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His Majesty's Royal Navy, January 1, 1940
ORDERS
December 28, 1939
To: Vice Admiral James Fownes Somerville, Force A
Detach HMS Royal Oak for repairs in port.
HMS Malaya, CL Gloucester, CL Belfast, 8th DD, 9th DD, 5th DD, 12th DD enroute to reform battle group.
Force A to patrol Channel and North Sea. Enemy threat estimate low. Force A is to fly the flag and be reaction force while remainder of RN undergoes repairs.
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Intelligence Briefing
Royal Navy Losses
1 CA, 8 CL, 7 DD, 1 SS
CA York
CL Ajax
CL Leander
CL Newcastle
CL Achilles
CL Edinburgh
CL Manchester
CL Sheffield
CL Southampton
DD 24th, 6th, 13th, 2nd, 3rd, 10th, 17th
SS First Polish
Capital Ship Damage
Kriegsmarine Losses
3 BC, 4 CA, 6 CL, 4 DD, 3 SS
BC Gneisenau
BC Scharnhorst
BC Schlesien
CA Blucher
CA Konigsberg
CA Admiral Hipper
CA Admiral Graf Spee
CL Konigsberg
CL Karlsruhe
CL Koln
CL Nurnberg
CL Emden
CL Leipzig
DD 2, 4, 5, 1
SS 11, 12, 5
Admiralty Conclusion
Force loss decisively in our favor. The lose of a single, old, capital ship to the destruction of 6 top of the line German capital ships and one old German capital ship.
Extremely heavy escort loss, however, has put a severe strain on operations. ASW patrols are few and primarily are reactive to losses. Adequate escorts are currently only available for Force A, Med Fleet, and TP escorts.
Remaining german capital ship strength estimated at BC Schleswig-Holstein, and 2 damaged Heavy Cruisers, Admiral Sheer and Deutschland.
(Note that difference between Sept 1939 and here also includes 21 scrapped CL1's and 10 scrapped DD1's.)
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Personal Message
January 8, 1040
To: Mary
From: James
Dearest,
The new year has been quiet, a welcome, if cold, respite from the war. France is holed up in their invincible line, and Germany looks on, plotting the worst I assume.
Winter in the North Sea is miserable. There is little actual point in our patrolling so hard. Hitler's navy won't be coming out anytime soon. Though, we are putting a big thumb in Hitler's face- showing that after the Battle of the Celtic Shelf we have a Fleet at sea, and he does not.
It was a great victory for us on the Celtic Shelf. The cost weighs heavily on me. I must agree with Dudley that our smaller battle group strategy did draw Raeder into decisive battle. I think I'll always wonder if perhaps a grand battle fleet of all our Capital ships or with Carriers would have done equal damage for less loss. I respect Raeder enough to believe he would not engage in battle if faced with our full might. Though he is our adversary, I do hope to meet Admiral Raeder when our fight is done.
I must make the command rounds. Give my officers a kind word and a mug of coffee. The cold hits us to the bone, especially the enlisted. I must set the example for the officers, so they do the same for their men.
Yours,
Jim
xxxxx
The Altmark and Destroyers, Destroyers, Destroyers
Personal Message
March 4, 1940
To: Vice Admiral James Somerville
From: First Sea Lord Sir Dudley Pound
James,
Your capture of the Altmark sure has thrown Scandanavian politics for a loop. Both His Majesty's government and Hilter are mad as hell with Norway. We're anticipating German agression that way, so be ready to head that way. The Carrier fleet is being activated to patrol Norway's coast too. We've got 3 ASW patrols (1 CL, 3 DD's) in various places. We seem to be keeping the seas pretty clear all in all.
Research just finished plans for the Battle class DD's (DD4's). I just put 15 squadrons into immediate production, with options for more. Six squadrons of Tribal class DD's will be done in 6 weeks. Those will just about bring the RN up to strength, with the 3 other Tribals we finished since then, and the two bought from Canada and Australia.
The Admiralty is worried about Germany's air strength. We've got only got 4 Interceptors at the moment, and the Luftwaffe tend to maul them in battle. We're researching some new ones, and will be putting the new ones on the fast track.
Godspeed as always,
Dudley
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oustanding.
Naval based AARs are my favorite,,,was thinking of writing a new one myself,, but instead I will read this one.
Naval based AARs are my favorite,,,was thinking of writing a new one myself,, but instead I will read this one.
Is this HSR? If so thats unfortunate. I find that mod unplayable because the naval game gets wacky.... I remember running into something like 20 German Battleships by 1940 or something ridiculous like that.
Ahh well, hope you work around that if it is HSR. (Glad its doomsday too,, naval combat is better with it,, no uber subs).
I like this format, I was going to make my AAR about an entire Navy but I like the idea of following a single ship, in the future I may have to rip you off
Ahh well, hope you work around that if it is HSR. (Glad its doomsday too,, naval combat is better with it,, no uber subs).
I like this format, I was going to make my AAR about an entire Navy but I like the idea of following a single ship, in the future I may have to rip you off
Quintis Vindex said:Is this HSR? If so thats unfortunate. I find that mod unplayable because the naval game gets wacky.... I remember running into something like 20 German Battleships by 1940 or something ridiculous like that.
Ahh well, hope you work around that if it is HSR. (Glad its doomsday too,, naval combat is better with it,, no uber subs).
I like this format, I was going to make my AAR about an entire Navy but I like the idea of following a single ship, in the future I may have to rip you off
It's just the Stony Road graphics pack, but with Vanilla German graphics. It's otherwise vanilla Doomsday 1.2.
I keep wanting to write an AAR, but the scale was just too big. I figured going with something small, yet interesting would be a good way to get going. This way I can go into detail with something, and leave the rest of the war to mention in passing.
This is a very good and interesting story so far. Although you have suffered losses, the Germans have suffered much more and in the long run the RN is able to sustain those losses while the Germans are not. Good work so far, I am looking forward to more
heh heh i say the naval war is already won! just gotta sink those subs and..hunt for the bismarck!
lifeless said:
Would probably make for a longer AAR if say, tracking the Bismarck instead of the Hood,,,,,or it would be a very short AAR
The Defense of Norway
NEWSFLASH
April 2, 1940
Denmark surrenders to Germany a mere 5 days after war is declared!
Hitler eyes Norway! Royal Navy reports HMS Hood and Force A are waiting for Hitler to try to get to Norway. Will Force B be sent out too? That's not for this publication to speculate.
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None shall pass
Battle Report
To: All officers of His Majesty's Navy
On April 4, Naval bombers scouting off of the coast of Norway spotted two Heavy Cruiser's in the company of an old Destroyer squadron and a pack of submarines. Intelligence believes that it is Admiral Raeder with the remnants of his once mightly Kriegsmarine.
The coastal defense ships KNM Norge and KNM Eidsvold encountered the German fleet off of Bokn Fjord on the morning of the 5th of April. The Norse fleet was outclassed, but fought brilliantly in their home waters, nearly destroying the DD escort and discrupting KMS Deutschland serverly, taking little damage in return.
That evening, Force B engaged the Germans in the Skagerrak. In a brief and one sided battle, HMS Rodney sinks the Admiral Sheer and the remnants of the destroyers, and HMS Resolution finishes the Deutschland.
HMS Ramillies and our 3rd DD's took minor damage in the close quarters night engagement.
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Battle Report
To: His Majesty and the Admiralty
From: Vice Admiral J. F. Somerville, commanding Force A
April 10, 1940
On interdiction patrol between Kiel and Oslo, came upon 5 German transports enroute to Wilhelmshaven. TP's appeared to be empty. Engaged, sinking 2 flotillas and severely damaging the remainder.
German activity in the area is light and not dangerous. Suggest that two task forces are adequate for the prevention of movement into Norway.
Somerville, reporting.
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May and June 1940, in brief
As overheard in HMS Hood's Wardroom
June 28, 1940
... I swear I saw the Admiral's eyes light up with the thought of more targets, now that Italy's signed up with the Axis, I suspect shelling the bejesus out of Dieppe is boring him as much as it bores us, ...
... who'd have ever thought that Hitler could move through Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemborg in less than a month? Lucky for the French they have the BEF holding Paris and the coast. Did you see that Panzer wreck ....
... my cousin got assigned to the HMS Illustrious. He says Sea Lord Pound's finally going to stay at the Admirality and give command of the Carrier fleet to Admiral Ramsey, with Illustrious as the new flag ship. Grand Mum's going to be so proud, with two grandson's officers on two different flag ships ...
... do you think Churchhill even cares Hungary's in the Axis? He's been Prime Minister for all of 6 weeks, and ....
... while I do appreciate that our ship yards just put out 15 divisions of modern destroyers, you have to understand that this means I have to process the paperwork for sending our old destroyers off to other duties, and integrate these new, untrained, unblooded, green as grass sailors into our fleet. I swear, if ....
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Good work in stopping the Germans from invading Norway. Thank you
Now it seems you might be able to halt the German advance in North-France, at least I am sure that the navy will be able to stop them and make it impossible for them to cross the Channel, and now that you have got the Italians in the Axis as well I hope we shall soon see HMS Hood and the rest of the RN send the Italian navy to the bottom of the sea. Good luck
Now it seems you might be able to halt the German advance in North-France, at least I am sure that the navy will be able to stop them and make it impossible for them to cross the Channel, and now that you have got the Italians in the Axis as well I hope we shall soon see HMS Hood and the rest of the RN send the Italian navy to the bottom of the sea. Good luck
Aye don't underestimate those cappuchino sucking surrender monkeys,,,,, they can put up a fight ,,,er,,sometimes.
First of all, thanks for the various good words. I'm glad you're enjoying the read.
In France, General Alanbrooke has done a marvelous job defending Le Harve. Skill 5 general with Defensive doctrine, plus -20 or so on the Germans for shore bombardment, plus single digit Infra and -10 for ESE for the Germans makes for good odds. I hadn't tried the Infrastructure strike on the defense before (very rarely being on the defensive an all), I'm pleased with its effectiveness.
I'm pretty sure in a couple of months, the East flank in France will collapse, the Germans will be able to roll up the BEF through Auxierre into Paris. I've got plenty of TP's in Le Harve ready for that.
HMS Hood is on her way to the Med. The French have been sparring with the Italian fleet already, that's one bonus for keeping France alive a few months longer.
In France, General Alanbrooke has done a marvelous job defending Le Harve. Skill 5 general with Defensive doctrine, plus -20 or so on the Germans for shore bombardment, plus single digit Infra and -10 for ESE for the Germans makes for good odds. I hadn't tried the Infrastructure strike on the defense before (very rarely being on the defensive an all), I'm pleased with its effectiveness.
I'm pretty sure in a couple of months, the East flank in France will collapse, the Germans will be able to roll up the BEF through Auxierre into Paris. I've got plenty of TP's in Le Harve ready for that.
HMS Hood is on her way to the Med. The French have been sparring with the Italian fleet already, that's one bonus for keeping France alive a few months longer.
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Do you mind if I shamelessly use your style in my AAR? I already had some posts written up in "History book style" but I like the use of correspondences and such much better.
Quintis Vindex said:Do you mind if I shamelessly use your style in my AAR? I already had some posts written up in "History book style" but I like the use of correspondences and such much better.
Go for it, I don't mind at all. I'm kind of experimenting with the style myself, so It'll be interesting seeing what you come up with.
