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Paul Vebber -> (6/3/2002 11:02:48 PM)
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There is some tweaking beeing done to the "decisiveness" of comabt (the latest testing seems to indicate "winning' TF's less likely to give in when the enemy is at his mercy. But these things can be very complicated...especially regarding what information the "winning" side has about what else might be out there, and the ramifications of staying and expending ammo in a situation that may leave it vulnerable...
The best read on how seemingly "dead meat" victems to superior raiding forces can manage to survive is Dudley Pope's "73 North" about the 'Battle of the Barents Sea'. In this action which earned Capt R. StV. Sherbroke the Victoria Cross, 14 merchants comprising convoy JW 51B set out for Mermansk on 22 Dec 1942, carrying 2040 lorries 202 tanks, 87 fighters 33 bombers, 20,120 tons of oil feul, 12,650 tons of Aviation fuel and 54321 tons of 'mixed cargo' ranging from ammunition to zinc. She was the smallest convoy yet and escorted by the MSW Bramble, Three Hunt Calss Destroyers, Blankney, Chiddingfold and LEdbury, 3 corvettes Hyderabad, Rhododendron and Circe and two trawlers Northern Gem and Vizalma.
150 miles east of Iceland, the 3 Hunts and Circe turned back and 7 fleet destroyers took over the escort duties, Captain Sherbroke in Onslow, together with Oribi, Obedient, Obdurate, Orwell, Achates, and Bulldog. Bulldog was damaged in heavy seas heading for the rendezvous point ad turned back. S0 6 DDS , 2 Corvettes and misc others headed off across the "zone of Destiny" as Hitler called it protecting 14 merchants.
Before long the Germans learned of JW51B from submarine scouts and radio intercepts set up a welcoming commitee to greet her upon entering the Barants. The pocket BB Lutzow, CA Hipper Each armored with in excess of 4 in of hardened belt armor, the Battleof the River Platte had shown was all but impervious to 8 in shells. The 4 and 4.7 inch guns of the destroyer escorts may as wel have been pop-guns. Torpedoes where the only real threat and 6 destroyers were to escort them just on that contingency. Adm Kluber sent the force terse orders:
"Procedure on meeting the enemy: avoid a superior force, otherwise destroy according to tactical situation"
Hitler himself monitored personally the impending slaughter.
Realizing this Adm Kluber sent his task force this fateful amendment to his orignal order:
"Contrary to the operational order regarding contact against the enemy, use caution even against enemy of equal strength because it is undeisrable for the cruisers to take any great risks"
In the mean time, Oribi was sent back to port after her Captain very nearly caused a collision, though the particulars were in dispute, the senior by definition was right. Short 2 escorts The British "Force R" the light cruisers Sheffield and Jamaica were put to sea from the Kola inlet to be ready to come to the assistance of the convoy should the need arise. Heavy gales prevented them from making much progress...but word of there sailing soon reached Adm Kluber, though not overly concerned about the heavily outmatched British light cruisers. It was notice of another British force at Sea , the King George V class Battleship Anson and 8in gun cruiser Cumbarland, together with three destroyers was at sea as well, though not seen in the vicinity of the convoy for several days. With both forces at sea, he felt it had bbe wise of himself wise to ammend his order...especially in light of who was "wacthing the game"...
New years eve Action Stations sounded on Onslow as two German destroyers were sighted . Perhaps Russian? Sherbrooke could nt tell and dispatche Obdurate to investigate. Weather was very poor and the ships failed to respond to flashing light. Onslow was the only DD with 4.7 in guns (4) the others had WWI vintage 4in (4). German Destroyers each had 5 5in guns in individual mounts. Each more than match for a counterpart.
All ships were covered with inches of ice.
Sherbroke gave the simple order to the destroyers "Join me"
As the destroyers calmly moved to deal withthe threat,, little did they know a behemoth loomed just out of sight, circling like a wolf 'round a flock...
As the British readied to take the fight to the German DD's a dark shape loomed out of a snow squall. At 16000 yards eyes craned at binoculars to ID it, Was it Sheffiled or Jamaica? Were they about to make a ghastly mistake and open fire on Force R? Were those friendly D's after all? JUst in case Sherbrokke orderes Achates, still back near the convoy, having come from the other side of the formation, to lay screening smoke to blind the enemy to its manuevering.
As it drew to starboard, a manuever toward teh convoy, it soon came into focus. A few cries of "Tirpitz" from overzealous lookouts frantically came to the bridge, but she has not big enough. Not Tirpitz, but it may have well have been for all the little DD's could do to Adm Hipper.
The two forces were accelerating toward each other now and teh closing rate was approaching 60 mph.
Sherbrooke, unlike many of his contemporaries, didn;t think about the effect the impening action would have on his carrer. He tried to place himself in teh frame of mind of his adversary.
The light was poor, still dawn-like because of the high lattitude at 0930 with intermittant snow squalss. Standoff and shelling at long range was not an option. He would have to close.
Sherbroke had cgone over this scenario many times, realizing he might well find himself in such a situation, out classed considerably. His thoughts always returned to the one thing he had that could threaten a larger ship. Torpedoes. OR more precisely the THREAT of his torpedoes.
To be continued...
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