Part 7: 16:50 - 17:05
Orders Receivedquote:
Main Battle Fleet
Destroyer screen slow to 18 to avoid advancing too far from the battle line.
Heading for fleet remains 005 and speed 18.
ManifunkDestiny on Stettin designated Commander IV. Scouting Group
Scouting 2.IV turns to 005 true and speed 18 knots.
4.IV Scouting Group - Course 315, speed 23 knots. Engage closest enemy if we reach
effective range
5.IV Scouting group 000;18 Knots;Shoot
3.IV Scouting Group München continue firing on best available target. S54 move into torpedo range of Lion, but do not fire yet.
I Scouting Group
Turn to PORT (=away from the enemy battlecruisers), TOGETHER (I'm not hanging around here), 16 points (180 degrees, reverse course, whatever), and make best possible speed (ie 26 knots if I can, which is unlikely). Continue firing at enemy BC, switching Derfflinger to Lion; switch Von der Tann and then Moltke to the QEs as they come into range, when that happens switch Derfflinger to Tiger.
II Scouting Group
Turn to heading 050, maintain speed at 27 kts, concentrate fire on Duke of Edinburgh.
12.VI Half Flotilla
Maintain 27 knots. Turn to bearing 015.
17IX Half flotilla, turn bearing 280, speed 30knots
II Flotilla : Wiesbaden to come to course 055, 27 kts, firing at closest oncoming British Cruiser. DDs capable of making 30 kts should steer 053 and fall in behind Wiesbaden, slowing speed once rendezvous made. Engage targets of opportunity freely. Other DDs (slow damaged ones) should turn to 090 and make best speed possible.
11.VI Half-Flotilla Orders :Launch all torpedoes at the closest battlecruiser, go to flank speed and initiate evasive maneuvers
16:50
Things do not look good for the 11.IV half flotilla.
16:51
The Seydlitz is hit by two 13.5inch shells simultaneously, and rapidly begins sinking.
The second German Battle cruiser to be lost in less than ten minutes. The British have found their range, and there is defiantly something wrong with out ships.
We have our range as well, as the Von Der Tann hits the Tiger with her guns.
16:55
The torpedo attack on the Queen Elizabethans (?) has disrupted their formation, but they are reforming on a westerly course.
The Mast of the Moltke is damaged, but nothing to serious. The Lion still refuses to go down, but is now listing at a seven degree angle.
16:57
The destroyers of II Flotilla continue to get pounded by the British Battleships, and the B111 is the next of our ships to begin sinking.
17:00
The fighting has slowed in pace now, as most of the enemy ships are out of optimal range, the QE ships take only occasional shots at the destroyers, the II scouting group is closing on the Canterbury with intent to engage, and the only real shooting is occurring amongst the ships engaged with the British Battle cruisers.
The Moltke is the next German ship to be hit, this takes out one of her 15cm guns.
17:01
The Lion is hit once more with heavy caliber shells.
She now has a 9 degree list, and that's not going to get any better. In fact, a few seconds late the spotters on board the Derfflinger report that she is sinking, although it may take 25 minutes for her to go down.
17:03
The destroyers of the Second Leader have a bad time amongst the Battleships of the Royal Navy.
Two of them begin to sink within seconds of each other.
17:04
The 12.VI Half-flotilla is now down to just the G37, and no more enemy ships have appeared to the north.
Here is your map.
For II Flotilla and 12.IV
To the north, just in your sights, comes a new threat.
The Grand Fleet of the Royal Navy is in sight.
16:53
The line is a bit ragged, but it'll do, any more alterations will now cause trouble, everyone is on course 005 and 18knts. All we can do now is wait for the lead elements to get into range.
17:00
Over an hour into the engagement, and our Battleships have yet to see the enemy fleet. But your spotters report that there are now only three ships in Hippers line of battle.
17:05
Oh dear, things are going poorly. This is the first time I've seem two German ships blow up like this in short succession. The scouts to the north can only see a mass of fleeing smaller ships and a few armored cruisers moving south, at this time, a simple change of course half an hour ago could have lead to our battle line laying into the enemy battleships, rather than being twenty kilometers to their east.
The effects of limited information are now becoming apparent.
Messages
Scheer to Hipper:
YOU HANDLE THE BCs, I WILL HANDLE THE QEs; WHICH SHIP JUST BLEW UP?
Scheer to Stettin :
YOU ARE IN COMMAND OF IV. SCOUTING GROUP ENEMY BATTLESHIPS EXPECTED SOMEWHERE TO YOUR FRONT GO FIND THEM AND RADIO POSITION BACK TO ME
Scheer to Fleet:
WE ARE LOOKING TO ENGAGE ENEMY BATTLESHIPS FIRE ON TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY IF SITUATION ALLOWS DO NOT LEAVE FORMATION FOR IT
12.VI to Hipper, 2nd Leader of Destroyers
HAVE SIGHTED ENEMY ARMORED CRUISER HEADING 180. AM ATTEMPTING TO AVOID CONTACT AND CONTINUE HEADING 015
I Scouting to Wiesbaden, II Scouting Group ENGAGE EASTERN ENEMY SCOUTS. BATTLECRUISERS MOVING TO ASSIST BUT MAY NOT ARRIVE FOR A WHILE. NOT PLAYING WITH BEATTY ANY MORE.
Lost Messages
4.IV to Stettin
INCREASING SPEED TO 23 KNOTS, COURSE 315. SEEM TO
HAVE DROPPED BEHIND, MOVING TO ENGAGE. REQUEST FURTHER ORDERS.