www.navalism.org

This thread is for news and in-character reaction only.  Please post comments in the Meeting Room.

The Second Chinese Civil War:  August 1919

Ground War

In the northeast, nine RRC corps cross from Kiangsu into Shangtung, facing four Imperial corps.  Four hundred Republican and three hundred Imperial aircraft clash overhead, with heavy losses to the latter.  Ultimately, the Imperials are able to bleed the Republicans heavily, inflicting about 90,000 casualties to about 40,000 of their own, with little ground lost.

In central China, two RRC corps making probing attacks from southern Hubei across the Yellow River into Imperial-controlled north Hubei.  Stiff resistence is encountered and the Republicans are driven back with about ten thousand casualties.

The main Republican attack is from Anhwei into Honan.  Nine Republican corps, with over one thousand aircraft in support despite heavy cloud cover and rain, face only two Imperial corps, with four hundred aircraft flying almost against the Republican ground attack missions.  Casualties are about even at 20,000 apiece, but the weight of the Republican attack sends the Imperials reeling backwards.  The arrival of three additional Imperial corps stems the Republican advance on August 14, as does news of a massive disaster in the making.

The Imperials, it turns out, had a contingency plan in place for such an occasion:  over the course of August 11-13, teams of infiltrators and saboteurs use explosives to breach dikes, dams, and levees along the Yangtze River watershed, in both Imperial and Republican territory.  River levels begin rising at a noticeable but not immediately catastrophic rate, from west to east, over the course of the next few days. The military effects of this are fairly simple:  the river is much wider (miles, in places) and more turbulent.

Imperial forces have prepared for such an eventuality; in the initial days of the war, they commandeered any river craft they could lay their hands on and they initiated a massive evacuation of civilians on their side of the Yangtze, under the guise of removing them from possible warzones.  With Republican troops forced from their positions by rising waters, the Empire strikes back.

Counter-attacks from Shantung into Kiangsu accomplish little more than locating Republican reserves, though, costing the Imperials about ten thousand dead and wounded.  Both Kiangsu and Anhwei lie north of the Yangtze River, meaning that the front is not affected by the flooding, though Republican logistics likely will be to the south.

Counter-attacks from northern Hubei into southern Hubei are a limited but expensive success, as the fast-flowing river disrupts what is essentially an amphibious operation.  Though elements of five corps do establish beachheads in southeast Hubei, the casualties are heavy - 50,000 Imperials to just ten thousand Republicans.  

Further west, Imperial forces make the most of Republican inactivity from Szechwan and attack from Sinkiang, Kansu, and Senshi.  Ten Imperial corps, supported by eight hundred aircraft, advance into northern Szechwan province.  Eight Republican guerilla corps, aided by seven hundred aircraft, fight a delaying action that is particularly effective in the mountainous northwest of the province.  Although the Imperials do take ground, they suffer almost 100,000 casualties, in return for about 70,000 Republican losses.  Air combat is similarly costly, about two hundred aircraft lost on both sides, including a number of heavy bombers striking from Republican bases towards Imperial lines of communication.

The Yangtze Flood

Yichang, straddling the de facto border in western Hubei, experiences light to moderate flooding from August 12th onward.  Jingzhou and Yueyang experience moderate to heavy flooding from August 12 onward.

The area between Wuhan, not yet recovered from the battering it took in the Third Pacific War, and Jujiang is heavily flooded from August 13 onward.  By the next day, the heavy flooding has extended to Hefei and Nanjing, in the east.  Further downstream, the effects are moderated by the wider width of the river, but communities on the coast nonetheless sustain damage.

The human effects of this flood are, as of the end of the month, impossible to accurately assess.  The Middle Kingdom had implemented an evacuation of several hundred thousand people in a strip of northern Hubei as the flooding was beginning.  Others have chosen to flee on their own initiative, with whatever they can carry, pull, and haul.

The Republic, surprised by the incident, struggles to organize and undertake effective evacuations; its troops are tied down in the fighting, and civic reaction ranges from honest efforts to outright panic.  Hundreds of thousands - perhaps millions - of people flee for higher ground, leaving behind anything they can't carry, ride, or haul.  Damage to key Republican industrial sites is expected, but their owners can do little more than hope for the best.

The Naval War:

South China Sea

This region is quiet - the Middle Kingdom does not seem to interdict the western most Republican coast line and ports, allowing RRC imports and exports to move essentially unmolested.  Brandenburger and Indochinese patrols are evident in their respective coastal waters.

East China Sea/Yellow Sea

Imperial naval forces, consisting of several dozen torpedo-boats backed up by a dozen very new destroyers, attempt to implement a blockade of the mouth of the Yangtze River, just north of Shanghai.  Imperial submarines are a part of this effort, and are also seen operating between the coast where Shantung and Kiangsu meet and the Japanese island of Cheju.

Republican naval forces, meanwhile, attempt to implement a blockade of Kiaochow.  Submarines are employed here as well.  Republican cruisers make high-speed hit-and run attacks against Imperial coastal positions on the Shantung coast.  Consequently, the waters between the two port cities are the scene of a number of skirmishes and engagements between these light forces.  

Several hundred dedicated Republican naval strike aircraft, with more flying top cover, swoop in to strafe or drop bombs and torpedoes at military and civilian shipping alike.  These are opposed by four hundred Imperial aircraft, a mix of floatplanes and land-based fighters, which undertake their own strike and top-cover missions.  

Though the Republican cruisers manage to return to their bases without suffering any significant damage, their smaller cousins are not so lucky.  A number of Imperial and Republican torpedo-boats and destroyers are lost over the course of the month, along with two Republican submarine losses.  Most are lost to each other, or occasional submarine attacks.  Aircraft are less effective - perhaps surprisingly so, given the effectiveness shown in the Rift War.  However, bombing or torpedoing an agile torpedo-boat making 30 kts is a much different proposition than a lumbering cruiser or merchant ship cruising in convoy.  Still, sheer numbers mean that both sides do manage aerial kills.

When somewhat dependable reports trickle in (like october), 2 men have a nice talk in Chez Loulou, the club, not the basements...

---

Monsieur Grange It seems that China is erupting in a volcanic bloodbath.  They have more men in the 2 armies than some complete countries have of inhabitants. And the days of old, where the chinese ricefarmer with a stick walks into the musket fire of modern soldiers are over.
In the short time we have seen the most modern tricks mankind has deviced to kill used by both sides. The only thing we didn't see are fleets of dreadnoughts. No sir, swarms of torpedo boats is their kick. They like numbers , those China-men. Skies blackened with aircraft, and not an airship in sight. I'm counting the days untill one of the 2 sides decide on using gas.

You're right. But one thing is something I don't like.

Oh Monsieur Grange, I don't like the wholesale slaughter of civilians those yellow menaces indulge in. But what is what you don't like?

It seems, according to our information, that the Middle Kingdom is rather restricting naval actions concerning blockades, only a half hearted attempt at the Yangtse. But the RRC is using every trick in the book, and a few not yet written down, to hamper the few ships that could go the the MK. All the ports the Middle Kingdom would or could use to unload modern merchant ships are directly under the dark cloud of the RRC.
But the thing I don't like...  the RRC is demonstrating why we lose so many merchants. Mines, Submarines, torpedo's, all hidden menaces and cheap compared to large surface ships. Most even easely transported to seas far away. Like the coast of Nice, the Gibraltar strait, or what about Tricomalee.  

But why?

I don't know, the line of thinking I follow is a possible deal with Bharat.
The RRC never was shy of seeking strange allies, even NS almost got a foot between the RRC door. And Bharat would be all to pleased is Glorious france weakens even more. Ceylon is nearby,and only the "buying of Kolkatta" makes sure the Bharat navy, again sponsored by those infernal Dutch, isn't expanding like a weed in an unchecked pasture.

But , the Dutch are openly aiding Imperial China... I heared Minister Lebrun arguing with Premier Galpoux to aid a fellow republic in need.

Remember the Spanish scourge in the Middle ages?  Only the unwilling agreements between French and Norman nobles could keep the Spanish boot from our necks. But the Dutch, protected by their dikes, levies, canals and  earthworks could stand up to the Spanish, even better, annoy the Normans to no end. And to top it off, build an world empire. Funny considering that Spain bought very functional weapons from the Dutch, when they were at war...  A Dutch merchant can sell anything. Even a new fangled cooling unit to a polar bear.
Remember the sandbag issue  (http://www.navalism.org/index.php?topic=309.msg39377#msg39377) of a few years back.  A Dutch firm convinced a female procurer from Lebruns office that burlap sack ain't good enough for France, and that linnen sacks were needed.

If you bring it like that, I see the logic in it.  Oh well, it was nice to talk to you Monsieur Grange, but I'm not here for an evening of talking shop, but to get my ashes hauled, before I go back on the 7 seas.

August 20, 1919

OOC: Anybody can get their hands on the article. Printed in Chinese, English, French, German, and Japanese.

A newspaper boy runs the streets yelling "Extra! Extra! Read all about it!" in Guangzhou as well as many major cities in the RRC. This article is also greatly distributed along the front.

QuoteThe Imperials massacre millions in cold blood!

One week ago, in the face of the serial victories won by the hard-willed and brave Republican troops, the cowardly Imperial troops retreated. Instead of standing their ground and fighting with honor, they retreated.

Then... they used broke the dikes of the Yangtze River. In this master of cowardly acts, they attempted to, with the flooding, stall the victorious Republican advance. They gave no warning to the civilians about what was happening, and left the innocent to die by drowning.

Millions were caught be the floods, families torn apart by the surging waters. The people who got to high ground quickly enough witnessed their fields, their homes, their families, wiped out.

The Republican Armies, tied down by Imperial forces still attempted to conduct evacuations of the civilians from both sides.However due to the Imperial forces, engaging the Republican army, such efforts were limited and stalled. However, the Imperial Army has made no such effort to save it's people!

Wake up my brethren! How can we, the people of the land, still support the Imperial Government? It is in times like this the true nature of the government is revealed. And the Imperials have revealed theirs, to abandon their own countrymen to death. To drown them by the millions in cold blood.

Wake up! Your masters have abandoned you for death. They do not value you, they believe you are expendable. Your country has betrayed you.

Today it may have been your family, cousins, or just people from another province. But how long? If the Imperial Government is willing to sacrifice millions of it's own people so readily and so easily, how long until you are part of their disposal?

Never has Heaven's Will been made so readily clear, such a government. Such a corrupt beast should never been allowed to remain. Such a government, such evil. That is the reason revolutions are born. That is the reason why governments turn over. That is why, the Republican Armies must be victorious.

And they can not be, without your support. How can you toil the land knowing you are supporting your family's killers and your own killer?

20AUG19
1525 local time
Shanghai Cantonment

"Colonel... we have the estimates. Upwards of 25,000 individual bodies have been pulled from the water by the net boats. We have no idea of the actual number of dead as many of the corpses are partial. 50,000 would be on the conservative end... 100,000 could be possible. These are, mind you, just the corpses that we have fished out. Heaven only knows what is happening further upstream.

"Has there been any word from our 'representatives?" We could use some intelligence on the matter.

"One man sent this back by pigeon, sir- it's a headline from a republican newspaper claiming that the Kingdom's troops broke the levees. As yet, it is the only 'hard'- and I use that word very lightly- intelligence that we have.

"Very well, Captain Bradley. Keep me posted. If anything... ANYTHING comes up to support or dispute this claim, I want to know about it."

"Yessir."

"Oh, and Omar... before you leave, I have one other thing. You made the Lieutenant Colonel's list. Congratulations."

OOC: Let's assume the paper is in French and Chinese. Also Carth, your date is two days ahead of the publishing of the first newspaper. That makes it impossible to refer to the newspaper.

Newspaper Sossu was established by one Mr. Sossu, war reporter. He had hailed from a long family line of reporters for war. Their family newspaper was always minimalist, containing only facts and leaving out much of anything else. Mr. Sossu's article this time was fairly quick due to the Republican railroad network and the long built and widespread news network of the Sossu family.

Shanghai, August 29, 1919

Newspaper Sossu

On August 13, the dikes all along the Yangtze River were destroyed by an unknown force.

Yichang experiences light to moderate flooding. Jingzhou and Yueyang experience moderate to heavy flooding.

The area between Wuhan, Jujiang, Hefei, and Najing is heavily flooded.

There have been reports of the Middle Kingdom evacuating a few thousand civilians before the flood in the interest of keeping the civilians out of a war zone. No such effort was done beforehand by the Republic of China.

Death count is unable to accurately assess, though the estimates place the death tolls at a million. Most of these deaths are assumed to be civilian as both military have reported little to no losses.

Great damage is sustained towards the Republic of China and relatively little damage to the Middle Kingdom is reported. This is due to the flood area being most Republican territory.

Panic from both sides' civilians fleeing the area make it hard to ascertain anything else.

EDIT NOTICE: Fixed the date. I figured that other papers would have been running 'flood stories' for a bit since it was going on for a while at that time, and since I have people that are out crawling China to do business, they would send word back to the Consul in Shanghai ASAP.

Assuming that the paper is French or Chinese isn't a really big deal- Omar Bradley (a fast-rising star here as in OTL) knows halting French- enough to make out the intent of the article himself. And he has access to a secret weapon... a friend fluent in several languages, steeped in classical thought, and crazy as a fruit bat eating a peyote button.

OOC: I was talking about Newspaper Sossu when I said assume the paper is printed in French and Chinese. ;)

Quote from: Logi on August 03, 2010, 06:59:56 PM
OOC: I was talking about Newspaper Sossu when I said assume the paper is printed in French and Chinese. ;)

OK... French, a touch of German, and of course, Chinese are about the only languages spoken by the staff at Shanghai. Some Japanese- but not enough to really read anything beyond roadsigns.

Moved from the "wrong place" (http://www.navalism.org/index.php?topic=5155.0)

Quote from: Phoenix
Finally I found the time to get some stories done...

QuoteThe coast near Qingdao, August 1919

Captain He Dang was not a happy man. Oh, he was happy enough to have the command over his own vessel, even though it was "only" a torpedo boat, but considering his origins - 3rd son of a lowly coolie who had been struggling to get by as a load porter in the streets of Yantai until a former war uprooted him and his hungry brood and transported them to a village not far from Qinqdao where better chances lurked for an ambitious street urchin - with what he had accomplished now he felt like a small god. There were bigger gods of course. But here, on his own vessel, he reigned supreme.
Now, if only he could say that of the stretch of sea he was deployed in...

The first sign of trouble had been several fisher boats that hadn't shown up on the habitual time and place. Low-born himself Captain He had made it a useful habit to get acquainted with the local vessels and their crew wherever he was stationed, knowing that little would escape those industrious souls - always eager for an opportunity, always on the lookout for possible trouble. They hadn't returned yet from their morning run and that was worrying. Fisherman NEVER would pass by the good fishing to be had on a day like this. And they would have returned by now. He scanned the horizon. Frowning. *Is that thundering I hear ?*

Quote
The Fast and The Furious - Fly-By Division..

Shandong, August 1919

Gao Shu-Chàng ("Happy Go Lucky") looked down. His lovely plane, no matter how obsolete it might have been to the yang-quizi who sold it to the Middle Kingdom, was soaring over the fields and made its pilot a very happy young man, causing him to grin like a little boy with a shiny new toy for all that he was 33 years old and his family despaired of him every growing up and behaving like a responsible adult. It was an agile little craft, just what he ever wanted. And now he was going to war with it. The fields below his plane were teeming, not with the usual farmers one might expect at this time of the year, but with swarming figures that were moving with a purpose that was definitely not farming. *Pfff... mud-eaters... they too were going to war,* the young pilot mused, *but who was better off ? The grumbling foot-soldier in the mud, or the thoroughly soaked and miserabely cold-wet pilot in the sky ? Ah well... flying beats walking all the time !*

He banked to the left, noting that his wingmates did follow him like ducklings trying to catch up with Mama. Some were still struggling with the fact that they were actually flying, but Gao himself had been piloting aircraft since he was 15 and felt absolutely at home in the skies. He still had the occasional argument with trees though. Gao did not like trees. They were his enemies. And the knowledge that artillery will soon get rid of the trees in this landscape filled him with many warm and happy feelings. Nope, Gao Shu-Chàng is not a treehugger. He's done that too many times in the past.

*Oops, specks in the sky in front. The enemy ! Oh yes, let's show those upstarts how a real pilot fights ! Onward glory !!*
Gao's wing, together with several other wings, met their foes head-on and the dogfight that ensued would have been a sight to behold if there had been anyone on the ground interested to watch. Unfortunately for the brave and dashing pilots the mud-eaters had a fight on their hands as well and were too busy dying instead of admiring the spectacular acrobatics. And the valiant sacrifices.

In the end Gao's aircraft limped back to base all alone. He'd lost his entire wing, he'd seen another wing obliterated, too many pathetic fireflies spiralling to the ground, too many explosions heralding the end of yet another comerade. He didn't care anymore. The only thing that mattered now was getting home in one piece, preferabely with as much pieces of his plane as possible and he himself in it. He didn't even curse the trees near the landing field as he approached his base, and for the first time in his life he completely ignored them during landing. He was sick and tired. There were holes in his plane, and holes in his body... and one gaping hole in his heart where his "happy-go-lucky" self had crumpled into a shivering bawling wreck.
He was a man now.

QuoteBingbu Yamen, Beijing, August 8th 1919

"And so, Your Most Serene Majesty, after the victory we only need to mop up the remaining pockets of survivors and take back this part of the Middle Kingdom," the general droned on. It took truly heroic efforts for Longyu, Empress-Mother of the Middle Kingdom, in order to not to nod off into slumber with agonizing boredom as she watched the -what was it again the yang-quizi called it? ah yes- the Dog and Pony Show. This was not what she had come to the Bingbu Yamen for. The endless receptions, meetings, talks, and presentations. But it was inflicted upon Her August Person anyway and she wondered what she had done for the Heavens to mete out this cruel punishment to her.

She looked askance and smiled at the sight of a hapless reporter who was bravely attempting the same feat as Herself but inevitably lost the battle. A head drooped. A gentle little snore was emitted. And the head jerked suddenly upwards as the owner realized with a shock that the show had ended. *Oops,* the Empress-Mother thought mischieveously, *that came close didn't it ?*

"I noticed that you have made a point of evacuating the civilians near the river," she remarked when the general finally, mercifully, fell silent, "do you expect such heavy fighting there then ?"
"Ah, Your Most Serene Majesty," the general answered, *hmm, have to be careful, with that reporter present...*, "we do foresee that the civilians could be heavily affected by roving battles. There's no certainty in war, but only that fighting may happen everywhere. Better to take these poor coolies and farmers out of the equation, if you catch my meaning. Civilian casualties are bad pre... eh... for the country. Besides, we expect the enemy to try and engage in some sabotage. They might try to infiltrate and destroy dams and dykes, with flooding as a result. We try to foresee every possibility..."
"I see," the Empress-Mother replied gravely. "But now I will depart for the frontlines and visit the troops. Are you not coming ?"

She did notice the general's face developing a few drops of prespiration. It appears he had some urgent last-minute business to take care of, but of course, if Her Most Serene Majesty was going, how could he not accompany her ?

QuoteBeijing Lihong, Cycle 76, year Ji-wei, month 7, day 20
(August 15th 1919)

The war has begun ! Heavy casualties but progress made !

The Bingbu Yamen has announced that the civil war we all dreaded has finally started. Brother will now fight brother, father will now fight son. But the Government remains adamant that the rebels must be called to heel and brought back into the fold, and thus our troops have been rallied and sent over to the rebels' lands in order to make it so.

The first battles have been fought, and as feared the casualty rate has been staggering. Modern warfare has no respect whatsoever for valiance and courage, the modern weapons mowing down the brave and less-brave alike. Machine guns and cannons have no regard for heroes, offer no chance for valorous deeds. And after the battle we have seen the windrows of dead, friend and foe alike, lying undecorously in the mud.

Yet the rebels have not gained what they wanted. Our troops were not overrun, but held steadfastly. There is the occasional spot where rebels have advanced, but so have we. All in all, as the yang-quizi say, it's a stalemate.

Reports have also come in about the Yang-Tse floods. It appears that rebel elements have sabotaged the dykes, thereby flooding the countryside. Just as General Wu predicted, when he briefed Her Most Serene Imperial Majesty the Empress-Mother who was preparing to tour the frontlines, just a week ago.

Her Majesty's presence at the frontlines will certainly galvanize the troops to greater deeds, but will it be enough ?

Some more stories. I'm still writing, but thought that titbits would be appreciated.
You might say that our good old friend Admiral Gao is a busy man... juggling work and family all the time...

QuoteThe Fast and The Furious - Fly-By Division..

"So, Happy-Go-Lucky, how's my favourite nephew doing ?"
"I see my esteemed Uncle the Admiral is finally showing the inevitable signs of ruthlessly encroaching old age and the dotage that comes with it..."
"I beg your pardon ?"
"This is a hospital. This is a hospital bed. This is me lying in it. What part of the chain of logic has eluded my esteemed ancestor ?"
"All right, you've got me there. It was a silly question. But seriously, how are you ?"
"Alive, I guess."
"I've read the report, 'Lucky, where the technicians have described your plane as "a sieve, held together by prayers and sheer stubborness". How in Hell did you survive that ?!"
"You know, Uncle," the younger Gao mused, "I guess that during my time with the experimental plane division I had gotten used to crashlanding so much it's become almost second nature to me..."
He paused for a moment. "But, come to think of it, back then I always used to have the plane in tatters after the landing. You might say it was a novel experience to try to land one already wrecked."

Gao the younger didn't notice the other pilots in the ward grinning hugely at his words. But Gao the elder did, and his grin was even huger. *Oh yes, my nephew,* he thought, "make them laugh and forget their own pain. But how to get you back on the horse ? Or plane in this matter...*
"You know," he said aloud, "that I have been told another plane is already awaiting your recovery ? That they are assembling new wings already so that you can strike again ?"
"I know," 'Lucky said sadly. "but I'm in two minds at that. You see, Uncle, I can't help but have nightmares. I can't help but shiver when I look outside that window and see a plane flying overhead."
"That's why you have to get out of your bed and climb back into that plane nephew !" the admiral chided him. "As soon as the doctors let you go, you're in the air again. And no buts !", he interrupted 'Lucky's sputtering, "you do as your superiors say. And who could be more superior than the next Patriarch of the family ?"

Both men sobered up. "It's true then ?" 'Lucky said sadly. "Grandfather is that poorly ?"
"Such happens in life, and you can't say his wasn't a full and productive one..." Admiral Gao mused, "but yes, he's in bad shape and Grandmother First Wife is fearing the worst. But in the meantime, we must do what we must do. Your responsibility awaits, Happy-Go-Lucky."
"Sigh. I know Uncle. I just hope the nightmares will go away..."
"They never do, my boy," the elder man said sadly as he got up from his chair and made to leave the hospital ward, "they never do. But if it may console you, you will find that with the years you stop hurting so much..."

QuoteThe Fast and The Furious - Wet Feet Division..

The little tug delivered its cargo of wet, bedraggled and utterly miserable survivors. Amongst them a despairing Captain He Dang. Completely absorbed in his misery he didn't notice the party waiting for them on the quay, he just kept trudging along with the rest, until a hand on his chest stopped him and he found himself eye to eye with an admiral.
"Now there, you're looking extremely despairing Captain..." the admiral gently chided him.
But Captain He could only shrug: "I lost my command. I will never command a vessel again..."
"What makes you think so ?"
"But Sir !! My boat has been shot from under me ! I lost the vessel entrusted to me. There is no doubt whatsoever my superiors will never let me have one again, for I am such a miserable failure !"
Admiral Gao gently shook his head. "If having your boat sunk would disqualify you for command I would never have been wearing these insignia and commanding these men, ever."
The bedraggled captain looked with huge eyes.
"Yes, I'm THAT Admiral Gao. The one who has had more ships shot out from under him, sunk, exploded and frankly fallen apart, than he can conveniently remember. Can you imagine His Most Serene Imperial Majesty entrusting part of His fleet to that man ? Well ?!"
He took the captain by one shoulder and turned him towards another part of the docks. "See that ship overthere ? The one they're loading ? It needs a captain."
"No. Oh no. Oh nononono..." the hapless captain said, arms waving in denial, "that couldn't be possible..."
But Admiral Gao only grinned. "I had other candidates in mind. But I think you might just be the right man for the job. So hop on and soldier, captain !"
"The Lei Cheng ? But that's a Destroyer ! I can't command a Destroyer ? I'm just a lowely torpedo boat skipper..."
"Pfff," the admiral scoffed, "a boat is a boat man ! You're just going to have to get used to a bit more crew, and a bit more weapons..."
"A lot bigger weapons..." the captain mused. You could see something dawning in his mind. His face started to clear up. To grin. "A looot bigger weapons..."
"That's my man."

Gao's staff wasn't so happy with his impulsive decision.
"Why give such a prize to such a blundering fool ?"
"Not so blundering... he came back alive didn't he ? That, in my book, makes him successful."
"But he's lost his ship, the new ship is way above his experience and standing !"
"Because he's the son of a coolie ? Because his father can't even read his license ?"
"No, it's not that, Admiral, and you know it. It's just... this is one of the newest Destroyers in the fleet, and you entrust it to a man who's commanded only a torpedo tub..."
"Mind you, I commanded torpedo tubs in my time..."
The staffers fell silent at that.
"... but afterwards went on to bigger and better. In any case I have made up my mind, Captain He is the perfect man for that Destroyer."
"But why Sir ?"
"Because he's got experience. Because he's seen the other side fight and came back to tell about it. Because he survived that and came back to re-arm and go back and show them now that he's learned their tricks... and he'll probably show them a few new ones to boot."
They just looked at him.
"The son of a coolie, remember ? I've never met a coolie who couldn't come up with something new when it means he can pull one over the others."

CHINESE CIVIL WAR:  SEPTEMBER 1919

Ground Combat:

Weather across the front is generally okay - rainy, frequently, but not enough to severely disrupt aerial operations.

The RRC continues its drive into Honan with heavy thrusts from Anhwei and Kiangsu (via southeastern Shantung).  Imperial defenders are outnumbered by approximately a two to one ratio (an estimated fourteen corps to six), and the terrain is, being generally flat in these parts, does not assist greatly in the defence.  Overhead, nine hundred Republican aircraft support the attack, the majority of which are fighters tasked with keeping Imperial fighters away from the ground support elements.  This strategy is generally successful, and the Republicans manage to push the Imperials further back, incurring 70,000 losses to 60,000 Imperial casualties.  The Republicans essentially control all of the plains portion of Honan, and hundreds of thousands - if not millions - of civilians have been displaced as they flee in advance of the fighting.

Mid-month, the Imperials begin counter-attacking.  Four corps attack from Shantung with the objective of regaining the occupied southern extents and pushing into Kiangsu.  However, the four Republican corps are well positioned to stop the attack cold, and inflict 40,000 casualties to just 20,000 suffered.

Imperial intentions to attack from Honan into Anhwei, if they ever existed, have been derailed by the Republican offensive.

However, the main Imperial thrust enjoys considerably more success.  Here, five Imperial and two Dutch Volunteer corps attack from Hubei into southern Anhwei, employing the swollen Yangtze as their right flank. To the extent possible, movement and attacks take place at night to avoid Republican air attack, but this still leaves them vulnerable in daylight, and the Imperial air force pays dearly in an effort to fend off the numerically superior Republican aviators.  By month's end, the Imperials hold the high ground in the Tongbai Shan and Dabie Shan  ranges bounding the two provinces, and have taken Anqing along the Yangtze.  Approximately 35,000 Imperials and 30,000 Republicans have fallen in this campaign.

Requsitioned river craft on both sides have engaged in clumsy battles along the River as far east as Tongling, disrupting the flow of Republican supplies across the river.

Further west, Republican forces undertake raids against Imperial beachheads in southeastern Hubei.  The Imperials lack the airpower to provide much defence from the Republican air force, but ground fire is fairly effective, and there are just not enough Republican rifles being committed to accomplish much more than hold the Imperials in place.  Approximately 10,000 Republicans and perhaps half as many Imperials fall in these actions.

In the far west, in northern Szechwan, neither side undertakes significant offensives, but positional fighting costs each side approximately 25,000 casualties as units fight for control of passes and peaks.  Republican aircraft attack logistical targets and troop concentrations in northern Szechwan and across the border to further disrupt any would-be Imperial offensives.

Along quieter stretches of the border, troops from both sides are observed by each other to be digging in and fortifying their positions.

YANGTZE FLOOD

Flooding begins to ebb around 5 September, and is no worse than normal (for the time of year) by mid-month.  Civilian survivors are able to return to the site of their homes, where combat has not blocked their way.

NAVAL ACTION

In the northern Yellow Sea, Republican submarines continue to interdict Imperial shipping, making best efforts to confirm identities before engaging.  Imperial air and surface attacks appear to claim between one and three of the Republican boats during the month.

Intense combat rages across the southern Yellow Sea and East China Sea as the Imperials attempt to blockade Republican ports and the entrance to the Yangtze.  Despite taking heavy losses from the outnumbered Republicans and their substantial naval aviation forces, the Imperials generally succeed in isolating the coast north of the Yangtze, and maintain a distant blockade between Shanghai and Japanese Formosa.  Neutral shipping is turned back; Republican shipping captured or sunk.

Night-time minelaying raids by the Imperials further disrupt Republican operations around the mouth of the Yangtze.

Sporadic clashes take place in the South China Sea as Imperial forces attempt to undertake minelaying operations with requisitioned civilian craft.  Some of these vessels are caught and sunk by Republican forces, but coastal shipping losses are suffered off Macau and Fuzhou to suggest that some of the Imperial efforts were successful.

CHINESE CIVIL WAR - OCTOBER 1919

Ground War

On October 5, the RRC begins a new push into Shantung from northeastern Honan.  Despite appalling weather that keeps aircraft from both sides grounded, five corps engage Imperial defensive positions in western Shantung, exchanging rockets for railgun shells.  Imperial forces note somewhat less intense fire from the Republicans than might be expected, but still take significant casualties.

On October 8, with three Imperial corps heavily engaged against the Republicans in southwestern Shantung and no small amount of Imperial confusion following a large explosion at Qingdao, another several Republican corps hit the Imperial line from northern Kiangsu.  Despite their fortified lines and railguns, the Imperial corps here are dislodged and driven northward.

All total, each side has lost approximately 45,000 casualties but they are losses that the numerically superior Republican attackers can better afford.

On October 9, the RRC launches its October Offensive.   This grand operation is intended to trap and destroy the seven Imperial and Dutch corps that drove into southwestern Anwhei last month.  The weather is favorable for operations.

From north of the Tongbu Shan range, the three Republican corps (5th, 6th, 7th Infantry) dislodged by the Imperial offensive seek to redeem themselves by pinching the northwestern part of the Imperial salient.  Their attack is supported by seven hundred Republican aircraft, and encounters two Imperial corps (1, 2 Infantry), backed by two hundred aircraft.  Intense dogfighting claims one hundred fighters on each side, but the bulk of the Republican attack aircraft are able to lend their support.  This is not enough, though:  with the terrain strongly favoring defence and the Republicans having some supply difficulties, their attacks are thrown back with dreadful losses.  Sixty thousand troops are killed or wounded, against perhaps ten thousand Impeirals.

From southwestern Hubei, two Republican (14th, 15th Infantry) corps attempt an assault across the Yangtze, with the intention of pinching the southwestern part of the Imperial salient.  The attack faces one Imperial corps (3rd Infantry), and despite having the advantage in aircraft numbers by a four to one margin, this attack also fails.  Twenty thousand Republicans and ten thousand Imperials are killed or wounded in this sector, and one hundred Republican bombers are lost in action.

From northern Hunan, two Republican corps (8th, 9th Infantry) are scheduled to attack the southern part of the Imperial salient, via another assault across the Yangtze.  Although they face two Imperial corps (4th, 5th Infantry), the attack is (almost unexpectedly) successful.  The Republicans establish a beachhead and quickly expand it, then hold it against an Imperial counter-attack.  Casualties are about twenty thousand apeice.

Another thrust across the Yangtze comes from northern Chekiang, across the Yangtze into the Imperial salient.  Unusually potent Imperial fighter tactics cost the Republicans over two hundred aircraft and serious disrupt Republican ground-attack operations.  The cross-river assault by four Republican light infantry corps - all using 1895 pattern kit - suffer heavy losses against the two modern, elite Dutch corps opposing them.  No ground is gained, and 35,000 Republicans fall against ten thousand Dutchmen.

The final attack is furthest west; nine Republican corps attack into northwestern Hubei from Szechwan and southwestern Hubei.  This attack, directed through mountainous terrain, falls afoul of strong Imperial defences:  five corps with well-prepared fortified lines.  Despite shooting down almost two hundred Imperial aircraft and employing four hundred aircraft in a ground-attack role, the Republican attack is a failure.  Casualties are about 90,000 Republicans and 30,000 Imperials.

Imperial forces do not launch attacks in other sectors, nor do they launch counter-attacks against the Republicans involved in the October Offensive.  The strategy appears to be to allow the Republicans to come to them and mow them down when they do.

Skirmishes continue in northern Szechwan between Imperial regulars and Republican guerrillas.  Casualties are approximately five thousand apiece.

Reports begin to reach adjacent borders of low-level warfare in northwestern most Imperial China, between Imperial regulars and Muslim irregulars.

NAVAL ACTIVITY

Imperial forces continue to use requisitioned civilian craft to mine Republican harbours.  Increased Republican patrols and general awareness of these activities results in a high failure rate, but mines are successfully laid off Hong Kong and Shanghai during the month, costing 6,400 GRT of Republican shipping.  Most of these ships are smaller coasters, but two large freighters are also lost.

The Imperial blockade of the northeastern RRC coast is generally maintained.  Losses are somewhat heavier, however; Republican air superiority has not only taken a direct toll on Imperial ships, but some early efforts at aerial spotting and recce have allowed Republican forces to overwhelm isolated portions of the Imperial blockade on two occasions.

Republican armored cruisers make a bold sortie to support the Republican attack into Shantung in early October.  Naval gunnery inflicts several hundred Imperial casualties, while further confusing Imperial defensive efforts, as some units move to block possible Republican landing sites when they are needed elsewhere.  The armored cruisers escape unscatched, though one of their escorting cruisers is lightly damaged in a skirmish with Imperial torpedo-craft on the way home.

The Republian blockade of the Yellow Sea continues, with submarines accounting for 7,600 GRT of merchant shipping and an Imperial monitor sunk.  One Republican submarine is successfully engaged and sunk on the surface on the night of the 13th.

EXPLOSION AT QINGDAO

On October 7th, the Imperial port of Qingdao is rocked by a massive explosion as a merchant ship explodes just off of the port.  The ship itself is obliterated, and several nearby coastal vessels and an Imperial torpedoboat are badly damaged by flying debris.  The port district is heavily damaged by the initial explosion, debris, and a second explosion caused by fires at a chemical tank farm.  Imperial troops move to assist civilian authorities in controlling the fires and rescuing casualties.

The explosion causes some disruption to the city's communications and transportation systems, hampering regional coordination of the Imperial defence against the Republican offensive in Shantung.

As of October 31, 1919...

QuoteEXPLOSION AT QINGDAO

On October 7th, the Imperial port of Qingdao is rocked by a massive explosion as a merchant ship explodes just off of the port.  The ship itself is obliterated, and several nearby coastal vessels and an Imperial torpedoboat are badly damaged by flying debris.  The port district is heavily damaged by the initial explosion, debris, and a second explosion caused by fires at a chemical tank farm.  Imperial troops move to assist civilian authorities in controlling the fires and rescuing casualties.

The explosion causes some disruption to the city's communications and transportation systems, hampering regional coordination of the Imperial defence against the Republican offensive in Shantung.

The Imperial Romanian goverment officially denies any knowledge, plotting, or other concerns of this explosion in a port. (Which is very eerily similar to what happened at Varna.  :o)

Below is the Map I will be using to Mod this War....


(http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/china_map_folio/txu-oclc-588534-54922-10-67-map.jpg)

Is this as big as it gets or is there a high-res one?

Sorry go to this sight to get the high resolution version....

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middle_east_and_asia/china_map_folio/txu-oclc-588534-54922-10-67-map.jpg

Charles

thanks

Below is Part 1 of November and December 1919-  It covers land battle only so far.   Air losses and Naval battle will be totaled up latter.   I expect this to be in at least 3 parts just to cover the land war please post comments in the discussion forum and not here.

The month of November starts slowly for both the Republican and Imperial forces and their allies.   With the massive casualties inflicted by both sides on each other the weight of logistics and the sheer magnitude of the displaced population impact the pace of offensive operations.  Both sides pause slightly to bring in reinforcements and supplies.  With the Flood created by the breaking of the Yangtze River levees and dykes having destroyed a large percentage of the Yangtze River Valley Rice Crop still in the fields and the fighting on the Central Chinese Plains in the province of Honan, Anhwei, and Kiangsu provinces the wheat harvest is in doubt in this region as well.   With both sides recruiting to replace losses and to help with logistical efforts a shortage of manpower on the farms of china reached a critical juncture during the important fall harvests.

North East China

The First major action of the month takes place on November 11th when 5 Republican Motorized Cavalry Corp attack north east out of Honan Province into Shantung province.  With report of an Imperial build up on to their west around the City of Cheng-chou along the Yellow River decide to strike quickly while they are still able.   They attack along a 20km front from K'ai-'feng to Shang-chi'iu.  It appears their objective is to attack into Shantung province and seize vital railway lines just beyond the remnants of the Great Canal at Yen-Chou.  It is also obvious that they intend to use the Yellow River to defend their flanks.

Initial Combat is fluid as the Cavalry probe forward under fighter and Reconnaissance aircraft.  And the Area over the Advancing corps' is soon a cauldron of airborne combat seemingly eating men and machine in ever increasing numbers.   The Republican Cavalry units engage and sweep aside parts of three imperial Corps' dislodged in late October.  The three Imperial Corps take moderate casualties and are forced to fall back North and East towards the Grand Canal.  By the End of November, the 3 Imperial Corp has withdrawn to the far banks of the Grand Canal where several hundred thousand impressed laborers had already begun digging defensive trenches.

Further to East along the Coast on November 20th a 2nd RRC Offensive kicks off attacking North and East from Kiangsu Province into Shantung Province.  Roughly 8 Corp of RRC troops move towards Tsingtao [Chinese port of Qingdao and its fortress].  The Local Army Group commander decides to trade space and time falling back on the defenses of Qingdao while calling on reinforcements.  In the meantime using the rough terrain along the coast he stages a series of small battles in an attempt to slow and attrite the Republican Advance.

Also on November 20th the 1st Imperial offensive in the North East begins.  Delayed by the air strikes along the Yellow River and on the railways leading to Cheng-Chou a force of roughly 8 Corp strikes East and south into Shantung while another 7 Corp attack due South into Honan Province.  These force are opposed by a large 5 Corps of Republican Regulars dug in along the line of advance and an indeterminate number of Commando units.   The Blow falls on the 2 Corp in and around the City of K'ai-'feng where the 2 Corp hold for almost a full week or bombardment and attacks before shattering under repeated blows by more than 3 times their numbers.  Casualties among the attackers is heavy among the defenders it is equally heavy.

The 2nd Blow fell on a single Republican Corp guarding the Railway line and road junction at the City of Hsu-ch'ang.  Attacked by overwhelming force the unit commander decided to give ground rather than face annihilation as additional Imperial units were maneuvering on this flanks.  Losses among the initial attackers were heavy while losses among the Defenders were light until forced to withdrawal.

As the Month of November closed in the North the situation is as follows.   The RRC forces in Honan are falling back and forming a new defensive line from Shang-shui north and east towards Shang-Ch'iu.  The Imperial forces are moving forward repairing the railway lines to secure their logistics supply and slowly pursuing the Republican forces.   To the North along the Grand Canal Republican units are forced to make a hard decision they outnumber the forces before them but those forces are dug in behind an intermittent water barrier and reconnaissance photos show a small number of Heavy tanks and armored cars sprinkled among the enemy units.  To their rear their supply lines are threatened by the new Imperial offensive.

In addition the Republican forces moving along the Shantung coast are now in Reconnaissance range of Qingdao [Tsingtao] where they can see large numbers of troops building a huge defensive trench line surrounding the Port. 

[Part 2]

Yangtze River Valley China

The month of November opens with persistent rumors of Dysentery and fever along the banks of the Yangtze where flooding had killed or displaced large amounts of the civilian population.   Even the odd merchant still risking the war to trade in Hong Kong, Macu or other ports spread tales of Famine, lack of adequate shelter and the dreaded words Cholera.   Additional rumors circulate of something even worse, small areas along the river are beginning to report cases of high and persistent fever nausea and cramps spreading in a few locations among the survivors.  Refugees from the war and the flood begin to trickle south to the Borders of Siam, Nord Indochina and a few hardy souls flee by boat towards Japanese Hainan Island.


In Early November Republican Forces move to reinforce their successful crossing of the Upper Yangtze near Yeuh-yang to the west of Wuhan.   Imperial forces in this area had begun to prepare for an offensive of their own but were not yet ready to launch their attack.  Instead as units slated for future offensive operations arrived they were quickly slated into defensive positions to help contain the Republican advance.   The Republican forces are able to slowly push forward and extend their beach head north of the Yangtze until their forces reach the Southern Branch of the Han Shui River.   The River a vital supply line running to the Fortress of Wuhan and area the Republican forces have been ordered to avoid would force the Republican forces into a second and then a third river crossing.   An attempt to move North West runs into deeply entrenched forces running from the City of Sha-Shih to the Han Shui River.   An attempt to assault this line is repulsed in the early morning hours of November 18th after 3 days of sporadic bombardment.   Losses among the attacking units is surprisingly light a mere 12 thousand men scattered across 5 Corp, the defenders loose a mere 4,000 casualties.

In the far west Szechwan province is the sight of a few attempts by both sides to straighten out their defensive lines.   Casualties from small unit actions and a few small assaults amount to a mere 10,000 casualties to both sides in exceptionally rough terrain.  Both sides appear to digging in and have curtailed offensive operations in a need to channel supplies to larger more important operations elsewhere.  The Month of November is free of any large scale operations.

Shantung, Anhwei, Honan, and Hupei [Hupeh] China:  November into December 1919:

The Battle for Shantung has reached a critical stage.   Elements of 8 Republican Corp has advanced on the vital Imperial Port of Qingdao [Tsingtao].   Elements of 1 Russian Corp, 1 Russian Armored Brigade, 1 Russian Armored Car Brigade, 3 Imperial Corp and massive numbers of workers.  In an addition a large number of training units have been pressed into live fire training by the advance of the Republican forces.

The battle starts with a 4 day barrage of the incomplete defensive works surrounding the city by advance elements of 3 republican corp.  The follow up assault on the defensive perimeter at an outpost in the predawn hours is brutal and leads to hand to hand fighting in the trenches before the 1st division of the 21st Imperial Corp breaks under better then 3 to 1 odds.   Republican Forces take 25,000 Casualties in 2 hours of fighting but manage to breach the perimeter of the defensive line killing 10,000 imperial troops and capturing another 5,000 mostly wounded enemy.

The Republican victory however is short lived with the arrival of dawn a massive air battle rages over the lines and Imperial artillery rains down on the troops attempting to take advantage of the break in the imperial lines.   The Counter attack by the imperial Corps is spearheaded by a Russian Heavy Tank Brigade supported by at least 2 partial brigades of Heavy Tanks bearing Imperial markings.   The Republican troops under attack from both flanks by Infantry assault and being attacked by what appear to be impervious Dragons breathing fire break under the counter attack and fall back allowing the Imperial troops to retake the defensive works.  Here the Imperial Chinese Infantry suffer 12,500 casualties but kill or capture roughly 15,000 additional Republican forces.

This scenario will repeat itself roughly a week later when a more determined and well prepared attack by Republican forces is repulsed by a quick counter attack by Heavy Tanks and even armored cars.   An Imperial attempt to launch an attack on their own is foiled by a large number of armored vehicles breaking down within the morass that has become no man's land between the two armies.   Shelling has damaged the outskirts of the city but Republican forces have not shelled the city center itself despite having the capability to do so.   By Mid December both sides have lost an additional 60,000 casualties due to Combat, Fatigue, and Disease.   The Battle is broken off by Republican forces as a fresh Imperial Offensive to the East siphons away needed reinforcements and supplies.

The End of the 1st week of December reveals what the Imperial forces have been up to.   Thirteen Imperial and 2 Dutch Corp launch a massive offensive out of Honan and Hupei Provinces.  The Axis of the Attack is from Hsin-yang due east along the southern bank of the Huai Ho River towards Ho-Fei and Nanking beyond by 6 Imperial and 2 Dutch Corp.   Additionally, 7 Imperial Corp' attack from Chu-ma-tien towards the city of Fou-yang in Anhwei province.  Finally the Imperial November offensive into Shantung Province resumes.   The fate of China will be decided on the North China Plain.  From Shang-Ch'iu in the North to Hsin-Yang in the South along a front of nearly 250 km the troops of Imperial China are coordinating a massive blow.

Part 3:  The Plains of China:

The Coalition of Forces against the Republican is Honan and Anhwei province is dangerous but not yet dire.   The Imperial Offensive contains 28 Corps' and the Republicans have a mere 17 with which to face them.   However if forces attacking into Northern Shantung province along the Yellow River are not withdrawn they face being cut off very quickly.  In addition the forces attacking Qingdao either have to be reinforced or withdrawn to help stabilize the Front further south.   The Republican high command is being forced to decide between continuing their own planned offensives and withdrawing those forces to face the Imperial assault.

The first major battle is fought between the 6 Imperial and 2 Dutch Corp's south of the Huai Ho River along the border of Anhwei province on December, 11th.  The Leading elements run into 5 Republican Commando Corp rapidly assembled along a ridge line about 60 Km East of Ho-Fei and blocking the Road leading to Nanking.   The Republican units have had about a week to reach their position and dig in however the Commando Corp's are all base line specialists units and they face a mixture of advanced and Cutting Edge troops.  The Dutch and Imperial troops deploy and bring up their artillery and begin their bombardment on December 12th.  On December 16th just before dawn the barrage rolls forward slowly for an hour and then ceases.   The Imperial and Dutch assault presses home across terrain shattered by 4 days of heavy bombardment.   The defenders do their best but the weight of guns is simply too heavy even for dug in troops.   After 4 hours the Defenders to the North of the Road break and begin to withdrawal towards the next ridge line.   The attackers exhausted are unable to properly pursue the remnants of 4 Broken Republican Corp's. 

To the West of Fun-Yang, 5 Corp' of Republican troops engage in battle with the 7 Imperial Corps' advancing from the West on December, 14th.  In this battle the correlation of forces are more balanced towards the defender but the terrain favors neither side.   The Republican forces are forced slowly backwards in a series of battles lasting nearly a week.  Casualties are moderate on both sides as the Imperial troops are constantly probing for the Republican flanks or to locate the Commando units that make up part of the Republican Forces.
   
The next major engagement to occur is on December 16th.  The 15 Imperial Corp's attacking out of Honan into Southern Shantung and Anhwei provinces resume their offensive operations.   5 Imperial Corp in the North run into 2 Corp of Republicans Regulars in and around the City of Shang-ch'iu and begin surrounding the city.   Weather is cool dropping to below freezing at night and the days are overcast leaving very little opportunity for aircraft to do reconnaissance or ground attack missions.  The two northern most Imperial Corp's are caught in the rear as they are attempting to deploy for an assault on Shan-Ch'iu.   At least three Corp' of the Republican Cavalry equipped with Rockets have attacked from the Rear and completely disorganized the Imperial attack plans.  Additionally large groups of Republican Commando begin to aggressively attack the supply lines leading from Cheng-Chou to K'ai-'feng and on to Shang-ch'iu.

The Resulting battle is effectively a draw the Imperial Forces are forced to deploy units to defend the railroad on which they depend for supplies while dealing with a surprise attack by Republican Cavalry.  After nearly a week of heavy fighting and the arrival of need reinforcements the Imperial Forces have restored their lines of supply and driven off the Republican Cavalry.  However it quickly becomes apparent that the forces in Shang-ch'iu have been reinforced by the arrival of several more Corp of Republican Regulars.

The Other arm of the Imperial attack continues to clear the rail line south from Hsu-Ch'ang to Lo-Ho where the Seven Imperial Corp swing to the East and head towards Shang-shui the nearest known location of Republican forces.  In the week it takes for the Imperial forces to clear the railway lines and make their approach march the defenders of Shang-shui have been reinforced significantly.  However there are insufficient troops to form a defensive line all the way to the Huai Ho River and south of the Huai Ho river Imperial troops are rapidly advancing on Ho-Fei.   The Republican leadership needs to make a decision and delays lead to a massive clash of arms.

On December 21st the Imperial Forces are ready 10 Corp face off against what first appears to be 7 Republican Corps' several of which have just finished mobilization and have been rushed to add to the rapidly prepared defensive lines.   The Imperial plan is simple 2 Corp spread out along the defensive lines while 8 prepare to assault the Republican reservists to the north by 3 Corp and the South by an additional 3 Corp while the last 2 corps' continue probing around the southern end of the Republican lines!  The plan is to use a rolling barrage to support infiltration tactics to breach the Republican lines.

The result is extremely bloody the northern attack initially penetrates the line of the Republican Crop facing it but is then repulsed in two days of bloody fighting by a counter attack by 1 Republican Regular Corps.  In the South the Attack forces the Republican Lines and is brought to a standstill near the outskirts of Shang-shui.   Here again a stubborn defense is stalling the Imperial assault.  However the 2 Imperial Corp finally locate and turn the southern end of the Republican line overcoming and breaking a Division of Republican Commando's while they start to roll up the Republican defensive line from the South hopping to link up with the Imperial Corp' launching the Southern assault.  A counter attack on December 24th by parts of 2 divisions of Republican regulars repulses the Southern assault with heavy losses to both sides in bitter hand to hand combat in the trenches.

As Christian holiday of Christmas arrives with dawn both sides are exhausted bloody and the Republicans still have an enemy on their flank.  On the night December 26th while the Imperial await reinforcements and more artillery ammo the Republican forces begin a rapid bombardment that last several hours.  When dawn breaks the Imperial forces awaiting a republican assault find the enemy gone for several hours and the air full of Republican aircraft.

The End of December 1919 dawned cold and crystal clear across Anhwei province.  Republican forces have been bloodied and have decided to shorten their lines and have begun to pull back under a massive surge in sorties by their aircraft while the weather permits.  Imperial forces are equally bloodied and too exhausted to launch an immediate pursuit.  While the outcome of the war is still unclear it appears that the Middle Kingdom and its Dutch and Russian allies have managed to seize the initiative from the Republic of China.

The Naval War Chinese Civil War November and December 1919:

With both the Republic of China and the Middle Kingdom deploying large numbers of littoral combat ships and the Republic of China utilizing large numbers of costal attack aircraft weather permitting merchant traffic on the Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and South China Sea were significantly disrupted.  Insurance rates already high from the early combat climbed to new levels.

Nightly skirmishes by small flotilla' in the dark waters off the coast were almost common and the merchants willing to travel these waters did so well illuminated and with their national flags  clearly painted on the sides of their ships.

In Late November and Early December there was a small series of fleet actions later to be known as the Battle of the Yellow Sea.   The battles were fought primarily around the approaches to Qingdao [Tsingtao].  It began with the RRC use of a number cruisers being used to support their advance up the coast towards Qingdao and eventually built into a series of ongoing clashes between groups of ships from both sides attempting to prevent the other from using the waters along the coast near the armies engaged in battle just outside the city.

In  late November 2 Republican Task Forces composed of the Following ships converge on Qingdao to support the RRC ground assault.  The Huang Hun, Li Ming, Dahan, Hao Fu Ren, Jian Fu Ren, Yongzi, Dou Biao, Tian Hai, Yulay, Yuyou as well as a large number of screening destroyers moved into position to begin a bombardment of the defensive works around the city.   For about an hour the Cruisers of the RRC force dueled with shore based artillery and begin to pound defensive works near the coast.    However before they could truely begin let alone complete their bombardment destroyers screenin them reported contact with 2 submarines which they have driven underwater.  The Cruisers move further off shore to avoid becoming easy targets and 1 cruiser the Jian Fu Ren successfully combed an attack by 2 torpedoes fired presumably by a submarine. 

Later that day as the RRC task force begins to move back into bombardment range they receive information that their northern most picket is retreating back onto the task force being pursued by a large force of Imperial Destroyers.  A large smoke plume to the north of those destroyers is also reported.  The bombardment force with orders to avoid close contact with enemy torpedo boats and with its screen heavily outnumbered decides to withdrawal. 

That night in a rainsquall off the coast a force of Destroyers screening the Bombardment force runs into a group of Imperial Destroyers and Torpedo Boats searching for the RRC Task Force.  The resulting melee in the dark rain laden night is a chaotic melee when both sides spot each other at roughly the same time.  Spot lights and star shells erupt into the night combat ranges are measured in 100's not thousands of yards in some cases.   The both sides snap fire their torpedoes at each other while shooting at each other with everything from their main batteries and in some cases even their personal side arms.  Both sides report contact with a force larger then they actually encountered misidentifying Destroyers as Cruisers and Torpedo Boats and Destroyers. 

The Results of the fight are inconclusive both sides report multiple torpedo hits and many enemy ships hit by gunfire.   The RRC screen has bought the Bombardment force time to turn away out to sea and avoid the Imperial Torpedo Boats in the dark.  The Imperial Torpedo Boats and Destroyers claim 5 Enemy Destroyers Sunk and one Enemy Cruiser damaged by both Torpedo and gun fire.  The RRC forces claim to have driven off an Enemy Cruiser and Torpedo attack on the Bombardment Force and claim 2 Cruisers and 3 Enemy Destroyers either sunk or badly damaged.

For the Remainder of November until Early December the RRC task force haunts the seas to the East of Qingdao.  However the overwhelming numbers of Imperial Destroyers, and Torpedo Boats are able to repeatedly push them out to sea and away from their target the defensive works around the city.

In Early December shortly before dawn the Dahan former UKA/MK Armored Cruiser is hit by a shallow running torpedo directly on the belt below the forward turret.   Shock and explosive force drive in parts of the belt and cause moderate flooding but the turret is jammed and inoperable.  The Imperial Sub Qqianting08 is operating decks awash off the coast but suffers from severe target fixation and is spotted and shelled by no less then 3 RRC MTBs.

Other Occurrences:
Skirmishes between light forces and patrols claim dozens of ships on both sides usually in the dark of the night.  Merchants operating along the coast particularly into Shanghai report dozens of skirmish between small craft using flares and spotlights on a nearly weekly basis.

The RRC looses 15 Freighters grossing 20,000 GRT tons sunk or reported missing in the South China Sea.

The MK looses 12 Freighters grossing 15,000 GRT Tons sunk or reported missing in the Yellow and East China Seas.

The RRC will issue a warning that it has detected mine fields off Hong Kong and Macau, near Fuchow in the Formosa straits and off Hai-an and the Luichow Peninsula near Hainan.

The Japanese Merchant Ship Emperors Star from Pusan to Hainan 5500 GRT loaded with Coal is reported 5 Days over due on December 15th.

Air War over China:
The Air war over China is bitter and the winter weather and cloud cover does not help.  Both sides loose hundred of aircraft in Dog Fights and to ground fire conducting ground attacks against dug in troops with machine guns.  The weather and operational tempo however claim even more lives.  For every pilot lost in action 2 or more are lost due too poor quality gas, bad maintenance, poor training or just plain bad weather and bad luck.  The hardest hit are the RRC Maritime strike aircraft who discover that navigating over water in cloud cover with heavy bomb or torpedo loads requires more luck then skill. 

OOC: So the choice was made to script the war until its end. This is a textbook-style overview of what happens for the first half of 1920, just so things can start moving again. Additional stories of specific battles and such may be forthcoming.


As the Gregorian year of 1919 drew to a close, the forces of the Middle Kingdom, Imperial Russia, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands had managed barely to halt the Reformist Republic of China's armies at the outskirts of Qinguandao. Elsewhere on the East China Plain, Middle Kingdom and Dutch forces had managed to push back the Republican troops beyond the pre-war borders in some locations. January 1, 1920 opened with the sound of guns, much like August had.

   Several major events that would have large impacts on the events of the war for the coming months happened very close to the end of 1919. Evidence had been presented to Emperor of the Middle Kingdom that members of ether the Dutch Volunteer Corps or the Dutch ambassadorial mission had leaked the schedule of the Emperor's mother's tour of the front to the Republicans, resulting in her death. The Emperor also had information that the Dutch were plotting to take over the Middle Kingdom as a colony. In response to this evince, the Emperor expelled all Dutchmen from the country and confiscated all of their equipment. The second event was the official declaration of war from Russia on December 29th, 1919. Russian troops had been serving in a volunteer corps, but this declaration meant that more troops and supplies would be coming to aid the Middle Kingdom.

   The month of January was quiet in the east, as both armies sought to catch their breath, rearm, and resupply. The duty of rounding up the Dutch troops prevented the Dragon Army from launching an offensive against a weekend Republican line. The troops of both armies out in the western parts of the front faced a different reality. Given the extreme amount of men and material in demand to resupply the front lines in the East, nether army had everything that it needed to fully exploit or stop any breakthroughs. The Dragon Army did have a numerical advantage, and used it. Several isolated breakthroughs were made in some areas, with one or two developing into larger readjustments of the front lines. The Republican army was forced to send men and material to the west to hem in this threat instead of fully resupplying their armies in the East. This same trend continued thought out all of February. By March 1st, little change had come to the front lines in the East with the Western front seeing some larger changes, but nothing that hinted at any sort of collapse for either side.

   Sometime shortly after March 1st, the Republican army shot into action like a prize fighter going in for the knockout blow. The Dragon Army fights for every piece of ground between the Republican troops and the port of Qinguandao. While the price the Republican army pays is heavy, the Imperials cannot hold the front were it stands for more than a handful of days and are forced to start falling back. Just as it looks like the front will collapse and Qinguandao will be left at the mercy of the Republican army, on March 16th, elements of the Imperial Russian Army begin to attack the base of the Republican thrust. Faced with the possibility of being encircled, the Republican commanders have no choice but to divert reinforcements meant to break the Imperial lines to instead hold up the Russian offensive. While the Russian attack gains little ground, despite one of the first large uses of "tanks" (referred to as Barrels by the Dragon Army), it manages to buy the Dragon Army time to reinforce and halt the Republican offensives, which effectively stops making forward progress by the final week of March. In the West, Middle Kingdom forces continue to gain ground in local areas, but the front remains relatively unchanged on the strategic level.

   The first week of April sees a massive shift in the momentum of the war. The Russian hammer that has been bloodied at the base of the Republican bulge manages to break the line briefly, but it is quickly contained. With the rest of the armies being ground to bits by both Imperial attacks and attacks mounted by Republican forces, the leadership of the Republican army is faced with a choice, stay and fight, become cut off and be forced to surrender, or retreat and reform a defensive line with the hope that living to fight another day will bring victory. The second option is chosen and a well planed strategic withdraw along the front back to the base of the aptly termed Qinguandao Pocket is drawn up. Unfortunately for the Republicans, the Imperial leadership manages to decode messages containing major pieces of the plan. That information, along with that gathered from prisoners, leads both the Dragon Army and Russian Expeditionary Force to launch an all out offensive to force the Republicans to withdraw faster then they intend. The result is that the second half of April plays out like full retreats instead of an orderly withdraw. Occasionally, pockets of Republican troops are cut off and ground down by the Dragon Army as the Republicans race for the gap that is ever shrinking between the Russians and the coastline. By the final week of April the Russians are able to close the gap, but not before most of the surviving Republican troops escape to the south. There is a major problem for the Republicans however; most of their heavy equipment was abandoned to allow for a hastier retreat. While the men are still there, now they need to be resupplied, an effort which will take time and recourses need elsewhere. By pure coincidence, the other major offensive of April opens almost in sync with the attacks into the Qinguandao Pocket. The Republican forces along the north bank of the Yangtze River, use to the small skirmishes and raids that had grown common sense January, are caught slightly off guard when a major Imperial offensive is launched along the north bank of the Yangtze towards Nanking. The initial push sends the Republicans reeling backwards, but after approximately a week, things begin to stabilize and the two armies trade blow and counter-blow like prize fighters as the Republican troops trade space for casualties, hoping the Imperials run out of men before the Republicans do. The West changes little over April, with the front being basically the same at the end of the month.

   The month of May sees little activity in the north near the pre-war boarder as both sides pause to regroup and resupply. The Dragon Army continues to push along the Yangtze towards Nanking, looking to narrow the gap through which the Republican army can resupply and remain. Progress is made, but not to the point where Nanking is threatened. This does have the effect of forcing the Republicans to send more and more reinforcements and equipment to the Yangtze, the army in the North gets fractions of what it needs to completely recover from its losses and men and material escaping from the Qinguandao Pocket. The west begins to see changes in the front line, with the Republicans being forced to consolidate across wide areas to maintain a defensive line.

   June sees the armies in the north gathering strength, preparing for the coming hammer blow. The very last week of June sees the begging of a push by the Imperials along most of the front. The attacks along the Yangtze continue, but begin to lose some of their ferocity by the middle of the month, almost grinding to a complete halt by then end of the month. More progress is made in the west as the Imperials become more daring in their attacks, creating more shifts in the front but nothing that signals collapse of either line. June ends will the eyes of all commanders and politicians turned to the fronts in the north, as it is apparent that the next blow will fall there relatively soon.

OOC: Sorry for the lack of updates here. I have been waiting to hear from Laertes, but he has not been around lately. This is the last bit of what happens in the China war, per what we agreed on. The lack of detail on the RRC "revolution" is intentional and may be filled in later. This should close up everything heading into 1921.


July of 1920 sees the opening of the combined Middle Kingdom and Russian offensive along the frontlines in the North. At first it appears that the RRC, despite its telling lack of ammunition and reserves, may be able to stop the Dragon Army. However, the efforts to contain the attack quickly all but exhausts the Republican reserves and it becomes readily apparent that the choice to stay, fight and die or to retreat will be made again. Figuring that the Imperials and Russians will run into the same supply problems that the Republicans currently have the farther the lines are extended, RRC Army command decides to trade space for time, like had been happening in the West. A series of well planed retreats begin to yield more and more land to the Middle Kingdom, with all troops being withdrawn from pre-war Middle Kingdom land by the end of the month.  Despite the shortage of supplies and several close calls, the RRC Army is able to execute its plans without much interference from the Dragon Army, as its commander's fear a trap designed to cut off chunks of the army and allow its piecemeal destruction. Along the Yangtze, the front remains fairly static as both armies lick their wounds and prepare for the next big push. The West sees much of the same patterns that defined the war there earlier in the year, but with the Republicans having to give up more and more land due to a shortage of troops.

By August, the Middle Kingdom and Russian commanders have figured out the Republican's strategy for their planed strategic withdraws. Midway through the month, the Dragon Army is successful in disrupting this operation. Faced with no other option, the Republican Army goes into full retreat and beings withdrawing toward the Yangtze river, buying as much time as possible for a miracle to occur. Increasing actions along the Yangtze front creates fears of a much larger version of the Battle of Qingdao that occurred earlier in the year. Frontlines continue to remain relatively constant however, so that fear is not fully realized. The West sees action much like before.

September marks the beginning of the long and chaotic race to the Yangtze and the City of Najing. The steady increase in pleasure through September along the Yangtze front finally succeeds in convincing both the Republican and Imperial armies that the slowly closing gap along the Yangtze leading into the heart of the RRC is effectively a gigantic noose around the neck of the Republican Army. Having no other effective options, both sides race for the gap, the Dragon Army with the Russians to close it and the Republicans to get through it. This has the effect of cutting the Western Republican forces off from all reinforcements. Finally, the Middle Kingdom gains the upper hand in the West and the East. October and November see the continuation of this rapidly moving battle, much like the one that characterized the action around Qingdao earlier in the year. As the pace of Imperial Operations increases, Republican troops are driven further and further back. By the end of November, it is clear that all the land north of the Yangtze will eventually fall under the banner of the Middle Kingdom

In December, several events happen, that in combination; serve to bring a fragile peace back to China. First, over the cause of the month the last Republican forces on all fronts are driven back across the Yangtze. Now any further action by necessity involves an expensive river crossing. After almost a year and a half of continuous fighting, neither side can accomplish this in the scale necessary to force another deceive action. The true nail in the coffin of the RRC however is the complete collapse of its government. Mostly unnoticed by the Middle Kingdom, a rebel movement had been growing within the RRC for quite some time. Around the middle of December, this movement managed to overthrow the old government and established its own.  This new government approached the Dragon Emperor with terms for an armistice, which were accepted by the Emperor. At 12:00AM January 1st, 1921, the guns of the Dragon Army, Russian Expeditionary Force, and the Republican Army fell silent and idle. China was at peace again. For how long, only the peace conference would tell.

Quote from: snip on March 03, 2011, 09:54:59 AM
as its commander's fear a trap designed to cut off chunks of the army and allow its piecemeal destruction.

:) Just what wound up happening on a small scale in Silesia.

Quotea rebel movement had been growing within the RRC for quite some time.

Well stranger things have happened, so I'm not that surprised.

Eggshells with Sledge Hammers

February 14th, 1920

The early morning just off the Shandong Peninsula saw a very light breeze of only 4 knots and the most gentle of waves at sea.  While lookouts on the Chinese Armored Cruiser Huang Hun swept the air for signs of trouble.  Despite near unlimited visibility there was nothing to see besides coastal traffic but that was not their mission today, the city of Qingdao was.  One of ships lookouts called out and pointed into the sky, high over head a single dirigible drew near, the cruisers put out black clouds of smoke as they advanced at 18 knots.  Clearly the smoke cloud or bad luck or both had drawn the airship, the cruiser picked up a coded transmission, they were being reported.

Rear Admiral Zhou Man growled at being discovered, last time he had completed his bombardment mission without discovery.  He briefly toyed with aborting it but no he had his orders and as of yet he had seen no enemy vessels.  Still time to take additional precautions, General Quarters was called for on all 8 ships of the squadron.  

Very soon Zhou came to regret his choice, a lookouts reported a faint contact on the horizon.  Then a pair of destroyers dispatched reported back 2 large contacts and 6 medium, Russians.  A Pair of Russian Scout Cruisers and Svetlana class light cruisers.  No ability to break contact and its clear they were moving to engage him.  "Signal the squadron, we will advance on the enemy!"

The squadrons Squadron

Shilka, Amgun, Svetlana, Ekaterina, Anastasia, Anna, Maria and Rossiya vs. Huang Hun, Li Ming, Biao Zhun She Ji #1 to #6.  As the two sets of large cruisers lined up against one another the light ships dropped behind the bigger ships.  The Russians are on Course 170 while the Chinese have angled out to see and are on course 020.  Admiral Zhou knows his ships lack modern fire control so he must close the range as quick as possible so he will angle into the Russian ships giving them an angle on his bow for what is otherwise a reciprocal course.  Mutual rate of closer is over 50 knots, opening range 27,000 yards.

On Amgun Rear Admiral Nikolai Kolomeitsev looks on in horror, "Crazy bastards aren't going to change course.  We need to hold open the range.  Squadron Orders, new course 045, maintain 27 knots."  Flags went up and soon the rest of the squadron turned to follow.  It took time for the orders to be issued and more time for the ships to carry them out.  The range dropped by nearly 3,000 yards in the two minutes this took to 24,000 yards.

"Admiral enemy in range, request permission to engage."  

"Commander, the squadron is to engage the enemy!"  

Currently the Russian ships had a slight advantage in terms of their relative positions and could fire all their main guns.  The Chinese could only reply with their bow weapons; except those were out of range.

TIME: 10:30 Hours

Shilka on Huang Hun, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses
Amgun on Li Ming, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses

Time 10:32 Hours

Admiral Zhou orders fleet to course 010, turning into enemy fleet to allow him to close the range and to be able to return fire.  Admiral Kolomeitsev maintains course, but increases speed to flank and lets the range close to take advantage of being able to cross the enemy T.  Speed of over take is 6 knots, range drops by another 1,000 yards to 23,000 yards.

Shilka on Huang Hun, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses
Amgun on Li Ming, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses

Time 10:34

"Damn range is just to far out."  The Russian Gunnery Control office reports, even with directory Fire Control its very difficult to hit.

The Admiral Shrugs, "We have ammo to spare Commander hold your course."

Range drop to 22,000 yards and at last the Chinese can return fire.

On the Chinese ship, "Admira,l Haung Hun is in range!  Shall I open fire?"

"No, we will not hit anything at this range.  Let me know when the range drops to 20,000 yards."

"Admiral we are giving them undisturbed fire and our T...."

"Very well, a single set of ranging salvo but only after Li Ming can fire."

Shilka on Huang Hun, first salvo all misses, second salvo 1 hit, third salvo all misses
Amgun on Li Ming, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo 2 hits.

The first hit on Huang Hun slams through the ships armor deck and explodes in some crew quarters.

The two hits on Li Ming are more damaging, the first hits the lead turret and simply cuts through the 5" armor.  The resulting explosion kills everyone in the turret and destroys it.  The turret roof is ripped off and is sent over 200 feet into the air.  The second hit lands in the super structure.


Time 10:36

Both sides continue to close but the Chinese can now fire, range is now 21,000 yards.

Shilka on Huang Hun, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses
Amgun on Li Ming, first salvo 1 hit, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses.

Huang Hun on Shilka, first salvo all misses
Li Ming on Amgun, first salvo all misses

The lone hit on Li Ming is into the deck but the shell fails to explode as the shell ends up in the chief petty officers mess.

Time 10:38

At last at 20,000 yards the Chinese switch to normal fire.

Shilka on Huang Hun, first salvo all misses, second salvo 2 hits, third salvo all misses
Amgun on Li Ming, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo 1 hit

Huang Hun on Shilka, first salvo 1 hit, second salvo 1 hit, third salvo all misses
Li Ming on Amgun, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses

The two hits on Huang Hun smash through the ships armor belt and land in the ships super structure, the hit on Li Ming is a dud and does nothing besides destroying one of the ships small cutters.

Shilka is hit twice both into her main belt, the problem is the main belt is only 3" and does nothing besides arming the armor piercing shells.

Time 10:40

Admiral Kolomeitsev stands on his flag bridge and notices the problem at once, a glance at the ships repeater tells him what he already knows.  The Shilka is loosing speed.

Number one fire room

Men scream as super heated steam swirls through the compartment from shell fragments that have riddled 3 boilers.  One man cries out, "My Eyes!  My Eyes."  As the steam as robbed him of his sight and cooked his eyes like a hard-boiled egg.  The engineer calls out for the men to evacuate the room and the emergency cut off is pulled killing fuel to the boilers.  With 25% of the ships propulsion disabled the ship would see a drop in speed.

"Bridge Chief Engineer.  Fire Room One out of action and I have killed the boiler feeds.  Estimated best speed 25.5 knots.  Time to restore unknown."

"I suggest you expedite repairs Chief!"


Back on the Flag Bridge

"Admiral the forward turret is going to loose the angle."

A nod of understanding from the Admiral, "Squadron orders reduce speed to match Flag, new course 045."


On his flag ship Admiral Zhou notices the changes in the Russian Squadron, "At last...  New squadron orders...."  The Chinese squadron started to parallel the Russian ships, unmasking the aft turrets, this didn't allow the cross deck guns on the unengaged side to fire but if the Russians lost more speed it might in time."

Shilka on Huang Hun, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses
Amgun on Li Ming, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses

Huang Hun on Shilka, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses
Li Ming on Amgun, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses

Time 10:42

Shilka on Huang Hun, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo 2 hits
Amgun on Li Ming, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses

Huang Hun on Shilka, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses
Li Ming on Amgun, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses

Both the hits on Huang Hun are in the superstructure but one falls to explode the one that does manages to start a medium fire.

Time 10:44

Shilka on Huang Hun, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third all misses
Amgun on Li Ming, first salvo all misses, second salvo 2 hits, third salvo all misses

Huang Hun on Shilka, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses
Li Ming on Amgun, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses


Li Ming is hit twice, one shot passes through an un-armored section of hull failing to arm while the second hits the armored conning tower.  The Russian 12" shell cuts through the 6" armor of the tower and easily penetrates, killing everyone in the tower including Admiral Zhou.  It will be several minutes before the Captain of Huang Hun can establish control.

Time 10:46

Range has dropped to 19,000 yards.

Shilka on Huang Hun, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third all misses
Amgun on Li Ming, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses

Huang Hun on Shilka, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses
Li Ming on Amgun, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses

Time 10:48

The fire on Haung Hun has greatly expanded, reaching ready charges for the ships 4" guns.  Minor explosions dot the ship as the powder cooks off killing several of the damage control teams.  Thick black smoke rises from the Chinese Armored Cruiser.

Shilka on Huang Hun, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third all misses
Amgun on Li Ming, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses

Huang Hun on Shilka, first salvo all misses, second salvo 1 hit, third salvo 1 hit
Li Ming on Amgun, first salvo all misses, second salvo all misses, third salvo all misses

Shilka is hit twice, one in the thin armor belt.  The first shell explodes just above the main deck, right in one of the smoke stack spaces.  The explosion extinguishes both sets of boilers off that smokestack and 2/3 of propulsion is lost.  Reducing the ship to a single set of boilers and 20,00 SHP.  The second shot hits a section of exposed barbette, passes inside and then nothing happens. The Chinese shell failed to arm other wise the Russian Scout Cruiser would surely have died as the shell came to rest in the shell handling room.  The turret is knocked out of action from shock effects and the shell handling gear needs to be repaired, estimated time to repair 10 minutes.

The Captain on Huang Hun establishes control and decides enough is enough.  While Admiral Kolomeitsev comes to a similar conclusion and both sides move to break off the engagement. Destroyers and Cruisers move forward to create smoke screens.  The Russian squadron swings hard over to 000 to head north while the Chinese turn to 210 heading southwest.  

Time 10:50

With wild movements on both sides accurate fire is not possible for either side.  


Time 11:30

The fires on Huang Hun have grown worse over the last 40 minutes and much of the ships upper decks are awash in flames.  The ship is moving very slowly while being controlled from the steering room deep in the aft of the ship.  A a pair of destroyers keeps station on the cripple while the rest of the Republican Chinese Force heads for base.

A new smoke cloud is detected on the horizon, its soon identified as Imperial Chinese Destroyers, heading directly for the crippled cruiser.  With the Huang Hun having no real ability to fight the order is given to abandon ship, the two destroyers take on what survivors they can and then flee the location at top speed.  The Imperial Chinese Destroyers close to within attack range and fire a spread of torpedo's into the burning hulk which soon capsizes and sinks.

Official RRC Naval Records report Huang Hun to have been scuttled while Imperial Chinese Naval Records record the ship has being sunk by torpedo attack.

The Butchers Bill

Shilka 4 hits, 74% effectiveness
Amgun no hits, 100%

Huang Hun SUNK / SCUTTLED
Li Ming   6 major hits, turret destroyed, 45% effectiveness, constructive loss

Notes:  Sorry Russian ship was hit harder than I first noted, I missed another hit in the damage tables.

Li Ming had a fire I see also that I failed to report in the battle, which accounts for a lot of her extra damage.  Russians were lucky no fires started.

Don't pay close attention to the courses, I used a hex map for this and the courses are for flavor more than being accurate.

Blooded, etc asked me to do this battle for them.