Goeben and Breslau

During the Goeben and Breslau’s movements around the Mediterranean, they were at one time coaling at Messina and following orders to protect the French troop convoys from North Africa, Milne had his Battlecruisers guarding one of the entrances to the Straits of Messina only for the two German ships to leave via the other end which was only being watched by a Light Cruiser.

If Milne had ordered a Battlecruiser at each end, how is a one on one battle likely to likely to go?


Troubridge originally had Indomitable and Indefatigable with him but following a thought from London that Goeben may try to make for the Atlantic, they were detached from Troubridge and ordered towards Gibralter. Would detaching only a single Battlecruiser plus two of the Armoured Cruisers leaving Troubridge with the rest be an option?
 

Coulsdon Eagle

Monthly Donor
My money would be firmly on Goeben - a single RN battlecruiser of the Invincible or Indefatigable classes was really an upgunned armoured cruiser while Goeben had a good mixture of armament & protection. Two RN battlecruisers would be needed to ensure a British victory IMHO. Mind you there is still the possibility of Goeben suffering enough damage for Milne & Troubridge to finish her off (are German ships male or female?:confused:). Not sure the armoured cruisers would have the speed to catch either of the German squadron so would discount their presence.
 

Tyr Anazasi

Banned
IIRC at this moment Germany and the UK were still at peace. Thus it would be a clear unprovoked act of war against Germany. How would this be justified in the House of Commons?

Anyway, considering the (in-)abilities of the British BC in regards to gunnery and armour protection it might be even possible for Goeben to sink both ships. In this case, however, the German ships would have to retreat to Pola, as they would be damaged.

BTW, the German ships are female as well, with some few exceptions (like the passenger ship Imperator). Boats OTOH may have all three genders (if the neutrum is considered a gender), depending on the genus of the name. So it is the male gunboat SMS Panther (der Panther) or the female FAC S57 Weihe (die Weihe). Or the neutral S76 Frettchen (das Frettchen).
 

cpip

Gone Fishin'
My money would be firmly on Goeben - a single RN battlecruiser of the Invincible or Indefatigable classes was really an upgunned armoured cruiser while Goeben had a good mixture of armament & protection. Two RN battlecruisers would be needed to ensure a British victory IMHO. Mind you there is still the possibility of Goeben suffering enough damage for Milne & Troubridge to finish her off (are German ships male or female?:confused:). Not sure the armoured cruisers would have the speed to catch either of the German squadron so would discount their presence.

My feeling is that either of the battlecruisers would probably not be enough to stop Goeben, but they almost certainly could slow it sufficiently to allow the armored cruisers to catch up and sink it. (If memory serves, in German, ships are in the neuter case.)

In any case, I doubt they would have detached only one BC and sent it off with armored cruisers: my understanding of the intent of the Admiralty in sending off the BCs was to beat Goeben to Gibraltar, and that likely wouldn't have happened had Invincible been slowed by two armored cruisers.
 
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