Die Flottendammerung First Clash

Night time clash with German Destroyers 6.30pm 30th Ocotber 1918

Tactically the German Light Cruisers have approached the Grand Fleet from its port bow unseen and continue to shadow the unsuspecting British for two turns.  The main German Battlecruisers then turned away unseen by flanking british cruisers.  The Germans  redeployed their destroyers on their own starboard bow before closing for action.

German operational order at tactical level

In tactical terms the German Player only focused on this type of battle.  He indicated ordered that the destroyers should avoid gunfire, searchlights and use only torpedoes.  The battlecruisers would illuminate the target and do all the gun work keeping British attention on them.

Below is the after action report to Beatty

Battle reports are from the Second Battleship Squadron and 12th Destroyer Flotilla.  Second Battleship squadron formed your starboard column 12th Destroyer Flotilla was behind them.  Monarch, Thunderer and Agincourt were in action.  Monarch and Agincourt illuminated enemy destroyers  and sank six with gunfire.  Thunderer was torpedoed and sank rapidly.  Agincourt and Monarch turned away from torpedoes.  Erin the third in line of the column did not turn away and was struck by 4 torpedoes. Ajax, Orion George V Centurion fired and drove off enemy torpedo boats before turning away.  12th Destroyer Flotilla spotted German Battlecruisers and launched torpedoes forcing them to turn away.  Action ceased within 15 minutes, the enemy has turned away on a westerly course. 

German destroyers close for the kill

 

Thunderer and Erin catch it

British destroyers see off the Battlecruisers?