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.
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| I'm using Admiralty_Chart_No_8a The_Red_Sea Published_late 19th century. |
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| The central Red Sea |
The Bulōw and Hamlin, two German cruisers have fled into the Red sea to avoid a British squadron in pursuit.
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.
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| The Rendezvous at Shaka Island |
The Game
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| Hamlin is resupplying from a collier. Both German vessels at anchor. |
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| 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. |
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.
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| 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. |
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| Falcon sweeps closer to get a better look, but Bulōw's 8 inch guns will soon be in range. |
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| Falcon gets just a little too close |
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| Bulöw lands a critical. Falcon loses two turrets! Her speed is unaffected. |
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| Falcon shoots at extreme range with her rear turrets as she turns away. No hits |
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| A long shot emphasising that Falcon is running south. |
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| 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. |
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