Adventures in the Phillippines

[Desertfox]

There shall be fireworks over Mindoro... Guinness and I have already scripted out the conflict and the conclusion. My intention is to post the basic (mostly Japanese-centric) overview, one week IC per day so approximately one month IC per week, wrapping it up both IC and RL before H1/1914. Some more details, stories, and full battle information, will take longer. So without further ado...


***


The Chinese Menace
July 1 - 12, 1913


July 1st - The battleships Mikasa (flag) and Asahi sail from Manila leading the Mindoro landing force. Two Yodo class cruisers and four Ikazuchi class torpedo boats take positions in Tayabas Bay watching the eastern approaches, while a similar force takes position around Lubang Island watching the western approaches. Landings commence in the afternoon at Calapan and Puerto Galeras, while two Tokiwa class minelayers begin laying defensive minefields.


July 3rd - Chinese MTBs are spotted in Tayabas Bay by Japanese torpedo boats a skirmish ensues, shells and torpedoes are exchanged but no hits are scored by either side as the Chinese MTBs retreat.


July 4th - A Chikuma class cruiser is spotted near Cebu City. A Chinese fleet is spotted of the western coast of Luzon.


July 5th - A Japanese fleet arrives at Balkipapan and begins landing operations. Negotiations begin with the Chinese in an attempt to avoid conflict.


July 7th - After two days of negotiations with Parthia, the armored cruiser Azuma and two Tokiwa class minelayers, together with one deployment/land unit, depart Balkipapan heading north towards Davao. The same day the combined fleet departs Tokyo Bay headed south towards the fleet anchorage at Kagoshima, significant merchant traffic also spotted in the area.


July 10th - Negotiations break down, not helped by the skeleton diplomatic staffs in either country. With the landing areas secured and wary of a torpedo attacks the Japanese battleships pull back to Manila. Under cover of night a Japanese force sails from Kagoshima and heads SE towards the Bonin Islands.


July 11th - Two Japanese submarines conduct live fire exercises in Manila Bay, sinking a target ship.

[The Rock Doctor]

Ruh roh...

[Guinness]

As Foxy is writing from the Japanese point of view, I'll be filling in the gaps from the Chinese point of view.

***

Night of July 3rd/4th - The Chinese MTBs report to Beijing via Cebu City that they have sighted "a number of Japanese warships". The report is incomplete, but Beijing assumes that Japan is landing in Mindoro. Or rather, they choose to assume a landing in Mindoro. A landing in the Chinese held Philippines further south would be largely unopposed anyway. So China sticks to its plan. War is not declared, but Chinese naval forces are informed to assume the Japanese are hostile and to defend themselves vigorously without waiting to be fired upon.

July 4th - Chinese forces arrive on their stations:
  + The main Chinese fleet, having sailed from Weiheiwei on the 1st arrives in it's area of operations west of Luzon. Their mission is to provide distant support to forces closer to Mindoro while being positioned and prepared for any Japanese moves further to the north. That force's composition is:
  2x Anlong (FKA Hidden Dragon class) Battleships
  3x Hailong (FKA Sea Dragon class) Battleships
  3x Dinguyan (Parthia Rohk Class) Battleships
  2x Gaosheng (Norse Svarthvitt Class) Cruisers
  24x Gong (Parthia Bow class) Destroyers

  + The Chinese scouting force, having sailed from Shanghai, arrives off Manilla. Their mission is to intercept, if possible, any Japanese ships leaving Manilla or operating north and northwest of Mindoro. The Admiral in command of scouting force is told that his primary mission is to prevent a Japanese force from sweeping down the west side of Mindoro and disrupting other operations. If he meets a force stronger than his, he is to attempt to draw them toward the main fleet to his north and west. Scouting Force is composed of:
  2x Wohu class (FKA Crouching Tiger class) Armored (Battle) Cruisers
  2x Huchau class (FKA Rome Argonauta class) Armored Cruisers
  2x Haijung class (1911 3000t CL design) Scout Cruisers
  16x Haidao class (Modified Parthia Pirate class) Destroyers

+ The Chinese invasion force arrives off San Jose on the southwest tip of Mindoro. They expect to commence a landing on the morning of July 5th. This force is composed of:
  2x Zhenbei class (Vilnius Oforskrackt class) Battleships
  3x Baizi class (Vilnius Muskatarare class) Armored Cruisers
  16x Xiang class (Norse E class) Destroyers
  10x Maoyou (Norse MS-1 class) Minesweepers
  A number of chartered merchants bearing troops, supplies and equipment.

July 5th - The Chinese Cebu force sweeps north again, timing their sweep so they arrive in the area they previously encountered the Japanese near first light. They again encounter Japanese torpedo boats, but having secured that intelligence reverse course without engaging. Chinese MTBs transmit a sighting report via accompanying torpedo boats which is then relayed to Beijing. Beijing demands the Japanese Consul General explain Japan's actions in a terse meeting just after noon. Later in the day, Chinese foreign ministry staff begin to attempt negotiations with their Japanese contemporaries in both Beijing and Tokyo. The Cebu force is composed of:
  10x Maoyou (Norse MS-1 class) Minesweepers (usually in deep support closer to Cebu)
  8x Dushe (Norse B class) Destroyers
  20x 1906 MTB (A-type) MTBs

July 6th-10th - The Chinese landing force at San Jose establish a beachhead and push inland to secure ever expanding defensive lines. The Cebu force continues its defensive sweeps in the Tablas Strait, but find the Japanese have not progressed any further south. The Battle Force and Scouting Force have not reported significant Japanese contact. The Naval Staff argues internally for and against a strike at the assumed Japanese beachhead on Mindoro, and/or a strike against Manilla itself. Plans are prepared, but the government will not approve any offensive strike while negotiations are underway.

[Desertfox]

Afternoon, July 3rd

To say that Admiral Ozai had many things on his mind, would be an understatement. The commanding officer of the Philippines Fleet and Mindoro Landing Force was not a happy man. The former commanding officer of the 2nd Battle Squadron had lead four battleships at the Battle of Jeju Island, now he only had two and had to shepherd a fleet of fat, slow, unruly merchants, assisted only by a measly four Yodos and twelve Ikazuchis. This was a job for Admiral Zhao and his old Fuji class battleships, but the fool had gotten himself ambushed at Jeju and caught by the Chinese Northern Fleet, at least he had the honor to go down fighting in his ship. And so here he was, off this forsaken island with a ragtag group of warships.

Ozai's was quite concerned, the Chinese had made no effort to hide their intentions in the Philippines and where obviously rearing for war, seeing how they had removed the Japanese ambassador, and while their MTB forces had been savaged at Jeju Island, they still had a metric s*** ton MTBs around, some of them very easily could be in their base at Cebu City, well within range. What was he expected to do if they showed up? Zhao had had four times as many of these obsolete torpedo boats and four armored cruisers as well, and everyone knew very well what had happened to his fleet. All Ozai had in his pocket where four new submarines, what they were capable off, no one truly knew.

"Red flares to the east!"

There it was... the signal of imminent torpedo boat attack, his scouts in Tayabas Bay had run into something. Fortunately they had a plan for that.

"Captain, bring us up to speed, signal the fleet, prepare to defend against torpedo attack."

"Admiral, we have a message from Yodo: Under attack from multiple Chinese motor torpedo boats, requesting permission to open fire."

"Granted"

His orders where to defend the landing ships, if the Chinese wanted to fight he would fight. In the distance the two cruisers opened fire, the battle for Mindoro had begun.

[Desertfox]

Ominous Silence
July 13-19, 1913


July 13th - Minelaying operations intensify covering both entrances into the Verde Island Passage, the entrance to Manila Bay, and around the ports of Davao and Tacloban City.


July 14th - The armored cruiser Izumo departs Balkipapan headed north towards Davao. At the same time the combined fleet sails from Kagoshima with what appears to be an invasion force. Witht he bulk of the landings complete, the majority of the Mindoro Landing Fleet has pulled back into Manila Bay.


July 15th - Having recoaled in an anchorage in the Bonin Islands, a Japanese Task Force heads south towards Yap.


July 16th - Japanese observers note that the Chinese are conducting minelaying operations around Cebu City


July 18th - Four Japanese submarines sail to strike the blockade fleet, unfortunately one of them suffers a steering failure and crashes into another. The damage is superficial but both are forced to return to base. One of the remaining two fails to find the Chinese fleet and returns to base. The other one spots what appears to be a Haijung class cruiser and attempts an attack run but is unable to obtain a firing solution, the Chinese cruiser sailing on blissfully unaware.


Throughout the week land operations have continued with the Japanese pushing south along both coasts. Scouting groups run into the Chinese counterparts and small firefights develop along various locations.

[Guinness]

From China's Point of View
July 13-19, 1913

Throughout the week, China continues daily sweeps out of Iloilo on Panay up the Tablas Straight, generally turning around in the vicinity of Concepcion Island. The Chinese are content if Japan is staying north of that line. Additionally, China lays defensive minefields in the approaches to Cebu, and then expand the minefield into the Visayan Sea.

Off Manilla, China maintains its distant observation. China refuses to call it a blockade, and does not interfere with civilian shipping in the area.

The landings at San Jose on Mindoro continue as planned. Advanced forces scouting inland trade fire with the Japanese, but generally fall back unpursued. Pioneers begin identifying defensible positions along a west to east along the southern slope of the central mountain range, then on the south bank of the Bongabong river.

[Desertfox]

Attack of the Subs
July 20-26, 1913

July 20th - Sightings are reported of what appear to be Japanese light cruisers near Jeju, Shaghai, and Okinawa. The Combined Fleet is spotted near Amami Island headed south with what appears to be an invasion force.


July 21st - Intensive preparations and security in the Manila area. It is apparent that a major operation is forthcoming. There appears to be two more Shikishima class battleships in the harbor and an additional armored cruiser. The two Chikumas and two Yodos are missing.


July 23rd - As darkness begins to fall the fleet sorties, "four" battleships, "two" armored cruisers, two light cruisers, and 12 torpedo boats. The fleet turns south, hugging the coast, then east thru the Verde Island Passage.


July 24th - As the sun rises the fleet is spotted in Tayabas Bay headed south towards the Chinese invasion force. The fleet is now down to "two" battleships and "one" armored cruiser, Mikasa, Asahi, and Azuma having split off and now sitting off Batangas. The fleet then runs into a Chinese reconnaissance force just past Concepcion Island. The Battle of Tablas Strait has begun (more TBD).

On the south side of the archipelago, the armored cruiser Izumo decides to avenge Davao, using charts from observations of Chinese minelayers. Luck holds out as Izumo successfully gets in range of the port and begins a bombardment. The charts are not quite accurate as Izumo finds a mine the hard way. Feeling honor has been restored, Izumo retreats back to Davao before it can find more mines.


July 25th - With problems still plaguing two of the four submarines at Manila, the other two sail out and finally luck shines upon them, well one of them. One submarine manages to get in the path of a large Chinese cruiser and hits it with both torpedoes (one a dud). The cruiser manages to limp away before the submarine can get off another salvo. The other submarine comes across a smaller Chinese ship but flubs the attack so badly, that the Chinese ship never realizes they where even shot at.


On land , the Japanese forces on the front are not strong enough for an assault yet, so merely contend themselves with minor skirmishing and harassment as the bulk of the forces move south.

[Guinness]

July 20-26, 1913

July 25th: The Cruiser Yuetu had been detached from the beachhead defense force, and was steaming west to rendezvous with additional transports, when the explosion occurred. A 12 meter gash was opened in the cruiser's starboard side, ahead of the beam. It was a miracle that it hadn't set off anything in the forward magazine. Within minutes she was down by the bow and slightly listing, but had been cruising under war conditions with watertight doors closed. The executive officer was convinced it was a floating mine, but fortunately for the Yuetu, the Captain had been reading the intelligence reports about Japanese acquisition of submarines and ordered Yuetu to zig-zag and make best speed for Haiphong, while broadcasting distress on her wireless set. After an hour, he could only conclude that he had shaken the submarine, or it had had some other problem, so he was able to slow and shore up the damage.

On land, the Chinese were doing their best to dig in. Holding their third of the island, they concentrated on the lines toward the east where they expected an eventual Japanese assault to come from. The monsoon rains came on July 24.

Edit Note: I screwed up and had Baizi in two places at once. So I updated this post to be the cruiser Yuetu.

[Desertfox]

Battle of Tablas Strait
July 24th, 1913

Japanese Fleet:
2 x Chikuma class PC (modified to appear to be Shikishima class battleships)
4 x Yodo class SC (one modified to appear to be the armored cruiser Azuma)
12 x Ikazuchi class TB

Chinese Fleet:
Estimated to be approximately 8 torpedo boats and 20 motor torpedo boats

***

The Japanese fleet swings south headed for the strait between Mindoro and Concepcion, the bright blue clear skies of the morning are replaced by scattered showers as a menacing monsoon front can be seen to the south and east. As visibility drops the Japanese commander detaches the two Chikumas and sends them back home. The rest of the ships keep pushing on as far as the mouth of the Bongabong River. Finding nothing they swing back north this time intending to pass on the east side of Concepcion.

Unbeknown to the Japanese, the Chinese torpedo boats have made a sweep of their own headed north on the east side of Concepcion. Both forces passing each other just 10 nm apart. In a break in the weather the Chinese spot the Chikumas heading north but are too far to give chase. The Chinese then turn south and head back down the east side of Concepcion.

Intermittent rain cuts down visibility to under 1 nm as both forces suddenly run into each other on opposing courses. Any semblance of control disappears as a confusing melee develops among a sudden downpour. One Yodo pops out of the rain squall only to run into two Chinese torpedo boats at point blank range. The hull is riddled with 50mm shells before a 3" shell on one of the torpedo boats sends both of them fleeing into a rain squall, the Yodo following them to use the rain to assist the firefighting efforts. 

In the confusion one torpedo boat disappears after being torpedoed while another burns and sinks after being on the receiving end of three 5" shells*. Fresh of setting a torpedo boat aflame, Yodo proceeds to unintentionally slice an unfortunate MTB in half. The only semblance of order is seen by 3 Japanese torpedo boats that chase a group of Chinese MTBs towards Concepcion, only for two of the torpedo boats to run aground.

As suddenly as it began, the battle ends, a break in the weather allowing the Japanese to regroup. Yodo finds one of her sister ships completely untouched (one Yodo and 2 TBs somehow manage to miss the entire battle) and a number of torpedo boats. In the 25th two Yodos and eight torpedo boats enter Manila Bay. They claim to have destroyed at least four torpedo boats and ten motor torpedo boats. The next day another Yodo and two more torpedo boats arrive, they bring with them the survivors from the fourth Yodo, torpedoed sometime during the engagement, and the crew of one of the grounded torpedo boats. One of the torpedo boat captains having serious words with the Yodo captains after finding a 5" hole in his funnel.

***

Japanese losses:

1 Yodo class SC - sunk
1 Ikazuchi class TB - sunk
1 Ikazuchi class TB – grounded, not repairable
   
1 Yodo and 2 TBs – damaged, out for the duration of the war
1 Yodo and 2 TBs – light damage, repairable

*Historians are still in disagreement on who sunk who, the most popular theory is that the Japanese torpedo boat was actually sunk by Yodo, while the Chinese torpedo boat was torpedoed by one of its own MTBs, however, a substantial minority still disagrees with the "friendly fire" theory

[Guinness]

Actual Chinese losses in the Battle of Tablas Strait:

2x Type A MTBs sunk
1x Type A MTB damaged sufficiently that it is later written off
1x Dushe (Norse B class) Destroyer sunk
1x Dushe (Norse B class) Destroyer damaged (30%, able to move under it's own power)
1x Maoyou (Norse MS-1 class) Minesweeper grounded attempting to help the damaged MTB, but is later refloated overnight with only light damage.

For their part, the Chinese claim to have sunk 1 armored cruiser, 1 scout cruiser, and 6 TBs.

[Desertfox]

The Swamp Wars
July 27th - August 2nd, 1913


Relatively quiet week. The planned ground offensive has been delayed as the monsoon rains have turned Mindoro into a swamp, the Bongabong River is no longer cross-able. The rains are also causing significant problems for both Japanese and Chinese landing operations.


The Japanese combined fleet has not been seen. They where last reported near Okinawa, and there are reports of Japanese cruisers seen as far south as Taipei.


Further submarine attacks on the blockading fleet fail to get any results. It appears that the Chinese have pulled further back and are taking more precautions against submarine attacks, preventing the Japanese submarines from obtaining firing positions.


July 29th - Having re-coaled in Yap a week prior, a Japanese fleet arrives at Tacloban City, there are approximately 16 destroyers and 2 cruisers as well as what appears to be one land/deployment unit with them. The voyage has been rough on the small ships, it will take a few days of maintenance and repairs before they are ready for combat.

[Desertfox]

The Revenge of the Skipper
August 3-9, 1913


August 3rd - Two Japanese submarines sortie again to try and find the blockade fleet, weather does not cooperate and the fleet is not found. One submarine does find a Chinese destroyer but is unable to get into position.


August 5th - After failing repeatedly to find the blockading fleet, the Japanese submarines change tactics. The two other submarines sortie this time going after the Chinese invasions forces off Mindoro, after a break in the weather. The Chinese are caught apparently completely unaware, in the space of an hour submarine No 4 manages to sink a heavy Chinese warship, damage a second heavy warship, and hit a transport, while the second submarine sinks and damages a further two transports.


August 7th - The Japanese reinforcement fleet arrives in Manila.


August 8th - A temporary improvement in weather allows the Japanese to move enough troops up to the Bongabong River for an assault. However, a hasty assault is repulsed and fails to secure a beachhead, and the Japanese troops dig in on their side.


August 9th - The Combined Fleet is spotted back in Kagoshima, apparently their maneuvers of Okinawa was just a feint. However, there are whispers in Sasebo about a "return" to Jeju.

[The Rock Doctor]

Good stuff so far.

I feel I should post naval attaches to both countries so they can apply for observer status when you guys have your third go-round.

[Desertfox]

Flashback to July 25th

Lieutenant-commander Sokka's journey to this spot had been a long one. Top of his class, in engineer, at the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy in Hiroshima, Sokka was known for his dissertation on the use of asymmetrical weapons in naval warfare, and for his swordsmanship. His first post had been on Chihaya in charge of her torpedo armament and had quickly moved up to navigation officer. From there he had become Umikaze's executive officer, before being chosen to be part of Japan's first submarine force. This would lead to a year long voyage, first to Kiel to learn from the Korting Corporation about submarine design, then to Barcelona to oversee the construction of his new submarine, simply known as No 4.

He has missed the war being in Iberia at the time, but his dissertation had been instrumental in getting the new submarine squadron assigned to Manila just in time for the second war. His crew quickly gained a reputation for being very mechanically competent, allowing his submarine to log the most hours at sea. Their training also gained them the honor of sinking the first ship ever by a Japanese submarine, an old transport in Manila Bay. Unfortunately their first mission, a week back, had not been quite as successful. They had spotted a Chinese Haijung class cruiser, but a faulty engine had prevented them from getting into attack position. A couple days maintenance had gotten the engine back up and running, but an additional sortie had failed to find anything.

But today was different, they had investigated a smudge of smoke which soon turned into a large cruiser. Submerging, their luck held as the cruiser kept steaming directly towards them.

"Up periscope. Bearing... 250. Looks like an armored cruiser, about 10 knots. Range... call it 5,000 yards. Down periscope. Helm hold us steady, weapons prepare to fire. Lets let her get closer."

The sounds and vibrations from the big cruiser's propellers could be felt thru the hull as it closed the range.

"Up periscope, bearing 270, range 1,000 yards, weaps fire one! Fire two! Reload."

At 30 knots, it took just under a minute for the torpedoes to reach their target. The explosion from the first torpedo was felt thru the hull and the reverberation drowned out the clank from the second one, as a cheer went up inside the submarine.

"Up periscope, she's listing forward bus still moving, weaps how long until we can shoot again?"

"One of the torpedo tube doors is jammed, give us five more minutes."

Lieutenant-commander Sokka, could only watch as the damaged cruiser sailed away, disappointment for sure. But they had struck the first blow, and he was sure, the next time they came across a Chinese warship, it would not escape their grasp.

"Take us up helm, let's go home." 

[Guinness]

August 5th - After failing repeatedly to find the blockading fleet, the Japanese submarines change tactics. The two other submarines sortie this time going after the Chinese invasions forces off Mindoro, after a break in the weather. The Chinese are caught apparently completely unaware, in the space of an hour submarine No 4 manages to sink a heavy Chinese warship, damage a second heavy warship, and hit a transport, while the second submarine sinks and damages a further two transports.

Captain Wang Lei had just picked up his green tea when there was a boom and great shudder through his ship, the armored cruiser Baizi. Before he could even stick his head out of his sea cabin, the officer of the deck had already sounded the collision alarm.


Bursting onto the bridge, Wang Lei asked no one in particular "What is this?" The officer of the deck answered: "Sir we hit something, or something hit us!" Wang Lei responded with a withering stare, then strode out onto the port bridge wing. He looked but couldn't see much, as a sailor had appeared on the bridge. "Sir! Rapid flooding in port engine room!"


"Get everyone out and seal it off!" Weng Lei ordered. He turned to see is Executive Officer had joined him on the bridge wing. "A mine?" Weng Lei asked. His XO shook his head. "Only if it floated here, which would be terrible luck. Maybe a torpedo?" They heard a more distant boom from starboard and could see, through the bridge and out the other side a column of water in the air above one of the freighters. "Submarines! It must be a submarine, and maybe more than one!".


Weng Lei began to bark orders. First to his signals officer to run up the "under distress" flag, and to use the signal lamp to signal to the admiral on the Zhenbei, "damaged by possible torpedo, suspect submarine."


From that moment, Weng Lei's major concern was to save his ship. Reports came thick and quickly, and none were good:


"Water in after port boiler room."


"The pumps can't keep up!"


Weng Lei began to notice a list toward port. His XO unrolled the deck plan, and he pointed. "We have water here, in the port engine room, and now here in the after boiler room, but not rising as quickly." Weng Lei nodded. "We've sealed off the port engine room, but the damage control party reports that there is also hull buckling in the after port boiler room. The list is now 7 degrees to port."


"We need to get closer to shore in case we need to beach. Make best speed on starboard shaft only!" The ship began to inch forward. Then more reports.


"Sir! Engineering reports steam lines leaking in area of after boiler room. Possibly shock damaged. We're only making about 50% of the revolutions we should be on this number of boilers."


The XO pointed at the inclinometer, the list now 12 degrees. "Counterflood?" He asked. Weng Lei agreed. "Yes, flood the spaces below we can spare so we can to try to stay upright."


Unfortunately for Weng Lei and his men, the ship's compartmentation worked against it in this case. The two engine rooms were large spaces divided from each other by a longitudinal bulkhead. The boiler rooms were further divided so that there were a total of fourteen boiler rooms, four rows of three, with two smaller rooms most forward. They each outboard room had coal bunkers outboard of them, which at this point in this deployment were mostly full.*


The XO spoke lowly: "I'm not sure we can counterflood enough without flooding most of boiler rooms or the other engine room, sir." Weng Lei nodded sagely. "Yes XO, but we must try. Flood the after two starboard boiler rooms and get what water you can in the coal bunkers and void spaces."


The counter flooding took a long time, as first the stokers and engineers had to be evacuated from those spaces. To Weng Lei it seemed like forever. The shore seemed to be coming much closer.


"What's our depth?" Weng Lei asked the navigating officer. "Between 45 and 50 meters by the chart sir." Wang Lei lashed out. "Well get someone to get a direct reading!" The navigation officer turned and gave a runner the order to relay.


The XO spoke quietly to the Captain, almost a whisper. "Sir, we should swing out as many boats as possible while we still can." Weng Lei was quiet a moment. "Yes do it."


Weng Lei watched the inclinometer. The list was now 15 degrees, but seemed to be slowing. He knew that in his ship's present condition, he didn't have long. Then the light over the chart table went out.


"Loss of generator power sir!"


"What, how?" The XO sent a runner and they waited. "Without the generator, the electric pumps won't run", the XO noted. "Yes I know" Weng Lei responded shortly. The list increased another degree.


The runner returned "Sir, engineering reports failure of emergency generator. They believe the list has caused it to be starved of oil. The pull on the steam powered-generator was too much and the breaker has been tripped. The expect restoration of steam-electric in 5 minutes".


"Too long!" Weng Lei was frustrated. One torpedo, he thought. Just one. He should have had the nets out, but they slowed the ship down, and he expected to have to respond to a different sort of attack.


The list was now 28 degrees, and still no electrical power. A new report: "Sir, water in starboard engine room!" It had begun to seep in through various connections between the two rooms and the two boiler rooms ahead of them. Without the electric pumps, they no longer had pumping capacity to prevent it.


Weng Lei turned to the XO. "The boats?"


"Most of them are in the water."


Weng Lei paused for a moment, then spoke very quietly. "Begin loading the crew into the boats. Abandon ship."


Baizi capsized within sight of land in waters 40 meters deep. Of her complement of 765 officers and men, 381 perished, including her captain.


*The Baizi was a lightly modified Muszkieter class cruiser purchased from the Vilnius Union. I've taken some liberties with her internal arrangement, which I hope isn't an issue.