russian battleships altered course as if to charge my line, but shortly after starting the turn Pobyeda blew up, and the Russians retreated up the bay. All of my ships ceased fire and continued into the bay, with the Russians staying close to the eastern shore. The Russians maintained a sporadic fire for five more minutes, hitting Yakumo and destroying her after 8" turret.
The Russians continued up the bay for some time, then altered course to the west (as they realised, belatedly, that it was a dead end), with my ships also altering course, so that the two sides were running parallel, with the opposing battleships around 6-7000 yards apart, and with the armoured cruisers formed up to the south of Togo’s squadron, firing over their heads. The chitose’s group was moving down the western coast of the bay, having been trying to catch up with the fleet for some time. Both sides opened fire again at around 7.50, with the Russians concentrating on Mikasa and Yakumo, who had been detached from the other armoured cruisers, and had somehow ended up ahead of the battleships. My ships concentrated fire on the Peresyvet. The Russian squadron made a 180 degree turn not long afterwards, heading back east. Little damage was done by either side until 8.13, when the biggest fluke I’ve ever seen happened. A 12" shell, fired by Asahi, flew wide of the Peresyvet, and hit Retvizan. Retvizan, having suffered no damage up to this point, exploded. After picking myself of the floor, I shifted fire to Tsaeravitch, as she was now leading the remaining Russian ships straight back out to sea. Mikasa was also hit hard, losing a 12" turret and suffering from fires. She pulled out of the line. Yakumo was also hit, losing most of her port 6" and 3" batteries. At 8.20, Asahi also had to pull out of line, and the battle appeared to be swinging back to favour the Russians.
Meanwhile, the Bayan was leading Pallada and Diana down the west coast, heading for the open sea. Yakumo exchanged fire with Bayan, causing serious damage and fires, despite her own firepower having been halved by earlier damage. By 8.25 both Tsaeravitch and Peresyvet were showing moderate damage, with a serious fire raging amidships of the Tsaeravitch. By 8.30 she was slowing down, with the Russian squadron circling back round to the north .My Fleet was now heading roughly east, with the Chitose group, exchanging fire with the Russian cruisers heading north. Yakumo, now with only a handful of operational guns, retired to the South East. At the same time, Sevastapol, Poltava and Peresyvet all nearly collided, as they were now travelling much faster that the damaged Tsaeravitch. As a result, many hits were scored on all three. The chitose group was pursuing the Russian cruisers north, sinking Pallada, and moderately damaging the Diana. Bayan was someway ahead but badly shot up.
By 8.45 it was obvious that Peresyet was doomed. By this stage, only three of the eight Russian 10" and12" turrets were still firing. However, only two of my own battleships were undamaged, and their ammunition was low. Therefore, the fleet broke of and headed south, with all ships ceasing fire 10 minutes later.
I have to say I was initially delighted with the results of this battle. Despite serious fire damage to Mikasa, Asahi and Yakumo, none of my ships were lost. However, I had seriously over estimated the damage suffered by my battleships. None of my ships suffered more than light damage, excluding Yakumo, although by the end of the battle all of the armoured cruisers were out of ammunition, apart from Adzuma. Furious with my mistake, three battleships and the Adzuma were detached to pursue the Russians, but they were unable to catch up. Never the less, 4 battleships were sunk and two damaged. To my surprise, Bayan and Diana were also lost, along with Pallada.
It was a far from tidy battle, yet, for my first major battle, I was quite pleased!