Engagement Report, Winter 1941, Operational Sector 67
Commander Joshuah Ellensford
HMS Formidable, Operations Staff
The fleet entered Sector 67 with reports of a large, comparably sized German force entering the sector. It was about an hour before dusk and the darkness would hamper our air operations. The Germans deployed in four formations, most smaller than ours and were supported by a wolfpack of three u-boats.
Our fleet deployed in four combat formations. Formation 1 consisted of 3 destroyers, purposed to go after the u-boats before they could get within strikerange of the battleships. Formation 2 was based around the HMS Ramilies and Formation 3 around the HMS Roberts. Formation 4 included the HMS Formidable and its escorts.
The weather was clear and our fleet had the potential to use a small, secondary island about eight miles East of the main island to use as cover. Wary of the u-boats, only Formations 1 and 3 moved forward initially, and kept the small island between them and the enemy. The Germans, on the other hand, charged forward with their entire fleet, including their heavily armed carrier. The Germans launched a full airstrike, heavily supported by land-based air and we responded in kind. Our destroyers appear to be a primary target. The fighters and flak were far more effective than the attack aircraft. We lost our squadron of Albacores while shooting down two squadrons of Do-24T-1s and a squadron of strafing Bf110s in return.
Our Battleship formations move Northeast while the Destroyer group moves to intercept the u-boats coming around the South side of the main island. The Germans separate their formations, their Battleship and Carrier formations going around the South side of the island while their Cruiser and Destroyer formations go around the North. The carrier air and the float planes again strike out. German fighters down one of our Sunderlands while our fighters knock out the last squadron of Do-24T-1. Our other Sunderland manages to get a crippling hit on the U-66. Finding the range, their Northern formations shoot at our Destroyers, sinking the HMS Gurkha.
The Germans charge forward again, though the Battleship formation swings out South as it advances West, perhaps to avoid the torpedoes from our destroyers. Our formations keep the small island between us and their Battleship, except for the 2 remaining destroyers from Formation 1 who separate to hunt the u-boats. The launched air again manages to mostly cancel itself out, though the Sunderland does manage to sink the damaged U-66 and we lose a squadron of Sea Hurricanes to German fighters. Our gunnery opens up on the Northern German formations, sinking one of the Hippers while the Ludemann disintegrates under a powerful hit by the battleship's secondaries. In return, both of the HMS Mohawks hunting the u-boats explode under fire from the Scharnhorst and its accompanying Hipper and their northern formation manages to sink the HMS Naiad.
Though we've hit their Northern formations hard, they press forward and their Battleship formation moves North to engage. Avoiding the battleship, our forces all move Northeast, using the small island to cover our maneuvers. Again our lone Sunderland braves the enemy fighters and manages to sink the U-85. Hidden from their battleship's sight by the small island, our fleet is able to lay heavy fire into the remnants of the Northern German formations and all three ships, the two Köln's and the destroyer, Galster, sink beneath our guns. The HMS Kelvin, which had been crippled by a strafing Me110, is sunk by enemy fire.
The Scharnhorst and the last Hipper now move to engage, supported by the U-106 and with the carrier formation a bit behind them. Our forces close, preparing to duel at point blank range. Our Sunderland again lands a hit, crippling the U-106. German gunnery damages the HMS Ramilies, cripples the HMS Carlisle, and sinks the HMS Hermione. Our return fire begins with the main guns of HMS Ramilies, which hit the boiler room of the Scharnhorst, causing it to explode and break in two. The remaining Hipper is quickly brought down by the rest of the fleet.
We chase the Graf Zeppelin's formation, but it gets away. The Sunderland is able to sink the last u-boat on its next try and avoid any danger to our heavy ships.
The damage on HMS Ramilies is repairable, but we've lost two cruisers and HMS Carlisle needs to limp back to dock. We also lost four of our destroyers. It was, nonetheless, a victory, as we sent a battleship, four cruisers, two destroyers, and three u-boats to the bottom. The German air formations also suffered more heavily than ours.
I would like to mention a special commendation for the crews of the Sunderland squadron who, after watching the other flight downed by enemy fighters, performed admirably in the face of determined fighter cover and single-handedly sunk the enemy wolf-pack.
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German Forces
Scharnhorst
Graf Zeppelin
- Bf 109
- Ju 87B
Adm. Hipper (x2)
Köln (x2)
Z-18 Hans Ludemann
Z-19 Hermann Kunne
Z-20 Karl Galster
U-66
U-85
U-106
Bf 109 (1 sector distant)
Bf 110 C-4 (x3) (1 sector distant)
Do 24T-1 (x3)
Bv 138 (x2) (begin with 4 re-arm markers)
BV 138 (x2) (begin with 6 re-arm markers)
British Forces
HMS Ramilies
HMS Roberts
HMS Formidable
- Martlet Mk.II
- Sea Hurricane Mk.IB
HMS Naiad
HMS Herminone
HMS Carlisle
HMS Gurkha
HMS Kelvin
HMS Tartar
HMS Mohawk (x2)
HMS Tynedale
Martlet Mk.II (x4) (2 sectors distant)
Fairey Albacore (2 sectors distant)
Sunderland Mk.I (x2)
Sunderland Mk.I (begins with 4 re-arm markers)
Fairey Fulmar (begins with 4 re-arm markers)
German Losses
Scharnhorst
Adm. Hipper (x2)
Köln (x2)
Z-18 Hans Ludemann
Z-20 Karl Galster
U-66
U-85
U-106
Bf 110 C-4
Do 24T-1 (x3)
British Losses
HMS Naiad
HMS Hermione
HMS Carlisle - crippled
HMS Gurkha
HMS Kelvin
HMS Mohawk (x2)
HMS Mohawk (x2)
Fairey Albacore
Sunderland Mk.I
Sea Hurricanes Mk.IB
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