WesWorld

July 1, 1926

The Armoured Cruiser O'Higgins and company have set out today from Singapore for there long trip back to Chile. The crews moral is low following the resolution of the Paracels debate. The ships are expected to arrive at Port Moresby on July 13th.

July 2, 1926

"It was quite a sight," said a sailor on the battleship Capitan Prat. "The Japanese Fleet simply turned in formation and set out into the Pacific". The sailor seemed most amazed by the precision of the Japanese helmsmen to keep all the ships in a perfect formation.

July 5, 1926

Protected Cruiser Maunga Terevaka was finally completed today. The cruiser, while not as powerful as originally intended, will still make a good showing for the Chilean Navy. Noticably absent was Mr. Oyama. It has been said he hadn't fully recovered from his fall in February and was taking a holiday to recuperate more. One unnamed official remembers him being lead out of the Ministeries office by that tall red-headed woman that he is often seen with. The official seems not to recall ever getting her name.

July 12, 1926

Cruiser O'Higgins and company arrived early today at Port Moresby. The ships captian stated that they had favorable weather and kept the ships a little above 10 knots cruising speed. The crews are expected to get three days leave. Late of the 15th the O'Higgins can bee expected to set sail for the Pitcairn Islands to meet up with the Negro.

July 14, 1926

Destroyer Capitan Simpson departs Pitcairn Island for Port Moresby. The new destroyer has been assigned to keep the Cruiser Blanco company until the Blanco returns from patrol in September.

July 17, 1926

Battleship Almirante Cochrane, and a force consisting of the protected cruiser Chacabuco, the light cruiser Presidente Errazuriz and the destroyers Almirante Condell, Admirante Lynch, Capitan Thompson, and Capitan Orella returned Valparaiso today after a long patrol of Tierra del Fuego. Battleship Almirante Lattore and the Armoured Cruiser Esmeralda and the light destroyers Teniente Riquelme and Teniente Videla arrived to take over their patrol two days ago.

July 20, 1926

Predreadnoughts Coronel Bolognesi and General Baquedano, along with the Destroyer Capitan Avatar and the transport Maipo head out of Talcahuano for the Pitcairn Islands to relieve the Cruiser Negro.

July 26, 1926

Destroyer Capitan Simpson arrives at the Port Moresby, having passed the Cruiser O'Higgins late of the night of the 20th. The Destroyer will head out in two days.

August 2, 1926

Chilean Destroyer Capitan Simpson encountered the wreckage of an unknown warship just outside the Sulu Sea in the South China Sea. The vessel seemed similar to the old Spanish vessel Alfonso XII (1887), but had been considerably modified. No survivors were found, yet a flag was found still tired the ships burned stern. A flag that could only be flown by pirates....a red flag with white skeleton hanging from a crossed saber and cannon. "Pirates indeed", said the ship's captian. "Seems we are not the only ones who are hunting them now."

August 5, 1926

Cruiser O'Higgins and the Destroyer Capitain Herlock arrive in the Pitcairn Islands.

August 6, 1926

Destroyer Capitan Simpson meets up with the Cruiser Blanco just six miles out from Singapore. As the destroyer still has some fuel left for patrol, the two ships continue their sweeps of the South China Sea towards Hong Kong.

August 7, 1926

Predreadnoughts Coronel Bolognesi and General Baquedano arrive at the Pitcairn Islands to relieve the Negro. O'Higgins and Capitan Herlock travel with the Negro back to Chile.

August 11, 1926

Light Cruiser Guardia Marina Hyatt left Mejillones today for Port Moresby directly. It is said the Admirality wants a final test of the Hyatt by sending her on a long distance mission to relieve the Blanco and Captian Simpson in mid-Septeber. They say the newer lighter and faster Hyatt will be the job better than the older cruisers and destroyers together.

August 20, 1926

Cruisers O'Higgins and Negro rrived back in Valparaiso with the destroyer Capitan Herlock.

August 27, 1926

Light Cruiser Hyatt encounted a vessel believed to be the "Deathshadow" near the Santa Cruz Islands. The vessel was cutting across the Chilean vessels path in the early morning hours heading northeast. The Hyatt, knowing the orders to confirm a target before firing gave chase to the unknown vessel. At 0947 hours the unknown vessel turned to starboard. The spotters clearly saw the ship's crew raise "the skull and crossbones". The Hyatt's crew prepared for the worst. a minute later the pirate crusier opened fire on the Hyatt. The first shot landed short, and the second long. Hyatt returned fire at range, but the pirate vessel seemed closer than it actually was....maybe it really is that big? The pirate's third shot struck the Hyatt amidships and did sever damage to her engines and crew quaters. She was lucky she did not break in two from the damage caused to one of her boilers. The Hyatt turned away from the Pirate ship. The "Deathshadow" fired one more shot the hit the fantail. The 150mm shell seems to have been a dud, but it clipped off the national colors and rolled to a stop under the aft battery. The "Deathshadow: then returned to her original course as the Hyatt limped towards Port Moresby. Later inspection of the dud relieves something disturbing...they intended that shot to land on the deck intact! The shell had an inscription that was hard to make out, but the words were clear once cleaned : "Leave the Free men alone, and let those that are free deal with the thieves and bandits.....Signed, Captain Harlock"

September 1, 1926

The Captain of the Cruiser Blanco, upon returning to Singapore and hearing of the news of the cruiser Hyatt, immediately sets course with the Destroyer Capitan Simpson and collier Angamos for Port Moresby.

September 8, 1926
After limping along the light cruiser Hyatt made port at Port Moresby. The Captain states that it was like the pirates knew where to hit the ship to cause the most problems with the least amount of causualties, having 64 wounded but only three fatalites all in the engine room.

September 9, 1926

Cruiser Blanco arrives in Port Moresby with the Collier Angamos arriving late in the evening escorted by the destroyed Capitan Simpson. Temporary repairs are made to keep the Hyatt together for the long trip back to Chile.

September 13, 1926

The Chilen governement has announced a temporary end for the Western Pacific Anti-Piracy Patrol. With the loss of the Paracels Islands claim and the near loss of the light cruiser Hyatt, and the lack of enough ships to maintain the patrol that far away without the security of a national dock, the Chilean are calling it quits for now. The Iberians, French, and Filipinos will have to deal with the pirate of the South China Sea. However, we'll keep an eye out for Harlock in the rest of the Pacific.

September 15, 1926

After several days of repairs, the light cruiser Hyatt gets underway at reduced speed with the remains of the Western Pacific Anti-Piracy Patrol. It is expected to take the group 22 days at 9 knots to return to Pitcairn Island.

September 18, 1926

It was announced publicly that the Chilean government has bought a pair of Atlantian floatplane carriers and nearly a squadron of subchasers. The governement is paying Atlantis over the next year, as well as the United States for the new Coastal Defense Battleship that will replace the Capitan Prat in a few years time. This news has raised the public spirit a little since the news of the Navy's failure this last month in the Pacific.

September 27, 1926

The naval department has begun to discuss Mr. Oyama's plans to convert the damaged light cruiser Hyatt. They have not said what they will convert it to, or if they are just going to make improvements in the gun layout while the ship is in dock for repairs. It seems odd, as it seemed Mr. Oyama was quite set on working on the Hyatt personally, even thought he'd only been seen in the city since last Wednesday. I suppose he left he should return to work after such a long holiday.

I wished my own ships would fire that accurate - to make sure a shell lands on another ship intact! Gladly the RSAN doesn´t have to deal with that Deathshadow guy...

Your not the only one Hoo!

In Chennai, the following discussion takes place:

Defence Minister Chandra: It seems the Chileans ran into pirates again. Twice, actually.

Admiral of the Fleet Das: Oh? What happened this time, Sir?

DMC: Well, they encountered a sinking pre-dreadnought of the Alfonso Twelfth class. Which they're blaming on other pirates.

AFD: That should at least account for all the missing pre-dreads. I really need to talk with the Iberian military attache, I think. The other encounter, sir?

DMC: One of their cruisers met what they say was the Deathshadow. The pirates shot at them four times, two misses, a hit that disabled their powerplant, and a fourth hit in which a dud shell, with a message inscribed on it, landed on the fantail intact.

AFD: That sounds like something out of American science fiction, sir. Utter bulls**t. No way it could happen.

DMC: Well, that's what it says. Could we do that?

AFD: Sir, we rely on blinker lights and wireless for signalling. Our shells explode when they hit things.

DMC: Sensible enough, I suppose.

AFD: How did the Chilean ship do?

DMC: Actually, there's nothing to indicate they shot back.

AFD: That figures. I have to be honest, Minister, I'm starting to think that the Chileans are making this whole Deathshadow thing up.

DMC: For what purpose?

AFD: I don't know. I'd better speak with SPEARFISH after I speak with the Iberian military attache...

Note to Indian Admiral of the Fleet Das from Filipino Almirante de la Vega:

"The first ship encountered by the Luzon on 2 February appeared to fit the description given by the Chileans of the so-called "Deathshadow", although apparently we didn't rate a personal message."

Yes the Hyatt did returned fire.

"The Hyatt's crew prepared for the worst. a minute later the pirate crusier opened fire on the Hyatt. The first shot landed short, and the second long. Hyatt returned fire at range, but the pirate vessel seemed closer than it actually was....maybe it really is that big?"


The 5.9 inch guns from Hyatt landed short, gauging the range wrong, as
A. The ship has just finishing being worked up.
B. Had a relatively new crew.
C. Deathshadow is larger than she seems (blame Walter for that).

After the Deathshadow hit the Hyatt...the Chileans were unable to return fire effectively, and began to retreat.

And not American science fiction....Japanese science fiction

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(The Alfonso XII is not a pre-dreadnought, but an old unprotected cruiser type. I imagine this one was a knock off, or a sistership, if not the original. I also imagine it has been upgraded at least a little bit since 1887. The real Alfonso XII was in Havana harbor when the U.S.S. Maine exploded.)

Classification: First Class Cruiser (Unprotected)
Launched: August 21, 1887
Commissioned: 1891
Rig: Three masts
Armament: Six 16 centimeter Hontoria guns
Three 57 millimeter Nordenfelt guns
Two 42 millimeter Nordenfelt guns
Six 37 mm Hotchkiss Revolving Cannons
Three Gatling Guns
Five torpedo tubes
Contractor: Spanish Naval Shipyard at Ferrol
Length: 84 meters
Beam: 13 meters
Draft: 6.7 meters
Displacement 3,900 tons
Compliment: 380 Men under the command of Manuel Eliza
Engine Type: Single screw, 4,100 hp.
Speed: 15 knots (design) 12.5 (actual)
Sail Surface 1725 sq. meters
Coal bunker capacity: 720 tons
Range 4,000 nautical miles
Armor: Unarmored, 3/8 inch steel on slopes and flats.
Cost: Cost: $490,000 (for hull and machinery).

The Puerto Princesca Mariners' Gossip Gazette
5 August 1926

After its discovery by the Chilean Armada, the wreckage of a pirate ship, identified as belonging to the Iberian "Alf the 12th" class, has been towed into Puerto Princesca for examination by FINK.

The ship is nearly totally burned out and very low in the water - this writer estimates a maximum of two feet of freeboard!

After examination to determine (1) who owned it, (2) what killed it, and (3) which, if any, guns can be salvaged, the wreck will be towed back out to sea and used for a torpedo target.

According to the Filipino Marines guarding the pier the shattered hulk is tied up to, investigations are expected to take "about two months".

Quoted

Hyatt returned fire at range, but the pirate vessel seemed closer than it actually was

Defence Minister Chandra stands corrected.

Incidently, Admiral Das' comments on the message shell were not intended to be offensive, but merely a reflection of his true thoughts. I wondered if that might have come out wrong after the fact.

Just keeping with the facts....such as they are