Bullethead
Storm Eagle Studios
I had them trapped like rats! At 0358, a raiding force composed of Angara, Boyarin, and 8 DDs had been spotted on the Korean coast SSW of Assan Basin by a slow cruiser unit composed of Chiyoda, Naniwa, and Takachiho. In the sharp, short night action, Chiyoda had all her guns knocked out but Boyarin was moderately damaged and on fire, and the DD Stroini was sunk and 2 others damaged. Quickly rallying my forces, I arranged a trap further up the coast closer to Assan Basin.
The next clash occurred just SW of Assan Basin at 0647. The cruiser unit now had a DD flotilla and an escort unit for support. The escort unit consisted of the ex-Chinese Sai Yen and the gunboats Atago, Uji, and Maya. And B. Maru was in danger! Unfortunately, all the Japanese units had wandered north of the Russians so the raiding cruisers could not be engaged. However, the last 2 destroyers in the line, Statni and Styeryegushchni, were caught and sunk and the others damaged. Once again, however, Chiyoda lost all her guns. As the remaining Russians ran south, however, further Japanese units converged on them.
Finally, at 0812, a bit further down the coast, I had them mostly boxed in. Togo's battlefleet was bearing down from the north, the cruisers and destroyers were to the east, and the escort unit was to the south. But wait! Where were the fast PCs and TBs that should have been blocking the west side? AAARRGGG!!!!
Surprisingly, the Russian elected to run south through the escort unit instead of west where there was nothing but open sea. While the Russian DDs circled behind to fend off my cruisers and DDs, the Russian cruisers bore down on Escort Unit 2. Too slow to run and too weak to fight, the gunboats prepared to die for the Emperor. Sai Yen, however, bravely sped ahead (at 15 knots) to draw the Russian fire onto her armor.
Her big guns thundered, but with a reload time of 3 minutes, she got off very few shots before the turret was destroyed. Turning to bring her aft 6" to bear, she continued to absorb hits and soon had many fires to fight. The 6" gun was also knocked out, leaving Sai Yen with nothing but torpedoes. As the Russians continued toward her, she swung broadside right in front of them and fired 2 tubes right into Angara. Both fish hit and Angara was doomed, with speed reduced to 12 knots. Regardless of what happened to Escort Unit 2, the Japanese cruisers would be able to catch her now.
Sai Yen paid dearly for this, however. She was absorbing point-blank broadsides from both Angara and Boyarin. As Angara passed behind, Sai Yen tried to fire her starboard tubes, but one was knocked out before it could fire and the angle was bad for the other.
By now, the Russian cruisers were amongst the gunboats. While Uji and Maya punished Boyarin with 6" hits, Atago swung around to assist Sai Yen with Angara. Both Russians continued to hammer Sai Yen as she wallowed around at ever decreasing speed, trying to bring her port tubes back to bear after they reloaded. Her upper works were completely smashed by this point, with fires raging from stem to stern. During the brief melee, Angara swung around in a complete circle, and quickly blew Atago out of the water before switching back to Sai Yen. Meanwhile, Boyarin broke through the other gunboats and continued to the south, still firing at Sai Yen and taking the occasional hit from Uji and Maya. These 2 gunboats could scarcely believe they were still alive, but now the Russian DDs were bearing down on them. As Boyarin pulled out of their short range, the gunboats prudently withdrew to the west, firing ineffectually at passing DDs, which themselves were now firing at Sai Yen.
Angara was showing no signs of sinking despite 2 fish in her belly. But due to her circling, Sai Yen was able to achieve a long-range launch position with her reloaded port tubes, despite having to dodge the remains of Atago. These last 2 fish ran true, straight to their target.
Again, both hit. 4 hits out of 5 torps fired! And all launched under the most trying conditions from a flaming collander. The Emperor would be proud! At first, however, Angara seemed to be able to absorb these hits as well. It took a minute or so for their effects to appear and the cruiser began to slow down and began to sink, though still on an even keel. As she slowed, she drifted to the right and rammed the hulk of Atago dead amidships. This gunboat still had a working 6" gun, with which she put the finishing touches on her destroyer.
All weapons destroyed or out of ammunition, and with fires raging out of control, Sai Yen limped away at 6 knots as Boyarin and the Russian DDs continued to hammer her. Amazingly, however, once the Russians ran out of range, the surviving 80 men of her crew managed to get the fires contained and she was able to make port. Once again, Togo was liberal with the captured vodka
The next clash occurred just SW of Assan Basin at 0647. The cruiser unit now had a DD flotilla and an escort unit for support. The escort unit consisted of the ex-Chinese Sai Yen and the gunboats Atago, Uji, and Maya. And B. Maru was in danger! Unfortunately, all the Japanese units had wandered north of the Russians so the raiding cruisers could not be engaged. However, the last 2 destroyers in the line, Statni and Styeryegushchni, were caught and sunk and the others damaged. Once again, however, Chiyoda lost all her guns. As the remaining Russians ran south, however, further Japanese units converged on them.
Finally, at 0812, a bit further down the coast, I had them mostly boxed in. Togo's battlefleet was bearing down from the north, the cruisers and destroyers were to the east, and the escort unit was to the south. But wait! Where were the fast PCs and TBs that should have been blocking the west side? AAARRGGG!!!!
Surprisingly, the Russian elected to run south through the escort unit instead of west where there was nothing but open sea. While the Russian DDs circled behind to fend off my cruisers and DDs, the Russian cruisers bore down on Escort Unit 2. Too slow to run and too weak to fight, the gunboats prepared to die for the Emperor. Sai Yen, however, bravely sped ahead (at 15 knots) to draw the Russian fire onto her armor.
Her big guns thundered, but with a reload time of 3 minutes, she got off very few shots before the turret was destroyed. Turning to bring her aft 6" to bear, she continued to absorb hits and soon had many fires to fight. The 6" gun was also knocked out, leaving Sai Yen with nothing but torpedoes. As the Russians continued toward her, she swung broadside right in front of them and fired 2 tubes right into Angara. Both fish hit and Angara was doomed, with speed reduced to 12 knots. Regardless of what happened to Escort Unit 2, the Japanese cruisers would be able to catch her now.
Sai Yen paid dearly for this, however. She was absorbing point-blank broadsides from both Angara and Boyarin. As Angara passed behind, Sai Yen tried to fire her starboard tubes, but one was knocked out before it could fire and the angle was bad for the other.
By now, the Russian cruisers were amongst the gunboats. While Uji and Maya punished Boyarin with 6" hits, Atago swung around to assist Sai Yen with Angara. Both Russians continued to hammer Sai Yen as she wallowed around at ever decreasing speed, trying to bring her port tubes back to bear after they reloaded. Her upper works were completely smashed by this point, with fires raging from stem to stern. During the brief melee, Angara swung around in a complete circle, and quickly blew Atago out of the water before switching back to Sai Yen. Meanwhile, Boyarin broke through the other gunboats and continued to the south, still firing at Sai Yen and taking the occasional hit from Uji and Maya. These 2 gunboats could scarcely believe they were still alive, but now the Russian DDs were bearing down on them. As Boyarin pulled out of their short range, the gunboats prudently withdrew to the west, firing ineffectually at passing DDs, which themselves were now firing at Sai Yen.
Angara was showing no signs of sinking despite 2 fish in her belly. But due to her circling, Sai Yen was able to achieve a long-range launch position with her reloaded port tubes, despite having to dodge the remains of Atago. These last 2 fish ran true, straight to their target.
Again, both hit. 4 hits out of 5 torps fired! And all launched under the most trying conditions from a flaming collander. The Emperor would be proud! At first, however, Angara seemed to be able to absorb these hits as well. It took a minute or so for their effects to appear and the cruiser began to slow down and began to sink, though still on an even keel. As she slowed, she drifted to the right and rammed the hulk of Atago dead amidships. This gunboat still had a working 6" gun, with which she put the finishing touches on her destroyer.
All weapons destroyed or out of ammunition, and with fires raging out of control, Sai Yen limped away at 6 knots as Boyarin and the Russian DDs continued to hammer her. Amazingly, however, once the Russians ran out of range, the surviving 80 men of her crew managed to get the fires contained and she was able to make port. Once again, Togo was liberal with the captured vodka
