Die Flottendammerung Explosive Finish

Pre dawn clash between British Battlecruisers and the High Seas Fleet 5am 31st October 1918

The German Battlecruisers have led their British counterparts into the classic trap to face the whole of the High Seas Fleet but heroic action from the lead ships and critical events save the day, turning the jaws of victory into a defeat.  At the outset of the battle the Germans heavily jam all radio communication and do so for a further 4 hours to aid their Uboat patrols

High seas Fleet enters!

Turn 1 The German battlecruisers double back, expecting to overwhelm the trailing HMS Furious and Courageous instead the Furious and Courageous are only hit by the leading three German battlecruisers

Turn 2 HMS Furious gains a critically hit on Seydlitz which explodes.  However HMS Courageous and Furious come under fire from SMS Seydlitz,Moltke and Bayern at close range.  1^st Battlecruiser Squadron turns away abreast. British Destroyers from the rear and Light cruisers on the flanks close to cover this turn away

Turn 3 HMS Courageous and Furious turn away at high speed burning, Derfflinger illuminated by the exploding Seydlitz becomes the focus of Destoryer Flotilla 11.  British 3^rd Light Cruisers blunder into the high seas fleet, totally destroyed by the Fire of SMS Thugrigen, Nassau, Moltke, Bayern & Defflinger, they still get off a close range torpedo strike on Thugrigen which suffers 10 flotation hits.  British 2^nd Battlecruisers open up on the German battlecruisers. 1^st Battlecruiser Squadron completes its turns away now steam in the wrong direction.

Turn 4 The battlecruisers steer 3 points to port off the battleline this is into the path of destroyers. Defflinger is torpedoed by destroyer flotilla 11 suffers a critical magazine explosion.  Flotilla 11 has lost 3 destroyers.  Baden suffers a critical bridge hit from New Zealand.  1^st Battlecruiser Squadron turns back  abreast towards the 2^nd Battlecruisers. Flank destroyers report the destruction of British 3^rd Light Cruiser Sqaudron to Pakenham

Turn 5 with so much carnage the German High seas fleet takes mutiny roles.  SMS Baden turns away. SMS Konig Albert and Prinz Leopold mutiny and drop out. New Zealand and Hindenburg exchange fire. Flotilla 11 has lost 3 more destroyers 1^st Battlecruiser Squadron completes its turn back crowding close to 2^nd Battle Squadron.

Turn 6 Seeing SMS Konig Albert and Prinz Leopold dropping out of the battleline. Lead British battlecruisers fire on lead German battleline now illuminated by their own searchlights and two burning ships. SMS Nassau and Oldenburg Mutiny.  German battleline does engage HMS New Zealand , Australia and Lion all hit. Lion suffers a critical bridge hit. 

Turn 7 Both sides break off.  Pakenham is alive. Hipper in SMS Baden leads his part of the German fleet head for port.  The mutineers head for Keil.

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?

Die Flottendammerung

I recently completed a great campaign using Avalon Hill's Jutland rules and a scenario that balances up for the German Player in the late war extra victory conditions.  I had five players, three from my boardgaming friends, a tabletop wargamer and an ex work college who had previously served in RN Submarines. 

Scenario Die Flottendämmerung (The Twilight of the Fleet) An Avalon Hill Jutland scenario by Brian McCue © 2019.  this is built on Hipper's operational plan and both German players, Hipper (High Seas Fleet) and 3rd Uboat Flotilla Commander were given this as their briefing.

Hipper was played by the former colleague and submariner, he also wanted to mess with Hipper's play in two ways, first spring it one day early, these operational forces to maintain radio silence, keep it secret from all other forces until 7am on the first day then deliver his detailed orders by motorcycle courier.  He also wanted to manage the potential mutiny by sitting with his battleships in the anchorage at heligoland bight and calling on the Uboat commander to exercise his initiative with the mutineers.  This necessitated getting a Uboat commander in, who was well played by my old friend Andrew, an all round wargaming, boardgamer and RPGist

I have some great wee models for the Jutland Fleets and wanted to play the tabletop battles.  It was great to be and umpire and to simply enjoy the moves of the players. I got three very playable and effective engagements

Rapid fire and the night time adaptions were used with only one house rule.

House rule

Given the appalling record of the RN night fighting in WW1 I’m using a night time readiness rule, each squadron roles a D6 to see how it reacts on the initial enemy encounter.  1 does nothing, 2 ready to fire, 3 can turn to avoid coming too close, 4 reports, 5 can change course, 6 takes initiative. -1 if tired, -1 if British

Night sailing formation