An night battle, RN against KM early war so no ship is consider to have radar. Using our own night fighting rules. Forces are:
My
Warspite
Dorsetshire
London
Belfast
Edinburgh
Fiji
8 x J Class destroyers
Versus
P’s
Scharnhorst
Gneisenau
Admiral Scheer
Prinz Eugen
Königsberg
Karlsruhe
Köln
4 x Narvik class destroyers
Deployment sees us mutually set up on my left and P’s meaning we start fairly close together. While P keeps his ships close together with the destroyers and CL’s leading the rest I break my fleet into two groups; 6 of the J class destroyers with Belfast serving as a destroyer leader form to the left while the rest form to their right aimed towards the middle of the table.
First couple of turns are quiet as the two fleets manoeuvre for position before they enter spotting range. At first it looks like P’s planning on heading for the centre of the table, but Belfast and her destroyers are well positioned to approach the Germans from behind if such an approach is taken. So instead the Germans turn and aim straight for Belfast and co. Meanwhile the rest of the British move forward at Warspite’s pace.
First clashes come in round 4. Proving that they haven’t been leaving their carrots at the side of their plates, London, Edinburgh and Fiji all spot the nearest German Destroyer. The unfortunate destroyer is promptly smothered with 8 , 6 and 4” gunfire and the German Admiral on board Scharnhorst can only wince, as there is a brief destroyer-shaped flash of the horizon. Meanwhile at the head of the German formation, Belfast and two of the Ks trade punches, both sides inflicting damage. The British destroyers keep their power dry as they prepare to launch themselves in among the German heavies.
In round five the German take a measure of revenge, hammering London with concentrated salvo’s of 11” shells. Badly riddled, London is forced to dive for the protection of the darkness. Warspite inflicts some minor damage on Scharnhorst in return while Dorsetshire earns herself the nickname Mister Magoo, with her continued failure to see any damn thing at all. To the left of the battle Belfast and the K’s continue their private battle although with the German heavies approaching, Belfast is obliged to haul off to port to avoid being overrun. The Js are now in a good position to bypass the German lighter units and strike at their heavies.
Unfortunately in round six things don’t go to plan. The Germans win the initiative and British Destroyers are forced to go All Ahead Full to stand any chance of get into any firing position. Only three get into position to fire torpedoes and unfortunately one of them, HMS Jersey, like Nelson somehow manages to ‘see no ships’. Javelin and Jackal launch torps at Scharnhorst and Admiral Scheer respectively. Unfortunately the All Ahead Full cuts down accuracy and Admiral Scheer emerges with four points of damage, while Scharnhorst take no damage at all. As last favour Javelin illuminates Scharnhorst with her spotlights, while Jackal has got so close to Scheer, the crew is able to key the German’s paintwork as they pass.
With steely calm the German heavies ignore the destroyers racing among them and take aim at the nearest of the British cruisers, Edinburgh. All the German heavies make their spot rolls and Edinburgh targeted by twenty four 11” guns. Edinburgh is promptly blown out of the water.
In the next round the British come out looking for revenge. Warspite, Edinburgh and (in a break from form) Dorsetshire all successfully spot Scharnhorst while Fiji spots Köln and Belfast continues to peck at Königsberg. Of the cruisers, Fiji and Belfast both inflict damage while taking damage in return. Mister Magoo after for once making a spot roll, follows it up by missing completely. Warspite finally lives up her billing and inflicts 10 points of damage on Scharnhorst and starts a fire. In return the Germans damage both Fiji and Dorsetshire.
Perhaps shocked by this display of firepower the twins go silent for the last two rounds and seeking to avenge Edinburgh, Warspite turns her attentions to Prinz Eugen. The German Heavy cruiser is battered out of existence, despite going All Ahead Full to escape into the darkness.
At this point we decided to call it a night, since we were running out of time and range between the two fleet's had opened to the point where we weren't going to be able to spot one another. Results were as follows:
Warspite OKAY
Dorsetshire DAMAGE
London DAMAGE
Belfast DAMAGE
Edinburgh SUNK
Fiji DAMAGED
8 x J Class ONE DAMAGE, OTHERS OKAY
Scharnhorst DAMAGED
Gneisenau OKAY
Admiral Scheer DAMAGED
Prinz Eugen SUNK
Königsberg DAMAGED
Karlsruhe OKAY
Köln DAMAGED
4 x Narvik class destroyers ONE SUNK, OTHERS OKAY
Battle declared a draw
My
Warspite
Dorsetshire
London
Belfast
Edinburgh
Fiji
8 x J Class destroyers
Versus
P’s
Scharnhorst
Gneisenau
Admiral Scheer
Prinz Eugen
Königsberg
Karlsruhe
Köln
4 x Narvik class destroyers
Deployment sees us mutually set up on my left and P’s meaning we start fairly close together. While P keeps his ships close together with the destroyers and CL’s leading the rest I break my fleet into two groups; 6 of the J class destroyers with Belfast serving as a destroyer leader form to the left while the rest form to their right aimed towards the middle of the table.
First couple of turns are quiet as the two fleets manoeuvre for position before they enter spotting range. At first it looks like P’s planning on heading for the centre of the table, but Belfast and her destroyers are well positioned to approach the Germans from behind if such an approach is taken. So instead the Germans turn and aim straight for Belfast and co. Meanwhile the rest of the British move forward at Warspite’s pace.
First clashes come in round 4. Proving that they haven’t been leaving their carrots at the side of their plates, London, Edinburgh and Fiji all spot the nearest German Destroyer. The unfortunate destroyer is promptly smothered with 8 , 6 and 4” gunfire and the German Admiral on board Scharnhorst can only wince, as there is a brief destroyer-shaped flash of the horizon. Meanwhile at the head of the German formation, Belfast and two of the Ks trade punches, both sides inflicting damage. The British destroyers keep their power dry as they prepare to launch themselves in among the German heavies.
In round five the German take a measure of revenge, hammering London with concentrated salvo’s of 11” shells. Badly riddled, London is forced to dive for the protection of the darkness. Warspite inflicts some minor damage on Scharnhorst in return while Dorsetshire earns herself the nickname Mister Magoo, with her continued failure to see any damn thing at all. To the left of the battle Belfast and the K’s continue their private battle although with the German heavies approaching, Belfast is obliged to haul off to port to avoid being overrun. The Js are now in a good position to bypass the German lighter units and strike at their heavies.
Unfortunately in round six things don’t go to plan. The Germans win the initiative and British Destroyers are forced to go All Ahead Full to stand any chance of get into any firing position. Only three get into position to fire torpedoes and unfortunately one of them, HMS Jersey, like Nelson somehow manages to ‘see no ships’. Javelin and Jackal launch torps at Scharnhorst and Admiral Scheer respectively. Unfortunately the All Ahead Full cuts down accuracy and Admiral Scheer emerges with four points of damage, while Scharnhorst take no damage at all. As last favour Javelin illuminates Scharnhorst with her spotlights, while Jackal has got so close to Scheer, the crew is able to key the German’s paintwork as they pass.
With steely calm the German heavies ignore the destroyers racing among them and take aim at the nearest of the British cruisers, Edinburgh. All the German heavies make their spot rolls and Edinburgh targeted by twenty four 11” guns. Edinburgh is promptly blown out of the water.
In the next round the British come out looking for revenge. Warspite, Edinburgh and (in a break from form) Dorsetshire all successfully spot Scharnhorst while Fiji spots Köln and Belfast continues to peck at Königsberg. Of the cruisers, Fiji and Belfast both inflict damage while taking damage in return. Mister Magoo after for once making a spot roll, follows it up by missing completely. Warspite finally lives up her billing and inflicts 10 points of damage on Scharnhorst and starts a fire. In return the Germans damage both Fiji and Dorsetshire.
Perhaps shocked by this display of firepower the twins go silent for the last two rounds and seeking to avenge Edinburgh, Warspite turns her attentions to Prinz Eugen. The German Heavy cruiser is battered out of existence, despite going All Ahead Full to escape into the darkness.
At this point we decided to call it a night, since we were running out of time and range between the two fleet's had opened to the point where we weren't going to be able to spot one another. Results were as follows:
Warspite OKAY
Dorsetshire DAMAGE
London DAMAGE
Belfast DAMAGE
Edinburgh SUNK
Fiji DAMAGED
8 x J Class ONE DAMAGE, OTHERS OKAY
Scharnhorst DAMAGED
Gneisenau OKAY
Admiral Scheer DAMAGED
Prinz Eugen SUNK
Königsberg DAMAGED
Karlsruhe OKAY
Köln DAMAGED
4 x Narvik class destroyers ONE SUNK, OTHERS OKAY
Battle declared a draw
