The Tsar's Crown Jewels - Russian

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Night mining near the Elliot Islands

Captain's Log, ML Yenisei
February 13, 1904

As the Greyhounds were seen to pursue the Askold and Novik as they left Port Arthur, we have been directed to mine the Elliot Islands area in their absence.

0223
Our destroyers encounter two slow enemy cruisers in the dark. They are the Fuso, an old armored cruiser and the Takao, unarmored, but well armed.

We break away, but encounter them again.

Gamer's Note: I get no opportunity to abort the mission. This seems to be a major problem on night missions, as you are constantly dragged back into contact, instantly, with no chance on the campaign map to abort the mission.

0233
DD Byesposhchadni takes a couple of hits and her rudder jams! They shoot her to pieces as we sail west towards Port Arthur. She sinks at 0241.
She was lost because we could not abort and break away.


0313
Now we are east of them!

Gamer's note: We can easily outrun them, but are constantly dragged back by our unalterable orders! I resolve to "tease" them by staying just out of sight, but not enough to break contact. Maybe we can drag them back to Port Arthur by daylight.

We will need a strong escort to mine this location, but I believe it to be necessary.

We can not tolerate the enemy having a base so close to Port Arthur!
 

gascan

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Nice battle report. Very interesting. I noticed the problem you mentioned in your gamer's note, but have found a solution to it. Once the battle ends, but before you return to the campaign map, you'll notice the time stamp says the battle has ended and the clock has stopped. Press the pause button, and it will say the game is paused. Now return to the campaign map and the game will still be paused, allowing you to change your orders or reorganize your formation before any subsequent battles are fought. Un-pause, and the game will resume and the task force will execute the new orders.
 

Pandur

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But, it is not to be! The batteries do not fire! Why? Heads will roll!
:D priceless

i had one of these moments too, took a bit till i figured it was too dark in my case for the batterys to spott the enemy ships. you had good light conditions?
 
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The pause that refreshes!

Nice battle report. Very interesting. I noticed the problem you mentioned in your gamer's note, but have found a solution to it. Once the battle ends, but before you return to the campaign map, you'll notice the time stamp says the battle has ended and the clock has stopped. Press the pause button, and it will say the game is paused. Now return to the campaign map and the game will still be paused, allowing you to change your orders or reorganize your formation before any subsequent battles are fought. Un-pause, and the game will resume and the task force will execute the new orders.
Gascan,
Thanks! That is very helpful! Unfortunately, even with the new orders (return to base), I kept being dragged back until I reached Port Arthur and the light came up. I did manage to drag the enemy pratically under the guns, as the sun rose. They were never fired on. But, as visibility increased, contact distance gradually increased, and the contacts lasted longer.

I also noticed that my orders just kept me going west, south of Port Arthur, at about the extreme range of the shore batteries.

Must have fought that battle twenty times!

Finally, I got to other actions as the sun rose!

DS!
 
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Dead Batteries

:D priceless

i had one of these moments too, took a bit till i figured it was too dark in my case for the batterys to spott the enemy ships. you had good light conditions?
It was still daylight with good visibility. Sunset was coming, but the batteries should have activated.

I have heard that they may not join the battle if they weren't in it at the beginning.
 
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Bogatyr bags a Maru

Admiral's Log, Armored Cruiser Gromoboi
February 13, 1904

In the morning, we sighted an armed Japanese freighter, the D. Maru near Tsushima.

I ordered the squadron to pursue, and Bogatyr to fire on the enemy.

After a few minutes she was afire and sinking.
 
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Novik and Askold Meet Mikasa

Commodore's Log, Protected Cruiser Askold
February 13, 1904

This morning we sighted the Mikasa, five other battleships and four armored cruisers. We are about 230 km SW of the Assan Basin. With such a large concentration of force here, our forces will be free to act elsewhere.

Gamer Note: Mikasa is still damaged. It appears from the angles, that two of her six inch guns have been destroyed. They also can't get above 17 knots, but that may be more due to sea days than damage.

We pulled away, but they continued to shadow us.

Then we spotted a freighter up ahead! We pursued and caught her near some islands. We never slowed, just adjusted course slightly and did a "drive-by"! She was the B.Maru.

The Japanese battle fleet fell behind. We must be certain to lose them before nightfall.

A little over an hour later, we found ourselves in a large bay with a narrow outlet. Trapped!

I sent us out of the bay at full speed, and just past an island, one of our destroyers spotted the Gunbout Maya heading west.

A few minutes later, another destroyer sighted the Gunboat Atago heading away to the southeast.

We were closer to Maya and might be able to pick up Atago later, so we are pursuing the Maya.

Our primary mission is trade warfare, but I think we can sink these gunboats with little risk, despite their six inch guns.
 
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Topping off Weihaiwei

Admiral's Log, Port Arthur
February 13, 1904

I sent out a group of destroyers, along with some torpedo gunboats, to refresh the minefields off Weihaiwei.

They sighted the Fuso and Takao ESE of Round Island, but were able to elude them.

I'm planning to take three battleships and the Amur over to the Elliot Islands to mine them early tomorrow morning, especially since Askold reported the enemy battleships to the south.

If Fuso and Takao are still around, we'll deal with them.
 

gascan

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Agreed! It's fun to read about other campaigns and see how they are reported. Making reports from the admirals and captains in command of the flotillas and independent ships is a nice touch.
 
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Daedalus & Gascan.

Thanks for the encouragement! I love reading other people's AARs, so I figured I'd report on my campaign.

So far, I have really hurt their merchant marine, and lately I've really contributed to the modernization of Japanese fleet:laugh:!

I did feel a little bad when I realized how many ships I had intercepted prior to our declaration of war, but, hey, they started it!

I hope to have some new reports from this weekend up with a few screenshots before long!

DS!
 
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Auxilliary Cruisers

Captain's Log, Auxilliary Cruiser Lyena
February 13, 1904

At 1422 we sight a D class Maru, 75 km southeast of Yokosuka.
We pursue her and she goes down two hours later.

Captain's Log, Auxilliary Crusier Angara
February 13, 1904

At 1641 we sight two armored cruisers 109 km south of Kochi.
They are the Yakumo and the Adzuma!

We flee to the southwest at 19 knots, but they are gaining on us!

1648 There are 35 minutes until sunset.

1715 We break contact at 8 minutes before sunset. Range 23510, Visibility 19.4 km.

We set a long course away to the south and then east to avoid this pair!
 
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Shadows at sunset

Admiral's Log, Port Arthur
February 13, 1904

Our returning minelaying destroyers and the Torpedo Gunboats report sighting two enemy cruisers, Fuso and Takao southeast of Port Arthur. They did not pursue.
 
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Atago

Commodore's Log, Protected Cruiser Askold
February 13, 1904

2014 Destroyer Burni reports a contact and shadows her while we bring Asklod and Novik into range.

2030 The gunboat Atago is sinking. We leave quickly, as we don't want to meet Mikasa in the dark!
 
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Valentine's Day

Captain's Log, Auxilliary Cruiser Lyena
February 14, 1904

0104 We sight a B class Maru of 4500 tons 76 km SE of Yokosuka and sink her. There will be nothing for their sweethearts tonight.
 
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Greyhounds at morning

Admiral's Log, Battleship Retvizan
February 14, 1904

0627 We sight the Greyhounds off our starboard quarter as we leave Port Arthur. We trun to pursue, but they are too far away. The cruiser Diana fires at extreme range, but we achieve nothing other than shooing them off.
 
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Vladisvostok cruisers

Admiral's Log, Armored Cruiser Gromoboi
February 14, 1904

0709 We sight a freighter. Bogatyr captures her, the CS Codrington, 4500 tons.

Captain's Log, Auxilliary Cruiser Lyena
February 14, 1904

0744 We sight the freighter Boston of 3000 tons 78 km east of Onahama and capture her after an hour and twenty minutes.

Admiral's Log, Armored Cruiser Gromoboi
February 14, 1904

0907 We sight a freighter 145 km NNW of Hiroshima.
0942 Bogatyr seizes the CS Vancouver and her military supplies.

Captain's Log, Auxilliary Cruiser Angara
February 14, 1904

0942 We battle the Auxilliary Cruiser Miike Maru for over two hours, sinking her.
 
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Meanwhile, back at Port Arthur

Admiral's Log, Battleship Retvizan
February 14, 1904

1207 As we return from our mining expedition, we find the Gunboat Iwake just outside the Port Arthur defensive minefields!

Our shore batteries rapidly reduce her to a burning hulk.

Meanwhile, they Greyhounds have been sighted near Weihaiwei.
Maybe they'll find a minefield!

1414 The Greyhounds appear off Port Arthur, but run to the SE, so we continue back to port. One of these days, perhaps we'll catch them just before dawn!

We need to come out at night!
 
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A busy dance card for Lyena!

Captain's Log, Auxilliary Cruiser Lyena
February 14, 1904

1256-0214 We capture the 4500 ton freighter Suez 116 km SSE of Ishinomaki.

0235 We sight two freighters!

0332 We capture the 6000 ton Bombay.

0347 We capture the 4500 ton Liverpool.

Next we sight the 6000 ton freighter Beaufort and run her down at 0452.

2119 We seize the freighter Hong Kong, 162 km ENE of Ishinomaki.
 
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