Part 16: 19:05 - 19:20
Ordersquote:
Friendrich der Große: New Heading 180, maintain speed. Target closest enemy ship.
3. II Squadron: Link up with the lead ship of this damn formation, Friedrich der Grosse!
5.III Squadron: Course: The Markgraf, and the Kronprinz, and the Grosser Kurfurst are to maneuver as necessary to reform the battleline. The Konig is to make course 135 degrees at maximum speed.
Targeting: The Markgraf, and the Kronprinz, and the Grosser Kurfurst are to fire on the BB Ajax. The Konig to is disengage from battle and fire in self defense only.
Damage Control: The Konig is to exercise maximum possible damage control that can be maintained without negatively impacting speed.
I Scouting Group : Steer a parallel course with the enemy BCs, match speed, shoot them with current fire distribution order.
II Scouting Grp: Adjust course to 110, maintain speed. As far as possible attempt to run parallel to British battleline, whilst staying out of range of enemy battlecruisers. As always, if any enemy destroyers get within the effective range of our guns engage, but let's not tangle with anything larger than our cruisers.
Rostock turns to meet up with the main fleet again.
2.IV Scouting: Turn NNW, engage the group of enemy ships ahead of us to the west. Try and get a better look at the ship types we're facing.
3.IV Scouting Group come about 90° to the port this time, and MAINTAIN FULL SPEED AHEAD!
5.IV Scouting Group : Turn 210 Degrees and speed up to 20 knots. If a Destroyer falls within 2000 metres (or is it km?) than I want my cruiser to open fire and the destroyer to launch a torperdo as well as open fire.
10.V Half-Flotilla Bring us to heading 320, maximum speed We can't do much more at this time, so we need to join the main battle.
19:05
We finally get lucky, and the Monarch is hit and explodes a few seconds after I unpause the game after giving orders.
A few seconds later we get the report that the cruiser Rensburg and its destroyer escort has disengaged, leaving the main fleet to their fate. This display of cowardice will not go unpunished once the ship returns to port.
19:06
Our luck turns sour almost immideatly, as the Markgraf its struck by three 1400lb shells at once and also explodes.
Like the Monarch, the crew of the Markgraph have a scant minute to abandon ship, and hundreds will not make it, especially as the ship quickly begins to roll as she sinks.
19:07
The Tiger lists 5 Degrees to starboard, but still refuses to sink. These British battle crusiers are made of stern stuff.
19:08
The Queen Elizibeth ships, now close to reforming with the main force, sink the S24 in an unven fight.
19:12
The German battleships, so proud two hours ago, down struggle to turn south as the British fire rains down amoungst them.
Of course the damage is not one way, spotters report a major fire raging near the central turret of the Centurion.
The Von Der Tann is struck, and starts taking on water at an alarming rate, damage control teams are rushed to try and put out the fires and control the water on this stricken ship.
Panicked radio reports come in that 67% of the ship is ablaze as the guns stop and every spare man is put into action.
19:14
The Centurion is hit three times in succesiion, and the Ajax turns north. Could they be realigning for a better shot? Or have I been underestimating the damage done to their line? Has Jellico decided to call off the battle rather than risk losing more ships?
19:16
The turn to the north confuses the British line somewhat, as the Orion continues on the original course.
19:18
The Damage to the Tiger seems to be fatal.
An 8 degree list is something that will be hard to come back from, and it has increased by three degrees in the last 11 minutes.
19:19
The Rostock has sailed in front of the Queen Eliziebeth Battleships, and taken several hits, but she seems to be taking them well.
Here are the maps for this turn.
Messages
2.IV Scouting to Scheer:
In contact with light forces SW of battle line. Engaging.
Scheer to (fleet):
ALL UNITS DISENGAGE TO THE SOUTH AT MAXIMUM SPEED
Scheer to (all):
HSF DISENGAGING TO REFORM LINE AND PREPARE FOR NIGHT ATTACK ALL LIGHT UNITS IN CONTACT ASSUME POSITION TO SHADOW ENEMY MAIN BODY
Scheer to (IV. Scouting Group):
DON'T GET CUT OFF FROM BASE YOU CAN EXPECT NO HELP FROM HSF IN CURRENT SITUATION
II Scouting Grp to I Scouting Grp:
BATTLECRUISERS INDEFATIGABLE AND NEW ZEALAND ON NORTH-EASTERN FRINGE OF ENEMY SCREENS, HEADING 130. THEIR GUNNERY SEEMS RATHER GOOD TODAY. DISENGAGING WHILST ALL SHIPS INTACT.
Lost Messages
5.III Squadron to Scheer:
Konig disengaging at maximum speed on course 135. Request scout asset cover if heavily engaged.
5.IV Scouting to II Scouting grp:
Thanks for the heads up. Will change direction and play with destroyers instead
Hmm, things are turning a little sour at this point, the massed guns of the British fleet are causing damage to almost all of our ships, and they have more ships, we trade battleships this "turn" and the main fleet begins to turn south.