The Battle of South Africa pt 2
12:00 Graf Spee
With the Goshawk shadowing her, Kapitan Zur See Langsdorf knows that his ship is in range of a British carrier, possibly two. His plan to transfer his prisoners to KMS Altmark no longer viable, Langsdorf orders speed to be increased to 23 knots in the hope of outrunning the Royal Navy.
13:00
The Skuas are the first to get to the Graf Spee. The first three Skuas dive on the pocket battleship out of the sun. The AA on the Graf Spee opens up, but due to the Skuas diving out of the sun, most miss. The lead Skua releases its single 500 lb bomb at a 90° angle. The bomb misses but explodes near midships, sending shrapnel towards and killing members of the AA crew.
The second Skua drops its bomb, but Captain Langsdorf carefully and skilfully weaves through each of the Skua’s dropped bombs. The Swordfish biplane torpedo bombers launched after the Skuas, carrying a single torpedo each, reach the Graf Spee.
The Swordfish utilise a hammer and anvil attack. Four Swordfish launch their torpedoes at 2000 yards while under heavy fire from Graf Spee. Again, Captain Langsdorf carefully and skilfully weaves through each torpedo track. Another four Swordfish drop to wave top height and launch at 1800 yards. Again, the first two torpedoes miss, but the last two hit the ship. Of the two torpedoes does the most damage so far, hitting the rudder propellers and locking the Graf Spee in a 25° turn to port.
HMS Repulse, Exeter and Cumberland close on the stricken pocket battleship. All three ships are told not to sink the Graf Spee as there is a strong possibility of British merchant marine sailors on-board. They can try and do as much damage as possible but do not sink her.
With the Skua dive bombers and Swordfish biplane torpedo bombers leaving, Captain Langsdorf orders the Graf Spee to stop and divers to try and get the rudders unjammed as soon as possible. Unfortunately for the Graf Spee, smoke is spotted on the horizon by the lookouts.
HMS Repulse opens fire with her two forward turrets at 29,500 yards. Four 15 inch shells miss by 2500 yards, scaring the Graf Spee’s crew. Captain Langsdorf orders the divers to be brought back up and the engines that are on idle to be brought back up to full power. While HMS Repulse reloads her forward turrets, HMS Exeter turns to port and Cumberland turns to starboard. Both heavy cruisers fire off broadsides at 12 000 yards. HMS Repulse, now with her two forward turrets reloaded and turning, brings all her guns to bear.
With the Goshawk shadowing her, Kapitan Zur See Langsdorf knows that his ship is in range of a British carrier, possibly two. His plan to transfer his prisoners to KMS Altmark no longer viable, Langsdorf orders speed to be increased to 23 knots in the hope of outrunning the Royal Navy.
13:00
The Skuas are the first to get to the Graf Spee. The first three Skuas dive on the pocket battleship out of the sun. The AA on the Graf Spee opens up, but due to the Skuas diving out of the sun, most miss. The lead Skua releases its single 500 lb bomb at a 90° angle. The bomb misses but explodes near midships, sending shrapnel towards and killing members of the AA crew.
The second Skua drops its bomb, but Captain Langsdorf carefully and skilfully weaves through each of the Skua’s dropped bombs. The Swordfish biplane torpedo bombers launched after the Skuas, carrying a single torpedo each, reach the Graf Spee.
The Swordfish utilise a hammer and anvil attack. Four Swordfish launch their torpedoes at 2000 yards while under heavy fire from Graf Spee. Again, Captain Langsdorf carefully and skilfully weaves through each torpedo track. Another four Swordfish drop to wave top height and launch at 1800 yards. Again, the first two torpedoes miss, but the last two hit the ship. Of the two torpedoes does the most damage so far, hitting the rudder propellers and locking the Graf Spee in a 25° turn to port.
HMS Repulse, Exeter and Cumberland close on the stricken pocket battleship. All three ships are told not to sink the Graf Spee as there is a strong possibility of British merchant marine sailors on-board. They can try and do as much damage as possible but do not sink her.
With the Skua dive bombers and Swordfish biplane torpedo bombers leaving, Captain Langsdorf orders the Graf Spee to stop and divers to try and get the rudders unjammed as soon as possible. Unfortunately for the Graf Spee, smoke is spotted on the horizon by the lookouts.
HMS Repulse opens fire with her two forward turrets at 29,500 yards. Four 15 inch shells miss by 2500 yards, scaring the Graf Spee’s crew. Captain Langsdorf orders the divers to be brought back up and the engines that are on idle to be brought back up to full power. While HMS Repulse reloads her forward turrets, HMS Exeter turns to port and Cumberland turns to starboard. Both heavy cruisers fire off broadsides at 12 000 yards. HMS Repulse, now with her two forward turrets reloaded and turning, brings all her guns to bear.