Ventis Secundis, HMS Hood at War

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Ventis Secundis, HMS Hood at War​

What follows is the tale of the HMS Hood, the United Kingdom's greatest Battle Cruiser, during World War II. Our story starts on September 1, 1939, when Adolf Hitler invades Poland, and war is declared with the Allies. The game is Doomsday 1.2, Very Hard/Normal. The story also follows the other BB's and BC's of the RN.

The HMS Hood is the one and only Battle Cruiser (BC3) of the Admiral Class, built at the end of WWI. 3 sister ships were planned, but were cancelled when World War I ended. She was the largest BC ever built. To be fair, she has the size, armor, and guns of a Battleship, so the BC designation is a bit of a misnomer.

The Hood launched on 22 August 1918 and was commissioned on 15 May 1920. Under WWII outfitting, she displaced 48,360 tons under a full load. 860 ft long, 29 knots top speed, 8 15-inch guns in the main batteries. She was the largest capital ship of the UK at the start of the war.

As a comparison:

Queen Elizabeth class BB (5 in service, BB2's): 33,000 tons, 645 ft long, 24 knots, 8 15-inch guns.
Revenge class BB (5 in service, BB2's): 31,000 tons, 624 ft long, 21 knots, 8 15-inch guns
Nelson class BB (2, BB3's) 38,000 tons, 710 ft long, 24 knots, 9 16-inch guns
King George V class (2 in production, BB4's): 44,460 tons, 745 ft long, 28 knots, 10 14-inch guns.

 

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The Navy at the beginning of the War​

Listing the Battleships and Battlecruisers of the Royal Navy

The entire Royal Navy. Though, half of the CL's and 10 DD's are immediately scrapped because they are Level 1- slow and weak.

3 CV4's are in production, as well as a couple of sub's and destroyers that I'll finish. No other new production for now, since the armed forces need a massive amount of upgrade and reinforcement.

 

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i guess the Hood wont go down by the guns of the Bismarck! nice start!

 

[KiMaSa]

Looks intiguing. I see you left Renown and Repulse off the list. Historically one ship from each class was lost in action.(... Minus the Nelson class...) I hope the RN and especially the Hood fare better in your reality!

 

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The War Begins​

Personal Message
September 4, 1939
To: Vice Admiral James Fownes Somerville
From: Admiral Dudley Pound, First Sea Lord

James,

You've received your official orders. I wanted to congratulate you personally on getting command of Force A. The Hood's the best ship in the Navy, she'll be a jolly good flagship. You'll be a heavy gun group, with the Battleships Nelson, Royal Oak, Royal Sovereign, Queen Elizabeth, and Valiant under your command. We're giving you the CL's Aurora, Glasgow, and Sheffield and the 9th, 10th, and 13th Destroyer divisions.

Vice Admiral Cunningham is commanding Force B with 4 BB's and 2 BC's and escorts, Vice Admiral Phillips has command of Force C with 3 BB's, 3 CA's and escorts. I'm taking command of our Carrier group, with a goodly number of CA's as backup.

As you've heard, I've replaced Sir Backhouse as First Sea Lord. He was more indirect that the Admirality was wanting, and my push for Decisive Battle was looked on favorably. We have 2 BB's and 3 CV's in production now. We desparately need some modern Destroyers in the fleet, and that's a priority for me. The Government's working on a lot of Industrial and Air Doctrines. Hopefully I can get some Improved Destroyers in the queue soon, and maybe some CVL's to do some spotting for you. We have blue prints for the DD's from our allies, so that should be quick.

Godspeed,

Dudley

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NEWSFLASH
September 14, 1939
Poland collapses! The Hun has defeated our ally and split the spoils with the Soviets.
Germany turns their eye on France. Will the Maginot line hold? Turn to page 4 for more!

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ORDERS
September 15, 1939
To: Vice Admiral Somerville,

Proceed with Force A at best speed to Iberian shelf.
Patrol for suspected German surface convoy raiders in the area.

 

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Looks intiguing. I see you left Renown and Repulse off the list. Historically one ship from each class was lost in action. I hope the RN and especially the Hood fare better in your reality!

Good point.

Renown and Repulse are: 32,000 tons, 794 ft long, 31 knots (!), 6 15-inch guns

And, I certainly hope she doesn't fall to the Bismarck. Germany hasn't finished it yet, so we'll see. HMS Hood is going strong so far though.

 

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The Battle is Joined​

BATTLE REPORT

To: His Majesty and Admiralty House
From: Vice Admiral Somerville

September 19, 1939,

1500 hours.
On patrol in the Madeiran Approaches HMS Sheffield spies the KMS Scharnhorst, KMS Gneisenau, and KMS Admiral Hipper unescorted and signals the Task Force.
I turn to close with my battle line and send my escorts out to scout the position of the enemy.

1600 hours
The Scharnhorst finds the range on the HMS Sheffield, hitting the CL with a 3 11-inch shells, destroying her power plant. The Gneisenau likewise ranges on the 13th destroyer squadron, crippling 2 DD's.

Sending the escorts in was a costly decision, but it was certainly the right one, as the the 10th DD's find the KMS Schleswig-Holstein, KMS Schlesien, and 3 German DD divisions approaching my flank and join in the battle.

1700 hours
Scharnhorst sinks the HMS Sheffield, and Gneisenau finishes off the 13th DD division, turning away from my battle line at their top speed along with the Admiral Hipper. I order my Battleships to turn to the enemies second group, as they cannot close the range on the faster German Battlecruisers. I take the HMS Hood and the Force's escorts and pursue the German main group.

The Queen Elizabeth destroys half of an ancient German destroyer division, while the Valiant hits the Schleswig-Holstien's conning tower, effectively taking the equally ancient BC out of the battle.

1800 hours
The Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, and Hipper turn into my escorts and heavly damage the light cruisers Aurora and Glasgow and the 9th destroyer division. The Hood hits the Admiral Hipper with one shell, but only takes out some secondary armaments. I must pull my escorts back and I slow pursuit with the Hood. In the battle on the flank, The Nelson and Royal Oak join with Queen Elizabeth in attacking DD's, whith the Valiant lands another hit on the Schleswig-Holstein, putting a large hole in her side. KMS Schliesien rakes the Valiant for some superficial damage.

1900 hours
The German DD's lay smoke and the enemy withdraws. Nelson finishes off the damaged DD division. The battle is won, but with little to show of it, though I do suspect the enemy is withdrawing from raiding to regroup, so the convoy defense goal is a success.

2000 hours
With my escorts in disarry, I have set course for Plymouth to repair and refit.

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september 19th my birthday! maybe the Hood might be able to sink the Deutschland or Graf Spee! (youre playing the 1939 scenario right? )

 

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Raeder is spotted​

ORDERS
September 23, 1939
To: Vice Admiral Somerville,
Detach damaged CL Aurora and CL Glasgow and 9th DD.
CL Achilles, CL Ajax, CL Manchester, 2nd DD and 3rd DD assigned to Force A.
Agree HMS Valiant damage superficial.
Force A to proceed to patrol Celtic, Iberian shelf and points south for surface raiders and to sight U-boats.

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CONTACT REPORT
To: His Majesty and Admiralty House
From: Vice Admiral Somerville

November 6, 1939
Encounter 2 U-boats in Gulf of Cadiz. Unable to engage. ASW patrol vectored in too late. Confirm that Capital ships are approximately useless against subs.

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Personal Message
November 21, 1939
To: Vice Admiral James Fownes Somerville
From: Admiral Dudley Pound, First Sea Lord

James,

Naval bombers on patrol over the Faeroes gap spied 3 Battlecruisers, 5 Cruisers, and 11 smaller ships sailing south. Intelligence believes Admiral Raedar in charge. This looks like their everything they've got, and under their best leader too. We're deploying Force A, Force B, and the Carrier group to hunt for them. Force C is in reserve in the English Channel.

We've deployed 23 divisions in France under Generals Gort and Alanbrooke. They're along the Belgish border digging in. I don't think Sir Ironside thinks much of the chances of a successful defense. With only 3 Int's, air superiority is a dream, and sorely needed.

General's Dill and Wavell are in Egypt with 14 divisions in case Il Duce tries anything funny.

Dudley

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ORDERS
December 9, 1939
To: Vice Admiral James Fownes Somerville, Force A
Admiral Raeder and 3 BC / 5 CA battlegroup sighted in Faroes Gap heading south.
Proceed best speed to Western approaches to patrol.
Be advised Force B and Carrier Group are also in the area.
Suspect this force is nearly all of German Naval assets. Engage in decisive battle at all costs.

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Force B verses the Kriegsmarine​

Personal Message
December 12, 1939
To: VA Somerville
From: VA Cunningham

James,
I'm sure you've seen the contact report by now. Since you're steaming to my rescue, I felt I should give you some details on our opponent. Raeder is good, damn good. We've got the forces to use attrition against him though.

First things first- a warning. I'm convinced the German high command is targeting our escorts specifically. They must have got wind we retired those 20 WWI CL's that were all but useless anyway. Germany's U-boats are going to be tough to handle while we replace what Raeder's sinking.

I engaged Raeder with Force B and a Polish SS scouting at 10am in clear skies in the West Celtic shelf. I identified his force as being BC's Gneisenau, Scharnhorst, and Schlisien, CA's Admiral Sheer, Blucher, Admiral Graf Spee, Deutschland, and Admiral Hipper. 5 CL's 3 DD divisions, and 3 groups of U-boats completed the force.

The battle starts poorly as one of my CL's in nearly sunk in the first salvo, and the Resolution loses its primary range finder. The Deutschland continues to shell the Resolution while the remainder of the enemy attacks my light cruiser screen, sinking 2 in the second hour. Graf Spee hits the Revenge starting a major fire on the battleship. Graf Spee left herself exposed though, and Repulse strikes back, hitting Graf Spee at the water line and giving her a 25 degree list.

By 1400 the battle field was in chaos, as the fire from the Revenge and the explosion from the sinking Graf Spee covered the area in smoke.

At 1800, with my 3 CL's sunk as well as a DD division and the polish subs gone, I withdraw to the east. HMS Renown took heavy damage from the Blucher, and the Deutschland destroyed the Resolution's forward guns. Ramillies managed to get some solid hits on the Admiral Hipper. Somehow, the Revenge's captain got the fire out and saved the ship. It's amazing she survived at all- I think a 2 pounder could sink her, the way she looks. I'm going to put in for the Victoria Cross for Revenge's Captain and 3 of the crew.

Good luck to you James. Dudley's racing this way too. Give them hell.

(This is right before I withdrew. Notice the damage on the HMS Revenge- the 2nd BB. I can't believe it survived. You can also see Force A's 12 ships on its way North.)

 

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september 19th my birthday! maybe the Hood might be able to sink the Deutschland or Graf Spee! (youre playing the 1939 scenario right? )

Yep, the 1939 scenario. I figured with the UK, having 3 years to prepare would be too easy. This way, I have to make due with crappy Techs, a pitiful Airforce, almost no modern escorts, and a depleted and obsolete army.

The HMS Repulse got the Graf Spee before the Hood showed up.

 

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whoa the KM almost dealt you a blow there! i guess youre gonna send the revenge with some escorts back to scapa flow and continue the hunt for Raeder?

 

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What are Somerville's stats, skill&traits that is, and of what level is the Hood in game terms?

 

[Sir Humphrey]

Nice AAR. Looking nice.

 

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What are Somerville's stats, skill&traits that is, and of what level is the Hood in game terms?

Somerville is skill 5, Superior Tacticion.
Hood is a BC3- Basic Battlecruiser, pretty close in ability to BB2 - more speed, less armor though. I figure the 'real' Hood is more like a BC5 in stats, but I'm using what I have.

 

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whoa the KM almost dealt you a blow there! i guess youre gonna send the revenge with some escorts back to scapa flow and continue the hunt for Raeder?

Almost a blow. But really, since that's everything the KM has, I'm happy to lose a lot if I can take them down. I sent the remnants of Force B back to Plymouth. Had 3 BB's in fighting shape, the Revenge, 2 damage'd BC's and NO escorts.

 

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Force A versus the Kriegsmarine​

BATTLE REPORT
To: His Majesty and Admiralty House
From: Vice Admiral Somerville
December 13, 1939

Sirs,
23 hours after Force B withdrew from battle, I arrived at the West Celtic Shelf and engaged Admiral Raeder's fleet. His force consisted of the Battlecruisers Gneisenau, Scharnhorst (BC4's), and Schlesien (BC1), Heavy Cruisers Admiral Scheer, Blucher, Deutschland, and Admiral Hipper (all CA4's), 4 Light cruisers, 3 destroyer groups, and 3 submarines packs. The Schlesien and Admiral Hipper were approximately 50% damaged from Force B's efforts.

1700-2100 hours
As in the previous battles, the Germans appear to be specifically targetting escorts. By nightfall, two of my destroyer squadrons had fallen to the guns of the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau.

2200 hours
Night has fallen, reducing my effectiveness. However, it appears to be affecting Raeder more, so I believe night will prove advantageous. It appears that our fleets have encoutered each other at a somewhat odd angle, putting the German leading escorts in our capital ship range, and my escorts in Raeder's range. Light cruisers and destroyers on both sides are taking heavy damage. The Blucher puts a salvo into the Royal Oak, but it is not serious yet. HMS Nelson sees the Hipper outlined by a lingering fire, and severely damages it. A German destroyer squadron charged the Hood, and my ship is dealing harshly with that boldness.

2300-2400 hours
Night has slowed things down, though my screen still takes heavy damage, with KMS Admiral Sheer finishing off HMS Ajax, which had been drawing the fire of most of the German Battle line. The Blucher continues attacking Royal Oak, doing some additional damage, but the Oak's armor is holding well. While the 2nd Destroyer division distracts the Gneisenau (to their unfortunate demise), Royal Sovereign hits Gneisenau hard.

0100-0200 hours
The 2nd destroyers fall to the Gneisenau, who also manages to avoid Royal Sovereign's heavy return fire. HMS Hood destroys the harassing KM destroyer division in turn. Concentrated fire from the Queen Elizabeth and Valiant sink the CL KMS Koln, but the Scharnhorst sinks CL HMS Manchester. Nelson finally finishes off KMS Admiral Hipper. KMS Blucher hits Royal Oak yet again with a large salvo. The Oak's armor has taken a viscious pounding, with approximately 14 hits from the Blucher. She is damaged and unable to fire effectively, but still sea worthy.

0300 hours
KMS Scharnhorst, Gneisenau, and Admiral Sheer focus on the the CL HMS Achilles, sinking her with nearly all hands. I am now out of escorts, but damage to capital ships in well in my favor as the Royal Sovereign hits the Gneisenau again, destroying her bridge and making here combat ineffective. The Royal Oak takes yet more hits from the Blucher, yet stays strong.

0400-0500
Grand Admiral Pounds' Carrier and CA fleet (24 strong with escorts) arrives, prompting the withdrawal of Raeder before dawn brings the Carriers into play. During the withdrawal, Royal Oak is hit again, but the Blucher pays as the HMS Valiant hits hard. Oak's lost 80% of her sea worthiness. HMS Hood takes some fire from the Scharnhorst, but all are misses.

Summary
I lost 3 DD's and 3CL's. The Royal Oak took so much damage it is impossible to tell the number of hits, since damaged areas were hit again and again. She withstood it all, for remarkably little loss of crew.

Raeder lost the CA Hipper, CL Koln, and a Destroyer squadron. Only the Scharnhorst and 3 heavy cruisers remain combat capable however, and Admiral Pound is hot on their heals.

I am sailing for Portsmouth with my damaged ships. Admiral Pounds force is more than adequate to follow the enemy, and it's not worth the risk for my depleted force to also follow.

Vice Admiral Somerville, reporting.

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Raeder's long march to Kiel​

Personal Message
December 25, 1939
To: James Somerville
From: Dudley Pounds

James,
I hope all's well in Portsmouth for you. My Carrier Force and Force C had a merry chase of the Kriegsmarine.

I first caught up with them in the East Celtic Shelf. 4 Carriers and 8 Cruisers should handle Raeder with no problem. That was not the case. Raedar surprised me, turning into my force and charging into gun range. His force sank a destroyer squadron of mine and heavily damaged a CA before withdrawing. The damaged KMS Gneisenau couldn't take the speed. It appeared to have some mechanical failure and went dead in the water, and was scuttled.

The next morning I caught up with them in the Celtic Sea. Force C joined me and we hit them hard, sinking the Schlesien, a destroyer division, and the CL's Konigsberg, Karlsruhe, and Emden. Most of these sank by Force C's Battleships (Warspite, Barham, and Malaya). Scharnhorst sank one of Force C's CL's, and the Admiral Sheer sank the CA HMS York. The Malaya almost sank the Sheer in return.

I detached all damaged ships from my fleet and Force C, and continued the pursuit. The next evening, we caught up again in St George's Channel. Quite a bold move of Raeder to run between Ireland and Britain. Night kept my planes grounded, but Force C got in close to the enemy, with HMS Barham sinking KMS Blucher, and HMS London sinking a destroyer division. Scharnhorst, Sheer, and Deutschland all take heavy damage.

Terribly, this freed Raeder of his slow ships, and he was able to sail around Britain and back to Kiel before I could catch him.

I pulled a fast one though, and sent my carrier planes into Kiel on a strike mission. KMS Scharnhorst went to the bottom of the harbor.

Dudley

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Quite excellent, and unique! It's refreshing to see new types of AARs like this.

 

[Sir Humphrey]

Looks like its not all one way traffic. ;(