The collected Despatches of VAdm Stark, IRuN

[HMSWarspite]

Port Arthur, 10th Feb 1904.
To Nicholas, Tsar of All the Russias, welcome.

I have to report that shortly after midnight of 9th Feb, the Imperial Japanese Navy, under Admiral Togo, launched a surpise attack with Torpedo Boat Destroyers on my command at anchor at Port Arthur. Fortunately the alert crew and superb training of my command spotted the attackers and were able to sink all 11 attacking destroyers without (as far as can be ascertained) a single torpedo being fired. Minor damage was done to 3 ships (all due to blast or splinter damage from small shells from the destoyers.
The commander and crew of the Novik deserve great reward, as they were hugely important in the victory. They were under steam as soon as the alarm was sounded, and were able to able to disrupt the enemy attack.
I have taken the liberty of instructing my command to behave as if a state of war has been declared by you Majesty, and am attempting to determine the fate of the remaining vessels of the Far East Fleet.

I remain, sire, your humble and obedient servant,,

Oskar Victorovich Stark, Vice Adm.

[HMSWarspite]

Port Arthur, 11th Feb 1904
To HIM Nicholas, Tsar of all the Russias, etc, welcome.

Reports have been received from neutral sources of a declaration of war by Japan against Mother Russia. Accordingly, I am taking offensive action immediately, in anticipation of your orders.

1. I have reorganised the Port Arthur forces into a main fleet (all battleships, and Boyarin, with Diana, and Palladia as scouts, and all modern destroyers). For now this force is to remain a fleet in being

2 The fast PCs (Askold and Novik) have been formed in to a fast raiding squadron, but have not sailed yet.

3 Angara has been detached and will sail at dawn to patrol off the east coast of Japan. If conditions are appropriate, she is to proceed to Vladivostok, where she will work with Lyena to enforce a continuous blockade of the east coast.

4 The Minelayers are currently mining the approaches to Port Arthur. If conditions become favourable, mining off the west coast of Korea may be considered.

5 The detached forces have been recalled (Varyag group, and Mandzhur). There is concern that Varyag did not report as per standing orders last night, and a garbled fragmentary message was received that cound not be understood.

Similarly, the Vladivostok forces have been split in 3: the cruisers which have been ordered to prepare for sea, t patrol the west coast of Japan, Lyena, and the others which are a harbour defence force.

I have every hope that, although the Japanese may have landed troops in Korea, I can isolate them and starve them out.

I remain sire, etc etc

OV Stark, VAdm

[HMSWarspite]

12th Feb 1904
Your Majesty,

I have the honour to report that the Gunboat Mandzhur docked at Port Arthur at 9pm last night. She reported minor contact with 2 TB at the entrance to the port, but no other contact in her voyage.

It is with a somewhat heavier heart that I report that a Japanese Naval communique has been printed by neutral press, reporting that the IJN main squadron of Battleships and Armoured Cruisers encountered and sank 2 vessels on the afternoon of 10th. No further details have been received as yet, but it must be suspected that these vessels are the missing Varyag and Koreyets.

Angara signalled last night that she met a force consisting of the PC Sai Yen, AC Hei Yen and 2 gunboats [Iwake and Choka, but there were 3 other vessels I did not see]. She spotted them at 3000m range, 254 Km SW of Assan Basin. SHe immediately turned away, but did take monor damage to her steering. Not wishing to ake any risk, I ordered her throught the Tsushima strait to Vladivostok.

I remain etc etc

Stark, VAdm, CinC Far East

[HMSWarspite]

[Player commentary:

I started this AAR when I saw the result of the destroyer attack on PA: I have never got away unscathed before, and Novik getting under way immediately is propably the key. If nothing else, Palladia is out of arc by the time Novik wants to fire torpedoes.

Having had that battle, I then got Varyag's group away from the coast without action - goody good I thought! Now the story of what happened (the 'neutral report' above expanded). The two of them opened an engagement 100km E of Weihaiwei, 3000m from Mikasa's group! This would not be so bad, but sea state was 1, it was daylight (2 hrs til dusk), and visibilty was 36km! So I rationalise it as 'with fog banks'. Anyway:

The engagement started at 4:14pm. By 4:20, both Varyag and Koreyets were sunk. Koreyets was sinking in seconds (just after I ordered her to charge the Mikasa). She made the turn, and then blew up at 4:18. Varyag steamed away from the IJN, and made it up to 17kts, however at 4:20 had taken enough damage to roll over to port and sink. I suspect very few Russians would have survived from that battle. Koreyets did score one hit on Mikasa, and I think Varyag got one too, but Mikasa was green again almost at once, so very minor damage only!]

[HMSWarspite]

Anyone listening?

[Fairweather]

Oh yes. How is your campaign going now? The only thing I would comment on is that I've found Japan's East Coast to be quite dangerous for AMCs. I regularly encounter Yakumo/ Adzumo, and the IJN PC Squadron shot up Lyena, and ultimatly sank her after a three day running fight. I hope you have more success.

[Bullethead]

Never mind :)

[rgreat]

We are listening. ;)

[HMSWarspite]

OK, I will give you an update tomorrow. I find the east coast of Japan better than almost anywhere else! Also, it is more a case of few other ships have the legs to do a decent cruise there.

I enjoyed watching the demise of Varyag and Koreyets - can't say I played it as such!

[Fairweather]

True, but Lyena was my favourite! As was Varyag, who was lost within days. Looking forward to an update.

[HMSWarspite]

15th Feb 1904.

Your Majesty,
This report covers the period from my last despatch at dawn on 12th inst to dawn 15th inst.

Angara reported that the Straits of Tsushima are heavily and continuously patrolled by Japanese torpedo boats. Fortunately the weather was conducive to forcing the passage: 2 metre waves appeared to severely limit the TB flotilla speed, to 16kts or so. Angara was easily able to out run them. She reported 2 contacts with a dozen or so boats each time, although these may have been the same flotilla. Continuing east to clear any vessels patrolling the east coast of Korea, she fell in with the neutral vessel Vancouver. She was stopped and searched. On being found to be carrying contraband, she was impounded and escorted to Vladivostok. Angara completed repairs late 14th Feb.

Lyena sailed during 12th and headed for the Tsugaru Strait. At 1:22 pm of 14th, 40km southwest of Amori, she encountered 2 neutral merchants and a auxillary cruiser. It is possible that the Japanese areintroducing some sort of convoy system. On signing Lyena tne merchants scattered, the AuxC staying with Algiers. Lyena losed the range and opened fire at 3000m at 3pm. By 3:15, the AuxC was down to 5 kts, and on fire. Lyena had closed to just over 1000m by this point. As Lyena turned away the Aux C blew up and sank in seconds. Lyena then ran down and captured Algiers (again carrying war contraband). The second merchant had escaped by this point. Lyena then forced the straits that night and is now off the east coast of Japan.

The Fast Cruisers from PA sortied to the south west tip of Korea and returned without any encounters.

I remain, sir, etc


Stark, VAdm

[HMSWarspite]

Sorry for the delay, I have been travelling on business. I have now just updated to the latest version. I was having the day counter error a lot, and had to keep reloading the game, which was getting frustrating. I am tempted to restart, and see if life gets better...

[HMSWarspite]

1.066 is very different in AI behaviour in the battles. I will restart after I have played around a bit (see the main forum)

[HMSWarspite]

Now having the crash on one hundred battles campaign problem. So I will wait some more!

[JebUSMC]

Now that 1.070 is out, I look forward to reading more dispatches :)

[HMSWarspite]

Once I have played around some more, will be right with you. Will restart though.