Battle in the Korean Straits

On Saturday, February 19, we met to pit the might of the Russian Baltic Fleet against the Japanese Navy in the Straits of Korea (near the island of Tsu-Shima).  After sailing half-way around the world, would the Russians be able to best their opponents who were fighting in their own backyard?  Here's the tale.  It has been a long time in preparation but I think you will consider it worth the wait.  As usual, please click on the pictures for a larger image.

Photo by Jim

The Russian 2nd and 3rd Pacific Squadrons (as the Baltic reinforcements were called) steam in columns abreast with the Cruiser Division in the lead, followed by the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battle Divisions (right to left), and then two smaller cruisers.

1st Cruiser Division:  Oleg (division flag), Aurora, Dmitri Donskoi, and Vladimir Monomakh

Russian 1st Battle Division:  Knyaz Suvorov (fleet and division flag), Imperator Alexandr III, Borodino, and Oryol

Russian 2nd Battle Division: Oslybya (division flag), Sisoi Veliki, Navarin, Admiral Nakhimov

Russian 3rd Battle Division:  Imperator Nikolai I (flag), General-Admiral Graf Apraxin, Admiral Senyavin, and Admiral Ushakov

Attached Cruisers:  Izumrud and Jemchug

This was the same formation in which the Russians began the Battle of Tsu-Shima.

Photo by Jim

The Japanese Battle Squadron also assumed the same formation that it used to begin the Battle of Tsu-Shima, with three columns of cruisers leading the two heavier columns (battleships and armored cruisers on left and armored cruisers on right).

Japanese 1st Battle Division:  Mikasa (fleet and division flag), Shikashima, Fuji, Asahi, Nisshin, and Kasuga

Japanese 2nd Battle Division:  Izumo (division flag), Azuma, Tokiwa, Yakumo, Asama, Iwate

Japanese 3rd Battle Division:  Kasagi (division flag), Chitose, Otowa, Niitaka

Japanese 5th Battle Division:  Itsukushima (division flag), Chinyen, Matsushima, and Hashidate

Japanese 6th Battle Division:  Suma (division flag), Chiyoda, Akitsushima, and Izumi

The Russians had 5 modern battleships, 2 older battleships, 1 obsolete battleship, 3 coastal defense ships, 1 modern and 2 obsolete armored cruisers, and 4 protected cruisers.

The Japanese had 4 modern battlships, 1 obsolete battleship (ex-Chinese), 8 modern armored cruisers, and 11 protected cruisers (about half modern and half obsolete).

Photo by Ed

The opening moves saw the Russians steam straight ahead, probably to burst through the Japanese ships, inflict as much damage as they could, and sail to Vladivostok.  The Japanese began to maneuver to open their broadsides, with their three cruiser divisions turning to starboard and the heavier ships behind them to port.

Photo by Ed

 As the Japanese cruisers continue on their sweep around the Russians, the lead Russian cruiser division gets into close range.  Volleys are being exchanged and damages begin to mount.

Photo by Ed

The three Russian battle divisions continued their steady advance, with the 1st and 2nd divisions steaming straight ahead, while the 3rd Division and its attached cruisers slowly swing to port to meet the advancing Japanese cruisers.

Photo by Jim

Those ships that had targets open fire, some concentrating their fires and others firing at their opposite numbers.  In the background, the Russian cruiser Oleg is on fire.

Photo by Jim

 The several Japanese cruiser divisions find a lucrative target, the Russian 3rd Battle Division, composed of one obsolete battleship (Imperator Nikolai I), which is turning out of the line due to severely reduced speed, and the three coastal defense ships - General-Admiral Graf Aprazin, Admiral Senyavin, and Admiral Ushakov.  The Apraxin and Ushakov have been set afire by the Japanese shells.

Photo by Ed

But the Japanese aren't immune to fires as the ex-Chinese battleship Chinyen begins to burn.  However, the efficient crew quickly puts out the fire.

Photo by Ed

 The Russian 1st Cruiser Division (foreground) is hit hard by Japanese shells.  The cruiser Oleg (division flag) takes a number of hits that start two fires.  The Japanese cruisers in the middle ground are also hit but the Russians only start one fire.

Photo by Ed

The Japanese 1st Battle Division (background) and 2nd Battle Division (foreground) maneuver against the Russian battleships (out of picture to left).  The Japanese armored cruisers are taking some hits but the range is still too long.

Photo by Jim

Meanwhile over on the far left of the battle area, Japanese protected cruiser Akitshushima can't take any more hits and sinks in a cloud of steam.  Two of her consorts are badly damaged and are turning away from the heavier Russian ships.

Photo by Ed

In the center, the Russian cruiser Oleg succumbs to Japanese shells and sinks in a cloud of fire and steam, taking the division commander to a watery grave.  Fires still burn on a Japanese cruiser in the background.

Photo by Jim

The Japanese cruiser Otowa, newly launched and having just joined the fleet, can't stand the heavy Russian shellfire and also sinks.

Photo by Ed

Jim (left, Russian 3rd Division commander) and Jay (right, Japanese protected cruiser divisions commander) adjudicate shellfire on each other's ships.  The battle between Jim's older battleship and coast defense ships and Jay's older protected cruisers was fast and furious all game long.  The two friends have been gaming against each other since college days in the early 1970s!

Photo by Jim

All of a sudden, world history on this timeline is changed!  After the Oleg was sunk last turn, the cruiser Aurora takes the lead in the Russian 1st Cruiser Division column.  But even this never-to-be historic ship can't withstand the concentrated Japanese gunfire and he sinks in flame and steam.  Will the Russian Revolution ever start without the brave sailors from the Aurora leading the way?  Of course it will!

Photo by Ed

In the foreground, the Japanese armored cruiser Azuma has her rudder jammed by a lucky Russian shell hit and turns out of the battleline.  In the middle ground, the 1st and 2nd Russian Battle Divisions and the remnants of the 1st Cruiser Division attempt to maneuver around the Japanese 1st Battle Division (back ground).

Photo by Jim

 With the ex-Chinese battleship Chinyen taking fire in the foreground, the old Japanese cruiser Hashidate falls prey to the guns of the Russian 2nd Battle Division (off picture to right, see below).

Photo by Jim

While the battleships of the Russian 2nd Battle Division target Japanese cruisers to their left, the next Russian cruiser in line, the obsolete Dmitri Donskoi, is hit too many times.  Burning and belching steam, he plunges to Davey Jones' locker.  In the background, two of the new Russian battleships are being hit by fire from the Japanese battleships.

Photo by Ed

 In the foreground, the Japanese 1st Battle Division maneuvers to stay between the Russian battleships and their far away refuge in Vladivostok.

Photo by Jim

One of those new Russian battleships, the Borodino, is targeted by several Japanese battleships whose shells start a raging fire.  With the bridge hit and funnels badly damaged, he still limps towards the Japanese battleships.

Photo by Jim

Suddenly, the Japanese armored cruisers of the 2nd Battle Division become targets with fires started on three cruisers by Russian shells.  But their well-trained crews quickly extinguish the blazes and they continue to maintain a heavy fire against the Russian ships.

Photo by Jim

The Russian flagship, the battleship Knyaz Suvurov, is hit and begins to burn fiercely.  Fortunately the crew responds heroically to the threats and manages to extinguish the fires in short order.

Photo by Jim

Two Japanese battleships (Mikasa in lead and Fuji), although hit hard and ablaze, close on the beleagured Russian 2nd Battle Division.  Even things look bleak for these four Russian sinks, none of them were sunk.

So who won this recreation of the Battle of Tsu-Shima?

The Japanese started with 4 modern battleships, 1 obsolete ex-Chinese battleship, 8 modern armored cruisers, and 11 protected cruisers (a mix of modern and obsolete).  They lost all 11 protected cruisers either sunk or rendered combat ineffective and the ex-Chinese battleship and 1 armored cruiser were forced to withdraw because of damage.  The Russians scored 65 points from this.

The Russians started with 5 modern battleships, 2 older battleships, 1 obsolete battleship and 3 obsolete coast defense ships, 1 modern and 2 obsolete armored cruisers, and 4 modern protected cruisers.  They lost 1 modern battleship and all 3 coast defense ships, 2 obsolete armored cruisers, and 2 modern protected cruisers.  The game master decided that two battleships (1 modern and 1 obsolete) wouldn't last the night against the Japanese destroyers.  The Japanese scored 80 points from this.

While the Japanese won a tactical victory, strategically the action was a draw.  The Russians were able to get 3 modern battleships, 2 older battleships, 1 modern armored cruiser, and 2 modern protected cruisers (half their ships) through the Japanese lines and to dubious safety in Vladivostok.  The big question is whether the Russians will stick their noses out of Vladivostok to engage the successful Japanese.  Only time (and another game) will tell!

Battle of the Sea of Japan

Our first 1:2400 pre-dreadnought game (see previous post) saw the Russian Pacific Squadron be partially successful in evacuating the threatened Port Arthur and sailing to Vladivostok.  There they joined the Vladivostok based Independent Cruiser Squadron.  After making repairs to the damage suffered by the battleships in the Yellow Sea action, the Russian squadron, now under the command of Vice Admiral Skirdlov sailed forth to do battle with the Japanese.  Knowing that the Baltic Fleet was sending reinforcements, Skirdlov hoped to catch the Japanese separated and defeat them in detail making the task of the Baltic reinforcements that much easier.

Russian Pacific Squadron:

1st Sub-Division, Battle Division (VAdm Skirdlov [Electric Ed]):  battleships Tsesarevich (flag), Retvizan, and Pobieda
2nd Sub-Division, Battle Division (RAdm Vitgeft [Sean Campbell]):  battleships Peresviet (flag) and Sevastopol, armored cruiser Bayan
Independent Cruiser Squadron (RAdm Baron Shtakelberg [Col Campbell]):  armored cruisers Rossiya (flag), Gromoboi, and Rurik, protected cruiser Bogatyr

The Japanese fleet had suffered severe damage to its armored cruiser component (1 sunk and 5 badly damaged, out of 9 total) so their repair work was concentrated on getting the four battleships back into combat condition.  Admiral Togo kept his battleships and Vice Admiral Kamimura's remaining armored cruisers together, leaving his protected cruisers to patrol the shipping lanes and the various choke points around the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan.

Japanese Battle Squadron


1st Division (Adm Togo [Jay, Lord Sterling]):  battleships Mikasa (flag), Fuji, Skikashima, and Asahi
2nd Division (VAdm Kamimura [Kansas Bill]):  armored cruisers Izumo (flag), Azuma, Tokiwa, and Iwate

The Russian and Japanese squadrons sighted each other through the mid-morning sea mists and begin to close into fighting range.  Please click on each picture for (hopefully) a larger image.

Photo by Col Campbell

The Russian 1^st Battle Sub-Division comes under fire with all Japanese shells falling on the IRN Tsesarevich, the squadron flagship.  The lead battleship of the 2^nd Battle Sub-Division is just entering the picture.

[For a description of the shell splash markers, see Splash Markers posting on ColCampbell's Shipyard blog.]

Photo by Col Campbell

 The Japanese 2^nd Battle Division, all armored cruisers, comes under return fire from the Russian battleships, two of whom concentrate in the IJN Izumo, the division flagship.

Photo by Col Campbell

 The IJN Izumo is soon set on fire and suffers a bridge hit, forcing her to continue straight ahead for two turns.  But the efficient Japanese damage control parties soon have the fires under control.

Photo by Electric Ed

 The Russian battleline continues to slowly close with the Japanese; the 1^st Sub-Division in the foreground and the 2^nd Sub-Division in the background.  Note single size of the "splashes".  Firing is at long range and being done by only the main guns.

Photo by Col Campbell

 Meanwhile, the Russian 2^nd Battle Sub-Division turns to port into a line abreast formation.  But the Japanese battleships concentrate all their fire on IRN Peresviet, sub-division flagship.  Asked after the battle why he made such an unusual maneuver, RAdm Vitgeft said that he was attempting to get around behind the Japanese battleships.  The large and small splash markers mean that the range has fallen enough that the secondary batteries can now engage.

Photo by Col Campbell

But soon the IRN Peresviet is set on fire and begins to sink.  RAdm Vitgeft transfers to the IRN Sevastopol to continue the fight.  Unfortunately, he waited too long and the Japanese battleships sailed away from him.

Photo by Col Campbell

In the distance, the IRN Pobieda receives fire from a Japanese battleship and an armored cruiser and is set afire.  In the foreground the IRN Rossiya, flagship of the Vladivostok Independent Cruiser Division receives fire from three (!!) Japanese battleships and is also set afire.

Photo by Electric Ed

The IRN Pobieda suffers 2 fire hits from the Japanese in one turn.  The rules state that when the critical hit die is a 1 and is from a Japanese hit, then both a regular fire and a "raging fire" are started.  He had been targeted by two different Japanese ships, which both started fires.

Photo by Col Campbell

With the IRN Pobieda aflame and slowly sinking, the Japanese armored cruisers and battleships turn their gunfire against his division mates, IRN Retvizan and IRN Tsesarevich.

Photo by Col Campbell

But the Japanese return to the IRN Pobieda and start more fires, fully engulfing him and soon forcing him from the line.  His division mates also receive their share of Japanese fire.

Photo by Col Campbell

But the Japanese ships aren’t totally immune.  The armored cruiser IJN Izumo has turned away from the fight with very heavy damage, drawing long-range fire from the IRN Bayan, which is steaming as fast as he can to overtake the Japanese fleet.  The IJN Izumo eventually surrenders due to IRN Bayan's shellfire.  The other Japanese three armored cruisers and the four battleships are all under fire from the remaining Russian battleships and cruisers.

Photo by Col Campbell

 The IRN Pobieda has turned away from the fight.  The fires are too much for him and he sinks, the second Russian ship to be sunk.

Photo by Col Campbell

 But not the last.  The IRN Rossiya has been set ablaze by shellfire from the Japanese battleships.  He has turned away and is endeavoring to reach Vladivostok.  But the fires also prove too much for his crew and he sinks, taking many of them to a watery grave.

Photo by Col Campbell

With the IRN Rossiya out of the fight, RAdm Baron Shtakelberg transfers to his next cruiser, IRN Gromoboi, who immediately draws the Japanese battleship fire and is set ablaze.  He won’t last long either.

Photo by Col Campbell

 Finally the Russian battleships score some telling hits, setting two of the Japanese armored cruisers (background) afire and forcing them to turn away from the fight.  But it is too little, too late, as the Japanese battleships (foreground) turn to close the range even though they continue to draw fire from the remaining Russian ships.

Photo by Jim Pitts

 A closer look at the Japanese armored cruisers, as the IJN Azuma and Tokiwa have turned away and the IJN Iwate attempts to cover their retreat.

Photo by Col Campbell

 As darkness begins to fall, the IRN Tsesarevich is targeted by the IJN Iwate (#8) and the IRN Retvizan by the IJN Mikasa (#1).

So, who won.  I think it is fairly obvious with the sinking of two battleships and two armored cruisers that the Russian Pacific Squadron were the losers.  Although they forced the surrender of the Japanese armored cruiser Izumo, they couldn't board her.  She was later recovered by the Japanese fleet (and her captain committed seppuku).  The Russians retreated back to Vladivostok while the Japanese continued their blockade of the Russian port.  Can the Baltic Fleet's reinforcements, now called the 2nd Pacific Squadron, turn the tables on the victorious Japanese?  Tune in later next year for what may be the final climactic battle.

Note:  All ships are from Panzerschiffe Miniatures.  The flame markers are from Litko Game Accessories.

Battle of the Yellow Sea

A small group of the Jackson Gamers met Saturday last (Nov. 6) at Fondren Presbyterian Church to play a recreation of the August 1904 Battle of the Yellow Sea.  We used Jim Pitts' 1:2400 scale Panzerschiffe models of the Russian and Japanese ships involved in the battle.

Jay Stribling  and Ed Sansing commanded the Russian 1st Pacific Squadron as it attempted to break out from Port Arthur and sail to Vladivostok.  John Murdaugh, Sean Pitts, and a late arriving Travis Melton commanded the Japanese Battle Squadron.  We used a pre-dreadnought modification to Travis' Seas of Steel rules.

As usual, click or double click on the pictures for a larger image.

The Russian 1st Pacific Squadron steams moderately towards the Straits of Korea.  The six battleships are in the lead, followed by three protected cruisers.   A protected cruiser leads the eleven destroyers in the foreground.  Jay commanded the battleships and Ed commanded the cruisers and destroyers.

In the background is the Japanese 3rd Division of two armored cruisers and three protected cruisers, commanded by Sean.

The Japanese 1st Division, four battleships and two armored cruisers, was commanded by John.  They steam towards the approaching Russians.

As the Japanese battleline changes course, eight Japanese destroyers and four torpedo boats increase speed to get into the fight.

The Russian battleships (foreground) and the Japanese cruisers (background) begin to exchange salvos.

Russian and Japanese destroyers begin to tangle with each other while the Russian  battleline sedately continues on its course.  Off to the left (out of the picture), John splits his Japanese 1st Division, sending three battleships to the right and one battleship and two armored cruisers to the left to attempt to pincer the Russian line.

Under heavy fire from the Russian quick-firing guns, a division of Japanese destroyers attempts to launch their torpedoes.  But the fish miss their target.  The destroyers are later completely wiped out.

Here is another shot of the Russian battleline with Jay's battleships in the lead and Ed's cruisers in trail.  The lead battleship in John's right column (the Mikasa) is approaching from the right.

With his three battleships in echelon, John closes with and exchanges fire with the Russian battleships.  John's other three ships are off the picture to the left, heading to cut the Russians off from the Straits of Korea.

This is a high oblique view of the battle.  Sean's Japanese cruisers are to the upper left with the furtherest two leaving due to severe damage.  Jay's and Ed's battleships and cruisers hold their line ahead formation in the center while John's battleships and armored cruisers close in two separated three ship groups.  The destroyer action is already over with one division of Japanese destroyers unsuccessfully attacking the Russian battleships.  Two divisions of Russian destroyers are just departing the picture on the right, heading towards the Japanese 5th Division which is approaching from the right.  These five older (and obsolescent) ships were commanded by Travis.

From a different angle, Travis' Japanese division can be seen approaching from the bottom of the picture.  He commanded four older Japanese protected cruisers and a captured Chinese "battleship" (the Chenyen).  They were able to sink the threatening Russian destroyers but didn't contribute much to the rest of the battle.
 

In the foreground, a Japanese battleship  gets down to wakizashi (knife) range as it passes through the Russian batteline.  In the background, John's other column of Japanese battleships attempts to do the same to Ed's Russian cruisers.  But the Mikasa misjudges the closing speeds and rams a Russian cruiser.  Oops!

Here's a closer view of the collision between the Mikasa and the Diana.  The Russian cruiser suffers much more damage than the Japanese battleship, but both are out of the action for a while.

As one of Sean's Japanese cruisers cuts across the tail of the column of Russian cruisers, John's other two Japanese battleships turn hard aport and engage the Russian cruisers more closely.  In the background, Jay's battleships continue their stately promenade this time with two Japanese armored cruisers to port and a battleship to starboard.  Jay's sixth battleship is lagging somewhat behind, having suffered funnel damage which slowed its speed.  Several of Sean's cruisers are engaging it.

Suddenly a plume of black smoke erupts from the Japanese armored cruiser Kasuga.  The rear main magazine has taken a hit!  It is not enough to blow up the magazine but the rear main gun turret is put out of action.

Getting first move on the next turn, Jay's Russian battleships make a turn to port across the front of the Japanese armored cruisers.  With no room to maneuver, both cruisers slam into the Russian battleships.  The result is further heavy damage to the Japanese cruisers and light damage to the heavier Russian battleships.

Meanwhile to the rear, two of John's Japanese battleships engage Jay's trail Russian battleship and Ed's lead Russian protected cruiser.  The range is pointblank and neither side seems to be missing much.

Under fire from John's Mikasa and one of Sean's cruisers, the trail Russian cruiser (Pallada) is set on fire.  The Russian crew works furiously to put the fire out.  Will they be successful?

No they won't.  When the Mikasa crosses the stern of the Pallada, its shells strike deep into the vitals of the Russian protected cruiser and he blows up!

But Jay returns the favor and smashes the Japanese armored cruiser Kasuga, convulsing her with explosions that send her to Davey Jones' locker!

After examining the situation and considering the lateness of the hour, the game master (Jim Pitts) computes battle damages.  Both sides have inflicted the same number of points in battle damage to the other, but Jim rules that the Japanese tactics of splitting their main battleline into two elements was unsuccessful against the Russian tactic of staying in a single line ahead.  He adjudges that five of the six Russian battleships will be able to make it to Vladisvostok.  The sixth battleship and one of the two surviving Russian cruisers are too surrounded by the Japanese and will probably either succumb to Japanese guns or be forced back to Port Arthur.  The other Russian cruiser is positioned to break away to the south and likely seek internment in a neutral port.  The Russians are awarded both a tactical and a strategic victory.