Part 20: 20:05 - 20:20
quote:
Orders
Friedrich der Große : change heading for the home port and maintain speed of 18 knots. Target whatever is still in range and flying the wrong (i.e. British) flag.
3. II Squadron orders: All ships no longer capable of making 18 knots turn to homeport! Rest of you sauerkraut munchers turn in line to 090! Let's put some distance between us and the enemy.
I scouting Grp : Turn to 135, best speed if fuel isn't an issue, target that cruiser as and when it comes in range.
II Scouting Grp: Orders: I want to try to get a closer look at those ships breaking off northwards to the north west of the British main fleet. Turn to port and come to heading 280, speed 20kts. Try to get us close enough to the (circa) four ships/flotillas heading northwards to identify their type and speed.
9.IV Half Flotilla : Head straight east, full speed, for the full 15 minutes.
10.V Half-Flotilla : Change heading to 045, and bring us back to the Battleships. We'll work to rejoin the battle line.
13.VII Half Flotilla: Maintain speed and heading.
20:05
The British battle line pull into range of our rearmost ships, and begin to rain fire on them.
the Westfallen is hit quickly, and her propulsion is damaged.
20:07
The Orion quickly sinks, adding another ship to our tally.
20:10
The V28, somehow separated from the rest of the 17.IX half-flotilla, is pounded by a whole squadron of British Destroyers.
She quickly begins to sink under the storm of shells.
20:12
The 3.II Squadron makes their turn, and crosses through the ships of the 4.II Squadron.
Somehow, these two squadrons have yet to take any damage during the battle!
20:13
The bulk of 17.IX put themselves between the 2.I Squadron and the British ships, attempting to shield the larger ships from the enemy fire.
In the distance, the rest of the fleet, making 18 knots, slowly pulls off into the distance.
20:20
The next seven minutes is filled with ineffectual firing, although the trailing ships of the 2.I Squadron take a few more hits.
I should tell you that the only ships reporting low ammunition at the 3.II squadron and the Derfflinger.
Main Fleet:
II Scouting:
Messages
Friedrich der Große to (all):
PALADIN 5 YOU ARE IN COMMAND LAST REPORTED WORDS OF SCHEER WERE BRING THE MEN HOME
1st Leader of the Destroyers :
Taking command, All forces to retreat, Best Wishes to I Scouting Grp.
II Scouting Grp: to Scheer and 2.IV Scouting:
AM CURRENTLY NE BRITISH FLEET. HEADING WNW TO INVESTIGATE ENEMY CONTACTS BREAKING AWAY NORTH. ENEMY SCREENS REMAIN REAR OF BATTLELINE, PURPOSE UNCLEAR OR NON-EXISTENT.
Running away is going fairly well, and we even up the rolls with the sinking of the Orion. But the tail ships are damaged, and only making 10 knots.