CSA Around the World Squadron (1914)

[Guinness]

August 26, 1914

Course: WSW
Speed: 16 knots

Passing north of the Philippines. Squadron show able to cruise at 16 knots in moderate seas without difficulty. Fuel consumption slightly better than expected. Now expect arrival in Singapore on time.

Tried one of Captain James new damage control drills today, whereby we assumed Oklahoma had lost all power. Drill even included transfer of myself and staff to another ship (Hatchitigbee in this case). All lighting below decks was extinguished for one hour, and engines were idled. Crew seemed to enjoy the new challenge.

Found that battery powered lighting and battery hand torches were both inadequate in numbers, and a number of the batteries were dead. The latter will be rectified by increasing frequency of inspection. There was also difficulty starting the emergency diesel generator. Chief Engineer tells me it hadn't been run since we left Key West. Obviously, we'll need a new schedule for running and inspecting it from now on.

August 31, 1914

Arrived Singapore nearly on-time late this evening. Received warm reception from the Dutch. Their older battleships and Armored Cruisers where moored between Pulau Bukom and Jurong Islands to greet us, while flying every flag aboard. I'm sure this would have made for a wonderful sight by daylight. By the time they arrived, they had lit all their ship's lights, which was also impressive.

We were escorted by tugs which helped us tie up at the pier attached to Singapore Island itself behind Jurong Island where the majority of the Dutch squadron is usually berthed. Instructed crews to secure ships for the night. Dutch sent aboard a very young seeming officer of rank equivalent to our Commander to bring a message of formal greeting, and an invitation to tour some of their ships in the morning, which we gladly accepted.

September 1, 1914

Early this morning, the Dutch tied up their "Armored Frigate" Flandern to a jetty at the end of the pier they had provided for our use, and the Dutch invited our senior officers to come aboard for breakfast. Flandern is an impressive ship. Carrying 12 240mm guns, and capable of speeds of nearly 24 knots, she outclasses any armored cruiser currently in our service. The Dutch cheerfully gave us a tour after breakfast. The ship is well maintained. We made special note of many of the comfort measures provided for the crew, and that despite the warm climate, her forced air systems maintained a largely comfortable climate below. The greatest criticism we can see is that she seems to have relatively low freeboard, and I expect is wet over the bow in most seas. Of course, this is also a problem our large armored cruisers have.

We returned the Dutch hospitality with lunch and a tour aboard Oklahoma. The Dutch remarked favorably as to our crew and messing arrangements and main armament (which they noted they were already surpassing in their latest class of Armored Frigates).

Officers and Men were released after Lunch for shore leave.

September 5, 1914

Visit to Singapore has been both restful and productive. Following our exchange of tours aboard ship, the Dutch invited us to a pair of balls held in our honor over the following two nights. They are gracious hosts. The affairs themselves were rather staid, even reserved, at least compared to what we've seen elsewhere on the trip. The Dutch seemed content to be generous hosts, without trying to show off too much.

Men have enjoyed extended shore leave. Some a little too much, but fortunately, only a few have run afoul of the Dutch authorities. These men were discretely handed back over to us, where they've been confined aboard. I am happy though that none of the men involved in public drunkeness or brawling here were in the group involved in similar transgressions in Maoria.

Ships crews spent today refueling and reprovisioning for the next leg of our journey, beginning tomorrow.

September 13, 1914

Course: West
Speed: 16 knots

While we burn more Oil at 16 knots than we do at 12, we have found 16 knots to be a fairly economical cruising speed.

Performed more of Captain James' damage control scenarios today. Crews becoming quite proficient.

Weather in Indian Ocean has been hot, with clear skies and a blazing sun. Much like the Gulf of Texas in July or August.

Expect on-time arrival in Mogadishu.

September 19, 1914

Arrived at coast near Mogadishu early, before dawn yesterday morning. Dropped anchors and stood off until after first light. Were greeted by a Somali-Italian pilot after dawn, who brought us into the harbor, such as it is. Italians station only a very light force here customarily, and facilities were sparse.

Instructed squadron to refuel from Spruce before sending parties ashore. Mogadishu is a very different place from those we've visited before. Parties were required to return to ship at night.

I myself explored the bazaar, or main market, of the town, where everything from livestock, to dried fruits and fresh vegetables, to tobacco and other medicinals, are available for sale. Purchased a few souvenirs, including a long dagger I understand to be originally from Yemen.

The small Italian naval contingent has been hospitable, and we invited the entirety of their local officer corps to come aboard and tour Oklahoma. They seemed quite impressed, but then again, they spend most of their time aboard small ships in a primitive harbor.

September 20, 1914

Departed Mogadishu for short steam to New Jerusalem.

[Guinness]

September 23, 1914

Leaving New Jerusalem today for Egypt. Reception from Zionites was cordial. Their little navy turned out decked in flags for our arrival. Turned tour duty over to Arizona, but allowed only the more limited tour program. Allowed daytime shore leave for crew.

Another formal reception, this time with a distinct flavor last night. Dress uniform is starting to show some wear...

October 1, 1914

Passing through the Suez Canal on schedule. Weather in this part of the world is warm and dry. Ships and crew still performing well, though we'll have to find some time for extensive drill after Egypt visit.

October 6, 1914

Departing Egypt today. Alexandria has been, frankly, the most interesting port of call so far this trip, except maybe for Tokyo.

After a warm reception, we welcomed aboard several Egyptian dignitaries for tours, etc. They were escorted by our local atache. As I understand it, they are interested in purchasing torpedo rams or boats from us. Of course, we brought none of these along, but they were still quite impressed by Oklahoma and Charlotte, both of which they toured.

Shopped the bazaar here, and picked up several items. It is as bustling and overwhelming as the market in Mogadishu, but 10 times or more larger.

Alexandria itself is an historic place, and I enjoyed immensely visiting the sites of antiquity, including a museum of pharonic Egypt run by the French.

Other than that, there has been the usual schedule of receptions.

October 8, 1914
Course: N
Speed: 12 knots

Exhaustive battle drills today, including brief live-fire gunnery, and more of Captain James' devilish damage control exercises, this time simulating flooded boiler rooms.

Crews I think enjoy the variety we've been providing them with these drills, at least when compared to the more rote standard drills they were previously accustomed to, but still, it is drill, and it has been a long voyage so far. As we near the half-way point, there is much grumbling, even among the officers. Still, what most don't seem to realize, is that there won't be much time for drill until very nearly the new year.

October 9, 1914

Entered the Dardanelles early this morning. The Turks sent out to greet us the battleship Sultan Mehmed II which we know, of course as CSS Texas. She is now a war veteran, thanks to the Battle of Crete during the recent Balkan War, but looked well cared for in Ottoman service.

She lead our squadron up the Dardanelles, under the Turkish forts and fortifications, and into the Sea of Marmara. There the rest of the Ottoman Navy was waiting for us, flying numerous flags. We followed the Mehmed to our appointed anchorage near the mouth of the Bosporus and dropped anchor. A Turkish officer came briefly aboard where it was agreed that an exchange of dignitaries and tours, etc. would begin in the morning.

October 9, 1914

Welcomed many Ottoman officers and other dignitaries aboard to tour Oklahoma. Followed that with my own tour of the former Georgia, which they know as Mehmed.

Mehmed took heavy damage during the Battle of Crete*, and the Ottomans were proud to show us where every round hit, and to detail the damage done. What struck me is how much of the damage was to parts of the ship outside it's primary armored protection, ie. fore, aft, or above the main belt. It seems that many allied main armament rounds simply penetrated the upper and end belts before exploding, causing great damage along the casemate decks and in compartments fore and aft.

Also damaged was one of the main turrets (by a shell that holed it's turret face). Undamaged were her main machinery and magazines, despite direct large caliber hits to here main belt. Very little damage I understand was done by allied medium caliber artillery. The entire battle took place at around 14,000 yards, so those weapons were never within their effective ranges.

I suspect that this evidence lends strength to the arguments being made by several Confederate officers that as main batteries grow larger, and engagement ranges increase, that "secondary" armor becomes a liability instead of an asset. It seems likely that those main battery shells that impacted the upper belt of Mehmed might have passed through unexploded if the surfaces they had impacted had not been armored.

The Turks are quite proud of their repairs, and as I understand it, Mehmed has just recently returned to service. In the process, they completely overhauled their crewing and messing arrangements, which they told me they found "excessive" (interesting, since we today consider the Texas and Georgia classes crew and mess spaces spartan). The Ottomans, of course, eat quite a different diet than we do, so overhauling the gallies is understandable. Much less understandable to me, however, is the Turkish preference for heads over which one squats instead of sits.

By evening all ships were rigged for port, and the first shore parties had been released. I took special care to remind all that we should be on our best behavior here.

* OOC footnote: I took some liberties here with Mehmed's battle damage. I hope no one minds. I thought this might be a useful moment to reinforce the CSA's evolution toward AoN protection schemes (the tech for which is completed in 2/1914).

[Desertfox]

Leaving New Jerusalem today for Egypt. Reception from Zionites was cordial. Their little navy turned out decked in flags for our arrival. Turned tour duty over to Arizona, but allowed only the more limited tour program. Allowed daytime shore leave for crew.

*grumble*

Being an Arizonian, I like the fact that the tour was of Arizona. Thought that was probably a coincidence.

[Guinness]

October 20, 1914

Departing Greece today bound for Trieste. Squadron spent the four days moored in Pireas harbor. The little Greek Navy extended to us a warm greeting, with all of their ships flying hundreds of little blue and white Greek flags.

The Greeks were eager to tour our ships, and we extended them the courtesy, both aboard Oklahoma and aboard Charlotte. They asked many, many questions with regard to our construction preferences and operational routines, which we endeavored to answer as best we could using our good judgment.

I was also greeted with a note form our consulate here warning us that there are many political factions in Greece, and we ought not allow ourselves to be received by any of them, and should only meet with the government in power, which is of course lead by a Habsburger.

To that end, we were invited to both a lunch in our honor and a formal reception during our few days here. Both proceeded largely as we have come to expect those things to work.

In the meantime, more shore leave was granted, and the men apparently had quite the time. The Greeks are a hospitable people, and extended their hospitality to our men generously, possibly too generously in some cases. To that end, two separate groups of men landed themselves in the care of the Greek police, requiring in both cases the efforts of Greek Navy men and our consular representatives to smooth over the situation. All of those men, who had not been involved in any incidents before, are confined to their ships for the duration of the cruise, or until I take pity on them.

Athens itself is rather like Istanbul in many ways, except religion, where Greek Orthodox Catholicism of course dominates. The city and surrounding countryside is beautiful. I had the opportunity to get out of the city on horseback. The countryside is quite poor, with most people not having much more than a hut and a few sheep on which to subsist.

October 27, 1914

Departing Trieste today, after which we will steam close along the Northern Adriatic coast toward Venice. Already we have seen quite a number of people out to watch us pass by.

The Bavarians were every bit as eager as the Greeks to tour our ships. This time I let Arizona and Nashville do the honors. Many a Bavarian (and here I use the term loosely, as they are all officers of the Bavarian Navy, but are ethnically and nationally from the many diverse corners of that country) officer toured both ships, taking interest in even the smallest details. They particularly commented on the luxury of our officers spaces, and the advantageous to ship's space and organization that oil firing affords us.

Most of these Bavarians seem quite sharp. Their circumstances are, of course, quite different from ours, but the professionalism impressed me.

Our welcome ashore was cordial. I was expecting typical German greetings and fare, but in Trieste there were no lederhosen to be seen. We were served beer at lunch on the first day, which was excellent, but at night it was nothing but excellent wine. The food was much more like Greece than I expected.

[Guinness]

I hope to come back and fill in the gap here, but I feel the need to fast forward to late December...

[Guinness]

December 17, 1914

Arrived El Ferrol, Spain to a veritable beehive of activity. Several ships were working up or leaving, or in other states of activity. Our welcome was polite but perfunctory, and we were informed by the Iberians that unfortunately the Iberian Navy was too busy to give us a proper welcome, and also that unfortunately for the time being, we would be required to remain aboard our ships.

Later in the day we received orders that we should wait here until further notice, but that if we don't hear otherwise, that we should proceed to Le Havre on schedule.

In the meantime, with time on our hands, ships crews have been put to work on various routine tasks that have been neglected from time to time, between all the flag showing and drilling.