Von der Tann
Schlachtkreuzer
This weeks Sunday game had five players, three RN (Anav, RBrook, Bryn) and two Germans (Admiral Hipper and myself). At first, we wanted to play En Passant Revised - Krousis, which turned out to be faulty and wouldn't load, so we switched to En Passant Revised instead. ACH settings were fragile AP shells ON, poor ammo handling OFF.
This time, Hipper had overall command and was in charge of the battle fleet, while I took over the scouting forces. In the beginning, I lead my BC due W to scout ahead and close the gap to the enemy heavies, the RN BCF was coming straight at us, as were 5th BS and the Grand Fleet. A running battle began between the British BC and the 5th BS, until I opened the range on a course of 80° to let our BF join in. Unfortunately, Seydlitz caught a hit in her propulsion system which slowed her down to first 17, then 20 kts, and so I turned back to N to let her get her to a safe distance. Shortly afterwards, Derfflinger was hit right into the magazine and blew up, which caused Hipper to call the BC back. I turned away on a 80° course again and let the BF take over for a while.
It was about that time when to the dismay of all players Jutland dropped RBrook for no readily apparent reason... again. An almost identical drop had already happened to him in the memorial battle, and thus he was removed from the battle just when it got interesting. Bryn and Anav had to continue alone. RN apparently had their best gunners out that day, and Prinzregent Luitpold and Kaiser both had jammed rudders, and Friedrich der Große had severe flooding, while the rest of the ships got pounded by the entire Grand Fleet and BCF. However, the fleet was holding up well and showered the RN with shells,and Erin and Malaya both blew up, while Barham left the line for repairs. In time, Prinzregend Luitpold and even the badly hit Kaiser managed to repair their steering, and my BC had moved to the rear to attack the RN BCF. Some of the Hochseeflottes CL had also caught several shells, possibly to reduce anti-DD capabilities for an intended torpedo run. In the end, the RN pulled back as a massive KM torpedo run came in, and we ended the game. The outcome was a draw, with many ships damaged but only a handful actually lost.
Well done, gentlemen - a battle well fought! And I very much hope we will find out why Jutland keeps dropping RBrook...
Ships lost:
Royal Navy
BB Malaya
BB Erin
CL Southampton
Kaiserliche Marine
BC Derfflinger
CL Stettin
CL Rostock
Statistics:
SMS Von der Tann
003 x 13.5in Mk V 1250 lb Gun.
002 x 15 inch Mk I Gun.
SMS Moltke
006 x 13.5in Mk V 1400 lb Gun.
001 x 15 inch Mk I Gun.
009 x 12 inch Mk XI Gun.
002 x 13.5in Mk V 1250 lb Gun.
1 critical hits:
02:19:41 : 12 inch Mk XI Gun strikes BC Moltke [propulsion [critical]] Record serial:9008.
02:19:41 : BC Moltke propulsion damage:light [8%]
SMS Seydlitz
002 x 15 inch Mk I Gun.
1 critical hits:
01:01:09 : 15 inch Mk I Gun strikes BC Seydlitz [propulsion [critical]] Record serial:603.
01:01:09 : BC Seydlitz propulsion damage:light [37%]
SMS Derfflinger (+)
004 x 15 inch Mk I Gun.
1 critical hits:
01:38:21 : 15 inch Mk I Gun strikes BC Derfflinger [magazine [critical]] Record serial:1176.
01:38:21 : BC Derfflinger has exploded due to magazine detonation.
SMS Lützow
002 x 13.5in Mk V 1250 lb Gun.
002 x 15 inch Mk I Gun.
009 x 12 inch Mk XI Gun.
This time, Hipper had overall command and was in charge of the battle fleet, while I took over the scouting forces. In the beginning, I lead my BC due W to scout ahead and close the gap to the enemy heavies, the RN BCF was coming straight at us, as were 5th BS and the Grand Fleet. A running battle began between the British BC and the 5th BS, until I opened the range on a course of 80° to let our BF join in. Unfortunately, Seydlitz caught a hit in her propulsion system which slowed her down to first 17, then 20 kts, and so I turned back to N to let her get her to a safe distance. Shortly afterwards, Derfflinger was hit right into the magazine and blew up, which caused Hipper to call the BC back. I turned away on a 80° course again and let the BF take over for a while.
It was about that time when to the dismay of all players Jutland dropped RBrook for no readily apparent reason... again. An almost identical drop had already happened to him in the memorial battle, and thus he was removed from the battle just when it got interesting. Bryn and Anav had to continue alone. RN apparently had their best gunners out that day, and Prinzregent Luitpold and Kaiser both had jammed rudders, and Friedrich der Große had severe flooding, while the rest of the ships got pounded by the entire Grand Fleet and BCF. However, the fleet was holding up well and showered the RN with shells,and Erin and Malaya both blew up, while Barham left the line for repairs. In time, Prinzregend Luitpold and even the badly hit Kaiser managed to repair their steering, and my BC had moved to the rear to attack the RN BCF. Some of the Hochseeflottes CL had also caught several shells, possibly to reduce anti-DD capabilities for an intended torpedo run. In the end, the RN pulled back as a massive KM torpedo run came in, and we ended the game. The outcome was a draw, with many ships damaged but only a handful actually lost.
Well done, gentlemen - a battle well fought! And I very much hope we will find out why Jutland keeps dropping RBrook...
Ships lost:
Royal Navy
BB Malaya
BB Erin
CL Southampton
Kaiserliche Marine
BC Derfflinger
CL Stettin
CL Rostock
Statistics:
SMS Von der Tann
003 x 13.5in Mk V 1250 lb Gun.
002 x 15 inch Mk I Gun.
SMS Moltke
006 x 13.5in Mk V 1400 lb Gun.
001 x 15 inch Mk I Gun.
009 x 12 inch Mk XI Gun.
002 x 13.5in Mk V 1250 lb Gun.
1 critical hits:
02:19:41 : 12 inch Mk XI Gun strikes BC Moltke [propulsion [critical]] Record serial:9008.
02:19:41 : BC Moltke propulsion damage:light [8%]
SMS Seydlitz
002 x 15 inch Mk I Gun.
1 critical hits:
01:01:09 : 15 inch Mk I Gun strikes BC Seydlitz [propulsion [critical]] Record serial:603.
01:01:09 : BC Seydlitz propulsion damage:light [37%]
SMS Derfflinger (+)
004 x 15 inch Mk I Gun.
1 critical hits:
01:38:21 : 15 inch Mk I Gun strikes BC Derfflinger [magazine [critical]] Record serial:1176.
01:38:21 : BC Derfflinger has exploded due to magazine detonation.
SMS Lützow
002 x 13.5in Mk V 1250 lb Gun.
002 x 15 inch Mk I Gun.
009 x 12 inch Mk XI Gun.
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