Red Sea Game 4.

The Last Fight.

With Bulöw struggling after boiler damage her speed is too low to evade the pursuing British heavy cruisers, Leopard and Couragous.

The Battleship Empress, much slower is pushing her own boilers to catch up but will require an EDNA roll to appear on the table edge.

I'm using Admiralty_Chart_No_8a The_Red_Sea
Published_late 19th century

Bulöw
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)

Hamlin
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The HMS Empress is a fictional pre-dreadnought battleship built in the late 1890s, serving as a reliable but slightly outdated member of the British fleet by 1914.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 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.

HMS Falcon (Fictional)
Type: Light Cruiser
Displacement: 4,000 tons
Armament: 10 x 6-inch guns, of which 6 are operational.

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.  

The Game

Courageous and Leopard join Falcon.  They are overhauling the Germans because of Bulöws boiler damage.

The Germans turn, bringing their main Armament to bear.

The BB. HMS Empress waiting in the wings.

The British heavy cruisers turn adjacent, but are straddled.

The German salvos are ineffective.

It's at Medium range now.  The Germans struggle to hit.

But Courageous scores.  Boilers on Bulöw again.  Her speed drops to less than five knots.  Things are getting critical.  Leopard knots out a turret on Hamlin.

The Heavy Cruisers stop Bulöw in her tracks and she goes down by the stern.

HMS Empress comes on table.

Falcon captures the German collier.

Hamlin circles back and makes full steam southwards.  The British heavy cruisers are too slow to catch up.  With Falcon off capturing a merchantman only the Battleship can hit Hamlin.  Its a single dice roll and Empress scores double one! 

The odds were poor but a double one!  Empress gunners need more training!

Hamlin races south making smoke.

And Empress shows her age.  Having overextended her boilers I roll a damage check and discover she is now crippled.  Looks like Hamlin escapes.

1914 Red Sea Game 3

The Rendezvous off Shaka Island

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 initially diverted to the north east believing that the Germans were heading to Mesopotamia to disrupt Imperial operations against the Turks.  

It is now known that the Germans headed into the Red Sea, perhaps to strike at the Suez Canal.  British cruisers are now in pursuit from the south.

I'm using Admiralty_Chart_No_8a The_Red_Sea
Published_late 19th century.

The central Red Sea

The Bulōw and Hamlin, two German cruisers have fled into the Red sea to avoid a British squadron in pursuit.  

Bulöw (fictional)
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)

Hamlin (fictional)
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.

The Rendezvous at Shaka Island

The Game

Hamlin is resupplying from a collier.  Both German vessels at anchor.

HMS Falcon (played by Bristol in this game) finds the German cruisers.  Falcon is well armed but no match for both Germans.  An action dice is rolled and her Captain decides to run past the Germans and attempt to force them out.

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. 

Falcon works up to full speed.  Her advantage is a few knots more than the enemy.  She is of an older pre torpedo type but has ten six inch guns, and a reasonable armour belt.

Falcon sweeps closer to get a better look, but Bulōw's  8 inch guns will soon be in range.

Falcon gets just a little too close

Bulöw lands a critical.  Falcon loses two turrets!  Her speed is unaffected.

Falcon shoots at extreme range with her rear turrets as she turns away.   No hits

A long shot emphasising that Falcon is running south.

Falcon gives the Germans a lot of distance.  Missing two turrets she resumes her shadowing role.  The rest of the Squadron is closing in on the Germans.

1914 Red Sea: Game two

A Force of destroyers, led by the light cruiser HMS Swift of the Suez Flotilla, has been dispatched southwards, escorting a small convoy.  This is straight into the path of the Bülow and Hamlin.

The chart I'm using.

Battle in the deep channel of the Bab el Mandeb

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, 

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
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.

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.

Bulöw
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)

Hamlin
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

The Game

HMS Swift leads the convoy.  HMS Weaver scouts out front.

The convoy

With a liner as a troopship

Hamlin and Bluőw appear in the straits

Weaver is bracketed almost immediately 

Weaver is damaged but fires torpedoes.

The convoy turns, making smoke.

Weaver (Tees here) manages her turn making smoke.

Weaver's torpedoes strike and damage Bulõws bows.

Hamlin draws fire from Swift as she come in range.  A lucky hit.

Swift is targeted by the Germans

And Swiftbis hammered with critical.  She is on her way down.

Bulõw takes the last fire from Swift.

Trent and Tees come into range and fire torpedoes.

The spread misses.  Close though.

The Germans line up on the smoke obscured Destroyer line.

And the danger of getting near destroyers is made clear.  A spread launch.  Its at long range and the Germans turn away.

The German turn allows the destroyers to head back north at flank speed.  With Bulöw damaged the convoy is saved and the cruisers in pursuit of the Germans will be closing in.