November 6th, 1905
Norfolk
The aging Captain William Rufus Shafter hailed from Michigan (Galesburg) and had been given the honor of Captaining the USS Michigan on her shakedown cruises in the environs of Norfolk. While only about 70% manned, the American vessel was escorted by a pair of light frigates, the USS Chicago and USS Tallahassee.
For the past month, the USS Michigan had tested her engines, guns, etc to......generally.....good results. However, one of the boilers kept bursting and would probably have to be replaced. This kept the Michigan's speed down to about 16 kph.
The ship had barely returned from a week-long shakedown cruise when the commander of the Naval Yard immediately motored out to the Michigan before it could even drop anchor. The orders were shocking.
"Is this real?!" Shafter demanded.
A shrug was all he could get. But the orders were clear enough. The crews and dock personnel worked through the night to load shells, powder, coal and anything else on hand to the Michigan, Chicago and Tallahassee. To Shafter's surprise, the USS Montana had also been ordered out to sea despite her refit not yet being complete. The Iowa-class vessel was upgrading her guns to 12 inchers and only the fore-guns had been delivered. The aft had been removed but not replaced.
Still, orders were orders. The following morning, the ships would sail forth out of Norfolk en route to New York.
Eastern Siberia
The Chinese Ministers would learn of the weakness of the Russians in their war in the west (the Baltic fleet had been humbled, several regions of Russia were in rebellion and the Russian Army had been repulsed by the Germans.
By this point, the Chinese army had sufficiently scouted the Russian supply line via Siberia (the trans-continental railroad was unfinished and what had been built apparently already rotting via poor construction). Without access to eastern Siberia via land, the Russians would not be able to threaten China any distance east of Xinjiang.
The Emperor was not prepared to order troops forward....but the situation would be monitored over the winter.
Washington
Having received the final complaints of the Latin Alliance on November 5th, President McKinley would formally summon Congress and inform them of the development. Stunned, an outcry arose over both the presumption and injustice of such an action.
A formal declaration of war itself was not yet made on behalf of the Americans but McKinley knew it was best to let things percolate over a couple of days before formally requesting the same.
McKinley did not bother telling the Ambassadors of the detection of their fleet. Doing so would not in any way alter what was to come......... one way or another.
20 miles east of New York Harbor
Admiral George Dewey would sail out of New York Harbor in two columns:
The heaviest ships - the USS Mescalero, Arizona, Maine, Massachusetts and Virginia - would sail in the vanguard while half a dozen lighter ships would sail in a second line, only to act according to orders from Dewey or, if deemed prudent, that of their commander as circumstances saw fit.
Dewey hoped that the intelligence provided by the the Salem and Atlanta would prove....well, inaccurate was unlikely....but perhaps not so hostile in intentions as one may assume.
As the smoke rose of multiple funnels on the horizon, Dewey knew his hopes were about to be dashed.
Putting himself into the minds of the French, Spanish and Italian commanders, the Admiral understood the Latin Alliance's actions in a way the typical American could not. Most Americans would be outraged that foreign nations would declare war upon a nation which, in the eyes of his people, would be unjust. However, Dewey also understood the logistics of war and the reality of being a nation well removed from the conflagration ongoing in Europe. While some may see this as a good thing (and many American DID as it meant that America itself could and would rarely be threatened from abroad), it also meant America's ability to influence a war directly would be limited.
Up until this point, trade with Britain proceeded apace. As a "neutral" under the rules of war, America may still provide goods to Great Britain though some direct war material was considered unacceptable. The Latin Alliance (and Russia) could not halt American ships at sea unless carrying "contraband" products and could only expect American shipping to be turned away if they actively blockaded a combatant's port. Of course, these long-held rules were starting to fall by the wayside in a modern age as they seemed less likely to be logical and valid once the human race moved past the age of sail.
From a European perspective, America was in some ways more dangerous as a neutral than as a combatant. As a neutral, most of the American shipping (including the all-important grain shipments) could continue to flow into Britain without much hindrance. Once in the war, American shipping to Britain would be fair game for the fast lighter patrol ships of the Latin Alliance.
Of course, the United States Navy and Army may have something to say about that.....unless the cream of the Atlantic fleet was isolated, outnumbered and surprised in New York before it could be assembled into a concentrated force. Even now, the Atlantic fleet was scattered across multiple ports. The Caribbean Squadron was smaller and obvious more focused on South American issues (both Brazil and Chile had gotten uppity). The Pacific Fleet was too far away and had its own problems protecting wide-spread Pacific holdings.
A powerful strike in New York, Dewey reasoned, would severely limit America's capacity to intervene in a war many believed America was destined to enter sooner or later anyway. It all made a cruel sense. The destruction of an unready Atlantic squadron and a probable assault on New York's vast shipping and warehouse district would likely cripple American capacity to resist. He doubted the Latins believed America would cower away in fear. America, like most nations, was proud to the point of folly. Naturally, a declaration of war was going to take place but on the Latin Alliance's terms and timeframe.
As this was not the 18th century, it was impossible to just buy a bunch of merchant ships, arm them and send them off to war as warships. No, the massive steel monstrosities of the age of steam often took years to build. Even at an expedited pace and men working around the clock, it would be months before the next American ship was launched, years before new steel warships of significant quantities could be added.
The loss of the Atlantic Squadron would be devastating for America.
Seeing how badly he was now outnumbered didn't make him feel any better. In truth, most "peacetime" ships of the line were not on active duty at any particular point. Even those not "in mothballs", there were frequently large percentage of ships being refitted, recrewed, etc. Had it not been for the order to High Alert months ago, the Atlantic squadron would have been hard pressed to raise anchor of half of her "capital ships" and even these would have been scattered across multiple bases.
As best his spotters could tell, there appeared to be at least 10 capital ships and 6 lighter vessels approaching. That outnumbered his 5 capital ships and 6 escort. As the enemy approached, Dewey's heart would sink even further as it was obvious that two of the French vessels were of the new variety. Only the Mescalero was an equal to them. Worse, at the vanguard of the fleet was the new titan of the seas, the Italian Cuniberti-class Cuniberti Until, the HMS Dreadnaught was launched the following year, the Cuniberti and the Michigan were probably the two most powerful ships afloat.
The problem was that the Cuniberti was here....and the Michigan was still undergoing trials to the south.
The Cuniberti
Still, his duty clear, Dewey sailed forward and, bit by bit, his spotters were able to identify most of the enemy ships. If the Cuniberti and the two modern French ships weren't present, he would be quite confident even his hastily assembled force could have thrown back the invaders.
Ah, well, he thought.
Nothing to do about that now.
At 12,000 yards, nearly the range of the American 13 inch guns, the French opened fire.
Well, he realized,
at least we know who fired first and can claim the right. He wondered if there had been some sort of declaration of war, not that it mattered much to Dewey or his men.
The American fleet sailed in two lines, the heavy ships on the inside and the lighter ones on the outside with orders only to "join the line" if the allied fleet attempts to utilize torpedoes (mostly emplaced upon the lighter vessels). Otherwise, the frigates and corvettes were to remain out of range. There was no point in them exchanging fire with heavier ships.
In rapid succession, the Americans would strike first, hitting both the Cuniberti and one of the French vessels. Another (older) Italian ship would be hit twice and catch fire. But all of the enemy heavy vessels would remain under steam. Only the Virginia would suffer a hit on the first volleys of the battle.
To Dewey's surprise, the enemy would not be so kind to their lighter escorts. The frigates, destroyers, et all, would sail behind the heavier ships and exchange fire with the Americans. This was absurd in Dewey's mind and a waste of life. Two of the smaller ships bearing the Spanish flag were struck in succession, one being broken in half by a 13-inch shell and the other suffering a puncture near the waterline which tore through the thin three-inch armor as though it were made of paper. Struck near the aft, the engine room was ruined, the props dislodged and the ship shuddered to a stop.
Dewey considered this a waste of hundreds of good men and perhaps an indication of the "group decision making" of the invaders.
If so, the Admiral thought as both fleets turned to engage again,
we may get out of this yet.
The next pass would not go as well. American gunnery again took its tool upon the Latin Alliance fleet but the enemy soon got the range itself. The USS Massachusetts, an old Louisiana-class cruiser was hit by a combination of French and Spanish guns. Still, aflame, the ship sailed on. It was here that an Italian vessel took first blood upon the USS Mescalero as a shell rocked the aft deck. Then the USS Virginia took a shell, killing most of her command staff.
In return, the Americans would hit one of the smaller Italian cruisers three times in quick succession. Within minutes, the ship would start to burn. Within 10, her captain would order all hands to the lifeboats.
One of those damned French heavy cruisers, the two of which had caused most of the damage to the American fleet via their expert gunner, would suffer a hit as well, dismounting a forward gun and killing dozens.
Once again, the lighter vessels of the rear would exchange blows again with the five heavy American ships at a cost of the loss of an Italian Frigate (which outright exploded) and a French Corvette losing her main gun. The latter would fall out of line.
The third pass would be the most damaging.
The American guns would strike the Cuniberti twice....to little effect. The older of the three French capital ships was struck twice as well. An hour later, water rushing into the ship's wounds near the waterline would force the vessel to be abandoned.
The American vessels would suffer the worst of this round as the USS Virginia, already fighting a blaze, would be hit three times, tearing her apart and capsizing her within five minutes. Most of the crew would sink below the waves. The Massachusetts would also be hit multiple times and catch fire. Falling out of line, she would be abandoned to her fate by her surviving crew.
The Dakota-class Arizona and Maine would suffer their first blow as well. Only the Mescalero avoided damage this time.
Lumbering about, the American fleet (what was left of it) slowed and turned for yet another exchange. Smelling blood, the allies did the same.
The American ships would demand a terrible blood price. Already the allies had lost one older Italian Capital ship and three frigates/corvettes. This next pass would cost them the oldest of the French capital ships and the best of the Spanish (though none of the four Spanish capital ships were a match for the least of their allied vessels) cruisers. A second Spanish vessel was struck badly while both the remaining French cruisers suffered lesser blows.
The luck of the Arizona and Maine continued to degrade. Having avoided hits in the first two exchanges, they would take shells in the next two passes. Both, though, survived the fourth exchange under power, though the Maine's fore-guns were lost. The Arizona was battling a fire in her aft compartments. Fortunately, the design improvements of the past 10 years (and retrofitting) to avoid explosions of ammunition had worked.
The Mescalero would be hit twice more, none killing blows but one of her gun barrels was bent and made useless while a moderate-sized hole was opened in her bowels. Fortunately, the compartment was sealed and the damaged contained. Counterflooding would allow the Mescalero to remain balanced so she may continue to fight.
The fifth exchange would prove to be the last and among the bloodiest.
A second Spanish heavy ship would be hit amidships and nearly be broken in half. Both of the remaining French capital ships took additional blows but not fatal. A Italian Corvette which had unwisely continued to follow the line was severely damaged as well.
All three remaining American capital ships would be struck. A fire would be set on the Maine and a blow near the waterline would put the Arizona in danger. Both Captains knew their ships could not continue. They signaled to the Mescalero that they must drop out of the line. As they were steaming north at the time, they continued on towards the dubious safety of Boston.
The Mescalero would be hit again and again. Like a punch drunk fighter, the ship turned back into the enemy line only to discover that their signaling officer had been taken by a shell and Dewey belatedly learned that the Arizona and Maine were no longer following.
Still, her guns blazing at one ship after another, the Mescalero would pass the entire line, hitting the Cuniberti twice (not badly) and mauling the other remaining Italian ship of the line. Ironically, the feared Cuniberti hadn't hit ANYTHING due to bad luck and bad gunnery.
In response, the French and Spanish vessels behind the Italians would strike four more blows upon the Mescalero. One by one the guns were silenced. Holes in the hull became gaping wounds and, finally, the engine department flooded. While not sinking, the lack of power doomed the ship. Fires spread and the Americans were forced to strike their colors and abandon ship.
The Atlantic Squadron had lost three capital ships and seen two others forced to retreat north. The support vessels, ordered not to engage in a line battle, had all but escaped harm (one of the frigate Captains unwisely strayed too close the line and had his conning tower shot out from under him). The lighter ships would retreat south knowing that they did not want to be caught in New York Harbor.
Admiral Dewey would expire upon his bridge. As best he could tell, his fleet had sunk at least four enemy capital ships (the oldest of the three French capital ships, the oldest of the three Italian Capital ships and the two most modern Spanish ships). In addition, five of the remaining six allied ships of the line had taken hits but only one of the Spanish vessels was badly damaged. There was also the loss of three frigate/corvettes and another badly damaged.
The Americans had taken a butchers bill for their own blood but the three most powerful ships in the allied Fleet - the Cuniberti and the two modern Loire-class heavy cruisers, were still in fighting shape.
Realizing the Latin Alliance fleet wasn't even stopping to claim the burning Mescalero, Dewey would smile as he realized they were heading towards New York Harbor. Though the first line of defense had been breached, the Admiral had spent years preparing for the second line.
As he took his final breath, he wondered how the enemy would enjoy his little surprise.