October Woes of 1917

Beginning of the sortie to the Skagerrak

Finally, it was time for the German Navy to sail from its home ports to the decisive battle sites. After the final preparations, the Kaiserliche Marine slipped from its home ports starting from the morning of 1 November to the evening of the same day and the fleets proceeded to their sectors. The Channel assault force would proceed to the Channel while the High Seas Fleet moved to intercept the Grand Fleet. Despite information regarding the Grand Fleet's imminent sailing, Admiral Hipper was to continue with his orders and attack the British. There was only one thing in question. This was the Dover-Calais mine barrage, which had the Germans in doubt as to its status. Although the barrage was swept as ordered by 31 October, several mines were still in force and safety was in question, especially for the precious battlecruisers involved.

The first squadron to sortie, as scheduled, were the raiding, submarine hunting and minesweeping destroyers and anti-submarine vessels. Next was the minelaying group of slow and minelaying cruisers plus the Siegfried class ships. Then, the Channel attack force raised its anchors and finally, the High Seas Fleet would await orders from Hotzendorff before sailing. It was recommended that if the Grand Fleet was sighted, the Germans break radio silence or drive the Grand Fleet into minefields, especially German-laid ones. After all, it was expected that the High Seas Fleet would intervene and the Entente, with poor coordination, would not be aware of these fields.

Also, Entente submarines had to be dealt with and observed to prevent attacks and reports. This was especially after the fleet was underway to the west at midnight on 2 November and about to shell Entente ports and ships. Since no Entente warnings were expected, Hipper felt that complete surprise would befall the Channel Squadron. It was expected that the attack take place earlier to exploit the speed and surprise presented to him. A plane flew over the squadron and the fleet was reported, but without an operating radio, it had to return to base. Since the plane was operating some distance off its projected route from the views of several sailors, plus didn't stop or report, Admiral Hipper's confidence that the plane was on a regular flight or returning to base damaged would increase his confidence. He didn't know that the information presented would be in British Admiralty intelligence by breakfast that day.

By 7:00 a.m., Admiral Hipper woke up from his sleep and read the information presented to him. He hoped that the Dover-Calais mine barrage was [virtually] secure, to permit sailing of his fleet. The presence of some 25 destroyers was an issue to the British, who ordered a destroyer flotilla and several scouting cruisers out of port. The French pre-dreadnoughts in the Channel and escorts of 10 destroyers and a squadron of slower protected cruisers were out to intercept the Germans. Meanwhile, the Grand Fleet was sailing southwards before the battlecruisers were detached to steam at full speed, assist the blocking and mining of the Channel, and then intercept the German Channel Squadron. As of the moment, the mine warfare squadron would rescue survivors from the 4 destroyers sunk and scuttle 2 heavily damaged vessels. However, 5 British destroyers were sunk and several others were badly damaged. Within a few hours, 10 British destroyers were sunk, aground or scuttled from the Dover Barrage. In a few hours, additional destroyers, light cruisers, minesweepers and submarines were to reinforce the Channel Fleet and intercept the German Channel and mine warfare squadrons. Then, the French ships, monitors, scouting and protected cruisers and the assigned destroyer and light cruiser escorts would engage the Germans.

With the assistance of direction finding equipment, the Admiralstab informed the mine squadron to accelerate the pace of sweeping before returning or rendevousing with Hipper starting at 10:00 a.m. and the mandatory report sent would be the first report received by the High Seas Fleet from this squadron. Hipper was confident that if he sacrificed the Siegfried class ships and minelayers, he would be capable of steaming at over 24 knots, enough to engage the battleships, cruisers, destroyers and monitors.
 
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Battle of the Channel Coast [November 1917]-part 1

Vice Admiral Gauchet was surprised when he received instructions in English from Vice Admiral Dudley De Clair. It was the orders for him to sortie and destroy the German ships. He believed that battleship, monitor, cruiser or even [large] destroyer firepower would have destroyed the German mine squadron. Now, the opportunity for interception was too late as the Germans were sending 2 battlecruisers, several pre-dreadnoughts, a division of modern cruisers and several auxillaries and obsolete minelayers. Pursuit might be considered to intercept stragglers in battle, but overwhelming German firepower made the job more appropriate even for the approaching battlecruisers in support.

Planes of the Royal Flying Corps took off to the skies and reported the presence of German ships. A submarine also detected the German fleet and managed to deprive half a destroyer flotilla for the fleet when its was needed, as it sank a valuable minelaying cruiser. While pilot attempts to sink the German ships were courageous, foolishness and craziness seemed better terms in view of how bombs or even 1-2 torpedo[es] could sink a large German ship, certainly without interception by submarines, light forces, mines and the Grand Fleet. The battle would be fought by the Channel Fleet itself.

However, several planes were radio equipped, and these reported the presence of the German Fleet to the Vice Admirals. Despite the difficulties in language communications, it was believed that victory would be achieved at all costs. Coastal artillery shells and bombs fell on the light and minelaying German forces and it was taken as an omen of curse. All binoculars were readied to scout for the Channel Fleet and the battle would begin after Hipper made the decision to intercept the British.
The French and British pre-dreadnoughts vs. German battlecruisers
The German battlecruisers in the Channel were intercepted by the French pre-dreadnoughts and the battle began in earnest. SMS Hindenburg, flagship of Admiral Hipper and the German Navy's most modern battlecruiser, would engage the French and shell the Danton class pre-dreadnoughts. Vice Admiral Gauchet shouted for the battlecruiser's squadron's assistance and his request was delayed. The situation regarding the Dover-Calais mine barrage would demand interception and until the German destroyers were sunk or swept, emergency would only delay his pursuit.

After the shelling began, Vice Admiral Gauchet was wounded when a shell hit the bridge of his flagship, Danton. Suddenly, the battleship was hit by a 12 inch shell in the secondary guns and fires spread out, causing an explosion. With memories of Jutland in mind, the French Navy prepared safety precautions and magazines were locked until the ammunition ran out of stock. Sailors were asked to be vigilant in preventing any outbreaks of fire. It was anticipated that the battle would be destructive to the navy and nation in general. Also, victory against an outnumbered and supposedly inferior German battlecruiser was inevitable, but not before the truth came out. It was the reverse that seemed to happen.

Battleship Condorcet was under fire from the German battlecruiser and was disabled, later sinking over the afternoon. Voltaire was also heavily damaged. Two other French battleships were torpedoed and sunk or crippled. Also, the Mirabeau was sunk by the Hindenburg, which finished off the Voltaire before receiving a torpedo hit from the escorts, which were sunk.

The Siegfried class, upon entering the Channel during the evening, engaged the Channel Fleet's flagship, HMS Duncan, and the Formidable class pre-dreadnoughts. Although these obsolete pre-dreadnoughts were sunk one by one, 2 British pre-dreadnoughts were torpedoed by German torpedo boats. The Germans, so far, had 2 pre- dreadnoughts on the ocean floor by 18:00 hours and another was sinking from torpedo hits. HMS Duncan was lost to an explosion and the reliability of this battlecruiser-like pre dreadnought Duncan class was further reduced, although the concepts regarding these battleship types were hopelessly obsolete with the dreadnought and all the way to Jutland and the 19 August 1916 battle. When the last British pre-dreadnought was sunk, the Germans lost 2 ships of the type. The remaining Brandenburg class battleships participated in the battle as well, freeing up 2 coastal defence ships to shell the British coast. One of them was sunk by British torpedoes after shelling several monitors.

Torpedo boats and protected cruisers were going to sink the Siegfried class, which would lose every ship of the class that day. Beowulf was torpedoed and sunk by coastal torpedo boats while Siegfried was damaged by a mine and was towed to Flanders. Along the way, light French forces at Boulogne would sink the obsolete cripple and another ship towing it while coastal motor boats sank an escorting Brandenburg class battleship before being sunk. The very deficient armour schemes of the obsolete ships proved their consequences by resulting in both two ships of the class foundering from single-torpedo damage. Odin class ships were placed in reserve despite the value they had, but the Germans needed a reserve division of obsolete battleships for coastal defence.
[Please read the posts on the 1st page and note that a lack of ships is why the pre dreadnoughts were used. These [Siegfried class] were actually coastal defence ships, not pre-dreadnoughts and the Brandenburg class was used as reinforcements.]
 
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Battlecruiser engagement off the British Coast

To the east, the Moltke was intercepted by Renown class battlecruisers detached southwards on the insistance of Vice Admiral Gauchet. They were to accelerate at full speed and intercept Hindenburg, but the Moltke was caught by the British ships instead despite the fact the Hindenburg was heavily damaged and after striking a mine with its deeper draught, had to be scuttled after sinking from progressive flooding on the morning of 3 November. The causes of sinking were blamed on too many shell hits and poor damage control by the green crewmembers.
The Moltke was engaged by the British battlecruisers and suffered from 13 15 inch shell hits. Despite this, it sank HMS Repulse by exploding the magazines. Apparently, the deeper draught of the Moltke after heavy flooding made magazine penetrations easier. Even with the 8-9 inches of armour [compared to the actually designed and otl 6], these weren't sufficient to stop any German battleship shells, although a secondary magazine might be penetrated. However, the better gunnery of the still afloat, but damaged HMS Renown would prove its worth as the Moltke received 7 more 15 inch shell hits. The shell quality was better on the battlecruiser force's flagship [despite being allocated to the 1st Battle Squadron] and the Moltke's watertight integrity was compromised. Evidence was even found for torpedo bulkheads being ripped open by British 15 inch shells and explosions of ammunition that badly damaged the German ship and nearly caused a magazine explosion. The Moltke was settling deeper into the water, but finished off HMS Renown as it was crippled and shelled unceasingly. Moltke's flooding became uncontrollable and it was sunk by a destroyer torpedo the next morning while travelling at reduced speed, after shelling several ships. Courageous class battlecruisers were also engaged by an escorting light cruiser before the very deficient armour scheme of this class proved its consequences by resulting in both two ships of the class foundering from torpedo-induced engine damage and progressive flooding respectively.
[Note: Please read the posts on the 1st page and note that a lack of ships is why the pre dreadnoughts were used. These [Siegfried class] were actually coastal defence ships, not pre-dreadnoughts and the Brandenburg class was used as reinforcements. Also reviving this after 11 days of absence. Finally, I may be editing this post later today.] [https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showthread.php?t=367299 ]
Cruiser Battle
The German 2nd Cruiser Division stumbled onto the British 3rd Cruiser Division and shocked its opponents by firing a torpedo barrage. The torpedoes sank 2 cruisers and badly damaged another. Another cruiser was then sunk. However, Graudenz was struck by friendly fire while luring the British cruisers into German guns and was damaged sufficiently that it was lost. The next torpedo salvo found the British 4th Cruiser Division and did significant damage, but gunfire damaged another German cruiser, the Karlsruhe. Now without torpedoes, the British counterattack sank the Karlsruhe and Graudenz for the lost of HMS Lowestoft to an explosion. Another German cruiser [Emden] was torpedoed and disabled by British destroyer torpedoes, leading to its evacuation. By the end of 2 November 1917, the German 2nd Cruiser Division ceased to exist, along with a [12 destroyers]destroyer flotilla and the battlecruiser Hindenburg that constituted the Scouting Group. The British lost a slightly higher number and proportion of [22, excluding submarine attacks] destroyers, 2 battlecruisers and 10 cruisers of the ships sent after the German Scouting Group. French losses would be heavier proportionally, although not as devastating for the escort forces [6 destroyers].
 
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Battleship engagement [15 inch guns and French vs Bayerns]

To the north, Baden, the rectly commissioned Sachen and Vulcan would be the only German battleships of the fleet sortie. This wasn't a problem however, as the enemy was significantly weaker. The Baden, the flagship of the German High Seas Fleet, was sailing when a lookout spotted shells coming to the ship. The attack order was given to the fleet and the German flagship began shelling its opponent.
It was the HMS Resolution. Commissioned during the end of 1916, it was the first British dreadnought commissioned since the mutual dreadnought armageddon and slaughter of Jutland. The captain was proud to redeem himself and his country in the face of imminent defeat, especially with the numbers in the game to the British advantage, although many of the ships in his fleet were weak or were transferred from the French. For the Bayern's captain, the Revenge class battleships were crack shooters, with the piercing 15 inch shells damaging the hull. It was possible the British had taken the lessons of Jutland to heart and improved the quality of their ships. The Sachen was shelled by French ships at close range, although the majority of shells fired over the 1st hour were useless.
[See Jutland version II, but note about possibility issues anyway. That is mutual destruction plus involvement of several ships under refit or trials otl.]

For the British destroyers, it was hell for them as they were engaged by German destroyers and a few were even torpedoed. Otherwise, recorded torpedo tracks could be observed by lookouts and sailors according to the war diaries and sources of the Royal and French Navies during the Great War. The torpedo salvo of the German torpedo boats was coming and it might decide the battle course.
First to be hit was an armoured cruiser. Although one hit might be managable, it would be a sitting duck. HMS Cumberland was badly damaged by two hits and was listing. The death of the British and French heavy ships was imminent. In fact, 4 cruisers were eliminated by this large torpedo salvo from severe damage or sinking, and a 5th would sink later.
Next to be torpedoed was a French battleship, hit by a stray torpedo. It maintained its speed despite the damage to its hull. Captain Viktor Harder of the Sachen, who had lost his ship to progressive flooding at Jutland to flooding, hoped for the best. Damaged ships were to be sunk or crippled as soon and with as little damage as possible to free up combatants.
The Sachen's chief gunnery officer was informed that his ship could fire from 24 yards ahead, but to maximise efficiency and exploit French 'weakness', the ship shelled at the opposing targets when the range closed to less than 20 yards and penetrative power increased. The heavy shells were not to be wasted. An hour or so would decide whether the German Navy would win or lose the engagement. The battleship Vulcan was ordered to intercept the damaged French battleship to free up fire for the Bayerns.
The French battleship hit was the unlucky Jean Bart. It had received a torpedo hit near a coal bunker in the bows, but the water coming through the hull meant that speed had to be reduced to 18 knots, and later to 10 knots after further torpedo hits before sinking. A magazine had to be flooded to prevent spreading fires from exploding the magazines, just like its previous encounter with an Austrian submarine torpedo almost 3 years ago. It retreated temporarily until some repairs were made on the ship and was replaced by the battleship France, but was pursued and sunk by the Vulcan, although the latter would be sunk as the 12 inch shells were too much for the former Greek dreadnought's weak design and armour.

Suddenly, shells and water sprouts were beside the battleship Bretagne. Despite the heavy damaged inflicted, the Bretagne was doomed to 15 inch holes within half an hour. They flooded the compartments as the ship listed. The Lorraine was sunk by an explosion, but the Provence's battle against the Sachen was satisfactory, with the Bayern being holed severely even with shells seen coming into the ship. For the moment, the French dreadnoughts Paris, Courbet and Provence were the only ones not heavily damaged. The trio put holes into the Sachen, leading to its sinking from progressive flooding just as one dreadnought was crippled and on fire. The compartments were flooded to prevent capsizing or an explosion and this just exacerbated the ship's list to port.
Dreadnought France was also hit heavily and the captain was informed that unless the ship's speed was reduced to 18 knots due to shell hits, the flooding would worsen. The Sachen was engaged with the French ship, but was damaged simultaneously. A torpedo might be found in the dreadnought itself according to some souces, but this was alleged and might be unlikely. The dreadnought Paris would assist the France, but this left Sachen shelling at the crippled France and the Provence. The Sachen would sink after all the shells it received from the French. Courbet was crippled and later scuttled after being torpedoed by U 67, along with the Provence.

Baden was hit heavily by 15 inch shells and it was decided to focus all shells on the HMS Resolution. The firing guns threw Admiral Bechnke into a bulkhead, but it was realised that he wasn't unconscious or too unwell and he returned to his position bleeding. Until the wheel could be manned because of a dead helmsman, the ship was manoeuvring unusually and the British exploited the weakness. The HMS Resolution's guns had inflicted costly damage on the German flagship, but water was coming into the British ship as well. There was too much smoke coming from the air, which obscured the clouds and made visibility difficult. Despite this, Captain Harder and Admiral Bechkne's perseverance paid off as the Resolution was sunk even when their ship was going deeper into the sea. Damage control parties reduced the flooding while a new helmsman steered, albeit tired and inexperienced.
The newly commissioned HMS Ramilies was less fit for combat and its gunnery wasn't perfect, other than some shell hits on less important areas of the Baden. Captain Harder scored his second victory for the day as the Ramilies was crippled. After heavy shelling, the Ramilies sank, despite the assistance of Provence. However, the crippled British battleship remained afloat with its French helper fighting as if the battleships' nations were at stake and engaging their decisive battles. Battleship Provence finished off the Baden without severe damage and nearly returned to base before sinking. Baden was too heavily down by the bows, however, and its fate would be decided in less than 24 hours by a mine off the German coast, which led to its wrecking and scrapping. At least the German Admiralty's prayers would be answered, as Bechkne felt in his last moments.

Source: https://www.alternatehistory.com/fo...gland-one-last-time-v-iv.228541/#post-5538747

End of the Action of 2 November 1917

By the beginning of 3 November 1917, the Germans had inflicted sufficient losses on the Royal Navy to compensate for their own losses, which would be calculated the next day. Panic would take hold the next day as the decimated Royal Navy would return to base with heavy losses, without 2 R class battleships, all French battleships involved and a significant number of [10] cruisers and [40] destroyers from the Grand and Channel Fleets. The Germans lost 2 Bayern class and an ex Greek dreadnoughts [one to 15 inch shells which could had been saved and repaired had it not hit a minefield and one to progressive flooding from French gunfire and poor damage control], several pre-dreadnoughts, 5 cruisers and 18 destroyers. However, the Royal Navy had to be even more cautious from the moment onwards and its morale further dropped.

Evidence regarding the losses and damage taken would be recorded. However, the Royal Navy might have been given its last blow when the remnants of the High Seas Fleet entered Wilhelmshaven late in the afternoon of 3 November 1917, excluding crippled ships that would be sunk or severely damaged, to great support thanks to the readied radio messages given to the Admiralty about British losses. Now, newspaper reports and radio programmes would be prepared with victory in anticipation for Germany.

After the last ships entered Wilhelmshaven over 3-4 November in a sequence that will receive much jubilation upon recognition and salutation among the population and the remaining of the German fleet, it was announced to the public that German had won a naval victory in sinking 9 dreadnoughts, 2 battlecruisers, several older but obsolete French battleships and many cruisers and destroyers. Against the losses announced [excluding the sinking and grounded Baden and the unobserved Moltke], this was interpreted as a victory and it would be announced for broadcasting by Germany.

The victory over odds gave Germany a morale boost, even if most of the lost ships were French and obsolete. This had vindicated the battle of Jutland and increased morale even with heavy damage and losses inflicted on the High Seas Fleet [only Baden made the battle afloat after a few days of salvage following the mine hit and grounding on 3 November and was scrapped post war].

Had it been not for the leakage of radio codes through Room 40, the Germans might have won the campaign totally, without losses in heavy losses. On the other hand, the British might have and ought to have done better, but the losses of 1916 was a crucial factor in their defeat. And the truth for Britain was yet to come out.

Having said that, the usage of aircraft helped the British, to the amazement of the Germans as to an evaluation of observation errors. It was intended that better German submarine and zeppelin attacks and reconnaissance would help the Germans in the future with regards to observing their Entente counterparts, planes and signals. And minelaying might help, but the mines to be laid were to be off Channel ports instead of usage against the Royal Navy and the minelayers used were too slow to accompany the main fleet. In any event, mines laid on 2-9 November would sink 500000 tons of shipping, damage several other ships and reduce usage of several British ports, Dunkirk and Calais for 2 weeks. One consequence for the Netherlands was the recalling of Rijndam to Liverpool [9 months later than otl] and several Dutch ships being delayed in sailing by mines.

In the absence of reliable information, it was assumed that the Royal and French Navies would be having crippled ships under escort or tow to return over the next few days. Also, a rush to obtain notifications of loved ones from dockyards, ports and naval offices was made, but it would be several days before reliable news arrived. For those who were on the ships that survived, it would be a relief apart from those affected by losses deaths in battle. But for those who had family and friends as crewmembers of sunken ships, crowding and panic followed by grief and relief occurred as accurate lists of injured, dead and missing were drawn.

4 days later, it was stated that the German Navy had been intercepted in divided portions by the Channel and Grand Fleets while trying to flee from the British coast and minefields without completing minelaying duties, only to suffer heavy losses and damage. All surviving ships would be attended to after calculating losses, including submarine inflicted losses [Courbet to U 67 and Provence to flooding].
Finally, all dry docks ready to carry and repair damaged and salvaged warships were to be emptied of space and non-essential work to allow repairs to be conducted. The same applied for storerooms of armour, gun barrels, equipment and ammunition, assisted by updated reports and the types of replacement to be carried.

Also, the probability of using aircraft to attack ships at sea and observe them, even without damage inflicted, could be considered as evidenced by British actions during the battle. This would be done by both warring sides and better anti-aircraft guns for warships would follow. Better anti-aircraft guns with more firepower and more protection against plane-dropped bombs and torpedoes on German warships would be needed. Usage of suitable guns against aircraft attacks would be needed especially against scouts and attack planes, and German fighters would be needed for air cover. The failed observations and attacks against the German Navy by the Royal Air Force would lead to British plans for a [land-based, completed in 1919] Naval Air Force and the completion of aircraft carriers for air support of the navy, with better planes and anti-aircraft guns for attack and defence.

Battle of Cambrai is as in reality [otl], but with fewer German losses. End of story.
 
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