1916 Campaign - Royal Navy

saddletank

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THEIR LORDSHIPS WAR DIARY 1916
=========================


JANUARY

REDEPLOYMENTS AND STRATEGY

It is agreed that patrols of submarines shall operate principally in the western and northern exits of the German Bight to observe and intercept German naval movements.

Local defence flotillas to be assigned short range coastal patrol duties to report enemy incursions and protect shipping.

Western and Northern exits from the German Bight to be mined, the west by Dunkerque Destroyer Squadron reinforced by the French Minelayer Pluton - such operations to be supported by Harwich Force, and the north exit by the 8th Submarine Flotilla Minelayer E.41 which accordingly to be based at Great Yarmouth and come under command 9th Sub Flotilla.

10th Cruiser Squadron to patrol the northern entrances to the North Sea and the Norweigian coast and Skagerrak. Squadron to be redeployed from Scapa to Lerwick.

At Dunkerque an aggressive posture is to be undertaken with frequent sweeps to mine the approaches to Zeebrugge and coastal patrols. It is proposed to strengthen the Dunkerque forces with River Class destroyers from Portsmouth. Coastal submarine forces and French submarines from the Channel to be based at Dunkerque to patrol offensively off Zeebrugge.

5th Light Cruiser Squadron, 9th and 10th Destroyer Flotillas, plus Seaplane Tender Vindex to be formed into Harwich Force. Commodore Tyrwhitt commanding.

8th Submarine Flotilla (Commodore Roger Keyes) to come under Harwich Force command.

1st Battle Squadron and 1st Cruiser Squadron to return from Cromarty to Scapa to rejoin Grand Fleet.

3rd Cruiser Squadron to be removed from the Battle Cruiser Fleet as it is agreed that these vessels are too slow to screen effectively for the Battlecruisers. The squadron to be ordered to the Nore to form part of a new Channel Fleet.

The French Armoured Cruiser Dupetit-Thouars and the existing French Channel Fleet destroyers to be ordered from Le Havre to the Nore to join said above formation, or to be in readiness to operate in the eastern Channel approaches.

3rd Battle Squadron (King Edward VII Class) to be detached from Grand Fleet, Scapa and ordered south to the Nore to form backbone of new Channel Fleet. Vice Admiral Sir Edward Bradford commanding.

7th Cruiser Squadron recalled from Lerwick. HMSs Minotaur and Hampshire to join 2nd Cruiser Squadron with Grand Fleet, Scapa. HMSs Donegal, Achilles and Lancaster reformed as 7th Cruiser Squadron and ordered to reinforce Channel Fleet.

Initially heavier surface units are not to conduct offensive operations until some measure of the enemy's forces and intentions is known, thenceforth heavy units will conduct operations to draw forth the German main forces to bring about a general engagement.

Following reorganisation and redeployment of assets, disposition of forces available is as follows:

LOCAL PATROL FLOTILLAS
=====================

FRENCH CHANNEL COAST

NB: Until 21st Jan
BREST - FRENCH - 1/DDs Durandal, Pertuisane, Escopette, Rapière. 2/TBs Rafale, Tramontane, Mistral, Sirocco, Trombe, Audacieux (from Dunkerque) (defence patrol).

CHERBOURG - FRENCH - TBs 275, 279, 303, 324, 335, 338, 367 (defence patrol).
LE HAVRE - FRENCH - 1/TBs 300, 302, 306, 314, 316. 2/TBs 317, 326, 327, 334, 340 (defence patrol).

NB: from 21st Jan:
BREST - FRENCH - 1/TBs 305, 318, 320, 321, 322, 323, 341, 342. 2/TBs 344, 346. 3/TBs 231, 258 (defence patrol).

CHANNEL

DOVER - DDs 1/Afridi, Cossack, Ghurka, Mohawk, Tartar, Amazon. 2/Saracen, Crusader, Nubian Viking, Zulu (offensive patrol)

FLANDERS

NB: Until 21st Jan:
DUNKERQUE - FRENCH - 1/TBs 305, 318, 320, 321, 322, 323, 341, 342. 2/TBs 343 (torpedoed SE of Harwich 12/01/16), 344, 345 (torpedoed Strait of Dover 16/01/16), 346, 350 (mined N of Zeebrugge 05/01/16), 351 (torpedoed N of Dunkerque 05/01/16), 365 (torpedoed eastern Channel approaches 06/01/16). 3/TBs 231, 258, 259 (torpedoed eastern Channel approaches 15/01/16), 269 (mined N of Zeebrugge 12/01/16), 280 (mined N of Oostende 19/01/16)(defence patrol).

NB: from 21st Jan:
CALAIS - FRENCH - 1/DDs Durandal, Pertuisane, Escopette, Rapière (torpedoed off Calais 24/01/16). 2/TBs Rafale, Tramontane, Mistral, Sirocco, Trombe, Audacieux (defence patrol).

EAST COAST & NORTH

NORE - DDs Porcupine, Conflict, Wizard, Fervent, Zephyr, Opossum, Sunfish, Ranger, Surly (defence patrol)
LOWESTOFT - TBs 9, 11 (torpedoed off Lowestoft 29/01/16)(defence patrol)
GREAT YARMOUTH - TBs 33 34 35 36 (defence patrol)
HUMBER - 7th DEST FLOT - 1/Virago, Earnest, Griffon, Locust, Panther, Seal, Wolf 2/Orwell, Falcon. Whiting, Bat, Crane, Flying Fish (defence patrol)
WHITBY - TBs 29 30 31 (torpedoed off Sunderland 24/01/16) 32 (defence patrol)
HARTLEPOOL - TBs 13, 14, 15, 16 (defence patrol)
SUNDERLAND - TBs 17, 18, 19, 20 (defence patrol)
TYNE - 9th DEST FLOT - 1/Fame, Flirt, Desperate, Mallard, Angler, Brazen, Leven (torpedoed off Sunderland 18/01/16). 2/Coquette, Cynthia, Cygnet, Stag, Quail, Thrasher (defence patrol)
BERWICK - TBs 21, 22, 23 (torpedoed off Berwick, 28/01/16), 24 (defence patrol)
FORTH - 8th DEST FLOT - 1/DDs Lively, Sprightly, Avon, Bittern, Leopard, Vixen. 2/DDs Sylvia, Violet, Ostrich, Star, Osprey, Fairy, Gypsy (defence patrol)
MONTROSE - TBs 25, 26, 27, 28 (defence patrol)
ABERDEEN - TBs 1, 2, 3, 4 (defence patrol)
CROMARTY - TBs 5, 6, 7, 8 (defence patrol)
SCAPA - 1/DDs Fawn, Spiteful, Petrel, Myrmidon, Siren, Kangaroo (torpedoed 50km SE Scapa 13/01/16). 2/DDs Cheerful, Racehorse, Mermaid, Greyhound, Roebuck, Otter (anti-shipping patrol)
LERWICK - 1/10th CS - 1/AMCs Alsatian, Alcantara, Almanzora, Arlanza, Andes, Victorian (mined E of Aberdeen 03/01/16), Virginian, Ebro, Mantua, Moldavia. 2/AMCs Teutonic, Columbella, Gloucestershire, Armadale Castle, Otway, Orocava, Orcoma, Orbita, Hilary, Hildebrand. 2/10th CS - AMCs Patia, Patuca, Patnea, Motagua, Changuinola (anti-shipping patrol)

SUBMARINE FLOTILLAS
===================

CHANNEL

DOVER - 5th SUB FLOT - V.1, V.2, V.3, V.4 (defence patrol)

FLANDERS

DUNKERQUE - 6th SUB FLOT - C.3, C.6, C.10 (defence patrol)
DUNKERQUE - Sirène, Triton, Espadon (offensive patrol)
DUNKERQUE - Prairial, Thermidor, Ventôse (offensive patrol)
DUNKERQUE - Silure, Aigrette, Amiral Bourgois (offensive patrol)

EAST COAST & NORTH

NORE - 4th SUB FLOT C.17, C.19, C.30 (defence patrol)
HARWICH - 1/8th SUB FLOT E CLASS - 1/E.4, E.5, E.16, E.22 (mined in western Bight 24/01/16) (offensive operations)
HARWICH - 2/8th SUB FLOT E CLASS - 2/E.23, E.26, E.30, E.31 (offensive operations)
HARWICH - 3/8th SUB FLOT D CLASS - 3/D.1, D.3, D.4 (offensive operations)
HARWICH - 4/8th SUB FLOT D CLASS - 4/D.6, D.7, D.8 (offensive operations)
HARWICH - 8th SUB FLOT - C.13, C.14, C.16 (defence patrol)
GREAT YARMOUTH - 9th SUB FLOT - C.25, C.28, C.12 (defence patrol)
GREAT YARMOUTH - 9th SUB FLOT MINELAYERS - SM E.41 (offensive operations)
HUMBER - 3rd SUB FLOT - C.2, C.4, C.5, C.24 (defence patrol)
HARTLEPOOL - 10th SUB FLOT - C.8, C.9, C.22 (defence patrol)
TYNE - 11th SUB FLOT E Class - E.25, E.29, F.1 (mined in northern Bight 18/01/16) (offensive operations)
TYNE - 11th SUB FLOT H Class - H.11, H.5, H.6, H.12 (offensive operations)
TYNE - 11th SUB FLOT G Class - G.1, G.2 (offensive operations)
TYNE - 2nd SUB FLOT H Class - H.7, H.8, H.9 (offensive operations)
TYNE - 2nd SUB FLOT B Class B.1, B.3, B.4, B.5 (defence patrol)
FORTH - 12th SUB FLOT - C.20, C.21, C.34 (defence patrol)
SCAPA - 1st SUB FLOT - C.18, C.23, C.7, C.15 (defence patrol)

MAJOR SURFACE FORCES
====================

CHANNEL AND FLANDERS

PORTSMOUTH - MONITOR SQDN - Hvy/MNs Havelock, Marshal Soult, Marshal Ney. Med/MNs General Craufurd, General Wolfe, Lord Clive, Prince Eugene, Prince Rupert, Sir John Moore. Lt/MNs M24, M25, M26, M27 (from Dover 12th Jan).
DUNKERQUE - DUNKERQUE FORCE - VADM ROUYER - 6th LCS - COMMODORE WITHERS - Fearless, Active, Blonde, Blanche, Bodicea, Bellona. FRENCH DEST FLOT - 1/DDs Francis Garnier, Javeline, Sagaie, Epieu, Harpon, Francisque (sunk by CL Arcona N of Ems, 05/01/16). 2/DDs Enseigne Roux, Fleuret, Branlebas, Gabion, Oriflamme, Fanion (foundered in German Bight after being hit twice by guns of Helgoland batteries, 25/01/16). 3/DDs Tromblon, Obusier, Claymore, Carquois. DUNKERQUE MINELAYING - CA Dupetit-Thouars, ML Pluton, TGB Dunois.

EAST COAST & NORTH

THE NORE - CHANNEL FLEET - VADM SIR EDWARD BRADFORD - 3rd BS - King Edward VII, Africa, Britannia, Commonwealth, Dominion, Hindustan, Zealandia (sunk, gunfire from German battlecruisers 13/01/16). 3rd CS - RADM MONTAGUE - Devonshire, Antrim, Kent. 7th CS - RADM HEATH - Lancaster, Achilles, Donegal. 6th DEST FLOT - 1/FL Swift. DDs Test, Ettrick, Exe, Cherwell, Dee, Ure, Ouse, Arun. 2/DDs Wear, Swale, Rother, Teviot, Garry, Derwent, Moy, Stour. 3/DDs Eden, Waveney, Boyne, Doon, Kale, Foyle. AVIATION - AV Riviera. DDs Liffey, Itchen.

HARWICH - HARWICH FORCE - COMMODORE TYRWHITT - 5th LCS - Arethusa, Penelope, Cleopatra, Conquest, Undaunted, Aurora. 9th DEST FLOT - 1/DDs Laertes, Lance, Landrail, Lark, Laurel, Legion, Lennox, Lucifer, Liberty (sunk, gunfire from German battleships 13/01/16). 2/FL Lightfoot (sunk, gunfire from German battleships 13/01/16). DDs Linnet (foundered following damage by gunfire of German cruiser Medusa off Ems, 01/02/16), Llewellyn, Loyal (mined off Juist 19/01/16), Lydiard (foundered following damage by gunfire of German cruiser Medusa off Ems, 01/02/16), Lysander, Leonidas, Lookout, Laverock, Lassoo. 10th DEST FLOT - 1/DDs Miranda, Meteor, Minos, Mastiff, Manly, Matchless, Milne, Morris. 2/FL Nimrod. DDs Murray, Mentor, Mansfield, Moorsom, Myngs, Medea, Melampus, Melpomene, Talisman. AVIATION & MINELAYING - AV Vindex, ML Abdiel, DDs Lochinvar, Lurcher.

ROSYTH - BATTLE CRUISER FLEET - VADM SIR DAVID BEATTY - 1st BCS - Lion, Princess Royal, Queen Mary, Tiger. 2nd BCS - RADM PAKENHAM - Australia, New Zealand, Indefatigable. 3rd BCS - RADM THE HON HORACE HOOD - Invincible, Indomitable, Inflexible. 1st LCS - COMMODORE ALEXANDER SINCLAIR - Galatea, Inconstant, Phaeton, Cordelia. 2nd LCS - COMMODORE GOODENOUGH - Southampton, Birmingham, Nottingham, Dublin. 3rd LCS - RADM NAPIER - Falmouth, Yarmouth, Gloucester, Birkenhead. 1st DEST FLOT - 1/DDs Acheron, Archer, Ariel, Attack, Badger, Beaver, Defender, Druid, Ferret. 2/FL Botha, DDs Forester, Goshawk, Hind, Hornet, Hydra, Jackal, Lapwing, Lizard, Phoenix. 2nd DEST FLOT - 1/DDs Alarm, Brisk, Chameleon, Hope, Larne, Lyra. 2/DDs Martin, Nemesis, Nereide, Nymphe, Redpole, Rifleman, Ruby. AVIATION - AV Engadine, DDs Sandfly, Tigress.

SCAPA - GRAND FLEET - ADM SIR JOHN JELLICOE - 2nd BS - VADM SIR MARTIN JERRAM - King George V, Ajax, Centurion, Erin, Orion, Monarch, Conqueror, Thunderer. 4th BS - VADM SIR DOVETON STURDEE - Iron Duke, Dreadnought, Superb, Canada, Benbow, Bellerophon, Emperor of India, Temeraire. 1st BS - VADM SIR CECIL BURNEY - Marlborough, Vanguard, Hercules, Agincourt, Colossus, Collingwood, Neptune, St.Vincent. 5th BS - RADM EVAN-THOMAS - Barham, Queen Elizabeth, Warspite. 1st CS - RADM ARBUTHNOT - Defence, Warrior, Duke of Edinburgh, Black Prince. 2nd CS - RADM GOUGH-CALTHORPE - Minotaur, Hampshire, Shannon, Cochrane. 4th LCS - COMMODORE MESURIER - Calliope, Comus, Carysfort, Caroline, Constance, Royalist. 4th DEST FLOT - 1/FL Tipperary. DDs Acasta, Achates, Ambuscade, Ardent, Midge, Owl, Paragon, Spitfire, Victor. 2/FL Broke. DDs Cockatrice, Contest, Fortune, Garland, Porpoise, Sparrowhawk, Shark, Christopher, Unity. 12th DEST FLOT - 1/FL Faulknor. DDs Maenad, Mindful, Nessus, Mameluke. 2/FL Marksman. DDs Opal, Napier, Munster, Mischief, Marvel. 11th DEST FLOT - 1/FL Kempenfelt. DDs Moon, Mons, Mandate, Marmion, Marne, Michael, Morning Star, Manners. 2/DDs Martial, Milbrook, Minion, Mystic, Ossory, Mounsey, Musketeer, Magic. AVIATION - AV Campania, DDs Oak, Hardy.

Note: The above organisation is the one finally arrived at after approximately ten days. Several versions of light forces in the Dunkerque and Dover areas were tried for over a week before this final scheme was agreed upon. Thus in the accounts of early mining and sweep operations to the western Bight, the light forces based on Dunkerque do not agree with the above 'Dunkerque Force' order of battle.

/to be continued...
 
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saddletank

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Re: 1916 Campaign

1 JAN
-----
A day of reorganising formations, sending ships and flotillas from places they are not needed to places they are, and defining strategy. During the day Dunkerque Destroyer Squadron with Minelaying Squadron of ML Pluton and 6 TBs attached was formed and renamed 'Dunkerque Squadron' and ordered to the western Bight to lay mines off the Ems. Harwich force was placed 20km behind in support.

8th Sub Flotilla mine layer E.41 was sent to be based at Great Yarmouth to come under command of 9th Sub Flotilla and from there ordered to lay mines off Zeebrugge.

10th Cruiser Squadron commenced patrolling the Orkey-Shetland-Bergen line to interdict Germany-bound cargo ships.
 

saddletank

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Re: 1916 Campaign

2 JAN
-----
It was determined to place small local flotillas of 4 TBs each at minor harbours along the east coast. Lowestoft was sent TBs 9 and 11 from Rosyth; Great Yarmouth was sent TBs 33, 34, 35, 36 from Queenstown; Whitby was sent TBs 29, 30, 31, 32 from Pembroke; Hartlepool was sent TBs 13, 14, 15, 16 from the Nore; Sunderland was sent TBs 17, 18, 19, 20 from the Nore; Berwick was sent TBs 21, 22, 23, 24 from the Nore; Montrose was sent TBs 25, 26, 27, 28 from the Nore; Aberdeen was sent TBs 1, 2, 3, 4 from Rosyth; Cromarty was sent TBs 5, 6, 7, 8 from Rosyth. These flotillas would mount inshore patrols no more than 50km from their harbours and observe for enemy submarines and protect merchant shipping. The more important ports are to be sent flotillas of 27 knotters, 30 knotters, Tribals or Rivers over the next days as the staff organise these forces, retaining sufficient boats to operate with the Channel Fleet and Dunkerque Squadron.

A series of running encounter battles between Dunkerque Squadron, Harwich Force and enemy light patrol forces took place in the western Bight.

7:45am in the dawn fog and drizzle Dunkerque Squadron encountered two enemy torpdeo boats off the Ems estuary, S165 and S166 which were heading north-west. A running fight developed at ranges under 4,000m opening to 5,000m as the visibility improved. Both enemy boats were damaged and turned NE towards the mine barrier. S166 sank at 8:38am and the second boat at 9:10am. Dunkerque Squadron then returned south to continue the operation. Our losses were slight in this action. Francois Garnier was hit in the stern early in the fight which started a small fire though this was extinguised by the damage control party within a few minutes. Ensigne Roux was hit once towards the end of the action, damaging a 65mm gun. These were the only two hits recorded on our boats.

10:10am the German destroyer S168 was sighted near the island of Borkum off the Ems. Dunkerque Destroyer Force gave chase but the enemy slipped into the Ems river and our forces turned about at 11:33am.

1:56pm three small cruisers were sighted, one north of the island of Borkum and two more further northeast. Harwich Force gave chase, the light cruisers Undaunted and Aurora turning east-south-east to chase the single cruiser off Borkum and Cleopatra, Penelope, Arethusa and Conquest giving chase east towards the further pair. Undaunted and Aurora caught up with the single cruiser as it entered the Ems and though fire was opened the enemy slipped further up river. Wary of a mine barrier the two British cruisers reversed course north to encounter a single German destroyer the S167. Trapped against the west shore and heading north the enemy was disabled and beached with several fires on board near the West Ems Light at 2:40pm. Undaunted was hit five times by shells from the enemy destroyer in this action, damaging seachlights, both pairs of aft deck torpedo tubes and the aft port 4" gun. The four cruisers sent in pursuit of the pair of enemy cruisers were unable to close the range below 7,000m and while some hits on the lead enemy cruiser were observed Cleopatra was also hit several times, the aft 6" position being damaged along with the 13pdr AA gun and the starboard pair of deck 21" torpedo tubes. The searchlights were put out of commision. With light fading and the enemy now retreating east beyond Baltrum and Langeoog islands it was decided to break off the action as Harwich Force was now very close to the Jade entrance and Helgoland was not far distant. The enemy were lost to sight in the eastern dusk at 3:56pm.

By now it was dark and the Minelayer Pluton had withdrawn to the north west. The Germans were thoroughly alerted to the operation and would be readying heavier units of the fleet therefore the mine-laying operation was cancelled and all forces ordered west and south for home.

6:10pm Arethusa and Conquest while steering 270 north of the gap between Borkum and the easternmost Dutch Frisian island of Schiermonnikoog observed a vessel at 1,000m bearing 315. The other vessel lit up searchlights and opened fire upon which both British cruisers turned their seachlights on the other vessel and opend fire with broadsides of 6" and 4" guns. The other ship was hit repeatedly, her lights went out and she ceased firing though Arethusa had her searchlights damaged and her starboard torpedo tubes put out of commission. The unknown vessel went past on a heading of 090, listing to starboard, losing way and fiercely ablaze. Minutes later the Harwich Force Aviation Detachment of the destroyer Lochinvar, seaplane tender Videx and destroyer Lurcher bringing up the rear which was stationed in the centre of Harwich Force's formation observed the unknown vessel moving past and opened fire. The Vindex 12pdr gun crews were understandably excited at the chance of some surface action and fired enthusiastically. At 6:19pm after a broadside from Lochinvar the other ship was torn apart by a gigantic explosion that lit the surface of the sea for some distance. When the flash had passed the vessel was no longer there. Lurcher's captain claimed the vessel was the German destroyer S168 which had been chased earlier in the day.

This first operation to lay mines off the Ems was considered a failure as the minelaying was aborted, however the sinking of four old enemy destroyers was a small success and in future enemy patrols will be weaker, making similar operations easier, or the Germans might be encouraged to replace the patrols with other vessels, making those vulnerable too.

It was noted in all instances where they were encountered that the German torpedoboats caught fire readily and were often well ablaze when they sank. Their gunfire slackened and ceased soon after being first engaged.

9:43pm sailing west 150m north of Amsterdam, Cleopatra the lead cruiser of the left wing of Harwich Force sighted a merchant vessel dead ahead, steering south. She gave chase and the ship was found to be the oiler Onega under American flag carrying a German cargo of oil. The ship was impounded and taken back to Harwich.
 

saddletank

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Re: 1916 Campaign

3 JAN
-----
Considerable staff work undertaken over recent days to rationalize the coast defence patrols into new formations based on three layers of defence. The outer screen, ranging out 100km into the North Sea is provided by boats of the 'B', 'C' and 'D' Classes (30 knotters) formed into the 7th, 5th and 8th Destroyer Flotillas based at the Humber, Tyne and Forth respectively (operating 13 boats each) and the Dover, Nore and Scapa Patrols being un-numbered flotillas and comprising 11 'F' Class (Tribals), 9 'A' Class (27 knotters) and 12 'B-C-D' Class (30 knotters) respectively. A total of 71 medium range boats. A second layer of defence is provided by the coastal submarine flotillas based at Dunkerque, Dover, the Nore, Harwich, Great Yarmouth, Humber, Hartlepool, Tyne, Forth and Scapa. This force comprises 34 'B', 'C' and 'V' class boats in flotillas of 3 or 4 boats each. This screen patrols out to around 75km. The final inner coastal patrols are formed from local defence flotillas of torpedo boats based at Lowestoft, Great Yarmouth, Whitby, Hartlepool, Sunderland, Berwick, Montrose, Aberdeen and Cromarty with 4 boats at each and only 2 at Lowestoft. These patrol out 25-50km approximately.

The River class destroyers were sent to Dunkerque but removed from there 24 hours later as it was determined they would work with the Channel Fleet, being the largest homogenous class of older destroyers available in the Channel theatre, and good solid sea boats. Dunkerque Destroyer Squadron to comprise newer French vessels from Le Havre.

The fleet destroyers have been reorganised into the following flotillas:

1st - 'I' Class (Acherons) - Battle Cruiser Fleet, Rosyth
2nd - 'H' Class (Acorns) - Battle Cruiser Fleet, Rosyth
3rd - 'G' Class (Beagles) - Mediterranean
4th - 'K' Class (Acastas) - Grand Fleet, Scapa
5th - 'B', 'C', 'D' Classes (30 knotters) - Tyne
6th - 'E' Class (Rivers) - Channel Fleet, the Nore
7th - 'B', 'C', 'D' Classes (30 knotters) - Humber
8th - 'B', 'C', 'D' Classes (30 knotters) - Forth
9th - 'L' Class - Harwich Force, Harwich
10th - 'M' Class - Harwich Force, Harwich
11th - 'M' Class - Grand Fleet, Scapa
12th - 'M' Class - Grand Fleet, Scapa

7:10am SM E.41 of 9th Sub Flotilla departed Great Yarmouth to mine approaches to Zeebrugge.

10:04am TB Nr.3 of the new Aberdeen Local Flotilla sighted Norwegian cargo vessel Trondheim 20km off Aberdeen course south. Nr.3 gave chase in heavy rain and overhauled the neutral which had turned eastwards at 10:45am whereupon it hove to and allowed a boarding party on board. On finding the cargo of iron ore was bound for Germany the Trondheim was captured and sent into Aberdeen.

9:12pm AMC Victorian of 10th Cruiser Squadron reported striking a mine 60km east of Scapa. 11:20pm AMC Victorian sank. She is our first loss of 1916. There are now reports of U-Boats in the area between Aberdeen and Scapa.

Agreed to withdraw AMCs of the 10th Cruiser Squadron from area patrol and to assign them defined patrol lanes between Orkneys, Shetlands and Bergen and into the Skagerrak.
 

saddletank

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Re: 1916 Campaign

4 JAN
-----
2:00pm Harwich Force ordered to conduct a sweep of the Flanders and Dutch coast to the latitude of the Ems to search for enemy merchant shipping.

6:00pm Dunkerque Destroyer Flotilla (now renamed Dunkerque Force) ordered to conduct a second mine-laying operation in the western Bight entrance off the Ems. Departing harbour 10:00pm. Channel Fleet to sail in support and Harwich Force to rendezvous off Hook of Holland.
 

saddletank

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Re: 1916 Campaign

5 JAN
-----

3:50am French TB #280 of Dunkerque Defence Patrol captures Swedish merchant Goteborg as she leaves Oostende.

4:50am 1st Flotilla of Dover Patrol (6 Tribal Class) ordered to sweep the Flanders and Dutch coasts for enemy merchant shipping.

9:12am AMC Armadale Castle, leading a patrol of 10th CS 100km NW of Lerwick intercepted and captured American freighter Hamar carrying German cargo.

10:30am Harwich Force and Channel Fleet rendezvous 130km NNW Amsterdam.

11:23am French TB #350 of Dunkerque Patrol mined 25km N Zeebrugge.

3:48pm Harwich Force steaming E 10-15km N Borkum sighted four German destroyers in the late afternoon gloom dead ahead at 5,800m steaming W - G194, G195, G196 and G197. Arethusa and Conquest opened fire on the leading enemy ship, Undaunted and Aurora (to the S) on the second, and Cleopatra and Penelope (to the N) on the third and fourth. The enemy flotilla turned about and made off at an estimated 30kts. 5th LCS gave chase. Several hits were observed on the three rearmost destroyers but by 4:19pm the enemy had been lost in the gloom and 5th LCS reduced speed to continue the patrol. No hits were reported on 5th LCS.

4:30pm French TB #351 of Dunkerque Patrol torpedoed 25km N Dunkerque.

5:00pm - 7:00pm approx. During the early night Dunkerque Force's mine-layer Pluton laid 120 mines north of the Ems estuary.

8:10pm Dunkerque Force steaming W 10-15km N Borkum, fired upon by a 2-funnelled cruiser from the port quarter 2,500m range. Fransisque, the rear boat of the port column was hit at once and the port column of 6 boats (1st squadron) returned fire. Fransisque pulled out of line to the north and the enemy commenced engaging the second-most rear destroyer, Harpon. Commodore Tyrwhitt reversed course of 5th LCS and the six ships soon arrived and engaged the enemy ship which was identified as the old cruiser Arcona. 5th LCS passed east of the enemy and circled around in two groups - Undaunted and Aurora to the south and Arethusa, Conquest, Cleopatra and Penelope to the north. Arethusa and Penelope took some minor damage during this engagement but the enemy ship, smothered in fire and burning heavily, sank at 8:55pm. Eastwards four enemy destroyers had now appeared and were engaging the heavily damaged Fransisque which had dropped astern and was limping away to the NW at 10kts. These were the G194, G195, G196 and G197 which had evaded our efforts to catch them earlier in the evening. Tyrwhitt now reversed his four cruisers again to head NE and cut across the head of the enemy line and a short and violent point blank engagement resulted during which all four enemy destroyers were quickly sunk with only one or two more hits on Arethusa. The final German boat sank at 9:05pm and Tyrwhitt ordered his whole force to resume a westward course out of the Bight. Fransisque could not be saved and succumbed to flooding at 9:02pm.

This second Ems mine laying operation was considered much more successful. On 9th January our agent in Wilhelmshaven reported that on the morning of 6th January the old German cruiser Thetis struck a mine. This was probably in the Pluton minefield laid this day. The agent did not state if Thetis sank or was only damaged.
 

saddletank

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Re: 1916 Campaign

Thank you very much. It gets better though... had a stonking good series of night battles a bit later on, the entire action lasting from 4:30pm one evening to 5:00am the next morning - there were breaks in between where the forces lost and regained contact so some time spent on the strategic map but all together there was about 7 hours of fighting. Some of the best wargaming I have ever done.
 

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Re: 1916 Campaign

6 JAN
-----
4:30am 2nd Flotilla of Dover Patrol (5 Tribal Class) ordered to sweep the Flanders and Dutch coasts for enemy merchant shipping.

9:02am Destroyer Myrmidon of Scapa Patrol encountered the Danish merchantman Esjberg off Stromness. The neutral was captured.

9:44am Destroyer Quail was cruising between Soay and Rhum off the western coast of Skye. Further north Destroyer Violet was patrolling between North Uist and Lewis when she sighted the American merchantman Gelria to the north-west. The ship was chased and captured with her German cargo forty-five minutes later.

11:46am AMCs Alacantara, Moldavia and Orcoma of 10th CS saw and chased the American registered freighter Thunberg 255km NNW of Stromness. The neutral and her German cargo were captured after 90 minutes chase.

2:21pm AMCs Otway, Orbita and Almanzora of 10th CS saw and chased the Swedish registered freighter Helsingborg in the Skagerrak. The neutral was lost sight of in a rain squall after 46 minutes chase. However the patrol maintained a southward heading on the assumption the Swedish captain was heading for the North Sea and a German port and at 4:15pm in gathering dusk the cargo ship was sighted again dead ahead of the Orbita 8,000m distant. The neutral surrendered at once.

5:51pm French TB #365 of the Dunkerque Patrol was torpedoed and sunk somewhere in the eastern Channel approaches. Her crew did not give a position.

On the evening of 6 Jan it was proposed to lay a mine belt at the northern Bight entrance west of Tondern. However the Dunkerque Force destroyers did not have the range to reach this far north. The Dunkerque Minelaying Squadron therefore, of Pluton and Dunois were ordered to Harwich to join with Harwich Force for the duration of this operation. BCF would support the minelaying from a position 25km north, some 50km off Esbjerg with GF steaming south-east from Scapa to a point 30km NW of BCFs rendezvous.

7 JAN
-----

12:30am Dunkerque Force (less minelayers) sent to patrol off the Flanders and Dutch coast.

12:40am Channel Fleet ordered to a position off Zeebrugge to bombard the port.

12:28pm AMCs Otway, Orbita and Almanzora of 10th CS saw and chased the Swedish registered freighter Arendal 70km NW of Esbjerg. AMC Otway gave chase. The neutral surrendered at 1:30pm while a Zeppelin was flying overhead course 135.

1:47m Grand Fleet was steaming course 135 in mid-North Sea when smoke was observed bearing 090 true. The forward wing screen cruisers Duke of Edinburgh and Black Prince were sent to investigate. It was the Norwegian steamer Telemark and she surrendered her German cargo of timber to our cruisers at 2:33pm.
 

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Re: 1916 Campaign

8 JAN
-----

3:38am AMCs Teutonic, Virginian and Ebro of 10th CS saw and chased the Swedish registered freighter Atlantic Sun 100km NE of Lerwick. AMC Teutonic hailed the Swedish ship and she surrendered at once. She was carrying coal bound for Bremen.

4:23am Harwich Force, steaming east 30km W of Esbjerg in pitch dark encountered five German destroyers, G192, G193, G169, G170 and G172. In a furious point-blank action at ranges of under 3,000m all the German boats were sunk within about 25 minutes. The only British damage was to HMS Penelope which suffered a damaged port deck torpedo tube mount. The effectiveness of the Arethusa Class light cruisers has been demonstrated a number of times now and particularly in night actions at short ranges the combination of 6" guns for punch and 4" for rapid fire has easily overwhelmed the enemy destroyers we have encountered, shattering their decks and setting them ablaze before most can fire torpedoes or get off more than a few shots.

5:30-6:30am Pluton laid 120 mines off Tondern and Harwich Force turned north-west then west for home. This third Bight minelaying operation was considered a success.

8:38am TB Nr.42 of Whitby Defence Patrol sighted the Norwegian cargo ship Berwind heading N 75km off Whitby. Nr.32 gave chase and the Norwegian hove to at 8:46am.

10:00am Channel Fleet (7 'King Edward' class battleships and 7 cruisers of the 3rd and 7th Cruiser squadrons including the French Dupetit-Thouars) bombarded the town and port facilities of Zeebrugge for thirty minutes with the intention of disabling some of the Flanders submarine flotilla that operates from there.

It was felt that two self-sufficient minelaying forces were required, one to work on mining the Borkum or western Bight exit and one the Horns Reef or northern exit. To this end ML Abdiel was detached from the Grand Fleet to be attached to Harwich Force. ML Pluton and TGB Dunois were considered too slow to work on Horns Reef minelaying operations and were ordered to return to Dunkerque. In order to enable Dunkerque Force to conduct operations to the Ems estuary unsupported some light cruisers were needed, consequently HMSs Active and Fearless were removed from the 1st and 2nd destroyer flotillas in the BCF and Blonde, Bellona, Bodicea and Blanche from the GF where it was no longer considered necessary to have them as battle squadron signal repeaters. These six cruisers would form the 6th LCS and become part of Dunkerque Force forthwith. It was also thought necessary to provide some more powerful guns for Dunkerque Force and therefore the French armoured cruiser Dupetit-Thouars was transferred from Channel Fleet. Dunkerque Force now under the overall command of Vice Admiral Rouyer comprises one armoured cruiser, six light cruisres (6th LCS under Commodore Withers), 15 French destroyers of the Arquebuse, Claymore, Branlebas, Enseigne Roux and Bouclier classes, the mine layer Pluton and torpedo gunboat Dunois.

10:33pm AMCs Otway, Orbita and Almanzora of 10th CS sighted the American steamer Amstelland 100km WNW of Esbjerg. AMC Orbita gave chase. The neutral surrendered at 10:42pm.
 
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Re: 1916 Campaign

Still keeping track of your campaign - enjoying the reporting.....
 

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Re: 1916 Campaign

Pleased you are enjoying it. Sometimes this game is too realistic. When I stare at the screen and do nothing for hours but intercept merchant ships I can get a hint of the boredom and frustration the crews at Scapa must have felt.

Two days of nothing but routine operations and blockading followed:

9 JAN
------

3:17am Returning to Scapa 200km ESE of the Orkneys, the Grand Fleet ran across the Swedish freighter Caloria which was heading south-east. The light cruisers Carysfort and Caroline were ordered to investigate and the neutral ship surrendered within minutes.

3:23am French destroyer Carquois of the Dunkerque Force was patrolling off Oostende when she encountered the Swedish merchant Missourian leaving the harbour with a cargo of foodstuffs bound for the Ems. The neutral was captured.

6:30am AMC Orbita in company with AMCs Otway and Almanzora of 10th CS while 55km W of Esbjerg sighted the American steamer Lake Owens 3000m dead ahead. The neutral surrendered immediately.

1:54pm Harwich Force, now reorganised with ML Abdiel, ordered to mine the Bight off Tondern. Channel Fleet ordered to bombard Zeebrugge again.

Their Lordships felt that the operations of the AMCs of 10th CS in the Skagerrak and off the Danish coast were highly successful, four neutrals carrying German cargoes having been intercepted in four days. It was decided to maintain such operations indefinitely, the balance of 10th CS being held at Lerwick to patrol the line Orkneys-Shetlands-Bergen. To this end the 24 AMCs will be organised permanently into 8 3-ship divisions, 2 will patrol the line Orkneys-Shetlands and 3 the line Shetlands-Bergen. The remaining 9 ships in 3 divisions which include the fastest AMCs and exclude the slowest will patrol the Norwegian coast south of Bergen, the Skagerrak, Danish coast and periodically the shipping lanes of the central North Sea.

10 JAN
-------

8:00am The submarine mine-layer E.41 was ordered to lay mines off Zeebrugge.

8:00 - 8:30am Channel Fleet bombarded Zeebrugge.

9:05am AMCs Mantua, Alsatian and Columbella of 10th CS sighted the Norwegian oiler Geifon 90km NW of Lemvig. AMC Mantua closed with the neutral steamer which was proceding SE. The neutral surrendered at 9:40am.

9:40am AMC Alcantara of 10th CS sighted the American steamer Sunsvall 120km ENE of Lerwick. The neutral hove to at 9:56am.

10:00 - 11:00am Harwich Force screened the mine layer Abdiel as she laid 80 mines off Tondern in the northern Bight exit.

12:32pm The most successful patrolling group of 10th CS, AMCs Otway, Orbita and Almanzora while steering a course N sighted the Norwegian freighter Taarnholm 75km NW of Bergen, course 135. AMCs Otway and Orbita gave chase. The neutral hove to at 1:40pm.

1:38pm French TB #258 was patrolling off Oostende when she sighted the Norwegian cargo ship Vestfjorden 25km to the north. #258 gave chase. French TB #344 25km east of Margate also sighted the Vestfjorden and set off in pursuit. The Vestfjorden headed east towards Zeebrugge but by steering a course of 040 degrees #258 headed her off and she stopped and was boarded at 2:00pm.

5:00 - 7:00pm E.41 laid her 20 mines off Zeebrugge.

9:27pm Destroyer Syren of Scapa Defence Patrol 30km W of Stromness sighted a large merchant vessel 2,500m distant. Upon closing and sending a challenge the ship was revealed as the freighter Nordland registered at Goteborg and carrying manufactured goods from Newfoundland to Bremen which were impounded.
 

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Re: 1916 Campaign

11 JAN
------

In order to try and provoke a response from the German fleet, it was decided to send the Channel Fleet into the Bight to just off the Ems as bait. Beatty with the BCF would steam down to a position 50km to the west in support. Channel Fleet to weigh and proceed to sea at 6:00pm this evening. This would put them off the Ems at approximately 10:00pm on the 12th. Beatty to proceed to sea at 11:59am 12 Jan.

6:25am Dunkerque Force ordered to lay mines off the Ems. Sailed at 7:26am.

8:23am French torpedo boats #344, #231 and #258 all converged on a heavy smoke plume exiting Oostende harbour. It was the Swedish collier Norlina. #344 was inshore and immediately attracted the fire of a shore battery but her captain bravely pressed on towards the Norlina which had now reversed course back towards Oostende. After some fifteen minutes of weaving his boat the French captain decided to withdraw as it semed unlikely whether he would reach the collier before she reached port and it was merely a matter of time before one of the large calibre shells hit. The Norlina returned to the port at 9:07am. Fortunately #344 escaped damage.

10:09am the Norlina was sighted again by the #344 and the #258 and this time the #280 as well. The collier had slipped out of port and along the coast in rain squalls but she was caught 60km off Rotterdam and finally surrendered at 10:32am.

11:11am AMC Moldavia of 10th CS was patrolling 40km WNW of Bergen when she saw a merchant heading south, hugging the coastline. She closed the range and identified the Swedish freighter Campana. The neutral vessel turned in towards the coast and was seized by the Moldavia's crew at 12:10am.
 

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Re: 1916 Campaign

12 JAN
------

2:00am the Dover Monitor Squadron was ordered to move to Portsmouth where it would be temporarily removed from Naval Operations.

4:46am Dunkerque Force reported that ML Pluton had successfully laid her 120 mines off the Ems estuary. No German vessels were encountered.

5:30 - 6:30am ML Abdiel laid her 80 mines off Tondern and Harwich Force turned for home.

7:13am 125km WNW of Hook of Holland Channel Fleet was steaming 045 15kts with 3rd and 7th CS deployed as a screen, 7th CS to the N, 3rd CS to the S, ships on a line of bearing at intervals of 2000m when the right hand most ship of 3rd CS HMS Kent, identified a ship to the east 2000m distant. Kent illuminated the other vessel with her lights and turned towards her to hail her. The ship was the Westward Ho! registered at Oslo and carrying rubber, oil and engineering parts from Kiel to Rotterdam. She surrendered herself immediately.

8:30 - 9:00am E.41 laid 20 mines off Zeebrugge.

9:35am French TB #258 patrolling some 15km N of Zeebrugge sighted a merchant ship heading out of Antwerp and set a course to intercept. At the same time TB #346 25km NNW of Oostende observed the British cargo vessel Hong Kong straying into the long range of the heavy shore batteries at that port. #346 steamed to intercept, signalling by lamp that the British vessel should steer a more northerly course. Upon closing into the mouth of the Rhine, #258 identified the unknown freighter as the Norwegian Dora. She was making a course back up the channel and was now well in neutral waters so #258 broke off the chase and maintained a watch on the Rhine estuary.

11:02am Vice Admiral Rouyer, C-in-C Dunkerque advised the commander of #258 that Antwerp was an enemy port and he should have pursued the Dora into the Rhine estuary. Later the Dora was seen leaving the river again and this time #258 steamed around the danger zone of the Zeebrugge batteries and entered the river mouth in pursuit. The Dora surrendered at 11:38am. The commander of #258 received a reprimand for his eariler error.

2:00pm 30km N of Borkum Channel Fleet was steaming 090 15kts with 3rd and 7th CS deployed as a screen, 7th CS to the N, 3rd CS to the S, ships on a line of bearing at intervals of 2000m. Several unknown cruisers were sighted from both 3rd and 7th CS bearing 090 range 33km. The six armoured cruisers turned south to 170 intitially, then upon seeing denser columns of smoke from behind the enemy cruisers Channel Fleet reversed course from 090 to 245, the aviation division being sent on ahead at 21kts, course 270. By 2:56pm the rearmost cruiser of 3rd CS, HMS Devonshire reported that she had in sight the battle cruisers Seydlitz, Derfflinger, Moltke and Von der Tann while to the north of the enemy battle cruisers were the light cruisers Regensburg, Wiesbaden, Frankfurt and Stralsund. To the south of the main enemy force were sighted Elbing, Pillau and some destroyers. Fortunately by 3:10pm in heavy rain and fading light contact with the enemy was broken. The range from Devonshire to Seydlitz at this time was an estimated 25km.

4:22pm Submarine D.8 of the Harwich 8th flotilla reported striking a mine during her patol off the Ems. Damage was reported as 'moderate' but flooding was contained. Her patrol is due to end on 13th.

4:27pm Channel Fleet had been reformed with the Aviation flotilla and the 3rd BS leading, the destroyer flotillas to the flanks and rear and 3rd and 7th CS now reformed into three pairs and stationed 19km astern the rear battleship HMS Zealandia, and 16km astern the rearmost destroyer HMS Foyle, and disposed 6,500m abeam of each other. The whole force steaming course 270, 15kts. As dusk drew down towards full darkness an enemy light cruiser was sighted astern of HMS Kent, the rear ship of the northern most pair. This was Frankfurt which had come out of the eastern gloom at 26kts and 6,500m away. Kent and Achilles opened fire on her at once, scoring a hit with their first salvoes. The Pillau was then seen to the southward of Frankfurt. Both German cruisers turned to port. At 4:29pm Kent spotted Wiesbaden to the north of Frankfurt. At 4:31pm the Elbing came in sight of Lancaster and Donegal, the southernmost pair of screening cruisers at a range of 7,300m. Both British ships at once opened fire. 3rd BS continued to steam course 270, 18kts. Achilles and Kent steered 235 at 20kts and had lost sight of Frankfurt and Wiesbaden but further south visibility was better and Lancaster and Donegal settled into a duel with Pillau and Elbing until the German ships again turned away at 4:34pm. The two British cruisers then turned to 235 and accelerated to 22kts. A hit was scored by Donegal on Elbing at about 4:32pm. By 4:46pm all three pairs of cruisers were again stationed abreast and on course 270 the enemy once more having shied away into the impenetrable murk to the east.

5:01pm the enemy cruiser Frankfurt was again seen astern of Kent at 7,000m but she sheered away on course 326 at 27kts. Wiesbaden then appeared from the dusk bearing 063 from Kent at a range of 5,500m. Kent engaged each cruiser in turn. By this time Commodore Tyrwhitt had detached 5th LCS from the Harwich Force and his 6 cruisers were north of 3rd BS and 25km from Kent and Achilles bearing 289 though he was steering course 270 at 22kts. Upon seeing the further gun flashes to the east he turned his squadron about for a fifth time that afternoon. Captain Dutton of the Achilles now turned his pair of ships to 300 to bring any further German cruisers under fire. Hits were observed on the Wiesbaden and she again sheered off at 25kts to course 020. Achilles and Kent resumed course 270. At 5:10pm Pillau and Regensburg were seen in the dusk bearing 127 from Kent at 5,000m and within a minute Kent and Achilles switched back to the Pillau and Antrim also took Pillau under fire at 5:11pm.

At 5:20pm 5th LCS arrived and turned to 180 behind the retreating cruisers of 3rd and 7th CS. An unfortunate mistake in signalling from Tyrwhitt's flagship resulted in the leading ship, Cleopatra turning to port instead of starboard and she went a full circle under hard helm to join the rear of the formation with Penelope now the lead ship. Immediately there was an intense engagement at point blank ranges of 500m to 3000m, Wiesbaden on the N end of the German line being engaged by the whole of 5th LCS as it turned in succession to starboard. Clepatra suffered a number of hits at this time as she circled very close to Wiesbaden, at one point being within 500m. Penelope and Conquest, now the leaders, shifted their fire to Pillau and Regensburg which appeared to be the centre ships of the German cruiser screen. 5th LCS now turned away to 250 and the furious engagement died down with Wiesbaden and Pillau having taken the brunt of the hits in this short but violent exchange.

At 5:38pm Donegal and Lancaster came under fire by light guns, Donegal having a 12pdr put out of action and moments later Stralsund emerged from the dark to be fired upon by both ships at a range of about 2,800m. Tyrwhitt meanwhile formed his 6 ships into three pairs again, Conquest and Penelope both a little damaged from the German light cruisers, being ordered to work with the northernmost pair of armoured cruisers, Achilles and Kent. Arethusa and Aurora maintained contact with Devonshire and Antrim in the centre of the British formation and Undaunted and Cleopatra were ordered on course 225 to assist and work with Lancaster and Donegal.

5:41pm Elbing appeared 3,000m to the SE and engaged Undaunted and Cleopatra, the latter having her port deck torpedo tubes disabled in the 2 or 3 minute exchange that followed before Elbing again turned away. At 5:44pm Wiesbaden reappeared 2,500m from Conquest and Penelope bearing 067. The two British cruisers steering on course 330 in order to gain closer contact with Achilles and Kent, opened fire. The German cruiser was approaching head-on to the two British ships which were obliquely crossing her line of approach. Consequently Conquest and Penelope opened fire with full starboard broadsides as the target turned to starboard, hitting her numerous times. Wiesbaden turned to course 024 by 5:46pm and was lost to sight.

5:58pm Battlecruiser Seydlitz was sighted astern of Aurora, 3,400m range, course 258, 25kts. She fired a few 11" salvoes at the Aurora but did not hit. At this point the British screen made all speed to evade, Lancaster and Donegal steering 220 and the remainder of the British screen 290 to 320. The 3rd BS and attendant River Class destroyers of 6th Flotilla turned from 245 to 240 and the bulk of the 9th and 10th destroyer flotillas of Harwich Force which Commodore Tyrwhitt had called down from a distant covering position to the NW steered about to assist should the German BCs press forwards. All eyes swept the eastern darkness but no further sign of the enemy was seen until contact was broken at 6:17pm.

It was certain that the enemy was pushing westwards much more rapidly than 3rd BS could withdraw ahead of them and the frequent appearances and disappearances of the various German light cruisers was telling on the nerves of the crews of our screening cruisers. To the west the sky was much lighter and it is probable that our ships were all the time silhouetted to the Germans while they remained invisible. Lieutenant Maynard of the Kent remarked that it was "Coronel all over again".

It was unclear why the Germans had broken contact at this point, their screen and battlecruisers were faster than the cruisers of 3rd and 7th CS. It was supposed that the British rear ships were lucky in steering diverging courses as the enemy moved between them. Channel Fleet then steamed west and north and met with BCF at 8:40pm at a location some 200km NNW Amsterdam, the two combining forces and reversing course south. Harwich force remained hovering on Beatty's port bow, some 25km to 50km distant. We knew the German battlecruisers were out there to the east somewhere, but we didn't know where or if they had turned back.

10:09pm French TB #269 reported she had been torpedoed 25km N of Oostende. Other patrolling boats were sent to her last position to look for survivors.

11:38pm 190km NNW Amsterdam. BCF had steamed south for two hours then reversed course to 000 and after an hour sighted the British cargo ship Boston 6,000m dead ahead. Her course 225 10kts. She halted and begam blowing off steam at which point the German light cruiser Elbing was identified near the Boston, 3,000m bearing 070 from Southampton, leading 2nd LCS. Elbing was steering 196 at 24kts and the situation of earlier in the night repeated itself of a German advancing and having his T crossed, this time by four town class cruisers. Taking several hits, Elbing swung to port to course 099 and then 090 during which turn HMS Falmouth led 3rd LCS up from the south. 3rd LCS turned to 090 and a one-sided exchange now took place between the lone German cruiser and the four RN cruisers. Falmouth had her searchlights shattered and her forward 6" disabled but within a few minutes Elbing was returning fire with only one gun near the stern, though she was still making 27kts and drawing ahead. Southampton, meanwhile, leading 2nd LCS was steaming north where it appeared Boston had surrendered to a German cruiser or screen destroyer as yet unseen. By 11:49pm Elbing was no longer shooting and had turned to 081. 3rd LCS turned to 085 in pursuit. The range was now 3,600m and Elbing had slipped away into the dark. Due to the gap now opening up between 2nd and 3rd LCS, Falmouth broke off the pursuit of Elbing and reversed course by a turn to starboard by succession, to steer 315 towards 2nd LCS. Galatea leading 1st LCS was also now coming up from the south and steering 050, making 28kts and estimated Elbing was no more than 9,000m from her.

Further east and south, Harwich Force was pushing on, the cruisers of 5th LCS making 23 - 28kts, course 010, Arethusa being 46km from Galatea bearing 123. It was considered imperative that the German cruiser screen to their battle cruisers be relocated without delay and Southampton led 2nd LCS on a turn together to 040. Lancaster and Donegal of 7th CS(*) were now within 4,000m of Southampton, bearing 210 from her, course 005, 20kts with the other pairs of armoured cruisers staggered back en-echelon in support of 3rd and 1st LCS and holding course 005-010 and making full speed. Beatty's battlecruisers were still on course 000 making 15kts with 3rd BS astern making 18kts to form up on 3rd BCS. Lion at this time was 17.5km from Southampton bearing 191. Falmouth now led 3rd LCS round to course 340 to support 2nd LCS. Contact with the enemy was lost at 11:55pm, it being thought that the Germans had headed NE. Beatty, aware he was between Hipper and the western Bight entrance now steered ENE and redeployed his cruiser screen to cover his port beam and ahead.

(*) Beatty and Bradford had combined the Channel Fleet with Battle Cruiser Fleet at this point, the 3rd BS being formed astern of the battle cruisers, 6th DF (River Class) to the port (disengaged) side of the northward-steaming fleet and the 3rd and 7th CS still deployed as pairs each some 3,000m on the port quarter of 2nd, 3rd and 1st LCS; Heath commanding Lancaster and Donegal supporting Goodenough and 2nd LCS; Dutton commanding Achilles and Kent supporting Napier and 3rd LCS; Montague commanding Devonshire and Antrim supporting Alexander-Sinclair and 1st LCS. Beatty's seaplane tender Engadine with escorting destroyers Sandfly and Tigress had formed with Bradford's aviation group of Riviera and destroyers Liffey and Itchen 4,000m on the disengaged quarter of 6th DF.
 

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Re: 1916 Campaign

The night action where I sent the Channel Fleet (7 King Edward VIIs, 6 ACs and 24 River Class DDs) supported by Harwich Force into the Bight and then had to extricate this 18kt force away from a 26kt pursuing German BC force was THE best wargame I have ever played, it really was nail-biting stuff and so frustrating as I'd been out of sight of the enemy for several minutes and then another German cruiser would pop into sight again...

For the second half of this night battle I really ought to create some track charts.
 

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Re: 1916 Campaign

Saddletank - you're getting a fan club - I too hope you continue with campaign updates - sounds like you having a really great time and your writing allows the rest of us to enjoy the action....... Many Thanks!!!!!!
 

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Re: 1916 Campaign

I'm on Jan 22nd right now and plan to keep going.

Here are some charts to illustrate the ill-advised sweep of Channel Fleet into the western Bight and the subsequent dusk action that followed.

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/22426/Jan12_Afternoon_Encounter_01-01.jpg

This is the position at 2:45pm 12th Jan, about as far east as the 3rd and 7th CS penetrated. Lots of German CLs and DD flotillas bumbling about over there to the east. I hadn't realised this much was visible and didn't pay it too much attention until the 4 German BCs appeared a little later.

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/22426/Jan12_Afternoon_Encounter_01-02.jpg

Here is the second chart of this engagement which was actually 3 separate battles linked by variable amounts of map time spent wondering if I'd really messed this up. This shows the Channel Fleet in full retreat (shameful for the RN but I didn't fancy pitting 7xKing Edwards vs 4xGerman BCs) with the screen covering the withdrawal and two German cruisers teasing me and keeping in contact. This chase in failing light was one of the few times that the AI impressed me, it really felt like I was facing a clever and cunning opponent and knowing that the darkness hid 4 battlecruisers not that far away was nerve-wracking.

* * *

We got away - though I don't know how - and some hours later in the night met up with Beatty and the BCF. Bradford commanding the Channel Fleet then combined his and Beatty's commands together and they jointly patrolled on a south then north leg to try and find the German Scouting Forces.

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/22426/Jan12-13_Night_Encounter_02-01.jpg

Here is first contact at 20 minutes to midnight when the British cargo ship Boston was captured by the German Elbing right under our noses. Boston was the first British merchant ship loss of 1916. Beatty had deployed his combined forces for contact in exactly the direction the Germans appeared from - the north-east so the 12 light cruisers and 6 armoured cruisers were well positioned to deal with the German screen. Various turns away and manoeuvres and the dark night conspired to make us lose contact minutes after this.

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/22426/Jan12-13_Night_Encounter_02-02.jpg

Just a couple of minutes later. The cautiously handled 2nd LCS is bearing away from the area where Boston was captured and 3rd LCS is just beginning their turn in succession to starboard to commence their duel with Elbing which steamed east then north of east to be lost in the dark a few minutes later. Napier's 3rd LCS hit her pretty hard though.
 
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