Part 10: 17:35 - 17:50
As you are so close together now, I'm going to treat you as a single fleet from now on.Orders
quote:
Main Fleet - Remain on heading.
2.IV : Scouting will turn together to WSW at the division's best speed in company.
3.IV Scouting Group : All ships reverse course, get into position and launch torpedo attacks against QE-class battleships.
5.IV : Scouting Group : Full speed ahead,
10.VI : Continue ahead towards the Northern end of the battleship line. If we reach that end of the line, reduce speed and wait. When the fleet changes course, we will be making the turn with them.
12.VI : G37 is to maintain current speed (34 knots), turn to bearing 045, avoid contact with but keep the Grand Fleet in sight
17.IX Half-Flotilla: Turn bearing to 175.
18.IX Half-Flotilla: Come about in succession to 020, form up to screen to west of main battle line.
I Scouting Group: Turn to 090, make speed 26 knots but trim down if I'm going to run into the tail-end of the battle-fleet (I calculate I won't but it was very back of envelope). If I pass the end of the battle-line this round, then new course of 005. I believe I am now out of range, so check fire.
II Scouting Grp : Adjust heading to 000, maintain speed at 27 kts. Cease firing, resume if enemy cruisers come within range of 10km or less.
17:35
Quiet pervades the battlefield (?). Ships become to move to their new heading, and every one waits for the mighty fleets to come into range once more.
18.IV Half-Flotilla becomes to come around for another attack of the British Battle cruisers.
17:36
The British shoot at the fleeing battle cruisers, but they are out of range now, and the shots are kilometers short.
17:37
The G37 comes under fire from the lead ships of the British battle line.
17:40
More ships come into sight of the battle line, these seem to be the Queen Elizabeth class battleships, with the Barham well in the lead of the other ships.
17:44
She continues to report the enemy ship locations and take fire from what seems to be the entire British fleet!
17:47
This only lasts for a short time however, as she is quickly hit by a large caliber shell and sinks in seconds. The last of 12.VI Half-Flotilla sinks beneath the waves.
The last thing the captain see's is the appearance of the enemy destroyers, but he has no time to signal their presence before he is forced to jump into the sea.
17:50
The Battle cruisers reach the end of the British line safely. The range to the British battleships drops to 22km, but the weather prevents our battleships from opening fire.
Here is the current map for the fleet.
Group1 =
Group 2 =
Separate report for 2nd leader of Destroyers
Its very quiet out here, although you can hear the did of battle you can no longer see any ships but the enemy.
Messages
G37 to Scheer:
MY CURRENT POSITION APPROX 38 KM TO YOUR 345. LEAD ELEMENTS GRAND FLEET APPROX 20 KM TO MY 345. CONFIRM 23 BB SPD 35KM/H
Scheer to (Fleet):
EXECUTE TURN IN SUCCESSION TO 270 UNLESS TURN TOWARDS ENEMY STARTED BY THE TIME YOU RECEIVE THIS MESSAGE
II Scouting Grpto Scheer:
ENEMY BATTLELINE CURRENTLY NW OF YOUR POSITION HEADING 150. COURSE CHANGE TO 300 AS PER LAST MESSAGE APPEARS FRAUGHT WITH PERIL.
If we were just thirty Kilometers or so to the west then we would be in a great position to cross the British T, as it is, a turn will need to be made.
This is a lull period, the battle cruisers have disengaged, but the main forces have yet to come into contact, and while it may be quiet, it won't last for long.