A fictional 1914 mini campaign. The German Heavy Cruise Bülow and it's light cruiser companion Hamlin, have been shadowed travelling north towards the Red Sea. A British pursuit force under Rear Admiral Sir Portly Proudpole has diverted to the north east believing that the Germans were heading to Mesopotamia to disrupt Imperial operations against the Turks.
Turns out the Germans have a different plan!
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| I'm using Admiralty_Chart_No_8a The_Red_Sea Published_late 19th century. |
Scharnhorst-class armored cruiser
Displacement. 12,985 t (12,780 long tons). Length. 144.6 m (474 ft 5 in). Beam. 21.6 m (70 ft 10 in). Draft. 8.37 m (27 ft 6 in)
Installed power. 18 × water-tube boilers. 26,000 metric horsepower (19,000 kW)
Propulsion. 3 × triple-expansion steam engines. 3 × screw propellers
Speed. 22.5 knots (42 km/h; 26 mph)
Range. 4,800 nmi (8,900 km; 5,500 mi) at 14 kn (26 km/h; 16 mph)
Crew. 52 officers. 788 enlisted men
Armament. 8 × 21 cm (8.3 in) guns
6 × 15 cm (5.9 in) gun. 18 × 8.8 cm (3.5 in) gun. 4 × 45 cm (17.7 in) torpedo tubes
Armor. Belt: 8 to 15 cm (3.1 to 5.9 in). Turrets: 17 cm (6.7 in). Deck: 3.5 to 6 cm (1.4 to 2.4 in) Casemates: 13 cm (5.1 in)
Königsberg-class light cruiser
Displacement. Normal: 3,469 t Full load: 3,902 t
Length. 116.8 m (383 ft). Beam. 13.3 m (44 ft). Draft. 5.24 m (17.2 ft)
Installed power. 13,200 PS (9,700 kW). 11 × water-tube boilers
Propulsion. 2 × screw propellers. 2 × triple-expansion engines
Speed. 23.4 knots (43.3 km/h)
Complement. 14 Officers. 308 Enlisted men
Armament. 10 × 10.5 cm (4.1 in) SK L/40 guns. 8 × 5.2 cm (2 in) SK guns. 2 × 45 cm (17.7 in) torpedo tubes
Armor. Deck: 80 mm (3.1 in). Conning tower: 100 mm (3.9 in)
German Admiral Maximilian Von Spittle
Kapitain Ernst Von Groüser of the Bulöw
Kapitain Pieter Pied of the Hamlin
The commerce raider Sigismund, a former liner armed with 4 inch guns.
2 colliers working under false flags.
September 9th 1914
Flagship, Admiral Sir Portly Proudpole
HMS Empress (Fictional)
Type: Pre-Dreadnought Battleship
Displacement: 14,500 tons
Armament: 4 x 12-inch guns, 12 x 6-inch guns, 8 x 12-pounder guns
Speed: 18 knots
Armor: 10-inch belt armor, 8-inch turret armor
Crew: 700
Description:
The HMS Empress is a fictional pre-dreadnought battleship built in the late 1890s, serving as a reliable but slightly outdated member of the British fleet by 1914. It has the distinct feature of being a "hybrid" ship that blends the older pre-dreadnought concepts with more modern updates, making it an effective addition to the squadron despite being outclassed by newer dreadnought battleships.
HMS Empress (Fictional)
Type: Pre-Dreadnought Battleship
Displacement: 14,500 tons
Armament: 4 x 12-inch guns, 12 x 6-inch guns, 8 x 12-pounder guns
Speed: 18 knots
Armor: 10-inch belt armor, 8-inch turret armor
Crew: 700
Description:
The HMS Empress is a fictional pre-dreadnought battleship built in the late 1890s, serving as a reliable but slightly outdated member of the British fleet by 1914. It has the distinct feature of being a "hybrid" ship that blends the older pre-dreadnought concepts with more modern updates, making it an effective addition to the squadron despite being outclassed by newer dreadnought battleships.
HMS Leopard (Fictional)
Type: Armored Cruiser
Displacement: 14,000 tons
Armament: 8 x 9.2-inch guns, 12 x 6-inch secondary guns
Speed: 22 knots
Armor: 9-inch belt armor
Crew: 750
Description: A powerful armored cruiser, the Leopard is designed to hunt down raiders and engage enemy criuisers. Its heavy 9.2-inch guns make it a formidable force in fleet actions, while its speed allows it to keep up with faster ships. The Leopard serves as a crucial secondary vessel in the squadron, supporting the flagship and scouting for enemy ships.
HMS Courageous (Fictional)
Type: Heavy Cruiser
Displacement: 7,500 tons
Armament: 6 x 7.5-inch guns, 8 x 4-inch guns
Speed: 26 knots
Armor: 6-inch belt armor
Crew: 550
Description: The Courageous is a fast, heavily armed cruiser designed for reconnaissance and acting as a fleet's "screen" to detect enemy movements. Its role at Coronel is to identify enemy positions and act as an intercept ship against any smaller German vessels.
Type: Heavy Cruiser
Displacement: 7,500 tons
Armament: 6 x 7.5-inch guns, 8 x 4-inch guns
Speed: 26 knots
Armor: 6-inch belt armor
Crew: 550
Description: The Courageous is a fast, heavily armed cruiser designed for reconnaissance and acting as a fleet's "screen" to detect enemy movements. Its role at Coronel is to identify enemy positions and act as an intercept ship against any smaller German vessels.
HMS Vanguard (Fictional)
Type: Light Cruiser
Displacement: 4,000 tons
Armament: 12 x 6-inch guns,
Speed: 27 knots
Armor: 4-inch belt armor
Crew: 450
Description: A nimble light cruiser, the Vanguard is tasked with scouting, reconnaissance, and providing light support fire in engagements. Her relatively lighter armor makes her faster but vulnerable to heavier enemy fire. Equipped with modern communications equipment for faster coordination, Vanguard is the eyes and ears of the squadron, capable of quickly engaging enemy destroyers or assisting in long-range fire support.
Type: Light Cruiser
Displacement: 4,000 tons
Armament: 12 x 6-inch guns,
Speed: 27 knots
Armor: 4-inch belt armor
Crew: 450
Description: A nimble light cruiser, the Vanguard is tasked with scouting, reconnaissance, and providing light support fire in engagements. Her relatively lighter armor makes her faster but vulnerable to heavier enemy fire. Equipped with modern communications equipment for faster coordination, Vanguard is the eyes and ears of the squadron, capable of quickly engaging enemy destroyers or assisting in long-range fire support.
HMS Falcon (Fictional)
Type: Light Cruiser
Displacement: 5,500 tons
Armament: 10 x 6-inch guns
Speed: 25 knots
Armor: 4-inch belt armor
Crew: 450
Description: Falcon is a light cruiser equipped with a powerful array of 6-inch guns for engaging enemy destroyers, cruisers, and light ships. Its role is as a scout and in providing anti-submarine and anti-torpedo protection to the main battleships. It would often engage in harassment and disruption of enemy lines, striking in a fast-moving hit-and-run style.
Type: Light Cruiser
Displacement: 5,500 tons
Armament: 10 x 6-inch guns
Speed: 25 knots
Armor: 4-inch belt armor
Crew: 450
Description: Falcon is a light cruiser equipped with a powerful array of 6-inch guns for engaging enemy destroyers, cruisers, and light ships. Its role is as a scout and in providing anti-submarine and anti-torpedo protection to the main battleships. It would often engage in harassment and disruption of enemy lines, striking in a fast-moving hit-and-run style.
Tactics
The squadron, commanded by a fictional admiral, Admiral Edward Somerset, would employ a standard British tactic of the era, relying on the heavy firepower of the flagship while supporting it with the faster, lighter vessels, which would scout and provide protection against torpedo boats. The cruisers would serve as the screen, engaging German light ships and searching for enemy movements. Destroyers would provide close support, ensuring no enemy would approach the heavier vessels without facing significant opposition.
The fictional British squadron, though stronger in some aspects, would face challenges against the well-coordinated German squadron, which includes the superior German armored cruiser. The battle would likely be a clash of maneuver and firepower, where the ability to scout and respond quickly could determine the outcome.
The Suez Flotilla
Commander Dudley Blunderclash
HMS Swift (Fictional)
Type: Light Cruiser
Displacement: 4,000 tons
Armament: 8 x 4-inch guns,
Speed: 27 knots
Armor: 4-inch belt armor
Crew: 450
Description: A nimble light cruiser, the Swift is tasked with leading the Suez Destroyer flotilla. Her relatively lighter armor makes her faster but vulnerable to heavier enemy fire. Equipped with wireless communications equipment for faster coordination,
Type: Light Cruiser
Displacement: 4,000 tons
Armament: 8 x 4-inch guns,
Speed: 27 knots
Armor: 4-inch belt armor
Crew: 450
Description: A nimble light cruiser, the Swift is tasked with leading the Suez Destroyer flotilla. Her relatively lighter armor makes her faster but vulnerable to heavier enemy fire. Equipped with wireless communications equipment for faster coordination,
HMS Weaver
Class: River-Class
Displacement: 1,000 tons
Length: 240 ft
Armament:
2 × 4-inch naval guns
4 × 21-inch torpedo tubes (2 on each side)
Crew: 85 officers and men
Description: The Weaver is a seasoned veteran of the Royal Navy, built in 1905. It has been stationed in the Red Sea for much of its career, patrolling the Suez Canal and maintaining a presence in the Arabian Sea. With a long history of service, it has seen a number of upgrades to its engine and armament over the years, but its hull still shows signs of wear from years of exposure to the harsh desert sun. It’s well-known for its speed and agility, allowing it to slip through the narrow waters of the Suez with ease, making it a reliable scout and raider.
HMS Trent
Class: River-Class
Displacement: 950 tons
Length: 235 ft
Armament:
3 × 4-inch naval guns
3 × 21-inch torpedo tubes
Depth charges (in case of submarine activity)
Crew: 90 officers and men
Description: The Trent was commissioned in 1904 and has long been one of the Royal Navy's most reliable destroyers. Stationed primarily at the southern entrance of the Red Sea, the Trent is well-known for its robustness and ability to withstand enemy fire. It has served in various conflicts and is often deployed as an escort for merchant vessels transiting through the Suez Canal. The ship has a slightly modified stern to accommodate extra storage for provisions when stationed in the more remote areas of the Red Sea.
Class: River-Class
Displacement: 950 tons
Length: 235 ft
Armament:
3 × 4-inch naval guns
3 × 21-inch torpedo tubes
Depth charges (in case of submarine activity)
Crew: 90 officers and men
Description: The Trent was commissioned in 1904 and has long been one of the Royal Navy's most reliable destroyers. Stationed primarily at the southern entrance of the Red Sea, the Trent is well-known for its robustness and ability to withstand enemy fire. It has served in various conflicts and is often deployed as an escort for merchant vessels transiting through the Suez Canal. The ship has a slightly modified stern to accommodate extra storage for provisions when stationed in the more remote areas of the Red Sea.
HMS Tees
Class: River-Class
Displacement: 1,050 tons
Length: 245 ft
Armament:
2 × 4.7-inch naval guns
4 × 21-inch torpedo tubes
Crew: 85 officers and men
Description: The Tees is known for its superior durability and its reputation for being “unsinkable” during its service in the Suez and Red Sea region. It’s often used for reconnaissance, anti-piracy operations, and as a protective screen for larger naval assets. While it may not be as fast as some newer ships, its heavily reinforced hull and improved engine make it perfect for long-range patrols and quick response to emergencies. Over the years, Tees has earned a fierce reputation as the guardian of British interests in the area.
Class: River-Class
Displacement: 1,050 tons
Length: 245 ft
Armament:
2 × 4.7-inch naval guns
4 × 21-inch torpedo tubes
Crew: 85 officers and men
Description: The Tees is known for its superior durability and its reputation for being “unsinkable” during its service in the Suez and Red Sea region. It’s often used for reconnaissance, anti-piracy operations, and as a protective screen for larger naval assets. While it may not be as fast as some newer ships, its heavily reinforced hull and improved engine make it perfect for long-range patrols and quick response to emergencies. Over the years, Tees has earned a fierce reputation as the guardian of British interests in the area.
The Flotilla, while older, has been kept in service due to their strategic importance in the region during the early 20th century, particularly given the critical nature of the Suez Canal as a vital link between Europe and Asia. Their role in protecting British shipping lanes and countering potential threats in the Red Sea and Arabian Peninsula is crucial to the narrative of this era.
Game One
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| HMS Vanguard contacts the enemy |
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| Vanguard makes contact |
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| The German CA and CL turn back |
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| They salvo |
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| Vanguard returns the salvo but is clearly turning away |
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| A pair of damage points. Vanguard loses a forward turret. |
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| I dice to make smoke, success and Vanguard steams south at 27 knots. |
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| The Germans steam northwest. Somewhere behind is an RN Squadron closing in. |
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