Action in the North Sea 1915

Steve has quite a collection of WWI ships and has had a game in mind for quite some time to represent a theoretical, but highly possible engagement in the North Sea towards the start of WWII. We would be using the General Quarters III rules

I would take the part of a German Admiral with a force of four Battle Cruisers including Derfflinger, Moltke and Seydlitz, four Light Cruisers and three half flotilla of Torpedo boats. Our mission was to bombard Yarmouth on the British coast with a view to drawing out the British Grand Fleet.

Visibility was 14,000 yards

Steaming westwards at 15 knots towards the British coast we sighted Royal Navy destroyers from the south and two half flotillas of torpedo boats were despatched to engage them and to screen the fleets continued eastern progress. The advancing torpedo boats then spotted British Light cruisers, so the entire fleet turned to engage. It soon became apparent that the Royal Navy were here in force as both Armoured Cruisers and Dreadnought battleships entered the fray. These represented the fleet based at Harwich.

The  Royal Navy destroyers did their job and the and quite badly shot up the  Imperial Navy torpedo boats, but not before those torpedo boats had sunk a Royal Navy Arethusa-class light cruiser. But the torpedo boats also managed to sink one of their own number who strayed into a torpedo track during a confused close-quarters melee with the Royal Navy Destroyers.

Although badly outnumbered, the  Imperial Navy battle-cruisers soon had the measure of the Royal Navy ships and soon had inflicted severe damage on the Royal Navy cruisers and battleships and taking little punishment in return, but a Royal Navy destroyer launched a torpedo at Derfflinger, causing light damage but severing the steam line limiting the vessel to 18knots.

With their major unit slowed and the possibility of being intercepted by the Grand Fleet on their, the Imperial Navy ships broke contact with the slower Royal Navy counterparts and headed back to their home ports.

The Royal Navy had lost a light cruiser and three destroyers sunk, another light cruiser, two armoured cruisers and two Battleships were severely damaged. The Imperial Navy had lost four torpedo boats and Derfflinger had been damaged. If the Grand Fleet had been on an intercept then Derfflinger may have been caught, but likewise the trap may have also been sprung.

A half flotilla of torpedo boats is despatched

Royal Navy light cruisers

Torpedo boats attempt to penetrate the destroyer screen

Melee between torpedo boats and destroyers, Imperial Navy battle-cruisers to the rear.

In the foreground are the RN light cruisers, then the armoured cruisers, then dreadnoughts.

Imperial Navy battle-cruisers in the foreground, light cruisers in the background.

All the ships are from Navwar and were painted by Steve as part of his collection.