Part 17: 19:20 - 19:35
Ordersquote:
Friedrich der Große: Maintain heading, reduce speed to 15 until the rest has caught up with us and reformed the line, then increase to 18. Target closest enemy battlecruisers once they come in range. I need an update on damage taken by FDG and ammunition remaining on the ship.
4.III : Okay, so I'm taking my ships and heading south.
5.III: The Konig is to change course to 180. The Kronprinz and Grosser Kurfurst are to make a course as to intercept her at maximum speed. Engage any targets of opportunity.
1.IV Scouting Group : make heading due south, flank speed
4.IV Scouting Group : Left turn to 135, maintain speed. Engage enemies who come into range
with guns only, no torpedoes.
5.IV Scouting Group : Follow Scheer's orders and disengage, immediate turn 90 degrees and make all due haste away from the battle fleet. Don't engage in any firefight unless I have a decent chance of hitting, again hit biggest thing first.
I Scoutng Grp : Von der Tann is to veer away onto a course 135 and make for the Horns Reef channel (that is, retreat off map, Horns Reef being the closest swept channel to Wilhelmshaven) at best possible speed. Derfflinger, well, not going to win 2 on 1 so:
Is Tiger the contact to my NW? If so, has it fired at all recently?
If that contact is not a threat to Derfflinger, then it will come about to 315 and make 23 knots in an attempt to cross another T.
If that contact is a threat to Derfflinger, maximum speed, alter to 160 until engagement is within 1,000 yards of my maximum range, then steer a parallel course.
II Scouting Grp : Maintain course, slow to 20 kts. Turn away to port at maximum speed if engaged by anything more substantial than a light cruiser.
1st Leader of the Destoyers : Oh God run away! I move down south as per my orders full speed.
19:21
I have no idea what Jellicoe is planning, he seems to be forming his ships into some form of stockade - either that or he plans to try and pass his battle line through itself.
The only ship not following the course is the now crippled Centurion - who we can only hope sinks before she makes it back to a British port.
1.I and 2.I Squadrons make their turn south, as I have not had any orders off their Captains in a while, I have them follow Sheers orders. All these ships are lightly or moderately damaged.
19:23
The Ajax breaks up the British line with her crazy maneuvering, all this is buying time for our ships heading south.
19:24
The damage to the Konig is now nearly critical, and the Kronprinz is forced to abandon her and make her own way south or face the same fate.
19:26
The Kronprinz signals that she is sinking, her crew begin abandoning ship, the reports give her eight minutes before she goes down. The Konig is not listing 8 degrees, and she is likely to follow before the day is out.
19:27
Seconds later reports come in from the Von Der Tann that her crew to are making for the lifeboats.
The British fleet seems to have settled on a northward course, although I cannot be sure yet if it is just the battle line or the whole fleet, as Jellico may still wish to finish off our crippled ships with his destroyers, rather than risking any more capital ships.
17:30
The Hamburg, now facing the bulk of the British destroyers and two battle cruisers, is quickly and severely damaged.
They can at least confirm that the bulk of the British destroyers are heading westwards.
19:32
Listing at 13 degrees, the Tiger still refuses to go down.
Then again, the Konig and her 10 degree list is also staying afloat, abet at 2 knots speed.
19:34
The Kronprinz slips beneath the waves.
And the Konig's crew begin to abandon ship.
There is now only 55 minutes until sunset.
The British line has once more begun to turn south, but it seems that they did not expect our own maneuver. We now have 15km between the tail of the British line and our own tail end ships, and with an hour to go, there is a good chance that we could slip away into the night - there are still three battle cruisers to deal with down there however.
After nearly four hours of battle, even our battle status is advising running away.
Messages
Scher to (all):
ALL UNITS REPORT STATUS DAMAGE AND AMMUNITION
Sheer to (HSF):
ENGAGE AND DESTROY ENEMY BATTLECRUISERS WHEN IN RANGE
4.IV to Scheer: MOVING AROUND EASTERN SIDE OF ENEMY LINE, TRYING
TO REJOIN MAIN FLEET. BATTLESHIPS ARE HEAVILY SCREENED FROM THE
NORTH. SAVING THE TORPEDOES FOR LATER.
5.IV Scouting Group to Scheer:
Over and out, making all due haste away from enemy line. Will keep HSF informed of any developments.
Lost Messages
II Scouting Grp to Scheer:
LEAD ELEMENTS OF ENEMY BATTLELINE TURNING AWAY NORTHWARDS IN RELATIVELY GOOD ORDER. ACKNOWLEDGE ORDER TO SHADOW ENEMY FLEET.
Oh dear, its all gone wrong, the massed British fire has been a lot more accurate than historically (although my settings are default, before anyone asks) and our ships have suffered the one thing they should never have been put into position to take - the broadsides of the entire Grand Fleet!
The turn south now makes this a race, can we get far enough ahead of the British to vanish into the coming night?
Only time will tell....