2 replies to this topic

[matt curtis]

Hey.....new to this forum.I'm a sucker for the WWI Adriatic and Med theaters. Of course, a lot of what we play are "what if" scenarios, but this is one we had fun with last weekend. The Karls were eventually used to replace Austria's obsolete armored cruisers following the mutiny at Cattaro in 1918.Clash of the Second-StringersJune, 1915Conditions in the Adriatic Sea would make both the Austrians and their Italian rivals loathe to commit their battleships to battle. The water body, ranging from 60 to 100 miles across, was narrow enough that harbors were only a few hours apart. And the proliferation of mines and torpedoes (delivered by sub or the MAS boats that appeared later in the war) meant their precious dreadnoughts were at risk every time they left port. What resulted was what historians refer to as a sort of ‘guerilla war’ fought by two fleets-in-being. Battleships stayed in harbor, or else slinked out for gunnery drills far from prying eyes, while their smaller brethren were involved in countless ambushes and counter ambushes. Light cruisers and torpedo boats came into their own.The kuk Kriegsmarine’s Helgoland scout ships – modified versions of the Admiral Spaun laid down in 1909 – embodied this conflict and were ideally suited for the hit-and-run raids that typified the Adriatic theater. Capable of 27-28 knots, they mounted 3.9” guns and could outrun anything heavier than a destroyer. When Rear Admiral Umberto Cagni brought the Regia Marina’s Fourth Division to Venice in an attempt to keep these ships at bay, Allied observers were critical. Cagni’s Pisa and San Marco class armored cruisers were too slow to catch the enemy’s smaller hulls, and too big for U-boat commanders to ignore.The cruiser Amalfi was indeed lost on July 7, sunk by UB.14 while supporting a sweep by Italian destroyers. Here, at least, she is given a chance to engage the surface combatants that sparked her deployment in the first place. A sweep similar in theory to the one mentioned above has resulted in the Austrians losing a Huszar class destroyer. A second destroyer has fled, with Novara attempting to provide cover. The Third Battleship Division, on maneuvers, was close enough to lend Novara support, and the Italian commander, perhaps unwisely, has opted to engage. The again, looking at the environmental conditions, this may be a case of mistaken identity.Elements of Cagni’s Fourth Division @ 23 knots, 135 degrees from west half north edge.Pisa (same class armored cruiser) Amalfi (Pisa class armored cruiser)Quarto (same class light cruiser)Half-flotilla of Pilo class destroyers (Pilo, Bronzetti and Schiaffino)kuk Third Battleship Division @ 20 knots, 225 degrees from east half north edge. Erzherzog Karl (same class pre-dreadnought battleship)Erzherzog Ferdinand Max (Erzherzog Karl class pre-dreadnought battleship)Erzherzog Friedrich (Erzherzog Karl class pre-dreadnought battleship)Novara (Helgoland class light cruiser)

[matt curtis]

Forgot, conditions are fresh winds with whitecaps and 19,000 yards visibility. It's too wet for casements. Rolled that up and kept it.

[Lonnie Gill]

Very Interesting. Nice to see a scenario in one of the "other" theaters by ships that aren't household names. WW I abounds in so many wonderful "what if" possibilities and so many novel ship designs.Hopefully, some of you that try it out will let us know how your engagements came out. Looking forward to some After Action Reports! LONNIE