stevep
Fleet admiral
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Post by stevep on Feb 20, 2020 11:39:03 GMT
lordroel , For all his faults Churchill could show key moments of brilliance. I wonder how long it would have taken to get those 'water tanks' into service without that intervention? I wonder if the run of the WILLERBY, especially if it got off a radio message, is the reason why she's the last victim of the PRINZ EITEL FRIEDRICH? Hopefully find out shortly. Steve
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 20, 2020 15:32:29 GMT
lordroel , I wonder if the run of the WILLERBY, especially if it got off a radio message, is the reason why she's the last victim of the PRINZ EITEL FRIEDRICH? Hopefully find out shortly. Steve Its not the WILLERBY who was the one to blame for being the last victim of PRINZ EITEL FRIEDRICH, that is what i can say. |
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 21, 2020 3:18:56 GMT
Day 209 of the Great War, February 21st 1915
Eastern Front: elements of the German 8th and 10th Armies meet at the town of Lipsk
Advance elements of the German 8th and 10th Armies meet at the town of Lipsk, south of the Augustow Forest, encircling XX Corps. Further, heavy Russian attacks westwards from the fortifications at Grodno over the past two days have further failed to dislodge the Germans between them and the forest, dooming XX Corps.
Naval operations: Pacific Ocean
HMS KENT spends the day patrolling off Coronel.
Naval operations: Cape Horn
HMS BRISTOL patrols the Strait of Magellan from Casa to Focus Island. HMS GLASGOW patrols a different area to arrive at the same destination.
Naval operations: Atlantic Ocean
HMS CARNARVON arrives at Abrolhos Rocks, recoals from SS BURESH.
Naval operations: German East Africa
The first of the Sopwith seaplanes is assembled and ready for testing. With pilot and observer, four bombs, and fuel for one hour in the air, the plane refuses to lift off.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 22, 2020 9:10:54 GMT
Day 210 of the Great War, February 22nd 1915Western Front: French undertake renewed attacks in ChampagneThe French undertake renewed attacks in Champagne today, but fail to make any headway, and the commanders of the German VIII and VIII Reserve Corps opposite believe that the attacks aim merely to cover the failure of the main French offensive. Netherlands: Dutch neutrality is seen by the German army as a potential threatDutch neutrality is seen by the German army as a potential threat, as opposed to one of the last links between Germany and the global economy. In particular, the army is concerned that the British might invade the Netherlands to outflank the German position in Belgium - a concern undoubtedly based in the knowledge that such a violation of Dutch neutrality is precisely the sort of thing the German General Staff would advocate if the positions were reversed. 4th Army, responsible for the front in Belgium along the Channel coast, has been tasked with developing a contingency plan should such a British invasion occur. Today, 4th Army HQ informs OHL that if needed two marine brigades, the Guard Cavalry Division, a mixed infantry brigade, and a number of battalions of rear echelon troops will concentrate on the Dutch frontier to oppose a British landing. Eastern Front: remnants of the Russian XX Corps surrender- In Augustow Forest, the remnants of the Russian XX Corps surrender, with twelve thousand soldiers marching into German captivity. Of the rest of the Russian 10th Army, though III Siberian, III, and XXVI Corps have escaped eastwards, they have suffered heavy casualties and rendered combat-ineffective. Ludendorff claims the Winter Battle of the Masurian Lakes to be another Tannenburg, but in practice the victory is not on the same scale. The Russian 10th Army has lost 'only' 56 000 casualties over the past few weeks of fighting, and though battered and weakened at least still exists, in contrast to the fate of 2nd Army at Tannenburg. Photo: A German machine-gun position during the Winter Battle of the Masurian Lakes. The German victory over the Russian 10th Army, however, has not secured to the Germans any broader strategic consequences. Ludendorff had hoped that victory here would threaten to outflank the Russian position in central Poland, and in consequence the Russians would pull back over the Vistula. However, the German advance has simply formed a large salient from East Prussia to the Niemen River. To the north the Russians remain in control of the fortress at Kovno, a threat to the German 10th Army's left flank. To the south, much of the strength of the German 8th Army has been drawn into a siege of the fortress at Osowiec, where the rivers and marshes, combined with a skilled Russian defence, have prevented the Germans from bringing their siege artillery fully to bear on the fortress' walls. Finally, today the Russian 12th Army finally begins its delayed advance to the west of Osowiec, and though the German 8th Army is able to contain the Russians, the Germans find themselves pinned into defensive positions, incapable of threatening anyone's flanks. - To the west, the gap between the German 8th Army near the East Prussian frontier and the German 9th Army on the line of the Bzura River is covered by a scratch force under the command of General Max von Gallwitz. With the forces to the east stalemated, Gallwitz launches an offensive today, advancing southeast towards the town of Prasnysz with elements of I Reserve and XVII Reserve Corps and 3rd Infantry Division. Their ultimate objective is the Narew River, and by securing a crossing they hope to outflank the Russian line west of Warsaw and force the enemy to abandon the city. Map: The German advance towards Prasnysz, February 22nd, 1915. South Africa - Maritz rebellionWith the Boer Rebellion effectively crushed, Prime Minister Botha of South Africa turns his attention to the invasion of German South-West Africa. Today he lands at Walvis Bay, assumes command over the South African force that occupied Swakopmund on January 13th, and orders an advance inland towards Windhoek along the railway (destroyed by the Germans) connecting the two towns. Botha views the march to Windhoek, the German colonial capital, as strategically decisive, severing German communications between the north and south of the colony. However, to prevent a German withdrawal from the south to concentrate against his column he has also ordered offensives from Lüdertiz and across the Orange River. Aerial operations: a Lohner attacks a Serbian observation balloonHauptmann Adolf Heyrowsky, commanding officer of Flik 9, flying a Lohner (or possibly Albatros) biplane with Oskar Safar as observer, attacks a Serbian observation balloon. Safar shoots down the balloon. This is the first recorded victory by an Austro-Hungarian crew and the first recorded "balloon bust". Naval operations: revised instructions to U-boat captainsThe revised instructions to U-boat captains regarding which targets to fire upon and how they are to determine a vessel's identity have been sufficient to overcome the remaining concerns of the Kaiser, and as such unrestricted submarine warfare begins today against Britain. Naval operations: Pacific OceanHMS KENT moves from Santa Maria Island to the port of Coronel, Chile. Naval operations: Cape HornHMS BRISTOL and GLASGOW continue their patrol in the vicinity of Focus Island, Last Hope Inlet and Puerto Natales. At 1335 BRISTOL runs aground, heavily damaging her rudder. She is now only able to steer using her propellers. Naval operations: Atlantic OceanWhile patrolling the Abrolhos Rocks area HMS CARNARVON runs aground. "Ship struck an obstruction on Starb side. Hard a port." Flooding is reported in A, B and C boiler rooms. The ship is anchored in shallow water and HMS VINDICTIVE comes alongside and puts a diving party into the water to investigate CARNARVON'S hull. Naval operations: German East Africa The two newly-arrived Sopwiths are rapidly proving useless. Neither one can become airborne unless it carries neither observer nor bombs, and even in that condition the maximum altitude they can reach is only 1500 feet, leaving them easy prey for the Germans' machine guns.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 23, 2020 8:25:32 GMT
Day 211 of the Great War, February 23rd 1915Western Front: French commence a sudden heavy artillery bombardment- Despite German beliefs that the French are drawing down their Champagne offensive, at 3pm the French commence a sudden heavy artillery bombardment, followed by a number of infantry attacks. The Germans, however, make excellent use of their own artillery, inflicting significant losses on the advancing enemy soldiers and breaking up the infantry attacks, ensuring that the German line holds. - Sir John French replies today to Joffre's testy note of February 20th. He emphasizes that the relief of the French IX and XX Corps had always been dependent on the BEF receiving reinforcements from Britain, and with those reinforcements now delayed, it was not possible for the British to take over the Ypres salient as previously agreed upon. He also objected to Joffre's complaints regarding the density of British and French forces on their respective portions of the front, arguing that the terrain in the British sector required greater concentration and that the maintenance of the long line of communications back to Britain also consumed a significant number of soldiers. Finally, the BEF commander assures Joffre that the British will be able to launch their offensive at Neuve Chapelle on or about March 7th. - After four days of heavy fighting in the winter conditions of the Vosges, elements of Army Detachment Gaede attacking west of Munster have made marginal progress, reaching the line Barrenkopf-Reichsackerkopf-Hilsenfirst. With no further reserves available to commit to the fight, General Gaede orders that this line be transformed into the main defensive position along this portion of the front. Naval operations: English ChannelU-8, commanded by Alfred Stoß, torpedoes SS BRANKSOME CHINE, 2,026 tons, en route from Grimsby to Portsmouth with a cargo of coal. Later in the day U-8 torpedoes SS OAKBY, 1,976 tons, travelling in ballast from London to Cardiff. Naval operations: Pacific OceanHMS NEWCASTLE arrives at San Bartolome. HMS KENT starts moving southward toward Cape Horn. Naval operations: Atlantic OceanAt 0047 hours HMS CARNARVON uses her anchors to turn the ship seaward. At 0108 Ahead Slow is ordered. Four minutes later the ship runs aground again. At 0115 Half Speed is called up and the ship slips free. At 0119 CARNARVON is anchored in deep enough water for an thorough examination. At 0230 another anchor is let go and the ship is securely in place. With the rising sun divers are put into the water for a careful examination of the damage. At 0945 the ship starts bumping the anchors with the rising tide. The divers are taken back aboard and at 1004 CARNARVON is moved to slightly deeper water. The divers begin the work of caulking the hole in the ship's bottom, and the three affected boiler rooms begin pumping out water. At 2000 there is still a 1/2 degree list to starboard. By 2200 the list is corrected. Naval operations: Cape HornHMS BRISTOL and GLASGOW move from Puerto Natales back to Focus Island. Photo: A starboard broadside view of HMS GLASGOW, taken in 1911
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 24, 2020 7:58:27 GMT
Day 212 of the Great War, February 24th 1915
United Kingdom: War Council in London
A meeting of the War Council in London today discusses aerial attacks on Germany, with alternatives such as distributing a 'blight' by air or dropping incendiaries on crops. The rationale behind such suggestions is that it would be no worse that the recently-declared unrestricted submarine warfare. The conclusion is to work out the details of such raids, but that they should be used only after extreme provocation.
Eastern Front: eastern wing of Gallwitz's forces capture the town of Prasnysz
The eastern wing of Gallwitz's forces capture the town of Prasnysz today, capturing a number of artillery pieces and approximately half of the isolated Russian brigade that had attempted to hold off the attackers. To the west of Prasnysz, however, a Russian division sits firmly entrenched on a line of hills, and has resisted a series of attacks both from Gallwitz's western wing and from the units that have just seized Prasnysz. The desperate stand of the Russians has given time for North-West Front to rush reinforcements to the scene, which begin to arrive on the battlefield this evening.
Kamerun campaign: German forces to threaten the line
In German Kamerun, the French decision to concentrate their columns against Jaunde has allowed several German forces to threaten the line of communication of the French columns that had occupied Bertua after an advance from the east. As a result, the French at Bertua have been forced to fall back towards the Lobaye River, and today the Germans reoccupy Bertua.
Gallipoli campaign: Admiral Carden off the Dardanelles signals London
Admiral Carden off the Dardanelles signals London today that though he does not intend to resume the bombardment of the Ottoman defences until the weather improves, he believes that the destruction of the outer Ottoman forts guarding the entrance to the straits can be accomplished in a single day.
Naval operations: English Channel
Alfred Stoß continues his attacks on merchant shipping. U-8's first victim is SS HARPALION, 5,867 tons, travelling from London to Cape Henry, Virginia in ballast. Next is SS RIO PARANA, 4,015 tons, bound from Tyne to Porto Ferraio, Portugal, with a cargo of coal. Last is SS WESTERN COAST, 1,165 tons, carrying a mixed cargo from London to Liverpool. Stoß' total is now 15,049 tons.
Naval operations: Cape Horn
HMS BRISTOL and GLASGOW depart Focus Island for Puerto Condell. They stop there for half an hour then proceed again. At 1530 GLASGOW parts company and sails for Cooper Key. BRISTOL arrives at Puerto Tamar at 1845.
Naval operations: Atlantic Ocean
Off the Abrolhos Rocks, divers work from dawn to dusk trying to repair the hole in HMS CARNARVON'S bottom plates. The three boiler rooms are still taking water and the list starts to increase again, first to 1/2 degree then finally to 1-1/2 degrees.
Naval operations: German East Africa
One of the two Sopwith seaplanes, S921, crashes on landing after a test flight. The plane is damaged beyond repair.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 25, 2020 8:07:53 GMT
Day 213 of the Great War, February 25th 1915Naval operations - Dardanelles campaign
Photo: SUFFREN (on the right) and HMS AGAMEMNON (on the left) during the final bombardment of the Seddülbahir and Kumkale forts. By this morning the storm at the Dardanelles finally passes, and with the improved weather Admiral Carden orders another bombardment of the Ottoman forts guarding the entrance to the straits. The new dreadnought QUEEN ELIZABETH fires for the first time, launching eighteen 15-inch shells into the fort at Cape Helles, destroying two guns, while IRRESISTIBLE fires thirty-five shells and destroys a further two guns. Map: The bombardment of the outer forts at the Dardanelles, February 25th, 1915. Later in the afternoon, Carden's second in command, Rear Admiral John de Robeck, leads the battleships into the mouth of the straits and bombard the forts from almost point-blank range. The Ottoman gunners are able to strike home with several shots, the pre-dreadnought AGAMEMNON being hit seven times and suffering ten casualties. By 4pm, however, the Ottoman forts, covered in a haze of dust, had fallen silent, the artillerymen having withdrawn in the face of the intense bombardment. It appears to Carden and his officers that the first step in the operation has been completed. Photo: British battleship HMS AGAMEMNON bombarding the Dardanelles Straits
 Naval operations: Pacific OceanStill at San Bartolome, HMS NEWCASTLE recoals from SS BOYNE, after which Newcastle departs San Bartolome for Esquimalt. Naval operations: Cape HornAt Puerto Tamar HMS BRISTOL recoals from SS CAIRN ROSS Ross, then proceeds to investigate the area around Capo Quod. HMS GLASGOW once again patrols the area around Punta Arenas, near the western entrance to the Strait of Magellan. Naval operations: Atlantic OceanHMS CARNARVON is still laid up off the Abrolhos Rocks. While divers continue with their efforts to seal the ships bottom, various anchors are hauled out by boat in an attempt to keep the ship from moving. This is only partially successful. A passing Brazilian collier, SS AMIRAL BROCCOAS, kindly stops when signaled so CARNARVON can send a launch to investigate her cargo. Naval operations: Indian OceanHMS GOLIATH departs Simonstown, South Africa for the Rufiji River delta, with Admiral Herbert Goodenough King-Hall aboard. King-Hall will be taking command of the KONINGSBERG operation.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 26, 2020 4:07:20 GMT
Day 214 of the Great War, February 26th 1915YouTube (Prelude to Gallipoli - Naval Bombardment of the Dardanelles)Western Front: German IV Reserve Corps seizes a section of the French trench line southwest of MalancourtIn the Argonne, the German IV Reserve Corps seizes a section of the French trench line southwest of Malancourt, and the fighting is notable for marking the first use of flamethrowers in combat during the war. The Germans had developed flamethrowers in the decade prior to the war, and on January 18th, 1915 a Flamethrower Detachment was formed under Captain Bernhard Reddeman consisting of volunteers, many of whom had been firemen in civilian life. The Detachment refined flamethrowers, producing a larger model with longer range but which required installation and a smaller model capable of being carried by a soldier as he crossed No Man's Land, and pioneered tactics for their use. Near Malancourt the attack was directed at a point where the German line was within forty metres of the first French trench, and Reddeman's soldiers were able to install several of the larger models. When the attack began, the flamethrowers shot jets of fire into the French position, and even though most of the defending infantry had not been burned, the shock of the unexpected terror paralyzed them and allowed the attacking German infantry, including several soldiers carrying the smaller model into battle, to capture the enemy line with light casualties. Eastern Front: General Pflanzer-Baltin's forces have been able to undertake a moderate offensiveIn the Carpathians, the only significant Austro-Hungarian success achieved since late December has been on the far eastern part of the line, where General Pflanzer-Baltin's forces have been able to undertake a moderate offensive. This accomplishment, however, has not resulted in a decisive Austro-Hungarian advance - the Russians opposite Südarmee have refused to budge, and General Brusilov of the Russian 8th Army is mobilizing reinforcements to block further advances by Pflanzer-Baltin. Moreover, while the supply situation is tenuous along the entire front, it is particularly problematic in the far east, where only a single rail line supports Plfanzer-Baltin's army group. Map: The position of Südarmee and Pflanzer-Baltin's army group, February 26th, 1915. Conrad, however, is obsessed with the besieged fortress of Przemysl, and relieving its garrison before it can be forced to surrender to the Russians in March. Thus, despite the terrible weather and the exhausted and depleted state of the Austro-Hungarian army, he is determined to launch another offensive. He has tasked 2nd and 3rd Armies in the centre of the Carpathian line with breaking through the Russian lines, and overrules the misgivings the commanders of both armies have. For one, the Austro-Hungarian divisions are significantly understrength, and the replacements that have arrived are poorly trained and ill-prepared. Further, the weather remains terrible, hindering movement and resupply, while the new units that Conrad has sent to the two armies are disorganized and have been committed to fighting piecemeal. Finally, much of the two armies have been fighting constantly on the defensive, with no time to prepare for offensive operations. Despite the difficulties, Conrad is insistent - Przemysl must be relieved. The only concession he makes to reality is a slight delay, to allow roads closed by bad weather to be cleared. The offensive is now scheduled to be launched tomorrow, regardless of whether 2nd and 3rd Armies are actually capable of achieving success. Map: The position of the Austro-Hungarian 2nd and 3rd Armies, February 26th, 1915. Kamerun campaign: Intelligence reaches the Entente commanders in central AfricaIntelligence reaches the Entente commanders in central Africa that the Germans forces in their colony of Kamerun have been deployed to defend Ngaundere, in the northern highlands, instead of Jaudre in the west. The French governor-general of Equatorial Africa, however, dismisses the report, and continues to insist that the French and British concentrate against Jaudre. Gallipoli campaign: British warships send a number landing parties ashoreAt the mouth of the Dardanelles the British warships send a number landing parties ashore, each consisting of about fifty Royal Marines guarding about thirty sailors, the latter tasked with destroying Ottoman artillery pieces. They methodically go through each of the abandoned forts, blowing up fifty guns with explosive charges and effectively clearing the way for the Entente squadron to enter the straits. Incidentally, one of the landing parties reaches the village of Krithia, four miles inland of the southern tip of Gallipoli Peninsula, which constitutes the high tide of the entire Entente amphibious operation to come - at no point between April and December will Entente soldiers again reach Krithia. With the outer forts neutralized, attention turns to the inner defences. Inside the mouth of the Dardanelles the passage widens to four and a half miles, guarded by five forts on the north shore and four on the south shore, augmented by a numer of mobile howitzer batteries. Fourteen miles upstream is the Narrows, where the channel is less than a mile wide, and where the Ottomans had concentrated their largest artillery pieces. The Narrows is also guarded by several hundred mines, laid out in ten lines from the Narrows to Kephez, the latter located just over halfway from the entrance of the Dardanelles to the Narrows. Today the pre-dreadnoughts pass the ruined outer forts and begin to engage the western-most forts inside the straits. It becomes quickly apparent to the British and the French that the mobile howitzer batteries are the most effective Ottoman defence - well-concealed, they are difficult to hit, and when the pre-dreadnoughts find the range the howitzers are simply moved to another location. The shells from the howitzers cannot penetrate the armour of the pre-dreadnoughts and are little more than a nuisance, but the difficulty in elimination them highlights the limitations of naval gunfire against land targets. Naval operations: Cape HornHMS BRISTOL and GLASGOW are taking separate routes to Isthmus Bay. Also arriving at Isthmus bay is armoured cruiser HMS KENT. Naval operations: Atlantic OceanHMS CARNARVON'S situation is growing worse. All four boiler rooms are now taking water, and pumping operations are keeping the ship from flooding more, but not making progress. Naval operations: German East AfricaThe surviving seaplane, S920, conducts taxi tests and makes a brief flight. The extreme heat is making difficult any kind of real flying.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 27, 2020 4:09:22 GMT
Day 215 of the Great War, February 27th 1915
Western Front: French attacks in Champagne force the Germans to abandon a key defensive position
French attacks in Champagne force the Germans today to abandon the key defensive position at Ferme de Beauséjour. However, the Germans remain in control of the Mesnil Knob position overlooking Ferme de Beauséjour, which allows them to pour continuous fire into the French infantry.
Eastern Front: Russian reinforcements north of the Narew River force German units under Gallwitz onto the defensive
- The arrival of Russian reinforcements north of the Narew River has forced the German units under Gallwitz onto the defensive, and for the past several days a series of increasingly desperate Russian attacks have threatened to overwhelm the Germans. Due to rifle and ammunition shortages, it was standard practice in the Russian army for reserve forces to not have rifles of their own, instead being expected to be armed either before being sent into battle or to pick up rifles on the battlefield left by the fallen. In the pitched fighting around Prasnysz, there was no time to arm the Russian reserves before they were thrown into battle, which meant they attacked armed only with bayonets and handheld bombs. In the face of German infantry fire, the Russians had to close to the range at which they could throw their bombs, and then charge for hand-to-hand combat. It was fighting more appropriate to medieval Europe than the 20th-century, but the Russian numerical superiority gave these attacks a weight they lacked in firepower. Gradually the Germans have fallen back in the face of repeated almost-suicidal enemy charges, and to avoid being overrun Gallwitz orders a retreat from Prasnysz today. Five thousand German soldiers are made prisoner, and the German retreat ends any hope of reaching the Narew and achieving a great strategic success. Gallwitz's forces retreat to the lines from which they had advanced five days earlier, restoring the status quo in the line between the German 8th and 9th Armies.
- In thick fog and heavy snow, the Austro-Hungarian offensive in the Carpathians begins. The first phase of the operation is an attack today by XIX Corps, on 2nd Army's left, towards Baligrod. Subsequently, X Corps of 3rd Army to the west, and XVIII and V Corps of 2nd Army to the east, are to join the advance, in expectation that the initial fighting of XIX Corps will break the Russian line. However, though XIX corps has been reinforced and has a numerical superiority in infantry over the Russians opposite, its attack suffers from the almost complete absence of artillery support, the result of bad weather hindering both the deployment of artillery pieces and the accurate spotting of shellfire. When combined with the effect the terrible weather has on the infantry themselves, XIX Corps makes little headway.
Germany: German government continues to believe that Austria-Hungary should offer territorial concessions to Italy
The German government continues to believe that Austria-Hungary should offer territorial concessions to Italy to induce it maintain its neutrality in the war, and the ongoing failure to break the Russian lines in the Carpathians and relieve Przemysl has heightened anxiety in Berlin. In an effort to persuade the Austro-Hungarian government, the Prussian council of ministers agrees today that border adjustments in Silesia can be made as compensation for territory surrendered to the Italians.
Naval operations: Pacific Ocean
SMS DRESDEN captures and scuttles British barque CONWAY CASTLE, 1,694 tons.
Naval operations: Cape Horn
HMS KENT is patrolling the area around Isthmus Bay, where HMS GLASGOW is coaling from SS CAIRN ROSS. HMS BRISTOL moves from Isthmus Bay to Cape Bower in Fortescue Bay.
Naval operations: Atlantic Ocean
HMS CARNARVON is still unable to move from the Abrolhos Rocks. Divers are now working on fitting a collision mat to prevent the hull bumping against the bottom. All four boiler rooms are still continuously pumping out water, and the ship is still listing about one degree.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 28, 2020 3:08:39 GMT
Day 216 of the Great War, February 28th 1915
Eastern Front: General Brusilov of the Russian 8th Army has marshalled reinforcements to counterattack
- In the eastern Carpathians General Brusilov of the Russian 8th Army has marshalled reinforcements to counterattack the Austro-Hungarian forces under General Pflanzer-Baltin. Attacking today, a Russian column breaks the enemy line northwest of Stanislau and advances.
Meanwhile, along the main axis of advance of the latest Austro-Hungarian offensive in the Carpathians, 27th and 32nd Divisions, plus elements of 43rd Landwehr Division, grouped together under the command of General Albert Schmidt von Georgenegg, launch an attack northwards on either side of the road to Baligrod. However, similar to the plight of XIX Corps on its left, its advance stalls due to bad weather and stiff Russian resistance. On the other flank of XIX Corps, X Corps of 3rd Army also attacks today, engaging in prolonged and bloody fighting.
Naval operations: Cape Horn
HMS KENT moves from Isthmus Bay to Sholl Bay, meets BRISTOL and GLASGOW, recoals from SS CAIRN ROSS., departs to patrol the area around Fairway Island.
Naval operations: South Africa
HMS GOLIATH arrives at Port Natal, Durban, recoals from SS CILICIA.
Naval operations: German East Africa
SS KINFAUNS CASTLE puts Sopwith S920 into the water. The seaplane taxis for a while then reports back to the ship with engine problems. At 1457 the plane takes off and rises to an altitude of 150 feet, then lands near the beach at Niororo Island. At 1500 a launch carries mechanics to the beach. At 1540 the seaplane takes off again, flies around for ten minutes at about 100 feet, and lands. At 1618 S920 takes off for a third time, stays aloft for four minutes, then lands badly, damaging her floats. A boat is sent to consult with the pilot. At 1641 KINFAUNS CASTLE gets underway and moves alongside the crippled aircraft. At 1745 S920 is hoisted aboard and the ship is underway.
Naval operations - Dardanelles campaign
Grand Duke Nicholas, whose note of December 30th has led to the Dardanelles campaign, informs the British and French today that the Black Sea Fleet will attack Constantinople and an army of 47 000 will be deployed. However, the Russians will only move once the British and French fleets have passed through the Dardanelles and crossed the Sea of Marmara. In other words, the Russians will only contribute to the Dardanelles campaign once the difficult work has been done.
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lordroel
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Post by lordroel on Feb 29, 2020 7:41:13 GMT
Day 217 of the Great War, March 1st 1915
Western Front: Joffre writes to the minister of war
Having failed to make any headway with Sir John French regarding the relief of the French corps in the Ypres salient, Joffre writes to the minister of war today, asking him to appeal directly to Kitchener. As Joffre explains, if IX Corps is not relieved by the British, 10th Army will be unable to launch an offensive in Artois in conjunction with the BEF.
Eastern Front: Conrad is faced with the spectre of almost complete failure
It is only the third day of the renewed Austro-Hungarian offensive in the Carpathians, but already Conrad is faced with the spectre of almost complete failure. After heavy fighting the left wing of 2nd Army is stalled along the road to Baligrod, and has failed to reach its initial objectives. To the east, V Corps of 2nd Army is stalled along along the San River at Chmiel, while to the west X Corps of 3rd Army has been unable to seize the heights fiercely defended by the Russians. To make matters worse, the Russians have widened the breach gained yesterday in the Austro-Hungarian lines northwest of Stanislau to eight kilometres, and threaten to unhinge the entire front held by General Pflanzer-Baltin's forces. Finally, Südarmee has failed to make any substantial progress towards Wyszkow Pass in the face of the bitter winter conditions. In reaction to the setbacks, Conrad considers throwing 4th Army into the attack, disregarding the strong Russian defensive positions it faces.
Naval operations - Dardanelles campaign
At the Dardanelles the British begin to confront the problem of the Ottoman minefields within the straits. Clearing the mines is essential to the success of the operation, but the British only have makeshift minesweepers available to them in the eastern Mediterranean. The Admiralty has provided the expedition with twenty-one converted North Sea fishing trawlers, newly-equipped with minesweeping gear but still manned by their regular peacetime crews, now designated as naval reserve sailors. Crucially, these crews had no experience whatsoever of working under fire, but that was precisely the situation they faced in the Dardanelles due to the difficulties of destroying in particular the mobile howitzer batteries by naval bombardment.
To deal with this problem, Admiral Carden decides to send in the minesweepers at night to hopefully avoid detection. After dusk this evening seven trawlers, escorted by the light cruiser Amethyst and four destroyers, enter the straits and begin to work. The Germans and Ottomans, however, had already considered the possibility of night operations, and had five large searchlight batteries along the shore. When the minesweepers are a mile and a half from the first minefield, they are suddenly illuminated by four searchlights and quickly subjected to fire from ten gun batteries. Though none are hit, the trawlers rapidly retreat, while their escorts discover that it is nearly impossible to hit enemy artillery while practically blinded by powerful searchlights at night. After forty-five minutes, the five warships also retreat.
- The success of the British and French to date at the Dardanelles, and in particular the destruction of the forts protecting the entrance to the straits, is having the desired effect on the opinion of the neutral Balkan states: today the pro-Entente Greek Prime Minister Eleutherios Venizelos offers three Greek divisions for an attack on the Gallipoli peninsula.
- For their part the Germans are concerned about the prospects of a successful defense of the Dardanelles by the Ottomans, and desire to disturb the complacency of the British and French warships anchoring as they undertake bombardments. To this end, the Austrian naval attaché is asked today to request to his government to send at least one of their submarines to the Dardanelles as early as possible.
Naval operations: German East Africa
The British formally announce a complete naval blockade of German East Africa.
Naval operations: Sheerness, Britain
Sometime around this date the captains of HMS HUMBER, MERSEY and SEVERN are told that dockyard workers will be boarding within the week to prepare the three monitors for an ocean voyage, a trip for which they were not designed.
Naval operations: Cape Horn
HMS KENT continues to patrol the area between Isthmus Bay and Sholl Bay. HMS BRISTOL patrols the Barbara Channel, near Fortescue Bay. BRISTOL and KENT meet briefly. HMS GLASGOW spends the day anchored at Sholl bay, and also has a brief meeting with KENT.
Naval operations: Atlantic Ocean
The crew of HMS CARNARVON have finished making the collision mat to protect the ship's bottom. It takes most of the day to get it overboard and in place. The ship is still listing 1/2 degree, and all for boiler rooms are still being pumped free of water.
Naval operations: South Africa
HMS GOLIATHHMS departs Port Natal and sets course for Mafia Island.
Naval operations: German East Africa
SS KINFAUNS CASTLE Castle steams from Niororo Island to the mouth of the Lindi River (171) miles. Along the way she stops two suspect dhows and takes them both in tow.
Naval operations: Yemen
Again von Mücke fails to give an exact date, but it is around this time that his men are well enough to begin the ride back to Al Hudaydah. Von Mücke takes a few men with him and rides ahead. He will reach the coastal town a day-and-a-half before the rest of his men.
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stevep
Fleet admiral
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Post by stevep on Feb 29, 2020 12:26:28 GMT
Day 217 of the Great War, March 1st 1915Western Front: Joffre writes to the minister of warHaving failed to make any headway with Sir John French regarding the relief of the French corps in the Ypres salient, Joffre writes to the minister of war today, asking him to appeal directly to Kitchener. As Joffre explains, if IX Corps is not relieved by the British, 10th Army will be unable to launch an offensive in Artois in conjunction with the BEF. Eastern Front: Conrad is faced with the spectre of almost complete failureIt is only the third day of the renewed Austro-Hungarian offensive in the Carpathians, but already Conrad is faced with the spectre of almost complete failure. After heavy fighting the left wing of 2nd Army is stalled along the road to Baligrod, and has failed to reach its initial objectives. To the east, V Corps of 2nd Army is stalled along along the San River at Chmiel, while to the west X Corps of 3rd Army has been unable to seize the heights fiercely defended by the Russians. To make matters worse, the Russians have widened the breach gained yesterday in the Austro-Hungarian lines northwest of Stanislau to eight kilometres, and threaten to unhinge the entire front held by General Pflanzer-Baltin's forces. Finally, Südarmee has failed to make any substantial progress towards Wyszkow Pass in the face of the bitter winter conditions. In reaction to the setbacks, Conrad considers throwing 4th Army into the attack, disregarding the strong Russian defensive positions it faces. Naval operations - Dardanelles campaignAt the Dardanelles the British begin to confront the problem of the Ottoman minefields within the straits. Clearing the mines is essential to the success of the operation, but the British only have makeshift minesweepers available to them in the eastern Mediterranean. The Admiralty has provided the expedition with twenty-one converted North Sea fishing trawlers, newly-equipped with minesweeping gear but still manned by their regular peacetime crews, now designated as naval reserve sailors. Crucially, these crews had no experience whatsoever of working under fire, but that was precisely the situation they faced in the Dardanelles due to the difficulties of destroying in particular the mobile howitzer batteries by naval bombardment. To deal with this problem, Admiral Carden decides to send in the minesweepers at night to hopefully avoid detection. After dusk this evening seven trawlers, escorted by the light cruiser Amethyst and four destroyers, enter the straits and begin to work. The Germans and Ottomans, however, had already considered the possibility of night operations, and had five large searchlight batteries along the shore. When the minesweepers are a mile and a half from the first minefield, they are suddenly illuminated by four searchlights and quickly subjected to fire from ten gun batteries. Though none are hit, the trawlers rapidly retreat, while their escorts discover that it is nearly impossible to hit enemy artillery while practically blinded by powerful searchlights at night. After forty-five minutes, the five warships also retreat. - The success of the British and French to date at the Dardanelles, and in particular the destruction of the forts protecting the entrance to the straits, is having the desired effect on the opinion of the neutral Balkan states: today the pro-Entente Greek Prime Minister Eleutherios Venizelos offers three Greek divisions for an attack on the Gallipoli peninsula. - For their part the Germans are concerned about the prospects of a successful defense of the Dardanelles by the Ottomans, and desire to disturb the complacency of the British and French warships anchoring as they undertake bombardments. To this end, the Austrian naval attaché is asked today to request to his government to send at least one of their submarines to the Dardanelles as early as possible. Naval operations: German East AfricaThe British formally announce a complete naval blockade of German East Africa. Naval operations: Sheerness, BritainSometime around this date the captains of HMS HUMBER, MERSEY and SEVERN are told that dockyard workers will be boarding within the week to prepare the three monitors for an ocean voyage, a trip for which they were not designed. Naval operations: Cape HornHMS KENT continues to patrol the area between Isthmus Bay and Sholl Bay. HMS BRISTOL patrols the Barbara Channel, near Fortescue Bay. BRISTOL and KENT meet briefly. HMS GLASGOW spends the day anchored at Sholl bay, and also has a brief meeting with KENT. Naval operations: Atlantic OceanThe crew of HMS CARNARVON have finished making the collision mat to protect the ship's bottom. It takes most of the day to get it overboard and in place. The ship is still listing 1/2 degree, and all for boiler rooms are still being pumped free of water. Naval operations: South AfricaHMS GOLIATHHMS departs Port Natal and sets course for Mafia Island. Naval operations: German East AfricaSS KINFAUNS CASTLE Castle steams from Niororo Island to the mouth of the Lindi River (171) miles. Along the way she stops two suspect dhows and takes them both in tow. Naval operations: YemenAgain von Mücke fails to give an exact date, but it is around this time that his men are well enough to begin the ride back to Al Hudaydah. Von Mücke takes a few men with him and rides ahead. He will reach the coastal town a day-and-a-half before the rest of his men.
I didn't realise the RN kept so many ships around Cape Horn after the success at the Falkland Islands, presumably to try and hunt down the Dresden.
Beginning to wonder if Conrad was a French or Russian agent given how much he's screwing up the Austrian army. Then I think about the mess other nations are making at the same time.
Steve
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lordroel
Administrator
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Post by lordroel on Feb 29, 2020 12:29:36 GMT
Day 217 of the Great War, March 1st 1915Western Front: Joffre writes to the minister of warHaving failed to make any headway with Sir John French regarding the relief of the French corps in the Ypres salient, Joffre writes to the minister of war today, asking him to appeal directly to Kitchener. As Joffre explains, if IX Corps is not relieved by the British, 10th Army will be unable to launch an offensive in Artois in conjunction with the BEF. Eastern Front: Conrad is faced with the spectre of almost complete failureIt is only the third day of the renewed Austro-Hungarian offensive in the Carpathians, but already Conrad is faced with the spectre of almost complete failure. After heavy fighting the left wing of 2nd Army is stalled along the road to Baligrod, and has failed to reach its initial objectives. To the east, V Corps of 2nd Army is stalled along along the San River at Chmiel, while to the west X Corps of 3rd Army has been unable to seize the heights fiercely defended by the Russians. To make matters worse, the Russians have widened the breach gained yesterday in the Austro-Hungarian lines northwest of Stanislau to eight kilometres, and threaten to unhinge the entire front held by General Pflanzer-Baltin's forces. Finally, Südarmee has failed to make any substantial progress towards Wyszkow Pass in the face of the bitter winter conditions. In reaction to the setbacks, Conrad considers throwing 4th Army into the attack, disregarding the strong Russian defensive positions it faces. Naval operations - Dardanelles campaignAt the Dardanelles the British begin to confront the problem of the Ottoman minefields within the straits. Clearing the mines is essential to the success of the operation, but the British only have makeshift minesweepers available to them in the eastern Mediterranean. The Admiralty has provided the expedition with twenty-one converted North Sea fishing trawlers, newly-equipped with minesweeping gear but still manned by their regular peacetime crews, now designated as naval reserve sailors. Crucially, these crews had no experience whatsoever of working under fire, but that was precisely the situation they faced in the Dardanelles due to the difficulties of destroying in particular the mobile howitzer batteries by naval bombardment. To deal with this problem, Admiral Carden decides to send in the minesweepers at night to hopefully avoid detection. After dusk this evening seven trawlers, escorted by the light cruiser Amethyst and four destroyers, enter the straits and begin to work. The Germans and Ottomans, however, had already considered the possibility of night operations, and had five large searchlight batteries along the shore. When the minesweepers are a mile and a half from the first minefield, they are suddenly illuminated by four searchlights and quickly subjected to fire from ten gun batteries. Though none are hit, the trawlers rapidly retreat, while their escorts discover that it is nearly impossible to hit enemy artillery while practically blinded by powerful searchlights at night. After forty-five minutes, the five warships also retreat. - The success of the British and French to date at the Dardanelles, and in particular the destruction of the forts protecting the entrance to the straits, is having the desired effect on the opinion of the neutral Balkan states: today the pro-Entente Greek Prime Minister Eleutherios Venizelos offers three Greek divisions for an attack on the Gallipoli peninsula. - For their part the Germans are concerned about the prospects of a successful defense of the Dardanelles by the Ottomans, and desire to disturb the complacency of the British and French warships anchoring as they undertake bombardments. To this end, the Austrian naval attaché is asked today to request to his government to send at least one of their submarines to the Dardanelles as early as possible. Naval operations: German East AfricaThe British formally announce a complete naval blockade of German East Africa. Naval operations: Sheerness, BritainSometime around this date the captains of HMS HUMBER, MERSEY and SEVERN are told that dockyard workers will be boarding within the week to prepare the three monitors for an ocean voyage, a trip for which they were not designed. Naval operations: Cape HornHMS KENT continues to patrol the area between Isthmus Bay and Sholl Bay. HMS BRISTOL patrols the Barbara Channel, near Fortescue Bay. BRISTOL and KENT meet briefly. HMS GLASGOW spends the day anchored at Sholl bay, and also has a brief meeting with KENT. Naval operations: Atlantic OceanThe crew of HMS CARNARVON have finished making the collision mat to protect the ship's bottom. It takes most of the day to get it overboard and in place. The ship is still listing 1/2 degree, and all for boiler rooms are still being pumped free of water. Naval operations: South AfricaHMS GOLIATHHMS departs Port Natal and sets course for Mafia Island. Naval operations: German East AfricaSS KINFAUNS CASTLE Castle steams from Niororo Island to the mouth of the Lindi River (171) miles. Along the way she stops two suspect dhows and takes them both in tow. Naval operations: YemenAgain von Mücke fails to give an exact date, but it is around this time that his men are well enough to begin the ride back to Al Hudaydah. Von Mücke takes a few men with him and rides ahead. He will reach the coastal town a day-and-a-half before the rest of his men. I didn't realise the RN kept so many ships around Cape Horn after the success at the Falkland Islands, presumably to try and hunt down the Dresden. Beginning to wonder if Conrad was a French or Russian agent given how much he's screwing up the Austrian army. Then I think about the mess other nations are making at the same time. Steve
As long as DRESDEN is still out there she posses a tread to any merchant shipping, thus the Royal Navy will use every ship in the region there to find and sink here. |
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lordroel
Administrator
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Post by lordroel on Mar 2, 2020 4:08:42 GMT
Day 218 of the Great War, March 2nd 1915Eastern Front: commander of the Austro-Hungarian 4th Army expresses his extreme reluctance to attackThe commander of the Austro-Hungarian 4th Army expresses his extreme reluctance to attack, as requested by Conrad, based on insufficient forces, difficult terrain, and low morale. Conrad's reply today is to simply wave away the concerns; the relief of Przemysl is paramount, and thus all problems in the way of this objective are dismissed because they need to be if it to be achieved. Conrad threatens to take 8th Division away from 4th Army if it does not attack, and, faced with a diminuation of his commander, 4th Army commander relents and begins preparations. Further east, Russian attacks break through the lines of 42nd Honved Division, belonging to XIII Corps of General Pflanzer-Baltin's force. His left wing now faced with envelopment, he has no choice but to pull XIII Corps back to the Bystrzyca Solotwinska River. Though the retreat, undertaken after nightfall, is successful, it ends any hope of Pflanzer-Baltin's forces cutting behind the Russian forces holding Südarmee and forcing a general Russian retreat. General Brusilov's rapid concentration of reinforcements in the eastern Carpathians has thus turned back the one successful Austro-Hungarian advance of the winter months. Map: The position of Südarmee and Planzer-Baltin's army group in the eastern Carpathians, March 2nd, 1915, illustrating the retreat of the latter's left flank in the face of Russian pressure. Naval operations: Cape HornHMS KENT patrols from Sholl Bay to Fortescue Bay, meeting BRISTOL there. Naval operations: Atlantic OceanHMS CARNARVON'S divers are busy fitting the collision mat to the ship. C and D boiler rooms are secured and made ready. A and B are still taking water, and still being pumped out. Various anchors are weighed and the ship moved to deeper water. Naval operations: German East AfricaSS KINFAUNS CASTLE to Mafia Island, capturing a third dhow along the way, and finally ending up back at Niororo Island.
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lordroel
Administrator
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Post by lordroel on Mar 3, 2020 4:06:19 GMT
Day 219 of the Great War, March 3rd 1915
Western Front: elements of three regiments of the German XIV Corps attack French positions on the Lorette Spur north of Arras
At 7am elements of three regiments of the German XIV Corps attack French positions on the Lorette Spur north of Arras. Advancing in the wake of the detonation of several mines, the German infantry push forward six hundred metres and occupy the French trench line, taking eight hundred prisoners.
Eastern Front: Falkenhayn remains convinced that victory can only be achieved through a successful and decisive offensive on the Western Front
Despite agreeing to the deployment of the January reserves to the Eastern Front, Falkenhayn remains convinced that victory can only be achieved through a successful and decisive offensive on the Western Front. To date, the issue for Falkenhayn has been finding the forces to undertake such an operation - the portion of the German army currently in the West is sufficient only to defend the current line, while Hindenburg and Ludendorff jealously guard their units on the Eastern Front. However, on February 22nd Major-General Ernst von Wrisberg, director of the General War Department, had submitted a proposal to Falkenhayn that offered the prospect of creating a new reserve force that could be utilized in major offensives. While sufficent new recruits have now been trained to form several new reserve corps, as had been done in October 1914 and January 1915, Wrisberg's proposal was to instead to assign approximately 2400 recruits to each existing division while simultaneously detaching one regiment from each division. The detached regiments, meanwhile, would be combined into new reserve divisions. Thus unlike prior occasions, these new reserve divisions would be comprised of experienced soldiers capable of undertaking complex operations. Wrisberg expected that this reorganization would allow for the creation of twenty-four reserves, and Falkenhayn has eagerly embraced the proposal, seeing in it the means by which his desired offensive in the West could be undertaken.
Orders have already been issued for the formation of the first six of the new divisions, and today Falkenhayn orders the formation of a new 11th Army, which he intends to use as the core of his offensive on the Western Front. Its commander will be General Fabeck, who brings to the position his experience in the fighting around Ypres in October and November, while as Chief of Staff Falkenhayn appoints Colonel Hans von Seeckt, an experienced and successful staff officer on the Western Front.
- Meanwhile, this evening Falkenhayn arrives at the headquarters of 3rd Army in the Champagne to discuss the ongoing French offensive. He emphasizes the importance of not yielding an inch of ground, which corresponds with the opinion of General Einem, 3rd Army's commander.
- In northern Poland the German 8th Army has failed to make any progress in its siege of the Russian fortress at Osowiec. The land around the fortress is marshy and criss-crossed with streams, slowing the movement and deployment of German heavy artillery, while Russian maneouvers outside Osowiec have kept the Germans off-guard. Thus the Germans have been unable to bring their full firepower to bear on the Russian defences, in contrast to sieges at Liège and Antwerp earlier in the war. Frustrated, and challenged by the strength of the Russian 12th Army to the west, 8th Army abandons the siege and withdraws to the northwest.
Eastern Front: Russian VII and XII Corps have undertaken fierce counterattacks
Over the past two days the Russian VII and XII Corps have undertaken fierce counterattacks against the left flank of 2nd Army and the right flank of 3rd Army opposite, but the Austro-Hungarian defenders have managed to hold their positions. From Conrad at AOK comes renewed exortations, urging all armies to advance in Galicia and relieve Przemysl. To the German command staff of Südarmee, given the heavy casualties and terrible weather, such pleas appear little more than delusional.
Mesopotamian campaign: detachment of Indian Expeditionary Force D is attacked by Ottomans
The detachment of Indian Expeditionary Force D sent to Ahwaz on February 11th is encamped across the Karun river from the town. The scratch force has arrived too late to prevent hostile Arabs from cutting the vital oil pipeline to Abadan in several places, ostensibly the detachment's original mission. Moreover, a large number of Ottoman soldiers and Arab irregulars have gathered to the north at Ghadir, and the commander of the detachment has decided to attack the enemy encampment at dawn. His plan is to bring his artillery pieces within range of the enemy, at which point their high rate of fire would induce the Ottomans and Arabs to retreat or disperse. When the shelling begins, however, the enemy came 'buzzing out like a disturbed wasps nest' and, instead of retreating, attacked the British column. The latter was then forced to undertake a fighting retreat, only escaping destruction due to the unwillingness of the Arab cavalry to close up to the British lines and the steadfastness of the Dorsets infantry.
Naval operations - Dardanelles campaign
Another attempt to sweep the Ottoman minefields in the Dardanelles fails tonight when the minesweepers yet again retreat under heavy fire. Significantly, Admiral de Robeck, commanding the forward assault forces of the Entente fleet, concludes today that the straits cannot be forced until the shore batteries are silenced by the occupation of one shore or the other.
Naval operations: Yemen
After four weeks in Sanaa, the sailors of EMDEN'S landing party have sufficiently recovered from their various ailments to allow for the column to depart today. Their destination is once again Hodeida, from which they had left on January 27th; with a march overland ruled out by the climate, First Officer Mücke has resolved to attempt to continue their journey by sea.
Naval operations: German East Africa
The captain of the German light cruiser KONINGSBERG receives a wireless signal, via the transmission tower at Windhoek in German South-West Africa, that he should communicate with the disguised merchant ship RUBENS on April 1st.
Naval operations: Pacific Ocean
HMS NEWCASTLE arrives at Esquimalt, British Columbia. Her part in the hunt for DRESDEN is over.
Naval operations: Cape Horn
HMS KENT moves from Sholl Bay to Fortescue bay and back. HMS BRISTOL patrols the Barbara Channel. HMS GLASGOW patrols the Cockburn Channel to Broderip Bay.
Naval operations: Atlantic Ocean
HMS CARNARVON makes her final preparations for moving. The divers and their sailing pinnace are returned to HMS VINDICTIVE.
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