The Rainbow. A World War One on Canada's West Coast Timeline
- Thread starter YYJ
- Start date
One thing that the cruiser captains should consider:
The odds of them getting home are slim; the royal navy and the Japanese navy are everywhere, there will probably be Royal Navy cruisers lurking on the western (Atlantic!) end of the Panama Canal in case they do try to use the canal. Odds are that they'll either be caught be bigger, faster ships or forced to intern. It won't take much damage to end their raiding careers.
The odds of them getting home are slim; the royal navy and the Japanese navy are everywhere, there will probably be Royal Navy cruisers lurking on the western (Atlantic!) end of the Panama Canal in case they do try to use the canal. Odds are that they'll either be caught be bigger, faster ships or forced to intern. It won't take much damage to end their raiding careers.
The German captains know that the odds are against them, and their duty lies in doing as much damage as possible. Slinking away and trying to escape means still almost certainly getting caught, and for nothing. They will do as much damage as they can, the Rainbow, unless exceptionally lucky, cannot sink them or even seriously damage them. I expect that if they are severely damaged they will run to American waters to be interned, that or be sunk fighting against a stronger force - as OTL.
To NHBL's point OTL Graf Spree and his ships did very little (other than existing) in disrupting the commerce of the British and French Empires
And other than Coronel (which was the loss of 2 obsolete RN armored Cruisers and more valuably their crews) did little actual damage and SMS Nürnberg's duel with HMS Kent (avenging her Sister HMS Monmouth who SMS Nurnberg had finished off at Coronel) at the Falklands was very one sided as were the other engagements of that battle.
Here at least the SMS Nürnberg is contributing in some fashion (other than cutting cables etc) and more of her crew may survive the war (OTL only 7 crew survived of the 12 Kent was able to rescue from the water after she sunk).
So doing as much damage as possible should have been their option but I cannot really fault Spree's desire for trying to get back to Germany (where his cruisers would have been of use to the HSF which always lacked sufficient numbers of Cruisers).
And other than Coronel (which was the loss of 2 obsolete RN armored Cruisers and more valuably their crews) did little actual damage and SMS Nürnberg's duel with HMS Kent (avenging her Sister HMS Monmouth who SMS Nurnberg had finished off at Coronel) at the Falklands was very one sided as were the other engagements of that battle.
Here at least the SMS Nürnberg is contributing in some fashion (other than cutting cables etc) and more of her crew may survive the war (OTL only 7 crew survived of the 12 Kent was able to rescue from the water after she sunk).
So doing as much damage as possible should have been their option but I cannot really fault Spree's desire for trying to get back to Germany (where his cruisers would have been of use to the HSF which always lacked sufficient numbers of Cruisers).
Driftless
Donor
Here, the Leipzig and Nurnberg have sunk a few ships, but just the proximity and sightings of them near shipping lanes have started to disrupt commercial shipping. That by itself is a useful military goal. If the Nurnberg manages to notably damage the copper facilities in Anyox, that's another useful result for the German Navy.
Sooner, rather than later, the Admiralty will need to dispatch more capable forces to the area to locate and destroy those ships. Perhaps the larger Japanese cruiser (farther South?) becomes involved? It sounds as though the two subs need more work before they're ready for active service and the Rainbow's best work may be in staying in pursuit but out of a fight. Neither side can really afford to have their ships heavily damaged at this point. The Rainbow is all the Commonwealth has at present in the region of sufficient strength, but it's still a less powerful ship than either of the German's, plus the Rainbow's crew is pretty green. The German's, of course, have no base for repairs or resupply, so they need to pick their fights carefully.
Sooner, rather than later, the Admiralty will need to dispatch more capable forces to the area to locate and destroy those ships. Perhaps the larger Japanese cruiser (farther South?) becomes involved? It sounds as though the two subs need more work before they're ready for active service and the Rainbow's best work may be in staying in pursuit but out of a fight. Neither side can really afford to have their ships heavily damaged at this point. The Rainbow is all the Commonwealth has at present in the region of sufficient strength, but it's still a less powerful ship than either of the German's, plus the Rainbow's crew is pretty green. The German's, of course, have no base for repairs or resupply, so they need to pick their fights carefully.
The classic example of "causing hell", is the cruise of the SMS EMDEN, and it's raiding.
However, when run down at Cocos Island, by HMAS Sydney, it was close to the disparity between Rainbow & Nurnberg. The Sydney was a heavy cruiser v / s the Emden being a light cruiser. The other element in that engagement was a portion of the Emden's complement were ashore wrecking the signal station, or gathering supplies.
That crew after watching their ship being battered to a hulk, commandeered a schooner, and eventually made it back to Germany, several years later.
OTL, and ITTL, Japan will not declare war until the 23rd of August. Izumo is currently off the coast of Mexico. HMS Newcastle OTL and ITTL is currently on its way to coal in Yokohama, and has been ordered to report to Esquimalt.
As I am writing this story and trying to tell a good ripping yarn, I am wondering if all this actual marauding would have any more real effect than the cruisers did OTL. British shipping on the Pacific coast of North America was fully stopped by rumours. Leipzig really did appear in San Francisco and sailed as far north as Mendicino. Nürnberg was rumoured to be lurking off the coast of Northern BC as late as October, even though she was thousands of miles away, and moving farther away all the time. So ships were held in port. This affected the whole Pacific, ANZAC divisions were held up from reinforcing Europe for months while the Allied navies tried to scrounge up enough warships to sufficiently escort them past the ravages of Emden in the Indian Ocean.
With the cruiser(s) actually off the Pacific coast much longer, and doing more actual damage, including a raid ON CANADIAN SOIL at Anyox, the pucker factor is going to be much higher and forces will need to be augmented more than OTL - whether more RN ships or more coastal batteries or both. The activities if the Germans will alarm Americans in one sense, however they will also raise the spirits of the pro-German factions in the USA who were pretty strong early in the war. The proper treatment of the captured seaman, and hopefully the same in Anyox will help balance British propaganda about Belgium. My guess is that while the American reaction may be an earlier and stronger buildup of military capabilities, this will be in aid of protection of American isolation not with a few to being ready to enter the war on the Entente side. Given that the commerce raiding as well as the "blockade" of Western Canada is following the same rules the British are using in Europe (no USW yet), the British can't complain about it without the fingers being turned on them.
While the British and Canadians may try to use American flagged ships to get around this, the Germans are using basically the same list of "proscribed" items the British are using - so if food is not allowed by the British, likewise by the Germans. The British may find American charters to carry British cargo difficult to get and/or extremely expensive.
While the British and Canadians may try to use American flagged ships to get around this, the Germans are using basically the same list of "proscribed" items the British are using - so if food is not allowed by the British, likewise by the Germans. The British may find American charters to carry British cargo difficult to get and/or extremely expensive.
Like they were on a train
Aug 16, 1500 hours. SMS Nürnberg, Portland Inlet
Nürnberg recovered her boats, and the convoy got underway. Von Schönberg, was assured by his chief engineer that they did have enough coal to make their destination. Steaming at 15 knots, the incoming tide added another 3, and in two hours they had covered 36 Nautical miles, with the forest on either side rolling by like they were on a train. The ships crossed a sharp line where the water changed from clear with a jade green cast, to a milky pale green: almost white. They had reached the confluence with the Nass River to starboard, Portland Canal, which led to Stewart British Columbia and Hyder Alaska to port, and Observatory Inlet, which led to Anyox, straight ahead. Great eddies and whirlpools marked all this mixing of water. Eagles circled overhead and when Von Schönberg looked through binoculars, he noticed dozens, or perhaps even hundreds more sitting on the trees lining the shore.
Radl signaled over to Nürnberg, by Morse light, and Von Schönberg had the cruiser maneuver close to port of the Prince Rupert, so the liner masked the shape of the warship to viewers from the south. On their starboard side, further up the Nass river, some canoes and rowboats were in the water. Shortly they passed a village on the north side of the Nass estuary, a line of wood frame houses with a single tall white church spire, the shore lined with large canoes and other boats. Radl knew the village as Kincolith, but had heard the residents pronounce the name as Gingolx. The settlement appeared on his charts as Indian Village, as all the Indian settlements did. Whatever its name, no one from the village would later recall seeing a German cruiser pass by that day, only the familiar lines of the Prince Rupert.
Two tall mountain ranges flanked the entrance to Observatory Inlet, their peaks still bearing snow in August. The channel narrowed to less than a mile. The convoy steamed up the centre of the channel, the water stirred up in whimsical whorls and gradients of dark green to milky white. As the tide gradually shifted from slack to ebb, the ships now increasingly had to fight the current, and effectively slowed six knots compared to their speed of three hours before. The sky was still overcast, but the clouds where now higher than the mountain tops. About 10 miles ahead, the inlet looked like it made a dead end, but according to the charts it jogged to the north. A herd of two dozen elk came floating down the channel, swimming from east to west shore. They were carried sideways by the tide faster than they made headway, so their path described a long diagonal. The herd passed to port of both ships and their puffing breath and odd vocalizations passed astern.
After another 20 minutes, Von Schönberg signaled, and both ships slowed until they were stationary relative to the land. A yawl was lowered, and quickly rowed to shore. One sailor climbed a telegraph pole, cut the wire, fastened the wire to the boat, and they rowed it back across to the Nürnberg. The wire was fastened to a bollard on Nürnberg’s stern. Once the cruiser got underway again, the ship’s movement yanked the wire off its poles one by one. The progress of the wire could be followed along shore as treetops waved and danced, until the wire parted, and Nürnberg dropped half a mile of telegraph wire to the bottom of Observatory Inlet.
“That should take a while to repair,” said Von Schönberg. No sooner had this sabotage been effected, than a steam tug appeared around the bend in the channel, about half a mile distant.
http://bcmarina.com/Places/Portland_Inlet/Websize/thumbnails.html
Nürnberg recovered her boats, and the convoy got underway. Von Schönberg, was assured by his chief engineer that they did have enough coal to make their destination. Steaming at 15 knots, the incoming tide added another 3, and in two hours they had covered 36 Nautical miles, with the forest on either side rolling by like they were on a train. The ships crossed a sharp line where the water changed from clear with a jade green cast, to a milky pale green: almost white. They had reached the confluence with the Nass River to starboard, Portland Canal, which led to Stewart British Columbia and Hyder Alaska to port, and Observatory Inlet, which led to Anyox, straight ahead. Great eddies and whirlpools marked all this mixing of water. Eagles circled overhead and when Von Schönberg looked through binoculars, he noticed dozens, or perhaps even hundreds more sitting on the trees lining the shore.
Radl signaled over to Nürnberg, by Morse light, and Von Schönberg had the cruiser maneuver close to port of the Prince Rupert, so the liner masked the shape of the warship to viewers from the south. On their starboard side, further up the Nass river, some canoes and rowboats were in the water. Shortly they passed a village on the north side of the Nass estuary, a line of wood frame houses with a single tall white church spire, the shore lined with large canoes and other boats. Radl knew the village as Kincolith, but had heard the residents pronounce the name as Gingolx. The settlement appeared on his charts as Indian Village, as all the Indian settlements did. Whatever its name, no one from the village would later recall seeing a German cruiser pass by that day, only the familiar lines of the Prince Rupert.
Two tall mountain ranges flanked the entrance to Observatory Inlet, their peaks still bearing snow in August. The channel narrowed to less than a mile. The convoy steamed up the centre of the channel, the water stirred up in whimsical whorls and gradients of dark green to milky white. As the tide gradually shifted from slack to ebb, the ships now increasingly had to fight the current, and effectively slowed six knots compared to their speed of three hours before. The sky was still overcast, but the clouds where now higher than the mountain tops. About 10 miles ahead, the inlet looked like it made a dead end, but according to the charts it jogged to the north. A herd of two dozen elk came floating down the channel, swimming from east to west shore. They were carried sideways by the tide faster than they made headway, so their path described a long diagonal. The herd passed to port of both ships and their puffing breath and odd vocalizations passed astern.
After another 20 minutes, Von Schönberg signaled, and both ships slowed until they were stationary relative to the land. A yawl was lowered, and quickly rowed to shore. One sailor climbed a telegraph pole, cut the wire, fastened the wire to the boat, and they rowed it back across to the Nürnberg. The wire was fastened to a bollard on Nürnberg’s stern. Once the cruiser got underway again, the ship’s movement yanked the wire off its poles one by one. The progress of the wire could be followed along shore as treetops waved and danced, until the wire parted, and Nürnberg dropped half a mile of telegraph wire to the bottom of Observatory Inlet.
“That should take a while to repair,” said Von Schönberg. No sooner had this sabotage been effected, than a steam tug appeared around the bend in the channel, about half a mile distant.
http://bcmarina.com/Places/Portland_Inlet/Websize/thumbnails.html
MatthewB
Banned
I visited the coastal battery at Victoria last year. The disappearing guns are impressive.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Rodd_Hill_National_Historic_Site
https://onboardmagazine.ca/wp-conte...-and-Fort-Rodd-Hill-CREDIT-Parks-Canada-1.jpg
That is an actual gun barrel from the fort. The carriage shown is something built by the museum to display the gun.
Not to give any spoilers, but I notice people seem to be in awe of the fortifications at Esquimalt. I will be giving a useful description of their actual specifications, if and when the action gets near. Let's say, like the Rainbow, they look better on paper.
MatthewB
Banned
Just watch your dates, as much of the gunnery at Equimalt is post-WW1. Vancouver has, AIUI zero coastal defences at this time, and could be bombarded with impunity.
In my travels I always try to find and explore British forts and fortifications. Last summer I visited both Fort Canning and Fort Siloso in Singapore, and the year before Fort St. Catherine in Bermuda. But if you want to see an epic pre-WW1 British fort I highly recommend the former Lei Yue Mun Fort in Hong Kong fort https://hk.coastaldefence.museum/. It's sad as you can easily envvision my fellow Canadians and Brits fighting for their lives in 1941, but it's still amazing to see the pre-WW1 defences, like the wire guided Brennan torpedo.
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The main issues are the fact that while Canada is strategically important to Britain, any german surface raiders generally aren’t a very large threat to Canada as a whole. They can sink ships and damage smaller ports however they are not numerous enough nor large enough to be a persistent threat for any length of time.
As long as the East Coast is doing fine, it generally doesn’t matter what will happen on the West Coast in the big picture. You might see friendly cruisers vectored earlier if there’s a big mess made but nothing is really likely to come of it.
You really need something like the destruction of a major town or the sinking of a warship/ship with heavy loss of life (such as my hiatused timeline) to really haul a response out of the Canadian or British governments.
Ft Casey on Whidbey island and the other forts guarding Puget sound on the US side would make it interesting if the Germans decide that they need a place to surrender at or just to dock and then have themselves intered for the duration.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Casey
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Casey
Current event meets this historical setting. Today, August 9 2019, Harry Stephens, an anti-Asian immigration Conservative Member of Parliament who appears in the second chapter entitled Prepare for Active Service, has his name taken off a Federal Government Building for his role in the Komagata Maru incident.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/harry-stevens-building-name-removed-1.5241870
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komag...lter_J._Hose_on_board_the_"Komagata_Maru".jpg
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/harry-stevens-building-name-removed-1.5241870
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komag...lter_J._Hose_on_board_the_"Komagata_Maru".jpg
Looks like well deserved justice to me, a few years later than I would prefer but hey it eventually happened
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