Meanwhile...in the Gulf of Caranthia

Where was I?  It's been a hectic month. So hectic, I managed to miss my appointments for progress and chemo because I had it so fixed in my head (and on the calendar) that they were this week.  There has been bowling on most days and as Club Captain, that means a lot of work as well as play plus a wedding reception there which wanted planning out, the usual coaching, a 99th birthday and life..... all of which tends to trump wargaming and its preparation.

Anyway, let's get the story of this alternate/fantasy earth-like planet and its wars back on track. There was a facist attempt in progress to overthrow the communist government of East Friesland and unite the two island states into one.

While the struggle went on for control of the capital, Kavoska, a West Friesland naval force was inbound for the port of Hajukja, intent on landing facist re-enforcements.  Barring their way in the Gulf of Caranthia, the East Friesland navy, such that it was.  That force now sailed southwards to intercept.

The two forces were largely destroyers and, in the East Friesland case, torpedo boats. Although West Friesland had a battleship, it was an old, out of date ship that could not keep up with the fleet. The cruisers and light cruisers were the key capital ships. After that, it was down to the lighter units to use torpedoes to cause damage.

West Friesland swiftly turned eastwards, aiming to use the channel north of Hornsbergen to make their approach. Forming into a core flotilla, the cruisers sat in behind a screen of destroyers.

At this stage the wind was blowing against the West Friesland fleet (from the east) but not strongly. The West Friesland command, sighting the enemy through the slight haze, decided to throw out a screen of smoke to cover a rapid move ahead by the cruisers.

Meanwhile, the East Friesland ships had split into small sub forces intending to try and catch the enemy on the hop with its torpedo boats.  The issue was to be proven that old torpedo boats were too slow to keep up so by the time they arrived in position, the battle was largely decided.

                                                                                                                                                   
The first blow to East Friesland was their advancing light cruiser Scheilander moved in to fire on the lead WF destroyer, Patozec but the destroyer swiftly turned across her bows and let go with a full spread of torpedoes which the marker above shows put four of five in with a chance of striking.

The effect was devastating and shortly after, the cruiser listing badly as she tried to escape, sunk as more torpedoes slammed into her. The West Friesland flotilla pressed forward and soon, the second EF light cruiser was ablaze.  One by one, the EF ships were sent to the bottom or forced to pull off and run, damaged badly by WF fire and torpedoes. One of her light cruisers, Jacolek succeeded in destroying one WG ship and damaging another but took so much damage in reply that she had to steam south-east, running for Parvik with what remained of the fleet.

The cruiser can be seen heading south and torpedo boats still stretching to reach the battle. Heroically, the EF Minesweeper "Dornica" blocked off pursuig ships, striking with her light gunnery before running aground on a sandbank after her bottom and hull were torn apart by torpedo fire.

The battle was done and West Friesland troop ships soon broached the channel accompanied by the old battleship, "Kempvert" which would offer a floating artillery platform to support the landing.

The East Friesland torpedo boats use the islet as a cover before pulling out as West Friesland ships take position  to bring the troop ships through.

The battle was decided not by the longer range guns, which largely proved ineffective, doing little damage before the ships closed to torpedo range where the West Friesland destroyers with multiple tubes did a lot of damage at close range to light cruisers, destroyers and torpedo boats alike. The torpedo boats by comparison with less tubes and a need to fire forward to cause most damage were no match.  East Friesland's fleet was outnumbered and outgunned. It proved that intent was not enough at sea.

The result of this encounter was twofold.  First, West Friesland were able to make a landing and set down re-enforcements to continue the invasion of East Friesland.  Secondly, East Friesland's ally, the People's Republic of Hessnovinia ordered the Vostagrad fleet to sail south, protecting troop and supply ships carrying equipment and troops bound for East Friesland. One of the world's major powers was about to intervene directly to prevent its communist ally from falling.  With a Barovian fleet approaching and also a North Maravaal flotill heading into the area, the clash of beliefs was about to widen the conflict way beyond and old rivalry.

It was as the military analysts had been predicting.