1890 Japan AAR

Post descriptions of your brilliant victories and unfortunate defeats here.
garrisonchisholm
Posts: 14
Joined: Sat Apr 29, 2023 7:00 pm

Re: 1890 Japan AAR

Post by garrisonchisholm »

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At the renewal of hostilities a cruiser force was sent to counter a Chinese raiding force known to be destined for the Korean coast. Commander Komura took the 4 Tokiwas to sea, and for the first time one of the Hashidates was in accompaniment with the scouting force. In clear and calm conditions the enemy was sited as predicted after dawn.

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Komura directed the division to draw parallel to the Chinese line and close. Firing commenced but within a short span Tokiwa's rudder was hit, causing her to pirouette out of line. The Tokiwa suffered numerous blows and was reduced to 10 knots. Captain Arita of the Yakumo reduced the column's speed and turned about to stay near his commander, however the volume of fire received from the enemy was heavy and swiftly caused significant damage. Arita now worried for the fate of the command thrust upon him, and began to take the remainder of the division away towards his friendly shore batteries, first at 10 knots, but finally at merely 8. The Chinese forces smelled blood, and left the Tokiwa to meet her fate while speedily closing down and smothering the Japanese with fire. Arita boldly kept his 3 ships together, resolving they would live or die as one. Just as she was disappearing from sight Tokiwa signaled she would make for Chemulpo, so Arita ordered Hasidate to return to his commander and provide escort.

One could hardly call it a running battle as the Japanese force plodded away from the field, however as the day wore on the Chinese ships finally began to show wear, first one and then another cruiser dropping out of line to withdraw westward. At last as evening approached the Chinese abandoned their harassment. Arita's 3 burning cruisers resolutely continued to make 8 knots to the east-southeast.

Arita expected to hear of the loss of Tokiwa once they finally made port in the pre-dawn dark of the next day, but much to his surprise...

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The reckless pursuit by the Chinese forces had cost them, and their force had not returned to port while Komura's had. Arita was commended by telegram from his commander, though vit would take a while to get Tokiwa back to her home berth. Keeping the ships together had, narrowly, proven the decisive factor. It would be a few months before the squadron would be fit for sea again, but it was an unexpected victory.

The only disappointing news came at the end of the day when an intelligence memo cast details on the 3 new Chinese battleships currently under construction in England.

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Japan's own battleships would need to arrive in greater numbers to match them.

...and the Hashidate? During the whole morning's action before she withdrew with Tokiwa, she managed to fire her main gun exactly once.
varsovie
Posts: 37
Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2012 11:35 pm

Re: 1890 Japan AAR

Post by varsovie »

Equal fleet
Equal ships
Equal guns
...
Unequal crew

P.S. I assume the 13kn on those BBs is just fog of war. They didn't order floating coastal batteries.
garrisonchisholm
Posts: 14
Joined: Sat Apr 29, 2023 7:00 pm

Re: 1890 Japan AAR

Post by garrisonchisholm »

varsovie wrote: Mon May 22, 2023 2:45 am Equal fleet
Equal ships
Equal guns
...
Unequal crew

P.S. I assume the 13kn on those BBs is just fog of war. They didn't order floating coastal batteries.
I would agree on both counts. However I see my initial glance was wrong and one of these ships has already been delivered, so I will essentially need to fight this war once again without equivalent vessels. I think the Hasidates were a mistake in timing, if not in design (though perhaps also in design, though they were still fun to build). Time will shortly tell how matters turn.
garrisonchisholm
Posts: 14
Joined: Sat Apr 29, 2023 7:00 pm

Re: 1890 Japan AAR

Post by garrisonchisholm »

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Following this victory it was decided to not trust to a favorable settlement what with the Western powers so invested in securing their oriental trade. The Special Naval Landing Forces were hastily deployed to sea and a landing on the Liaotung Penninsula north of Dalny planned. Their commanders would have no time to rehearse, the only opportunities for tactical coordination being during discussions enroute. Their haste was rewarded however as the landings caught the enemy completely by surprise, only a single armored cruiser needing to be chased back to port. A few batteries did need to be silenced but afterwards the landings went forward swiftly and successfully.

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The following month the 3 available cruisers were at sea again supporting the Penninsular operations and succeeded in catching the Chinese cruiser out of port, being able to isolate her and deliver crippling damage though she did not founder for several hours.

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After 6 weeks of fighting & despite being outnumbered both Dalny and Port Arthur were invested. Chinese emissaries approached Japan asking for talks however they were given a very cold shoulder, and Akimo was reading reports of Port Arthur's capture before he learned how the emissaries reacted to the government's position.

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The abilities of the under-trained and fed Chinese troops were hardly a concern at all, and Army forces were ferried in to allow the SNLF to withdraw and resupply for a fresh effort elsewhere.
garrisonchisholm
Posts: 14
Joined: Sat Apr 29, 2023 7:00 pm

Re: 1890 Japan AAR

Post by garrisonchisholm »

Good morning Matrix users. As might be gauged by the two-week delay I will be needing to put this AAR on pause now due to some RL stressors I need to manage. I will finish it eventually, I have two other complete AARs on the NWS forums which are completed (or nearly completed), the second of which deals with RTW3 and was written at a very interesting time in development. It begins with some decent models but also my own crap-tastic design work, but by mid-game the fantastic "Built By JW" designs start to be shown off. I also dive into the aircraft generator rather deeper than was intended and illustrate what you can get out of it story-wise.

nws-online.proboards.com/thread/6146/dlc-italy-aar

As soon as I feel myself on firm footing I will see about re-starting this. I have the next section already played and all the photos to support it, its just going to take the work to draft.

My apologies for the hiatus here.
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