Proudpole at the horn, 1914

It's 1914 and Admiral Sir James Proudpole and the South Atlantic Squadron have tracked a German Commerce raiding squadron to cape horn.  

Game 1

The Canopus Convoy

Game 2

Around the Cape

Game 3

Port Stanley

The Canopus Convoy

The Venerable HMS Canopus, an obsolete 12 inch gun battleship, relegated to Convoy duties.

And the slow old girl is leading the van.

But the Germans are out!  Prinz Adalbert, a heavy cruiser, and Bremen a light cruiser.

Prinz Adalbert leads her faster consort.

Sighting at 12000 yds.

Canopus confronts the German cruisers whilst the convoy scatters.

But Canopus' firing is poor.  Really poor.

Whilst the German fire is effective.

Canopus is straddled.

The rangefinders from Canopus remains poor.

And the Convoy begins to hope it may escape, even the slow Collier.

Penetrative fire strikes through Canopus armour belt.  It's a critical hit, and the old girl begins to list.

But fire control on Adalbert is consistently efficient.  Another hit.

Canopus hits back in a fluke shot, but it turns out to be a dud.  Nothing going the Royal Navy's way today.

But the Germans take note that Canopus fire has them ranged.

Adalbert strikes back with another pair of hits.

And even SMS Bremen's lighter guns cause damage to the old battleship.

HMS Canopus begins to sink by the bow, and her engines fail.  Her guns fall silent.

The Germans steam past the wreck.  Bremen pulls ahead with her superior speed as the Germans hunt down the Convoy.

It's not a great start for the RN.

Game 2

Around the Cape

Four Royal Navy Cruisers under Admiral Sir James Proudpole confront the German squadron off Coronel.