I just have to share this report on a naval battle I had happen tonight while playing Italia in HOI3. I have the beta 1.3 patch and the game is so far performing extremely well.
War has just broken out. I have been adopting an aggressive strategy with Italy and have successfully modernised much of its army and navy.
I noticed a naval engagement on the western shores of Italy and slowed the game right down to carefully watch each hour of the engagement. What a showdown and what an absolutely amazing naval battle!
My cruiser force has closed and sunk the pride of the French fleet, the carrier Bearn!!! Yes, it can be done in HOI3. And not just by battleships, by cruisers!
The following is my interpretation of the events I watched unfurl before my eyes within the HOI3 naval combat system. I interpreted things like strength, organisation damage, air attack and even my own failure to command a nearby air unit in ways that made most sense to me with some casual knowledge of WW2.
I have not played this battle to its end as I must go to bed and continue with modding work for HOI2 tomorrow. I hope this is still fun for you all to read.
=====================
Italian Fleet of 4a Squadra di Marina under Commander Ciano vs an unknown French Carrier Group under Vice Admiral Darlan himself.
Italian Ships:
Two Trento class heavy cruisers Trento and Trieste.
Three Di Giussano class light cruisers Alberico da Barbiano, Alberto da Guissano and Armando Diaz.
Two Leone class destroyers of 16a Flottiglia Torpediniere. (I interpret a flotilla as 2 DDs based on a post I read about costs of ships.)
French Ships:
French carrier Bearn with full air complement.
Three destroyer flotillas, total six French destroyers, of 1ere, 2eme, 3eme Flotille des Contra-Torpilleurs.
Italian Relief Fleet of 2a Squadra di Marina under Rear Admiral Iachino.
In neighbouring sea zone on intercept orders.
Italian Relief Ships:
The Zara class heavy cruiser Bolzano.
The heavy cruiser Marco Polo, new construction and pride of the Italian Fleet, one of the most modern cruisers in the world.
Three Montecuccoli class light cruisers Duca d'Aosta, Muzio Attendolo and Raimondo Montecuccolio.
Two modern and deadly Maestrale class destroyers of 2a Flottiglia Torpediniere.
Naval bomber wing with interceptor escorts of Aeronautica Sardegna under Lt General Ricci
On naval bombing patrol in Skerks Channel to the south of Sardegna.
BATTLE EVENTS
23:00 9 May
- Surprise contact between fleets at night. Mild weather conditions, partial cloud cover.
- Cover Air Patrol from the Bearn begins strafing attack on Italian picket destroyers, made difficult by the darkness.
- Bomber strike ordered onboard the Bearn and planes prepared, despite pilot protests over difficult navigation at night.
- Two French destroyers engage Trento. Minor gunfire damage which causes great confusion amongst the unprepared Italian crew.
- Panic sets in when ship's bridge takes a direct hit from a destroyer shell killing many senior officers including the captain.
- Trento crew begins firing wildly in the dark. Later analysis shows lack of pre-War training major contributor to panic.
00:00 10 May
- French destroyer groups continue valiant surface action against Italian heavy cruisers, closing at high speed.
- They launch torpedo attacks. Italian heavy cruisers Trento and Trieste evade through blind luck by changing course during the attack.
- Close range gunnery between fleets. French carrier at 40km range away.
- Italian cruiser guns begin to find range on the closing French destroyers, causing damage.
- Unengaged French and Italian DDs steaming at flank speed towards gunfire flashes spotted in distance.
- Carrier bomber wing finds Italian light cruiser Alberto da Guissano which is damaged by a bomb.
- Carrier planes return to Bearn for rearming despite loss of several aircraft due to missing the carrier deck in the darkness.
- Relief fleet of 2a Regio di Marina under Rear Admiral Iachino with some of Italy's most modern warships, received radio communique.
- They begin to steam towards battle zone at high speed.
01:00 - 02:00
- Bearn begins steaming towards its screening destroyers. Post battle analysis shows this to be a grave mistake.
- Fire from Italian light and heavy cruisers starts to decimate French destroyers.
- Several French destroyers sighted and engaged at long range while they hunt for targets, taking hits without knowing where their opponents are.
- Confusion in the night as ships engage, manouever then lose contact in the darkness. No ship is equipped with the new technology called RADAR.
- Many attacks are happening at 1km range and less in the wild melee of ships.
- Second air attack launched from the Bearn.
03:00
- Carrier air wing unable to find Italian targets at night and returns to carrier without effect.
- Two submarine flotillas of the Royal British Navy enter combat zone after receiving French radio signals on Allied frequencies.
- Initially over 110 km away from battle, they make best speed surfaced aiming to pick up survivors and finish Italian damaged ships.
- Bearn now within main gun range of the Italian cruiser Trento which is still engaged with French harrassing destroyers.
- Trento still suffering lack of co-ordination and most main gun shells already expended.
- French destroyers mauled by Trieste and the Italian light cruisers. Italian destroyers also in the fight now.
04:00
- Bearn launches fresh air attack hunting for the nearby Italian ships.
- Italian light cruisers Alberto da Guissano and Armando Diaz report expenditure of all main ammunition stores.
05:00
- Trento sights French carrier in the faint pre dawn light and ranges in with main guns.
- Italian lieutenant who has taken charge immediately orders a blistering salvo of all turrets using remaining ammo.
- Which ranges in perfectly first salvo! Italian shells smash across the deck and hull of the Bearn, causing catastrophic damage!
- Italian cruisers Trieste and Alberico da Barbiano join in some time later.
- The Bearn is onfire and listing badly, dead in the water as her engines fail. Repeated gunfire smashes into her.
- French destroyers are burning or limping away, one is sinking. They can do nothing to help.
- French carrier air wing locates the Italian destroyers of 16a Flottiglia Torpediniere. Air attacks badly damage the DDs.
- Italian DDs report they are badly damaged, in no state to continue operations, and request return to port.
06:00
- The Bearn, with a massive hole in one side, tilts and capsizes, spilling burning fuel, men and twisted wreckage into the sea.
- The final shells causing her demise are attributed to the Trento. Lieutenant Giuseppe Gorgonzola is awarded a medal and promoted later.
- French aircraft depart, fate unknown as they have no carrier to land on.
7:00
- British submarines close and engage Italian fleet, launching several torpedo attacks at long range.
- These are easily avoided by the Italian warships which are still moving at speed and spot the torpedos in the daylight.
- Remaining French DDs scatter to try and evade detection and destruction. Game of cat and mouse commences.
- Relief fleet 2a Squadra di Marine enters battle zone at long range.
- The Aeronautica Sardegna command of the Regia Aeronautica under Lt Gen Ricci launches normal dawn patrol to the south of the island of Sardegna.
- Air command remains blissfully unaware of fierce naval combat in neighbouring sea zones.
- Future analysis indicates an ongoing and serious lack of co-operation between Italian military service arms.
08:00
- Dispersed Italian heavy cruisers, hunting for targets without DD escort, stumble across British submarines but evade torpedo attacks.
- Italian light cruiser Alberico da Barbiano engages British submarines, spotting them with its catapult launched sea planes.
9:00 - 10:00
- Alberico da Barbiano continues to hunt submarines. Nearby destroyers unable to assist due to fires in engine room and other damage.
- Italian heavy cruiser Trento reports expenditure of main ammunition stores.
- 4a Squadra di Marina under Commander Ciano is given the order to retreat due to heavy damage to ships.
- Fleet is unable to withdraw yet. Several ships undergo submarine torpedo attacks which are dodged without effect.
- Assistance being rendered to damaged ships. Crewmen being rescued from the sea.
- Confusion in chain of communication later found to contribute to lack of timely withdrawal.
11:00
- Several French submarine packs enter area of the battle en masse. The single largest gathering of submarines in the world to date.
- CL Armando Diaz reports that it has expended main ammunition stores.
- 4a Squadra di Marina is again ordered to withdraw. Ships begin cautiously steaming to their home port of Napoli. (In game they are still engaged. This is just my rationalisation.)
- Progress is slow as they are passing through waters infested with a large number of hostile submarines.
- Italian naval attack wing of Aeronautica Sardegna finally ordered to intervene in battle zone.
- Regia Aeronautica command reluctantly agrees to help speed up the resolution of the messy battle.
- Ongoing battle ensues with cat and mouse manouevers between all units seeking to escape and hunt remaing French DDs and British and French submarines.
=====================
Here is a video salute to the pride of the Regia Marina.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaXt8Oz9H4U&feature=related
Vincere e Vinceremo!
War has just broken out. I have been adopting an aggressive strategy with Italy and have successfully modernised much of its army and navy.
I noticed a naval engagement on the western shores of Italy and slowed the game right down to carefully watch each hour of the engagement. What a showdown and what an absolutely amazing naval battle!
My cruiser force has closed and sunk the pride of the French fleet, the carrier Bearn!!! Yes, it can be done in HOI3. And not just by battleships, by cruisers!
The following is my interpretation of the events I watched unfurl before my eyes within the HOI3 naval combat system. I interpreted things like strength, organisation damage, air attack and even my own failure to command a nearby air unit in ways that made most sense to me with some casual knowledge of WW2.
I have not played this battle to its end as I must go to bed and continue with modding work for HOI2 tomorrow. I hope this is still fun for you all to read.
=====================
Italian Fleet of 4a Squadra di Marina under Commander Ciano vs an unknown French Carrier Group under Vice Admiral Darlan himself.
Italian Ships:
Two Trento class heavy cruisers Trento and Trieste.
Three Di Giussano class light cruisers Alberico da Barbiano, Alberto da Guissano and Armando Diaz.
Two Leone class destroyers of 16a Flottiglia Torpediniere. (I interpret a flotilla as 2 DDs based on a post I read about costs of ships.)
French Ships:
French carrier Bearn with full air complement.
Three destroyer flotillas, total six French destroyers, of 1ere, 2eme, 3eme Flotille des Contra-Torpilleurs.
Italian Relief Fleet of 2a Squadra di Marina under Rear Admiral Iachino.
In neighbouring sea zone on intercept orders.
Italian Relief Ships:
The Zara class heavy cruiser Bolzano.
The heavy cruiser Marco Polo, new construction and pride of the Italian Fleet, one of the most modern cruisers in the world.
Three Montecuccoli class light cruisers Duca d'Aosta, Muzio Attendolo and Raimondo Montecuccolio.
Two modern and deadly Maestrale class destroyers of 2a Flottiglia Torpediniere.
Naval bomber wing with interceptor escorts of Aeronautica Sardegna under Lt General Ricci
On naval bombing patrol in Skerks Channel to the south of Sardegna.
BATTLE EVENTS
23:00 9 May
- Surprise contact between fleets at night. Mild weather conditions, partial cloud cover.
- Cover Air Patrol from the Bearn begins strafing attack on Italian picket destroyers, made difficult by the darkness.
- Bomber strike ordered onboard the Bearn and planes prepared, despite pilot protests over difficult navigation at night.
- Two French destroyers engage Trento. Minor gunfire damage which causes great confusion amongst the unprepared Italian crew.
- Panic sets in when ship's bridge takes a direct hit from a destroyer shell killing many senior officers including the captain.
- Trento crew begins firing wildly in the dark. Later analysis shows lack of pre-War training major contributor to panic.
00:00 10 May
- French destroyer groups continue valiant surface action against Italian heavy cruisers, closing at high speed.
- They launch torpedo attacks. Italian heavy cruisers Trento and Trieste evade through blind luck by changing course during the attack.
- Close range gunnery between fleets. French carrier at 40km range away.
- Italian cruiser guns begin to find range on the closing French destroyers, causing damage.
- Unengaged French and Italian DDs steaming at flank speed towards gunfire flashes spotted in distance.
- Carrier bomber wing finds Italian light cruiser Alberto da Guissano which is damaged by a bomb.
- Carrier planes return to Bearn for rearming despite loss of several aircraft due to missing the carrier deck in the darkness.
- Relief fleet of 2a Regio di Marina under Rear Admiral Iachino with some of Italy's most modern warships, received radio communique.
- They begin to steam towards battle zone at high speed.
01:00 - 02:00
- Bearn begins steaming towards its screening destroyers. Post battle analysis shows this to be a grave mistake.
- Fire from Italian light and heavy cruisers starts to decimate French destroyers.
- Several French destroyers sighted and engaged at long range while they hunt for targets, taking hits without knowing where their opponents are.
- Confusion in the night as ships engage, manouever then lose contact in the darkness. No ship is equipped with the new technology called RADAR.
- Many attacks are happening at 1km range and less in the wild melee of ships.
- Second air attack launched from the Bearn.
03:00
- Carrier air wing unable to find Italian targets at night and returns to carrier without effect.
- Two submarine flotillas of the Royal British Navy enter combat zone after receiving French radio signals on Allied frequencies.
- Initially over 110 km away from battle, they make best speed surfaced aiming to pick up survivors and finish Italian damaged ships.
- Bearn now within main gun range of the Italian cruiser Trento which is still engaged with French harrassing destroyers.
- Trento still suffering lack of co-ordination and most main gun shells already expended.
- French destroyers mauled by Trieste and the Italian light cruisers. Italian destroyers also in the fight now.
04:00
- Bearn launches fresh air attack hunting for the nearby Italian ships.
- Italian light cruisers Alberto da Guissano and Armando Diaz report expenditure of all main ammunition stores.
05:00
- Trento sights French carrier in the faint pre dawn light and ranges in with main guns.
- Italian lieutenant who has taken charge immediately orders a blistering salvo of all turrets using remaining ammo.
- Which ranges in perfectly first salvo! Italian shells smash across the deck and hull of the Bearn, causing catastrophic damage!
- Italian cruisers Trieste and Alberico da Barbiano join in some time later.
- The Bearn is onfire and listing badly, dead in the water as her engines fail. Repeated gunfire smashes into her.
- French destroyers are burning or limping away, one is sinking. They can do nothing to help.
- French carrier air wing locates the Italian destroyers of 16a Flottiglia Torpediniere. Air attacks badly damage the DDs.
- Italian DDs report they are badly damaged, in no state to continue operations, and request return to port.
06:00
- The Bearn, with a massive hole in one side, tilts and capsizes, spilling burning fuel, men and twisted wreckage into the sea.
- The final shells causing her demise are attributed to the Trento. Lieutenant Giuseppe Gorgonzola is awarded a medal and promoted later.
- French aircraft depart, fate unknown as they have no carrier to land on.
7:00
- British submarines close and engage Italian fleet, launching several torpedo attacks at long range.
- These are easily avoided by the Italian warships which are still moving at speed and spot the torpedos in the daylight.
- Remaining French DDs scatter to try and evade detection and destruction. Game of cat and mouse commences.
- Relief fleet 2a Squadra di Marine enters battle zone at long range.
- The Aeronautica Sardegna command of the Regia Aeronautica under Lt Gen Ricci launches normal dawn patrol to the south of the island of Sardegna.
- Air command remains blissfully unaware of fierce naval combat in neighbouring sea zones.
- Future analysis indicates an ongoing and serious lack of co-operation between Italian military service arms.
08:00
- Dispersed Italian heavy cruisers, hunting for targets without DD escort, stumble across British submarines but evade torpedo attacks.
- Italian light cruiser Alberico da Barbiano engages British submarines, spotting them with its catapult launched sea planes.
9:00 - 10:00
- Alberico da Barbiano continues to hunt submarines. Nearby destroyers unable to assist due to fires in engine room and other damage.
- Italian heavy cruiser Trento reports expenditure of main ammunition stores.
- 4a Squadra di Marina under Commander Ciano is given the order to retreat due to heavy damage to ships.
- Fleet is unable to withdraw yet. Several ships undergo submarine torpedo attacks which are dodged without effect.
- Assistance being rendered to damaged ships. Crewmen being rescued from the sea.
- Confusion in chain of communication later found to contribute to lack of timely withdrawal.
11:00
- Several French submarine packs enter area of the battle en masse. The single largest gathering of submarines in the world to date.
- CL Armando Diaz reports that it has expended main ammunition stores.
- 4a Squadra di Marina is again ordered to withdraw. Ships begin cautiously steaming to their home port of Napoli. (In game they are still engaged. This is just my rationalisation.)
- Progress is slow as they are passing through waters infested with a large number of hostile submarines.
- Italian naval attack wing of Aeronautica Sardegna finally ordered to intervene in battle zone.
- Regia Aeronautica command reluctantly agrees to help speed up the resolution of the messy battle.
- Ongoing battle ensues with cat and mouse manouevers between all units seeking to escape and hunt remaing French DDs and British and French submarines.
=====================
Here is a video salute to the pride of the Regia Marina.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaXt8Oz9H4U&feature=related
Vincere e Vinceremo!
