Operational campaign plan.

[RAMjb]

Hi.

I'm about to re-start my campaign. After playing as germans for 5+months and not achieving too much, I just discovered I was playing with realistic settings off (meaning, british had good shells and weren't prone to magazine explosions). Now I understand why none of them BCs blew up in the only running engagement I got between hipper's squadron and beatty's

With a little bit of experience from the previous one, I've decided to do the following operations. And I want your opinion/ideas/suggestions.

I'll detach frauenlob from the HSF, give her squadron three DDs and move her to heligoland. The TB flotilla in Heligoland will move to Zeebrugge (the TBs based there are hopeless).

I'll detach all fast (27+ knot) CLs from the Scout Squadron and HSF, and use it as an independent command for fast minelaying in the areas east from Dover.

I'll detach both PD battle squadrons into separate task forces and give them two TB half flotillas each. These will sweep the channel off enemy forces up to southampton (don't scream yet, just keep on reading )

The 5BS, König class BBs, with their 23 knot speed, will be moved to Hipper's squadron. The idea is as follows: the BC squadron can't cope with the full british BCF. Ten to four odds are simply too much to stand, but adding the 5 battle squadron will increase odds to 8 to 10. With realistic settings on, that's a killer if beatty dares to engage it so that the squadron won't be able to run from the BCF is not an issue. And with 23 knots, the formation will easily outrun the Grand Fleet's heavy units.

The rest of the HSF will act as a fleet in being, idea being that it should -never- engage british forces. If they do, they probably will be in serious trouble (I simply don't trust the nassaus and Helgolands, too slow...and the Kaisers and rest of ships can act as backup for possible ships lost/damaged in the scouting squadron).


Opening moves will be rebasing the Frauenlob and dds to helgoland, the helgoland DDs to Zeebrugge, and doing a fast minelaying south of Harwich with the CLs which will be led by the Battlecruisers (the konigs will stay at home for that one, speed is key as I'm sure I'll find the harwich force somewhere in the north sea).

Then what I plan to do is to sail one of the PD squadrons and direct it towards the channel. Some hours later the scout squadron (plus Konigs) will set sail to do fast hit and run bombings on Lowestoff or Great Yarmouth, and finally the CL squadron (the faster one) will set sail for a futher minelaying operation between Dover and Oostende (trap for the british monitor squadron). The HSF will sail but stay at the southern channel of the minefield.

Zeppelins and U-boats will be sent to the SE approaches of rosyth and Scapa, to cover for the times when the GF and BCF sails.

The channel U-boats will patrol around Dover, and the minelayers will deploy mines near each important port of the zone.



The operational idea is that when the main operation is called, Room 40 will hear from a sortie by Hipper and Scheer's forces and warn the Royal Navy. The BCF and GF will go like mad for the scouting forces which will distract them using superior fighting against the BCF, and using superior speed against the GF, luring them away from the channel and into the North sea in the meantime.
The PDs and CLs will have a free hand, then, to fullfit their respective missions, receiving help from the destroyer flotilla now based in zeebrugge. With a bit of luck we will catch some of the transports running up and down the channel.

Upon returning to Wilhemshaven, the forces will be kept in reserve, repairing any damage, with the HSF ready for action (just in case someone shows up to hunt the patrols around the minefield channels). As soon as the forces are repaired and ready to go, rinse and repeat.

Opinions? Ideas?.

[Firestorm]

I agree with putting the Königs in with the Scouting Forces since I always do that. Just be aware that when you do that the BCF will run away when you encounter them.

I actually use the Scouting Forces to clear the Dover Straight. Keep in mind that if you use the German Pre-dreadnoughts instead to clear the channel. They are weaker than the Dreadnought and the British 'Wobbily Eight' Pre-dreads of the 3rd BS.

If you want to encounter the BCF right away. Send the Scouting Forces to bombard Hull. I always end up meeting them there.

[Rhetor]

I agree with putting the Königs in with the Scouting Forces since I always do that. Just be aware that when you do that the BCF will run away when you encounter them.

I wonder how many Königs make this difference. Maybe two of them might make the BCF fight?

[RAMjb]

thanks for the input, guys .

I don't mind the BCF running away from hipper's squadron. It's objective is to draw them and the GF away from the channel at the times the PDs and fast CLs are doing their stuff. If they present battle, all the better as they should be smashed. If they run away, they will still be running away...in the North sea, not the channel.

About the PDs being in danger from the 3rd BS, well, my first idea was to use the Nassaus and Helgolands there. But I recall reading bullethead somewhere that heavy units were restricted from operating south of Lowestoff because sand banks. I might be pulling reality a bit by using 14000 ton ships in the channel (something must be done to win there, given the assets the allies have in the area which can't be killed by a destroyer flotilla), but I don't want to do something completely unfeasible in real life as sending eight dreadnoughts down there. So I'll settle for the middle course and send the PDs .

Please keep input coming. This evening I'll launch the first operations (Mining by CLs escorted by the Scout Squadron), and then the fun will begin

[Hood]

I also use the fast c/ls for these sorts of missions - and used them on sweeps nth of Scapa to get amongst some of the AMCs ..... it is now May ,and the British BCF has been destroyed (10 ships to 2 of mine lost - one of these to an unlucky torpedo) courtesy of a night engagement with my HSF ... and have just chased down most of 3rd Battle Sqdn - only three more to catch - then will rest and repair for a month - was thinking of combining all & going for a big battle with G.F ...?

[LivingLegend]

My first action as the Germans is to seperate off the 4 BCs into their own group (to avoid unnecessary light ship casualties), and sail them at midnight of the first day for a bombard on Great Yarmouth.

This will allow them to meet the Brit scouting force at sunrise, with ever increasing visibility.

The result.....massive Brit CL and DD losses to start the campaign. I always group fire the BCs at their targets during this engagement. It's like shooting ducks in a barrel.

I did that again this past weekend, and had to be a little more cautious because of the torps, but still managed to sink 4 CLs and 8 DDs, with but some minor scratches on 2 of the BCs.

[rgreat]

Never leave port with anything less then a BC force, or 20+ light ships at once, and never area patrol with surface ships.
Or you will lose alot (or all of them) to subs.

Put all subs on permanet long range area patrol from Zebbugae. All British light reinforcements and AMC's will be wiped.
Mine carefully. Prefer sub minlayers for long range minefields.

Surface action: Usually you send ahead only BC force with light antisub escort and HSF lagging not too far behind (2-4 squares).
Or better keep HSF in port untill you kill British BC squad as active unit.
Never move HSF past channel or far to the North. You'll lose it.
HSF always must be able to outrun Grand Fleet for home minefileds if you encounter it.

1st: Wipe light forces around SE cost of England. You can use predreads as cleaners with BC's as heavy hit cover. You can also use HSF in this, but be careful about Grand Fleet. Return for full repair.

2nd: Wipe out channel forces (including Monitors). Usually i use BC only (can be 1-3 BC's wilth light escort to fend off subs). Return for full repair.

3rd: Wipe out British BC force. It can take several (3-5) tries. Return for full repair after each. Your ships must be always in perfect condition.
It is imperative that no BC is lost. To take on British BC's you must have ALL 5 german BC in battlegorup. Even 4 is already not enough.
It can be usefull to attach few fastest BB's to the battlegroup, but they will slow you down.

4th: Wipe out Scappa Flow AC's + light forces. Do not sail too far to the north. Try to make it with BC only, (or with fastest BB's help at the beginning of the night). AC+escort force will not engage if you bring too many ships at daylight. Immideatly run for home after battle. GF will be on your tail. Do a full repair.

5th: Optional but it will very much lessen your losses later. Try to sink some BBs from first battleroup (not GF itself). Be extra careful. Use BC only and attack only isolated group. Run if directly threatened by more then 4 BB's in battle with large force. Try to aviod 15'' battleships. Prefer medium range (10-12km). Return for full repair after each try you make.

6th: Decesive battle (or 2-3): Now you can bait with HSF and lure Grand Fleet close to your minefield for all availiable fleet to ambush them.
Usually it take 1-2 battles to sink most of GF off.
Use predreads (and 28cm BB's later if needed) as bait/sacrifice in battle to conserve heavy hitters. For me it is usually wise to get closer to brits due to shortage of ammo issues.
Predreads and BC's are best used against lighter armored targets (like armor rating 6-9 max).
Do not put BC's directly against main enemy battleline, and 14-15'' BB's.

Be careful and run back for base if you have less then 1/3 ammo left or damage starts to slow you down considerably.
GF will abandon pursuit when near offshore minefields.
You can use light forces to slow/distract grand fleet down and to broke their formation with torps.
Light forces are most likely to all die in process, but if you feel that you may lose several capitals it is good exchange.
Return for full repair. Repeat untill you kill them all.

Thats it, you win and i hope did not lose many capital ships.

[RAMjb]

Well , first operations have just happened.

2nd January, SG and CLS (Scouting Group and CL squadron) sortied to mine Harwich. To my enjoy they met Abdiel just W from the Ems channel, the 36 knot DDs were sent to deal with her and was sunk.
Given that the formation had been sighted very early after leaving wilhemshaven I called the operation off and returned hime.

4rth January, forces sailed again. They found the Harwich force midway, and they made a short work of it. No german losses, all the Harwich force but one CL and a handful of destroyers survived.

7th January the main operation was on. The PDs of the 3rd BS set sail towards the channel to do a sweep up to southampton before turning back, the CLS set sail to mine the dover straits, and the SG with the addition of the 5th BS set sail to bombard Lowestoff.

Bombard they did, covered by the dark. They then were instructed to move SE to give time to the CLs to return from the minelaying. As this happened, the SG again received orders to move NW to cover the CLS from any enemy coming at them from their northen arc.

And then it happened. some 2 and a half hours before sun rise, a line of four CLs was sighted to the starboard side of the SG, due to north. With the Harwich force spent, this only could mean beatty was nearby. The main line was ordered eastwards, The DDs were given orders to fall back behind the battle line (no DD in the van because whatever they were to find could outfight them). Soon the CLs were under 12 and 11 inch fire, and soon, too they were wrecked. But before this CLs had all sunk, another line of CLs was sighted, this time with destroyers aswell. With the eastwards course cut off by them, the german line was ordered to turn towards NW wile engaging the british cruisers.

All seemed to go well, but suddenly out of the darkness, came Beatty's pride, and several formations of destroyers. All four cats, in line formation, headed directly for the german battleline with a good number of destroyers in their van. There was no sight, however of any of the 12'' british BCs.

British light forces made a mess of the german line. Some torpedoes were witnessed with no hits, but my formation was all but scattered with german capital ship turning in all directions to avoid real and figured torpedoes. But even with all tactical cohesion lost, the british BCs were receiving a serious spanking. Lion and PR were repeatedly hit and set in sinking status. Tiger and QM also received serious damage and started listing.

Now BH's dictum of "the enemy is to be hit even when sinking" proved to be of worth here. Unfortunately I didn't follow it. As soon as Lion and PR were in sinking status, I concentrated fire to the other two cats, which were soon overwhelmed too receiving sinking damage...At this time, too, I caught glimpses of both Indefatigable and Invincible and put shells on both ships before they faded away in the dark.

However, the sinking yet still firing british BCs still were coming fast for the ships in the rear of the german column: Markgraf and König. With the line cohesion gone, the german capital ship line was now spread well over 5000 m, and while I was trying hard to get it together again, it was proving impossible. So when both Lion and PR came within 1000m of König and Markgraf, some of the german ships in the van already had no visibility on them and weren't able to assist in finishing them for good.

Being at only 900m, PR and Lion concentrated efforts on König. Volley after volley of 13.5'' shells smashed against the battleship's starboard side. I tried to turn her around so the unscathed port side could give her time to survive, but to no avail. She soon was in sinking status, and then was markgraf's turn.

Again, british close range fire proven to be deadly accurate (they were hitting multiple times with each volley even when they were alrady sinking...while my own shells didn't hit at that time too much), but markgraf's life was spared for the time being when the battlecruisers, which had returned as they could (there still was no resemblance of a cohesive line between them), started firing agaisnt the surviving british BCs, which were all of them wiped out for good.

A time for respite followed. Still with british light forces all around, the worst seemed to be well past. An assess of the situation followed: the 12'' BCs were stil nearby but out of view, the CLs and DDs in sight were no threat at that moment, so I tried to set a SE course and disengage with the four BCs well ahead of the 2 remaining BBs. Markgraf was seriously hurt, with 95% starboard flooding (50% permanent) and fire level 24, but DC was 110% so she could be saved. I slowed her down and attached Kronprinz and Grosser Kurfurst, which were mostly unscathed, for her protection. The BCs had varying damage levels, from almost none in Moltke to 60% (30% permanent) in von der Tann. Ammo levels were around 50% on most ships. Markgraf even with some propulsive power gone and massive flooding could do 11 knots, so I figured that reducing flooding could give her 15-16 knots, so I felt I had a good chance to flee away.

Then it happened.

first one, then two. then were four Armored cruisers coming out from the dark. This only could mean one thing, and that thing wasn't good. Even while two of the ACs were soon wiped out by the battlecruisers, sure enough, out of the decreasing darkness surged, plowing the seas at 21 knots, several british battleships. Neptune, Hercules, Colossus, Vanguard, Collingwood, St. Vicent, and Agincourt, several more ACs, and a collection of cruisers and destroyers.

At this moment I feared the whole bunch of the GF was there, thankfully it turned out to be not the case, and turned to be just one of the battle squadrons, seemingly operating independently.

However the situation was dire. The van battleship (Collingwood) standed only 4500m from the badly damaged Markgraf, and not much further than Grosser Kurfurst and Konig. The BCs were some 4000m from the battleships, so in the short run they were out of the immediate fight. I ordered them to return and form with the two almost intact BBs (by then they could steam at 22 knots) which were to leave Markgraf to it's own resources.

At this ranges, I could expert the worst. And the worst started to happen. Under immediate fire of the two van BBs in the british line (Collingwood and Neptune), Markgraf's damage control attempts to save the ship were soon over, and the ship was soon in sinking condition. I had expected this to happen but what I didn't was what followed: british fire was switched from Markgraf to Grosser Kurfurst. This time three BBs were firing (visibility was increasing and my two BBs were still accelerating to top speed), and GK started receiving hit after hit. Losing speed fast, she was caught by all the rest, and succumbed in the slugfest.

At this time the german battlecruisers arrived the scene to join with the now alone König, and opened up over the british battleships. At that moment I had five damaged ships to fight seven intact british battleships, one of them the much feared at short ranges Agincourt. I knew Invincible and Indefatigable were in the surroundings aswell, which could mean that the rest of the 12'' BCs were lurking nearby too. My only idea was to flee in any way I could, but thankfully things were to go another way.

I didn't expect it to happen (none of the BCs had gone down that way), but in five minutes, three british BBs had blown up. Neptune first, later Collosus, then St Vincent, all were hit by german shells and all were down in a blast of fire. Collingwood was heavily hit aswell, and was down to heavy damage status. Suddenly odds were from 7 to 5 down to 4 to 5, and one of the british ships badly mauled.

I, then, decided that to flee to the most promising escape route (west to northwest) wasn't worth it, because I would have to fire with rear turrets only, and because probably this was the most probable direction where the GF would be at (I was under no illusions I had already met the full british force). So I ordered a turn change to south-by-southwest instead, and fire full broadsides until we disengaged. The german DDs (which had been recalled to do a death ride against the BBs if needed ,to let the big units flee), were ordered to turn around and steam away aswell.

Led by Kronprinz, crossing the british T and with a distribution of fire that left Agincourt as the target of Derrflinger and Seydlitz, the battleline did an oustanding job. Collingwood, already damaged, was beaten to hell until she sank, and the much feared Agincourt soon was also heavily damaged. Hercules and Vanguard fared quite better, received a few hits each and never passing the light damage level. In return Seydlitz and Derrflinger each received serveral shell hits but none of them was in worrying state (worst was Seydlitz with 35% port side damage, the british being on the german's port side)

Not sooner than Agincourt had sunk, when I was already licking chops with the idea of finishing the two remaining british battleships aswell, and now with the sun raising, a sighting report was received on derrflinger (rear guard of the german line). A !ueen elizabeth battleship had been sighted northwest at a range of 20000 yards!. This could only mean one thing ,and sure enough, the rest of the grand fleet was soon sighted aswell, formed in a line, steaming towards us at 20 knots. Dozens of destroyers and more cruisers were also sighted. And finally the 12'' beatty's BCs were under full view aswell (except Indefatigable which was only 18000 yards away. they, surprisingly, were 25000 yards due east, and steaming north)

This ended my idea of going for more. Enough was enough. Konig, after the couple hits she had sustained in the fight vs the british battleships, could steam at 21 knots. Still enough to try and disengage. König, being the lead ship of the formation, was at 23000 yards from the GF's van battleship (Barham, IIRC). But Derrflinger was immediately under combined 13.5 and 15 inch fire.

A fast check to ammo levels let me even more worried, ammo levels for most operative turrets (one had been lost each in von der tann and Derrflinger) were around 30-40 shells each. So, ordering a ceasefire (holding ammo for later hypotetical emergencies) I turned the whole formation south, and let von der Tann take the lead at 24 knots. Kaiser stepped aside at 21 knots, already out of british range, and formed behind Derrflinger once she was past her. In the meantime Derrflinger was hit three times, two by 15'' guns and once by 13.5'', but her top speed was still 24 knots and had no serious damage at all. Vanguard and Hercules kept firing for a while, but no more hits were sustained.

So, steadily winning distance over the Grand Fleet, and with the british BCs not following, I was able to disengage for good. Just after reaching the campaign map I set RTB orders for all my formations (I feared the worst for the PD line which was still around dover), and managed not to get engaged by the GF or BCF again. The SG and CLs sailed into Wilhemshaven the following night escorted by the rest of the HSF which had sailed to wait for them at the Ems channel, and the PDs also made it back to port safely (a surprise, I expected teh whole GF to fall down upon them with a vengeance)

Final tally: Germans lost 3 Konig class BBs: König, Grosser Kurfurst, Markgraf, and three destroyers (which were either hit by the first CLs or later when hte DD line moved a bit too close to a british AC).

British lost: Lion, Princess Royal, Queen Mary, Tiger, St Vincent, Neptune, Colossus, Collingwood, St. Vicent, and Agincourt. The four most powerful british BCs, plus four of not-so powerful 12'' battleships, and the famous "turret Farm", Agincourt.

The british also lost 3 Armored cruisers, at least 8 (lost the count in the confussion of the night fighting, could be more) light cruisers, and a good deal of destroyers (don't ask me, I don't know, but final tally of lost ships said the british had lost 58 ships, so do the math...). All in all a costly victory (I've lost 3 of my best battleships, after all), but a victory none the less.

Repairs must be done, and given the state of von der Tann and Derrflinger (the two most damaged BCs) I doubt the SG will make it out to the sea before late february or early march the soonest. But with the most powerful part of the BCF out of the fight for good until Repair and Refit come online in late summer, I think very good times are about to come for the german battlecruisers .

Any idea on how to exploit this victory?.

[LivingLegend]

Sortie the channel.

[RAMjb]

Sortie the channel.

That was unfeasible with heavy forces historically. I'll do it with PDs, still it's pushing history a bit too much, but at least I won't be "gaming the game" as much as if I sent the whole HSF down there .

I was asking more about what to do with the german BCs now that I can operate more or less safely with them in the North Sea (other than smashing what's left of the BCF, of course).