********* Welcome to Project 64! The goal of Project 64 is to preserve Commodore 64 related documents in electronic text format that might otherwise cease to exist with the rapid advancement of computer technology and declining interest in 8- bit computers on the part of the general population. If you would like to help by converting C64 related hardcopy documents to electronic texts please contact the manager of Project 64, Cris Berneburg, at 74171.2136@compuserve.com. Extensive efforts were made to preserve the contents of the original document. However, certain portions, such as diagrams, program listings, and indexes may have been either altered or sacrificed due to the limitations of plain vanilla text. Diagrams may have been eliminated where ASCII-art was not feasible. Program listings may be missing display codes where substitutions were not possible. Tables of contents and indexes may have been changed from page number references to section number references. Please accept our apologies for these limitations, alterations, and possible omissions. Document names are limited to the 8.3 file convention of DOS. The first characters of the file name are an abbreviation of the original document name. The version number of the etext follows next. After that a letter may appear to indicate the particular source of the document. Finally, the document is given a .TXT extension. The author(s) of the original document and members of Project 64 make no representations about the accuracy or suitability of this material for any purpose. This etext is provided "as-is". Please refer to the warantee of the original document, if any, that may included in this etext. No other warantees, express or implied, are made to you as to the etext or any medium it may be on. Neither the author(s) nor the members of Project 64 will assume liability for damages either from the direct or indirect use of this etext or from the distribution of or modification to this etext. ********* The Project 64 etext of the Dreadnoughts instruction manual, rev. A. Converted to etext by anonymous. The original etext was transferred from http://www.asimov.net/apple_II/incoming. The information in this Apple etext is assumed to be close enough to the Commodore version until a CBM manual can be converted, which is likely to be called DREAD10B.TXT. DREAD10A.TXT, November 1996, etext #106. ********* DREADNOUGHTS INSTRUCTION MANUAL =============================== DREADNOUGHTS IS THE AVALON HILL GAME COMPANY'S TRADEMARK NAME FOR ITS MICROCOMPUTER GAME OF TACTICAL WWII NAVAL COMBAT IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC. TABLE OF CONTENTS ================= 1. Loading the Program 2. Introduction 3. Set Up 4. Typical Ship Diagram 5. Bismarck Scenario 6. Strategic Phase 6.A Strategic Commands 7. Battle Program 7.A Tactical Commands 7.B Movement and Combat Appendix A: The Bismarck Chronology Appendix B: The Ships of Dreadnoughts Appendix C: Dreadnoughts Players' Notes 1. LOADING THE PROGRAM ====================== Dreadnoughts is an auto-boot diskette. Place the game disk in Drive 1 with the label side face up and power up the computer. The game will begin. 2. INTRODUCTION =============== Dreadnoughts recreates World War II naval combat in the North Atlantic. These were the last days of the great battleships, when Germany and Great Britain fought for control of the North Atlantic and the important supply convoy of the North Atlantic and the important supply convoy routes from America. One of the more crucial naval actions of World War II involved Germany's greatest ship against the power of the Royal Navy. On 22 May 1941, the battleship Bismarck and the cruiser Prinz Eugen slipped quietly from their moorings in the early predawn hours. Their orders:break through the cordon of Royal Navy vessels and attack the North Atlantic convoys. In addition to the Bismarck scenario, Dreadnoughts provides a battle game where players can build their fleet from a roster of 44 American, British, French and German ships, and engage them in tactical combat. 3. SET UP ========= The title screen will present two choices DREADNOUGHTS is the Bismarck scenario. The BATTLE PROGRAM is the two-player game in which players compose their fleets and engage in combat. (The Battle Program is also present within the Bismarck scenario. Whenever the Bismarck and Prinz Eugen come within visual range of British ships, the computer will load the Battle Program to resolve combat.) These instructions begin with a discussion of the Bismarck scenario. Following that are the rules to the Battle Program, which is common to both the Bismarck and Battle Program scenarios. If you select the Bismarck scenario, the computer will begin loading the information, and play will start immediately thereafter. If you select the Battle Program scenario, the computer will show the set-up screen. Both players compose their fleets, drawing from the list of Allied and German ships. Each side may contain from one to nine ships, with the maximum number in play begin ten. Each side may have any mix of German and Allied ships. Historical Note: The Battle Program will begin with both sides within sight of each other. At this range, aircraft carriers were unable to launch their planes. There are no rules in the Battle Program for air combat. All of the set-up commands are self-explanatory. Once you exit from the set-up program, you will be asked for the formation of each side (if that side contains three or more ships), and for the visual range in nautical miles (one nautical mile: 2,000 yards). The game sill determine sighting based on this number. You cannot fire on a ship that you cannot see. 4. TYPICAL SHIP DIAGRAM ======================= +-----------------------------------------------------------------+ | (1) GERMAN BATTLESHIP | | (3) Bismarck ARMOR: (2) | | BELT: 14 | | | DECK: 8 | | +---+ (4b) GUN: 14 | | | 2 | CRWN: 8 | | | +---+ | SEC: 4 | | +---+ +---+ C.T.: 14 | | | 2 | | 2 | PILOT: 14 | | B (4a) +---+ +---+ S MFC: 2 | | +---+ +---+ +---+ +---+ T RUD: 6 | | O | 2 | | 2 | | 2 | | 2 | E | | +---+ +---+ +---+ +---+ R | | W +---+ +---+ N | | | 2 | | 2 | | | +---+ +---+ | | | +---+ | | | | 2 | | | +---+ | | | | | | | SUPSTR: _____________ (6) MAIN GUNS: 15 IN. (5) | | HULL : _____________ SENONDARY: 2.9 IN. | | | | MAX SPEED: 30 KTS | | | +-----------------------------------------------------------------+ KEY: 1 The nationality and ship type. 2. The number of inches of armor in each section of the ship. The following sections of the ship are armored (with their abbreviations in parenthses) :belt, deck, (GUN) main gun turret, (CRWN) turret crown, (SEC) secondary mount, (C.T.) conning tower, (PLOT) plotting room, (MFC) main fire control, and (RUD) rudder. 3. The name of the ship. 4a. An overview of the ship, showing the number, type and range of fire for each gun. A primary gun turret is always shown as a block of white. When a turret receives enough damage, an "X" will appear. Jammed turrets will display a "J" instead of a number. Jammed turrets can become unjammed during battle due to the efforts of the ship's crew; this is automatically handled by the computer. The main gun mounts are always identified as "A", "B", "C", from the bow to the center of the ship; and "X", "Y", "Z" from the center of the ship to the stern. Thus, the Bismarck's four main gun turrets are called from bow to stern the "A" turret, "B" turret, "X" turret and "Y" turret. 4b. The secondary gun mounts are drawn with lines protruding from them showing their field of fire. One gun line drawn on the port or starboard side of the square indicates that the mount can aim the gun up to 45 degrees to each side of that line. If it faces the bow or stern, however, the mount can only move 45 degrees towards the side of the ship the mount is on. (See the Dunkerque diagram for an example.) Two lines facing the bow or stern means that the mount can move up to 45 degrees to each side of that line. Secondary gun mounts are numbered beginning with the starboard gun closest to the bow. The next gun will be the port gun closest to the bow, and the sequence continues from starboard to port. This means that in most cases (because some designs have odd secondary gun turrets) odd-numbered secondary turrets will be along the starboard side; even-numbered turrets on the port side. 5. This is the size or bore of the main and secondary guns. 6. This is the amount of damage the superstructure and hull can take. All damage is calculated by the computer, taking into account the size of the shell and the thickness of the armor. Damage is reflected in the number of "X" that appear on the superstructure and hull lines. If a ship has no more supersturcture, any future hits will damage the hull. +-----------------------------------------------------------------+ | FRENCH BATTLESHIP | | ARMOR: | | DUNKERQUE BELT: 12 | | DECK: 6 | | GUN: 13 | | CRWN: 6 | | | | SEC: 5 | | +---+ +---+ C.T.: 11 | | | 2 | | 4 | PILOT: 11 | | B +---+ +---+ | S MFC: 2 | | +---+ +---+ +---+ T RUD: 6 | | O | 2 | | 2 | | 2 | == E | | +---+ +---+ +---+ R | | W +---+ +---+ | N | | | 2 | | 2 | | | +---+ +---+ | | | | | | | | | | | | | | SUPSTR: _____________ MAIN GUNS: 13 IN. | | HULL : _____________ SENONDARY: 5.1 IN. | | | | MAX SPEED: 29 KTS | | | +-----------------------------------------------------------------+ 5. Bismarck SCENARIO =================== The historical scenario is played between the computer (commanding the Royal Navy) and the player (commanding the Bismarck and the Prinz Eugen). The game begins with the German naval units in the Norwegian port of Bergen and ends when your ships are either sunk, or safe in a friendly port. German Victory Conditions: The German player must enter the convoy routes, locate and sink as many ships as possible, then return to a friendly port. Victory points are calculated on the following basis: the length of the cruise, the amount of permanent damage (speed and hull hits) done to German and Allied ships, and the status of convoy WS.8 This convoy is vital to the British 8th Army in North Africa. The German player can lose points if it gets to North Africa undamaged. There are 11 levels of victory: a draw and a British or German marginal, victory, decisive, major and total victories. Identifying Convoys: Convoys can be spotted by the Bismarck on the Air Search and the Visual/radar displays. If the letter T appears, it is the troop transport Britannic. A cluster of dots represents supply convoys, with a cluster of five dots the important convoy WS.8. If a convoy is within visual range, the Bismarck can enter the battle program to attack it. Note: The Bismarck and the Prinz Eugen will travel together at all times. Any commands you make during the Strategic Phase will automatically apply to both ships. 6. STRATEGIC PHASE ================== There are two phases to the Bismarck scenario: the strategic phase and the battle phase. The battle phase is exactly the same as in the Battle Program. The Bismarck scenario begins in the strategic phase with the Bismarck and the Prinz Eugen in the Norwegian port of Bergen. The box on the left side of the screen will show the passage of time by turning black during night turns and white during day turns. 6.A STRATEGIC COMMANDS ---------------------- 1-9 Continue moving at the present course/heading for that many hours or until a key is pressed. The computer will also stop the move when the ships encounter enemy ships, aircraft, or land. Two beeps at any time means that you have deteced Allied radar within 30 nautical miles. Allied radar range is 15 nautical miles. (A)ir Search Launch Arado float planes to search surrounding area*. (B)attle If within visual range of the enemy, you may decide to offer battle. The program will also begin automatically if certain conditions are met. (C)ourse Enter up to three digits, from 0 to 360, to indicate the new course according to the diagram below: 0 \ | / 270 ----- 90 / | \ 180 Note: Unlike the Battle Game, any number from 0 to 360 may be entered. (E)ndurance This is a very important display because it shows how far your ship can travel in nautical miles if it maintains a certain speed. As your ships consume fuel, the distances will go down. The distances between two points being equal, a slow-moving ship will consume less fuel than a fast ship. The second part of the display is the distance and course heading needed to travel to a friendly port. The heading does not take into account the presence of the Royal Navy, or of land masses like England. To end the game, the Bismarck and Prinz Eugen must enter one of these four ports: Bergen, Brest, Naziere or Ferrol. (While Spain was not a member of the Axis, it was friendly to Germany. Being located next to Axis-occupied France, it was doubtful that Franco would not have allowed the battleship to stay.) (F)orward Continue moving at the same speed and heading until a key is pressed, or the Bismarck encounters something. (M)ap Print the strategic map, including the ships' previous course. (P)atrol Patrol for enemy vessels. The ships will patrol the immediate area, increasing their effective search radius. They will continue to patrol for 1 to 9 hours, or until they find something (simply enter numbers 1 to 9, or F). Hitting any other key will end the patrol, and the ships will resume their course and speed. If something is found, the screen will show the radar display with the locations of enemy ships. (Q)uit Ends the game, allowing you to save the game. A DOS 3.3 formatted disk is needed. (R)outes Shows the British convoy routes that the Bismarck has been sent to intercept. (S)peed Changes the speed of both German units. The computer will accept any number, but the ships can travel to faster than the maximum speed of the Bismarck. (V)isual Prints the Bismarck's visual/radar display. In the center is the Bismarck and the Prinz Eugen. The limit of visual contact is shown by the dotted line; of radar by the solid line. The limit of visual contact changes according to the time of day or night, and the prevailing weather conditions. NOTES: * (A)ir search means that an Arado float plane will be launched. The ship will slow down to launch it, the resume speed. If the Bismarck is going too far, or if visibility is poor, the seaplane may lose its way. It will be up to the player to decide if it is worth breaking radio silence to give the Bismarck's position to the plane. (The Royal Navy had primitive radio direction finders, so it is a risk to reveal your postion.) Even then, the plane may be lost. If something is found, the screen will show the radar display with the location of enemy ships. There is a chance of pilot error in the number and type of ships reported. The Bismarck will automatically move at its present course and speed for one hour after this command is performed. 7. BATTLE PROGRAM ================= When the Battle Program is used, it will show a screen divided into three parts: the map, the ship roster, and the ship status. MAP: The dots in the Battle Program map indicates the center of each square. The distance between each square depends upon the scale, located at the bottom of the map. As the ships move together or apart, the scale will change from 3,500 yards per square to 500 yards per square. Below the scale is the visibility in yards. Ship collisions are impossible at any scale. SHIP ROSTER: This contains a listing of each active ship in the scenario along with its number code and present course. Ships in the Battle Program travel in one of eight compass headings: 360 315 /0 45 \ | / 270 ----- 90 / | \ 225 180 135 The ship number is used to issue main and secondary target commands. SHIP STATUS: The sequence of play in the Battle Program consists of issuing orders to each ship in play. The computer will go down the roster from 0 to 9 (if that many ships are playing) and ask the player to enter any number of commands. COURSE: The direction the ship is traveling. SPEED: The maximum speed of the ship (in knots). MAX MF (movement factors): Each ship uses movement factors (MF for short) to express how far it can move in one turn. By using the (M)aneuver command, the player can order his ship to move up to its Maximum MF. The MAX MF number does not mean that the ship will travel that number of squares. TARGETS: Most ships have two types of guns: main and secondary guns. Use the damage display to see where they are on each ship. By using the (p)rimary and (s)econdary commands, the ship is ordered to fire those guns at another ship. The primary and secondary guns may fire at the same ship, different ships, or no ships at all. NOTE: As you give orders from ship to ship, you will see that the positions of some ships will change a square or two. Distances are measured in actual yards from the perspective of the phasing ship, and the scale between squares will change. 7.A TACTICAL COMMANDS --------------------- These are commands available to all ships in the Battle Program: (M)aneuver Each ship can move a certain number of movement points. To use these points requires entering a string of numbers, L, and/or R. The number tells the ship to move that many movement points forward, L will move the ship 45 degrees forward and to the left; R will move the ship 45 degrees forward and to the right. Example: The maneuver command 2LL1R will move a ship two points ahead, turn to the left, turn left again, move one point ahead, then turn right. (P)rimary Assigns a target to the main guns. Enter the number of the enemy ship you wish these guns to fire at. (S)econdary Assigns a target to the secondary guns. (D)amage/ Status Shows the damage display and status of the phasing ship. (N)ext Finishes the movement/combat turn of one ship, and goes on to the next ship. You cannot go back and enter new orders for a ship once the (n)ext command is enterd. (Q)uit Battle Program scenario only. The computer will show the hull damage for all the ships and ask if you wish to (q)uit the game or (c)ontinue to play. any other key Shows the command menu. (E)nd Bismarck scenario only. The computer will show the status screen of the Bismarck and return to the Strategic Phase. This will happen only if no ships are within visual range of each other. 7.B MOVEMENT AND COMBAT ----------------------- After all ships have completed the command phase, movement and combat are handled by the computer. MOVEMENT: The computer will redraw the map, placing the phasing ship in the center of the map. Its move will be calculated and carried out within the limitations of its movement allowance. The computer will automatically go to the next ship, redraw the map, calculate its movement, and so forth until all the ships have moved. COMBAT: The computer calculates the effects of combat. All you need to do is strike any key whenever the cursor flashes. A typical combat screen looks like this: BISMARCK MAIN GUN FIRING PHASE TARGET: HOOD RANGE : 4899 YDS REL BEARING: 201 ASPECT: BROADSIDE MAIN GUN DATA: SHELL DATA: BORE 15 IN VERT PEN 23 IN RANGE 39K YDS (39,000 YDS) HORZ PEN 0 IN NO FIRING 2 RNDS LEFT 600 NO OF HITS 2 +-----------------------------------------------------------------+ | BRITISH BATTLECRUISER | | ARMOR: | | HOOD BELT: 15 | | | DECK: 4 | | +---+ GUN: 15 | | | 2 | CRWN: 5 | | | +---+ | SEC: 2 | | +---+ +---+ C.T.: 11 | | | 2 | | 2 | PILOT: 11 | | B +---+ +---+ S MFC: 2 | | +----+ +---+ +---+ +---+ T RUD: 4 | | O | XX | | 2 | | 2 | | 2 | E | | | XX | | | | | | | | | +----+ +---+ +---+ +---+ R | | W +---+ +---+ N | | | 2 | | 2 | | | +---+ +---+ | | | +---+ | | | | X | | | +---+ | | | | | | | SUPSTR: _____________ SPECIAL DAMAGE: | | HULL : _____________ | | | | MAX SPEED: 30 KTS | | | | HIT #2 | | SECONDARY | | #4 4 IN. GUN MOUNT | | | +-----------------------------------------------------------------+ (The first hit from the Bismarck had struck and penetrated the Gun Armor of A Turret, completely destroying it, so instead of a clear block, a row of Xs denoted that fact. Secondary hits are scored on the Superstructure. In this case, the hit destroyed the #4 secondary gun mount, located in the center port side of the Hood. If the second shot had landed in the same place as the first hit (Gun Armor, A Turret), the shot would have had no effect since the turret cannot be destroyed any further.) SPECAIL DAMAGE: In addition to damaging the armor and guns of a ship, there is a chance that specific, vital areas of the ship may be hit. This special damage may cause additional harm to the armor, or deprive the ship of additional functions: Control Tower: a shell has destroyed the bridge. Until the second-in-command is able to assume command of the ship, the ship will ignore any maneuver commands. Main Fire control (Forward, Foretop of Afts) Plotting Room (Forward or Aft) Radar (Search or Gunnery) Powder Magazines (Main Powder, Main Magazine, Forward Main Magazine, Aft Main Magazine) Engine Room Shell Handling Room Boiler Room Forward Engine Room APPENDIX A ========== THE BISMARCK CHRONOLOGY ----------------------- 18 May 1941: The Bismarck and the Prinz Eugen leave their berth at Gotenhafen with orders to raid commerce in the Atlantic. Admiral Lutjens in command. They halt at Korsfjord, south of Bergen. 21 May: Spotted by British reconnaissance aircraft, cruisers are sent on patrol to watch for the ships. The Hood and the Prince of Wales leave Scapa Flow. Vice Admiral Holland in command. The search is concentrated north and south of icemand. 22 May: The King George V, the Repulse, the Victorious and other ships go to sea. Commander of the Home Fleet, Admiral Tovey, is aboard the King George V. 23 May: The Suffolk sights the German ship in the Denmark Strait west of Iceland. The Norfolk makes visual contact soon thereafter. Using radar, they shadow the ships and broadcast their location to the rest of the fleet. 24 May: Vice Admiral Holland intercepts the German ships and attacks. The Hood blows up five minutes later, hit by shells from both German ships. Four shells slam into the Prince of Wales, forcing her to break off the fight. The Bismarck is hit twice, causing a fuel leak that forces Lutjens to abandon his sortie and head for Brest. The German ships proceed south while the Prince of Wales and the other two cruisers shadow. That evening, the Prinz Eugen is sent off to raid commerce. During the night, the Bismarck is attacked by aircraft from the Victorious, with little effect. 25-26 May: The British lose contact with Bismarck, last seen southeast of the southern tip of Greenland. Vice Admiral Sommerville leaves Gibraltar to intercept the ship on its return to France. This British Force H consists of the Renown, Ark Royal and two cruisers. 26 May: Bismarck sighted again by a Coastal Command flying-boat. That evening ,planes from the Ark Royal score a hit on the starboard rudder. Further torpedo attacks take place during the night, with no effect. 27 May: Tovey arrives with the King George V and Rodney and two cruisers. The Bismarck is badly hit early on and, after 90 minutes, she is dead in the water. Several torpedoes hit, and the crew scuttles her. 1 June: the Prinz Eugen develops engine trouble and returns to Brest. APPENDIX B: =========== THE SHIPS OF DREADNOUGHTS ------------------------- The ships listed below are available for play. The gun listing on the first line is a ship's primary and secondary guns. Some ships may have only primary or secondary guns. The numbers in parentheses are gun ranges in thousands of yards (K YDS). The armor is listed in inches. GERMAN SHIPS ------------ BISMARCK ++++++++ Germany's enforced hiatus in battleship design forced it to rely upon the old Baden class ships when it designed ad built the Tirpitz class. This meant, among other defects, that the rudder and steering gear were badly protected. This proved to be a fatal flaw. On her 1941 commerce-raiding run code-named "Exercise Rhine." the Bismarck and the Prinz Eugen succeeded in destroying the Hood on 24 May and severely damaging the Prince of Wales (see "Appendix A: The Bismarck Chronology"). They escaped during the night, but were sighted on the 26th by a Coastal Command flying boat. That evening, torpedo-bombers from the Ark Royal scored two hits, one on her starboard rudder, making the Bismarck uncontrollable. The next day, the King George V, the Rodney and two destroyers attacked. Within '90 minutes, she was sent to the bottom, destroyed in the end by torpedoes from the Dorsetshire and her crews' scuttling-charges. Tirpitz Class Battleship Commissioned: 1939 Tonnage: 41,676 Guns : 8 15-inch (39 K YDS) 12 5.9-inch (24 K YDS) 16 4-inch A.A. 12 20mm A.A. Armor: Belt: 14 Conning Tower: 14 Deck: 8 Plotting Room: 14 Gun : 14 Main Fire Control: 2 Crown: 8 Rudder: 6 Secondary: 4 Engines and Speed: 150,170 h.p.: 30 knots TIRPITZ +++++++ Built along the same lines as the Bismarck, she had greater power and range, and more anti-aircraft guns. Along with the rest of the German North Sea Combat Group (consisting of the cruisers Scheer, Lutzow and Hipper), their presence forced the disbanding of convoy PQ17, which was bound for the Soviet Union. Although they did not participate in the action, the scattering of the convoy opened it to U-boat attacks, with the result that two-thirds of the convoy's cargo was sunk. While berthed in Norwegian waters, her crew camouflaged the ship from air observation by laying newly-cut trees across her decks. Nevertheless, British bombers attacked her at Tromso and caused her to capsize on 12 November 1944. As a result, the other German heavy surface units were transferred to the Baltic for the rest of 1944, leaving the U-boats and the Luftwaffe to attack the convoys. Tirpitz Class Battleship Commissioned: 1941 Tonnage: 41,676 Guns: 8 15-inch (39 KYDS) 12 5.9-inch (24 KYDS) 16 4-inch A.A. 12 20MM A.A. Torpedoes: 8 21-inch Armor: Belt: 14 Conning Tower: 14 Deck: 8 Plotting Room: 14 Gun: 14 Main Fire Control: 2 Crown: 8 Rudder: 6 Secondary: 4 Engines and Speed: 150,170 h.p.; 30 knots ADMIRAL SCHEER ++++++++++++++ Named for the 1916 German Commander-in-Chief Vice Admiral Reinhardt Scheer, this Deutschland class ship was among the first "pocket battleships" built within the limitations of the 1919 Versailles Treaty. For their role as commerce raiders, these ships emphasized armament and endurance. During the war, numerous modifications were made to the Scheer, including additional anti-aircraft guns. During the war, she participated in the scattering of convoy PQ17, and was also a successful commerce raider. Late in the war, she was transfered to the Baltic Sea and with the Lutzow and Hipper to give off-shore support to the Germany army. She was sunk by the RAF in Kiel in April 1945. Deutschland Class Pocket Battleship Commissioned: 1933 Tonnage: 11,750 Guns: 6 11-inch (45 KYDS) 8 5.9-inch (24 KYDS) Armor: Belt: 4 Conning Tower: 6 Deck: 4 Plotting Room: 6 Gun: 6 Main Fire Control: 1 Crown: 4 Rudder: 2 Secondary: 1 Engines and Speed: 50,000 h.p.; 26 knots SCHARNHORST +++++++++++ Both the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau were intended to be the fourth and fifth ships in the Deutschland class, but the construction of the Dunkerque class ships called for a larger ship. It took serious wrangling between the Navy and Hitler for the ship to get its three triple 11-inch guns. The Scharnhorst made her appearance in Icelandic waters two months after Hitler invaded Poland, sinking the British auxiliary cruiser Rawalpindi with the assistance of the Gneisenau. She supported the Narvik landings in 1940, suffering a torpedo hit while attacking the British evacuation fleet. During that battle, she was attacked by 15 aircraft from the Ark Royal, which failed at the cost of 8 aircraft. Berthed in Brest, she executed (with Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen) the daring "Channel dash" from Brest to Wilhelmshaven under the eyes of British forces (11-13 February 1942). During October 1940 to March 1941, with the Gneisenau and Hipper, they caught 49 ships (271,000 tons) in the North Atlantic. It was not until the "Battle of the North Cape" (26 Dec. 1943) that the Scharnhorst was sunk by British ships. Gneisenau Class Battlecruiser Commissioned: 1936 Tonnage: 34,840 Guns: 9 11-inch (45 KYDS) 12 5.9-inch (24 KYDS) 14 4-inch A.A. 16 37mm A.A. 8 20mm A.A. Armor: Belt: 16 Conning Tower: 14 Deck: 6 Plotting Room: 14 Gun: 14 Main Fire Control: 2 Crown: 6 Rudder: 4 Secondary: 2 Engines and Speed: 160,000 h.p.; 32 knots GNEISENAU +++++++++ Throughout the war, Gneisenau was under constant attack from the British forces. During a heavy air raid at Kiel, her bows were almost destroyed, requiring reconstruction. But the war deprived her of recovery, and she was towed to Gotenhafen and sunk as a blockship in March 1945. See Scharnhorst Gneisenau Class Battecruiser Commissioned: 1936 Tonnage: 34,840 Guns: 9 11-inch (45 KYDS) 12 5.9-inch (24 KYDS) Armor: Belt: 16 Conning Tower: 14 Deck: 6 Plotting Room: 14 Gun: 14 Main Fire Control: 2 Crown: 6 Rudder: 4 Secondary: 2 Engines and Speed: 160,000 h.p.; 32 knots NURNBERG ++++++++ Light Cruiser Commissioned: 1935 Tonnage: 6,000 Guns: 9 5.9-inch (24 KYDS) 8 3.5-inch (16 KYDS) Armor: Belt: 2 Conning Tower: 4 Deck: 2 Plotting Room: 2 Gun: 2 Main Fire Control: 0 Crown: 0 Rudder: 2 Secondary: 0 Engines and Speed: 60,000 h.p.; 32 knots KOLN ++++ One of a series of undistinguished light cruisers, she helped cover the landing of German troops in Bergen, Norway. Too light to be much of a threat, the Koln was sunk at her moorings in 1945 in Wilhelmshaven. Light Cruiser Commissioned: 1928 Tonnage: 6,000 Guns: 9 5.9-inch (24 KYDS) 6 3.5-inch (16 KYDS) Armor: Belt: 2 Conning Tower: 4 Deck: 2 Plotting Room: 2 Gun: 2 Main Fire Control: 0 Crown: 0 Rudder: 2 Secondary: 0 Engines and Speed: 65,000 h.p.; 32 knots GRAF ZEPPELIN +++++++++++++ Launched in 1938, the ship was 90% complete when Hitler ordered suspension of contruction. On April 25, 1945 the ship was scuttled in shallow water. The Russians refloated the Zeppelin in 1947 but found it uneconomical to repair the ship and accordingly scrapped the carrier in 1948. Aircraft Carrier Launched: 1938 Tonnage: 19,250 Guns: 16 5.9-inch (24 KYDS) 12 4.1-inch (20 KYDS) Armor: Belt: 4 Conning Tower: 4 Deck: 2 Plotting Room: 4 gun: 0 Main Fire Control: 0 Crown: 0 Rudder: 2 Secondary 2 Speed: 33 knots PRINZ EUGEN +++++++++++ One of the more famous cruisers, due to her famous escort Bismarck. She joined the Scharnhorst in the "Channel dash" of 11-13 February 1942. Later, she was sent into action in the Baltic with the Scheer and Hipper, where she survived the war. In 25 July 1946, the United States used her (along with 90 ships), to test underwater atomic detonation at Bikini Atoll. See Bismarck, Scharnhorst Hipper Class Cruiser Commissioned: 1918 Tonnage: 14,000 Guns: 8 8-inch (24 KYDS) 12 5.9-inch (20 KYDS) Armor: Belt: 4 Conning Tower: 6 Deck: 4 Plotting Room: 4 Gun: 4 Main Fire Control: 2 Crown: 4 Rudder: 4 Secondary: 1 Engines and Speed: 80,000 h.p.; 32 knots ADMIRAL HIPPER ++++++++++++++ A convoy raider ot the same class as the Prinz Eugen, the Hipper participated in the Norway attack with the Scharnhorst. Sent into the convoy battle off Cape St. Vincent, she attacked two convoys and, with the help of U-boats and the Luftwaffe, sunk more than seven ships (8-11 February 1941). After participating in the scattering of convoy PQ17, she was sent to the Baltic, where she was sunk. Hipper Class Cruiser Commissioned: 1937 Tonnage: 14,000 Guns: 8 8-inch (24 KYDS) 12 5.9-inch (20 KYDS) Armor: Belt: 4 Conning Tower: 6 Deck: 4 Plotting Room: 4 Gun: 4 Main Fire Control: 2 Crown: 4 Rudder: 4 Secondary: 1 Engines and Speed: 80,000 h.p.; 32 knots ALLIED SHIPS ============ All ships are British except where identified otherwise in the title. Ex: NORTH CAROLINA (U.S.A.) HOOD ++++ Britain's reply to the German arms race during World War I was to build the biggest, strongest, fastest ship in the world. Built in response to the Germany's projected 15-inch battlecruiser, the plans for the Hood were revised in the aftermath of the Battle of Jutland to give her greater armor protection making her comparable to the Queen Elizabeth class rather than battlecruisers. She was almost not built, since the Germans abandoned their building program in 1917. Of the four ships planned, the Hood was the ship farthest along in the construction process, so she was completed and the others cancelled. There was a movement in the late 30s to add more guns and increase her armor against aircraft along the Renown lines, but the war stopped that plan, and she was immediately put into service. On 3 July 1940, she participated in the Battle of Mers el-Kebir (Oran) in which British Force H attacked the French fleet before they could be handed over to the Germans. On 24 May 1941, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral Holland, she and the Prince of Wales attacked the Bismarck in Denmark Strait. Five minutes into the battle, the Hood blew up, when a shell hit her magazine. While it is believed that she may have had thin armoring, part of the fault may have been that her gunpowder detonators were unprotected. Battlecruiser Commisoned: 1918 Tonnage: 41,200 Guns: 8 15-inch (34 KYDS) 14 4-inch A.A. 3 pdr. (19 KYDS) Torpodoes: 6 21-inch Armor: Belt: 12 Conning Tower: 11 Deck: 4 Plotting Room: 11 Gun: 15 Main Fire Control: 2 Crown: 5 Rudder: 4 Secondary: 2 Engines and Speed: 144,000 h.p.; 30 knots KING GEORGE V +++++++++++++ By 1937, the terms of the 1930 naval agreements had been abrogated by most of Britain's enemies. The naval arms race was on, with the major powers building larger and more powerful ships. The King George V class, consisting of five battleships with ten 14-inch guns, was in keeping with the agreements. But with war fast approaching. Britain has no time to upgrade them. Compared to the Nelson class, they were balanced and handsome ships. There were some changes in this design, including more armor. There was also room for a Walrus spotting plane and launcher that could be taken down when needed to make space for light anti-aircraft guns. The King George V was launched in December 1940, in time to meet the Bismarck's last sortie in May 1941. King George V Class Battleship Commissioned: 1939 Tonnage: 36,750 Guns: 10 14-inch (34 KYDS) 16 5.2-inch (20 KYDS) 64 2-pdr. pom-poms 10 20mm Oerlikons Armor: Belt: 15 Conning Tower: 14 Deck: 6 Plotting Room: 14 Gun: 14 Main Fire Control: 1 Crown: 6 Rudder: 4 Secondary: 2 Engines and Speed: 125,000 h.p.; 28 knots RODNEY ++++++ The Rodney might best be described as the "missing link" between the dreadnoughts that sailed with the Grand Fleet in the First World War, and the battleships that fought in the second. The Nelson and the Rodney were built to meet the requirements of the Washington Conference of 1921, in which Britain could build two 35,000 ton battleships with sixteen-inch guns. With a lot of aluminium and light fire- proofed woods, these two ships also had powerful guns that could match anything found in European waters, but were hampered by their slow 21 knot movement. The Rodney was hit by a bomb in 1940, but was otherwise untouched. Accompanied by the King George V, she aided in sinking the German battleship Bismarck. Battleship Commissioned: 1925 Tonnage: 33,950 Guns: 9 16-inch (35 KYDS) 12 6-inch (24 KYDS) 6 4-7-inch A.A. 8 2-pdr.pom-poms Torpedoes: 2 24-inch Armor: Belt: 14 Conning Tower: 14 Deck: 6 Plotting Room: 12 Gun: 16 Main Fire Control: 2 Crown: 8 Rudder: 4 Secondary: 2 Engines and Speed: 43,000 h.p.; 21 knots REPULSE +++++++ After their commission in 1916, the battlecruisers Repulse and Renown went through so many refits by 1939 that they were known as Refit and Repair. Their birth was auspicious, being the first two battlecruisers commissioned after Jutland (where three of Britains' nine battlecruisers went to the bottom). But when WWII began, Refit and Repair were two very different ships. The Repulse benefitted from a better armor-belt, and in 1934, was given a catapult seaplane and extra anti-aircraft guns. Sent with the Prince of Wales to the Far East, she arrived only to be sunk by the Japanese Air Force. See Prince of Wales Battlecruiser Commissioned: 1916 Tonnage: 26,500 Guns: 6 15-inch (34 KYDS) 18 4-inch (20 KYDS) 2 3-inch B.L. Torpedoes: 2 21-inch Armor: Belt: 8 Conning Tower: 10 Deck: 4 Plotting Room: 10 Gun: 12 Main Fire Control: 2 Crown: 4 Rudder: 4 Secondary: 1 Engines and Speed: 120,000 h.p.; 28 knots PRINCE OF WALES +++++++++++++++ Another of the King George V class ships, the sudden coming of war forced her to be sent out with the dockyard "maties" still aboard. She was badly mauled by the Bismarck and sent back for repairs. The rest of her career included carrying Churchill to meet Roosevelt in July 1941 for the Atlantic Charter Conference, and in November joining the Repulse to the Far East. Their mission was to defend Malaya in the event of a Japanese attack, but reached Singapore after war had been declared. With the Repulse and 4 destroyers under Rear Admiral Philips, they tried to attack a Japanese force off Kuantan, Japanese torpedo-bombers from Saigon sunk both ships as they returned to Singapore. King George V Class Battleship Commissioned: 1939 Tonnage: 36,750 Guns: 10 14-inch (34 KYDS) 16 5.2-inch (20 KYDS) 64 2-pdr.pom-poms 10 40mm Bofors 10 20-mm Oerlikons Armor: Belt: 15 Conning Tower: 14 Deck: 6 Plotting Room: 14 Gun: 14 Main Fire Control 1 Crown: 6 Rudder: 6 Secondary: 2 Engines and Speed: 125,000 h.p.; 28 knots REVENGE +++++++ The last class to have 6-inch secondary armament on the main deck, and the only one of its class to be completed in time for Jutland. But while ships in the Queen Elizabeth class were being refitted and rebuilt to keep up with developments, the Revenge class became increadingly obsolete. Revenge Class Super-Dreadnoughts Commissioned: 1915 Tonnage: 27,000 Guns: 8 15-inch (28 KYDS) 12 6-inch (24 KYDS) 2 3-inch A.A. Torpedoes: 4 21-inch Armor: Belt: 14 Conning Tower: 12 Deck: 4 Plotting Room: 10 Gun: 14 Main Fire Control 2 Crown: 4 Rudder: 4 Secondary: 2 Engines and Speed: 40,000 h.p.; 20 knots NELSON ++++++ Like the Rodney, the Nelson was built within the limits set by the Washington Conference of 1921. Equipped with powerful 16-inch guns, she was hampered by her slow speed, and restricted mostly to convoy duty. The Nelson survived the war, being damaged only by two mines and a torpedo. See Rodney Battleship Commissioned: 1925 Tonnage: 33,950 Guns: 9 16-inch (35 KYDS) 12 6-inch (24 KYDS) 6 4-7-inch A.A. 8 2-pdr.pom-poms Torpodoes: 2 24-inch Armor: Belt: 14 Conning Tower: 14 Deck: 6 Plotting Room: 12 Gun: 16 Main Fire Control 2 Crown: 8 Rudder: 4 Secondary: 2 Engines and Speed: 43,000 h.p.; 21 knots RAMILLIES +++++++++ Part of the Revenge class of ships. Built for the last war, the only modifications possible under the press for time was to add as many anti- aircraft guns as deck space would allow, and hope that the Germans didn't find them first. She was torpedoed and sunk while supporting the Allied landings on Madagascar. Revenge Class Super-Dreadnoughts Commissioned: 1916 Tonnage: 27,000 Guns: 8 15-inch (28 KYDS) 12 6-inch (24 KYDS) 2 3-inch A.A. Torpedoes: 4 21-inch Armor: Belt: 14 Conning Tower: 12 Deck: 4 Plotting Room: 10 Gun: 14 Main Fire Control 2 Crown: 4 Rudder: 4 Secondary: 2 Engines and Speed: 40,000 h.p.; 19 knots RENOWN ++++++ As a result of its 1936 refitting, several important additions were made including extra anti-torpedo bulges, more boats, and additional anti-aircraft guns. Her actions included a brief, in-decisive brushwith the Scharnhorst during the Norwegian campaign. From 1940-41, she was the Flagship of Force H in Gibraltar, fought the Italian Fleet and bombarded Genoa. Reassigned to the Far East in 1944, she bombarded Sebang and Car Nicobar. See Repulse. Battlecruiser Commissioned: 1916 Tonnage: 26,500 Guns: 6 15-inch (34 KYDS) 20 4.5-inch (20 KYDS) 2 3-inch B.L. 4 4-inch A.A. Torpodoes: 10 21-inch Armor: Belt: 8 Conning Tower: 10 Deck: 6 Plotting Room: 10 Gun: 12 Main Fire Control 2 Crown: 4 Rudder: 4 Secondary: 1 Engines and Speed: 120,000 h.p.; 29 knots ARK ROYAL +++++++++ The Royal Navy's first ship to be launched as an aircraft carrier was designed first as a cargo vessel. Her long flight-deck jutting squarely over bow and stern set the standard for future carrier designs. Her sixteen 4.5- inch guns were high up beside the flight deck, giving her an excellent field of fire. Her battle record was enhanced in two cases by rumor. In the early years of the war, the Germans embarrassed themselves at different times by annoucing that they had sunk the carrier. Then, while patrolling for the Admiral Graf Spee, news reached her that the ship had been driven into Montevideo. It was the news of the Ark Royal's coming, and its exaggerated power fed secretly to the Germans, that convinced the captain to scuttle the German cruiser. She attacked the Scharnhorst on 13 June 1940 with 15 aircraft, but failed to damage it. In July, she was part of a task force that attacked the French navy in Oran. She also contributed to the sinking of the Bismarck in May 1941. Swordfish from the Ark Royal, launchaed in appalling weather, were able to find and torpedo the Bismarck's rudder, jamming it so that the battleships could catch up and sink her. On 13 November 1941, the Ark Royal was torpedoed off Gibraltar by U-boat U81 and sank 14 hours later. Apparently, poor damage control was the reason. Fleet Aircraft Carrier Commissioned: 1937 Tonnage: 22,000 Guns: (secondary) 16 5-inch (19 KYDS) 6 multiple pom-poms Aircraft: 60 Armor: Belt: 4 Conning Tower: 10 Deck: 4 Plotting Room: 10 Gun: 0 Main Fire Control 0 Crown: 0 Rudder: 2 Secondary: 0 Engines and Speed: 102,000 h.p.; 31 knots EAGLE +++++ Originally laid down as a Chilean battleship, she was revised as a light aircraft carrier, spending most of her career in the Mediterranean. On 5 July 1940, she helped invade Tobruk harbor, sinking an Italian destroyer and freighter. On 11 November 1940, Swordfish torpedo-bombers attacked the Italian fleet from the carriers Illustrious and the Eagle. Three Italian battleships were sunk at their moorings. On 11-13 August 1942, she joined the "Pedestal" convoy to relieve Malta, where she was sunk by the Germans. Fleet Aircraft Carrier Commissioned: 1918 Tonnage: 22,600 Guns: 4 6-inch (19 KYDS) 9 4-inch A.A. (26 KYDS) Aircraft: 21 Armor: Belt: 6 Conning Tower: 4 Deck: 4 Plotting Room: 4 Gun: 0 Main Fire Control 0 Crown: 0 Rudder: 4 Secondary: 2 Engines and Speed: 50,000 h.p.; 22 knots VICTORIOUS ++++++++++ As part of the Illustrious class of ships, these aircraft carriers were similar to the Ark Royal but had one less deck. While most of these ships saw service mostly in the Far East, the Victorious served in the Atlantic. She joined the fleet in time to help sink the Bismarck, slowing her with a hit from her Swordfish torpedo bomber. On 3 April 1944, barracuda dive-bombers from the Victorious and Furious severely damaged the Tirpitz. After the war, the Victorious was stripped down almost to her keel and rebuilt to handle the newer jets. She was finally retired in 1968. Illustrious Class Fleet Aircraft Carrier Commissioned: 1938 Tonnage: 23,000 Guns: (secondary) 16 4.5-inch (19 KYDS) Aircraft: 34 Armor: Belt: 4 Conning Tower: 10 Deck: 4 Plotting Room: 10 Gun: 0 Main Fire Control 0 Crown: 0 Rudder: 2 Secondary: 0 Engines and Speed: 110,000 h.p.; 32 knots DORSETSHIRE +++++++++++ The Washinton Treaty set the maximum limit for cruisers at 10,000 tons with 8-inch guns. The Dorsetshire was one of those cruisers built under the treaty. On 5 April 1942, the cruisers Dorsetshire and Cornwall were sunk by Japanese bombers near Ceylon. County Class Cruiser Commissioned: 1929 Tonnage: 10,000 Guns: 8 8-inch (29 KYDS) 8 4-inch A.A. (14 KYDS) 8 2-pdr. A.A. Torpedoes: 8 21-inch Armor: Belt: 4 Conning Tower: 4 Deck: 4 Plotting Room: 2 Gun: 2 Main Fire Control 0 Crown: 2 Rudder: 2 Secondary: 0 Engines and Speed: 80,000 h.p.; 32 knots NORFOLK +++++++ This cruiser participated in the Bismarck sinking. County Class Crusier Commissioned: 1928 Tonnage: 10,000 Guns: 8 8-inch (29 KYDS) 8 4-inch A.A. (14 KYDS) 8 2-pdr. A.A. Torpedoes: 8 21-inch Armor: Belt: 4 Conning Tower: 4 Deck: 2 Plotting Room: 2 Gun: 2 Main Fire Control 0 Crown: 2 Rudder: 2 Secondary: 0 Engines and Speed: 80,000 h.p.; 32 knots SUFFOLK +++++++ A participant in the Bismarck action, the Suffolk was the first to sight the battleship in the Denmark Strait between Iceland and Greenland. County Class Cruiser Commissioned: 1926 Tonnage: 10,000 Guns: 8 8-inch (29 KYDS) 8 4-inch A.A. (14 KYDS) 8 2-pdr. A.A. Torpedoes: 8 21-inch Armor: Belt: 4 Conning Tower: 4 Deck: 2 Plotting Room: 2 Gun: 2 Main Fire Control 0 Crown: 2 Rudder: 2 Secondary: 0 Engines and Speed: 80,000 h.p.; 31 knots MANCHESTER ++++++++++ In reply to the 6-inch cruisers displaying 15 guns in five triple turrets, the British developed the eight ships of the Southampton class, each carrying twelve 6-inch guns. The Manchester was torpedoed and sunk by an Italian motor- torpedo-boat in 1942. Southampton Class Light Cruiser Commissioned: 1937 Tonnage: 9,000 Guns: 12 6-inch (26 KYDS) 8 4-inch A.A. (14 KYDS) 8 2-pdr. A.A. Torpedoes: 6 21-inch Armor: Belt: 2 Conning Tower: 2 Deck: 2 Plotting Room: 0 Gun: 2 Main Fire Control 0 Crown: 0 Rudder: 2 Secondary: 0 Engines and Speed: 82,500 h.p.; 32 knots BIRMINGHAM ++++++++++ Southampton Class Light Cruiser Commissioned: 1936 Tonnage: 9,000 Guns: 12 6-inch (26 KYDS) 8 4-inch A.A. (14 KYDS) 8 2-pdr. A.A. Torpedoes: 6 21-inch Armor: Belt: 2 Conning Tower: 2 Deck: 2 Plotting Room: 0 Gun: 2 Main Fire Control 0 Crown: 0 Rudder: 2 Secondary: 0 Engines and Speed: 75,500 h.p.; 32 knots SHEFFIELD +++++++++ Of all the ships in the Southampton class the Sheffield had the most impressive career. In addition to taking part in the sinkings of the Bismarck and Scharnhorst, she was in the Barents Sea action of New Year's Day, 1942. While providing coverage to one end of convoy J.W.51B, it was attacked at the other end by the Lutzow, the Hipper, and several destroyers. In a remarkable display of seamanship, the local escort held off their stronger opponents for three hours until the Sheffield and the other cruisers arrived. After a three hours until the Sheffield and the other cruisers arrived. After a three-hour battle, the Germans withdrew, leaving one destroyer behind and the Hipper damaged. The British lost the destroyer Achates and the minesweeper Bramble. Hitler was so angry he ordered the remaining big ships in his navy to be dismantled, though this was later rescinded. The German head of naval operations. Grand-Admiral Raeder, resigned over the affair. The Sheffield survived to be the last of her class, scrapped in 1969. Southampton Class Cruiser Commissioned: 1936 Tonnage: 9,000 Guns: 12 6-inch (26 KYDS) 8 4-inch A.A. (14 KYDS) 8 2-pdr. A.A. Torpedoes: 6 21-inch Armor: Belt: 2 Conning Tower: 2 Deck: 2 Plotting Room: 0 Gun: 2 Main Fire Control 0 Crown: 0 Rudder: 2 Secondary: 0 Engines and Speed: 75,000 h.p.; 32 knots KENYA +++++ The Colony class of ships were completed between 1940 and 1943. There were eleven ships in all, and the growing preoccupation with anti-aircraft defense caused the suppression of turrets in these ships to put in more anti-aircraft guns. Both the Kenya and Nigeria were damaged by torpedoes during the "Pedestal" convoy run to Malta in August 1942. Only two ships from this class were lost during the war, both to German aircraft. Colony Class Light Cruiser Commissioned: 1939 Tonnage: 8,000 Guns: 12 6-inch (26 KYDS) 8 4-inch A.A. (14 KYDS) 20 2-pdr. A.A. 20 20-mm A.A. Torpedoes: 6 21-inch Aircraft: 3 Armor: Belt: 4 Conning Tower: 4 Deck: 2 Plotting Room: 2 Gun: 2 Main Fire Control 0 Crown: 2 Rudder: 2 Secondary: 0 Engines and Speed: 72,500 h.p.; 33 knots EDINBURGH +++++++++ Sunk by British forces after being totally disabled by German torpedo attacks on a convoy run from northern Russia, May 1, 1942. Belted Light Cruiser Commissioned: 1938 Tonnage: 10,000 Guns: 12 6-inch (26 KYDS) 12 4-inch A.A. (14 KYDS) 16 2-pdr. A.A. Torpedoes: 6 21-inch Aircraft: 3 Armor: Belt: 2 Conning Tower: 2 Deck: 2 Plotting Room: 0 Gun: 2 Main Fire Control 0 Crown: 2 Rudder: 2 Secondary: 0 Engines and Speed: 80,000 h.p.; 32 knots HERMIONE ++++++++ Sunk by a torpedo in the Mediterranean. Beacuse the guns in the class of ships had very high firing angles, they were used as anti-aircraft cruisers. Dido Class Light Cruiser Commissioned: 1939 Tonnage: 5,450 Guns: 10 4-inch (14 KYDS) 8 2-pdr A.A. Torpedoes: 6 21-inch Armor: Belt: 2 Conning Tower: 2 Deck: 2 Plotting Room: 0 Gun: 2 Main Fire Control 0 Crown: 0 Rudder: 2 Secondary: 0 Engines and Speed: 62,000 h.p.; 33 knots AURORA ++++++ Arethusa Class Light Cruiser Commissioned: 1936 Tonnage: 5,200 Guns: 6 6-inch (26 KYDS) 8 4-inch (14 KYDS) 8 2-pdr. A.A. Aircraft: 1 Armor: Belt: 2 Conning Tower: 2 Deck: 2 Plotting Room: 0 Gun: 2 Main Fire Control 0 Crown: 0 Rudder: 2 Secondary: 0 Engines and Speed: 64,000 h.p.; 32 knots ARETHUSA ++++++++ The Arethusa class of cruisers were the smallest cruisers the British built before the war, and were considered badly undergunned. Arethusa Class Light Cruiser Commissioned: 1934 Tonnage: 5,200 Guns: 6 6-inch (26 KYDS) 8 4-inch (14 KYDS) 8 2-pdr. A.A. Torpedoes: 6 21-inch Aircraft: 1 Armor: Belt: 2 Conning Tower: 2 Deck: 2 Plotting Room: 0 Gun: 2 Main Fire Control 0 Crown: 0 Rudder: 2 Secondary: 0 Engines and Speed: 64,000 h.p.; 32 knots GALATEA +++++++ Arethusa Class Light Cruiser Commissioned: 1934 Tonnage: 5,200 Guns: 6 6-inch (26 KYDS) 8 4-inch (14 KYDS) 8 2-pdr. A.A. Torpedoes: 6 21-inch Aircraft: 1 Armor: Belt: 2 Conning Tower: 2 Deck: 2 Plotting Room: 0 Gun: 2 Main Fire Control 0 Crown: 0 Rudder: 2 Secondary: 0 Engines and Speed: 64,000 h.p.; 32 knots LONDON ++++++ County Class Cruiser Commissioned: 1927 Tonnage: 10,000 Guns: 8 8-inch (29 KYDS) 8 4-inch (14 KYDS) 8 2-pdr. A.A. Torpedoes: 8 21-inch Aircraft: 3 Armor: Belt: 4 Conning Tower: 4 Deck: 4 Plotting Room: 2 Gun: 2 Main Fire Control 0 Crown: 2 Rudder: 2 Secondary: 0 Engines and Speed: 80,000 h.p.; 32 knots EXETER ++++++ Along with the York, the Exeter was one of smaller verions of the County class. Several modifications were made to its guns and hull, which were cheaper but made them move vulnerable to enemy fire. Both were lost during the war, and the Exeter saw quite a bit of action. She was one of three cruisers that chased the Admiral Graf Spee into Montevideo and was engaged by that ship (13 December 1939). She was considerably battered, but continued to fight until nearly sunk. She was then assigned to the Far East theatre in 1942, and was sunk later that same year in the Java Sea while part of a Anglo-Dutch-US squadron. County Class Cruiser Commissioned: 1929 Tonnage: 8,390 Guns: 6 8-inch (29 KYDS) 4 4-inch (14 KYDS) 2 2-pdr. A.A. Torpedoes: 6 21-inch Aircraft: 2 Armor: Belt: 4 Conning Tower: 4 Deck: 4 Plotting Room: 2 Gun: 2 Main Fire Control 0 Crown: 2 Rudder: 2 Secondary: 0 Engines and Speed: 80,000 h.p.; 32 knots CAIRO +++++ Built for the previous war, these C Class cruisers showed their age. The Cairo was sunk by submarines on the "Pedestal" run to Malta (11-13 August 1942) C Class Light Cruiser Commissioned: 1918 Tonnage: 4,190 Guns: 8 5-inch (19 KYDS) 2 4-inch A.A. Torpedoes: 8 21-inch Armor: Belt: 2 Conning Tower: 1 Deck: 2 Plotting Room: 2 Gun: 2 Main Fire Control 1 Crown: 1 Rudder: 2 Secondary: 0 Engines and Speed: 40,000 h.p.; 29 knots NORTH CAROLINA (U.S.A.) +++++++++++++++++++++++ One of two battleships in this class that saw extensive service during the war, mostly in the Pacific. Designed under the London Treaty limitations of 1936, some changes were made when the Japanese rejected the treaty, by replacing the four 14-inch guns with three 16-inch guns. While it reduced the speed by two knots, her protection against 14-inch shells was increased. North Carolina Class Battleship Commissioned: 1941 Tonnage: 38,000 Guns: 9 16-inch (43 KYDS) 20 5-inch (18 KYDS) 16 1-inch A.A. 12 1/2-inch A.A. Armor: Belt: 12 Conning Tower: 16 Deck: 8 Plotting Room: 16 Gun: 16 Main Fire Control 1 Crown: 7 Rudder: 6 Secondary: 2 Engines and Speed: 121,000 h.p.; 28 knots AUGUSTA (U.S.A.) ++++++++++++++++ Cruiser Commissioned: 1930 Tonnage: 9,050 Guns: 9 8-inch (30 KYDS) 8 5-inch (18 KYDS) Armor: Belt: 3 Conning Tower: 8 Deck: 2 Plotting Room: 8 Gun: 2 Main Fire Control 1 Crown: 2 Rudder: 2 Secondary: 0 Engines and Speed: 107,000 h.p.; 32 knots DUNKERQUE (Fr.) +++++++++++++++ The direct Fench response to the German Deutschland class ships were the two ships Dunkerque and Strasbourg. Unlike other battlecruisers, all of their main guns were mounted forward, and were far less in size than what the treaties permitted. This allowed the magazine protection to be concentrated, saving considerable weight, but increased the chance of the guns being disabled with one hit. Her career was far less notable than her design, being attacked twice by the British to keep her out of German hands. Although damaged at Oran, she was finally scuttled in 1942 by the French in Toulon. Dunkerque Class Battlecruiser Commissioned: 1937 Tonnage: 26,500 Guns: 8 13-inch (45 KYDS) 16 5.1-inch (21 KYDS) 8 38mm A.A. 32 13mm A.A. Armor: Belt: 10 Conning Tower: 11 Deck: 6 Plotting Room: 11 Gun: 14 Main Fire Control 2 Crown: 6 Rudder: 6 Secondary: 5 Engines and Speed: 112,500 h.p.; 29 knots STRASBOURG (Fr.) ++++++++++++++++ Built along the same lines and class as Dunkerque, she survived the attack on Oran only to be scuttled later. Her hulk was raised in 1945 and used for experiments until finally broken up in 1958. Dunkerque Class Battlecruiser Commissioned: 1937 Tonnage: 26,500 Guns: 8 13-inch (45 KYDS) 16 5.1-inch (21 KYDS) 8 37mm A.A. 32 13mm A.A. Armor: Belt: 10 Conning Tower: 11 Deck: 6 Plotting Room: 11 Gun: 14 Main Fire Control 2 Crown: 6 Rudder: 6 Secondary: 5 Engines and Speed: 112,500 h.p.; 29 knots GLOIRE (Fr.) ++++++++++++ Light Cruiser Commissioned: 1933 Tonnage: 7,600 Guns: 9 6-inch (24 KYDS) 8 3.5-inch (19 KYDS) Armor: Belt: 4 Conning Tower: 4 Deck: 2 Plotting Room: 4 Gun: 4 Main Fire Control 0 Crown: 2 Rudder: 2 Secondary: 0 Engines and Speed: 84,000 h.p.; 31 knots GALISONNIERE (Fr.) ++++++++++++++++++ Light Cruiser Commissioned: 1933 Tonnage: 7,600 Guns: 9 6-inch (24 KYDS) 8 3.5-inch (19 KYDS) Armor: Belt: 4 Conning Tower: 4 Deck: 2 Plotting Room: 4 Gun: 4 Main Fire Control 0 Crown: 2 Rudder: 2 Secondary: 0 Engines and Speed: 84,000 h.p.; 33 knots TOURVILLE (Fr.) +++++++++++++++ Cruiser Commissioned: 1926 Tonnage: 10,000 Guns: 8 8-inch (25 KYDS) Armor: Belt: 2 Conning Tower: 2 Deck: 2 Plotting Room: 2 Gun: 2 Main Fire Control 0 Crown: 0 Rudder: 2 Secondary: 0 Engines and Speed: 120,000 h.p.; 32 knots ALGERIE (Fr.) +++++++++++++ Cruiser Commissioned: 1932 Tonnage: 10,000 Guns: 8 8-inch (25 KYDS) 8 3.9-inch (19 KYDS) Armor: Belt: 4 Conning Tower: 4 Deck: 4 Plotting Room: 2 Gun: 4 Main Fire Control 0 Crown: 2 Rudder: 2 Secondary: 0 Engines and Speed: 86,000 h.p.; 32 knots APPENDIX C ========== DREADNOUGHTS PLAYERS' NOTES =========================== Part of the enjoyment about playing Dreadnoughts lies in discovering the designers have put into the game system. This applies especially to the Bismarck scenario. While we will not give the game away by citing specific examples, rest assured that the British player (i.e. the computer) will be fully prepared to meet almost any plan you can come up with. This game has been designed to recreate the historical situation the captain of the Bismarck faced in 1941. There are, however, some hints and explanations that could help you in your initial cruises. Let's begin with an examination of the Bismarck. The first thing you'll notice about the Bismarck is its armor and power. Checking her against the ships in Appendix B will reveal very few rivals. The fact that she can blow most cruisers out of the water with a blast from her 15-inch guns makes her a feared adversary. And there will be times in the heat of battle where you will wonder if anything can bring her down. That is precisely the wrong attitude to have, beacuse there is no ship in the game (the bismarck included) that can withstand the relentless pounding of shells forever. A shell exploding in the wrong place can do considerable damage. This is especially true when you realize that once a ship's super- structure has been destroyed, any further hits on the superstructure will count as hull hits! There is also a good chance of a single shell doing serious damage to the control tower (forcing a turn of inactivity while the new captain takes over), the rudder (causing the ship to turn in only one direction) or the hull. The Bismarck's strengths lie with her speed and armor. Note that if she takes too many hits that reduce her speed, she becomes an easier target to hit. After that, it's just a matter of time before she gets sent to the bottom. And that's one secret about Dreadnoughts that's nto mentioned in the rules: the slower a ship moves, the better target she makes. Since it's impossible for a ship to be repaired within the time constraints of the game, any damage incurred early in the cruise will haunt the player in later battles. So the lesson here is: be very cautious about committing the Bismarck to battle. Of course, there is one tactic that will help there, but we'll let you find it yourself. WHERE ARE THE CONVOYS? It may come to pass that, after playing a few games, you'll start wondering where the convoys are. Their initial placement may change from game to game, but the one thing that is constant is that they'll always follow the convoy routes (found by pressing the R key while looking at the strategic map). But they won't automatically appear and offer themselves to slaughter. It's up to you, the commander of the Bismarck, to search and destroy them. Here's how: once you get into the convoy lanes, you will find that the most important commands will be air Search, Patrol, and Visual Display. Just like in real life, you will have to rely on your pilots and your radar operators to seek out the enemy. But they are not perfect by any means. Radar technology in the 1940's was not all it is in the 1980's. Some ships had them, some didn't. Dreadnoughts also takes account of human errors, too. If you send out seach planes on two consecutive turns, you may get two entirely different reports. Which should you believe? There's no easy way to find out, and that is exactly what the captain of the Bismarck faced. So, you're in the shipping lanes between England and America. What should you do next? You have a number of options at hand. A quick visual search will reveal what you see with your eyes and what your radar operator reports. Ships within visual range will be identified by type (B for battleship, A for aircraft carrier, and so on), while radar will only pick up blips indicating that something is out there...maybe. Do you patrol or send out aircraft? Both have strengths and weaknesses. The bismarck cruising slowly in circles can cover three times its radar range of 15 miles, while an Arado float plane can cover a 90 mile radius. Both will have some degree of human error in their reports. Aircraft, however, can only be launched in good weather to have a good chance of making it back. Sometimes you may have to reveal the Bismarck's position in order to guide the float plane back. This can happen when the plane is a) launched in foul weather, or b) the Bismarck is traveling too fast for the plane to locate. Revealing your position could be hazardous, for the British may be listening in. Of course, if you're being shadowed by British cruisers, it won't matter a bit if you reveal your position. Even worse, you may reveal your position, but the plane still didn't make it back. C'est la guerre. If you successfully accomplish an air search or patrol, the screen will display the results. Convoys (consisting of merchant ships plus their destroyer escorts) will be shown as a group of dashes. The all-important convoy WS.8 will have five dashes. Also, the troop ship Britannic represented by the letter T, may also make an appearance. She counts as a convoy in the victory conditions, too! Getting the Bismarck to attack the convoy could be difficult when you realize that, while the float plane is in the air, the ship must carry out its move for that turn. If you work it right, the computer will load the battle program and you're on your way! BY FIRE AND STEEL (Surviving the Battle Phase) You've done it now: the Prince of Wales and the Hood, along with four destroyers, have intercepted and forced battle on you. You're in the battle phase, and you won't be able to escape until they're sunk or out of visual range. Can you escape? Oddly enough, chances are good of surviving the encounter. We can't promise that the Bismarck will emerge unseathed, but there are some rules to follow that will increase your chances of winning the encounter. First and foremost, realize that the Hood and the Prince of Wales are not two ships cut from the same mold. Quite the contrary, there is twenty years and two wars' difference between the two. The battlecruiser Hood was built during World War I while the Prince of Wales, commissioned in 1939, was a member of the King George V class of battleships. The advancements in ship design makes the Prince of Wales a superior ship. The major difference between the two lies in their armor. The Hood's plotting room and conning tower are weaker than the battleship, as are her secondary guns. Plus, her fatal flaw that caused it to blow up (the un- protected gunpowder detonators) has bee built into the computer program. Thus it's quite possible to recreate the historical outcome of the battle. So go after the Prince of Wales first, before the Bismarck suffers any serious damage. If you have the room and the patience, you could take advantage of your superior reach and stay out of the battleship's main gun range. But it's hard to do, and especially difficult to maintain. One particularly effective tactic comes from the age of wooden ships and iron men: that of "crossing the T." The tactic requires turning your ship so that her primary and secondary guns are bearing on the target's bow or stern. With the tremendous firepower of the Bismarck, this can be devastaingly effective. Assuming, then, that the Prince of Wales and the Hood are either sunk or leaving the scene, what about the destroyers? A pleasant surprise awaits you, but we'll not go into that now. Sample Air Search Display ========================= +----------------------------------------+ | | | - - | Convoy WS.8 --------|--------> - | | - - | | | Bismarck and | | Prince Eugen -------|---------- | | \______ +-------+ | | \ | | | | | --------> - - | | Visual Radius ------|------------------------->| | | | | +-------+ | | | Battleship ---------|------> B | | | Destroyer ----------|--------------> D | | | | | Transport ---------|-----------------------> T | (Britannic) | | | | +----------------------------------------+ (Please note that the square is the circle and inside is cross '+' in original manual) Sample Visual/Radar Display =========================== +----------------------------------------------+ | +-------------------------------------+ | | | | | Radar Radius --|-->| | | | | +----------------+ | | | | | | | | Destroyer -----|---|--------------|---> D | | | Visual Radius -|---|------------->| | | | | | | B | | | Transport -----|---|--------------|-> T ^ C | | | (Britannic) | | | | ^ | | | Battleship ----|---|--------------|---> B | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | +----------------+ | | Unknown Ships -|---|-----> O | | | | | | | | | | | | | |---> O | | | | | | | | | | | | | +---> O | | | | | | | | | | | +-------------------------------------+ | | | | | +----------------------------------------------+ | | | | | Prinz Eugen | Bismarck (Please note that the square is circle and 'O' is the black solid square in original manual) The Fairey Swordfish torpedo-bomber dated from 1936, despite its antique look. Although slow it had outstanding ruggedness and maneuverability and could fly and operate from carriers in conditions which defeated more modern aircraft. It established a record by remaining in production longer than any other Allied plane in World War II, and proved ideal as an anti-submarine and anti-shipping aircraft when armed with 60-lb rockets. AH microcomputer games A Division of The Avalon Hill Game Company 1984.