As promised, this week we see the new British armored cruisers in action against the German battle cruiser SMS Goeben., and the light cruiser Breslau. Spike and I played this game in about twenty minutes, using Bob Cordery's Memoir of Battle at Sea, with the addition of a new ship class, the Battle cruiser.
BATTLE CRUISER Move 4 hexes, Gun Range 10, Floatation 12, critical 4 points
The first turn saw the two German ships move on board from the west, trying to get off the east edge without suffering serious damage (critical point or less). Intercepting from the southeast were the British armored cruisers, HMS Warrior, Black Prince, Defense and Duke of Edinburgh. Turn number two saw Goeben range in on the lead British ship.
The Warrior took three hit points, without being able to respond. Still the cruisers steamed onward in line astern. Both Goeben and Breslau again fired on the squadron leader, inflicting enough damage to make the British ship limp away. Goeben took only minor damage in the exchange. Breslau also was hit by Black Prince.
In a bold move, the two German ship put on full steam to "cross the T" on the British. Goeben unleashed a salvo on the Black Prince(4 points) while the British ship matched shot-for-shot(5 points). Breslau poured gunfire and torpedoes into the Defense (6 points) , while the British cruiser fired effectively and sank the lighter ship. Warrior continues to slip away from the battle.
Goeben switched her fire to the battered Defense, and poured in a series of hits that finished what Breslau had started. Defense and Edinburgh inflicted further minor damage to the battle cruiser(now at critical point)
Goeben tried to steam eastward, on to Constantinople, but Edinburgh moved in, trading iron with the beleaguered vessel (four points of damage each). Goeben heeled over, slipping beneath the waves. Turkey would not receive the German ships.
The battle was costly. Germany lost its Mediterranean Squadron, and Britain lost one ship, sunk, and two others would be in repair for many weeks. Lord Fisher would praise the squadron for "upholding the traditions of the Navy" by closing with a superior enemy and showing him no mercy. Admiral Troubridge's star was on the rise.
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Hi Steve,
ReplyDeleteSeeing this has cheered me up no end - despite the result (I am an avid Ottoman Turkish fan and with any navy as bad as hers in the period the two reinforcements would be sorely missed!). Lovely looking models though, the exaggerated beam works really well. As a special favour can you post pictures of all the German Battlecruisers - especially the Seydlitz?
Great report and a wonderful tonic for me.
All the best,
DC
Wonderful to hear from you, David, I hope your son is resting well.
ReplyDeleteI will post the squadron sometime this week. SMS Seydlitz is on the workbench, hull laminated, but not yet cut out. Once she is "launched", the battle of Dogger Bank looms.
Have you read Paul Halpern's "The Naval War in the Mediterranean 1914-1918"? I can not recommend this book strongly enough. the behind the scenes political and staff intrigue plays a great part in the narrative, and goes a long way to explain "why didn't Fleet A do whatever to Fleet B". Turkish aid to the Senussi gets some attention here as well.
With you in spirit,
-Steve
I have been planning doing this senario for a while now. I will have to see if my results mirror yours.
ReplyDeleteHi Mike,
DeleteIt is an interesting scenario, worth plating several times. I have found that if the German player keeps the initiative, and moves second most of the time, they can keep at arms length, they can do a great deal of damage to the British at a reasonable cost. In our game, Spike had a run of turns in which she made the first move, and I had the chance to react to them. Gunnery was not good to her in this game as well. for the first time in our naval games, she did not average a point of damage inflicted for every two dice rolled.
I would love to hear your results if you replay the game.Please post them here.
-Steve
Hi Steve,
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for the kind words - much appreciated. I am really looking forward to seeing Seydlitz and I have not seen the Halpern book although I have a copy of the Naval Situation in the Mediterranean 1908 to 1914 by the author and that is a really good book. I will have to look out for the follow up then!
All the best,
DC
David, I finished building Seydlitz and von der Tann last night, and am waiting for a day without 35 mph winds to apply the base coat of paint. I'll put up an extra post as soon as they are done.
ReplyDelete-Steve
Hi Steve,
ReplyDeleteI will really look forward to that! My fondness for SMS Seydlitz is legendary in certain quarters over this side of the pond!
All the best,
DC