The Great War at Sea

Hi to all who have been checking in. I apologize for my absence, but my computer is down and I am in the process of relocating.
I did the last four posts from memory on my ipad and it just isn't up to snuff. So until I am back with my proper computer and my references closer at hand this will be on hold for a while.
I may try a couple of shorter asb sort of things in the meantime, so if you're interested keep an eye open for abit of mayhem.
Thanks kindly and take care
 
I am hoping to get a few more posts out beginning in the next few days. thank you for your patience.... it has been an interesting couple or three months ...​
 
Hello to those who might be checking in. I am just double checking the ships lost and damaged as a file went missing. I will hopefully have the next update out within the day. thanks for your patience.​
 
closing the ring

Ingenohl was pleased with his forces chance encounter with Grant's cruisers. Marking down a squadron of the big Counties was as good as sinking pre-dreadnaughts in his eyes. As well the Grand fleet would have to respond now or accept that the High Seas Fleet was the new master of the North Sea, and when Jellicoe did respond as Ingenohl felt surely he must, The Germans would have their victory and the British would be brought to terms.
As Maas's battered survivors disappeared into the haze as the continued on to the south south east and the Jade, the High Seas Fleet continued on to the North West.


Jellicoe had finally received a portion of Grant's last report and now had a better idea on the vicinity of the German Fleet. That had been followed shortly after by a contact report from Goodenough who was even now tracking the High seas Fleet as it came on to the North west.
While Jellicoe was saddened by the news of the apparent loss of Grant's command he was heartened by the fact that for the first time in the war he truly felt that he was in control of the situation. He looked out to the west as the overcast began to lift. Somewhere almost half way from where his flagship was now located to the coast of Scotland was Ingenohl's fleet. A small tight smile appeared for a moment on Jellicoe's face, before giving orders to bring the Grand Fleet three points to starboard.
"Send a message to the greyhounds," he said to his signals officer," time to tighten the noose."
 
Hounds to the hunt

Kip Craddock hunkered into his heavy duffle overcoat as he stood on the bridge of HMS Indomitable and watched as the light cruisers under his command peeled off, heading for positions further afield from his flagship. As according to thhe new search plans , two destroyers accompanied each of the four cruisers in his group, leaving the Indomitable with the last five destroyers as her screen.
To his east Moore's squadron based on the New Zealand was fanning out in the same manner, as was Patey's force on his western flank. In the unlikely event that the Germans would attempt to avoid the British scouting line by closing the English coast, Tyrwitt's Harwich force was deployed west of Patey.
With the last signals in from the other groups Craddock in turn signaled Jellicoe.


Jellicoe was on the bridge wing looking back at the great grey mass of the new HMS Queen Elizabeth following HMS Tiger and the three turreted Queen Mary as it began to over take the flagship as the three ships under Admiral Hood moved to assume their position in the van. He was taken from his thoughts and observations as his signals officer handed him the message from Craddock

Once more Jellicoe allowed the faintest of a tight small smile as he read the pre-arranged signal.
'Hounds to the hunt'

He had them, barring weather or the slightest of mischance he would bring the High Seas Fleet to action this day, and this time, if all went well, the fight would be on his terms.​
 
the best laid plans ...

The other officers and men on the Bridge of HMS Iron Duke stood away from Admiral Jellicoe as he contemplated the German zeppelin that was leisurely pacing the Grand Fleet as the British ships forged south through the grey churning waters of the North Sea. The German airship had found them shortly after the message from Goodenough that the British cruisers had the High seas Fleet in sight.

Jellicoe had been confidant that he could bring the Germans to battle in a very advantageous position with the Germans pinned against the east coast of Scotland. But then out of the thinning cloud cover the zeppelin had appeared, and everything had changed. The next report from Goodenough was that the Germans had reversed course and were heading SE at 18 knots.

Goodenough's report had stated at least eight dreadnoughts as well as numerous attendant escorts. Jellicoe had sent a message back telling Goodenough to hold contact, as well as signalling the southern mixed groups of cruisers. that the Germans were counter marching as the Grand Fleet had been spotted by that damned airship. He gave express orders to Craddock, Moore and Patey that their battle cruisers were not to engage the Germans without his express permission, but that if the opportunity arose by which their destroyers might launch a torpedo attack they were free to consider it.

Tyrwhitt was aware of the situation and was closing toward the Germans western flank as well, appraising Jellicoe of his position as well. He too was free to attack with destroyers if he saw an opportunity.

But as the Grand Fleet came south Jellicoe was pondering whether he should make this attempt, or let Ingenohl go. It was not that Jellicoe had doubts regarding his fleet being able to best the Germans, rather he was concerned with running afoul of German submarines. If the Admiral had one nightmare it was to lead his fleet into an underwater ambush. But after consulting with his staff he felt that they would push south. He hoped that the speed of his force would be sufficient to forestall a concentrated German ambush. As well the Germans in all probability hadn't planned on him being this far south or east. If a threat was to come from u-boats it would be on the voyage home ... at least that was the theory he had settled on.

So now the day had settled back into an interlude of sorts. It seemed at that point that everyone had a job to do but him. So he sought out a post where he might sip his mug of steaming cocoa as he watched the Airship.

"We are going to have to find a way to deal with you," he grumbled at the dull grey mass of the zeppelin ," But what?"


The Germans meanwhile were pushing for home as fast as they could. the first of Goodenough's cruisers had just been spotted when the report from the Zeppelin had come in. Ingenohl had been expecting to meet Jellicoe coming from the north with no more than seven or eight dreadnoughts, but the airship had given a detailed report of a dozen British men of war with their attendant cruisers and destroyers due east of his position.

Ingenohl took the only option available to him and immediately turned for home in hope of avoiding being cut off. As the Germans headed for home the Admiral knew that while he couldn't see them he knew the British cruisers were still out there tracking him and drawing the Grand Fleet toward him. He quietly cursed not only the absence of any battle cruisers, but also his shortage of light cruisers, for without either he could not successfully drive off his shadowers.

However what was more disturbing for the German Admiral was that it would almost appear that the British knew of their plans, from the mine laying sortie to the movement of his High Seas Fleet. Maybe it was just his response to the position he now found himself in, but it would be looked into on his return ... if he returned.

So what had been a day of big plans and perceived tactical advantage for both sides had now degenerated into a foot race. Could Ingenohl get south fast enough to avoid being cut off and brought to action by Jellicoe.

Jellicoe had then ordered his command to 18 knots and had a new course set to the south.​
 
... decisions ...

Admiral Ingenohl was a concerned man as he pushed his fleet south east at 17 knots. By now not only had he realized the British were moving to cut him off from his base with a superior force closing on his left flank, but he was being shadowed to his right by a growing collection of British light forces backed up by three battle cruisers.

His main advantage was the naval Zeppelins, two of which were even now in the area of his ships, while a third was in contact with the main body of the Grand Fleet. Two more were diverted toward the channel to watch for a sortie by the Channel Fleet. The great airships were supplying as comprehensive report on the English as their communications would allow, which while giving the Admiral a very good appreciation of the situation, also revealed its severity.
The Royal Navy was closing the noose, and while the only reports that Jellicoe had to depend on was from the Cruiser forces to the Germans west, the Germans lack of cruisers precluded any real attempt at driving them off.

Ingenohl's biggest tactical concern at the moment was if the British scouting forces would attempt a mass torpedo attack, but he need not have worried. Unless it became apparent that the High Seas Fleet was going to slip away Jellicoe didn't want to risk the lighter ships against an unchallenged force of German Dreadnoughts and their escorts.

The North Sea was rising and the sky clearing as the winds picked up from the west when a light cruiser on the left flank of the German Fleet reported sighting Admiral Hood's force to their west. Ingenohl had already been aware of the approach from the zeppelins, but it was still somewhat disquieting that a visual sighting had been made. With the two British battle cruisers and the third ship, HMS Queen Elizabeth, closing on him, Jellicoe would soon be approaching as well.

With each passing minute, the German Admiral's options were slipping away. Unless something unforseen was to happen, Jellicoe would soon enough be in range to begin an action decidedly to the English's favour.

His first option was to increase speed in an attempt to out run Jelicoe's main force, but that would be at the expense of his destroyers and torpedo boats which were already having a rough time holding station with the worsening sea state.

The next was to force off the shadowing forces by turning on them and hopefully forcing their retirement. While his chances of catching the faster British ships was slim, it was suggested that their efforts to escape his more powerful force would allow a chance for him to resume his retreat to the Jade. The weather was in fact beginning to close in and the sky was beginning to fill once more with haze.

Ingenohl made his decision.​
 
the last chance

Admiral Hood watched from the bridge of HMS Tiger as the the German torpedo boats advanced toward his force. He had ordered his ships to 24 knots and angled to the south east as his own destroyers moved out toward the Germans. The three light cruisers with him were pushing on ahead to remain in contact with the fleeing German battleships, but it appeared that some of the German light craft were diverting after them as well.

The Main Batteries of his three capital ships had been firing for a while and while some damage had been done to the enemy , it wasn't enough to turn them back. But now the 6" secondaries on the Tiger and Queen Elizabeth were in the fight, and before too long the 4" guns on the Queen Mary would be in the fray as well.

The fourteen British destroyers were in the thick of the fight, exchanging savage blows with nearly twice their number of German vessels. Three of the British destroyers were heavily damaged while a fourth was sinking, but the Germans were being marked down as well as the quicker firing secondaries of Hood's heavy ships began to leave their mark. Nine of the twenty-five German torpedo boats had been damaged enough for them to turn away, three more were dead in the water, while two more had been sunk out right, but the remaining eleven held on toward the British dreadnoughts.

As he watched the ragged survivors of the German torpedo boats come on Hood was impressed by the resolve and determination of his foe. But as the German ships advanced he knew that their resolve wouldn't be enough. In the next few minutes five more of the enemy boats were heavily hit, with three of them clearly sinking. The last six were under the combined fire of the surviving British destroyers as well as the Tiger, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth. It was no contest.

On the Germans right flank a similar attack on the combined scouting groups under Kip Craddock had been likewise defeated. Admiral Ingenohl had failed to break contact with the British and in the process had lost or scattered the bulk of his remaining light forces. His battleships were headed south east at twenty one knots, while the surviving German light ships were doing the best to follow them in the rising seas. All that was left for him now was to run for the Jade and hope that Jellicoe wouldn't be able to cut him off. Everything now boiled down to who would win the race.​
 
Hi,

Just found and read this and I am liking it so far. I realize the last update was in January, so are you continuing with it? :)

Thanks and keep up the good work!
 
Hi , I'm figuring within the next couple of weeks I can get this caught up a bit. Work has been insane this past few months as have been a few other 'life issues'. I lost some of my reference and tracking files for this and I am reconstructing them at this point .
... stay tuned ...
 
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