The initial staring positions - the Russians are on the left whilst the Japanese are on the right. The two sides were using a similar cruising formation, concentrating the heavier units in the centre with the lighter cruisers deployed as a screen. The Russian formation was more compact than that of the Japanese.
The Russians. The protected cruiser Oleg leads the Aurora in the centre column, flanked by the Izumrud on the port side and the Jemchug on the starboard.
The Japanese. Similarly to the Russians the central column consists of the protected cruiser Kasigi closely followed by the Chitose and flanked by the Niitaka on the starboard side and the Tsushima on the port.
Vice Admiral Dewa Shigeto, aboard his flagship, the protected cruiser Kasigi, observed the approaching Russian squadron with deep satisfaction. His orders were to scout ahead of the main bulk of the fleet and to sweep aside any Russian opposition. The expectation was that their most likely opposition would be cruisers and so when four columns of smoke were sighted in the distance he was confident this would be the case. As the distance between the two forces closed so the expectation was confirmed - four protected cruisers, two large and two smaller. The two larger cruisers were tentatively identified as the Oleg and the Aurora with the smaller being the Izumrud and the Jemchung. He was aware that the two big Russian cruisers could outgun his command - despite the range advantage his eight guns conferred - but he knew the calibre of his commanders and their crews and so was confident that they would prevail. The potential cost of a victory was something he would dwell upon later but for now there was a battle to fight. Vice Admiral Dewa Shigeto, and every man under his command, would do their duty, with honour, and make their ancestors proud.
Aboard the Russian cruiser Oleg the first reaction upon sighting the fast approaching Japanese cruisers was one of surprise. Captain 1st Rank Leonid Dobrotvorsky, commander of the Russian scouting group, was not expecting to meet any Japanese ships this early in their patrol. He, and most of the crew under his command, were secretly hoping for a ‘clean sweep’ - no enemy contact but with orders executed fully. When the composition of the Japanese force became clearer he allowed himself to relax a little. Four ships, for the most part they looked similar to his own command. No matter, he thought as he felt confident in the firepower that the Oleg and the Aurora could bring to bear. He was secretly relieved that the two larger Japanese ships did not appear to be armoured cruisers - there were far too many of them to deal with - so he ordered his ships to increase speed and close the range with the enemy formation as soon as possible.
Aboard the ships of both sides the crews sweated and cursed whilst bringing the guns to readiness until all fell silent, with just the incessant thrum of the engines vibrating throughout the ships, the swish of the waves and the clipped orders of the officers the only sounds being heard. The atmosphere was uniformly tight and filled with both apprehension and expectation. It would not be long.
Turn 1. Both sides seemed to a similar plan in that their screening ships headed in the opposite direction to the heavier units. The Russian Oleg and Aurora (the top two ships on the left)attempted to head off the the Japanese Kasigi and Chitose (the top two ships on the right) and at this stage the Russian flagship did not expect to come under fire.The two opposing commanders were seemingly of one mind as the two forces simultaneously split into two separate elements heading in opposite directions. Fortuitously the split meant that both sides would be facing their opponents equivalent ship types - heavier against heavier and lighter against lighter. The two large Japanese ships, Kasigi and Chitose possessed a crucial advantage though, in that they were both armed with a pair of 8” guns - one fore and one aft and it was those that opened fire first. All four 8” guns targeted the leading Russian cruiser, the Oleg.
Eight inch shells from both the Kasigi and the Chitose quickly found the range to the large Russian cruiser and after a forest of shell splashes all around her came the ominous rumbling crump with flashes of sparks and black, soot-like smoke indicative of multiple hits. In short order two starboard six inch guns were knocked out along the starboard side and the hull was heavily damaged. Mercifully, her engines were unaffected but being unable to reply with her artillery due to the range was a bitter pill to swallow for Captain Dobrotvorsky - his close range advantage had, in one fell swoop, been removed.
Vice Admiral Shigeto, his face an impassive mask, was inwardly delighted with efficient way the Russian cruiser had been pounded at range. Now it was time to administer the coup de grace. With little time to lose he ordered his two cruisers to a complete one hundred and eighty degree turn. The Kasigi was still completing the manoeuvre when the looming bulk of the Russian flagship approached off the starboard bow. The ensuing broadsides from both ships as they passed harkened back to the age of sail with the guns fired as soon as they could bear. Confusion reigned supreme on both ships as shot after shot wreaked havoc on the decks and in the hulls - ear-splitting explosions, the screech of tortured and twisted metal, the cries of the wounded and the shouting of orders. Miraculously, despite having most of her artillery destroyed, the Kasigi was still able to steam unimpeded. Not so the Oleg.
Captain Dobrotvorsky knew that the ship has taken a fearful battering - guns dismounted and the ominous sight of twisted bulkheads and water appearing everywhere it was not supposed to. A wounded sub lieutenant, his head sporting a bloody bandage, made his way onto the wreckage of the bridge and confirmed the news. The ship was flooding.
Turn 2 - The North. Kasigi and Chitose boldly swung around one hundred and eighty degrees and so the Japanese flagship was now broadside on to their Russian opposite number and at point blank range! A fusillade of 6” guns from the Russian flagship - the Oleg - battered the Kasigi and knocked out her main guns - fore and aft - followed by the complete starboard secondary broadside. Her hull also suffered extensive but fortunately not heavy damage. The Kasigi was not to be outdone though. Both her main guns missed but her secondary and tertiary batteries certainly made up for it. The combination of rapid firing artillery, close range and a large target meant that shot after shot struck home - eight hits in all meaning that a critical hit was also inflicted. Of the eight hits inflicted five of them were flotation hits with the odd three being two secondaries and a tertiary gun. The critical hit was a telling one though - a roll of 5 meaning a flood
Turn 2 - The South. The Russian Jemchung and Izumrud fell in with the Japanese Tsushima (leading) and her sister, Niitaka. Both the Russian ships opened fire at the rearmost Japanese cruiser - the Niitaka - and scored a couple of hits. Both Russian ships launched torpedoes but failed ignominiously in the attempt (two rolls of 1!). The two Japanese ships then pounded the Jemchung into scrap and she was soon in a sinking condition.
Turn 2 - The North. Meanwhile, following their one hundred and eighty degree turn, the Kasigi, with the Chitose following closely behind, proceeded to engage the Oleg at point blank range (the white markers represent hits, the black is for a critical).
The Kasigi suffered nine hits in all and the scores you see above were the location rolls. The three 6s took care of both main 8” guns and a flotation point, the four 5s took care of the three secondary guns with a flotation point. The single 1 was also a flotation point. Whilst the Japanese ship lost most of her starboard artillery, the Russian was less fortunate as her hull took the brunt of the damage, with telling effect.
The situation for the Russian squadron was grim and it was about to get worse. The Jemchung was sinking by the bows (her roll of 6 meant that it would take six turns before she slipped beneath the waves) and the Oleg had, alongside all her other damage, a flood to deal with. The dice roll of 6 meant that it was uncontrollable and so she to would sink. To add insult to injury, her sinking roll was also a 6 meaning it would take six turns for her to go under.
Turn 3 - The South. With the Jemchung sinking, her sister ship, the Izumrud, chose discretion rather than valour and immediately head away from the action. The Tsushima and the Niitaka did not pursue.
Turn 3 - The North. The Kasigi, heavily damaged, headed away to join up with the Tsushima and Niitaka who would act as an escort for the battered flagship. Meanwhile the Chitose sped around the sinking Oleg and fired a parting shot with her aft 8” at the rapidly departing Aurora, inflicting minor damage on the Russian as she did.
Vice Admiral Shigeto was pleased. His flagship was heavily damaged but sinking not one but two Russian cruisers was a tremendous result. His ancestors would be pleased as he had done his duty with honour. He ordered the Kasigi to break off and rejoin the remainder of the squadron. He also signalled to the Chitose to disengage and rejoin. It had been a good day.
Captain Dobrotvorsky knew the ship was doomed but she showed little sign of disappearing quickly. The remaining ship’s boats were being lowered and the wounded transferred to them. The scene was orderly and disciplined. He mused over his plan and thought that but for the 8” guns of his adversary the outcome could have been very different. Such were the fortunes of war.
So What Did I Learn Then?
I really enjoyed this brief but highly contrived action! The rules worked well although I will think about firing again. I am happy with the ranges and damage etc but I would like to streamline it further if I can. Having said that, when ships get up close and personal the resulting fireworks display will tend to be impressive as anything and everything that can bear and shoot will join in the fun. This definitely feels correct for the pre dreadnought period.
All in all then, a great way to spend a couple of hours and it has certainly given me much to think about and to take forwards as the rules develop.
