NationStates Jolt Archive

At Port Arthur, Admiral Markarov's order had not been carried out. The entire Russian fleet lay at anchor. The battleships were moored in pairs, while cruisers and other warships were moored together in groups of 4 or tied alongside docks. Only a single guard ship, the oldest cruiser in the fleet had steam up, and it was unprepared.

No one spotted the 20 Japanese torpedo boats that made their way into the harbor that dark night.

2 Torpedo Squadrons will launch the Japanese suprise attack on Port Arthur. Meanwhile 5 CP1s, 6 CP2s and 2 Desrons will protect transports which shall land at Pusan.
The rest of the Fleet is to prepare for war.

The US Navy is pulling its cruisers and destroyers out of Shanghai back to Guam to provide convoy escorts. Only the Yangtze River patrol and coastal patrol gunboats remain in the area, along with the US Army and Marine units at Shanghai. The US will take over British responsibilities to free up the British so they can act against the Russians or Germans.

ooc what day does you attack begin officially Japan?

IC
At Port Arthur, the Russians are completely surprised by the Japanese torpedo strike. Luckily, the Japanese launch from too far out and only 6 of the 40 torpedoes launched strike Russian ships. However, 2 2nd class battleships are sunk at their moorings, and a gunboat is blasted to pieces as the Japanese retreat... without suffering any losses in exchange. (ooc based on the actual Port Arthur torpedo attack and 2 good die rolls for the Japanese).

Markarov arrives the next day, and he immediately orders the port captain in charge of the defenses to be tried for dereliction of duty.

ooc August 2nd
IC Admiral Togo looked out over his fleet and was pleased. They had prepared for battle in record time and now. Now they would see battle, because orders from the Emperor were to attack the Russian Fleet at Port Arthur and destroy them all.

Attacking Fleet:
Admiral Togo- aboard the Mikasa,
11 BB1,
15 CP1,
5 CP2,
3 Desron,
1 Patron,
2 Torpron

aboard the battleship Borodino, Admiral Markarov gave the order to sortie. His flag ship was leading the fleet out of the harbor and he intended to meet the Japanese fleet near Pusan, where the Japanese were already landing troops. He expected to meet the enemy in the narrow strait between Korea and Japan. A straight called Tsushima.

ooc
5 BB1, 3 BB2, 6 CP2, 3 Desrons, 1 Torpron left behind is a single CP2 (the Almaz with broken engines).

IC
Markarov had already sent orders out to the Vladivostok squadron to scramble. There 4 Armored cruisers were to make a run into the Pacific and run intercept Japanese merchant shipping.

Meanwhile, the Army in Korea hurriedly assembled at Pyongyang, well to the north of the capital in Seoul. There the 10,000 men (several regiments without a corps or divisional headquarters) was ordered to prepare to fight a delaying action. The Army in Manchuria was hurriedly assembled in Mukden. There 60,000 troops (4 infantry divisions and a cavalry division) prepared to move south to deploy along the Yalu river. A smaller force of 40,000 men prepared defenses around Vladivostok and an identically sized forced prepared defenses around Port Arthur in case of a Japanese or British landing.

The German fleet has concentrated at Tsingtao in order to aid the Russians in a mutual strike against the Japanese. Of course, there's an understimation of Japanese military might at work. If the Russians give out an order, they're ready to steam out with the Russian fleet.

German Pacific Fleet:
3 BB2
6 CA
7 CP2
2 Torprons

OOC Comment and sort of question- I doubt that patrol boats would be terribly useful in a sea battle. Is that right of me to say? I'm leaving one squadron of them in Tsingtao and two squadrons in the Philippines.

Britain- Is using its cruisers in the Pacific to attempt to hunt down raiders. Will send its China Fleet to assist the Japanese. Is also preparing its East Indies and Indian Ocean squadrons to prepare to move into the Pacific.

British Hannover- Is using its cruisers in the Pacific to attempt to hunt down raiders. Its battleship in the Pacific, will, however, remain behind to guard home waters against a possible raid.

500 miles west of Tokyo Bay (about 200 miles from Chichi Jima, the closest land), Rear Admiral Frank Buchanan III (son of the Texas Admiral Buchanan from the last war) stood on the bridge of the protected cruiser Pittsburg and watched as the sun began to set in the west.

His squadron, the protected cruisers Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Indianapolis and Baltimore, with the gunboats Concord and Bennington, were escorting 3 American, 1 Mexican, and 2 Japanese freighters, an American tanker, and 1 Dutch passenger ship to Japan in the first convoy of the US Neutrality Patrol. Admiral Sims had ordered him to handle the first convoy on direct orders from Roosevelt himself.

A wireless signal from the US Consulate in Vladivostok had issued a warning to US shipping that Russian cruisers were in the area, and Buchanan hoped he wouldn't run into them. He had seen the Russians operate before, and was a bit concerned about their seamanship and general competence. The cruisers Bayan, Roosiya, Rurik and Gromoboi were a lot bigger than his 15 year old, 5600 ton protected cruisers and had more armor (and a 3,000 tonnage advantage). However, his fleet would match them in gunpower should it come to it, and in speed.

"Signal the convoy to slow to 10 knots" he ordered as the sun began to set, "we don't want anyone getting lost in the dark. Signal the Bennington to move out in front as well. I want a little warning if the Russians are about and they forget we are neutral."

ooc its unlikely any Japanese warships are in the area, as they are about to meet the Russians in a big fight, while the British are moving toward Japan and the British Hannover fleet is still moving across the Pacific. Which the Russian commander should know but for story flow sake he is going to screw up.

Russian IC post
A few miles to the north, Rear Admiral Koznev received a message that multiple plumes of smoke had been sighted on the horizon.
"Signal all ships to prepare for battle. We have the enemy in our grasp."

On the bridge, his flag captain was less certain. The Admiral had been drinking, and was in his late 60s. Those could be just about anybody's ships. Even the Americans. But as usual the Admiral wasn't in a mood to listen and so for the sake of his career Captain Zharkov kept his opinion to himself.

An hour after nightfall, the Bennington sent a signal back via lights. "Unknown warships closing on our front."

A few minutes later, the sky was suddenly illuminated as guns flashed.

Aboard the Pittsburgh, Buchanan cursed as the first dull rumble of gunfire could be heard across the water. "Signal the cruisers to prepare for battle and to form a line ahead behind us. Tell the Concord to get those merchant ships the hell out of here."

ooc
example of battle
US has 4 protected cruisers (3/1/3/3) and get a +1 to their die rolls because of superior gunnery organization. The Russians have 4 Armored cruisers (4/2/3/3) which are practically brand new as well. Because of the dark conditions, and because they are cruisers, neither side gets a long range attack and combat immediately proceeds to short range.

Die roll results
US CP Pittsburg targets the Bayan. a 1, 1 and 4 are rolled. The Bayan fires back, getting a 1, 4, 5, 5. Neither gets a hit. The other 3 US and 3 Russian cruisers also fire, and the Milwaukee scores 3 hits on the Rossiya, the Indianapolis gets 1 hit on the Rurik, and the Baltimore gets 1 hit on the Gromoboi (the dice got hot). The Rossiya gets a hit on the Milwaukee (which can only take one hit), the other two Russian cruisers miss.

The Russians choose to withdraw, having suffered far more damage than expected (incidently, the Bennington took a hit and went down in the first exchange of fire). The Americans have a badly crippled cruiser, a sunk gunboat, and have convoy to protect and don't pursue.

Russian IC
In the darkness, lit only by the flash of the guns, the Russian sailors cheered as the Japanese gunboat blew up after a barrage of 8 inch, 6 inch, 5 inch and 3 inch shells. (ooc, oops, wrong navy identified by the Russians).
"Sir, we have more ships, looks like cruisers." shouted a young ensign assisting the lookout on the navigation bridge (which is above the armored conning tower).

"Fire at will, we have the chance to crush a Japanese cruiser squadron and teach those little monkeys not to play war with Europeans."

A barrage of shells and torpedoes quickly erupted from all 8 ships as the American cruisers interposed themselves between the convoy and the Russians. Aboard the flagship, the Russian Admiral blanched as shells and a torpedo hit first the Rosiya, and then the Rurik and Gromoboi were lit by bright flashes as enemy shells smashed into them.

US IC
Buchanan was angry as the Bennington exploded in a bright flash that almost immediately after that faded out. It was unlikely their would be too many survivors from that.
"Goddamn Russians, I knew they would blunder. All ships to open fire and send a wireless message to Guam."

Moments later, 8 and 5 inch guns opened up, followed by 3 inch guns as the 2 squadrons closed to within 5,000 yards. Buchanan watched as shells smashed into the Milwaukee and a messege by signal lamp came in that she was having to drop out of line.

After seemingly endless minutes, the battle ended as the Russians swerved away in the dark.

Buchanan thankfully heaved a sigh of relief. The convoy was safe.

But like it or not, it looked like his nation was now at war.

The German Pacific fleet, save for a few patrol ship squadrons left in the Philippines, was gathered together at Tsingtao, waiting for a signal from the Russians to come to their aid in the climactic battle that was sure to come. In the meantime, the garrison of Tsingtao was working on strengthening the fortifications as much as possible.

Unlike virtually every other European, Colonel Geist did not believe the tales of the Japanese being a mob of nearsighted yellow ape-men, or the patronizing stories of them being fawning imitators of European ways, making cheap tin toys. He had seen the Japanese in combat when they crushed China as an observer. He hoped that the Russian and German fleets could deal a critical blow to the Japanese fleet, which was their main arm of force.

In the meantime, however, Tsingtao would be reinforced. No sense not making prudent preparations.

Markarov decided that because of the difficulties with coordination, it would better to simply move his fleet to Tsingtao and pickup the German squadron and then advance together.

This would prevent his fleet from preventing a landing in Korea by the Japanese, but on the other hand, winning the seas would result in the Japanese being isolated later.

Admiral Koznev was a worried man aboard the bridge of the Bayan as she steamed in the early morning light. His squadron was 100 miles from the entrance of Sea of Okotsk, and a few hundred miles from home.

But the squadron was only able to steam at 12 knots, as the other 3 cruisers of the squadron were damaged, especially the Rossiya, which took a torpedo that knocked out a boiler room.

He was facing serious consequences when he got home too. Lookouts and junior officers had confirmed that the cruisers that he had battled a few days before were American cruisers. A nation his fleet had not been at war with at the time.

They were at war now though. STAVKA would probably have him shot. Assuming he lived to get home.

At that moment, a lookout called out the smoke was on the horizon, and a few minutes later spotted 8 ships at long range moving in at 20 knots or better.

closing in on the Russians was a combined US and British fleet. Aboard the bridge of the light cruiser Santa Fe, Admiral Sims, commander of the US Asiatic Fleet, stood next to the squadron commander Rear Admiral Morgan as they looked through binoculars at the Russians. Behind the Santa Fe, in a line ahead formation, were the light cruisers Salem, Buffalo and Chester. Behind them were 4 British cruisers, older protected cruisers that had joined his force off northern command the previous day, the British ships Astraea, Bonaventure, Combrian, and Charybdis.

Sims was in a grim mood. The report from Buchanan had been grim reading. The poor Bennington had gone down in a couple of minutes under the Russian guns, the old gunboat no match for real warships. No one had gotten off alive either. The Milwaukee was going to have to go to Mare Island for complete repairs too, her upper works shot to pieces, most of her guns destroyed, and nearly half her crew dead or wounded, not to a flooded forward bow. For that reason he had shifted his flag from the Lexington to the Santa Fe so that he could be sure to be in on the kill when the fast new cruisers ran down the bastards.

He wanted revenge, and those Russian bastards weren't going to get home if he had anything to say about it.

"Order the British to maintain their course, we are going to swing around and sandwhich them."

He planned to use the superior speed of the light cruisers to ensure that the Russians didn't get away. The Chester class had a 26 knot maximum speed, and all of his ships were new. He had them, even if the 18 knot British cruisers lost them.

ooc
battle results. 4 US CL(with an American bonus of +2 for both Sims and superior gunnery techniques), 4 British CP2 vs 4 Russian CA (3 with previous damage). Russians score hits on the Santa Fe, Buffalo, Chester and Astraea (which has a 0 defense rating and sinks). The Americans get hits on the Rurik, Bayan, and Gromoboi, and the British get a hit on the Rossiya (which had a current defense rating of 0 and it sinks). The Russians attempt to flee, and now without their crippled sister, make better speed, but can't outrun the pursueing Anglo American cruisers. The Russians concentrate their fire on the American ships, hoping to slow the pursuit, and score another hit on the Buffalo, but Allied fire sinks all three Russian cruisers in return.

Wireless message sent from the USS Salem (the only undamaged US cruiser)

"Russian squadron run down and destroyed 100 miles north/northeast of the coast of Hokkado. Returning to base. RN cruiser Astraea and British Commodore Smythe-Evans lost in action."

The 3 American damaged cruisers would have to return to the Mare Island for repairs but the threat of Russian commerce raiders had been eliminated for now, and the Bennington had been avenged.

ooc Battle of Tsushima forces
Russian / German (organized into 3 battlesquadrons)
Batron 1 -- 4 Russian BB1 (Borodino -- flagship with Admiral Markarov, Slava, Suvorov, Alexander III)
Batron 2 -- 1 Russian BB1 (Retvizan),3 German BB2 (Barbarossa, Karl der Grosse, Wilhem de Grosse)
Batron 3 -- 3 BB2 (Poltava, Petropavlovsk, Sevastapol)
6 German CA, 7 German CP2, 5 Russian CP2, 3 Russian Desron, 2 German Torprons

the Russians leave 1 Torpron back at Port Arthur for harassment raids against Japanese shipping along western Korean coast

Japanese Fleet (organized into 3 battle squadrons)
Batron 1 -- 4 Japanese BB1 (Mikasa-- flag with Admiral Togo, Shikishima, Yashima, Hatsuse)
Batron 2 -- 4 Japanese BB1 (Ashahi, Chinyen, Fuji, Fuso)
Batron 3 -- 3 Japanese BB1 (Katari, Kushima, Satsuma)
10 CP1, 4 Desron, 1 Torpron

1 Torpron dealing with Russian Torpron of Western Korea, 5 CP1, 6 CP2 on escort duty

British squadron -- the 5 BB3 are too old and weak to serve in the battle line and is relegated to escort duty, but 5 CA are attached to Togo's fleet. The remaining 3 CP2, and the gunboats are either on escort duty or watching the Philippines.

US Asiatic Fleet -- 3 CL, 1 CP2 are damaged and are en route back to Pearl Harbor (or Mare Island California) for complete repairs. 6 CA, 3 CL, 3 Desron along with Sims are en route to join the Japanese fleet but will not arrive until after the battle has been fought.

Remaining US, RN, Australian, and British Hannover ships are escorting convoys, except for an American squadron which is organizing at Pearl Harbor to move against the Germans should they intervene.

battle results.... Tshushima

The 2 fleets meet, each in a line ahead formation, and open fire at 12,000 yards. The Russian and German gunnery is unusually good, getting a hit on the Katori, Kushima, Satsuma, Chinyon, Fuso, Mikasa, and Shikishima, and 2 hits on the Hatsuse. However, the Japanese gunnery is even better, getting single hits on the Barbarrosa, Karl der Grosse, Poltava, and Sevastapol, 2 hits on the Borodino, Suvorov, Retvizan, and Petropavlosk, 3 hits on the Slava (which drops out of line) and Wilhem de Grosse, and 4 hits on the Alexander III (which sinks)

Hoping to use his edge in cruisers, destroyers and torpedo boats, Markarov orders the fleet to close (except for the Slava which is limping home). The 5 British CA duel with 6 German CA, with the German cruiser Prinz Adelbert and British cruiser Cressy sinking, and the British Abouker, Hogue, and German Friedrich Carl, Prinz Heinrich, and Roon dropping out of the fight (down to 0 defense) and the British Bacchante and Euryalus taking a hit each.

Meanwhile, Japanese, German and Russian protected cruisers each try to hold off the other sides torpedo boats and destroyers. They do their jobs, and force the destroyers and torpedo boats to use up their torpedoes. But at a serious cost as the Germans lose the Irene and Prinzess Wilhemina, the Russians lose the Askold, Novik, and Boyarin, and the Japanese lose the Adzuma and Akashi. Cruiser gunfire and their own torpedoes inflict severe losses on the attacking light ships though. The Japanese lose 6 destroyers and 10 torpedo boats sunk, with the remaining ships all seriously damaged and out of action. The Russians lose 5 destroyers sunk, the rest damaged, and 20 German torpedo boats are sunk(the entire force).

Meanwhile, the heavies continued to duel. The Russians and Germans continue to shoot well, getting another hit on the Satsuma and Shikishima, and getting the first hits on the Ashahi and Chinyen, and two hits on the Fuji. More importantly, they score 3 hits each on the Katari and Kushima and both of these battleships sink. Japanese fire is just as good as the first part of the battle, the Borodino, Suvorov, Retvizan, Barbarrosa, Karl de Grosse sinking, the Petropovlosk limping out of action, and another hit is scored on the Sevastapol. In other words, the entire Russian-German battle line is reduced to 2 damaged and 3 crippled and Markarov is killed when the Borodino blows up.

The senior German officer, Rear Admiral Speer, aboard the Armored cruiser Yorck realizes the battle is hopeless when the Russians order a retreat to Port Arthur. He orders the remaining 2 undamaged armored cruisers (York and Bismark) and the 5 remaining protected cruisers to head toward Manila, taking advantage of the smoke and confusion. He also orders the crippled Wilhem de Grosse, plus the 3 battered armored cruisers and the battered destroyers to stick with the Russians (hoping that if nothing else, the survivors will be picked up if they are sunk).

But the Japanese are in no shape to pursue. Every remaining battleship is damaged to varying degrees, the destroyer and torpedo squadrons are severely battered, and protected cruisers are out of torpedoes as well. The Russians are allowed to retreat to Port Arthur, where they have no repair facilities.

incidently, a small problem as the British and Germans aren't technically at war yet when this happens, although they might be in IC terms... we can just fudge the timeline to make sure that political and combat events match, or simply decide that the British and Germans go at it early in the Pacific (things like that have happened before in warfare)

a couple of days after the battle, the battered remnants of the Russian Pacific Fleet and German China squadron made their way into Port Arthur harbor. Of the fleet of 5 battleships, 3 armored cruisers, 3 protected cruisers, and 10 destroyers, only the 3 protected cruisers were undamaged.

The Russians in particular were in shock, as in addition to losing so many ships and nearly 12,000 men dead or missing, their beloved Admiral Markarov was gone as well, killed when the Borodino blew up. Rear Admiral Vitgeft was in command now, and he was as demoralized as his sailors.

The Russians were now essentially locked into the port, as a couple of days later a squadron of old British battleships took up station outside, and the condition of the Russians ships and men were not going to allow them to fight their way out. Nor could the ships be repaired, as the base had no repair facilities other than what the ships themselves had aboard.

The Russian Pacific Fleet was effectively out of the war except for the 3 cruisers... assuming they could get out somehow.

Naval deployments in the Pacific post Tsushima

Blockading Port Arthur and Tsingtao
IJN -- 1 BB1, 17 CP1, RN -- 5 BB3, 2 CP1, RBHN -- 1 BB1 USN -- 3 Desron, 1 Subron

Blockading Vladivostok
USN 4 CP2, 1 Desron RBHN -- 4 CP2, 1 Desron

blockaded in Vladivostock
Russian -- 1 Desron, 1 Patron

blockaded in Port Arthur
German -- 1 BB2, 3 CA (none fit for action due to damage)
Russian -- 4 BB2, 1 Desron (unfilt for action due to damage), 3 CP1

Under repair in Japan
IJN -- 8 BB1 (ready in January), 3 Desron (ready in January)

under repair in India
RN -- 4 CA

under repair US West Coast or Hawaii
1 CP2, 3 CL

German Pacific Fleet in Manila
2 CA (Bismark and Yorck), 5 CP1, 2 Patron (another Patron is in Tsingtao but is not fit for combat operations)

Blockading Philippines
IJN -- 11 CP2

US Asiatic Fleet (at Guam)
6 CA, 3 CL

US Pacific Fleet (at Hawaii)
1 BB3, 4 CA, 7 CL, 7 CP1, 2 Desron

Blockading German South Pacific
RAN -- 4 CP2

Blockading German Caroline / Gilbert Islands
USN 4 CP2

other issues

To take Korea and Manchuria will require the entire Japanese Army, leaving no Japanese troops available to deal with the Philippines or Tsingtao for some time to come. So although the Allies have managed to bottle up most of the Central Powers fleet (except for some potentially dangerous raiders in the Philippines), they don't have the means to seize German territory yet.

The Americans have about 35,000 Marines and Soldiers available, plus whatever the British, Australians and British Hannoverians can come up with, but invading the Philippines will require a major operation.. so the desire may not be there yet for the British or Australians (ANZACs would probably move against the German South Pacific possessions first anyway) and the US will be moving against the Caroline and Gilbert Islands first (as need the forward bases before they can move against the Philippines anyway).

The British had heard of the results of the great naval battle at Tsushima and sent a congratulatory telegram to the Japanese and to their own ships involved in the great battle.

'This great victory removes a great potential burden from the British Empire. In light of this momentous battle, I believe that a high-level conference of the Allied powers is in order in order to determine our grand strategy for the war.'

After hearing news of the great naval victory at Tsushima, Japan sends its conratulations and thanks to all ships involved.

Where should the conference be held?

In Siberia, Count Kellar is made commander of the entire region including Manchuria and Korea.

It was already clear that holding in Korea was impossible, as already 9 Japanese divisions had been identified and they were closing on Pyongyang, having already taken Wonson, Pusan, Seoul, Inchon and most of the other vital points in Korea.

Kellar orders the Army to assemble at the Yalu River, and 90,000 troops, all that are immediately free to maneuver, are assembled there (4 infantry divisions and 6 cavalry brigades). General Stakelberg is named commander of the newly formed 18th Army and given orders to hold the Japanese out of Manchuria.

But it is clear that the Japanese will be landing on the Liao-Yang pennisula any moment now that the fleet had been defeated. The 40,000 men of the Port Arthur garrison are ordered to prepare for a seige.

The Navy realizes that it is time to save as many of the crews as it can before they are trapped in the city. Important specialists and officers and men who proved themselves in battle are placed on trains and sent out. Lighter guns are stripped off the crippled battleships and heavily damaged destroyers and emplaced along the hills above the city, while entrenchments are expanded and mines laid. Only the Russian cruisers are left unaffected and the best men that remain are assigned to them. A desperate plan is developed to have the battleships and destroyers, damaged as they are, to break a hole in the blockade so that the cruisers can escape to sea and raid enemy shipping.

The Germans, who have a battleship and 2 armored cruisers in the harbor, are asked to place themselves under Russian command for the defense of the base. It is also suggested that it might be time for them to evacuate some or maybe even all of the crews. While there is still time.

The Russians strategy is simple. Play for time until additional reinforcements arrive from Europe while Port Arthur must be held as long as possible so that an army can then break the Japanese seige, crush their army, and then victory will be won on land as it can no longer be won at sea.

In the Sea of Okhotsk, warships from the US and British Hannover owned the sea. Shore parties and small craft explored the coast, and Russian coastal shipping was soon either bottled up in harbors or falling into the eager hands of sailors eager for prize money. Coastal trade soon collapsed, and even fishing, sealing and whaling was brought to an end. Allied ships even slipped into the Tartar Strait between Sakhalin and Siberia, sinking or capturing ferries and isolating the small Russian garrison there.

Meanwhile, other US and British Hannover ships explored the coast of Kamchatka.

Transports from Hawaii and Vancouver were on their way, filled with Marines. The Allies had plans and would soon put them in motion.

Meanwhile, far to the south in the South Pacific, American and Australian cruisers steamed into the waters of the Bismark Sea and Solomon Sea, looking for German gunboats and traders. One by one the cruisers destroy the German ships or drive them into harbor at Rabaul.

In Samoa, the Australian and American garrison, beefed up by the American 24th Infantry Regiment (which is all black) easily conquer the German third of the island against token resistance.

In the Philippines, while the Japanese maintain their blockade of Luzon, American cruisers begin exploring the waters of the central Philippines and land small parties of Spanish speaking officers and men to talk with the natives in Mindanoa, Cebu, Samar and Leyte. Plans were afoot there as well.

Other American ships began exploring the Carol9ine Islands, and the uninhabited Ulithi Atoll is discovered to be an ideal anchorage. Scouts also look at Truk (the center of German administration) and Palau.

The Germans agree to place themselves under Russian command and also think that evacuation may be as good an idea as any, given the impossibility of the situation. They sincerely hope that the German attack on France will be more successful than this naval battle. Would the German fleet in the North Sea have any real success against the British fleet? If the Japanese could beat the Russians ...

However, the men were not broken, just somewhat shaken. They would do as was necessary.

The Russians find themselves quickly outmanuvered in northern Korea, and suffer serious losses, including the destruction of an entire brigade retreating. But eventually they manage to escape, and join the remainder of the 18th Army deployed along the Yalu River.

The Japanese were coming hard and fast, and battle was expected soon.

In Kamchatka, the small garrisons find themselves cut off from not only supply but orders as well. Only occasional messengers that cross the rugged and fiercely wild stretches of Siberia are able to get through to the main settled areas of Siberia, and the Russians can only hope that the Allies don't choose to take advantage.

telegram sent to all US forces in the Pacific

"A state of war now exists between the United States and the German Empire. Initiate War Plan Black 2 at once."

ooc
in other words, the Americans are going to seize the Caroline and Gilbert Islands .... this won't happen until the next naval turn (in other words, Oct at the earliest because of distances, steaming times etc)

IC
at Guam, Admiral Sims, recently returned after defeating the Russians, climbed up the accomdation ladder to the main deck of the USS Lexington. An aide hurried over with the telegram.

"From Admiral Dewey, commander US Fleet
To Vice Admiral Sims, commander Asiatic Fleet
Enter Philippine waters and find, engage and destroy German Pacific Fleet."

August 19
The armored cruisers of the US Asiatic Fleet steamed out of Agana Harbor (ooc Guam) heading west into the Philippine Sea. At the head of the column was the USS Lexington, 9215 tons, with 450 men aboard and bristling with 8 and 5 inch guns, 1 pdr quick firers, and torpedoes. Behind her was the Saratoga, Bunker Hill, Valley Forge, Yorktown and Ticanderoga. After the big ships left the harbor, more ships followed. The brand new light cruisers Galveston, Cheyenne, San Antonio and Honolulu also left port. The Cheyenne stayed with the heavier ships, but the other 3 all headed off on different courses, moving off to get into position to patrol likely spots where the Germans might run if they left Manila Bay before the heavies got there.

Last to leave were 7 colliers, plus the protected cruisers Boston and Cleveland (their escorts).

Admiral Sims stood on the bridge of the Lexington, proud of the assembled American might.

Meanwhile, another fleet left Pearl Harbor, heading first to the Marshal Islands, and then from there to appointments at Truk, Palau, Ulithi, Nauru, Makin and Tarawa islands (ooc Caroline and Gilbert island groups).

At the head of that fleet was the old battleship New Hampshire, veteran of the Colombian War. Now too old to serve in the battle line, she still had heavy guns that would serve well in bombarding forts. Behind her were the cruisers Brooklyn, Denver, Chicago, Portland, Detroit and Albany, along with the 10 gunboats, 20 colliers, and nearly 50 transports of all types. Loaded aboard were 30,000 soldiers and marines from the combined 2nd Infantry Division.

The US was making its move to clear the Pacific of German forces.

Still another American fleet left harbor that day. From Panama City the US Navy steamed south and west to look for German raiders. The recently completed armored cruiser San Jacinto, a powerful 10,000 ton Lake Erie class armored cruiser, led the column. Behind her were her sisters the Lake Erie, Lake Champlain, and Hampton Roads. Along with them were the protected cruisers Des Moines and Omaha, and the light cruisers Augusta and Houston, as well as 5 gunboats, 10 colliers and 2 dispatch boats.

Fighting begins along the Yalu River, and the Japanese get across before the Russians can finish bringing up their army. Only a couple of brigades are actually in the area, the rest are still retreating across the river (further west) or are still marching along primitive Chinese roads from Tonghua (the nearest railhead).

The 2 brigades are quickly routed and driven back in tatters, losing 3,000 men at the cost of 1,000 Japanese dead or wounded. It is the first real Japanese ground victory of the war against Russian combat troops (the earlier route in Korea was against 2nd rate garrison troops and little fighting actually occured) and the whole world takes notice.

Even as the Russians are suffering defeat at the Yalu, the Japanese launch the second part of their offensive. An army lands at Pitszewo, near the neck of the Liaodang pennisula and dangerously close to Port Arthur. The Russian fortress is soon cut off and a formal seige begins.

The Russians have 45,000 soldiers and sailors to man the entrenchments and forts, against a Japanese force of 80,000.

After the Yalu defeat, the Russians retreat back to Mukden to concentrate their widely scattered forces. There is no choice now but to go with the strategy considered previous. Build up an army and then attack to relieve the fortress at Port Arthur and shatter the Japanese Army in a decisive battle.

The German fleet in Manila Bay realized that they were being utterly useless sitting there. It was better to risk destruction to go out onto open water and raid commerce than to sit and wait to be destroyed at Japanese liesure. The commanding officer, now Rear Admiral Braustistch, decided to attempt to make a run for open water in the wee hours of the morning after giving his men a chance to rest up. It would only be the cruisers, as the gunboats were not particularly valuable on open water.

The British Hannoveran Pacific Fleet had mostly been escorting convoys across the sea to Japan, not getting involved in too much in the way of military action. Which suited Rear Admiral John Stade just fine. He was proud to do his part in the Great War, but would rather not destroy his fine little fleet in a battle. After all, British Hannover wasn't really a global power.

bump and more to come later sunday...

ooc
I would suggest that the Germans might want to make a dash for the Horn in the hopes of making it into the Atlantic.... a good strategy would be to have all of the German raiders head for Walvis Bay (while it is still German controlled) to refuel and then operate from Africa until destroyed or if they survive and German Africa stops being a viable base, then they should make a run for the North Sea (giving an excuse for another rematch in the North Sea between the two big fleets).

Sims cursed as he read the wireless messege. The Japanese were reporting that the German Asiatic fleet had managed to slip out of Manila Bay on September 15, and were steaming southeast.

His fleet was still a day out from Manila Bay, and now looked like it was going to be a chase. No doubt the Germans were steaming for Rabual to refuel and then were going to make a dash for the Atlantic.

"Radio Commodore Phillips, tell him to get his cruisers into position to either intercept or to shadow the Germans if they make for the Bismark Sea.

And set a course for the South Pacific. "

The Americans pursue the Germans into the South Pacific but fail to catch them before they reach Rabual. Short on coal, the Americans are forced to steam southeast to Samoa to refuel but leave a couple of light cruisers nearby to shadow the German ships (the light cruisers have better endurance than the other ships).

bump

The German cruisers refuelled at Rabaul as quickly as they possibly could, caring less about exact procedure than getting the ships ready to go again. It was absolutely essential they they be able to make it past the Horn into the Atlantic, where they could refuel at Walvis Bay and range up the Atlantic, or go into Zanzibar and maraud about in the Indian Ocean. However, the Atlantic was viewed as the more important front.

Soon, the German cruisers set out for open water as fast as possible.

An armoured cruiser, two protected cruisers and five destroyers from British Hannover heard of the impending sea chase and quickly changed their courses so that they could join in the case of the potentially dangerous German raiders. It was imperative that they be caught and brought to heel quickly before they were able to reach the Horn and the Atlantic Ocean.

Off Rabuel, the Light Cruisers Galveston and Honolulu shadowed the Germans as they headed down the passage that seperated the various Solomon Islands and into the South Pacific. A wireless message was already on its way out. Far to the southeast, the rest of the Asiatic Fleet (now renamed the 7th Fleet) was rapidly approaching Samoa to refuel.

Off the coast of Peru, the 1st Fleet was steaming south as well, heading for the Horn. Hurrying from the north Pacific on their way to the US Navy coaling station at the Galapagos Islands were the British Hannoverians.

The net was tightning.

Meanwhile, American warships of the 3rd Fleet split up into task groups and began making their way to vital points in the Caroline and Gilbert Islands. The first US offensive of the war was underway.

at Port Arthur, Sergant Valishevsky sat behind his machine gun in the deep trench and watched as the Japanese moved up in an immense column.

At 1000 yards, shells began hitting the Japanese columns but still they came on. Behind them a carpet of bodies was beginning to spread.

A few moments later they reached 500 yards and he saw the enemy pass the range markers.

"Open fire" he shouted, and his section of riflemen began shooting even has he opened up with the machine gun.

The Japanese continued on, but finally, at 100 yards, they finally broke and fell back in retreat.

"Stop shooting, save your ammunition. They will be back." he shouted.

Ammunition supplies were limited, and his men had to save every round for when the Japanese were attacking. They didn't have rounds to waste on a retreating enemy.

Moments later Japanese shells began hitting all around and he and his men crouched lower in their trench, hoping the Japanese wouldn't get lucky.

ooc
the Japanese attempted several unsuccessful assaults over the course of the seige before finally capturing a couple of key positions overlooking the harbor.

But that isn't for a while yet.

October 11
The Americans launch the first of a series of amphibious assaults in the Pacific. The first is the seizure of undefended Ulithi Atoll by a shore detachment from gunboats which immediately sets up a coaling base and anchorage for the various colliers making their way to the Pacific from Hawaii.

A couple of days later, the 4th Marine regiment began landing (using open boats) at Truk. Here the Germans had a fort and nearly 2,000 men, but the heavy guns of the New Hampshire, and lighter 8 inch guns of 4 US cruisers managed to silence the German guns after a fierce duel. The Marines assault the fort the next day, which surrenders after a two hour fight (300 US dead). However, the gunboat Petrel hits a mine and is completely destroyed, and 3 other gunboats are wrecked in the gunbattle and another runs aground on a hidden reef tearing out its bottom (a Patron lost basically). The wrecked gunboats aren't worth salvaging and are stripped of useful material and 2 are scuttled and another is made into a barracks.

Over the next 2 weeks the remaining islands of the Carolines are forced to surrender as the 6th Marine regiment secures each one by one.

After refueling, the Americans then move on the Gilbert Islands, taking Makin and Tarawa using the 3rd and 5th Marine Regiments, and the Army's 25th and 27th Infantry regiments.

The German outposts in the Central Pacific are no more.

The German authorities in Manila had heard of the fall of the Caroline and Gilbert Islands, although they had rather expected it. The governor of the Philippines, Werner von Allenstein had realized that the key to the Philippines was the will of the Filipinos and he made sure for years that they were aware that he was a religious Catholic and relatively enlightened individual.

Now that the Americans might invade, he had seen to it that he make a few particularly brave Filipinos officers in the colonial ranks. The way that he figured it, he only had enough German officers for the higher grades and for the regular divisions. Even this small action would probably boost the morale of the colonial troops significantly.

The problem, as always, was with the Muslim-dominated island of Minadao in the south. The Filipino Catholics had been reasonably quiet, especially as German rule was, if not particularly kinder per se, at least notably less corrupt and more efficient. It was made carefully sure that all high officials sent to the Philippines were Catholics. But the Muslims were much more combative.

Allenstein just hoped that the Filipinos would not eagerly support the Americans. The German propaganda circulated was that they were not only just another European power, but that they would not allow the Filipinos religious freedom and send scores of Protestant missionaries. He did not know how much they believed that. The Filipinos knew well that most Germans were, in fact, Protestants ...

And he hated the weather. Utterly, absolutely hated it.

Meanwhile, in the Ocean Blue:

The German cruisers were still gamely trying to make it past the Horn. They knew they were being followed, but there was nothing they could do but steam straight ahead as fast as they could and pray they could reach Walvis Bay in time.

The Battle of Santa Cruz
The German squadron was moving east at their best speed, the armored cruiser Bismark in the lead, with the Yorck behind her and following were the protected cruisers Bremen, Hamburg, Berlin, Lubeck, and Munchen.

Behind them, a couple of miles astern, were the American light cruisers Galveston and Honolulu.

But now in front of the Germans and closing in was an Allied force. 2 Australian (Encounter and Hyacinth) and 2 French protected cruisers (Suchet and Davout) were patrolling north of the Santa Cruz Islands, directly in the path of the German ships.

Coming up fast from Samoa was the American squadron, 6 armored cruisers and a light cruiser.

The net had finally closed.

Aboard the Lexington Admiral Sims looked at the horizon, where the smudges of smoke were just becoming visible on the horizon. "We need to bag them all gentleman. We need to wrap this up so the fleet can get on with other missions."

OOC> Is there any chance of escaping this? I'm guessing not by the 'Battle of Santa Cruz' part. Or, more realistically, of any of the ships getting through? Perhaps if the armoured cruisers sacrifice themselves, the faster protected cruisers (I think they're faster), or vice versa, could slip out?

IC:
Rear Admiral Brauschistch realized what had happened with serious dismay. It was quite clear that they had drawn a trap. There was nothing he could do but to put up a fight and hopefully at least a few of the cruisers could slip away in the chaos.

With the net closing in, a fatal mistake is made. The French commodore orders his 4 cruisers to attack when the American position report is misinterpreted by a French wireless operator to show that the Americans are 5 miles away instead of 50 miles away.

By the time the captain of the Galveston realizes the French mistake, the 4 Allied ships have launched their attack. Outgunned and outnumbered, a decision is quickly rendered.

The Suchet and Davout are both left burning wrecks by German 8 inch shells, while the Hyacinth is quickly left sinking by a hurricane of shells from the German protected cruisers. It isn't entirely one sided though, a lucky French shell hit results in a massive blast that completely destroys the Berlin and all aboard.

Admiral Sims reaches the battle a little over 2 hours later in time to pick up survivors from the three Allied cruisers lost. Meanwhile, the Galveston and Honololu continue to shadow the Germans who are making their way for Cape Horn and hoped for escape.

The chase continued.

ooc
as it turns out, the smoke on the horizon was the 3 burning allied cruisers.

in the waters of the south, from the South Atlantic to the Antarctic Circle and all through the South Pacific, 66 Allied cruisers from the French, Australian, British and American navies were combing the waters of the south looking for the Germans.

The Germans had decided to unify their cruiser fleet, and the 9 cruisers from Walvis Bay headed southwest, avoiding powerful British squadrons looking for them in the Central and South Atlantic. Meanwhile the 6 surviving cruisers of the German Pacific Fleet at last broke contact with the Americans when the Honolulu and Galveston were forced to head to port and refuel, and by continuing south avoided Sims and his 7 cruisers as they had to remain in supporting range of American operations in the Caroline and Gilbert Islands.

Only 2 Allied squadrons had a chance to find the Germans now, the 4 armored cruisers and 3 light cruisers of the US 1st Fleet, and the 2 armored cruisers and 4 protected cruisers of the British South Atlantic squadron.

But luck was with the Germans. Poor weather near Whutefeckia allowed them to slip by the Americans in a storm, and the Germans slipped by the British before they got into position. The Germans join together off South Georgia Island (and along the way sink nearly 2 dozen whaling ships) before heading to Indian Ocean via the Antarctic Sea and neatly avoiding the British once again before arriving in Zanzibar.

luck like this would not last forever though. A powerful combined American, British Hannover and British force consisting of the Battle cruisers Invincible, Indomitable, Inflexible, Ranger, Bonhomme Richard, and New Hannover, along with 6 British light cruisers were steaming south (with most of the ships having just completed their trials or having been rushed through) for Capetown. Admiral Jellicoe was in command and had one mission.

Destroy the German fleet.

Rear Admiral Brauschtich had got a full night's sleep for the first time in ages. Upon successfully completing repairs, he ordered the fleet to strike out, realizing that Allied cruisers were probably in the area. Perhaps he could engage in some more strikes on Allied shipping, or perhaps even break through into the Mediterranean Sea. Luck had been with them thus far, who knew what they could do?

Perhaps on the way back out to the Atlantic, they could conduct a nice little raid of an isolated British outpost like St. Helena or catch a neutral convoy sending supplies to the Allied powers. The possibilities seemed endless. The Germans steamed out south, not knowing that a powerful fleet was going to be intercepting them shortly.

As the German fleet headed south (steaming around the east of Madagacar west of Mauritius), the Allied battlecruiser fleet was just clearing Freetown (Sierra Leon)where it had refueled. In the mid time, the British South Atlantic squadron was guarding the Madagascar Strait.

The Germans slipped by.

But not entirely. An American freighter returning from Australia spotted the Germans and before she was sunk, managed to send a wireless report of the German position, just 500 miles east of the Falklands and steaming north towards St. Helena.

At Port Stanley, an American squadron of 4 armored cruisers and 2 light cruisers headed out to sea in pursuit.

A new net was forming.

But once again news of the German breakout disrupts Allied shipping, and another 8 Allied merchant ships are sunk when they have the misfortune of meeting the German fleet. Mostly sailing ships (still going strong for another couple of decades) but a few steamers as well.

bump

OOC> Damn those Huns and their good luck!

Rear Admiral Brautistsch felt downright invincible. To be sure, he had been careful to avoid the fleets that were after him, but he and most of his men were undeniably getting just a little bit cocky. Their fleet continued to range about, attacking enemy shipping with gleeful abandon. Although life on the ship was hard, the men were glad to be avenging the humiliation of Tsushima in their minds.

The Germans had another bit of good luck as they began to round the Cape of Good Hope as they ran into another couple of merchant ships, quickly sending them to the bottom. However, a few of the more pessimistic men had a feeling that their extraordinary good fortune was not going to last forever. Still, they had a duty to do and that involved the hunting down and sinking of as many merchant ships as they could possibly find.

as December came to an end, the Allied Battle cruiser fleet and its attached light cruisers formed a vast picket line moving south in the Atlantic looking for the Germans.

A few dozen miles south of St. Helena, the light cruiser USS Houston, with an attached captive balloon tethered to her and raised up to a height of 800 feet, spots the German squadron and quickly a wireless message is sent. Within a few hours, the Battlecruisers Invincible and New Hannover are closing in from the west and the Battlecruisers Ranger and Bon Homme Richard are closing in from the east. North of them are the Battlecruisers Indomitable and Inflexible, moving to prevent further journeys to the north, while the American armored cruiser squadron is coming up from the south.

All were still miles apart, but time had finally run out for the Germans.

ooc the Germans would detect the wireless message, know its an American code, and know it is close, but wouldn't have seen the Houston which would make sure to stay out of the way (has higher speed than the German ships).

On December 26, 1905, the Great Hunt (as the American and British newspapers called it) came to an end.

Rear Admiral Brauschtich had recieved the news that the Allied powers had finally caught up to his fleet. After sipping some of the last of his brandy, his usual mode of preparation for combat, he knew in his gut that escape was impossible. They had done much together, the Admiral and his men and he was really proud of them.

And be damned if they weren't going to have a fight on her hands. If he had to ram the burning hulk of his ship into one of theirs in order to bring it down with him, he would do it. Romantically, he noticed that there would soon be a sunset. It was hope that he would die at that most glorious time of the day.

He ordered all men to battle stations and went off to face a likely death.

ooc
the Germans should promote poor Rear Admiral Brauschtich to Vice Admiral. He does command 14 cruisers and has sunk a lot of merchant ships, and thrown Allied shipping into chaos for a few months. Perhaps a Pour de Merit as well?

IC
The Germans sighted the first approaching Allied force an hour before sun set on Boxing Day, 1905. They quickly formed a line, with the 2nd Cruiser squadron in the van (Danzig, Undne, Frauenlob, Medusa and Amazone), the Armored Cruiser squadron right behind (the Blucher, Bismark and Yorck), and the 1st Cruiser squadron behind them (Bremen, Hamburg, Lubeck, Munchen, Leipzig) and trailing was the light cruiser Konigsberg, the fastest ship in the fleet. The Germans speed up to their best speed of 19 knots in hopes of crossing the T of what they thought was a squadron of Armored cruisers and the German Admiral figured he had a good chance at it.

However, what was coming was instead the Battlecruisers Invincible and British Columbia, along with the light cruisers Pathfinder and Patrol and instead of steaming at 20 knots, this fleet was moving at 25 knots. It also had much more powerful guns than the Germans expected to see.

At 18,000 yards, the British squadron turned to a parallel course that placed them in position to cross the German T just as the German squadron turned to engage them. Heavy caliber 11 inch shells were soon raining down on the lead 2 protected cruisers, and several smashed into the Danzig which almost immediately broke up and sank, and others heavily damaged the Undne, which was forced to drop out of line, dead in the water.

The Germans realized they had one chance, and that was to close the range as quickly as possible. However, the German Admiral signaled the trailing Konigsberg to drop back and turn about and run for German Congo. A few minutes later, the Konigsberg found itself against the USS Houston, the light cruiser that had (unknown to the Germans) been trailing the fleet for some time. In a fierce duel, the Houston sank the Konigsberg, but was itself forced to limp home with a badly damaged bow from a torpedo hit.

Meanwhile, another Allied squadron was approaching and the USS Ranger and USS Bonhomme Richard, American battlecruisers, and their escorts, the light cruisers USS Augusta and Galveston, were coming up fast.

Meanwhile, the British and German light and protected cruisers close the range, and a hail of 9.2, 8, 6 and 5 inch shells erupted from the German ships and was met by a hail of 11, 6 and 5 inch shells from the British. (the British commanders determination to close the gap and ignore his advantage of range and speed would be much criticized by later historians, but Admiral Jellicoe thought it best at the time to ensure he didn't let the enemy escape again). It turned out to be a costly move for the British, as several shells knocked the Pathfinder out of action and smothered the Patrol, which rolled over and sank. However, the British sank the Frauenlob, and scored on the Blucher, Bismark, and forced the Hamburg and Medusa to halt from heavy damage.

At that moment, the Americans turned and crossed the German T at 20,000 yards, and a rain of 12 inch shells began to fall on the Blucher and Bismark, wrecking both in short order (both would quickly sink, among the dead was the German fleet commander). (ooc the US Battle cruisers have a larger 12 inch guns, slower rate of fire, but heavier shell than the British designed Battle cruisers)

The American battle cruisers stayed just out of 8 inch gun range and shifted fire, blasting the Yorck and Amazone into blazing wrecks, while the British finished off the Hamburg and Medusa.

The 4 remaining operational German cruisers attempted to escape in the dim light of dusk, but it was too late. A new force arrived, 4 British light cruisers (the Blonde, Blanche, Bodeaca and Bellona), and once again the Germans and British exchanged fire in a savage close range duel.

The Blonde, Munchen and Leipzig sank in the exchange, and the Blanche, Boadicea, Bremen and Lubeck limped away. But the British had fixed the German location, the the 2 American battlecruisers overtook the remaining pair of German cruisers and finished them, even as the British battlecruisers took care of the remaining German ships.

It was a clean sweep, 14 German ships sunk at the cost of 2 British cruisers sunk, and damage to others.

During the night and into the next day, the American cruisers Augusta and Galveston, and British Bellona picked up the 900 German survivors and with that, the last Central Powers fleet in the broad oceans of the world was gone. From now on, the Central Powers would be able to only contest the enclosed waters of the Mediterranean Sea and North Sea. The Allied sea lanes were secure for now.

The German High Command had heard of the destruction of their last ocean-going fleet. A wire indicating that the Rear Admiral was to be promoted to Vice Admiral was about to be sent the very next day. He would be given this honor posthumously, along with a Pour de Merit. The other recipient of the award would be Crown Prince Friedrich, as it was politically impossible not to give him one.

*bump*

"Admiral Raeder is sacked as commander of the German Navy as Hitler threatens to scrap the surface fleet because of their recent inept performance"

From Real Life.

You do realize that this 1905 and that you are not invited