Big MP game May 30 2010 - Memorial Battle

Von der Tann

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The American Memorial Day seemed the perfect date to do a big international MP battle, and the fact that the following day was the 94th anniversary of the Battle of Jutland made the choice of the scenario obvious: the whole battle, starting at 1530 hours.

Each team originally sported four players. The British team was all American, with Anav, Rich M, Invincible and Admiral Lynch, while the German team was all German, with Admiral Hipper, Bolitho, Jolly Roger and myself (Host). As it befits, Hipper was in charge of the Scouting Forces with Bolitho as escort commander, while I had overall command and was in charge of the battle line, with Jolly Roger as escort commander. ACH settings were Poor ammo handling OFF, Fragile AP grenades ON. A light wind blew from 280° with excellent visibility, which went as far as 36 km, very favourable for the Royal Navy with their long range.

The battle starts


At the start of the battle, the scouting forces clashed as usual, with Hipper scouting towards the north to find the Grand Fleet. The British BC suffered some damage, but none was lost, although Inflexible was last spotted limping off towards home, running only six knots. Right at the start, the High Seas Fleet changed course to NE in order to be able to cross the Grand Fleets T and keep their bases in their backs, and I also wished to prevent the enemy from having the sun in their backs.

Situation at 1608


Sadly, fate struck only twenty or thirty minutes into the game, and we lost our first player. Thunderstorms were raging over Germany at the time, and lightning struck somewhere close to Jolly Roger, causing a short power outage and him dropping from the game. The remainder of the players decided to go on with Jolly Rogers consent, and bolitho and myself took over his ships. Around 1715 Z we also lost Rich, which forced the British team to make some changes in their command structure as well.

Situation at 1634


While the scouting forces were engaged with each other further north, I lead the High Seas Fleet around them in a big arch to get in a forward position of the Grand Fleet. Due to the excellent visibility, our scouting forces soon spotted the BC Invincible, which was assigned to the Grand Fleet and came in from due N. Our scouting forces swung to SE in order to join up with the HSF, while the British looked for our battle fleet in vain due south, where Scheer had been 94 years ago. Despite the good visibility it took a long time ere the CL Fearless sighted our mast tops in the SE, and after that the 1st BCS came up with maximum speed from the NW to attack our badly protected rear with the pre-dreadnoughts, which caused our own BC to rush towards our back as well. To our north, the Grand Fleet was finally sighted, a truly majestic sight with 24 dreadnoughts swooping upon us towards ESE.

Situation at 1646


Situation at 1716


At this time, the HSF was still steering an NE course, after she had closed in to the enemy on a N and NNE course. Meanwhile, a technical problem had occurred: due to the very stretched battle forces, the 200x200 km battlefield was no longer large enough to contain all the ships, and the TB B 112 disengaged from the battle. As we were almost touching the NE map boundary with the HSF, we feared to lose more ships that way, but fortunately, that decision was no longer necessary when the Grand Fleet changed course towards S, apparently to attack our rear. Like our predecessors in real life, we did a Gefechtskehrtwende with the entire fleet and were now steering an SW course, closing in on the Grand Fleet. The 5th Battle Squadron had taken the lead, so that a line of 29 dreadnoughts was looming on the NW horizon... made me think of Scheers description of a horizon full of ships, all firing on him. Despite my efforts to get into a favourable position, we still had some issues with the sun shining into the eyes of our gunners, but as the enemy was standing in our NW and not our W, it could have been far worse. The wind was still blowing softly from W, which kept the smoke out of our sights.

Situation at 1751


Situation at 1831


Situation at 1852, shortly after the Gefechtskehrtwende


With the good visibility, we had to work our way to get into range first while being under fire from the enemy. After some time, all our dreadnoughts were in range, but were taking heavy fire from the enemy line. Especially the now leading ships of the Nassau class were almost obliterated by the spray and splinters from the shells falling on them. Nassau and Rheinland were soon showing more than 50% flooding on the starboard side, which caused me to take them out of the line, but they kept firing with their far-reaching 28cm guns. Thüringen suffered a bad hit into her propulsion unit and was no longer able to take orders, causing some confusuion in our line, but she kept firing on the enemy. Our scouting forces had trouble engaging their opposite numbers, as they were making use of their longer ranges. A German torpedo run ended in disaster, with several boats catching friendly fish, but together with the pre-dreadnoughts of II squadron, the British BC were driven off, enabling I AG to attack the GF tip. A RN torpedo run was parried by our torpedo boats, causing many losses in small craft on both sides. The Grand Fleet was also hit hard, especially the leading ships of the Queen Elizabeth class were taking terrible punishment, as our battlecruisers attacked the enemy tip as well. Further ahead, the old pre-dreadnought Schlesien went down after only two 13.5" hits, but the Royal Navy had her first major loss when Malayablew up, followed by Valiant only four minutes later, while the badly hit Barham was listing and had to leave the line.

Situation at 1944


Situation at 2030


After almost five hours of playing time, visibility was dwindling with the sun setting behind the Grand Fleet, and we decided to call it a day at sunset, especially since it was getting pretty late in Germany (after 2300). It was time to count our losses, and I ended the battle so we could have a look at the outcome. The game was now processing the losses, also taking into account all ships that were too heavily damaged to reach port. According to this, the Kaiserliche Marine had won a modest victory: the losses in light craft were about even, but the Germans had managed to sink four enemy dreadnoughts (Barham, Malaya, Valiant, King George V), while the British had sunk only one dreadnought (Thüringen) and one pre-dreadnought (Schlesien).

I. Aufklärungsgruppe heading for home, with the Hochseeflotte following


With four hours and 42 minutes playing time, it was a very long battle in the biggest scenario we have. The biggest success, however, is the fact that we managed to have a stable MP game with many players on both sides of the Atlantic for an extended period of time, enabling us to have a challenging and most rewarding game. It would have been even better without lightning strike, as we would have loved to have another player in the pitched battle towards the end. But I hardly dare to imagine what it felt like for RN with 50% more ships!

A hearty thank you to Admiral Hipper, who made several screenshots of the situation and put them online - I never think of that myself.

Congratulations, gentlemen, and well fought indeed!
 
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Von der Tann

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A few statistics after reading out the log files:

Ship losses

a. Royal Navy
BB Malaya
BB Barham
BB Valiant
BB King George V
CL Caroline
DD Brazen
DD Garland
DD Unity
DD Porpoise
DD Spitfire
DD Achates
FL Abdiel
FL Kempenfelt
FL Tipperary
DD Mounsey
DD Morning Star
DD Moon
DD Opal
DD Obedient
DD Nessus
DD Marvel
DD Michael
DD Menace
DD Manners
DD Marne
DD Mons

-> 4 BB, 1 CL, 3 FL, 18 DD

b. Kaiserliche Marine
BB Thüringen
B Schlesien
DD V189
DD V1
DD V6
DD V4
DD G10
DD G8
DD S24
DD S23
DD S19
DD S15
DD S34
DD G37
DD G41
DD V48
DD V45
DD S53
DD V73
DD V71
DD V69
DD G88
DD G87
DD G104
DD G102

-> 1 BB, 1 B, 23 TB

Hochseeflotte

I. Geschwader

II. Division

SMS Nassau
011 x 15 inch Mk I Gun.

SMS Posen
005 x 13.5in Mk VI Gun.
003 x 13.5in Mk V 1400 lb Gun.
001 x 15 inch Mk I Gun.

SMS Rheinland
009 x 13.5in Mk V 1400 lb Gun.
001 x 14 inch Mk I Gun.

1 critical hits.

SMS Westfalen
014 x 15 inch Mk I Gun.

I. Division

SMS Helgoland
007 x 13.5in Mk V 1250 lb Gun.
004 x 14 inch Mk I Gun.

SMS Ostfriesland
007 x 13.5in Mk V 1400 lb Gun.
005 x 12 inch Mk X Gun.
001 x 6in BL Mk VII(H) Gun.
003 x 13.5in Mk V 1250 lb Gun.

1 critical hits.

SMS Thüringen (+)
016 x 15 inch Mk I Gun.
011 x 13.5in Mk V 1400 lb Gun.
152 x 4in QF Mk IV Gun.
023 x 6in BL Mk VII(H) Gun.
022 x 2-pdr Mk II Pom-pom.
001 x 6in BL Mk XII(PVII) Gun.
001 x 6in BL Mk XII(PIX) Gun.
004 x 12 inch Mk XI Gun.
003 x 4in BL Mk VII Gun.

1 critical hits.

SMS Oldenburg
011 x 13.5in Mk V 1250 lb Gun.
001 x 12 inch Mk XI Gun.
002 x 13.5in Mk V 1400 lb Gun.

2 critical hits.

Flaggschiff der Hochseeflotte

SMS Friedrich der Große
001 x 12 inch Mk X Gun.

III. Geschwader

VI. Division

SMS Kaiser
002 x 12 inch Mk XI Gun.

SMS Kaiserin
001 x 12 inch Mk XI Gun.

SMS Prinzregent Luitpold
001 x 13.5in Mk V 1250 lb Gun.
001 x 12 inch Mk XI Gun.

V. Division

SMS König
005 x 6in BL Mk XII(CP) Gun.
001 x 5.5in BL Mk I Gun.
003 x 15 inch Mk I Gun.
002 x 12 inch Mk X Gun.
001 x 14 inch Mk I Gun.
002 x 6in BL Mk VII(H) Gun.

SMS Großer Kurfürst
001 x 6in BL Mk XII(CP) Gun.
005 x 13.5in Mk V 1400 lb Gun.
001 x 13.5in Mk V 1250 lb Gun.
001 x 12 inch Mk XI Gun.

SMS Markgraf
010 x 12 inch Mk XI Gun.

SMS Kronprinz
015 x 13.5in Mk VI Gun.
013 x 6in BL Mk XVI Gun.

I. Aufklärungsgruppe

SMS Lützow
003 x 13.5in Mk V 1250 lb Gun.

SMS Derfflinger
005 x 13.5in Mk V 1250 lb Gun.

SMS Seydlitz
001 x 12 inch Mk X Gun.
004 x 13.5in Mk V 1400 lb Gun.

SMS Moltke
001 x 13.5in Mk V 1250 lb Gun.
002 x 6in BL Mk XII(CP) Gun.

SMS Von der Tann
001 x 4in QF Mk V Gun.
005 x 6in BL Mk XII(CP) Gun.
002 x 13.5in Mk V 1400 lb Gun.
002 x 6in BL Mk XII(PVII) Gun.
 

bolitho

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as I was in command of the german Pre-dreads I can give the statistics of their hits received:

SMS Hessen
006 x 4in QF Mk V Gun.
004 x 13.5in Mk V 1400 lb Gun.

SMS Deutschland
001 x 6in BL Mk XII(CP) Gun.
003 x 4in QF Mk VI Gun.
007 x 15 inch Mk I Gun.
002 x 4in QF Mk V Gun.
022 x 6in BL Mk XII(PIX) Gun.
005 x 6in BL Mk XII(PVII) Gun.
001 x 4in BL Mk VII Gun.

SMS Hannover
001 x 13.5in Mk V 1250 lb Gun.
004 x 4in QF Mk V Gun.

SMS Pommern
006 x 6in BL Mk XII(CP) Gun.

SMS Schlesien (+)
002 x 13.5in Mk V 1400 lb Gun.

SMS Schleswig-Holstein
004 x 13.5in Mk V 1250 lb Gun.
001 x 4in BL Mk VII Gun.
 

anav

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Nice After Action report indeed VDT, well done!

I had the 3rd BCS in this battle, as well as 4th LCS, 1st and 2nd ACS, plus 11th DD Flot and parts of the 4th DD flot. I was engaged with 1st scouting group in the beginning of the fight, then later my heavy ships were in the rear of the RN battle line and briefly engaged again in the general fight. My DD's were in the Van at first then in the rear as the battle turned South. I was involved in several hotly contested DD battles, but never got into a good position to fire torpedos at the KM line.

Though I did not command these ships, my data only show the loss of the Malaya, and Valient for the RN and only the Schlesien for the KM side?

All three of my BC's survived the fight, though Inflexible had to retire. she had three turrets knocked out, was down to 17 knots, and flooding badly.

Events for: BC Invincible
02:15:09 : BC Invincible struck by 30.5cm SK L/50 13.5 Gun.
03:06:54 : BC Invincible struck by 30.5cm SK L/50 13.5 Gun.
03:07:43 : BC Invincible struck by 30.5cm SK L/50 13.5 Gun.
03:07:43 : 30.5cm SK L/50 13.5 Gun strikes BC Invincible [propulsion [critical]] Record serial:1936.
03:07:43 : BC Invincible propulsion damage:light [26%]
03:16:51 : BC Invincible struck by 30.5cm SK L/50 13.5 Gun.
03:16:51 : BC Invincible struck by 30.5cm SK L/50 13.5 Gun.
03:18:17 : BC Invincible struck by 30.5cm SK L/50 13.5 Gun.
03:18:17 : BC Invincible struck by 30.5cm SK L/50 13.5 Gun.
03:18:17 : BC Invincible struck by 30.5cm SK L/50 13.5 Gun.
03:18:17 : BC Invincible struck by 30.5cm SK L/50 13.5 Gun.
03:20:19 : BC Invincible struck by 30.5cm SK L/50 13.5 Gun.
Total 12 Events.

Events for: BC Indomitable
02:12:29 : BC Indomitable struck by 28cm SK L/45 Gun.
02:15:01 : BC Indomitable struck by 28cm SK L/45 Gun.
03:01:45 : BC Indomitable struck by 28cm SK L/45 Gun.
03:01:45 : BC Indomitable struck by 28cm SK L/45 Gun.
03:01:45 : BC Indomitable struck by 28cm SK L/45 Gun.
03:03:30 : BC Indomitable struck by 28cm SK L/45 Gun.
03:03:30 : BC Indomitable struck by 28cm SK L/45 Gun.
03:04:21 : BC Indomitable struck by 28cm SK L/45 Gun.
Total 8 Events.

Events for: BC Inflexible
03:05:14 : BC Inflexible struck by 28cm SK L/50 16 Gun.
03:05:14 : BC Inflexible struck by 28cm SK L/50 16 Gun.
03:06:03 : BC Inflexible struck by 28cm SK L/50 16 Gun.
03:06:39 : BC Inflexible struck by 28cm SK L/50 13.5 Gun.
03:07:40 : BC Inflexible struck by 28cm SK L/50 16 Gun.
03:07:40 : BC Inflexible struck by 28cm SK L/50 16 Gun.
03:08:29 : BC Inflexible struck by 28cm SK L/50 16 Gun.
03:08:29 : BC Inflexible struck by 28cm SK L/50 16 Gun.
03:08:29 : BC Inflexible struck by 28cm SK L/50 16 Gun.
03:09:03 : BC Inflexible struck by 28cm SK L/50 13.5 Gun.
03:09:51 : BC Inflexible struck by 28cm SK L/50 13.5 Gun.
03:10:52 : BC Inflexible struck by 28cm SK L/50 16 Gun.
03:13:09 : BC Inflexible struck by 28cm SK L/50 13.5 Gun.
03:14:06 : BC Inflexible struck by 28cm SK L/50 16 Gun.
03:14:06 : BC Inflexible struck by 28cm SK L/50 16 Gun.
03:14:55 : BC Inflexible struck by 28cm SK L/50 16 Gun.
03:14:55 : BC Inflexible struck by 28cm SK L/50 16 Gun.
03:14:55 : BC Inflexible struck by 28cm SK L/50 16 Gun.
03:14:55 : 28cm SK L/50 16 Gun strikes BC Inflexible [magazine [critical]] Record serial:2935.
03:24:13 : BC Inflexible struck by 28cm SK L/50 16 Gun.
Total 20 Events.

Regards ANav
 

Von der Tann

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The loss of Barham, King George V and Thüringen happened after the conclusion of the battle, they were too heavily damaged to make it back to port.

Edit: from the various calibres that hit the ships, it is quite easy to see which of the German BC fired upon them. Von der Tann has the 28cm L45, Moltke has the L50 13.5, Seydlitz has L50 16, and the 30.5cm go to the Derfflinger class.
 
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My gunners had a good day. So many hits in this few time, excellent.:D
Remarkable that my ships only took one 12" hit, this was Seydlitz.
 

anav

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The game pretty much mandates that the RN BCF is outclassed. A bit too severly in my opinion. 30 hits to 1 seems a tad unfair no matter what your take on history is. Since we were playing with RN Fragile AP ON the one hit I got probably bounced off anyway. However I did get some good scouting done which is what I was there for in the first place. The RN CinC was not using the microview map either so he needed to know what the KM was doing from his scouts.

ANav
 

Von der Tann

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Sometimes I miss the HPS style scouting, as it was only possible to see what was visible to your own ships, not what every vessel in your fleet was seeing. I really wish this could be implemented as a further option for extra realism in MP games.
 

anav

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As fleet commander play the game without using the 10,000 foot tall admiral micro view map. In that way even if your scouts use it they still have to scout and send scouting reports to you. If you use the S (status key) it will give you little blu or red triangles for any enemy in contact, but this is not nearly as informative as the micro view map is. In fact can even be more confusing as you get no idea on enemy formations, and course or range are not immediately apparant. I did not use the S key in this battle till we really got in the thick of the fighting, then only used to to keep track of my own ships.
 
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