British 1916 Campain

saddletank

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Brave men!

I'd recommend not giving the AMCs patrol areas that go down off east Scotland, it's Injun country down there!
 

saddletank

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I don't think they will. I've not seen a submarine lost except to mines so you could note where the German subs are operating and mine the area. WWI DDs didn't have any way to sink a sub except by gunfire or ramming and there were precious few occasions a sub would be caught on the surface. The best defence for subs is to just not give them any targets I think!
 

bill44

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GF sortied in conjunction with the three servicable BC's for a bombardment mission on Emden.
On a previous occasion when the BC's had bombarded Emden, room 40 picked radio traffic indicationg a large fleet was putting to sea. This had to have been in responce to the bombardment, perhaps a trap could be set.
BC's carried out mission, however the HSF didn't take the bait, GF also bombarded Emden.
Emporer of India struck a mine, the blast jammed the centre turret, and destroyed a subsatantioal amount of ward room crockery. Four casualties.
Worse was to come, Comus also fell victim to a mine, this one touched off her forward magazine, she was seen to rise up out of the water at a point under the bridge.
The ship capsized to port instantly her propellors still turning, two more explosions wracked the ship. Estimate 30 seconds from first explosion till she was gone from sight.
No survivors found.
 

bill44

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Another bombardment mission was planned for the Dover monitors again to Zeebrugge.
This would be another night mission.
Under a bright moonlit sky and still miles from their taget the lead ship Marshall Soult spotted three destroyers, the remnants of the Flanders half flotilla, V71, 72, and 74.

The Germans were quick, V72 launched five torpedoes before a 15 inch shell ripped in to her, she sank six minutes later. Her captain and 76 others went down with her.
V74 launched three torpedoes seconds after her sister.

On board Marshall Soult the wakes of the topedoes were clearly visible, the British line held it's course, they had not the speed for evasive action. The best course was to meet them head on.
V71 launched one torpedoe, before being reduced to a wreck by heavy shells.
V74's course was taking her on a opposite parallel course to the British line.

Marshall Soult's luck held as the eight torpedoes passed either side of her, Marshall Ney and General Crawfurd would not be so lucky.
One torpedoe exploded alongside Marshall Ney's Starboard side, tearing open a 30 foot hole, the concussion severley damage surrounding bulkheads, damage control measures were wholly ineffective, and the order to abandon ship was given. Eight minutes later she sank, taking 67 crew with her.
General Crawfurd was hit by two torpedoes two minutes apart, no damage control was attempted such was the gravity of the situation and she was gone in six minutes, the loss of life amounting to 127 men.

V74 sailing parallel to the British was was torn apart by shells, and sank with all hands.

The British picked up survivors and headed home, there would be no more bombardment missions for the Dover Sqn.
 
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saddletank

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Messy.

And... escorts, man! Escorts! Where were they? You can't send those slow tubs out without escorts!
 

bill44

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The 5th Light Cruiser Sqn sortied to the sea lanes around Emden, looking for German CS and lone warships.

In the gloomy twilight smoke was seen on the horizon, Commodore Tywhitt ordered full speed. The black gang put their backs in to it.

Ten minutes later the squadron turned to starboard on course 116 SE, Tywhitt wanted to open up his squadron to be able to bring as many guns in to play if needed, though the identity of the ships ahead was still a mystery, it was not replying to the signals being flashed to it.

The identity of the ship was known two minutes later when orange flashes were seen followed by the whine of shells overhead. The order to open fire was given and gun crews sprung in to action
Owing to the prevailing wind the target was obscured by it's own smoke, observers strained to see the fall of shot, two minutes in to the battle Arethusa was hit, the shell bursting against the hull, showering the sea with splinters.

The chase continued and the Arethusa's small caliblre guns were hitting the target, bright flashes were seen , though Arethusa was being hit by small caliblre shells as well, the next major hit burst forward of the the no 1 gun, peppering the front of the shield and wounding on of the gunners, another shell burst against the hull and another damaged the port tubes, and killed four men.

A torpedo track was sighted, and the squadron turned to port, then another port turn to course 92 ESE. Another gun was damaged with one man killed outright, and four wounded, still the enemy was all but invisible, Arethusa's searchlights were destroyed and no star shell was on board.

Another port turn was made so full broadsides could be fired at the fleeing enemy, however aboard Cleopatra a lookout claimed to spot a torpedoe track and the cruiser turned to port with Conquest following, Tywhitt was livid, he pressed on with the attack as more shells hit, the starboard tubes were hit, and destroyed, all crew killed.

Aboard Arethusa the enemy was visible, it was a light cruiser, but the gap had narrows and Penelope with no damage was hitting it, bright red flashes maked hits aboard.

The light cruiser was the Arcona, and her captain knew escape was impossible, his top speed was just 21 knots, the enemy was closing at over 25. Worse still his stern 10cm guns were out of action, and shells had penetrated in to the hull wrecking one of his boilers and killing the entire crew. More shells hit knocking out his midships guns and adding more holes to the hull. A fire had started on the stbd side consuming a life boat.

Tywhitt ordered all ships to fire torpedoes, soon eight torpedoes headed towards the enemy cruiser. Not one hit. Finally Cleopatra and Conquest were able to illuminate the cruiser with searchlights, now the shells hit home consistanly, more men were cut down, a messenger arrived on the bridge informing the captian that a the British had signalled them to lower their colours, and they would cease fire. The captain refused, all the ships boats were wrecked, Arcona would fight on, though not for much longer. Her list was increasing, and her speed diminishing, only two 10cm mounts were still operable.
Abruplty she began to heel over to port further, this was the end, the order was given to abandon ship. As she rolled over on to her port side one of her boilers exploded, white steam poured from her main funnel.
 

bill44

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The British picked up 123 men from the water, British casualties totalled 123 on Arethusa and three on Penelope.
 

saddletank

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Stirring stuff! I find these small encounters and long tactical chases between light forces that the campaign throws up to be exciting.
 

VaDingo

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Bill, exiciting reporting and much detail. Much appreciated.... Keep it up.....
 

martin worsey

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Agreed; seems an exciting campaign; hope you keep the reports going.
Submarines are causing me grief too.
 

bill44

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Able seaman Alfie Peters peered ahead from his post on board the light cruiser Undaunted, looking at his watch he noted with relief that he had just 20 minutes left on watch, then he could get some sleep, he was cold and hungry. He had joined the Navy two years earlier, along with his best mate Bill Perkins, they had been seduced by the tales of a petty officer of life at sea and the eighteen year olds couldn't wait to join up later that month when war was declared. Though the reality was very different, since being posted to the cruiser their life had revolved around endless patrols that yeilded no results, the Hun had never been spotted.

Undaunted was part of the 1st 9th Destroyer flotilla, and was on patrol with Destroyers of the 2nd 9th, total strengh was 12 DD's of the L class and Undaunted, their patrol saw them 112 kilometres NNW of Rotterdam.

On board the DD Llewellyn 500 metres off the starboard bow of Undaunted lookouts spotted smoke ahead, action stations were sounded and the sighting flashed to Undaunted by lamp. At the same time lookouts on board the German cruiser mine layer Brummer also spotted smoke ahead, she was on her way home after dropping off 400 presents for British shipping in the channel. This was the last cruise for her captain, he was being transferred to a administrative job, at 61 he was too old for front line duty.

Llewllyn increased speed to 29 knots, her four sisters following suit, she altered course slightly to starboard, Undaunted also rang up maximum revolutions and turned slightly to port, this would cover escape routes should the ship ahead be the enemy. Alfie Peters action station was the forward six inch gun on Undaunted, Bill Perkins was part of the port side torpedoe crew, both boys were excited, finally some action.

On board Brummer, the ship heeled over to port and headed WSW, her stern gun crews ready for action. Seven minutes later both guns fired at the lead ship on the port side of Brummer nearly 5000 metres behind them. On board Llewellyn two large splashes were sighted ahead, but the enemy was still way too far ahead for effective fire. "am under fire" was transmitted by WT to Undaunted. Minutes later she was hit by a heavy shell, her hull holed, search light destroyed and her forward four inch gun damaged. minutes later two more shells hit her damaging her midship mount and causing three casualities. Worse though her speed was down to 27 knots, and the enemy was getting away from her.

A WT from Undaunted to Llewellyn asked if she could identify the enemy ship, all that could be seen breifly was three funnels, her speed suggested she was a cruiser but which one.
Llewwllyn's captain flashed a signal to Loyal advising her to take command as he was dropping back due to damage, this was conveyed to Undaunted. Llewellyn turned to starboard 180 degrees.

On board Brummer lookouts spotted a second colum of ships to starboard, led by a cruiser, fire was switched to this new threat. Undaunted turned NNW at 28 knots sunrise still 18 minutes away. Two shells hit the water 200 yards ahead, her forward gun barked out a reply, that round fell short, another round was fired, short again, and off to the port side of the enemy. Undaunted shuddered under the impact of a shell, her forward gun damaged her four inch guns continued to fire at the fleeing enemy.

Meanwhile Loyal and her three sisters were gaining on Brummer, and hitting her, unknown to them one of her stern 15cm mounts was damaged, and three of it's crew dead, her hull was pockmarked with holes. Undaunted was hit twice more by 15 cm shells, holed forward her speed had dropped off, now she too hauled out of line to enable the DD's behind to ring up 29 knots. Alfie Peters waited anxiously for the repairs to the gun to be finished, he wondered how Bill Perkins was getting along, it had been raining on and off for over half an hour, and he was soaked and colder than before.

Loyal continued to close, the German ship not firing on her, Loyal's captain could only use his forward gun, her wanted to come along side and bring all his guns and torpedoes to bear, he asked the chief engineer to get more speed out of her. Undaunted turned to starboard to bring her port side battery to play and her rear six incher, she was hit again, her port tubes damaged, and her stbd no2 4 inch gun. this battle was not going the British way.

When the Germans realised what the British DD's were up to they opened fire on the nearest one , Loyal, she was hit hard, and pulled out of line. Brummer turned to starboard, still the British came on, this would be her last fight. Lydiard turned across Brummers bows firing, behind her Leonidas headed at Brummer at 29 knots, striking her port side in the machinery spaces, Leonidas's bow caved in and seven men were drowned, but Brummer's speed dropped further as hundereds of litres of sea water poured in to her ruptured hull.
 
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VaDingo

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Alfie seems a fine lad.... hope he and Undaunted make it through.... Thanks for a great report Bill......
 

bill44

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Throughout the course of the battle the British had been pursuing the Brummer WSW away from her safe haven. Now Brummer made a 180 degree turn and headed back towards Germany, the battle was now nearing it's climax.

Undaunted was now close in and hit Brummer with her four and six inch guns but Brummers crew still were taking a heavy toll on Undaunted. The forward gun was put out of action again as a four inch shell burst close by, a hail of splinters cutting down the crew. Rescue teams dragged the wounded men to safety as others fought the fire that had broken out, a tarpaulin covered Alfie Peters body. Another shell destroyed the portside tubes, Bill Perkins though was absent, he'd been drafted for damage control team work, and was busy below deck plugging the ever increasing leaks the ship now suffered from.

On board the Loyal the situation was bad indeed ,the pumps could not keep up with the flooding and her speed was dropping, it was clear she was not going to make it back to port that night.
So too was Leonidis, since ramming Brummer her situation had become desperate, damage control measures were unable to stem the flooding, her captain put her in reverse in an attempt to assist the teams to save the ship, but it was a futile effort.

Undaunted and Brummer now slugged it out shell for shell, but the destroyers of the 1.9th were racing up behind Brummer at 29 knots, their shells all depleted they would have to rely on their torpedoes.
As the lead ship drew level less than 500 yards seperated her from the Germans, her crew could see the German saliors at their guns, four torpedoes were launched their bubble wakes visible in the foamy water.

On board Undaunted her aft gun continued to fire on the Brummer, and Brummer gave it back in kind, the casualties were mounting as was the flooding level, one of her boiler rooms was filling fast and had to be abandoned. She had 161 casualties and this was affecting her damage control abilities. Two more torpedoes slammed in to Brummer both below the aft guns, one more boiler room was destroyed, the entire crew lost, still her guns fired defiantly at Undaunted, and the destroyers.
 
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bill44

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On board Brummer her gunners saw the torpedoes leaping from their launchers and shouted a warning but it never reached the bridge, the ship reeled under the impact of the three hits, two in the machinery spaces, and one in the stern. Three of her six boilers were now out and her portside shaft was damaged by the stern hit and had to be shut down. 23 men perished in the boiler rooms, but her ordeal was not yet over.

On board Undaunted her aft gun continued to fire on the Brummer, and Brummer gave it back in kind, the casualties were mounting as was the flooding level, one of her boiler rooms was filling fast and had to be abandoned. She had 161 casualties and this was affecting her damage control abilities. Two more torpedoes slammed in to Brummer both below the aft guns, one more boiler room was destroyed, the entire crew lost, still her guns fired defiantly at Undaunted, and the destroyers.

Another torpedoe hit Brummer under the first funnel, her captain knew now she was finsihed, but was determind to go down fighting, he got his wish moments later as a four inch shell burst near the bridge killing him and three others. The seventh and final torpedoe to hit Brummer detonated under the middle funnel, her she was now down to one boiler, and almost her entire port side was open to the sea.
 
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bill44

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The order to abandon ship was given by Brummer's execetive officer, just 85 men went over the side as she slipped under. Undaunted's plight worsend her flooding was now out of control, she too was lost as were Loyal and Leonidis.
Bill Perkins survived his ship's sinking, and was posted to HMS Thunderer, he never got over the loss of his mate Alfie, and left the Navy in 1919.
 
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VaDingo

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Alas, Poor Alfie and Undaunted both gone..... Cruel is the sea.....
 
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