Venezuela - Battle del Isla San Margarita

[Jefgte]

Venezuela - Battle del Isla San Margarita
SIM France vs Germany


When war was declared between Germany & France, 1903 june 1st.
See Mike topic

http://www.navalism.org/index.php/topic,6844.0.html

French Amirauté given orders to all warships to participate actively to the war.
Since 1902, Venezuela crisis forced some countries to dispatched warships.
Germany was one of them .

German Squadron is made up of the Armored Cruiser SMS Beowulf 8259t (Flag Ship) detached from 1st Scouting Group based in Kiel and the 6th Scouting Group made up of the 2739t Protected Cruisers SMS Medusa, SMS Frauenlob and SMS Arcona.

France had in Pointe à Pitre, 2 x 3800t Protected Cruisers Cassandra & Courtillon & 2 x 1250t avisos, AT3 & AT4. Since 1902 november 30th, 2 modern Armored Cruisers, Conflans & Coligny were add to the Antilla French Squadron.
At the start of the Europeen war, 1903 june 1st, Admiral Montfortain, flag ship on AC Conflans, decide to attack the Germain Cruisers.
The French Admiral wants to take advantage of the superiority of his squadron to destroy the German Venezuelan fleet.

To be continued...

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The German Squadron:

Name	Disp.	Laid Down	Complete	Dimensions	Armaments	Boardside	Armour	Speed	Range	Survivability
SMS Beowulf	8259t	1895	1897	118x20x7,2	2T2x210(4)+10(5)x150+10(5)x88	902kg	B100/50-T150/100-D50/25	20,09kts	4600nm-10kts	3222kg
SMS Medusa – SMS Frauenlob – SMS Arcona	2739t	1895	1897	106x13x4,6	8(4)x105	125kg	T50/20-D25	19,04kts	4000nm-10kts	1128kg

The Antilla French Squadron

Name	Disp.	Laid Down	Complete	Dimensions	Armaments	Boardside	Armour	Speed	Range	Survivability
Conflans-Coligny	6995t	1900	1902	120x20x5,63	2T2x240(4)+6(3)x140+8(4)x75+4TTx450	1049kg	B120/40-T140/120-D40/25	21,09	7000nm-10kts	2195kg
Cassandra-Courtillon	3800t	1893	1895	119,5x15x4,52	4(3)x140+4(2)x100+4x47+4TTx380	207kg	T30/40-D30/20	20,4	6000nm-10kts	1077kg
AT1 to AT4	1250t	1891	1892	70x10x3,85	3(3)x100+4x65+4TTx380	56kg		20,15	2500nm-10kts	238kg
TB81-TB82-TB83-TB84	380t	1899	1900	66x7,33x2,28	4x65+4TTx450	15kg		24,3 (28)	2500nm-10kts	41kg

[Jefgte]

Pointe à Pitre 1st june.

Admiral Georges Anatole Montfortain give orders to prepare the ships to actions & fightings for the next weeks. In the same time, Pointe à Pitre coastal defenses (4x140) are actived by local reservists.
TB81-TB82-TB83-TB84 are affected to defend French Antillas
At 2am, the 2nd june , French cruisers lives Pointe à Pitre.
At the head of the line, Admiral cruiser Conflans followed by Coligny, Cassandra, Courtillon then 2 avisos AT3 & AT4.
Ships are cruising to south...

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Fishing vessels encountered near Granada reports that there are no warships in the region.
Admiral decided to continue his cruising to Trinidad & Tobago.
Early June 3rd, Admiral Monfortain ordered to space 2000m these ships. They started raking around Trinidad and Tobago by east and then, estuary of the Orinoco. Nothing...
In the evening, they change to pass Columbus Channel in the south east of  Trinidad & Tobago to explore Gulf of Paria, where they stop & sleep.
Early, june 4th, French Squadron left Gulf of Paria & pass Boca Del Dragon .
They cruise now to west.
At about 10am a smoke was observed in west in quick approach, probably a cruiser.
Admiral ordered to take battle positions and ask to increase the speed to 18kts.
A few minutes later, in the engine room of his cruiser, AC Conflans, an alarm sounded. Mechanical Engineer pointed vibrations on the starboard shaft & ask to slow down to 12kts.
AC Coligny overtook the flagship and a few minutes later reported that the ship in fast approach was an US Providence class cruiser.
Recognition signals were exchanged.
The American cruiser changed course to the north east.
On the Admiral Cruiser, bad news arrived from engines.
The rapid rotation of the starboard shaft will result very significant vibrations.
Captain signaled to Admiral that his ship could not exceed 12 kts.
After consulting his officers, Admiral decided to transfer his flag on the AC Coligny  and return AC Conflans to Fort de France.
At the same time, he ordered to Torpedoboats of the 18th Division, to be the june 7th at 9am to the north of the Island of Tortuga...

[Jefgte]

With the last post of Mike about the end of Venezuela crisis, this topic is closed but...
I have quickly writing a story fo a battle between AC Conflans & SMS Medusa.

I post the battle , just to have a "film"  :)

Battle Des Anses D'Arlet

June 6th
2h02pm, a warship open fire on Fort de France at about 8000m
TB81 (flag) receive a radio message; Fort de France call for help.
« Nous sommes bombardés de la mer !!! » (we are bombarded from the sea !!!)
Captain Godfroy with his division is now at about 250 miles in the south, too far to conduct any attack against the cruiser...

2h04pm, on the slow down AC Conflans coming from south.
An officer rushed into the Captain Sanagui Hector's cabin.
- Captain, Fort de France call for help, they are bombarded by a ship !
Captain goes on the bridge and asked to the OOW:
- What distance from Fort de France?
- We are about 13 miles and we could see lightning of the departure of shells in the east and hear the sound of gunfire. - Captain
- Direction Fort France; Call to battle stations.
Increase the speed to 12 knots.
- The night is cloudy & dark captain, we should approach in darkness.
Yes, with our limited speed to 12 knots, they should bring us closer to the maximum before opening fire.
- We can of course cover the front turret guns to conceal more in the night.
- Exellent idea Lieutenant, order to cover the fore part of the front turret.
Order also Lieutenant: no smoke from machines.
2h20
- Captain: The lookout spots a cruiser before Fort de France.
2h21
- Captain: The ship is ready to battle, all guns are armed and ready to fire.
The German cruiser pestle still the city and especially the merchant ships in the harbor. Cargos & Warehouses burn.
After 30 minutes of bombardment, the cruiser stopped the fire.
She half turn and come substantially in the direction of the French cruiser.
She fires off perfectly.
2h55 - Captain: Distance is 10000m, She had not perceived, the Conflans.
3h - Captain : Distance 9000m
Always approach : said the Captain.
Speed 10kts. Lower the bow wave.
3h05 - Distance 6000m
3h10 - Distance 5000m
Suddenly the enemy cruiser changes direction, puts head south. It seems to increase speed.
- Heading south, speed 12 knots !
Unmasking the guns and open fire ! - Yelled the Captain
Conflans began to turn slowly, while its speed increased.
The front turret was discovered but it was the rear turret which shoot the first, followed by the 140.
The German cruiser open the fire..
- This is a Gazelle class Cruiser Captain
- Too short for us.
3h12
- Short, too short again. Increase to 5250m
Front turret is short too.
140 fire again...
Hit on Conflans, aft, in the officers cabines
- Too short again increase to 5500m
- Exellent a bit over fire again to 5500m
- Framed. Set to 5650m
- Hit! ...In the middle Captain
- Exellent, noted. First hit by 140 at 3h14
3h14
- 2 hits on the Conflans. One on the belt without damage & one near the life-boats.
There is an outbreak of fire.
- The 240 frame Capitain
The German cruiser turn quickly & made smoke
- 240 in the water...
- Increase to 5900m...
- Short but very near.
3h16
Conflans hit under the bridge. Men in the blockhaus are slightly concussed.
- Increase to 6000m...
Hit on the fore part ! This is a 240 Captain.
- Exellent
- Another hit by 140 in the middle
- German speed 18kts
3h18
2 hits on Conflans, one on the fore turret & one in the belt near the waterline.
German Cruiser turn again.
3h20
- Hit by 240 & 140 in the middle of the German cruiser , Distance 7000m
3h22
The german cruiser, burning in the middle, turn again & made smoke.
3H23
- Enemy speed 12kts, we have damaged the engines room, Captain
Conflans hit on the second stack.
3h25- Distance 7300m
Conflans is hit again, on the foredeck.
3h26
An other 240 hit the german cruiser, a stack is destroyer.
German cruiser turn again & made smoke.
3h27
- The 40mm front hull belt is pierced, Captain, a security team works to blind the waterway.
Hit on  Conflans, an aft 75gun is destroyer, all men killed.
3h29
240 & 140 hit probably near the bridge of the german cruiser.
German cruiser turn again. The center of the cruiser is on fire.
3h30
- Enemy speed 10kts, distance 7600m.
- Aft 105 guns are always firing.
3h33
- 240 hit again fore part of the German cruiser.
3h34
Conflans hit by a 105 on the aft portside of the 140.
The gun is blocked. Some gunners are wounded.
3h35
- Enemy speed 8kts. Distance 6800m
- German ship slowed down, listing on starboard. It is down by the bow.
3h38
Hit on Conflans on the fore deck.
- 240 hit on the German cruiser.
3h40
- Hit on the aft deck by 140 on the German cruiser.
3h42
Captain: The German cruiser, surrounded by smoke, is down on the water.
She turn to the coast probably to aground the ship near « les Anses D'Arlet ».
Speed 5 kts.
She had ceased fire
- Ceased the fire too. Order the Captain.
4h The German cruiser now near the coast start to sink by the bow.
Men jump to sea to reach the coast.
4h15
Conflans in about 1000m from the burning ship listing heavily on starboard.
They could read the name on the bow
« SMS Medusa »
4H20
SMS Medusa capsized on starboard.and sank in shallow water.

[Jefgte]

For the Battle Del Isla San Margarita, I planned the next frame

The French squadron meets the German squadron.
The 2 squadrons takes place online conventionally.
At the beginning of the battle, AC Coligny (flag) loses A turret by a direct hit of 210 from SMS Beowulf (flag).
Henceforth, it is hammered but hit the german flagship by just 1x240 & a few 140.
Coligny was on fire by the strokes of 210 and 150 and forced to break the fight.
The other 2 french cruisers Cassandra & Courtillons fare better and damage seriously SMS Frauenlob & SMS Arcona.
The French admiral, seriously injured was forced to break the fight to preserve his ship.
Cassandra & Courtillon protect the flagship in his retirement.

Germans Cruisers remain master of the battlefield. They are winner.