Bullethead
Storm Eagle Studios
I finally managed to kill the entire Chitose group in one battle, thanks to a combination of planning and luck. When I play as the Russians, these IJN cruisers are the bane of my existence, so lately I've made killing them one of my priorities. However, usually it takes me a couple of months to get them all, so I'm rather proud of doing it on the 1st night of the war 
.
The attached pics aren't much: a map a the beginning, a map in the middle, a pic of the middle, and a pic of the triumphant ending.
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Admiral Bulletsiev's mission was simple: sortie from Port Arthur at sunset on 10 February 1904 and patrol towards Wei-Hai-Wei to open a path through the blockade for the raiders, following an hour behind. Primary targets were the 4 fast protected cruisers Chitose, Takasago, Kasasagi,, and Yoshino, which were considered the greatest threats to the Russian raiders. Given their superior speed, the best result expected was just driving them away. Although his orders were simply to clear the path, Bulletsiev was determined to destroy these menaces so he wouldn't have to keep worrying about them.
Bulletsiev had been entrusted with all the serviceable ships of the 1st Pacific Squadron not occupied with other tasks: 5 battleships, 1 cruiser, and 8 destroyers. The question was, how best to deploy them against such elusive adversaries? Finally, Bulletsiev determined on an arrangement of parallel columns. This would enable him to sweep the widest area, to best accomplish his primary mission. And if he was lucky and met his prey head-on, he would be able to bring most of his ships into action in the short time available. Maybe he have further luck and do some serious damage this way while he had the chance.
Bulletsiev's force was organized as follows, from left to right. He considered the extra space between his battleship columns would enable them to maneuver to either flank more effectively.
But otherwise, the Russians took little damage and continued their msisions.
Shortly after midnight, Bulletsiev reached the extent of his patrol off Wei-Hai-Wei and held position, allowing the raiders to pass through. He was disappointed in not having met his principle targets, but at least the raiders were safely out of the restricted waters. He was just about to return to base when distant muzzle flashes lit the southern horizon. The Chitose group had ambushed the raiders! This caused a change
of plan. The raiders retreated back behind Bulletsiev, who on his own initiative widened his sweep in an effort to bring the Chitose group to action. This resulted in a brief clash at about 0130, in which Diana, pressing ahead, took a little damage, but the raiders were still trapped.
Finally, at 0400, just as Bulletsiev was about to abort the whole operation due to the approach of dawn and the threat of Togo's main fleet, Fortune smiled. Lookouts in Peresvyet spotted the IJN cruisers, led by Yoshino, dead ahead on a reciprocal course! This was exactly what Bulletsiev had been hoping for. He was sure he would destroy the closest Japanese ship at least before she had a chance to escape.
Immediately, all ships rang up full speed. Bulletsiev's 4 leading battleships and Diana concentrated on Yoshino, which immediately began to take hits. The Japanese turned 16 points together to starboard, so all the Russian battleships turned 3 points to port. This cleared more arcs for Peresvyet, Pobyeda, and allowed Diana to fall in astern of them. Meanwhile, the slower battleships closed in faster.
By the time the Japanese had completed their turn about, Bulletsiev's port battleship column was overlapping their line up to the 2nd ship from their new front, Takasago, while the starboard column was able to fire on both Kasasagi and Yoshino. The latter was now well afire and slow enough not to escape, so Bulletsiev left her to Diana to finish off while the battleships concentrated on Takasago and Kasasagi. Bulletsiev now hoped to bag 2 or even 3 of these deadly IJN cruisers. Meanwhile, the Russian destroyers were speeding ahead on both flanks to gain position on the bow of the Japanese.
The action was not all 1-sided, however. Diana had borne the brunt of the initial Japanese fire and was now unable to keep up with the fast battleships. In addition, most of her starboard battery had been knocked out. She therefore turned 8 points to starboard to cut across the stern of Yoshino, which had by now dropped far behind, to engage her with the port battery and torpedoes. However, Yoshino's few remaining crew stuck by their guns and blasted Diana into a blazing wreck. She staggered away and for a long time her survival was in doubt. She probably would have sunk had not Petropavlovsk, by then passing Yoshino at the end of the starboard Russian column, administered the coup de grace. Yoshino quickly rolled over and sank with her guns still firing.
The Japanese, meanwhile, had turned 2 points to port as they worked up to full speed, attempting to cut across the bow of the port Russian column, and concentrating their fire on Bulletsiev's flagship. They made excellent practice and soon Peresviet, while little damaged physically, was contending with several large fires. The fires grew so large that Bulletsiev had no choice but to haul out of line while the issue was still much in doubt.
Fortunately for Russian arms, Poltava landed a lucky hit amidships on Takasago, which instantly cut her speed in half and forced Kasasagi next astern to veer toward the Russian starboard column to avoid a collision. Both ships were soon under heavy fire from the 3 starboard Russian battleships. But meanwhile, Chitose was pulling away while trading broadsides with Pobyeda. Once again, the shimose did its deadly work and started dangerous fires in the Russian ship. Pobyeda's shells found their mark as well, knocking out guns and slowing Chitose somewhat, although not enough to allow the slower battleships to catch her.
At this point, however, the Russian destroyers, having achieved positions ahead of the Japanese, swooped in to deliver simultaneous torpedo attacks from both flanks. Pobyeda gratefully stepped aside for them to concentrate on controlling her raging fires. Vnimatelni and Boiki finished off Takasago and Kasasagi, respectively, but Chitose managed to avoid the 6 torpedoes aimed at her, and smashed Vinoslivi in return. The crippled destroyer limped away, blazing from stem to stern, and sank shortly afterwards.
Though unharmed by the torpedo attacks, Chitose's evasive maneuvers had brought her within range of the slower Russian battleships. As the destroyers cleared the range, these ships subjected this last Japanese ship to a withering fire. Chitose was soon reduced to scrap and capsized as the Russian battleships swept by at point-blank range. Yet she still left her mark on Poltava, destroying a 6" turret and killing 20 of her crew.
Bulletsiev only learned of these events later. Far astern of the action, his wireless mast shot away and trapped on his bridge by flames below, he could only watch the distant muzzle flashes and burning ships without being able to tell which was which. Eventually, the shooting stopped and all but one of the fires went out. What had happened? Peresvyet's own fires ruined the night vision of her lookouts, while making her a beacon for any Japanese torpedo craft in the area. Suddenly, a signal light blinked from the nearby darkness. With great relief, Bulletsiev recognized the friendly code. It was Vnimatelni and her surviving consorts coming to render aid.
With his forces reunited and the fires under control, even Diana's, Bulletsiev set course for home, pondering the results of the night. He had accomplished his mission and inflicted crucial losses on the enemy. However, almost all his ships had been knocked about, some rather seriously, so that for the near future the Russians would not possess a serviceable fleet. Still, he had lost only 1 ship and had destroyed the most serious threat to the Russian raiders. All things considered, Bulletsiev considered it a success. Of course, the less said about Zabiyaka, the better.
.The attached pics aren't much: a map a the beginning, a map in the middle, a pic of the middle, and a pic of the triumphant ending.
--------------------------------------------------
Admiral Bulletsiev's mission was simple: sortie from Port Arthur at sunset on 10 February 1904 and patrol towards Wei-Hai-Wei to open a path through the blockade for the raiders, following an hour behind. Primary targets were the 4 fast protected cruisers Chitose, Takasago, Kasasagi,, and Yoshino, which were considered the greatest threats to the Russian raiders. Given their superior speed, the best result expected was just driving them away. Although his orders were simply to clear the path, Bulletsiev was determined to destroy these menaces so he wouldn't have to keep worrying about them.
Bulletsiev had been entrusted with all the serviceable ships of the 1st Pacific Squadron not occupied with other tasks: 5 battleships, 1 cruiser, and 8 destroyers. The question was, how best to deploy them against such elusive adversaries? Finally, Bulletsiev determined on an arrangement of parallel columns. This would enable him to sweep the widest area, to best accomplish his primary mission. And if he was lucky and met his prey head-on, he would be able to bring most of his ships into action in the short time available. Maybe he have further luck and do some serious damage this way while he had the chance.
Bulletsiev's force was organized as follows, from left to right. He considered the extra space between his battleship columns would enable them to maneuver to either flank more effectively.
- Vnimatelni, Vnushitelni, Vinoslivi, Vlastni
- Peresvyet(flag), Pobyeda
- Diana
- Poltava, Sevastopol, Petropavlovsk
- Grozovoi, Boiki, Burni, Ryeshitelni
But otherwise, the Russians took little damage and continued their msisions.Shortly after midnight, Bulletsiev reached the extent of his patrol off Wei-Hai-Wei and held position, allowing the raiders to pass through. He was disappointed in not having met his principle targets, but at least the raiders were safely out of the restricted waters. He was just about to return to base when distant muzzle flashes lit the southern horizon. The Chitose group had ambushed the raiders! This caused a change
of plan. The raiders retreated back behind Bulletsiev, who on his own initiative widened his sweep in an effort to bring the Chitose group to action. This resulted in a brief clash at about 0130, in which Diana, pressing ahead, took a little damage, but the raiders were still trapped.
Finally, at 0400, just as Bulletsiev was about to abort the whole operation due to the approach of dawn and the threat of Togo's main fleet, Fortune smiled. Lookouts in Peresvyet spotted the IJN cruisers, led by Yoshino, dead ahead on a reciprocal course! This was exactly what Bulletsiev had been hoping for. He was sure he would destroy the closest Japanese ship at least before she had a chance to escape.
Immediately, all ships rang up full speed. Bulletsiev's 4 leading battleships and Diana concentrated on Yoshino, which immediately began to take hits. The Japanese turned 16 points together to starboard, so all the Russian battleships turned 3 points to port. This cleared more arcs for Peresvyet, Pobyeda, and allowed Diana to fall in astern of them. Meanwhile, the slower battleships closed in faster.
By the time the Japanese had completed their turn about, Bulletsiev's port battleship column was overlapping their line up to the 2nd ship from their new front, Takasago, while the starboard column was able to fire on both Kasasagi and Yoshino. The latter was now well afire and slow enough not to escape, so Bulletsiev left her to Diana to finish off while the battleships concentrated on Takasago and Kasasagi. Bulletsiev now hoped to bag 2 or even 3 of these deadly IJN cruisers. Meanwhile, the Russian destroyers were speeding ahead on both flanks to gain position on the bow of the Japanese.
The action was not all 1-sided, however. Diana had borne the brunt of the initial Japanese fire and was now unable to keep up with the fast battleships. In addition, most of her starboard battery had been knocked out. She therefore turned 8 points to starboard to cut across the stern of Yoshino, which had by now dropped far behind, to engage her with the port battery and torpedoes. However, Yoshino's few remaining crew stuck by their guns and blasted Diana into a blazing wreck. She staggered away and for a long time her survival was in doubt. She probably would have sunk had not Petropavlovsk, by then passing Yoshino at the end of the starboard Russian column, administered the coup de grace. Yoshino quickly rolled over and sank with her guns still firing.
The Japanese, meanwhile, had turned 2 points to port as they worked up to full speed, attempting to cut across the bow of the port Russian column, and concentrating their fire on Bulletsiev's flagship. They made excellent practice and soon Peresviet, while little damaged physically, was contending with several large fires. The fires grew so large that Bulletsiev had no choice but to haul out of line while the issue was still much in doubt.
Fortunately for Russian arms, Poltava landed a lucky hit amidships on Takasago, which instantly cut her speed in half and forced Kasasagi next astern to veer toward the Russian starboard column to avoid a collision. Both ships were soon under heavy fire from the 3 starboard Russian battleships. But meanwhile, Chitose was pulling away while trading broadsides with Pobyeda. Once again, the shimose did its deadly work and started dangerous fires in the Russian ship. Pobyeda's shells found their mark as well, knocking out guns and slowing Chitose somewhat, although not enough to allow the slower battleships to catch her.
At this point, however, the Russian destroyers, having achieved positions ahead of the Japanese, swooped in to deliver simultaneous torpedo attacks from both flanks. Pobyeda gratefully stepped aside for them to concentrate on controlling her raging fires. Vnimatelni and Boiki finished off Takasago and Kasasagi, respectively, but Chitose managed to avoid the 6 torpedoes aimed at her, and smashed Vinoslivi in return. The crippled destroyer limped away, blazing from stem to stern, and sank shortly afterwards.
Though unharmed by the torpedo attacks, Chitose's evasive maneuvers had brought her within range of the slower Russian battleships. As the destroyers cleared the range, these ships subjected this last Japanese ship to a withering fire. Chitose was soon reduced to scrap and capsized as the Russian battleships swept by at point-blank range. Yet she still left her mark on Poltava, destroying a 6" turret and killing 20 of her crew.
Bulletsiev only learned of these events later. Far astern of the action, his wireless mast shot away and trapped on his bridge by flames below, he could only watch the distant muzzle flashes and burning ships without being able to tell which was which. Eventually, the shooting stopped and all but one of the fires went out. What had happened? Peresvyet's own fires ruined the night vision of her lookouts, while making her a beacon for any Japanese torpedo craft in the area. Suddenly, a signal light blinked from the nearby darkness. With great relief, Bulletsiev recognized the friendly code. It was Vnimatelni and her surviving consorts coming to render aid.
With his forces reunited and the fires under control, even Diana's, Bulletsiev set course for home, pondering the results of the night. He had accomplished his mission and inflicted crucial losses on the enemy. However, almost all his ships had been knocked about, some rather seriously, so that for the near future the Russians would not possess a serviceable fleet. Still, he had lost only 1 ship and had destroyed the most serious threat to the Russian raiders. All things considered, Bulletsiev considered it a success. Of course, the less said about Zabiyaka, the better
.
