WesWorld

Bruce reminded me of this earlier tonight - I'd neglected to follow up with it, and I actually had a 'Reply' window open to write the next section...

Quoted from "Brockpaine"

Bruce reminded me of this earlier tonight - I'd neglected to follow up with it, and I actually had a 'Reply' window open to write the next section...

Merely more evidence that Great Minds think alike...

February 25, 1944
Contre-torpilleur Le Fantasque

Capitaine Durand listened carefully as the Le Fantasque's crewmen conducted the action. The Red Force ships were conducting evasive maneuvers to avoid torpedoes, each of the two ships evading independently while maintaining what fire they could on the Blue Force ships.

Unfortunately, Durand thought sourly, We're disadvantaged in a gunfight - Turpin and Roncevaux have two more guns apiece, and my 'C' turret is disabled... which gives them a six gun advantage, over and above the help Pristina is providing. And we're lamed... Belic should be firing torpedoes, if he's smart. So, keep in evasive maneuvers...

Parmentier stood over in his corner listening to the wireless; he glanced up at Durand. "Capitaine, I regret to report Le Fantasque's engines are now limited to nine knots."

"Engineering, make seventy-five revolutions," Durand said fatalistically. So much for avoiding-

"Torpedo hit," Parmentier said. "Midships."

"What of L'Indomptable?" Durand asked.

"Slowed to twelve knots," Parmentier reported. "I don't think she'll get hit by any of the torpedoes launched by Blue Force, but she's in pretty desperate straits."

Durand shook his head. "I'm calling it. Le Fantasque and L'Indomptable sunk. But there's no chance now Blue can catch the minelayers." He raised an eyebrow at Parmentier. "Can I safely call it a draw?"

Parmentier nodded slowly, and lifted his handset, relaying the necessary information. Durand paused a moment at the wireless. "Send to Pristina. 'Commander Red Force sends congratulations for successful interception. Fortune favored you tonight. I salute you.' Send."

Aboard the Pristina Captain Vladimir Belic awaited the reports of the result of the simulated torpedo attack; the guns on his ship were firing as fast as possible on the two rearguard contre-torpilleurs, and the Turpin and Roncevaux did likewise. They carried heavier guns than his own ship, and more of them. He suspected that they were scoring more hits than the Pristina.

The umpire aboard the Pristina handed him a message flimsy with the updated results. "Torpedo hit amidships on Le Fantasque, speed reduced to nine knots, one turret disabled. Multiple gun hits on L'Indomptable, speed reduced to twelve knots, several guns out of action."

For once since engaging Red Force, Belic smiled. "Signal to all ships - close on the enemy and finish the escorts off." Unfortunately, the two cruiser-minelayers had escaped, and Durand had handled his two contre-torpilleurs in a most excellent manner to cover their withdrawal.

Another message from the umpires was handed him. "Rearguard elements of Red Force considered sunk; transports considered safe beyond reach of Blue Force elements; primary mission of disrupting convoy attained; exercise complete."

Belic let out a long breath. "All units cease fire!" he ordered. "Secure from action stations. Pass to all ships - exercise complete, well done."

"Yes," Belic thought, "this phase is over. At best a draw - the scores will not be that far apart."

"Message from Capitaine Durand sir." It was his executive officer. Belic took the message and read. "Commander Red Force sends congratulations for successful interception. Fortune favored you tonight. I salute you."

"Make to Le Fantasque, 'Commander Blue Force sends congratulations for a valiant rearguard action'". Belic knew he was lucky, but at least he had seen the elephant and had learned a lot in leading a flotilla.

"Make to all ships," he concluded. "Assume normal sailing conditions, form up on course three-one-five for return voyage to Bizerte."

In the midst of the night the navigation lights of the two Yugoslav destroyers and their French partners came on as the ships formed up on course for their homeward voyage. The morrow would bring an interesting after-action discussion, dissecting what went right, and what went wrong.