Bullethead
Storm Eagle Studios
Commodore Bulletori was drunk :drink:. So were most of his men, for that matter, and who could blame them? They all felt intense dishonor at their present situation, consigned to manning obsolete corvettes with no chance either to win glory or redeem themselves. Bulletori was especially bitter--he'd been removed from command of an armored cruiser just before the war simply because he'd seduced Togo's young niece. It made him sick with shame 
aperbag:. Now all he could hope for was an honorable death. And the odds of that happening, what with him being stuck in the Tsushima Straits as a last line of defense, were slim to none.
However, the gods smiled on Bulletori. At 0425 on 11 Feb 1904, lookouts aboard his flagship, the armored corvette Hiei, reported something looming up dead ahead in the darkness, and the OD sent a man to rouse Bulletori. As Bulletori struggled to grasp issues beyond his self-pity, he wondered, what could it be? Probably just a fishing boat, he decided, and returned to contemplating the wakizachi lying before him on his table. However, Bulletori's suicidal thoughts were again interrupted, this time by the crash of heavy shells landing just outside his cabin windows. There was no mistaking it--against all odds, he had a chance to expiate his dishonor! Using an old cadet trick to sober up quickly :kotz:, and hoping his men would do the same, Bulletori staggered up the ladder to the poopdeck.
Immediately, Bulletori realized his force was backlit by the setting moon. The enemy, however, was barely visible in the darkness ahead except when muzzle flashes dazzled the eyes. He therefore ordered all his ships to turn together 2 points to starboard to get out of the light quickly. As he did so, he got a better view of the enemy and guessed its identity. No bigger than his own ship, rigged as a barque, and able to fire heavy guns dead ahead--obviously, it was the Russian gunboat Mandzhur. Bullethori leaned on the mizzen fife rail and dry-heaved in disgust--this was hardly a worthy opponent. Events were shortly to prove him wrong.
However, not yet knowing this, Bulletori still knew it was his duty to destroy this Russian. He also knew Mandzhur was faster than any of his ships except Hiei, and with the forces approaching head-on, none of his ships could bring their broadside-mounted guns to bear. Realizing that control of his flotilla would be impossible, he signalled Tsukuba and Kaimon to act independently to best advantage while he attempted to at least slow the enemy and absorb its fire on his armor.
The battle no began in earnest with Mandzhur and Hiei trading short-range broadsides on opposite courses while the other corvettes continued on, thinking that the Russian would flee superior numbers and not wishing to find themselves too far behind by maneuvering to cross the T ahead. However, the Russian showed no sign of fear and continued on his course, and soon his fire began to tell. Despite her armor, Hiei was soon well afire and most of her guns silenced. Bulletori himself was grazed by a splinter. There was nothing for it but to pull away and attempt what repairs were possible.
Fortunately, by this point the other corvettes had entered the fray and were no in position to bring their guns to bear. Nevertheless, Mandzhur skillfully shifted fire from one to the other, inflicting painful damage on both. Meanwhile, the Japanese shells, although hitting frequently, were doing little apparent damage to the Russian. Soon, Kaimon, too, was forced to haul off to fight the fires that threatened to engulf her, while Tsukuba was left with a single functioning gun. However, Hiei's crew had by now managed to get the fires under control and reman some of their guns, allowing Bulletori to re-enter the fight.
So the battle continued for some time. Only their numerical superiority allowed the Japanese to carry on, as first one ship and then another was driven away, but was as quickly replaced by one returning to the action. Mandzhur was by now finally suffering the cumulative effects of the Japanese guns, however, and her speed had been reduced to the point that she could not escape. But rather than surrender, the Russians fought to the last. When Mandzhur finally slipped beneath the waves, her flag still flying and her remaining guns still firing, Bulletori's force was a shambles. Masts had fallen, fires still burned above and below, and mutilated bodies were draped over many wrecked guns.
But Bulletori's soul was at peace. Crushed by a falling spar at the height of the battle, he had refused to be carried below, and had lived just long enough witness victory save his honor.
aperbag:. Now all he could hope for was an honorable death. And the odds of that happening, what with him being stuck in the Tsushima Straits as a last line of defense, were slim to none.However, the gods smiled on Bulletori. At 0425 on 11 Feb 1904, lookouts aboard his flagship, the armored corvette Hiei, reported something looming up dead ahead in the darkness, and the OD sent a man to rouse Bulletori. As Bulletori struggled to grasp issues beyond his self-pity, he wondered, what could it be? Probably just a fishing boat, he decided, and returned to contemplating the wakizachi lying before him on his table. However, Bulletori's suicidal thoughts were again interrupted, this time by the crash of heavy shells landing just outside his cabin windows. There was no mistaking it--against all odds, he had a chance to expiate his dishonor! Using an old cadet trick to sober up quickly :kotz:, and hoping his men would do the same, Bulletori staggered up the ladder to the poopdeck.
Immediately, Bulletori realized his force was backlit by the setting moon. The enemy, however, was barely visible in the darkness ahead except when muzzle flashes dazzled the eyes. He therefore ordered all his ships to turn together 2 points to starboard to get out of the light quickly. As he did so, he got a better view of the enemy and guessed its identity. No bigger than his own ship, rigged as a barque, and able to fire heavy guns dead ahead--obviously, it was the Russian gunboat Mandzhur. Bullethori leaned on the mizzen fife rail and dry-heaved in disgust--this was hardly a worthy opponent. Events were shortly to prove him wrong.
However, not yet knowing this, Bulletori still knew it was his duty to destroy this Russian. He also knew Mandzhur was faster than any of his ships except Hiei, and with the forces approaching head-on, none of his ships could bring their broadside-mounted guns to bear. Realizing that control of his flotilla would be impossible, he signalled Tsukuba and Kaimon to act independently to best advantage while he attempted to at least slow the enemy and absorb its fire on his armor.
The battle no began in earnest with Mandzhur and Hiei trading short-range broadsides on opposite courses while the other corvettes continued on, thinking that the Russian would flee superior numbers and not wishing to find themselves too far behind by maneuvering to cross the T ahead. However, the Russian showed no sign of fear and continued on his course, and soon his fire began to tell. Despite her armor, Hiei was soon well afire and most of her guns silenced. Bulletori himself was grazed by a splinter. There was nothing for it but to pull away and attempt what repairs were possible.
Fortunately, by this point the other corvettes had entered the fray and were no in position to bring their guns to bear. Nevertheless, Mandzhur skillfully shifted fire from one to the other, inflicting painful damage on both. Meanwhile, the Japanese shells, although hitting frequently, were doing little apparent damage to the Russian. Soon, Kaimon, too, was forced to haul off to fight the fires that threatened to engulf her, while Tsukuba was left with a single functioning gun. However, Hiei's crew had by now managed to get the fires under control and reman some of their guns, allowing Bulletori to re-enter the fight.
So the battle continued for some time. Only their numerical superiority allowed the Japanese to carry on, as first one ship and then another was driven away, but was as quickly replaced by one returning to the action. Mandzhur was by now finally suffering the cumulative effects of the Japanese guns, however, and her speed had been reduced to the point that she could not escape. But rather than surrender, the Russians fought to the last. When Mandzhur finally slipped beneath the waves, her flag still flying and her remaining guns still firing, Bulletori's force was a shambles. Masts had fallen, fires still burned above and below, and mutilated bodies were draped over many wrecked guns.
But Bulletori's soul was at peace. Crushed by a falling spar at the height of the battle, he had refused to be carried below, and had lived just long enough witness victory save his honor.
