Firestorm
16 Mar 08, 02:08
At midnight of Feb. 9th 1904 the surprise attack on Port Arthur sank the Tsesarevitch and Novik. That morning after hearing of the Varyag's destruction by the Chemulpo Force. Admiral Togo decided to dispatch Vice Admiral Kamimura with the 2nd Division armored cruisers to rendezous with the Asama at Maizuru with orders to then begin hunting for the Vladivostock Cruiser Force. With the six armored cruisers, Kamimura should easily be able to defeat the three armored and one protected cruiser of the Russians. Admiral Togo would continue to keep watch on Port Arthur with the six battleships and four protected cruisers of the Chitose group.
With the armored cruisers off to Maizuru on the night of Feb. 10th at about 1900 hours while on patrol near Port Arthur. Admiral Togo encountered the Gunboat Mandzhur trying to sneak back into Port Arthur. Mandzhur was quickly sunk by the Chitose group. Later that night at about 2330 the IJN Battleships sighted the Askold with seven destoryers. Askold and all seven destroyers were sunk with only minor torpedo damage to the Hatsuse. After that encounter Togo almost thought he should recall the armored cruisers but decided to let them proceed with their mission.
At about 0100 on Feb. 11th about 50 Km NW of Fusan one of the auxilary cruiser marus made contact the the Vlad cruisers and was quickly sunk at close range last course of the Russian cruisers was to the SE towards Fusan at 15 kts. Asama was almost to Maizuru at this time and would not be able to intercept in time. Vice Admiral Kamimura with 2nd Division was only 150 Km SW of Fusan at the time. Kamimura would have to fight the Russian cruisers with only five armored cruisers instead of six. Kamimura hoped to intercept the Russian cruisers at dawn. At 0200 the Russian cruisers intercepted a neutral freighter.
On Feb. 11th 32 Km SW of Fusan. Only 31 minutes before sunrise with a wind from the NW at 7 kts and the temperature being only -3 C. The 2nd Division was heading Northwest at 16kts. Lookouts on the flagship Idzumo sighted the protect cruiser Bogatyr at the head of the Russian line only 5000 m away dead ahead on a Southwesterly course directly towards the 2nd Division with Ryurik, Rossiya, and Gomoboi following. Kamimura immediately opened fire from all cruisers on the Bogatyr, ordered battle speed to 20 kts, and set course East Northeast. He set this course to A: bring more guns to bear, B: be in a better position to be able to cut the cruisers off from reatreating back to Vladivostock, and C: to keep the smoke from his ships from interfering with with his gunners.
The Russians went to 19 kts and started to change course first to the West Southwest and then straight West towards Masanpo. This was strange to Kamimura since he thought the Russian commander would reverse course to the Northeast toward Vladavostock. Very quickly Bogatyr took heavy hits especially after Idzumo finished its first turn and brought more secondary guns to bear. Range had now closed to almost 3000 m. Shortly after that Bogatyr's aft 152mm turret was knocked out and severe fires broke out on deck and her speed was reduced to 13 kts. Kamimura then ordered a change in the distibution of fire: Idzumo would fire on the Gomoboi, Adzuma and Yakumo on the Rossiya, Tokiwa on the Ryurik, and Iwate to continue to pound Bogatyr.
All the Russian ships took several severe hits and Bogatyr had its forward 152 mm turret knocked and now had heavy damage. Kamimura's ships were not unscathed however. Ryurik scored a lucky hit on Yakumo and destoryed her aft 203mm turret. Adzuma took very light damage from what was left of Bogatyr's guns. Rossiya and Gomoboi pounded Idzumo and many uncontrolled fires broke out. With Bogatyr basically a floating wreck at this point, Iwate shifted fire to the Rossiya. Tokiwa also now started firing on Rossiya. Idzumo, Adzuma, and Yakumo now concentrated on Gomoboi at the end of the Russian line. The Russians now concentrated fire on the Iwate at the end of the 2nd Division line, bringing a brief respite to the battered flagship Idzumo.
The range was now rapidly increasing since the Russians were now heading West and soon altered course slightly to the West Northwest. Kamimura was still heading East Northeast but quickly change course to the West after some fires on the flagship were under control. The 2nd Dvision' speed was still 20 kts. The Russians however were in trouble. Bogatyr was now down to 8 kts, was a burning wreck and dropped out of line. The Russian divison however could still only manage 13 kts since Gomoboi took several heavy hits that damaged the boilers and killed dozens of stokers.
Now with the division heading west the range started closing quickly again. Kamimura was careful to still keep his position to the southeast of the Russians so that smoke from his ships would still not interfere with his gunners.
Idzumo and Adzuma now concetrated on the Rossiya scoring hits and more fires broke out on deck. Yakumo, Tokiwa, and Iwate struck Gomoboi again and again knocking out two of her 203 mm guns. Idzumo was now taking too much of a pounding and if she was to survive she would have to pull out of line. Idzumo pulled out line and started moving out of the engagement zone. Idzumo with Kamimura now out of the fight he had no choice but to give command of the rest of the division over to Captain Mori of the Adzuma.
With Idzumo no longer fighting, firing priorites were changed again. Adzuma and Yakumo now concetrated on the Rossiya. Tokiwa and Iwate continued on Gomoboi. The Rising Sun was now just comming over the eastern horizon. The captains took this as good omen and urged their crews on with faster firing rates and speed to stoke the boilers.
The Rossiya and Gomoboi were now in horrible shape. Gomoboi was now down to 8 kts. with most of her guns destroyed or inoperable, raging uncontrolled fires all over the ship and she listed badly. Rossiya was down to 10 kts, had major fires started, was down to only one 203 mm gun left, and she also was begininng to list. Adzuma now started firing on Ryurik which was starting to break away from the rest of the Russian cruisers but still had no hope of outrunning the IJN cruisers. Hit after hit pounded into Ryurik starting fires, killing crew and knocking out guns. The IJN ships were taking hits also but these were mostly from lighter secondary guns which their superior armor shruged off easily.
The ships of the second division swept past the burning hulks of the Rossiya, Gomoboi, and Bogatyr. The Rossiya's last 203 mm gun was knocked out. Now all four IJN cruisers concentrated on the Ryurik. In short order Ryurik looked like a burning barge and ended up turning turtle within 1000 m of the Korean cost near the entrance to Masanpo harbor.
The 2nd Division reversed course and the proceeded to finish off Rossiya, Gomoboi, and Bogatyr with a combination of more gunfire and torpedoes. All three also rolled over and sank men drowning in freezing water before Japanese rescue boats could be lowered.
Idzumo was able to get her fires under controll and rejoined the rest of the division with Kamimura retaking command. She was the most badly damaged of the IJN cruisers. Adzuma and Iwate suffered only light damage. Yakumo also suffered light damaged but had that aft 203 mm destroyed. Tokiwa was the most fortunate of all. Not once was she hit by a major calibure shell from the Russians. She was basically undamaged and only was hit by light shells six times. The Tokiwa's captain advised the crew that he would buy them all a round of Sake when they got back into port.
Togo's risk of sending the armored cruisers was justified and soon the cruisers would rejoin the 1st Squadron and wait for the Russian 1st Pacific Sqaudron to come out. In the end the Vladivostock Cruiser Force survied for less than three days and only captured a single neutral freighter. The whole Battle only lasted 1 hr 5 min. Smoked them good I did.
:smoke:
With the armored cruisers off to Maizuru on the night of Feb. 10th at about 1900 hours while on patrol near Port Arthur. Admiral Togo encountered the Gunboat Mandzhur trying to sneak back into Port Arthur. Mandzhur was quickly sunk by the Chitose group. Later that night at about 2330 the IJN Battleships sighted the Askold with seven destoryers. Askold and all seven destroyers were sunk with only minor torpedo damage to the Hatsuse. After that encounter Togo almost thought he should recall the armored cruisers but decided to let them proceed with their mission.
At about 0100 on Feb. 11th about 50 Km NW of Fusan one of the auxilary cruiser marus made contact the the Vlad cruisers and was quickly sunk at close range last course of the Russian cruisers was to the SE towards Fusan at 15 kts. Asama was almost to Maizuru at this time and would not be able to intercept in time. Vice Admiral Kamimura with 2nd Division was only 150 Km SW of Fusan at the time. Kamimura would have to fight the Russian cruisers with only five armored cruisers instead of six. Kamimura hoped to intercept the Russian cruisers at dawn. At 0200 the Russian cruisers intercepted a neutral freighter.
On Feb. 11th 32 Km SW of Fusan. Only 31 minutes before sunrise with a wind from the NW at 7 kts and the temperature being only -3 C. The 2nd Division was heading Northwest at 16kts. Lookouts on the flagship Idzumo sighted the protect cruiser Bogatyr at the head of the Russian line only 5000 m away dead ahead on a Southwesterly course directly towards the 2nd Division with Ryurik, Rossiya, and Gomoboi following. Kamimura immediately opened fire from all cruisers on the Bogatyr, ordered battle speed to 20 kts, and set course East Northeast. He set this course to A: bring more guns to bear, B: be in a better position to be able to cut the cruisers off from reatreating back to Vladivostock, and C: to keep the smoke from his ships from interfering with with his gunners.
The Russians went to 19 kts and started to change course first to the West Southwest and then straight West towards Masanpo. This was strange to Kamimura since he thought the Russian commander would reverse course to the Northeast toward Vladavostock. Very quickly Bogatyr took heavy hits especially after Idzumo finished its first turn and brought more secondary guns to bear. Range had now closed to almost 3000 m. Shortly after that Bogatyr's aft 152mm turret was knocked out and severe fires broke out on deck and her speed was reduced to 13 kts. Kamimura then ordered a change in the distibution of fire: Idzumo would fire on the Gomoboi, Adzuma and Yakumo on the Rossiya, Tokiwa on the Ryurik, and Iwate to continue to pound Bogatyr.
All the Russian ships took several severe hits and Bogatyr had its forward 152 mm turret knocked and now had heavy damage. Kamimura's ships were not unscathed however. Ryurik scored a lucky hit on Yakumo and destoryed her aft 203mm turret. Adzuma took very light damage from what was left of Bogatyr's guns. Rossiya and Gomoboi pounded Idzumo and many uncontrolled fires broke out. With Bogatyr basically a floating wreck at this point, Iwate shifted fire to the Rossiya. Tokiwa also now started firing on Rossiya. Idzumo, Adzuma, and Yakumo now concentrated on Gomoboi at the end of the Russian line. The Russians now concentrated fire on the Iwate at the end of the 2nd Division line, bringing a brief respite to the battered flagship Idzumo.
The range was now rapidly increasing since the Russians were now heading West and soon altered course slightly to the West Northwest. Kamimura was still heading East Northeast but quickly change course to the West after some fires on the flagship were under control. The 2nd Dvision' speed was still 20 kts. The Russians however were in trouble. Bogatyr was now down to 8 kts, was a burning wreck and dropped out of line. The Russian divison however could still only manage 13 kts since Gomoboi took several heavy hits that damaged the boilers and killed dozens of stokers.
Now with the division heading west the range started closing quickly again. Kamimura was careful to still keep his position to the southeast of the Russians so that smoke from his ships would still not interfere with his gunners.
Idzumo and Adzuma now concetrated on the Rossiya scoring hits and more fires broke out on deck. Yakumo, Tokiwa, and Iwate struck Gomoboi again and again knocking out two of her 203 mm guns. Idzumo was now taking too much of a pounding and if she was to survive she would have to pull out of line. Idzumo pulled out line and started moving out of the engagement zone. Idzumo with Kamimura now out of the fight he had no choice but to give command of the rest of the division over to Captain Mori of the Adzuma.
With Idzumo no longer fighting, firing priorites were changed again. Adzuma and Yakumo now concetrated on the Rossiya. Tokiwa and Iwate continued on Gomoboi. The Rising Sun was now just comming over the eastern horizon. The captains took this as good omen and urged their crews on with faster firing rates and speed to stoke the boilers.
The Rossiya and Gomoboi were now in horrible shape. Gomoboi was now down to 8 kts. with most of her guns destroyed or inoperable, raging uncontrolled fires all over the ship and she listed badly. Rossiya was down to 10 kts, had major fires started, was down to only one 203 mm gun left, and she also was begininng to list. Adzuma now started firing on Ryurik which was starting to break away from the rest of the Russian cruisers but still had no hope of outrunning the IJN cruisers. Hit after hit pounded into Ryurik starting fires, killing crew and knocking out guns. The IJN ships were taking hits also but these were mostly from lighter secondary guns which their superior armor shruged off easily.
The ships of the second division swept past the burning hulks of the Rossiya, Gomoboi, and Bogatyr. The Rossiya's last 203 mm gun was knocked out. Now all four IJN cruisers concentrated on the Ryurik. In short order Ryurik looked like a burning barge and ended up turning turtle within 1000 m of the Korean cost near the entrance to Masanpo harbor.
The 2nd Division reversed course and the proceeded to finish off Rossiya, Gomoboi, and Bogatyr with a combination of more gunfire and torpedoes. All three also rolled over and sank men drowning in freezing water before Japanese rescue boats could be lowered.
Idzumo was able to get her fires under controll and rejoined the rest of the division with Kamimura retaking command. She was the most badly damaged of the IJN cruisers. Adzuma and Iwate suffered only light damage. Yakumo also suffered light damaged but had that aft 203 mm destroyed. Tokiwa was the most fortunate of all. Not once was she hit by a major calibure shell from the Russians. She was basically undamaged and only was hit by light shells six times. The Tokiwa's captain advised the crew that he would buy them all a round of Sake when they got back into port.
Togo's risk of sending the armored cruisers was justified and soon the cruisers would rejoin the 1st Squadron and wait for the Russian 1st Pacific Sqaudron to come out. In the end the Vladivostock Cruiser Force survied for less than three days and only captured a single neutral freighter. The whole Battle only lasted 1 hr 5 min. Smoked them good I did.
:smoke: