All the colors of the RAINBOW-A Rule the Waves 3 AAR (as the USN)

[Tripoli]

July-December  1905

Geopolitical

July-France and the US go to war.
In late December, the US is given the opportunity to give a revolutionary leader safe passage to France.  While tempting, the last time a revolutionary government was established in France, a lot of people lost their heads, and an 18+ year long war erupted over Europe.  This is probably not a good idea.  I decline, costing me one prestige. 
   
USA Political

October- Prestige increases to 22 as a result of the Battle of Da Nang

December: Prestige is 22, Unrest is 5.  The US has been at war for 6 months.

Naval Intelligence

July-Reports that Germany has developed 3 centerline turrets.   
October-The Royal Navy completes the HMS Queen, a dreadnought Battleship.
December-The Royal Navy completes the HMS Collingwood, a dreadnought Battleship and lays down a battlecruiser.
December-Intelligence collection on Germany is increased to Medium

USN  Technical Developments

July-USN develops improved explosive shells and improved turret mechanisms, increasing damage and ROF.   
August 3 Centerline turrets researched, better 12-inch guns developed, 9 ft. rangefinders
September-USN develops small tube boilers, saving 1% on machinery weight.
October-Improved rolled shipbuilding steel-1% hull savings.
December-Better coastal submarines (giving better range) and improved fire control are developed.

USN Budget

Congress authorizes a war loan.  Yearly budget is now $379,280

USN Construction

July-3 DDs are completed.
July- Begin construction on four AMC (merchant raiders)
October-4 AMCs enter the fleet.  One CA enters the fleet
December-Dock size is increased to 23,500 tons.  Two improved coastal submarines are ordered.

USN Operations

October-Battle of Da Nang.  See war report above.
October-US invades  Annam
November-French force of 4 B declines battle in the Philippines
November-Fighting continues in Annam
November-Battle between USS OLYMPIA and two French CLs in the Alboran Sea.  See War Report above
December-US invades the Antilles.
December-A French submarine torpedoes the CL USS RENO, sinking it. The CL USS OLYMPIA is lost in the Mediterranean. See report above.

1905 End of Year Summary

The War with France is proceeding in accordance with War Plan GOLD.  While I'm concerned with the slow pace of capturing Annam, I believe it is inevitable, and with its fall the US hold on SE Asia should be secure.  Similarly, the Caribbean should be secured with the inevitable capture of the Antilles.  The French ships apparently have longer range than ONI estimated, but the lack of action by the French fleet in either the Caribbean or SE Asia validates  the assumption in War Plan GOLD that they are unable to  sustain sufficient combat force in the regions to overcome the USN forces deployed there.

[Tripoli]

The  War with France in 1906

The new year begins with a small engagement off Vietnam.  On January-2nd , the 2nd Battle of Da Nang is fought by an American fleet centered around BATDIV 1 consisting of the battleships DELAWARE, NEW YORK and NORTH DAKOTA (RADM Freeman) along with supporting ships, tasked with supporting the US ground troops drive to capture Da Nang.  Opposed by only two French corvettes, the battle was quickly won, with the sinking of both corvettes and a small transport.  While the ground fighting continued in Vietnam, the meager French naval forces in the area indicated that the French government had likely written off Da Nang as a lost cause.  On the other side of the globe, fighting also continued in the Antilles.  In January, US commerce raiders sink 16 French merchants, all but three of which are sunk in French home waters.  A French commerce raider, the FS ADMIRAL CHARNER sinks 3 US merchants in the Caribbean, necessitating increased US patrols there.

On 3 February, the FS ADMIRAL CHARNER's luck runs out.  A small US cruiser force consisting of the USS PUEBLO and USS GALVESTON on trade protection duties encountered the commerce raider off the Caribbean Island of Marie Galante.  In a ninety-minute engagement, the French raider is sunk with all hands.  However, both the PUEBLO and GALVESTON are damaged, the PUEBLO with a jammed rudder, and the GALVESTON with a destroyed turret and moderate flooding from numerous hits by the skilled French gunners.  The end of the month sees the advance of US forces in the Antilles stymied by French resistance, stiffened by their fortifications on the island.  However, this disappointment in this delay is offset by good news from southeast Asia, where US forces captured the port of Cam Rahn Bay, the finest deepwater shelter in Southeast Asia.  This reduces the French basing capability in the region to only 40, which translates to a maximum supportable fleet of approximately 2 battleships plus supporting vessels.  This should seal the fate of the French in Indochina.  However, to both secure some additional leverage in peace negotiations, as well as free up US forces for deployment elsewhere, a new landing is conducted at Kwang-Chou-Wan.  Once this and Cochin is captured, the French will be unable to make any long-term deployments to the region.   

The US and French naval deployments in February 1906 are shown below:

[Tripoli]

January-June  1906

Geopolitical

Tensions  with foreign nations, January 1906 
Germany   5
Great Britain   8
France      WAR
Russia      2
Japan      6
Italy      4
Spain      0
Austro-Hungary   3
 

February-Russia and Spain form an alliance.   
May-Spain enters the war as an ally against France.

USA Political

Prestige is 21, Unrest is 5.  The US has been at war for 7 months.
January- Prestige increases to 22 as a result of the 2nd Battle of Da Nang
February-June: Prestige increases to 27 as the result of the Battle of Point a Pitre (February), Khoai Island (June) and the capture of Annam (February) and Kwan-Chou-Wan and the Antilles (March).

Naval Intelligence

January: Germany lays down a BB of Goeben class. Japan is laying down a BB of Kawachi class and are emphasizing gunnery training.  The UK commissions the BC Indomitable
February: ONI increase intel collection on both Germany and the UK, since both are rated as "Very Advanced".  Decrease intel collection budget on France, as it is rated as "Behind"
May- The UK lays down a BB of the "Goliath" class.  France lays down a BB of the Vernigaud class   
June-French develop a mechanical FC computer.  Austro-Hungary lays down a BB of the LOUDON class, but is also reported to be laying down a new a pre-dreadnought?
The Japanese are refitting the B Mikasa with central firing.  This indicates the Japanese are behind in fire control.

USN  Technical Developments

February-700 ton DDs are developed
March-USN develops improved annealing, improving its armor.
April USN develops Oil Fired boilers.  This will be used in the WYOMING a new battleship class being developed.  Also, Improved armor cap for shells, improving penetration.
May-Torpedo Protection 1 is developed.

USN Budget

January. Congress authorizes a war loan.  Yearly budget is now $397,280.  However, to speed the capture of Vietnam, I offer up some of the USN budget to the Army, so the budget drops to  $365,000 by June.
USN Construction
January-4 subs, 6 DD are completed.
February-WYOMING-class BB is designed.
   Begin constructing larger docks. 3 submarines and 3 DDs are commissioned into the USN

USN Operations

January-2nd Battle of Da Nang 2 KE, one transport sunk. Fighting continues in Annam and the Antilles.
16 French Merchants are sunk, all but 3 in French home waters.  However, the French raider CA Admiral Charner sinks 3 US merchant ships in The Caribbean, and French raider CA Admiral Cecille sinks 1 US merchant ships in Southern Africa.

February-USN sets Kwang-Chou-Wan as invasion target.
3 February-Battle of Point a Pitre in the Caribbean.  The Admiral Charner is sunk
February-US Forces capture Annam.
February Kwang-Chou-Wan is invaded by the US.
Heavy fighting continues in the Antilles, but continues to hold out due to French fortifications on the Island.
USN commerce raiders sink 15 French merchant ships, 11 of them in in French home waters.

March-US captures Kwan-Chou-Wan and the Antilles. US sets Cochin, China as an invasion target.  If successfully invaded, this will end the French presence in SE Asia. Commerce raiders sink 11 2 French merchant ships, all but 3 in French home waters.

April USN commerce raiders sink 19 French merchant ships, 14 of them in in French home waters.

May US Invades Cochin, China. USN commerce raiders sink 20 French merchant ships, 13 of them in in French home waters. The increase in sinkings outside of French Home waters is due to the AMCs operating off Africa and in the Pacific.
June Battle of Khoai Island.  A USN division of Battleships sinks a French convoy attempting to resupply French forces in Vietnam.   The US Gains 240 VP for blockade of France.

Mid-1906 Summary:

By June, the French have been kicked out of the Caribbean, and have almost been removed from SE Asia.  The US has war score of 15,890 VP to the French score of 9488.  The war on commerce is apparently affecting the French, with the US gaining 240 blockade points in June. This blockade is due to the Spanish navy's joining the war in May, and blockading France's northern European ports. As a result, I fully expect the French to sue for peace shortly.  To encourage a peace settlement, I am considering sending the Atlantic Fleet into the Mediterranean.  With the alliance with Spain, the US has sufficient basing in the region to support this deployment, and the blockade may speed the end this war.
One area that the US is falling behind in is naval construction. I have held off on a major shipbuilding program, but I will be unable to continue this policy much longer. Virtually every nation has a numerically superior fleet, so the US must begin a crash building plan immediately.  (See attached image for the current force comparison).  Plans for the WYOMING, a new, oil-fired dreadnought battleship, and the OLYMPIA, a small light cruiser for scouting and commerce raiding are drawn up and in SECNAV's office waiting for approval.

SITREP and Naval Balance of Power 1 July 1906

[Sir Slash]

Loving it Trip. Does sinking merchants affect the relationship with other nations at all? Or just hits France?

[Tripoli]

July-December  1906

Geopolitical

Tensions  with foreign nations, January 1906 
Germany   5
Great Britain   8
France      WAR
Russia      2
Japan      6
Italy      4
Spain      0
Austro-Hungary   3
 

September-French peace feelers offering to gain some colonies are rejected.
December: Peace feelers to France are rejected.



USA Political

In June, my Prestige is 27, Unrest is 5.  The US has been at war for 12 months.
By December, my prestige has increased to 29, and unrest has decreased to 4.

Naval Intelligence

September Anti-war demonstrations in France
December-Reports of Food shortages in France due to the blockade.
France is reportedly building an 8in coastal battery in the South Pacific

USN  Technical Developments

July- USN develops improved hoists and the superimposed "X" turret.
September- USN develops Longitudinal Framing and Economizer reduce weight by 1% in both machinery and hull.
September- USN develops Plotting Table providing increased gun accuracy.
USN develops Torpedo aiming system increases submarine reliability.
USN develops Improved 9-inch guns (level 0)
December- USN develops Explosive ASW sweeps.

USN Budget
December: $428,080

USN Construction

July-Two WYOMING class BB are ordered, 1 OLYMPIA-class CL is ordered. See images below for the designs
September An additional WYOMING class BB is ordered.
Private docks increase by 1000 tons to 24,500 tons.
November: A second OLYMPIA-class CL is ordered.

USS OLYMPIA-Light Cruiser



USS WYOMING-Dreadnought Battleship


USN Operations


July   On 11 July The USS OAKLAND engages the commerce raider FS ISLY in the Bay of Biscay, sinking her in a 4 hour, 45 minute engagement.

The USN fleet deploys to Northern Europe and conducts a joint blockade with its Spanish ally, garnering 240 blockade points.  The French raider FS TAGE sinks 2 US merchants in SE Asia.

August-On 16 August, a cruiser division consisting of the USS PITTSBURG, USS HUNTINGTON and USS BALTIMORE sinks three French transports attempting to resupply the French garrison in Cochin.  The US/Spanish blockade of the French North Atlantic ports continues.

September-US forces take Cochin, China. The US/Spanish blockade of the French North Atlantic ports continues, and reports of food shortages in France indicates it is having an effect.

October-An engagement between the CL USS FLINT and DESDIV 1 (USS WINSLOW and USS FANNING) and the French CL FS LALANDE and DDs HUSSARD and SPAHI results in the sinking of all the French ships without loss. The US/Spanish blockade of the French North Atlantic ports continues.

November-The CA LOUISVILLE sinks the French raider CL TAGE in the Bay of Biscay. The US/Spanish blockade of the French North Atlantic ports continues.

December-the CA PUEBLO and AMC STEADY sink the French CL FS ALGER in the Caribbean. The US/Spanish blockade continues, and reports of unrest in France indicates it is having an effect.

End of the Year Summary-1907:

The war with France is dragging on.  With the French battlefleet now in North European waters, the USN has an opportunity to seize more colonies.  However, none are within range limited amphibious capability. This means that my ability to put further pressure on France is limited, outside the blockade of the country.  With the French Fleet being recalled to French waters, this means that in order to maintain this pressure, I will likewise have to switch the Pacific fleet to the Atlantic.

The USN continues to modernize, with four large (+20,000 ton) dreadnought battleships under construction.  The first of these ships will be ready by the end of 1907, but I will have to continue to build at a rate of 3 BBs/year to overcome some of the fleet gap between the US and the European powers. For instance, right now the Royal navy has 2 BB commissioned, and another six being built.  The USN is smaller, in terms of either battleship hulls or battleship tonnage, than all but Spain.  I'm not sure that the 3 hulls/year is a sustainable rate and believe I will not be able to sustain more than 1.5 BBs/year, especially with the inevitable peacetime budget cuts.

[Tripoli]

Loving it Trip. Does sinking merchants affect the relationship with other nations at all? Or just hits France?

Sorry, Slash-I forgot to answer this: Right now, the sinking of merchant ships is just affecting the French.  I think the game assumes that the commerce raiders are doing boarding operations under the prize rules.  However, with submarines I can set doctrine to "Fleet Support", "Prize Rules" or Unrestricted".  According to the rule book:

 "Unrestricted means your submarines will carry out unrestricted submarine warfare
against enemy merchant shipping at the expense of operations in support of the fleet.
This will increase sinkings of enemy merchant shipping and may cause starvation and
higher unrest level for the enemy. However, it will also anger neutral nations and risk
bringing in additional enemies against you."

Right now, my subs are set on "Fleet support" to avoid irritating the Royal Navy.  Plus, given their range, that is really all they are likely good for right now.

[Sir Slash]

Thanks Trip. 

[Tripoli]

Battle Report: The Battle of Bay of Biscay, 11 February 1907

The rocky coastline of Brittany has been the windswept station of many blockading squadrons.  One hundred years earlier, Nelson had commanded British squadrons that closed this coastline to French and Spanish ships.  One hundred years later, the mantle had been passed to the US Navy.  But, whereas the Royal Navy had earlier been alone, now the American navy was supported by Napoleon's old ally, Spain.

On 11 February, the American 2nd Light Cruiser consisting of the light cruisers USS CINCINATI and USS GALVESTON squadron were operating off Brest under the command of CAPT Shufeldt, and accompanied by the DESDIV 12 (CDR Dressling), consisting of the destroyers LITTLE,  STRINGHAM, KIMBERLY, CUMMINGS and SIGOURNEY.  Attached to this blockading squadron were two Spanish squadrons: CL Squadron 1, consisting of the CONDE del VENADITO and the ALMIRANTE CERVERA and CL Squadron 2, consisting of the light Cruiser DON ANTONIAO de ULLOA, and escorted by a small Spanish destroyer division with two destroyers, T-18 and T-29.

The first indication the allied force had of the presence of the French convoy occurred at 1114 local time, when lookouts on the DENVER spied several columns of black smoke on the horizon to the NW at about 30,000 yards distance from the American squadron.  Simultaneously, the Spanish squadron spotted one of the escorting French ships, which they mis-classified as a heavy cruiser.  The American lookouts quickly determined the source of the black smoke as originating from several columns of merchantmen.  With the enemy in sight, Captain Shufeldt signaled his squadron "General Chase."

With only two light cruisers, an armed merchant cruiser and a few destroyers as an escort, the French commander quickly determined that he was outnumbered and outgunned.  To give his slow transports a chance to escape, the French light cruisers sailed south to the west side of the allied force in an attempt to lure the American and Spanish ships westward, and allow the convoy to escape to the north west.  (Image 1)

Image 1.  111357 L February 1907


This ruse failed, as Captain Shufeldt understood the importance of preventing the convoy from reaching France.  Detaching the Spanish squadron to engage the French light cruisers, he took the American squadron north at flank speed to destroy the convoy.  By 1430 the Americans took the convoy under fire (Image 2), and by 1448 the American squadron had torn into the convoy, firing at the heavily-ladened cargo vessels and their escorts at close range.  Ultimately, the USN forces sank all the escorts and 15 of the 22 merchantmen, suffering only minor damage in return. (Image 3).

 

Image 2.  111430 L February 1907



Image 3.  111448 L February 1907




The French commander, realizing his ruse had not worked, frantically turned his light cruisers around to shield his charges, but it was too late, and his cruiser squadron was too badly outnumbered. (Image 4).  Hit after hit from the American and Spanish squadrons riddled his two light cruisers.  By 1610, they were on fire and crippled. (Image 5).   But they were not out of action yet.
 
Image 4.  111518 L February 1907



Image 5.  111610 L February 1907

 

Attempting to finish the action, Captain Shufeldt ordered DESDIV 12 to make a torpedo attack on the French cruisers.  However, while damaged, they were not yet out of the fight.  Their defiance fell hardest on the destroyer USS CUMMINGS.  At 1116, the light cruiser JEAN BART put a medium shot into CUMMINGS's coal bunker, while the light cruiser CHASSELOUP-LAUBAT destroyed a gun mount and toppled a funnel on the doomed destroyer.  This damage, combined with some small caliber hits earlier in the engagement, were enough to flood the ship, which began sinking at 1117.

But the CUMMINGS was not the only American ship hit.  USS STERRET had earlier played a role in sinking several merchants and the escorting armed merchant cruiser VILLE de MOSTAGANEM.  But now the French light cruisers had the range dialed in.  A series of small and medium caliber hits riddled her superstructure, and at 1704 a 4" hit in her engine room forced her to limp out of the action. 

But among the survivors, the hardest hit was the USS DUNCAN.  Like the STERRET, she had played a role in decimating the French convoy, including landing several hits on the French destroyer ACTEE and the armed merchant cruiser VILLE de MOSTAGANEM.  But a single 4" hit at 1642 from the CHASSELOUP-LAUBAT quickly flooded her, and she staggered out of action.  Engineers later calculated that this single hit eliminated 95% of her reserve buoyancy.  Only heroic damage control from her crew saved the destroyer from sinking.  The USS McDOUGAL had a similar story, with a single 6" hit from the CHASSELOUP-LAUBAT reducing her buoyancy by 75%.  Like the DUNCAN and STERRET, she withdrew from the action at1710.

While the damage to the USN destroyers was grievous, the damage to the French ships was fatal. First to sink were the two French destroyers.  Although the records are unclear, examination of the USN ship logs indicate both the French destroyers sank during the convoy battle at approximately 1600.

Next to sink was the AMC VILLE de MOSTAGANEM, riddled by shell fire, and sinking at approximately 1622.  At 1719, a 4" shell from the GALVESTON penetrated the magazine of the JEAN BART, detonating it and sinking the light cruiser. At 1735, it was the CHASSELOUP-LAUBAT's turn.  A 6' hit from the GALVESTON penetrated her "S" turret and ignited a powder fire, which blew the ship up.

With the loss of the CHASSELOUP-LAUBAT, the engagement ended.  For the loss of a single destroyer sunk and three heavily damaged, the French had lost two light cruisers, two destroyers and one armed merchant cruiser, as well as fifteen of the twenty-two merchant men (Image 6).

Aftermath: While a resounding victory, gaining considerable prestige for the USN, there were some lessons learned.  The main lesson was that American destroyers were too small to effectively engage an enemy with torpedoes.  The 400-ton JOUETT class destroyers in this engagement were all put out of action by relatively few medium caliber hits, before they could launch their torpedoes.  This indicates that the USN will have to build larger destroyers if they are to be of any use in torpedo attacks.
 
Image 6. Results

[Sir Slash]

BRAVO, Capt. Shufeldt! That'll teach the Frogs to mess with the U.S. of A. Hope this doesn't mean we won't still get the Statue of Liberty though.

[Tripoli]

January-June  1907

Geopolitical

Tensions  with foreign nations, January 1906
Germany   5
Great Britain   8
France      WAR
Russia      2
Japan      6
Italy      4
Spain      0
Austro-Hungary   3
 

February-Russia joins war against France.  Asks for an alliance, but I decline as I don't want to get into another war.
USA Political
January: Prestige is 29, Unrest is 4.  Prestige increased to 31 and Unrest decreased to 3 by June 1907. The US has been at war for 24 months.

Naval Intelligence

February-Germany invents triple turrets.

March-Widespread demonstrations and disturbances are reported in France.

Britan may have invented triple turrets.

April-Widespread demonstrations and disturbances are reported continuing in France.

May-Intelligence reports the French have developed 900 ton destroyers.

June-Widespread demonstrations and disturbances are reported in France.

USN Technical Developments

February: USN develops the steroscopic range finder

April Research breakthrough: Subdivision and damage control enabled.

April: Triple turrets, ASW nets, and Scouting force are developed

June-Improved weight control-1% savings on hull weight. Contra-rotating torpedo propellers are developed,  giving a significant  maximum range 5000 yds@20 knts, 3000 @ 28 knts on US torpedoes.

USN Budget

December: $427,360
June: $439,440 (+2.82% increase)

USN Construction

January-Docks are completed. US can now build ships up to 24,500 tons.  Two additional submarines are commissioned.

March: Larger docks are completed. US can now build ships up to 26,500 tons

June: Oregon-class BB design study commissioned.

USN Operations

January-A French raid by two heavy cruisers off Cape Cod results in heavy damage to the CL USS CINCINATTI.  However, it escapes to Boston.  In an engagement in the Mediterranean, the Spanish navy sinks a French battleship.  The US/Spanish blockade continues.

February-11 Feb a convoy attack in the eastern Atlantic. Battle of Bay of Biscay, netting  2 prestige.  See battle report below.

April USS SEATTLE sinks the French raider CL.  The US-Spanish-Russian blockade of France continues.

May-French raiders sink 3 merchants on the East coast, Mediterranean and Caribbean. US blockade continues. All but 3 USN battleships are now operating in Northern European waters.

June-French raiders sink 3 merchants in the Caribbean. The US-Spanish-Russian blockade of France continues.

Other

June-Spanish navy lost a Pre-dreadnought battleship in exchange for 2 French DDs

Mid-Year Summary-1907:

The war with France is dragging on.  No additional French possessions are within the limited USN amphibious lift range. With no more to gain from war, my focus is now on ending this conflict.   With the French battlefleet now in North European waters, the USN has similarly moved the vast bulk of its fleet to Northern Europe, and in conjunction with its Spanish allies and the Russian navy, is now placed an stranglehold on the French Atlantic ports. The frequent reports of riots in France makes it likely that the French will soon capitulate. This view is reinforced by the current war score,  with the US having 34925 points against only 10997 for France.

The USN continues to modernize, with four large (+20,000 ton) dreadnought battleships under construction.  The first of these ships will be ready by the end of 1907. 

The US continues to lag behind other fleets in terms of size of its dreadnought fleet. See image below:


   However, the USN is beginning to catch up.   With the soon-to-be completed NORTH CAROLINA entering the fleet, a new design, the USS OREGON is proposed.  This will be a heavily armored ship using oil propulsion and capable of 21 knots.  It is armed with 9-12 inch guns in 3 turrets.  On reflection, I should have designed it for 13-inch guns.  I did not do this because the US 13-inch guns are of poor quality.  However, doing so would have given me the option of replacing guns in the future.  Now, if I attempt to replace the 12-inch guns with 13iinch weapons, it is likely that the OREGON will only be able to have double, instead of triple turrets.

[Sir Slash]

Best show on the Internet.   

[Tripoli]

Battle Report: The Battle off Brest, 29 July 1907

There was no indication that the 29th of July would be any different, or less tedious for the men of Cruiser Division 5 (RADM Bowen) on blockade duty 75 miles southwest of Brest.  Accompanied by the 7th Cruiser Division (RADM Hichborn) 1st, 4th, 5th and 6th Light Cruiser Divisions, and the 5th, 12, 13th and 14th Destroyer Divisions, the clear skies and calm sea gave no indication that a small French cruiser squadron was nearby, attempting to break out into the Atlantic. 

The crews aboard the American ships were confident and experienced, and some units such as RADM Hitchborn's 7th Cruiser Division having played a decisive role in the battle off Da Nang less than two years earlier.  But despite his success in the Far East, Hitchborn was junior to RADM Bowen, due to his day of rank being dated a mere week after Bowen's, and thereby, by decree from the demigods at BUPERS, dooming him to perpetual junior status.  So on this day Hitchborn found himself second in command of the task force, leading its scouting division.  Yet even the arbitrary decrees of bureaucrats can be used by divinities more powerful than they to achieve purposes beyond their stilted imagination.

The first indication that the normal routine occurred an hour into the afternoon watch, when lookouts spotted a smudge of smoke on the northern horizon.  At 26,000 yards distance, the hazy conditions made identification difficult, but RADM Bowen, flying his flag in the USS CHICAGO knew that any ship in these waters was likely an enemy.  Signaling "General Chase" the US squadron quickly came up to flank speed.  By 1315L, the USS FLINT identified the ships as two French Kleber-class protected cruisers, escorted by four destroyers. 

 The French cruisers were capable ships.  Displacing 12,700 tons and armed with four 9 inch and 14 6-inch guns, and protected 5 inches of steel, they were an almost identical in capability to the American cruisers. But they were badly outnumbered by the USN's four protected cruisers  and six light cruisers.    Seeing they were outnumbered, the French ships turned northeast, and began sprinting for the safety of the harbor defenses of Brest. Although evenly matched in speed, the USN ships were slightly to the east of the French ships, enabling them to "cut the corner" on a course to Brest, thereby reducing the range.  At 1335, the Hitchborn's CRUDIV 7 (USS FREDERICK and USS HUNTINGTON) opened fire on the two French cruisers at long range. (Image 1).

Image 1.  291338L July 07


Despite the combat experience and skill of the Hitchborn's fore, the gunners on the French cruisers were also skilled, and they drew first blood almost immediately after opening fire, registering a 6" hit on the destroyer USS WILKES at 1335, and a 9" hit on the HUNTINGDON at 1339.  But by 1348 the USN got the range and began hitting the cruiser FS MARSELLAISE in the rear of the French column.  For over an hour both sides fired at long range, and while hits were scored, no critical damage was inflicted.  But at 1449, a series of 9" gun hits from the FREDERICK began the process of demolishing the MARSELLAISE's upper decks. While only one of the hits penetrated, the cumulative effect began to degrade the MARSELLAISE, and she began to gradually slow. By 1543, Bowen's CRUDIV 5 had caught up to her and took her under fire. (Image 2)

Image 2. 291543L July 07



   Her sister ship, the FS JULES FERRY continued at flank speed towards Brest. Hitchborn urged his forces to catch the fleeing French flagship, but the FREDERICK and HUNTINGTON, holed by numerous French hits, were unable to catch up and seal a total victory.  But the FERRY's escape was purchased only with the sacrifice of the MARSELLAISE, left alone to face the onslaught of American shells. By 1529, numerous hits on her hull were causing flooding that was exacerbated by her high speed., and at 1533 a hit by the FREDERICK started a fire that soon spread.  Over the next two hours, the conflagration spread as repeated hits destroyed firefighting gear and killed the damage control parties trying to contain the flames.  By 1747, the fire was raging out of control and her captain ordered her abandoned.

But despite the battering she took, the MARSELLAISE put up a brave and defiant stand. During the battle, she hit the destroyer USS CONNER with a series of 3-and 6-inch hits resulting in the ship foundering later in the evening from progressive flooding.  Her guns also grievously damaged the HUNTINGDON, with multiple hull hits causing widespread flooding and heavy damage.  Subsequent analysis showed that she had achieved a remarkable 7.54% hit percentage, almost three times that of the USS HUNTINGDON and almost twice that of the FREDERICK.  After the battle, critics subsequently maligned Hitchborn, accusing him of inadequately training his gun crews, and this failure resulting in the majority of the French force escaping to the safety of Brest.  But Hitchborn's supporters pointed out that a minor victory was still a victory, that the US gunnery was likely hampered by the fact that neither of the CRUDIV 7 ships had received the updated central firing system that was standard on the USN battleships, and that while "the French Fleet has assaulted its jailer, it is still in jail."

Image 3.  Track Chart, Battle off Brest



Image 4.  Battle Statistics

[JasonPratt]

Taste the Rainbow, Froggies! 

[Tripoli]

End of the War

For almost two years, only a small number of the French leadership knew the war was lost.  The capture of their colonies in Vietnam and the Caribbean deprived France of the ability to significantly threaten any critical American territory or interest.   Consequentially, France had little leverage for either a military or political resolution of the war.  But the May 1906 alliance with Spain virtually guaranteed France's defeat.  The Spanish alliance gave the US bases on both the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts from which it could blockade metropolitan France.  The alliance also gave the moderately sized Spanish and American navy maritime superiority in French home waters with the US navy, was adequate to cut off French overseas commerce.  The subsequent entry into the war by Russia ins February 1907 made France's defeat inevitable.

The economic losses and subsequent unrest in the French cities began in September 1906.  But the blockade's stranglehold, combined with repeated losses at sea began to swell the ranks of the protestors in the streets, and the opposition in the halls of government.    But what most greatly invigorated the opposition was the government's intransigence in seeking a negotiated settlement.  The first feelers for a negotiated settlement with only minor territorial losses was rebuffed in September 1906.  Subsequent attempts fared no better, as each moderate settlement offer was rejected by the government, oblivious to the economic suffering of the middle and lower classes and unable to fathom that the French navy incapacity to take effective offensive action.

The street protests of September 1906 were the first hint of popular dissatisfaction with the war.  However, these were scattered and disorganized and the French government discounted the brewing dissatisfaction that they signaled.  Further supporting the French hard line was the generous American response, which gave the government the mistaken hope that the Americans were eager for peace on any terms, and that continued war might see a regaining of their SE Asian and Caribbean colonies.

While the American president wanted peace, the refusal of the French government to accept their weak position became increasingly irritating.  The French refusal accept repeated offers for a peace treaty on generous terms, combined with a series of naval victories and solid public support resulted in a hardening of the American negotiating position.   Reports beginning in the spring of 1907 of increasing number and size of anti-war demonstrations and strikes throughout France further supported the administration's new approach of relying on the blockade and increasing French public discontent to end the war.

The nation-wide strike of August 1907 broke the hold the French hard-liners had on war policy.  While cynics scoffed it was difficult to tell the economic difference between a typical August vacation season in France and a work stoppage, the strike of August 1907 was different.  The call for the strike began with the 29 July return to Brest harbor of the damaged FS JULES FERRY the same day she had left on her raiding mission.  Her return, with the news of the sinking of her sister ship the MARSELLAISE was proof to the French dockworkers that the Republic no longer controlled the seas within eyesight of France itself.  This news galvanized the anti-war movement, and a nation-wide strike was quickly called.   By the end of August, the disruptions in rail traffic exacerbated the blockade, reducing French imports and exports to and from its continental neighbors reaching market.  By the beginning of September, the French government bowed to the inevitable, and sought to end the war.

The American demands now were more stringent than earlier.  Eager to establish a global presence, the Americans kept the territories captured in SE Asia and the Caribbean (Image 1, in orange).  More importantly, the US demanded and received control over the French colonies in the middle Congo, Djibouti and the New Hebrides, allowing for American naval forcers to almost completely span the globe with bases  (Image 1, in red).   Like the British, America now had an empire on which the sun never set. 

Image 1 End of the War

[Sir Slash]

Well done Grand Admiral Tripoli!    Any plans for higher office next Election Season?