Rule the Waves is a naval game set in the Great Powers era of 1900-1920 or so. The game nominally places the player in the role of Navy Secretary/First Lord and really takes place in three arenas:
(1) Designing the best fighting ships that technology and money allow;
(2) Managing the fleet and events in monthly turns; and
(3) Fighting the significant naval battles that result using an operational and tactical level naval simulation.
For the purposes of this AAR, I chose to play the UK (called “Great Britain” in the game) using “large fleets.” This is not a simulation of the actual period, it is a game set in that period but with significant departures from the historical situation. The most significant departure is that force levels have been rebalanced to allow each of the nations to compete; the UK’s historical crushing superiority is gone.
The game allows play at one of four “fleet sizes:” small, medium, large, and very large. As can be seen below, these levels are pretty much just fractions of one another, both in starting size and ongoing budget levels.
Very large fleets have an average battleship strength of about 10 (though not distributed evenly, obviously) and naval budgets between GB’s $318 million and Japan’s $129 million. Note that Germany starts out at close to GB’s battleship strength of has a budget only 2/3 that of GB.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2FVery%2520large%2520fleets_zps04nezn9u.jpg&hash=4d365472cac2a31ebec1a3fab07b37c23101f6e5)
Large fleets have an average battleship strength of about 6.5, again, not evenly distributed. Note that Russia and Italy are relatively much more powerful here. Budgets are about 2/3 that of the VL fleet scenario.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2Flarge%2520fleets_zpsvz3og3ck.jpg&hash=2822cf3adc7d1a5f1a04f7f7b4a5b57a3d7d54d5)
Medium fleets have an average battleship strength of about 4.5. Budgets are about 40% that of the VL fleet scenario.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2Fmedium%2520fleet_zpspbagoqfx.jpg&hash=cf6b383631b1981249fc1261e0981eb9c5d9cb15)
Small fleets are about 30% the size of large fleets, but with about 35% the naval budgets.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2Fsmall%2520fleet_zpsvdrshuny.jpg&hash=756ec2325c1e0e3bbe69cdd421935fbfcd5df18d)
The budget numbers are pretty much made up. The RN budget for 1901 was just a bit under $31 million pounds, which would translate to about US$155 million. That was for a fleet with about 40 battleships, almost three times the size of the game’s largest, yet the game has a budget twice the size. OTOH, I know that the Lord Nelsons cost about 1.7 million pounds, roughly equivalent to 5% of the budget of the navy in 1901. A typical 1900 battleship in the game costs a little under US$50 million or about 16% of the game’s annual budget for the VL fleet RN. So the ratio (1/3 the strength, 1/3 the effective budget) is pretty close to balance. I just don’t know why they didn’t use real numbers (i.e. divide everything by 1/3). So, don’t take any budget numbers in the game except as gamey budget numbers.
One of the options in the game is to build the “legacy fleet” with which one starts the game. You get a fund of about four years’ worth of budget to build both an existing fleet (must use 80% of the budget for that) and ships under construction (which start 55% already funded and a random level of actual construction between 30 and 55% complete). Since I knew that the fleets in the existing fleets didn’t really account for the colonial service requirement (Britain starts this scenario needing 103,000 tons of warships on foreign stations), I decided to build my own fleets. Here is the starting screen:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2FGame%2520start_zpspximludn.jpg&hash=3d3cd00af9bb20cc4ffb90e46144e36d97217ca9)
Note the “tension” bars on the right. These indicate how other countries feel about yours, and vice-versa. Low tensions mean low probability of war, but also lead to lower budgets. Tensions at game start are low.
I decide that the first thing I needed was a colonial cruiser. Ships with the “colonial service” tag count as 1.5 times their tonnage against the foreign station requirement at a cost of about 5% of tonnage and cost. I design the “Colony class” CLs of 4,000 tons to meet this requirement. With 6 6” guns, no torpedoes, a 3” belt, and a speed of only 18 knots, they are inferior to any enemy CL they will encounter, but superior to any enemy raider they will encounter. And, at $13 million apiece to build and $73,000 a year to maintain, they are affordable (my “regular” CLs cost about $17 million to build and $90,000 a year to maintain).
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2FColony%2520CL_zpsq2vp7srh.jpg&hash=e464f57a09c5bace67f378c4522b1cf78b0b4893)
The rest of my fleet consists of fairly conventional Bs, CAs, CLs, DDs, and some minesweepers for patrol and ASW work.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2FB%2520Royal%2520Sovereign_zps9nj4btuk.jpg&hash=34916216e865de7b836d07997d2b17abb10f6923)
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2FCL%2520Norfolk_zpsu9bcprk7.jpg&hash=597c93dcc61e40bcd027af359c858c2ff5aa4195)
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2FCL%2520Agamamnon_zpsrbqm472s.jpg&hash=1a202382759ebdb85456849b9988795b5047d347)
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2FActive%2520DD_zpsz2q35roy.jpg&hash=f1d50647f9127d4830bd193f277da2a7ca682ee6)
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2FFlower%2520MS_zpswqp1qjea.jpg&hash=447703a9c3382742020e70a2d84621554bc1029d)
One of the problems with the initial setup is that one can’t build the fleet at once – as one makes decisions, they are final. I ended up over-buying heavy ships for the home fleet and under-buying destroyers. Luckily, destroyers build quickly.
Starting fleet (completed ships)
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2FStart%2520OOB_zpswzhd65rr.jpg%3Ft%3D1439226857&hash=6e7f8072a43db62d9d50c32577eb936a7f148149)
Note that 21 of the 25 starting CL are of the Colony class.
The ships under construction:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2FStart%2520Builds_zpshdgoebv2.jpg%3Ft%3D1439226856&hash=6a88c555e6a6320f99cc34a2693db10058ea38b6)
Note that the two battleships are halted for a few months until the lighter ships are completed. I don’t have the money to work on all the ships at once (I had saved about $3 million to fund construction, but lost it when the initial build phase was ended. Don’t leave anything in the kitty!)
As far as the starting fleets go, Britain is in a powerful position, with 8 B finished and two building. The US is in second place with 5 and one. There is clearly some randomization happening here, because Germany’s fleet and budget are much smaller than in the table above for large fleets. That’s a surprise to me, but a nice one.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2FInitial%2520Situation%2520OOBs_zpsfnorcev6.jpg%3Ft%3D1439227617&hash=15dd84286a0d5d116b5c9b626193a360b3ba13bd)
As far as my budget goes, I need to take care early on to keep costs down. Later, I will up R&D spending. My initial R&D status looks like this:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2FStart%2520RD_zpszq3dfwjn.jpg&hash=03ea039928969f6055ca7b9911bf43e5a2733c83)
Thanks, grumbler; very interesting, and much appreciated. :)
Where is the Austro-Hungarian navy? :(
It was bigger than Italy's right?
:w00t:
Very interesting grumbler.
I want to get the source code for this and re-write it with a sci-fi theme.
Quote from: Valmy on August 11, 2015, 01:13:37 PM
Where is the Austro-Hungarian navy? :(
It was bigger than Italy's right?
Neither the AH navy nor the Italian navy had a single battleship in Jan 1900. I'm assuming that the AH navy is left out so that the Italian navy can be significant in the wider world. I think a better design choice would have been to ignore both of them as entirely absorbed with each other. But that's not the case. Maybe because it would make things too easy for the French?
1900: The Year of Living Effortlessly
Game years consist of twelve game months. Each month you can alter your fleet (add new construction, place ships in reserve or mothballs, rebuild ships, design new ships, or send ships to a new area or mission) and then alter existing allocations for espionage, training, and R&D. After that, you hit the "turn" button and the computer processes the turn. When applicable, the player gets a popup for a notification or an event. Notifications are things like intel reports (including all foreign ship keel-layings and commissionings) and R&D breakthroughs. An event is something that requires a player decision. These are generally political (when you catch a spy, for instance, or when something happens in the colonies that involves another power) and your response influences both your own prestige and the tension levels with the other country involved. Generally, you have to choose between prestige and tension. In wartime, events also include battle notifications. You can choose to accept or decline battle, but must do so without knowing the forces involved. Declining costs victory points and, perhaps, prestige.
In 1900, nothing much happened. The world at the start of the year was generally at peace with low tensions.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1900%2FStart%2520world%2520Map_zpsdja6nrns.jpg&hash=54ac0010c3c5b835c5d7e642bf3e98d42a32dcd6)
Note the boxes. These are the naval patrol areas. I've expanded a few so you can see that they contain land regions. These are what change hands as a result of war. Note that some have no Great-Power possessor and are thus greyed out. The rules don't say how one comes into possession of those, but I suspect it is by event.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1900%2FAreas_zpsskmkaxl2.jpg&hash=e42a30290f8047c243b0559b78513071b821a3ec)
There were several tech breakthroughs this year. I've included a couple here so that you have a feel for them. Tech doesn't change very radically.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1900%2FRD%2520Guns_zpsz0wcyoij.jpg&hash=fbbd031298da48fe88e4b003e868e7cf694a0d88)
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1900%2FRD%2520Secondaries_zpsqi8rwg7e.jpg&hash=5a81634b2bb54d5ec8f042a50f39ba380f0d1114)
The other notifications were that naval spending went down 1% of GDP due to low tensions, and up 1% because the Navy League pressed for more spending on the Navy.
There were two events. GB caught a Japanese spy stealing engineering tech, but I decided to ignore it since Japan had just ordered a battleship from GB (which helps grow the GB shipbuilding industry and thus the size of ships that can be built). I neglected to screen capture that. The other event was the US buying some engineering tech (the same tech the Japanese stole) for the equivalent of 18 month's R&D expenditures. Naturally, I said "By all means!"
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1900%2FEvent%2520buy%2520Tech_zps7g1xlqpj.jpg&hash=1c977b6691bdec1da9b1922e7d47b76f126ee956)
It was a very good year.
Looks very interesting. How does replay-ability look? Enjoyable? Worth $35? :sleep:
Quote from: Alcibiades on August 11, 2015, 05:41:25 PM
Looks very interesting. How does replay-ability look? Enjoyable? Worth $35? :sleep:
Replayability was, I thought, mostly vested in starting different countries, However, there appears to be a fair amount of random variation in starting strengths, so that adds a bit of replayability even with the same country and scenario.
It is fun, but probably not $35 worth of fun, unless very strongly attracted to the situation, like me.
1901 The Year of the Gaul
The overall situation at the start of 1901 remains rosy. My fleet is dominant in Europe and the sea lanes are covered. Tensions with France, Russia, and the US have crept up a bit. I notice that I lost a prestige point for not shooting that Japanese spy. No more mister nice guy!
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1901%2F1901%2520Jan%2520global_zpsvvvrenqh.jpg&hash=c26cd444d425a8ecc0ac987f497a7d606cbdcf09)
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1901%2F1901%2520Jan%2520Navies_zpsveq0whw3.jpg&hash=3abc258d4b8cc5ef351469574474143c10d55749)
In my turn, I do little other than adding a CL to the build queue and starting an intensive training campaign in gunnery. I move a CA and a CL to the Med so I can do some commerce-raiding against the French if I need to. They have only a CL and some DDs there.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1901%2F1901%2520Jan%2520builds_zpsbtvkifho.jpg&hash=b63e4835b00434c4a0b0a905c42aa9f1c34d2ed3)
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1901%2F1901%2520Jan%2520Med_zpswmtuq0ty.jpg&hash=8f166d4d4912af8bb90f8f03eca2bd20f4916e62)
Then, in February, some dude gets assassinated in the Balkans. I can't lose more prestige, so take a hard line.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1901%2F1901%2520Feb%2520Balkans_zpsoixsc81d.jpg&hash=80c99dc7d31b40c1ba51567e46fc7e6e66f3e39b)
Tensions with the US, Russia, and France all rise one point (to six, still not very high, but worrisome). Tensions with Germany drop a point.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1901%2F1901%2520Feb%2520tensions_zps9bt2kxi3.jpg&hash=41ca4fabcbba9bf4aa89e23a6fbd6fe2647412be)
I also start a fort at Malta (actually, I did this last year, but forgot to mention it). It will be complete in July.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1900%2FMalta%2520Battery_zpscmabydf4.jpg&hash=6953d365eabf2458c70bad547679f458f67dada3)
In March, some idiot on a French ship made a stupid mistake and collided with one of our ships. I refused to hush up the French blunder, and tensions with France went up by one, to seven. That's entering the danger zone, but I don't fear a war with France.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1900%2F1901%2520April%2520collision_zps6ts8uvua.jpg&hash=1768c2deeb2934c668723a944b74d99da0d3f446)
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1900%2F1901%2520April%2520tensions_zpsngbj8omx.jpg&hash=3a7394cd626d6e8d5252b428dad5da0207e1a7c6)
I also laid down another CL. I need some tech here; these designs are getting long in the tooth. I am already at my max investment for tech, though, at 10% of budget.
In April, there is a conference on disarmament in the Hague. I choose the middle path. No change in tensions or prestige.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1900%2F1901%2520April%2520conference_zps4fdpiosv.jpg&hash=b616e196a43938214d8ddba5e9e4dd3bb0f95b80)
This month GB commissions a new battleship (her tenth) and lays down another one.
In May, I realize that my balance is becoming too large – more than a month's worth of income. I lay down a CA and start a 12" shore battery in the UK to soak up some of the excess, for fear the finance ministry will cut the budget if I don't reduce the excess.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1901%2F1901%2520May%2520budget%2520nos_zpsygeuqwh1.jpg&hash=e4e08bb3bbf4c030d7bbe596e198607d09554362)
In July, I realized that I hadn't put any effort into espionage. I ramped that up against the three higher-tension nations (at some small cost). I'm hoping this doesn't come back to bite me, but I've not used intel before (wanting to be a gentleman and not read others' mail) and am curious to see what it does.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1901%2F1901%2520Jul%2520intel_zpstum38sou.jpg&hash=91a554b1d9dc1c87a3af038f2be89211f269a9bc)
In August, the US commissioned its sixth battleship and laid down its eighth. It's an arms race, it seems. I'd really like to be able to arm my 13th battleship with something better than 7" secondaries, but can't hold off more than a few months if the world is building 6 battleships per year and I am only building two.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1901%2F1901%2520Aug%2520global%2520OOB_zpsltodfvlz.jpg&hash=e5e4b3923c7641ebccf3513f9ce2dc7968a2b5f1)
In September, the bungling Russians get caught stealing shell technology from us. I respond strongly, and tensions raise to seven. I'm not concerned about the Russians. They'd be our meat.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1901%2F1901%2520Oct%2520Russian%2520spies_zpshndgeuku.jpg&hash=4d04bdf91294fc7815447fcf097cf885ec12c82d)
In October, we develop the capability to build subs. I order six coastal subs as training vessels.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1901%2F1901%2520Oct%2520sub%2520build_zpsj1xgd8rx.jpg&hash=0a66b4162565ba2559fa82a3a1bc7b68d910ad90)
Also in October, the new "Navy Secretary" (that's what I thought I was!) sticks his oar in and demands that the Navy build an additional twenty DDs. I have no choice but to agree or suffer a loss of both prestige and funding.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1901%2F1901%2520Nov%2520TB%2520event_zpsgpjio1nv.jpg&hash=1ab05fb2751f89466e1e099c8bac6e57f2565940)
I decide to take advantage of this disaster to the extent that I can (20 DDs will cost a lot) and develop a new, 600 ton DD, the Enchantress class. It has four 4" guns and 4 TT compared to 4 3" guns and 2 TT for the existing design, but must be limited to short range (which is okay, as they will be most useful in the North Sea). The new class will cost $237,000 to design.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1901%2FDD%2520Enchantress_zpsvf7wkvdg.jpg&hash=c66c80ba0579bf09ab20da087b9d044815ad7b23)
Building 20 DDs at once is obviously unaffordable given other priorities (they cost $5 million a month total, or about ¼ of the entire budget). Soon I will have to suspend production of the cruisers to pay for this, but right now it helps cut down the big surplus (which, it turns out, it is lucky I had mismanaged my way into).
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1901%2F1901%2520Oct%2520builds_zps8tg1gpz6.jpg&hash=9dc3aacca65d43e2dbfa99be556008591ac23103)
The rest of the year is fairly uneventful, except that in December I get the welcome news that the PM is adding roughly $1 million a month to the naval budget.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1901%2F1901%2520Dec%2520More%2520spending_zpsv1to43rq.jpg&hash=af73daf2cf8bc10a673e3f36bf4ff0be37c3ef51)
By year's end, with the new funds, plus halting construction on the four cruisers, I have brought the budget back into near-balance, with a satisfactory reserve. I can restart production in part in February, when Fortress Dover finishes (it's costing me about $1.5 million a month right now).
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1901%2F1901%2520end%2520budget_zpsituojdch.jpg&hash=4ca9e87a0b3c2134d714fba12f83a7ec2e1e7125)
In technology, I gain the ability to build up to 10" guns in wing turrets, so that will be a big part of the next battleship design.
Overall, the year saw tensions rise, but if put to the question, I can tell Parliament that, while I cannot say whether or not the French are coming, I can say this: they will not come by sea.
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Very cool. :thumbsup:
1902 The Year I Started a War
In January, the PM requests that I guarantee victory over the French should war come. I gladly do so. Tensions with France shoot up to ten. This is definitely in the danger zone (12, I believe, leads to war).
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I decide to move two battleships and 8 destroyers to the Med, to reinforce any potential blockade of Southern France.
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In March, the most difficult choice yet arrives: the Francophobes in Parliament want a DoW on France. I could gain prestige and budget by supporting them, but with US tensions high I fear a two-front war. I decide to emulate Bismarck. Tension with France is now 11.
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In April, I get news that France, Russia, and the US have all increased naval spending. My prestige rises to 22 based on the new destroyer program. The US has laid down another battleship, meaning 3 are under construction.
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In June, 16 of the 20 Enchantress DDs complete (the other four were delayed a month due to material shortages). The US lays down a fourth battleship (her tenth overall). I decide that Britain will have to match this effort to maintain naval superiority in the long run.
I order a new design for the next generation of battleships (cost for design: $4.3 million) and select the Admiral class design. While she takes a slight step back in main armament (12" guns compared to 13" main guns on the previous class) the guns are much more reliable. Displacement shoots up from 15,000 tons to 19,000 tons, and cost from $48 million to $62 million, but speed rises from 17 to 20 knots, the secondaries are 8-10" in twin turrets (vice 10 7" in barbettes), and armor is vastly increased (8.5" belt to 10" belt, 2" deck to 3" deck, secondary armor from 4" to 8"). The one downside to the design is the tight margin. Upgrading these ships will get ugly and probably force a re-engining to get any significant needed displacement.
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Old
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New
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In July comes word that the US had laid down a fifth battleship (their 11th overall)! The RN cannot answer immediately; we cannot have 5 BBs simultaneously under construction. It would cost $12 million a month of our $21 million a month budget, and we not only couldn't build anything else, we couldn't maintain our fleet without slowing down research. The only saving grace is that their battleships must be quite a bit smaller than ours; their total tonnage suggests that their average B is a bit more than 13,000 tons.
In August, the PM announces his intention of increasing spending on armaments. I choose the more hawkish response, knowing it will raise tensions across the board, because I now want the war to come before the US completes its building program.
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And so, in September, France declares war (yeah, the newspaper says it is Britain, but that's just an image). I could seize an Italian battleship we are building, but decline to do so.
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France immediately sorties their Atlantic Fleet to bombard our coast. This is a grave mistake.
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The French abort their sortie.
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The outbreak of war has, however, increased tensions across the board. I may need to sacrifice some prestige to avoid provocative events.
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I deploy one cruiser each from the home fleet to West Africa, the South Pacific and the South Atlantic to protect trade. I move a heavy cruiser from the Med to the IO for the same reason.
In October, another abortive battle in the Med, as the French there flee. But they do accept battle in the Western approaches.
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The enemy is presumably to my south, chasing the convoy down there. I have 2 Royal Sovereigns (yeah, one name is mis-spelled – I've been meaning to tend to that for over two game years! ) and three Enchantress class DDs in my main force, and an Agamemnon class CL to scout. I am using admiral rules for battles, so only get to control the flagship. The time is 1353 on 22 Oct 1902.
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Within a few minutes, enemy smoke is sighted to the southward. Another element of the convoy pops up. The convoy is now six merchants escorted by two destroyers. I have no control over them, but assume they will continue their transit to the northeast towards Liverpool.
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At 1403, CL Phoebe signals that one of the enemy ships is a Suffren class B. Excellent. I alter course slightly to the east to pass more closely behind the convoy and intercept the enemy battleship.
At 1407 the second ship is identified as a Suffern battleship as well. Great. The French have 2/3 of their battleships in theater, and I have ¼ of mine. Still this is a reason why I spent the money training up my crews in gunnery. I am still confident.
Incidentally, the Suffren is a better battleship than I expected on that tonnage; she is 2 knots faster than my Bs, has 1.5" more belt armor, and two more TT. She has a smaller main battery and 2 fewer secondaries, though, and her turret protection is worse.
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As the battleships come within range at 1422, the French reverse course. This will be a long battle since they can outrun me.
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The French head southwest, apparently hoping to get past my westward flank. I match courses with them, and a half-hour of desultory gunfire results, with little damage on either side. At 1459 the French again break for the south, and I again do not try to pursue, tasking CL Phoebe to keep an eye on them.
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The French mill about to the south until a light rain starts to fall at 1530, at which point Phoebe loses visual on the French (the darker background means rain). I continue to slowly patrol between the last location of the French and the convoy, slowly edging my way north.
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The French never re-emerge, and the battle ends with the RN triumphant. It turns out I did scratch some French paint.
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After the battle, intelligence gave us info on the enemy's movements during the battle. The French turned for home after seeing what they were up against. The RN force never had a chance to re-engage the faster enemy.
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The collation of the battle reports shows that the battle was brief, indeed, with the French firing only 54 rounds (yielding one hit) and the British 35 (yielding two hits). I am hoping that the difference was the British gunnery training I have paid for these last two years.
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All in all, I am quite satisfied with simply stymieing the French attack, and especially glad, after being surprised by their battleship speed, that I spent as much tonnage as I did to make my new B design so fast.
France is now blockaded.
[Note, at this point I updated to the new v 1.7 of the game, which increased most costs and budgets, so the budget numbers aren't comparable any more].
In November, the shoe shifts to the other foot, as a division of three of my destroyers tries to raid a French convoy. I have two more DDs coming up to support (under AI control, and well to the north of the position shown). All are of the earlier Active class. It is 1345 on November 27th. My plan is to be quite aggressive; since I was forced to buy 20 more destroyers than I wanted, older destroyers are quite expendable.
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Within minutes, we spot smoke to the NW. I change course to intercept. These are likely the enemy escorts. The two RN DDs to the north turn south and increase speed, but they are 36 miles distant and in a stern chase. It will be three hours before they can get into range of the convoy. They are well-placed if the convoy runs from my destroyers, though, so I determine to get those escorts.
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1352: Lookouts ID one of the enemy as a light cruiser, and one as an AMC. If these prove true, I will be super-pissed. It impossible to have outfitted an AMC this early in the war, and if the enemy with only 3 cruisers in-theater has one, and I don't have any of my 24, this is really bogus.
1358: The enemy's escorts apparently head SW. This is a mistake. I continue to bore in on the merchants, and increase speed to flank. I don't want him to easily recover.
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1403: The enemy escort now appears to be 3 CL and 2 DD. I maintain flank speed for the transports.
1408: The enemy escorts have reversed course to the NW, but still are not closing. The convoy is coming into range. Could it be that the escorts are not as powerful as the sightings would lead me to believe?
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[Note: for some reason, I can't get my ships to fire at the very close enemy merchants – they continue to fire at a distant destroyer. Very frustrating. This must be a "feature" of Admiral mode combat. I will shift mode for the next battle even though I lose VP for ding so.]
1416: So, here we are, amongst the convoy, within easy reach of our objective (which is to sink at least two merchants), and my ships ignore their objectives and my desires to take 1%-hit-probability shots at the enemy DDs on the far side of the convoy. Most amusing detail? My shots have a lower chance to hit because my gun crews don't want to hit the merchants!
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1430: In desperation, I chase down part of the convoy to get into torpedo range; I figure that, if the only target is a merchant, and they have no other possible choice, maybe the ships will try to accomplish the mission objective. It works, to the extent that the ships do start to launch torpedoes. [The circles are torpedo range. Incidentally, this is the first time I have ever seen a torpedo launch in the two games I have played.]
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1432: It works! Though the torpedo misses the closer merchant, it hits and sinks the second. Incidentally, the escort is now revealed to be 5 enemy DD. No cruisers, and no AMC.
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1436: Turns out that the sinking was just fog of war. The merchant shrugs off a torpedo hit with only medium damage. It isn't even slowed. If it turns out that torpedoes won't sink merchants and guns won't shoot at them, this is an impossible scenario. I cannot defeat 5 DDs with 3, and can't sink merchants until the DDs are sunk.
1450: After weaving in and out of the convoy several times, I get my two remaining torpedo-equipped DDs to shoot one torpedo each. Bolitho fires at a 5-knot merchantman 400 yards away, and misses. Brazen fires at the already-torpedoed-once merchantman, hits, and damages it a bit more. Doesn't slow it down, though. I can only laugh at this absurdity. Each of the two has a torpedo left, though, so I will keep trying. I'm pretty sure that not even in this game can a merchant take three torpedoes and survive.
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1511: Brazen is hit by an enemy torpedo and stopped dead in the water, with heavy flooding. I have one torpedo left, and will try to get Bolitho to use it. She'll probably fire it at an enemy destroyer, though.
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1546: After half-an-hour weaving around the convoy and daring Bolitho to shoot that last torpedo, she still refuses. However, the two supporting AI destroyers have caught up with the half of the enemy convoy that fled northwest while I chased the half that fled southeast. It may be that DesDiv 7 can achieve the mission objectives. Meanwhile Brazen, limping away to the SW, appears to have sunk one of the twice-torpedoed merchantmen.
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Note that Bolitho couldn't get a firing solution for her torpedoes even here; I suspect it was because she wasn't targeting the merchant.
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1657: After spending an hour driving around to pull off the enemy escorts in order to give Brazen a chance to pull free of the battle after restoring power, I realized that I could get the remaining merchantman if I waited until dark before engaging. If the enemy DDs were out of sight in the darkness, the merchantman would be the only target. The result:
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1715: Heading back to rendezvous with Brazen and escort her back to port, my DesDiv encountered HMS Battleaxe engaged with an enemy destroyers, so I turned aside to help.
1802: After 45 minutes of close action, that was a kill.
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With that, the action was over. The French lost 5 merchants and a destroyer, while the RN had a destroyer badly damaged.
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[Note, if you will, the scenario (i.e. the same Steam and Iron)'s victory points and level of victory, and then see what the campaign level did to that:
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Note that the level of victory goes from major to minor, and the VPs go from a 14:1 ratio to a 5:1 ratio. Dunno what's up with that.]
As far as effectiveness goes, look at the hit percentages:
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[DDs shooting at DDs hit very seldom. That's not unrealistic (these are hand-trained guns firing over open sights from a bouncing platform at a small target), but it does kinda say that the "torpedo boat destroyer" isn't a viable concept with current tech. And I've got a shitload of resources invested in those kinds of ships, thanks to that moron Navy Secretary! :rolleyes: ]
In December, we get the welcome news that France is experiencing unrest as a result of the blockade.
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Meanwhile, as might be expected, the Army tries to horn in on our glorious little war. I tell them to get bent. Courteously.
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Then, the French sortie again. This time, it is a "cruiser action," an engagement type I've not seen before, off of Brest. Naturally, I accept.
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The action pits a division of RN light cruisers (Agamemnon class) with a division of destroyers against an unknown foe. To the north is a supporting (AI-controlled, because I forgot to change my preferences on how much control to have) of another 2 CL and 2 DD. This is the first action for my new Enchantress class DDs. It turns out that a 'cruiser action" is one in which neither side has any objectives other than to sink the enemy.
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1145: the enemy comes into view. In the lead is an armored cruiser of the Gueydon class. She outweighs my entire force, so I decide to move north towards my supports. I cannot take her on by myself. My guns cannot penetrate her armor at any range. And, I am only one knot faster than her, so can't make mistakes. I'll probably have to play this one for a draw, unless I discover my lookouts are wrong about her ID.
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1148: Lookouts say the second ship is a CA as well. This battle looks like a write-off. I head SW to open the range.
1253; The enemy doesn't seem to have any trouble keeping up and even closing the range (very slowly) as I head SW at flank speed. This could get bad if the AI stokers don't tire when mine do.
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1353: A stern chase proved to be a long chase, and the enemy pulled away. Now I just hope the support force doesn't let itself get into range.
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1957: That's it. End of scenario. No shots fired. What a waste of time; the scenario generator should never generate such a thing.
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In December, the RN commissioned a Royal Sovereign B and a County class CA, and started one of each. The B was of the new Admiral class, and the CA of the newly-designed (for $3.4 million) Edinburgh class.
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At sea, the French raided British shipping pretty freely, sinking 6 ships for 60 VP. However, on the 17th, HMS Devonshire intercepted one of the raiders.
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1644: Both ships settled on a SW course at 20 knots, 4,000 yards apart, for a slugging match. The British ship had slightly better armor, the French slightly heavier guns.
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However, the French soon pulled away, having taken slight damage. The slower Devonshire lost her in the gloom at 1725 and never regained contact.
And that was how 1902 ended: with a whimper. Britain remained at the top of the naval standings, but the US was moving up fast, with 5 (!) battleships on order. Britain's naval economy was in good shape, and had a healthy reserve (probably too healthy – I'll have to do something about that next year). But France had suffered no devastating defeats. It looked like it would be a long war.
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Thanks for the updates, really enjoying the AAR. :cheers:
Very interesting.
Really entertaining read, grumbler. Thanks for writing this.
I see that the game lists Bs and BBs as different ship classes? I thought they were the same and they just added the extra B to differentiate them from BCs.
Quote from: celedhring on August 13, 2015, 04:09:30 AM
Really entertaining read, grumbler. Thanks for writing this.
I see that the game lists Bs and BBs as different ship classes? I thought they were the same and they just added the extra B to differentiate them from BCs.
BBs are dreadnought battleships. B are predreadnoughts. That's a pretty standard gaming convention, but it has no historical basis.
Historically, the US used B for all battleships until 1920, then BB after that. The US never used BC. The Lexington class were CB.
The RN didn't use hull signs for capital ships, just pennant numbers. Thus, Hood for instance was just "51." Smaller ships used a single-letter designation.
So, the game uses a modified classification system that is a wargaming standard because it is pretty clear. I don't recall the first game to use the distinction, but it may have been SPI's old
Flight of the Goeben.
Fair enough, I have never played naval-centered wargames so wasn't aware of this convention.
Fun read.
No alliances?
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on August 13, 2015, 12:16:39 PM
No alliances?
Maybe in upcoming Inca DLC, even if its focus is small craft.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on August 13, 2015, 12:16:39 PM
No alliances?
Not yet. They had alliances at game start (Russia/France and AH-Germany), but took them out before release. In fact, they took out AH before release. My feeling is that they made the move to a more sandbox free-for-all strategic campaign kinda late in the design process.
Feel unpolished or?
Quote from: grumbler on August 13, 2015, 02:28:39 PM
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on August 13, 2015, 12:16:39 PM
No alliances?
Not yet. They had alliances at game start (Russia/France and AH-Germany), but took them out before release. In fact, they took out AH before release. My feeling is that they made the move to a more sandbox free-for-all strategic campaign kinda late in the design process.
Not true. I have played AH several times already, and there are alliances.
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Really brainiac?
Quote from: katmai on August 13, 2015, 05:49:17 PM
Really brainiac?
You think it can be settled by words?
Quote from: Tamas on August 13, 2015, 04:16:42 PM
Not true. I have played AH several times already, and there are alliances.
I see now my error - the extant countries depend on which country you choose at the start. If you play the UK, there is no AH, but at the start you can choose AH (in which case there is no Japan). AH starts with a German alliance, I believe.
1903 The Year of Peace
In January, we get news that the army isn't fairing so well against the French. We in the navy are unsurprised. Yes, it costs us something, but what's a hundred VP here or there? Even a marginal naval victory will give us that.
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The same month, though, the PM sees me about some peace feelers the French have extended. I am torn. On the one hand, it is clear that the French will not come out and fight a major battle, so the war cannot be won by decisive victory, and maybe we should end it. On the other, we can't really lose the war and the war isn't harming the nation. I opt for the middle ground; we will need to negotiate a settlement, but there is no hurry, and time is on our side.
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Faced with our determination, the French capitulate. We decide to push the French completely out of the South Pacific by taking New Caledonia and Polynesia.
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There is a cost, though; the Navy budget, with the victory, gets slashed by $100 million annually, or about 1/3. It is now the lowest it has ever been. On the other hand, tensions are also lower than they have ever been. Maybe the US and Russia will also cut spending. I hope so (especially in the case of the US, because we can't keep up even the 3-battleships-building program with this budget.
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In April comes an "uh oh" in the form of vigorous US actions in Haiti. I don't want a war with the US just yet, so pick the middle ground. Maybe this will wake up the navy league. The US backs down and tensions with the US rise by one to four.
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By May, I begin cost-cutting measures to reduce the budget deficit. I end the special gunnery training, stop the espionage campaign, and send the 16 oldest destroyers to the reserve fleet. I also don't follow the last of the Agamemnon CL with a new design, and take a CL-building holiday (because 31 are in the fleet already). This gets me to within a sustainable budget deficit (my total surplus is still more than a month's spending, which isn't good in the eyes of the Exchequer).
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The only other significant event this year is a December Liberal attack on the naval budget, which I rebuff, knowing that will raise tensions. Tensions are low enough that I think I can afford this more than the loss of budget.
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The end of the year sees the RN at a low for ship construction: 5 ships. The two Edinburgh class CA are probably the last two CA I will be building for a while; their one knot speed advantage and 15% maintenance savings just don't seem superior enough to the Admiral class battleships to make them worth buying.
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So ends a fairly quiet year.
Good stuff grumbler. Nothing to add, really, just enjoying the ride. :)
I was going to ask how the land war component is abstracted in the game, but now I see it seems governed via events.
Anyway, great stuff. Eagerly awaiting for more :)
Odd that New Caledonia is worth more than Algeria as peace term; same as Corsica.
I expect it's a bit randomnised. Otherwise it makes no sense at all, except if the territories are have unequal worth depending on which country. I imagine getting more bases to project from might be more interesting to the UK than a bunch of semi-rebellious Arabs who speak French at best.
I'll keep reading, anyway. Good stuff, grumbler.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on August 14, 2015, 02:36:59 PM
Odd that New Caledonia is worth more than Algeria as peace term; same as Corsica.
That's also their financial worth, so it makes even less sense.
1904 The Year We Started Coming Back
The first few months of 1904 are unremarkable, with the only dilemma encountered being the consideration of whether to concentrate research on guns after getting word that the US was pulling ahead of us in gun technology. Since gunnery is the RN's forte, I decide to accept the recommendation.
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In May, we get the welcome news that economic forecasts were pessimistic, and that the UK's economy is 2% better than forecast. The naval budget is increased accordingly (by about $4 million annually). OTOH, tensions with Italy have risen in each of the past two months, and is now 6. No events caused this, it is just the fluctuation of tensions that occurs naturally. However, it bears watching.
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In June, we get a peculiar intelligence report to the effect that the newly-laid-down Russian battleship Zlatoust has a belt of only 4". This seems absurdly thin, and for the first time I wonder if my intel reports are accurate. I suppose we will see when she is finished.
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In July, we catch a German spy. This is the sort of meat the Navy League needs, so I denounce Germany. Tensions rise but are still pretty low, and the naval budget gets a 2% bump.
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In August, I start a modest program to overhaul my larger ships to equip them with central fire control systems. I'll upgrade one each of the Bs and CAs at a time.
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In November comes one of those moments when I wonder what the government is thinking. The Balkans nations are arming, and the government actually considers not selling arms to them! I push for the arms sales, and get more money in the budget.
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In November, we commission the first of the new Admiral class battleships, and I lay down another. I decide that this will be the last unit built without underwater protection; torpedoes aren't very good, yet, but they will get better.
As December rolls around, I look back on a pretty good year. Tensions are higher than at the start of the year, but the budget is in much better shape (10% higher than at the start of the year). The US proved unable to sustain her high building rate, and is now back to 2 battleships under construction, while we have three (plus one rebuilding). No one else is close to threatening our dominance at sea.
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1905 The Year We Didn't Build the Dreadnought
As the year starts, the situation with regards to the US battleships is the only cloud on the RN's horizon. The US commissions a BB in January, giving her 11 to Britain's twelve (though the US battleships are smaller). This is probably the closest the US will get; she has only two under construction, and Britain has 4 (including one in reconstruction). So, when a US spy is caught, I must uncharacteristically call for the "softly, softly" approach until we can get our lead back.
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In February, I decide to accelerate the pace of the rebuilding to two ships per type per month for the Bs and CAs. I want to get the new fire control systems into the fleet while tensions allow.
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In April, the Russians commission battleship Zlatoust and she does, indeed, have much heavier armor than intelligence was telling us. I have to question her lack of anti-torpedo-boat guns, however.
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In May, the PM has an idea that a gunnery competition will be good for the fleet and public morale. This likely to be a waste of money, but he's the PM, so I go along with it. The cruiser Phoebe wins the competition and becomes elite.
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In September, a group of steel magnates try to maneuver me into backing their plans to gouge the government. I refuse, and my prestige increases.
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Also in September, I decide to use some of my surplus to build a new class of destroyers of 700 tons to replace the older 500 ton destroyers now in the reserve fleet, which I will scrap as the new ships come online. I am hoping that 4" guns plus a larger hull will give them an actual anti-torpedo-boat capability.
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In October, when the third Admiral Class battleship finishes, I lay down the first of the Duke class battleships, Duke of York. It is an incremental improvement on the Admiral class; 2,000 tons heavier, it has 14" main guns (a new caliber just developed, and actually a pretty good one) and 12" secondaries, with the same speed and armor as the earlier class.
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[Note that it is 1905 and I am not close to being able to lay down a Dreadnought – no turbines, and unable to have more than two main battery turrets].
In November, I lay down the first of a new class of colonial cruisers; I have grown less enamored with the 18 knot speed of the Colony class as time has gone on. The new ships can replace the old on a 2-for-3 basis.
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So, 1905 comes to an end with the RN in fine shape. I sent ahead and put all the remaining Royal Sovereign class into refit to add the central fire control, since I had the money. Other than those, there are 2 battleships building and I think I will add a third early next year, unless something pops up. The global naval OOB shows that Britain is actually meeting the two-power standard in terms of tonnage for all classes of warship. That wasn't intended, but it's welcome.
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That non-dreadnought is better armed than the Dreadnought. Pretty impressive ship to be frank.
Quote from: celedhring on August 15, 2015, 12:50:29 PM
That non-dreadnought is better armed than the Dreadnought. Pretty impressive ship to be frank.
The Duke of York's name isn't "Frank." :P
The ship looks powerful (and is, relative to other ships in game), but the 14" gun penetrates only 8.5" of armor at 10,000 yards. The 12" Mk 10 on
Dreadnought penetrates 10.6" at that range.
The 12" guns on DoY penetrate about 6.5" at that range and have no fire control. This ship is distinctly inferior to the
Dreadnought. It is more equivalent to the IJN's historical
Satsuma of about this time period.
Quote from: grumbler on August 15, 2015, 02:07:55 PM
Quote from: celedhring on August 15, 2015, 12:50:29 PM
That non-dreadnought is better armed than the Dreadnought. Pretty impressive ship to be frank.
The Duke of York's name isn't "Frank." :P
In a Paradox alternative universe it could've been. Anyone remember the Edgar Francis monarch of EU II? :lol:
Can you modernise existing ships?
I really like this AAR, but the game seems like micromanagement at quite a level.
Quote from: Norgy on August 15, 2015, 03:51:45 PM
Can you modernise existing ships?
I really like this AAR, but the game seems like micromanagement at quite a level.
Yes, you can modernize ships. In the game, I upgraded all my major ships when I got a tech called "central firing control" which increases the main battery hit probability. It cost about twice as much as the difference between building with and without the component (since you had to take out the old components, I guess) and took 3 months. This is a minor refit and can include things like increasing turret armor.
You can re-engine ships as well, which gives you a new engineering plant that uses the then-current cost and weight per horsepower (which declines steadily as engineering technology improves) and thus free up weight to increase speed, increase armor, or the like. You can also increase/change weapons, or add armor or the like. These things are major overhauls and last a lot longer (I haven't done it, so can't yet say how long it takes, but I'd guess a year+).
And the game is, indeed, all about micro-managing. The campaigns and battles are just there to see what effect your micro-management had. It's not nearly as bad as some games, though. I can play a year in an hour if there is no war - probably less when I get better at designing ships.
I am enjoying this.
Quote from: grumbler on August 15, 2015, 04:19:15 PM
And the game is, indeed, all about micro-managing. The campaigns and battles are just there to see what effect your micro-management had. It's not nearly as bad as some games, though. I can play a year in an hour if there is no war - probably less when I get better at designing ships.
A bit like Football Manager 2015 but at sea with guns. :)
I generally like micromanaging stuff, so I might give the game a try.
Quote from: Norgy on August 15, 2015, 04:45:26 PM
A bit like Football Manager 2015 but at sea with guns. :)
Great analogy! :thumbsup:
This game looks cool and grumbler is cool for doing this AAR. Keep going. :bowler:
I am quite enjoying this. Whilst I might not buy such, it is interesting - is it actually possible to research to get a "Dreadnought" by 1806?
Quote from: PDH on August 15, 2015, 09:11:41 PM
I am quite enjoying this. Whilst I might not buy such, it is interesting - is it actually possible to research to get a "Dreadnought" by 1806?
There are a series of technologies that will come together to allow a nation to build a dreadnought - engineering, gunnery, and ship design. I've not played the game far enough to discover exactly how that works, but I am getting close, at least in ship design, I think.
This does look like a lot of fun, thanks for the AAR grumbler.
It seems like a game that could really use with a dedicated graphics designer, however - even a period spreadsheet and blueprint feel would do the trick.
Quote from: PDH on August 15, 2015, 09:11:41 PM
I am quite enjoying this. Whilst I might not buy such, it is interesting - is it actually possible to research to get a "Dreadnought" by 1806?
Reminds me of EU discussions.
Quote from: PDH on August 15, 2015, 09:11:41 PM
I am quite enjoying this. Whilst I might not buy such, it is interesting - is it actually possible to research to get a "Dreadnought" by 1806?
Japan appears to be building one in the final screenshot.
Quote from: Agelastus on August 16, 2015, 09:09:01 AM
Quote from: PDH on August 15, 2015, 09:11:41 PM
I am quite enjoying this. Whilst I might not buy such, it is interesting - is it actually possible to research to get a "Dreadnought" by 1806?
Japan appears to be building one in the final screenshot.
Good catch! It is an interesting development: the design is dated 1908! Some glitch in the program, I think.
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Unfortunately, the player cannot see foreign designs until the first one completes. it will be interesting to see when this ship completes.
All ships labelled "building" have dates in the future. I guess it's the estimated time of completion.
Quote from: celedhring on August 16, 2015, 10:36:47 AM
All ships labelled "building" have dates in the future. I guess it's the estimated time of completion.
I think that you are right. I thought it was the date of the design because that's what's in that column on the ship build selection screen, but that's not what it is in the ships building screen (because for own ships, it says n/a). Three years to build would be about right, since Japan has an "inefficient shipbuilding industry" meaning it takes 33 months to complete a battleship (Britain can build one in 27 months).
Grumbler, you are no doubt involved with more important things at the moment with school starting shortly. But when you get a chance I think we would all enjoy you completing this AAR or starting a new one. It was a very good read.
I second that thought.
21,000 tons and what do you get
another day older and deeper in debt
Quote from: Jaron on September 12, 2015, 01:02:05 AM
21,000 tons and what do you get
another day older and deeper in debt
OK katmai.
Okay, I've still been messing with this game on the back burner a bit, but have enough for an update. Let's see if I can remember how I did this:
1906 – The Libya Crisis
As the year starts, the situation with regards to the US battleships is the only cloud on the RN's horizon.
The US still has more battleships active than Britain, though that situation will reverse itself as the 5 Royal Sovereigns in the yards to get FC installed finish their refits in the first quarter. Finances are sound, with $35 million pounds banked against the chance of war.
In January, the Russians offer technology to improve our shells. I accept.
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The Admiralty raises the question of the effectiveness of the current crop of cruisers in screening the future battle fleet; scout cruiser speeds are only 22 knots, and the latest battleships under construction are 20 knots. The Admiralty feels that the scout fleet speed should be at least 5 knots faster than the battle line. New battleships won't increase battle line speed immediately, but the decision is made to produce no more CLs until a design with 25 knot speed can be built.
The year progressed quietly, and by June the fleet was once again unquestionably the world's most powerful, with 15 battleships to the USA's 12, and with a 50% advantage in tonnage. However, the Japanese, Germans, and Italians had all laid down 21,000 ton battleships by now, and the Germans, Americans, and French have expanded their building slips to handle ships up to 25,000 tons. The two-power standard, not quite met at present in battleships, would be even more difficult to maintain if everyone were building 21 to 25kton battleships.
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Britain laid down her second 21,000 ton battleship.
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Tensions with Italy continue to rise as one of their ships collides with one of ours (image not captured). Tensions with Italy now 8, two short of war. But, really? Italy would go to war with 5 battleships and 2 cruisers against 15 battleships and 41 cruisers?
In October, an uprising in Libya topples the government, and anarchy reigns. The Foreign Office seeks the Admiralty's advice, and I recommend an expedition to restore order. The expedition succeeds, and Libya becomes a British base. Italy is displeased, and tensions go to 11, though Italy doesn't declare war. Pity.
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I decide that it would be prudent to reinforce the Mediterranean fleet now, rather than after a war breaks out, so I move a squadron of 4 BB, a CA, and 8 destroyers to Malta.
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And thus the year 1906 ends. Tensions with Italy are high, but otherwise the situation is quite satisfactory. Some cruiser designs have proven less than completely satisfactory, but a decision on how to deal with that need not be made now. Better technology may make a solution clear in the next year or so.
Build a giant battleship out of pykrete!
Great to see this AAR updated again, lovely read.
I never thought I'd appreciate spreadsheets as much as this. :cool:
I want to take this game engine, and re-write it in a sci-fi setting. That would be so much fun...
1907 - Dreadnoughts at Last!
The year 1907 opens with a bang, as one of our ships runs aground off the coast of Xistan, and foreign agents try to exert pressure to examine it and reveal its technologies. We demand that Xistan return the ship, and dispatch a show the flag squadron to reinforce our demands.
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We get the ship back, but tensions increased across the board 9with the exception of Italy, which went from 10 to 9). Tensions now are
Germany: 7
France: 5
Russia 7
USA 5
Japan 6
Italy 9
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Also, in January, the RN commissions the last of the Admiral class battleships (HMS Frobisher) and the second batch of 8 Harvester class destroyers. The eight oldest of the 500-ton Active class destroyers are moved to mothball status, and the most recent 8 of that class will go to the reserves once the new DDs have worked up, keeping fleet strength at 36 active and 16 reserve destroyers.
Destroyer production will halt for the time being, since all of the 500-tonners have been replaced. This leaves the RN with just two battleships and two heavy cruisers under construction. A new 12" coastal battery is begun at Gibraltar (the advantages of the much more expensive turreted 12" coastal battery are unclear, so we opt not to build that). The issue of Gib brings up the issue of shore batteries in general, and the Admiralty is concerned that the 4" batteries in the UK are obsolete. We will begin replacing them with 8" batteries this year (larger batteries being too expensive and unnecessary against cruisers; the battle fleet will be able to fend off anything slower than a cruiser).
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With few ships being built, the budget is showing a surplus. This will not be true once the new shore batteries are begun.
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In February, tensions with Germany climb to 8 for no discernible reason. Tensions with Italy decline to 8. If Germany's tensions increase again, or Italy's declines, I will move the Med reinforcements back to the Home Fleet.
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In April, the US commissions another battleship and I ask the Fourth Sea Lord to brief the whole of the Admiralty on the global fleet situation. The US has 15 battleships built or building, and is by far the biggest battleship fleet. The Germans and Japanese are building Dreadnought battleships, and the Russians, surprisingly, a dreadnought armored cruiser (BC).
It is clear that Britain will have to commence building dreadnoughts before the Duke class is finished. We have nine months before Duke of York commissions to come up with a design. At the same time, DNC delivers plans for the proposed new colonial cruiser. It is based on the Colony 2 class, at 6,000 tons, 22 knots, and a 4" belt, but features 4x 9" guns and 12x the excellent new 5" gun design, rather than the 8x 6" (in troublesome turrets) and 10x 4" of the original unsatisfactory Colony 2 design. The board agrees that this ship should start replacing the original Colony class colonial cruisers at a rate of 2 per year.
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In Jun, the PM asks the Admiralty to sponsor his beloved gunnery competitions again. He's the PM, so competition it is. Two hundred thousand pounds worth of shells later, HMS Argyll is the winner, and becomes elite.
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In July, DNC delivers a design that is to cover for the failure to develop a satisfactory scouting armored cruiser: a dreadnought armored cruiser. He has taken the design that was being developed for the Duke follow-ons, and deleted one turret and 1" of armor from the belt, conning tower, and turret faces (now all 9" vice 10" in the prospective battleship design) and increased speed to 25 knots.
The cost of this new design is £7.1 million, as opposed to the £4.5 million for the last AC design, but this ship is faster, much longer-ranged, and much more powerful. It is certainly twice as powerful as an AC design, and so the order is placed. The CAs will be replaced in the home fleet by BCs on a 1-for-2 basis, and the ACs will be refitted for colonial service, obviating the need to build many of the Colony 2 class ships.
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Tensions continue to rise. By August, tensions with Germany, Russia, and Italy are all at 8. Combined, they don't have the strength of the RN, but war on multiple fronts would rob us of superiority in some theaters. Let us hope it does not come to that.
Also in August, a British shipbuilder quietly offers the Board a deal: if he gets more contracts, he and his clique in the Commons will support a larger naval budget. We refuse (improves prestige at a cost of budget).
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In December, HMS Foxhound is blown up by Russian saboteurs in Gibraltar. I recommend to the PM that we take this out of Russia's hide.
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The PM agrees, and the UK declares war.
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Battle immediately erupts as Russia sorties cruisers into the North Sea.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1907%2F1907%2520Russia%2520battle%2520Little%2520Bank%2520start_zpsmp7o73sa.jpg&hash=4d8e423059c10a7d1287d52499fbabf23289c2eb)
The Russians flee before battle can be joined.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1907%2F1907%2520Russia%2520battle%2520Little%2520Bank%2520end_zpsaepkxyzw.jpg&hash=bc83222ef4292087199bdcfb6cc34fcc54db053f)
Our counter-thrust into the Baltic catches the Russian fleet near Osel.
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The Russians flee once again.
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At the second battle of Osel, the Russians flee once again, but the Russians accept battle in the Second Battle of Little Bank.
I have the armored cruiser Devonshire under command, with protected cruiser Boadicea (yeah, I forgot to correct the name in the OOB) and three destroyers in direct support, and AC Shropshire and two more destroyers in indirect support 80 miles north of us.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1907%2F1907%2520Russia%2520Second%2520Battle%2520Little%2520Bank%25202040_zpsdv6muv2s.jpg&hash=f77b4a0502c98647d238d336457d553f89ec329b)
Devonshire is a powerful unit, with 8 7" guns, but with somewhat faulty turrets (-20% ROF). I am anxious to see how she performs.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1907%2F1907%2520Russia%2520Second%2520Battle%2520Little%2520Bank%2520flagship_zpszkg8rw99.jpg&hash=2498229e4b611653a53dcc5db0a6ebd72bf978a0)
Lacking knowledge of the enemy position, I continue to the northeast.
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Almost immediately, we encounter enemy ships at very close range in the rain. Boadicea looks to have a sporty time in the next few minutes!
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1907%2F1907%2520Russia%2520Second%2520Battle%2520Little%2520Bank%25201932_zpsaahzgzqe.jpg&hash=354608c76d9bf5bb148c44e8e406d3d4cd050e75)
1939: Both fleets turn away before positive identification occurs, though, and Boadicea slips free to the north. Some minutes pass with both sides trying to get a grip on which ships in the darkness are friends, and which foes. Devonshire positively identifies an enemy armored cruiser, and fires a salvo which scores two hits. Two hits on a first salvo is outstanding shooting.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1907%2F1907%2520Russia%2520Second%2520Battle%2520Little%2520Bank%25201939_zpsuxqpalbd.jpg&hash=7946c08281a3c3e5963583a84e30c772d350d2dd)
The Russian cruiser turns to parallel Devonshire's course, and gets hit four more times in the next two minutes. Only then does the enemy cruiser get a firing solution and return fire.
By 1942, ten minutes into the battle, Devonshire has scored at least 10 7" hits on the enemy cruiser, and visible damage is heavy. So far, no other ship has fired more than a single salvo, and the Devonshire is untouched.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1907%2F1907%2520Russia%2520Second%2520Battle%2520Little%2520Bank%25201942_zpshoart82e.jpg&hash=49d5dc0b48ababf9f342457e62443c03ef5c7592)
At 1945 the Russians hit Devonshire for the first time. Damage is minimal. The enemy cruiser is identified as a Rossia class (10,300 tons, 4*8" and 14*6"guns, 4" belt, 20 knots) – a near-equal to Devonshire and probably a ship to be engaged at longer range, given all those 6" guns (which need to be within 3500 yards to penetrate Devonshire's belt).
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs1029.photobucket.com%2Fuser%2Fb5grumbler%2Fmedia%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1907%2F1907%2520Russia%2520Second%2520Battle%2520Little%2520Bank%25201945_zpsnmpkpvml.jpg.html%3Fsort%3D3%26amp%3Bo%3D24&hash=25d88287d40fd5501a7174eedc95116aec1856ca)
The enemy cruiser turns away, and Devonshire turns hard to port to chase it without getting closer to the enemy destroyers.
At 1949 HMS Eclipse launches torpedoes at the Rossia-class cruiser. Here they are (center of screen). Looks like a good shot. The enemy cruiser is down to 10 knots.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1907%2F1907%2520Russia%2520Second%2520Battle%2520Little%2520Bank%25201945_zpsnmpkpvml.jpg&hash=3d694378e4aaae01f87720b853ee086ccef39dda)
1952: Things looking bad for Rossia-class cruiser, but torpedo reliability sucks. Devonshire is still turning to pursue.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1907%2F1907%2520Russia%2520Second%2520Battle%2520Little%2520Bank%25201950_zpsldbl8psr.jpg&hash=c05edc969b480ec5208995dd3f354aaeb5e88a9e)
1953: The torpedoes miss. The cruiser must have increased speed, or the torpedoes not performed at full speed. Torpedoes are still slow.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1907%2F1907%2520Russia%2520Second%2520Battle%2520Little%2520Bank%25201953_zpsqovo13ut.jpg&hash=1e7037dace83896748ccf96b1c827fb2835f8cd5)
1959: Devonshire is still moving west to find the damaged Rossia class cruiser (the circle is sighting range) and engages and hits (twice) a destroyer trying to screen the cruiser. Three more hits follow in quick succession, and the destroyer slows to ten knots, badly damaged.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1907%2F1907%2520Russia%2520Second%2520Battle%2520Little%2520Bank%25201959_zps2z8jd1hl.jpg&hash=fde8cb885a4198a628fc6844e56eab862ed185c6)
2002: Devonshire spots torpedoes in the water and evades. The Burni-class destroyer is hit again and starts to sink.
2008 The Devonshire is still casting about for the missing Rossia-class cruiser, and destroyer Fleet decides, for some reason, to torpedo the sinking wreck of the Burni-class destroyer Devonshire left behind.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1907%2F1907%2520Russia%2520Second%2520Battle%2520Little%2520Bank%25202008_zpsdzj9bf28.jpg&hash=07e5790020587ca62ae20791d8f3828a972d1a3f)
The Devonshire pushes west to find the enemy cruiser, leaving the destroyers to the British destroyers.
2040: Having searched west, then south, without luck, the Devonshire turns towards the Skagerrak, knowing that the enemy has to pass it to get home. The trail is pretty cold, though. The enemy, we discovered from later logs, had evaded towards England, not towards Russia.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1907%2F1907%2520Russia%2520Second%2520Battle%2520Little%2520Bank%2520tracks_zpsobjxsfrq.jpg&hash=299ea79602e18c6434812c97b88b4253d29d2ffc)
By 2 AM the trail had grown cold enough that the British force withdrew. The battle was over.
The British forces scored medium damage on the Rossia class AC and heavy damage on the two destroyers (they were sunk in the battle, but apparently raised afterwards :lol: ). The Russians landed one shell hit on Devonshire. The convoy the Russians came to raid never saw them.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1907%2F1907%2520Russia%2520Second%2520Battle%2520Little%2520Bank%2520end_zpsa73fksmp.jpg&hash=af54dca587de11fe2ddb98445caeafcf6f4e9827)
In terms of points, the British only had a 2,398 to 97 victory (24:1), so that was just a marginal win. I think that, if I can sink the entire Russian navy without suffering a hit in return, it might score above marginal.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1907%2F1907%2520Russia%2520Second%2520Battle%2520Little%2520Bank%2520stats_zps6uhlioy2.jpg&hash=c0513e4f54161b7d91f65b918151e277be0b7fa5)
HMS Devonshire had a better than 13% hit rate in 164 shots fired. Gromoboi had an 8% hit rate, but hit just once in 12 rounds, so that might not be statistically significant.
The naval budget increased with the outbreak of war, of course. The Admiralty declared mobilization, and brought ships out of reserve and mothballs. An inshore patrol system was established using the older destroyers and the minesweepers built for that purpose. Anticipating losses, the Admiralty also laid down the first of the Duke of Marlborough class dreadnoughts:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2FShip%2520Classes%2FBB%2520Duke%2520of%2520Marlborough_zps1nooqb06.jpg&hash=fcfe209aad418599718de23288dd31789f9a6442)
The new class didn't have the 14-inch guns of the previous class, but did have the new 5' anti-torpedo-boat gun [in the new version of the game, you can't have 12" secondary, nor, indeed, have secondary turrets yet].
Thus ended the month, and the year 1908.
Graphics aren't showing in my posts any more. Anyone know (or guess) why?
You are not linking the images properly. Be sure you use the direct link as I have below.
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Quote from: Jaron on March 13, 2016, 04:02:26 AM
You are not linking the images properly. Be sure you use the direct link as I have below.
That was it. Cheers.
I'm behind on posting these.
1908 The Year of the Bear
January started with yet another battle in the North Sea as Russian raiders tried to take out British shipping. On January 13th, 3 RN cruisers (Devonshire again, plus Derbyshire and Cornwall) plus three destroyers, faced an unknown enemy force.
Cornwall starts in contact with an enemy CL. Derbyshire is ordered to her support.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1908%2F1908%2520First%2520Battle%2520of%2520North%2520Sea%2520start_zpsknsbov9k.jpg&hash=5463f62e4f1ca9acfa5d8e4d160312a7b6965fd2)
The Russians flee to the north, and are faster than our ships, so no action occurs.
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An hour later, the Russians reinforce with two armored cruisers. One flees to the northeast, but the other closes from the northwest.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1908%2F1908%2520First%2520Battle%2520of%2520North%2520Sea%25201310_zpsesoqy8ql.jpg&hash=12104a80d0f0e47ddb793bb8439f6597da27e4d2)
1410: More and more Russian ships arrive in the west, eventually numbering 2 Rossia class ACs, 2 CLs, and 4 DDs. Our ships head north to keep between the two groups of ships.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1908%2F1908%2520First%2520Battle%2520of%2520North%2520Sea%25201410_zpsyv7ohihg.jpg&hash=8c4df74d94ceff5e9e8712fb5fbffcf14411a52b)
1455: After 45 minutes of chase, our ships get into a melee with the lead Rossia class AC and its four attending DDs. Our own DDs get roughly handled, with Fortitude sunk and the rest badly damaged. The Russians lose 2 DDs sunk and damage to the other 2. The Rossia class AC is badly damaged and our cruisers mostly untouched.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1908%2F1908%2520First%2520Battle%2520of%2520North%2520Sea%25201455_zpsp4islvfc.jpg&hash=61ec4af4d656f9bc68b5d1f9a7e1fd0104136997)
1515: Twenty minutes later, the situation is largely unchanged, other than further damage to the cruisers on both sides. The Rossia class AC has been hit by at least 25 major-caliber hits, but steams on. Derbyshire has been hit ten times and has lost half her broadside. Cornwall has had a jammed after turret since the start of the battle (bad turrets on these guys).
To the south, an enemy CL has been dancing around.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1908%2F1908%2520First%2520Battle%2520of%2520North%2520Sea%25201515_zpsb26wg0gf.jpg&hash=2a0d814bcc22ef3a281e0f2d42ba434de8a988fe)
1600: 45 minutes have passed, with the British cruisers hitting the Rossia-class AC three or more times a minute. Cornwall even torpedoed it. Still, it is just listed as "heavily damaged" – not sinking. The British cruisers are running low on ammo. It might be that it simply isn't possible to sink enemy cruisers.
I could even lose this scenario; one of my destroyers, HMS Fleet, had an engineering breakdown and had to drop out of formation. I ordered it to return to base. En route, it was taken over by the AI, and redirected to suicide-charge an enemy CL. It is about to get sunk. The AI sucks.
(Moments later, the AC sinks)
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1908%2F1908%2520First%2520Battle%2520of%2520North%2520Sea%25201600_zpsq46cdnp7.jpg&hash=9d8a9465592f3571b34c6822bb59b414ee2387c0)
1640: Night has fallen, I have extricated the Fleet from its encounter with the Russian CL, and gathered my ships into a mutually supporting force. Force speed is only 10 knots, but I won't detach any ships for the AI to suicide with. The enemy has broken contact but was last seen to the north, so northward I go with three ACs (two undamaged) and three destroyers (all badly damaged at the least).
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1908%2F1908%2520First%2520Battle%2520of%2520North%2520Sea%25201640_zpsdwgbs8ps.jpg&hash=d126e826f9eed587c9619dde303083e7ab995d14)
That pretty much ended the battle. I searched for another four hours, but never regained contact.
The battle ended with a British major victory even though the point totals were far more even this time at a bit more than 5:1.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1908%2F1908%2520First%2520Battle%2520of%2520North%2520Sea%2520end_zpswzmknhny.jpg&hash=f34914738a48d94f8a237d3e6700b56bbe28d479)
Note that Rossia absorbed 169 7" shellfire hits and one torpedo before succumbing. That's whack!
HMS Devonshire was a great shooter for the second battle in a row. Derbyshire slightly out-shot her, but was always at a much closer range. And Devonshire is lucky; the enemy never laid a glove on her despite firing at least six torpedoes at her.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1908%2F1908%2520First%2520Battle%2520of%2520North%2520Sea%2520stats_zpsywsks1mj.jpg&hash=8ef391b1c82e297f6725f0fdff1486f57f76ea4e)
This battle was a bit more satisfactory than the previous one. Gun damage seemed disappointing, but the number of hits were about what we expected, and our ships and guns performed well. Destroyers didn't accomplish much as torpedo boats, but they kept the Russian destroyers from accomplishing much, either.
On February 8th, HMS Lysander, a Leander class CL, sights an enemy raider north of Ireland.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1908%2F1908%2520First%2520Battle%2520off%2520Ireland%2520Start_zpswcgtyvvg.jpg&hash=48010ddcfb7e3ed96f79071778142fd6d12847ba)
The enemy turns to flee and Lysander works up to full speed to pursue. At 1448 the enemy is identified as a Diana class CL. That's the Russian opposite number to Lysander; slightly larger, same main battery, slightly slower, and with a thicker armored belt but no protection for her guns.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1908%2F1908%2520First%2520Battle%2520off%2520Ireland%25201448_zpslpyvxlqa.jpg&hash=e8e49bd538844fdc82ca4348391eade70ed81faa)
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1430: My plan is to maintain my distance at about 5kyd, where I can just penetrate Diana's belt (she can penetrate mine at 10kyds) and rely on my better crew and fire control to outshoot her and knock out her guns. Then I can close to ranges where the hits will really start to mount and sink her.
1530: After an hour of maneuvering and desultory fire, the two cruisers are settled on parallel courses and firing about a round a minute. Diana has been hit four times and Lysander once. Diana is only replying now with four guns. However, splinter damage from a near-miss has perforated Lysander's funnels, and speed is down to 19 knots because of the lack of draft.
That hit proves to be the decisive hit of the battle, because it makes the Russian cruiser faster. The Russians begin pulling away. By 1700 they are out of range and, as night falls, out of sight as well.
The scenario ends in a tactical British victory.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1908%2F1908%2520First%2520Battle%2520off%2520Ireland%2520end_zps67rshzyu.jpg&hash=e4cbe1bc98afa6858a75758ee4c22a2b10feab86)
When the statistics are examined, though, they prove very disappointing. Not only did Lysander achieve a lower hit % than the Russians (though she got more hits due to her better crew's superior rate of fire) despite her fire control superiority, the hits she scored didn't do much damage. 679 rounds fired to inflict light damage on an enemy CL is unsatisfactory. We need to rethink light cruiser design. A heavier belt and lighter deck might serve us better. In retrospect, Diana was probably a better design than Lysander. Her speed was insufficient, though.
We need a faster light cruiser with the ability to dish out damage at short ranges.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1908%2F1908%2520First%2520Battle%2520off%2520Ireland%2520stats_zpsxxtuimuj.jpg&hash=f4c6e292c7d91ec5cc699f9fc9384b912431df50)
In the aftermath of this battle the Russians send out peace feelers. I am torn between the desire to take more territory and the concern that refusing negotiations will increase tensions with Germany and Italy enough to cause them to declare war. I push for hard terms, hoping the Russians refuse.
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The Russians know they are not going to prosper through more war, though, and accept the terms we offer. We take control over Angola and Sakhalin.
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Tensions drop across the board as peace returns. Unfortunately, this means a significant cut in the naval budget, from just over £31 million to just over £25 million. This leaves us spending more per month than we are budgeted, though the reserve can sustain us for the next eight months. By then, we will have finished the three cruisers and one of the four battleships now under construction, and so will go back into the black, but there will be no more new construction until the budget improves or we finish our first dreadnought.
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In June we face the Albania Crisis. Who in their right mind would want to rule Albania?
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Tension with Italy drops to 2.
In August, a crisis erupts in the African nation of Abcessya. The PM requests my advice on how big a force to send to protect our citizens. I press for a large one and play up in the press how ready the RN is to intervene anywhere. The Navy's prestige increases, and the PM is forced to provide the navy more money. The wogs don't care for it.
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Tensions with France spike to 8.
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In September, the Foreign Office proposes compromising with the French on some colonial issues, as a means of relaxing tensions. I oppose this, not least because higher tensions mean more money for the navy's budget.
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In November, we buy the patent for triple turrets from Italy. The next dreadnought armored cruiser class will have three triple 12" turrets rather than four double turrets.
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As 1908 comes to an end, the RN's building program is badly out of balance; four capital ships and a colonial cruiser are all we can afford at the moment.
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The fleet itself is not unbalanced, but it is starting to face a block obsolescence problem. The Colony class CLs are getting a bit long in the tooth, but no really satisfactory replacement or rebuild is in the works. The planned replacement of the CLs (on a 2-for-3 basis) with the Colony CAs stopped after three ships, because the replacement ships were too expensive to maintain (2 of them cost almost £290,000 per year on station, compared to the £250,00 for the three CLs). The CLs will just have to soldier on and hope they only face AMCs.
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The dreadnought race is fully underway now. There are 10 BB built or building in the world, and another 8 BC. Germany, like Britain, has 2 of each under construction. Russia has a dreadnought of 25,500 tons under construction!
The only bright spot is that we can build a dreadnought battleship in 27 months. The Russians, Italians, and Japanese take 33 months, the Germans and Americans 30 months.
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Some of them turned into pictures of kitty cats.
I see what happened. I consolidated all my design files into a "designs" folder, and din't account for the fact that the pictures were directly linked. Thanks for the heads-up.
1909 – Another Year of the French
The year starts with the world at peace and tensions high only with France.
I get the sort of temptation that I hate: British scientists perfect the 10" gun (exactly the worst caliber for our needs).
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The Admiralty waffles around with the idea of a cruiser armed with this gun, and produces an excellent 15,000 ton 26 knot Armored Cruiser- killer, but it ultimately is clear that such an AC would interfere with our BC building program.
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The year progresses normally until April, when a diplomatic crisis erupts in the Balkans. The PM turns to me again to determine the British response. I can allow general tensions to rise, or blame a specific country.
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I sleep on this, and decide that tensions with France will come to a head sooner or later, so best to lance the boil: I tell the PM that France is to blame.
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Tensions with France jump to 11.
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In May, the PM has another of his harebrained schemes, this time a sailing regatta to reduce international tensions. He's the boss.
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Tensions do decline, but it costs the navy £20,000.
In June, the last of the Colony 2 class ACs commissions, and the Admiralty is forced to pick a design for the new CL. The choice is between two specialized cruisers, one that is designed to work with the fleet and do Home fleet scouting and patrol (it needs speed and close-range firing capacity) and one that is optimized for colonial work (it needs range and a medium-range battery), or a design that can fill both roles.
The problem with the colonial cruiser is that it must be affordable. If it is to replace the 4,000 ton Colony class on a 2-for-3 basis, it must weigh 6,000 tons and cost no more than about £1.8 million. In order to meet this requirement, the designers keep it coal-fired, provide a protective deck rather than a belt, and limit speed to 24 knots. The resulting design looks suitable only for colonial service:
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This is much too slow for the fleet's use.
The CL proposed by the Constructor for the fleet scout cruiser is a radical departure in design: oil-fired, 28 knots, and armed entirely with our excellent 5" gun. The light weight of the gun allows for a total of 12 to be fitted. At first glance, the colonial cruiser looks the superior design, with a broadside of 4-6" and 4 5" to the Tribal's 7-5", but the Tribal has all its guns firing under central fire control, so its combat capabilities should be similar, and it's speed is what pays for the lack of 6" guns. It should be able to get close enough to use its lighter guns more effectively. Plus, it should be a superb destroyer-killer.
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One of each design is ordered.
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In July, I give the annual speech to the Navy League. Though I could mouth platitudes that would reduce world tensions, I refuse to compromise: France's foreign policies are a danger to the nation, and I refuse to deny that. That this will increase the navy's budget does not sway me.
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Tensions with France climb to 11. A lovely little war with France would suit me very well.
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In August, the French ambassador comes with a most astonishing message: the French want us to curb our naval program in "the interests of peace!" "In the interests of France" is what he means. I advise the PM to reject the offer in the strongest terms.
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As I'd anticipated, and even hoped, this results in a French declaration of war (yes, the picture says Britain declares war, but that's because that's the newspaper picture available):
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The French sorties their Atlantic fleet and we intercept them off Land's End.
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The French wisely decamp, leaving us the bloodless victors.
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In the Med, though, the French do offer battle off Corsica.
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Our forces consist of 2 Norfolk class CAs and 3 Enchantress class DDs under Rear Admiral John Jacobs. His mission is to sink all merchants in the area.
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At 1455, Norfolk spots an enemy ship to the NW and turns to investigate. Jacobs orders the rest of the force to increase to flank speed and intercept.
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1500: the French ship is identified as a light cruiser. Rain begins to fall as she and Norfolk trade long-range salvoes.
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The French cruiser is identified as a Sfax-class, very similar to our own Agamemnons but lacking fire control.
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1514: As Jacobs pursues the fleeing French CL, this... thing appears to the west. Could this be the convoy we are seeking? We will soon find out.
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1523: Whatever it is, it is a force of ships. The Sfax class slips away to the northwest, faster than our ships can pursue.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1909%2F1909%2520Aug%2520Battle%2520off%2520Corsica%25201523_zpsq8ax6kw7.jpg&hash=aa835c16fdf2c928b9d3ea74045fd3a633efcff8)
1529: Six minutes later, the situation is a little more clear. The two enemy ships closest to Jacobs's force are a transport and an armed merchant cruiser. This is the convoy. The only question is: does the AMC trail a group of other escorts, or a group of merchant ships? Jacobs starts to concentrate his forces.
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1540: The rain continues to interfere with our ability to identify the enemy, but the pattern is starting to emerge: the French port column is likely all merchants, and the starboard column escorts. What kind of escorts, though?
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1547: Jacobs's ships can now see the enemy more clearly: it looks like the starboard column is merchants, as well. There is a brief moment of humor when one of the lookouts reports that he has sighted an enemy battleship, but that sighting turns out to be just one of the merchants getting hit by British shells.
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Jacobs orders the Norfolk to pass between the enemy columns, the destroyers to engage the port column, and Argyll to engage the starboard one.
1602: The battle is turning into a slaughter, as the British ships overhaul the convoy and smash its ships with close-range gunfire. Norfolk switches her attention to the starboard column.
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1617: Fifteen minutes later, the convoy is no more. All six ships are sunk. Jacobs musters his cruisers for a sweep to the north, in case the French CL is hanging around. The destroyers are detached to pick up survivors.
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1647: The destroyers have finished picking up survivors, and are hurrying to rejoin the flag, when the Argyll spots an enemy ship only 10,000 yards to the north. The squadron increased speed to flank and turns to intercept.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1909%2F1909%2520Aug%2520Battle%2520off%2520Corsica%25201647_zpsutpwvhmy.jpg&hash=d63cf696584d92f32ec7f762be4a5f0df7c0f1b5)
The ship is identified as a CL before it flees to the north and out of sight.
1653: No sooner does the cruiser disappear than another ship is spotted 10,000 yards to the west, heading west. Again, the squadron pursues.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1909%2F1909%2520Aug%2520Battle%2520off%2520Corsica%25201653_zpsmfcxpjyf.jpg&hash=31c1c74fe67fb701eab7b98795db3cdbe79ebb62)
1702: The new contact is identified as a destroyer. It must be suffering from engine trouble, else it would easily outrun the British cruisers. It is taken under fire by both British ships, but is a difficult target and few British guns can bear, so it escapes immediate harm.
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1708: The engagement is short. At 1708 the Argyll hits the destroyer three times and it stops and sinks. Again, the destroyers move in to pick up survivors.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1909%2F1909%2520Aug%2520Battle%2520off%2520Corsica%25201708_zps7jo4obpb.jpg&hash=f003cdee29b705d9077d4158a877795c5c8db89c)
[After the battle, we discover that this was just a minesweeper, which accounts for its lack of speed and combat power.]
Jacobs again sweeps to the north, to see what he can catch. At 1805, he again encounters the Sfax-class CL, and trades long-range fire with it.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1909%2F1909%2520Aug%2520Battle%2520off%2520Corsica%25201805_zpsccm1z1he.jpg&hash=4aa0fa95e406043a3fca0c01b17cd37142b68016)
As expected, the French cruiser flees. Insofar as Jacobs can tell, neither side suffered any damage in that engagement. The British continue to the north.
The sun sets at 1730 and night has closed in completely when, suddenly, at 1930, an unknown ship appears through the darkness, only 3000 yards to port of the column. Could this be the CL again, nosing around trying to find out what happened to the convoy?
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The ship immediately turns to escape, the British ships in pursuit. The French are faster than our cruisers, but Jacobs now has his destroyers with him, and they are faster than the French cruiser. Perhaps they can slow down the French to the point that the British cruisers can keep up.
However, a stern chase is a long chase, and Nice is not many miles away. It isn't clear whether the British can overtake the cruiser before it reaches safety.
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A very confused series of maneuvers follows, as the enemy cruiser (still unidentified, but whose identity is obvious) zig-zags all over the place. The British ships cannot fire because the enemy is still listed as "unidentified." At 1940, the French cruiser rams HMS Forward (but is still too far away from her to be identified, it seems).
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The enemy's fire doesn't harm any of the other British destroyers, but the Forward sinks. The British ships cannot fire because they don't know that the French ship that rammed a British destroyer and is firing on the others is hostile. Maybe they think it is Swiss. At least Forward has inflicted damage, though not in the recommended way.
1947: HMS Argyll is hit by an enemy torpedo. It is unclear whether this will cause the British to consider the French cruiser to be hostile, or not. Jacobs is extremely frustrated.
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This does, indeed, trigger British fire, and the melee becomes general as the Sfax tries to pick off the destroyers trying to get into torpedo position, while the Norfolk pounds Sfax from a distance and Argyll employs damage control.
Suddenly, at 1958, the Sfax-class cruiser blows up from a Norfolk 7-inch shell that penetrates her magazine.
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With the loss of the last French ship at sea, the battle ends. It is a major British victory.
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The Sfax was the only real French warship out there, so it isn't surprising that the French lost this one. The Sfax only actually hit the British with one shell (a 3" hit on HMS Felicity) but inflicted a lot of "unconventional" damage via torpedo and ramming.
The stats show the same favorable rating for the Norfolk-class cruisers that we had seen before: good hit rates (12% and 14%) and the ability to survive damage. The inability of the destroyers to get off a torpedo shot continues to worry the Admiralty.
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(Though this battle was a slaughter, it was more fun in many ways than any of the earlier ones, because it was the British on the offensive against enemy merchants, it was at night or in poor visibility, and it necessitated good search tactics and formations).
Almost un-noticed, the Germans commission their first Dreadnought battleship, SMS Worth. The design makes for an interesting comparison to our own Duke of Marlborough class.
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The Germans opted for a larger ship, heavier armor and a bit more speed and gave up cross-deck firing and the heavier 12" gun. They also continued to employ torpedo tubes in an all-big-gun design. I think our design more modern, though I'd loved to have been able to add some tonnage and some armor.
The fleet mobilizes and the Admiralty meets to consider force dispositions. In Northern Europe, we have a crushing superiority: 14 battleship, 14 cruisers, and 41 destroyers, to the French 7 battleships, 1 cruiser, and 11 destroyers.
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In the Med, we also have a decisive superiority over the French, who have but a single battleship there and no support ships.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1029.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fy353%2Fb5grumbler%2FRTW%2520Pics%2F1909%2F1909%2520Aug%2520Med%2520BOP_zpsukipzetd.jpg&hash=815fa7da81f1d5c2c04d1c9f20bc578756dc375e)
It is in the colonies that concern exists. We should have examined French deployments more carefully as tensions rose, and matched their overseas presence. We will have to hope they cannot raid too much before we get counter-forces in the areas they infest. We also hope our colony-class CLs don't offer battle against enemy cruisers.
In West Africa, the French have a light cruiser raiding, and we have no forces. We dispatch 2 Agamemnon-class CL.
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In the Indian Ocean, it is even more concerning: the French have 3 CA there, and we have only 1 CA and 7 obsolescent colonial CLs there. We decide to move the Mediterranean Fleet's two cruisers (1 CA, 1 CL) there, and send 2 more CA and 2 CL to the Med, to follow to the IO next month.
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In Southeast Asia, the situation is much like that in the Indian Ocean: a powerful French squadron facing colonial cruisers. The med cruisers will move here in 2 months, when the IO reinforcements arrive. (Yes, the map has the wrong focus)
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The rest of the world has no French presence.
We also lay down two more Tribal class CLs with the extra funds provided for the war.
In September, the French made several attempts to break the British blockade but fled each time when intercepted. British ships sank two French merchants, French ships sank one British merchant and one submarine.
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In October, much the same.
In November, the French come to their senses and offer peace. I press for hard terms, but know I can't press for total victory.
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The French concede.
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Picking the French colonies to take over, we opt to remove their naval presence from the Caribbean and the Indian Ocean.
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With the coming of peaces comes a vast reduction in world tensions and also a vast reduction in the Navy's budget. We are left with a £380,000 per month deficit. Some of that will come off when overseas ships return home, but I can foresee austerity in the shipbuilding budget looming again.
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The year ended with no more drama.
GB at war with Russia? And France?? In 1909??? :wacko:
Sadly, I'll pass this one.
Quote from: Drakken on March 25, 2016, 01:18:51 PM
GB at war with Russia? And France?? In 1909??? :wacko:
Sadly, I'll pass this one.
It's not a historical simulation at all. It's a fantasy framework for designing warships and managing budgets in the equivalent of the early 20C.
If it's fantasy, why are there no chainmail bikinis? :yeahright:
I picked this up a few months ago and completed two games as Austria-Hungary and CSA. It's really fun; not historical, certainly, but I love the gameplay: designing and building my ships, then sending them after the enemy (usually France) and winning a glorious victory watching them explode. It has a strong "just one more turn" factor for me.
Nothing's better than the "just one more turn" factor.
Really tempted to get this, do these guys run sales? :P
Their "store" is a Yahoo webpage and they have a guy email you the key.
http://yhst-12000246778232.stores.yahoo.net/ruwaddo.html
So, probably not.
I just picked up this game last night, played a few years as the Germans. Had a war with Russia which was mostly inconclusive. I need to get more accustomed to the game, but I find it fun as I like designing/building ships, managing the budget, research, etc. Combat was a bit tricky for me as a novice and I'm not sure how much control I have, but I mostly let the AI handle the ships in battle so far.
Quote from: KRonn on March 30, 2016, 09:48:15 AM
I just picked up this game last night, played a few years as the Germans. Had a war with Russia which was mostly inconclusive. I need to get more accustomed to the game, but I find it fun as I like designing/building ships, managing the budget, research, etc. Combat was a bit tricky for me as a novice and I'm not sure how much control I have, but I mostly let the AI handle the ships in battle so far.
You want to play commanding all the squadrons (not the ships, and not just the whole fleet).
Quote from: grumbler on March 31, 2016, 05:08:41 AM
Quote from: KRonn on March 30, 2016, 09:48:15 AM
I just picked up this game last night, played a few years as the Germans. Had a war with Russia which was mostly inconclusive. I need to get more accustomed to the game, but I find it fun as I like designing/building ships, managing the budget, research, etc. Combat was a bit tricky for me as a novice and I'm not sure how much control I have, but I mostly let the AI handle the ships in battle so far.
You want to play commanding all the squadrons (not the ships, and not just the whole fleet).
Ok, thanks. I'm having some fun with it so far. :)