Ok I’m being unfair to the poor man, he would never have approved a ship this slow, but still the British must have put something stronger than milk in their tea if they think sending out battleships with no armour is a good idea.
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Captain of the 1st Company: Treefrog
Veteran Sergeants: 1stplaceonion, LCG Canyon, Welshy, Rui
Sergeants: Jackie, Twitchyknees
Veterans: Telemonian Dan, Sunless Sky Nova, Threadoflength, Darth Vendar.
Battle Siblings: Jacky Chan, nagebenfro, scurvekano, Cpt Graftin, Icd, Iroey, Zadrias, JT Bismarck, Documentleaker.
source
Ha ha! that was a pretty blatant homing torpedo by the AI from the Doris. Oh, and THERE are the Royal Navy battleships. Such a shame none of the IJN casemate torpedo cruisers were there.
The Japanese light cruiser Hirado refuses to sink and destroys British light cruiser Curacoa
A small suggestion to solve the invisible ships: if u know any coding language, perhaps rewrite the code for smoke graphics and when the ships enter and reappear. When something like this happens it’s best to rewrite the entire section and then reimplement. If u try to fix the broken code it’ll make it worse. It’s like repairing an old worn out wine skin with a brand new patch. The whole thing will just fall apart.
The battle of Battleships
I think the British were drinking whiskey or beer when they were designing those battleships.
Ship designer: How much armor should we put on our new Montagu-class battleship?
First Lord of the Admiralty: Just 9" of armor on the main deck.
Ship designer: Uh. What about the other parts, like the main deck?
First Lord of the Admiralty: Did I tel you to put armor on those parts?
Ship designer: No.
First Lord of the Admiralty: Then don't put armor on those sections, ok?
Ship designer: Sir, what about "plunging fire"?
First Lord of the Admiralty: Nonsense. Battles will be close quarters.
Later:
First Lord of the Admiralty: How are we losing so many of them?
Ship designer: Plunging fire from long range, sir.
First Lord of the Admiralty: No way. Let's try again.
Much later:
First Lord of the Admiralty: Seriously!?
Ship designer: Well-
First Lord of the Admiralty: You're fired. Along with the ship builders.
Amagi-class BC's when?
Looking at the fleets of the world it's feels like we need a new modern cruiser killer
The battle against the Curacoa was weird, she was on 0% structure for like 5 seconds before she sunk
22:53
At this point they're probably painting them on the bridge wings or something
@BrotherMunro I have been using your MOD for my last campain, and really like it, execpt for the invisible ships. (had a BB sneaking up on me, as it had been smoked up by a CL) Anyhow. Could the invisible ships have something to do with the change to armor you made? My reasoning os that you can "see" the damaged equipment, but not the rest of the ship. And as you have not changed anything to smoke, I thourght hat it could be the cause.. Might be "easy" to test with a version of the mod without Armor changes?
Anyhow Great work with the MOD
I just tried this mod a little(1 quick battle and 1 design) but it feels very much improved in both aspects,only thing that i noticed was that on auto ammo selection the AI seems to favor HE shells too much.
5:03: That task force off Port Said is probably where the bulk of Britain's remaining battleships are located.
13:50: I don't think this is a refitted Phaeton. I think this is an original design.
17:16: As far as I can tell the Version IV refit of the Phaeton just adds a knot of speed.
22:53: I don't usually stop to do summaries in the middle of wars but since you asked. The British have lost 15 battleships, 5 battle cruisers, 13 heavy cruisers, FORTY-FIVE light cruisers, and 4 destroyers. That's 36% of their starting battleships, 83% of their starting battle cruisers, 163% (yes) of their starting heavy cruisers, 173% of their starting light cruisers, and 33% of their destroyers, compared to their fleet strength in July of 1943.
Peace with the Soviet Union
Yomiuri shinbun, Tokyo, 4 November 1947
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics has asked for a peace treaty with the Empire of Japan.
In this war the Soviet Union lost two Tula class battlecruisers, the Tomsk and the Kinburn, four Kniaz Vladimir class heavy cruisers, the Aziya, Slava Rossii, Sviatoslav, and Kniaz Dovmont. They also lost thirty-one transports under escort in the Black Sea. The Black Sea was the only theatre of operation in fact. The Dai-Nippon Teikoku Kaigun lost the battlecruiser Warusawa. The Bulgarian Navy lost the destroyers Wakatsuki, Miyuki, and Yakaze.
Eleven Egyptian sailors were killed, 469 Bulgarian sailors were killed, 26 captured, and 37 rescued from the sea. 1508 Japanese sailors were killed and 284 rescued from the sea. 8,219 Soviet Navy sailors were killed and 466 captured.
The Russian Merchante Marine lost 301 thousand tons of shipping, 2,221 officers and merchant seamen killed or lost at sea, and 410 captured, with 169 pulled from the water by Soviet warships.
In acknowledging their guilt in starting this 27 month war, the Soviet Union has agreed to war reparations of $136 million.
Battle of Lemnos
Yomiuri shinbun, Tokyo, 8 September 1947
The Tsugaru class light cruiser Niitaka of the Haifa Station, after her sinking of the Newfoundland and a convoy of fourteen supply ships headed for the invasion of Alexandria, was sent on a quiet patrol of the Aegean Sea.
Quiet wasn’t the plan of the British Republic Navy. They sent out every light cruiser they could muster to blanket the Eastern Mediterranean, and one of them found Niitaka.
The Phaeton class light cruiser Doris spotted Niitaka’s smoke pre-dawn to the north-east, and closed in. Niitaka also turned to close on the approaching ship. Once she sighted the ship Niitaka turned east to open her broadsides. Once Doris took a hit she burned smoke and disappeared. Niitaka kept her course and waited for the British light cruiser to reappear. She sailed right into a spread of torpedoes from Doris, and slipped between them until the middle torpedo radically veered towards her. The torpedo hit Niitaka but the malfunction of its engine damaged the contact fuze and she failed to detonate.
Doris appeared again and Niitaka and Doris opened fire. Niitaka began to get hits every salvo, putting 6” shells into but not through Doris’ armor. Doris was soon flooding fore and aft, with two engines disabled, her steering damaged, two main gun turrets destroyed, fires burning, and 270 casualties reported. Doris sank with 1166 of her 1247 man crew. Niitaka had taken 101 casualties.
Second Battle of Haifa
Yomiuri shinbun, Tokyo, 22 August 1947
The Tsugaru class light cruiser Niitaka of the Haifa Station was called upon to defend her port with only the aid of the Egyptian destroyer Momi and the Bulgarian destroyer Mikazuki when the Phaeton class light cruiser Newfoundland, with the 1947 update, brought a convoy of fourteen Magicienne class 11 thousand ton 100 manned armed transports down past Haifa along the coast of Palestine to evade the deep water patrols looking for more rationally routed convoys headed for the beaches east of Alexandria.
Niitaka spotted a large collection of funnels smoke coming down from the North-east and took her division to investigate. The Ra’id of the Momi was particularly insistent that the convoy not be allowed to reach the invasion force attacking Egypt. Niitaka sighted the Newfoundland which immediately burned smoke to disappear. That however just revealed the location of the convoy. Niitaka however was going to finish the Newfoundland first. Newfoundland launched torpedoes against Niitaka which the veteran Kaigun-chūsa felt coming and evaded, before Niitaka launched torpedoes on Newfoundland. Newfoundland turned and launched a second strike at Niitaka. All the torpedoes missed when Niitaka pulled a full stop and hard port turn, once Niitaka had her bow pointed at the gap in Newfoundland’s spread Niitaka went to full ahead and slipped through.
Newfoundland however was getting 6” shells from Niitaka and 5” shells from Momi. Niitaka kept firing and getting multiple hits per salvo. Newfoundland returned about one 5.3” hit for every three salvoes by Niitaka. Newfoundland sunk with all but two of her 1247 man crew. Niitaka had taken 40 casualties. The destroyers were untouched.
Now the division turned their attention to the convoy. The British Merchant Marine lost 154 thousand tons of shipping, 1246 officers and seamen killed or lost at sea, and 154 taken prisoner. The British Republic Navy lost 1245 officers and sailors killed or lost in the Mediterranean.
The Port of Singapore Turns back Naval Landings
Yomiuri shinbun, Tokyo, 15 August 1947
The Dai-ichi Kantai (1st or Main Fleet), Dai-ni Kantai (2nd or Reserve Fleet), and Dai-san Kantai (3rd or Yamato Fleet) watched for months as major British fleet base at Singapore turned back all attempts at landing the vaunted Kaigun-Hohei (Naval Infantry). The Kaigun-taishō in charge of operations asserts that operations will begin again soon.
Battle of Port Blair
Yomiuri shinbun, Tokyo, 8 August 1947
The Patang Station task force from Sumatra was raiding deep into the waters of the Bay of Benghal, north of Port Blair and west of Rangoon when they were challenged by the Phaeton class light cruiser Galatea. The Kuma class light cruiser Amatsukaze was leading the Arashio class destroyer Momo and the Samidare class destroyer Hatsuharu.
Amatsukaze spotted funnel smoke of one ship to the south-east and led Momo and Hatsuharu forward to investigate. Amatsukaze sighted the incoming ship and knew her for a British design. Galatea knew the shape of a Japanese ship as well, and burned smoke to close under its protection. Amatsukaze turned slightly to avoid any early torpedo strikes, then bore right in on the British cruiser.
As Galatea came out of smoke Amatsukaze and the destroyers opened fire, then Amatsukaze turned them east to open their broadsides. Galatea launched first with ten 21” torpedoes, but Amatsukaze quickly replied, sending ten 24” torpedoes out in return. Galatea missed but she took two torpedoes aft and amidships, then three more, one dud and two aft and amidships. Galatea broke her keel and went down in two pieces with 1200 of her 1247 man crew.
Amatsukaze suffered seven casualties. Momo took two. The destroyers picked up the 47 survivors of Galatea.
Battle of Alexandria
Yomiuri shinbun, Tokyo, 26 July 1947
The refitted Tsugaru class light cruiser Niitaka of the Haifa Station was patrolling the Mediterranean coast of the Emirate of Egypt when she sighted a British Phaeton class light cruiser, the Curacoa to the north-west. Hirado immediately closed on the enemy. Curacoa burned smoke and disappeared. Eventually Hirado found Curacoa again, and turning her port broadside towards the British cruiser, opened fire. Hirado quickly piled on hits but wasn’t in range to penetrate the enemy’s armor. So focused was the Kaigun-chūsa on getting a solid hit that he and his spotters missed the torpedo coming in amidships. The hit was solid and Hirado took nearly 50 casualties and flooding in three compartments. Curacoa came round to Hirado’s starboard side and Hirado launched her own torpedoes. Curacoa took as devastating a hit on her starboard main belt. Hirado however was getting more 6” hits in, while Curacoa got an occasional 5.3” hit. With her rudder jammed Hirado turned to port until her port side was facing Curacoa. Curacoa turned hard to starboard as well, lining up her port torpedoes. Hirado’s only hope was to close so much Curacoa’s torpedoes would fail to arm. Just as she hoped, Curacoa’s torpedo was launched too close to arm.
Curacoa was now only meters away from Hirado, and available crew on each side were firing personal weapons at the other ship. Curacoa was flooded in five compartments, had two engines disabled, her steering also damaged, and nearly 250 casualties. Hirado was flooded in six compartments, with one engine disabled and fire on the ship, her steering still not fixed, and over 170 casualties. Both ships were listing hard to starboard.
Hirado finally came around until her stern was pointed at Curacoa and she was able to fire her two aft turrets, with four of her nine guns hitting. Hirado was made to turn her stern to her enemy. Hirado finally got her rudder amidships and steamed awasy from Curacoa, firing as she went and getting three or more hits per salvo fired. Accuracy fell as the two ships moved apart however. Curacoa was simply not able to fire back on Hirado as her 5.3” turrets were mounted three forward and two between the two funnels, leaving her no main battery guns pointed aft. Also Curacoa’s torpedoes were all expended.
Finally the Kaigun-chūsa decided he had to turn Hirado around and close on Curacoa to avoid dishonor and disembowelment. Hirado slowly turned to her starboard, the momentary silencing of her guns like a thunderclap of doom to the crew of the Curacoa. They knew what it destined.
Hirado’s forward guns opened fire. With only six guns firing forward and the range opened Hirado only slowly increased the number of hits per salvo. As Hirado closed in to 6 kilometers she still wasn’t penetrating the Curacoa’s aft belt. With three engines disabled and relying on her diesel-electric auxiliary Curacoa was losing ground to Hirado. Finally Hirado was close enough to get four hits a salvo, and threatening to come alongside of Curacoa, which would allow the British cruiser to open fire. But Hirado still couldn’t penetrate Curacoa’s armor. Hirado was closing on being three ship lengths from Curacoa when the British cruiser broke up from the pounding and took 1097 of her 1247 man crew down with her.
Hirado suffered 159 casualties and picked up 150 survivors from Curacoa.
South Africa Gains Its Independence
Yomiuri shinbun, Tokyo, 22 July 1947
The British Army has lost control of Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, and Durban and the province of South Africa. Losses for the British Army have not been reported by the Imperial Japanese Army, supporting the independence movement, report 16,711 casualties while the Afrikaners losses were 3461.
The Empire of Japan was the first country to recognize the new nation of South Africa and signed a convention with it.
Province of Kashmir Taken
Yomiuri shinbun, Tokyo, 19 July 1947
The Imperial Japanese Army, fighting a campaign on the top of the world, has taken the Province of Kashmir off the Republic of Great Britain and the British and Indian Armies.
Losses for the Imperial Japanese Army were 45,234 officers and enlisted men. Losses for the combined armies were 39,396 officers and men.
Second Battle of Port Sudan
Yomiuri shinbun, Tokyo, 15 June 1947
The refitted Tsugaru class light cruiser Niitaka of the Haifa Station was on patrol in the Red Sea when she was encountered the Phaeton, lead ship of her light cruiser class and recipient of the first and what may have been a unique upgrade in 1946.
Niitaka spotted funnel smoke to the North. Since Egypt was an ally of Japan they had asked the Dai-Nippon Teikoku Kaigun (Imperial Japanese Navy) to aid in the policing of the northern end of the Red Sea. Niitaka was such a patrol, and moved to investigate this ship that had slipped north of her. She quickly sighted a British light cruiser bearing down on her. Niitaka turned west towards the setting sun to open her broadside and deny the British of the opportunity of putting the sun at their backs.
The Phaeton continued to close. Niitaka opened fire first and Phaeton immediately began to burn smoke. Phaeton used to opportunity to launch torpedoes at Niitaka which she barely avoided. Unable to penetrate Phaeton’s armor, Niitaka switched to base fuze high explosive shells and began to rack up damage on the British ship. Niitaka had closed to where she was getting multiple hits per salvo, while Phaeton was lucky to get one. Phaeton was wearing away under the constant pounding and fires.
Finally, 22 minutes after ordering general quarters, Niitaka sank Phaeton with 1201 of their 1282 man crew complement. Niitaka suffered 44 casualties and picked up 81 British officers and sailors floating in the Red Sea.
26:55: They are not bad looking ships, but they are really badly designed.
A Chance at some Big Ships
Yomiuri shinbun, Tokyo, 19 November 1947
The destroyers of the Belawan and Patang Stations on Sumatra were given the permission to attempt a ambush of the two Montagu class battleships operating in the Bay of Benghal, the Colossus and appropriately, the Hindustan. The Sumatra command sent the Samidare class destroyer Hatsuharu, the Ikazuchi class destroyer Kuretaka, and the Arashio class destroyers Momo and Numakaze.
The destroyers closed on individual bearings, trying to avoid giving the British battleships the chance at overshoots hitting the following destroyer. The Momo and Numakaze carried the new 24” advanced torpedoes, the Hatsuharu and Kuretaka still carried the 21” standard torpedoes. The British quickly began splashing the destroyers with water, but then a 14.3” shell found Numakaze, blowing through the ship entirely and doing minor damage aft. Numakaze turned to open up her torpedo launchers, as did Momo, with Momo launching as soon as she had the bearing. Momo was ordered to retire as Hatsuharu took a hit on her secondary tower. Numakaze having fired as well, was also ordered to retire. Now Hatsuharu and Kuretaka were trying to close to their range.
While trying to close Kuretaka took a hit into her main deck, suffering 14 casualties. Kuretaka was ordered to turn and prepare to launch. Hatsuharu continued to close. It was important to hold the British attention while the 24” torpedoes made their journey. Kuretaka took another hit and was now flooding under her forward guns. Just then Numakaze strike got one hit, inflicting 36 casualties on a British battleship. Both British ships had their sterns to the incoming spread, and were pulling away from Hatsuharu and Kuretaka. Kuretaka took another 8.2” hit. Flooded forward, Kuretaka was ordered to retreat. Hatsuharu had launched her torpedoes but with little chance of a hit. She too was ordered to retire.
Kuretaka had taken 40 casualties, Hatsuharu 13, Numakaze 2, and Momo 1. The British claimed this as a victory, but their battleship was sent in for repairs.
The Campaign to take Alexandria
Yomiuri shinbun, Tokyo, 13 November 1947
The British Republic Navy has been covering the landings against Alexandria for months, fighting against the brave Egyptians in an attempt to take control of the Suez Canal and drastically shorten their lines of supply and communication with India and their dwindling Asian holdings. With the loss of South Africa their predicament is even direr. Not all reports of their losses have been intercepted, but with Perth fallen the British Army has reduced their operations to the defense of Singapore and the taking of Egypt.
In February British losses were 9124 against estimated Egyptian losses of only 7600.
July: 19435 British losses against an estimated 14400 Egyptian.
August: 11158 British losses against an estimated 6200 Egyptian.
The latest report for November says the British lost 10,508 soldiers to an estimated 4200 Egyptians.
Perth Falls!
Yomiuri shinbun, Tokyo, 12 November 1947
The Dai-yon Kantai (4th or Battlecruiser Fleet) and the Kaigun-Hohei (Naval Infantry) have taken the port of Perth and critical towns and transportation in Western Australia. The Dai-yon Kantai has been sent to support the attack on Singapore.
Singapore Sallies their Fleet
Yomiuri shinbun, Tokyo, 10 November 1947
The Dai-ni Kantai (2nd or Reserve Fleet) consists of the Sagami class battleships Sagami, Aso, and Kasagi, the Tosa class battleships Tosa, Fuji, and Hou-Ou, the Niyoda class light cruiser Takachiho, the Mogami class light cruisers Katori, Tama, and Yasoshima, and the Abukuma class light cruiser Kashiwara. They were assigned to cover the landings against Singapore. The Republic of Britain Navy finally sent their fleet out to meet them.
The Singapore Relief Fleet consisted of seven Montagu class battleships, the Empress of India, Malaya, Mars, Neptune, Royal Sovereign, St. Vincent, and Formidable, the Orlando class heavy cruiser Sutlej, the 9.1” armed Narcissus class heavy cruiser lead and her sister ship Berwick, and four Phaeton class light cruisers with the 1947 refit, the Boadicea, Bristol, Comus, and Gladiator.
The Dai-ni Kantai sighted the enemy to the south-west and opened fire, led by the Tosa, with Fuji, Hou-Ou, Kasgari, Aso, and Sagami following. Katori led the cruiser division on the screening mission with Yasoshima, Takachiho, Kashiwara, and Tama under her orders. Tosa kept the battle line moving south.
The early exchanges were devastating and quick. We have reports that the Berwick broke up under fire and took 602 of her 676 man crew with her. Her class lead Narcissus sank not long after, having at least gotten a hit with her 9.1” guns. Narcissus took 534 of her 676 man crew down with her.
With the most modern heavy cruisers sunk the Kaigun-shōshō ordered Tosa to turn west and bring the Dai-ni Kantai battleships in parallel with the British battle line now headed by the Sutlej. This made Sutlej the target and she sank with 892 of her 1088 man crew. The British battle line was also taking damage with the lead ship falling back in division. The British light cruisers were still hiding under smoke but not racing forward to launch torpedoes. Their refits may have given them longer range 24” torpedoes that could reach the Dai-ni Kantai.
The Phaetons came out of their smoke, revealing the last four Montagu class battleships, and themselves. With their torpedo threat the Boadicea was targeted and shattered, with 1191 of her 1317 man crew going down with her. Bristol went the same way, losing 1133 of her crew as she sank. Comus and Gladiator were pulling themselves around about to head directly as the Dai-ni Kantai.
Katori was screening forward of the Dai-ni Kantai battle line and became the target of the British battle line’s 8.2” guns. She was riddled and ordered to retire with 43 casualties.
The light cruiser Comus was sunk with 1172 of her 1317 crew. All the modernized Phaetons were sunk but Comus was able to hit a Japanese battle ship with a torpedo, but it did no damage.
The last cruiser, the Gladiator, was sunk with 1010 of her 1247 man crew. She was trying to pull up with the leading battleship division. The British battle line was in chaos with ships falling out of formation and the lead division building too much of a gap with the rest of the battleships. Royal Sovereign was trying to close up when she was broken to the keel and took 1481 of her 1646 man crew with her. St. Vincent also went down from structural damage but took 1527 of her 1646 man crew with her. Formidable was abandoned by her 54 remaining crew to the uncontrollable fires.
With their fatal flaw, a failure to armor the ships for war, the last four of the showboat Montagus went down quickly. Malaya took 1527 of her crew down, caught in sealed compartments or sucked down by the pull of the sinking hull. Mars took even more, 1557 of her crew caught when she broke up. Neptune, the only ship identified during the battle, took all but 16 of her crew to a watery grave. The flagship Empress of India was the last to be destroyed, firing her guns until the end, she had only seven survivors.
The British had tried, inflicting 231 casualties on Sagami, 175 on Tosa, 106 on Kasagi, 70 on Hou-Ou, 37 on Aso, and 33 on Fuji. The cruisers had also taken, damage. Other than Katori, the Yasoshima took 30, the Kashiwara 9, and the Takachiho 4. The cruisers pulled 2,663 British survivors out of the water and transferred them to transports heading back empty to Japan.