Into The Great White Open - Main Story Line Part Six- Ice Bears Part One
A Letterstime side story
Here is the summary of the involved forces:
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German Arctic Squadron (GAS), with the Armoured cruiser SMS Roon as flagship of acting Kommodore Ziethen and the cover force consisting of the small cruisers SMS Berlin and SMS Undine, covering the minelayers SMS Arcona and SMS Albatross. They are currently in the Northern Atlantic, north of Trondheim/Norway, but still about 100nm south of the polar circle.
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U-19, Kapitaenleutant Kolbe, the 'esploratori' of GAS, farther north, sailing to 'collect'
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Kuestenschutzverband Ostsee (Kontreadmiral Mischke) has returned from the Commerce Warfare Trip into the Skagerrak. Protected Cruisers SMS Vineta and SMS Victoria Louise and gunboat SMS Panther have returned to Kiel or Warnemuende, together with the Torpedo - Boats of Seventh Halbflottille.
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Aufklaerungsgruppe Ostsee (Kontreadmiral Hopman) has split their forces, the heavy units SMS Prinz Adalbert, SMS Prinz Heinrich and SMS Kaiserin Augusta are in Danzig-Neufahrwasser.
The lighter units (Kommodore von Karpf) consisting of the small cruisers SMS Medusa, SMS Tethis, SMS Niobe and SMS Nymphe are in Libau already. A Torpedoboot-Halbflottille is with each of those forces. -
Forming Schlachtgeschader Ostsee (Kontreadmiral Begas) with the Predreadnoughts SMS Woerth, SMS Brandenburg, SMS Kaiser Wilhelm der Grosse and SMS Kaiser Barbarossa are in Kiel, preparing to sail to Libau. Protected Cruiser SMS Freya and small Cruiser SMS Amazone will accompany the Battleships. Escorts are with them, of course. A motley collection of escorts, to be precise.
July 8th1915, SMS Roon, early afternoon, 12 knots, course 035
This is unusual, absolutely unusual. "But, why not?" Korvettenkapitaen Findert thought. Should, shall he speak to the Kommodore about it?
Human minds in a war might need it, just to relax a bit. Or to get excited. Didn't they?
He remembered:
Flashback
Kapitaenleutant Kaempfert, SMS Roon's NO, had finished to put the new postition of the GAS on the Map.
It was during the later morning hours, Findert could not remember the exact time.
"We have passed the latitude of Trondheim, Herr Korvettenkapitaen", Kaempfert said.
"When do you expect us to cross the Polar Circle?", Findert asked with a hushed voice. "Assuming we do not change our current speed or course".
"Hm, let me see," Kaempfert said, hand on his chin, looking up.
A short pause. He was calculating.
"Yes, at about 8 pm, I think". He looked uncertain, recalculated and spoke again. "Yes, I was correct, I did not miscalculate". Kaempfert smiled. A warm smile.
Bootsmann Friedrich Ebert, Rooncrew member since August 1914 and tasked with navigating as well, had overheard that conversation. Of course had, though he tried to look uninvolved.
"The circle will be crossed this evening", he said to himself. "I am sure, they will not have thought of 'IT' and will not have made any preparations. Need to speak to Stabsbootsmann Krueger.
A short time later Ebert had left the bridge an went straight to his old friend.
"Johannes", Ebert started the conversation, "we will cross the Polar Circle tonight. Kaleunt (Footnote 1) Kaempfert had stated that".
"Fritz, fine, but what do you want? I am off, you know and would really like to take a nap". Krueger was not in his best mood. This was usually when he had have no breakfast.
"Johannes, please. Listen to me. It WOULD be FUN..."
"Honestly, Johannes, I really think we can need a bit of distraction. It sure will cheer up the boys". At least some of us, Ebert added mentally.
After some more persuasion Krueger agreed to take the idea to the officers and went up to the bridge.
"Stabsbootsmann Krueger, reporting to bridge".
Kaempfert looked up. This old Seebaer was not on duty, for he was with him all night long. At least night if looking on the watch, but the darkness had been very brief.
Kaempfert had even joked: "Stabsbootsmann Krueger, relish this brief darkness, it will be the last for a long time".
"Anyway", Kaempfert thought. He planned to leave the bridge to enter his bunk VERY soon. He had been up all night and was really tired.
"Harrumph, Herr Korvettenkaptain, harrumph" Krueger fumbeled for words.
Findert looked up. "Stabsbootsmann ?"
"Herr Korvettenkaptain, can I talk to you, please?"
"Speak up," Findert was getting annoyed about this distraction.
"Herr Korvettenkaptain, harumph, not here, please."
Findert started to reply, when his counterpart stated "It is urgent, bitte."
Findert had to fight his immediate reaction that in this time of war it was hardly proper to waste time and effort on Krueger's idea but as Krueger spoke Findert warmed to the notion.
By the time Stabsbootsmann Krueger left he had really managed to convince him. Findert still wondered about it though but then he made up his mind.
He arose to leave his quarters when a thought occurred to him as he exited and he turned the other way instead and went looking for someone else to include in the scheme.
"What do you mean by not available" Findert was nearly shouting.
"He is as seasick as one can be, absolutely unable to walk and greener as grass, if you know what I mean. Pooh, what a stink", Bootsmann Ebert answered.
"But to get the operation done, we need a tailor, Verdammt noch Mal", Findert was getting in rage.
He paced around in his office, Ebert was watching him without emotions, obviously. Findert was tired, and he knew he was a bit unfair and Ebert was the last who was responsible for that. Maybe, just maybe, it was one too much of this incredible Highland Park (Footnote 2).
Suddenly he remembered the night of July 5th, back in Wilhelmshaven. Just after their guests had left (Footnote 3). One of the guards had told him he was a tailor.
"What had been the name of the young man with the prominent ears and those stark green eyes"? "Wutmann? Wutkind? No, Wudtke", Findert finally remembered the name.
"Bootsmann Ebert, go down and fetch me Matrose Wudtke, please hurry, Danke."
And off Ebert went, beginning his search.
It had not been easy for Ebert to locate the Requested. Wudtke's fighting station was at the port searchlight near the bridge, but that he had not known before.
He entered that platform above and a little aft of the bridge.
"Who is Matrose Wudtke?" he asked. His voice was loud but not unfriendly. The weather had cleared in the morning and it was fresh, but not cold.
"Who wants to know that?" Bootsmann Fleischer, who was Wudtke's station chief, barked.
Ebert was only confused for a moment. He straited his shoulders:" Who is Matrose Wudtke?"
Wilhelm was astonished, but answered. "Matrose Wudtke, that is me."
"You speak only when allowed to speak," Bootsmann Fleischer shouted.
"But, Bootsmann...".
"No but, shut up, you...." Bootsmann Fleischers face had turned bright red. He had stepped just centimeters in front of little Willi. Pooh, that one stank from the mouth.....
"Wudtke, I will let you scrub the d...".
He was rudely interrupted.
"Bootsmann, calm down. I asked this Matrose a question and he answered", Ebert said.
Now it was the turn of Fleischer to be confused. He 'very much' liked to be interrupted, but looking at the shoulder signs of the other Bootsmann he recognized the navigator epaulets. "Oh, one of the bridge crew," he thought. "Have to be careful, a bit careful...."
"What.., what do you want from Wudtke?" he asked.
"Korvettenkapitaen Findert wants to see this young man," Ebert answered, now with a calm voice.
Wilhelm Wudtke was in a state of shock. The First Officer wants to see him. He must have made something wrong, committed a crime, something...
Deeply blushing, he remembered (Footnote 4). "His shoes, OH MY GOD..." he nearly fainted. He had overslept and put on the shoes on the wrong foot, when the fight with the AMC Cedrichad begun. He had thought nobody had noticed, but now they had got him. He was as good as dead.
"WUDTKE," Bootsmann Fleischer shouted.
BLAM
Fleischer had hit him hard in the face with the open hand. "I'll rip your ass open when.." He gasped. "What misdeed have you.." If you have brought shame.."
Once again he was interrupted.
"Bootsmann, please, let me do my duty and bring this young man to our 1 O."
Wudtke's ears were ringing with Fleischer's insults until they had left his battle station and one bulkhead was closed behind them. He was feeling bad, was unhappy and his cheek had turned bright red. How he longed to be home again.
After crossing many bulkheads and walking long lodes he finally arrived in front of Finderts office.
Ebert, outwardly with a stoic face, but inwardly smiling, wondered about the hapless face of the young man beside him.
"OK," he thought, "probably would have felt the same when ordered to the First Officer for the first time".
Wudtke, standing in front of the door of the bulkhead, not knowing what to do, looked to Ebert.
"Bootsmann...?"
"Knock and enter," Ebert said.
Knockknock.
No Answer.
"Knock harder."
KNOCKKNOCK.
Suddenly the door opened.
A Leutnant zur See, was standing behind the door half concealed by it. He was the one who had opened it.
Wudtke could see parts of the room, especially part of a desk. The room was well lit in the after part of the room, the front part was only dimly lit.
The Leutnant looked to Wudtke, then to Ebert, then back to Wudtke.
Wilhelm was pushed a bit into the back by Ebert.
He called up all his courage, which was not exactly too much at the moment.
"M m Matrose Wudtke as requested."
"What do you..." It was a day of interruptions, the Leutnant could not finish his sentence.
"Enter." A voice from the background.
Wudtke entered with a big step over the lower part of the doors bulkhead. Now he could see the whole room. The desk was standing to his right and behind the desk, it was sitting, his doom.
He stopped shortly after crossing the bulkhead.
WHANNG
The door was closed again.
"Come forward, Matrose," Findert ordered.
Reluctantly Wilhelm stepped forward.
Findert looked up. "Yes, that was the one." He had remembered correctly, not that that was surprising a fact.
Wilhelm snapped to attention.
"Stand relived." Findert was walking around the port edge of his desk and stopped about one meter to the starboard side of Wudtke.
"What have you done with your face?" Findert asked after walking around to Wudtke's port side.
His face? Wilhelm, excited and frightend as he was, already had forgotten about Fleischer's slab. Hewas there because his First Officer had summoned him, wasn't he? "Herr Korvettenkapitaen, I am deeply sorry about...".
Have I already told you it was a day of interruptions? Yes, I guess. Lucky for Wilhelm, he never came to the point to explain how deeply sorry he was because of his shoes, or his read face or why he was alive and aboard this ship.
"Matrose Wudtke, I have summoned you because...".
The fuel situation was getting more and more critical, especially on the relatively short legged small minelayer.
Korvettenkapitaen West was very thankful about the reduction of speed from 15 to 12 knots this noon. His engineer had ensured him they'd to reach their first supply station with a little coal left.
The temperature had dropped, compared to yesterday, but the sun was poking through the clouds again. It still was not cold. Like one of those cooler summer days not uncommon in northern Germany.
SMS Albatrossstill maintained her station about half a mile behind mighty Roon. Her smoke plume had decreased a lot after the speed reduction. Once again West felt relieved about the reduced chances being spotted that way. Unnecessary changes in speed would reduce their limited range further. He would not like being towed to Archangel, he grimly thought.
Looking to port, he could see the dim form of SMS Berlin, about 7 miles away. It was a bit misty, not totally clear, as he had expected this far north.
July 8th1915, SMS Berlin, afternoon, 12 knots, course 035
Fregattenkapitaen von Buelow was taking over from Korvettenkapitaen Hildebrand. Time for his First Officer to retire.
"Something unusual?", he asked.
"Nothing, Sir". Hildebrand had once again been down by their prisoners (Footnote 5), but he was not willing to speak to von Buelow about that. He was still very disturbed about the ranting of von Buelow against their acting Kommodore (Footnote 6).
The damage of yesterday's battle was as good repaired as possible under these conditions.Especially the pierced first stack was patched. Fresk paint covered the other places, where the 12 cm shells of HMS Cedrichad hit. He has visited the wounded as well, both English and German.
July 8th1915, SMS Arcona, later afternoon, 12 knots, course 035
Korvettenkapitaen Wilhelm von Hippel was proud to be the farthest north, the vanguard of German Arctic Squadron or GAS for those, who loved it short.
Behind them, their main fighting unit, the Armoured Cruiser SMS Roonwas sailing. He could clearly make her out. Looking to starboard he saw Arcona'ssister, the small cruiser SMS Undine. The third sister, SMS Frauenlob was with the High Seas Fleet, acting as screen (Footnote 7). But she was an ocean away.
July 8th1915, SMS Undine, early evening, 12 knots, course 035
Korvettenkapitaen Windmueller was looking to the east. Somewhere there was Norway. Peaceful Norway. The distance to the mainland had grown considerably during the last day. That gave them room to maneuver, but in case of a fight and possible damage it was too far away to seek shelter in the fjords. Undine's engines and boilers behaved very well, but deep in his heart it was a concern for Windmueller.
An engine casuality like last August would prove desasterous.
Yesterday they had watched some smoke plumes on the eastern horizon, but so far none had shown up today.
"Lookout, any...."
July 8th1915, SMS Roon, early evening, 12 knots, course 035
Wilhelm Wudtke was still smiling. First, when in the office of Korvettenkapitaen Findert, he had thought the world had gone completely crazy. Not only had he expected to be punished for his misdeed. Recognizing that nobody had obviously taken notice of his delict, one can not imagine just how assuaged he was. But then, with every word of Findert's message, it dawned him, until it was totally clear that his First Officer had gone mad. Completely mad. But even that impression had changed after a short time.
He had a very tight timeframe and next to none material. But he was working hard. He looked at the watch, "About three more hours." Chaos all around him, for quite a large crew was preparing. He realised that he was the only Matrose. All others were veterans. "Never mind, I am better," he thought.
July 8th1915, north sea,farther south and west, early evening, ? knots, course ?
GOD, he was cold. So cold. A raging thirst had started. He would soon starting to get delirious, if he was not already. He was still on that part of wreckage, the same since yesterday morning (Footnote 8).
Stoker David Young was the only inhabitant of this piece of wreckage, his rescuer was gone, when he awoke. Best as he could he had covered himself with a large piece of canvas. The weather, which had been quite good during the morning hours of July 7thhad deteriorated steadily until last night. He was more than lucky that the center of the storm, in which 'Die Regenschlacht' had been fought, was even farther in the south. The ensuing rain had helped not to dehydrate, but he had to use all his available power not to be washed away from his 'home'.
The storm had lessened in the early morning hours and the weather improved a lot. He had fallen asleep, totally exhausted, only to awake when the sun was high in the sky. he had been able to make her out, even behind the clouds.
His hopes to get rescued were steadily decreasing.
His mind turned again to his erotic experiences during the HMS Cedricstayed in Rosyth. Good God, she had been fantastic in bed. His memory lingered on her naked body with the big...
Something entered his mind. He looked up.
There, there was... a ship, out there, only some hundered yards away. He jumped up, only to nearly topple into the water. He waved his hand , raised the canvas and waved again. "Here, here am I....".
He was rescued, good god. "Have they really seen me?"
July 8th1915, Russian Destroyer Nowik, early evening, Reval, quay
Kapitan II. Ranga Graf had just received the update from his XO. "Kapitan, all 50 mines loaded and secured."
The loading process had lasted from nearly noon until now.
"Thank you, Mikhail," Graf had answered. "I'd like you to contact the fellow captains of the four destroyers of 4thdivision and ask them about their status."
He added after a short pause, "Tell them I'd expect them to be ready around midnight. They ought to put their boilers on two hours notice then."
"Yes, Captain. I will have a short briefing with each of them, making clear how important our mission is. Everybody should operate independently if necessity arises."
Graf only nodded.
"Mikhail, I will not be here later, for I and the fellow commanders will have a final meeting with Kontre-Admiral Trukhachev on the Ryrik. Tell the crew to go to rest soon."
The mighty Ryrik, the strongest and most modern of the Baltic Fleet Armoured Cruisers was moored only a short way off on the quay as well. Graf was totally aware that his Nowikand the Ryrikwere the ships with the greatest fighting value of all involved ships in Operation 'Striking South'.
Until having laid their mine-load, however, they would not be able to use their aftermost three very modern 10 cm L/60 guns nor their four 45.7 cm Twin-Torpedo-Tubes. But with a speed in excess of 34 knots, even in fully loaded condition (Footnote 9) of 1400 tons, they would be in and out of trouble in no time. The Nowik was the most modern and by far fastest destroyer in the whole Russian Baltic Fleet, being commisioned September 4th1913.
"Considering our four fellows with their 35 mines each being able to uses only one of their two 10 cm gun as well and none of their two 45.7 cm Tubes we will have to be careful during the approach. Especially because of the lower speed of the 740 Tonners. In loaded condition they were good for 23 to 24 knots. Their best speed was about 25 knotes. The Okhotnik'sare next most modern destroyers of the Baltic Forces, being finished in 1906." Graf considered.
"Things will change this autumn, when the 1912 building program will come to fruition (Footnote 10)." 36 destroyers had been ordered for the Baltc back then.
"But that is future, tomorrow the operation should start, the by far biggest move the Russian navy had planned in this war," Graf ended his self conversation.
July 8th1915, SMS Undine, evening, 12 knots, course 035
Korvettenkapitaen Windmueller was raised from his reverie when he heared a lookout.
"Flags going up on Roon".
July 8th1915, Russian Battleship Tsesarevitch, Helsingfors, quay
Vice-Admiral Kanin was pacing around restless on the quarterdeck of the big battleship.
Had he done everything right? Is it a good move? Will the forces be strong enough?
His chief of operations, Kapitan I. Ranga Koltchak had advocated for more daring operations since he took over the command from late Admiral Essen May 20ththis year. The beloved Admiral had died of a lung infection. Suddenly and unexpected. Many had thought that Vice-Admiral Kerber, Essen's chief of staff would be promoted as successor. But those were disappointed.
Kanin himself was a bit surprised being the successor. Until his promotion he had commanded the Baltic Minelaying Forces. He had have considerable success in the mine operations in autumn and winter , until icing made operations impossible February 14th1915.
The planned operation had much to do with mining, but was more than that. Much more. In fact, it might cost the Germans their superiority in this theater.
The new German Admiral, the upshot Letters, was very active with the Hochseeflotte. Obviously not only with his own units. The English Admiralty was so kind and had passed an important information. One of the English submarines had spotted the SMS Prinz Heinrichand another Armoured Cruiser in the Skagerrak yesterday.
"What nice a piece of information;" Kanin thought again. The German forces in the eastern Baltic consists of only three Armoured Cruisers, the mentioned Prinz Heinrich, the Prinz Adalbertand the Roon. Koltchak had assured him of that.
"If two of them are in the North Sea, whatever they were looking for over there, only one can be available against our combined forces," Kanin mused again. He was not unhappy, that the German attention had turned away from the Baltic towards the mightiest sea power the world had ever seen.
The loss of their southernmost harbor Libau still hurt the Russian Admiral. Maybe one day they could retake it. After the capture in May the German land forces had been very passive in the Balticum. They seem to be occupied in Galicia, where an Austro-German offensive had repeatedly broken through the Russian front. Much of the last years conquests had to be abandoned.
He had put down a daring plan, with Koltchak's help. The Generality (Footnote 11) and even the Tsar himself had approved the operation.
The mission was that important, that Kanin had decided to take part himself. He raised his flag on the battle proved Predreadnought Tsesarevitch, which had fought in the Russo-Japanese war in 1904. Damaged in the Battle of the Yellow Sea August 10th1904, when Kontre-Admiral Witthoeft was killed by a 12 inch shell in the foremast, Tsesarevitchhad managed to escape, finally being interned in the German possession in China, Tsingtao. It was returned to Russian possession after the war. Being build in France, the Tsesarevitch was commissioned August 1903. She was in fact older than their second Battleship, the Slava, but he always had preferred his current flagship over the June 1905 commissioned one.
"Apart from those two battleships all five of Russia's Baltic Armoured cruisers would take part. And the four Protected Cruisers as well. Covered by as much as 37 destroyers not much can go wrong, can it?"
The supremacy of the involved forces was that great, that he had planned to achieve more than one goal. "No need to concentrate more forces than necessary," Kanin said to himself.
"Much will depend on Kontre-Admiral Bachireff's Cover Force. Should the Memel Striking Force meet trouble, they ought to help them out." Kanin could not successfully calm down.
"I simply have to trust his senses and tactical skill." Vice-Admiral Kanin was not allowed to move the Battleships too far south. The Generals and the Tsar still valued them too much. The more modern Russian battleships, the Gangut-Class Dreadnoughts, he was forbidden to use. Those ought to secure the Central Mine Station in the Gulf of Finland.
"But honestly we really do not need them," his glance lingered on the mighty structure of the Sevastopoland her huge 12 inch tripple turrets, coming to rest on the bow of the Slava. The activity on the quay had subsided during the last minutes. Obviously much equipment was already stowed away successfully. "Where are the destroyers?"
July 8th1915, SMS Arcona, evening, 12 knots, course 035
The signals mate was a bit confused: "First flag, N, then E, P, T, U and the last one is N. Coordinates follow. And now a time.
July 8th1915, English trawlerBroken Tyre,evening, steerage way
It had been quite a debate, to rescue him or not. Finally humanity had subdued greed or fear. "Yes he might discover 'someting', " Tyre's captain Miller had said. 'And what is he ought to do, this poor soul?" That had settled that.
That one, who had introduced himself as Stoker David Young, had been very fortunate. Fortunate to survive and fortunate being seen by them and VERY fortunate to get rescued by them, as well.
"Do you have a wireless?" he had asked after they had torn off his wet clothes, wrapped him in blankets and gave him a dose of rum.
When they had denied that, he had pointed to the wireless antennae, that clever one. "And what is that?"
"Our direct line to the Pope," they had answered.
"Come on, we need to inform the Admiralty. I am a survivor from HMS Cedric. They ought to be informed that there is a survivor. Add time and position."
"And the huns will come and look after you. Come and take you away! No, we will not use wireless."
"But it is important, the Germans have sunk my ship, there might be other surviors as well."
"There will be no survivors at all if you do not shut up....," the capain had ended the concersation. And young stoker Young was too tired and exhausted to object.
"Can I have one more dram of this rum, please?"
July 8th1915, SMS Berlin, evening, 12 knots, course 105
Fregattenkapitaen von Buelow was fuming. He just had finished writing down another entry into the Kriegstagebuch (Footnote 12) about the unbeliveble behavior of this upshot Ziethen. Ordering such an operation. "I should command this force", the thought.
"Engine, prepare to reduce speed, helm we'll turn hard to starboard, when I order".
July 8th1915, SMS Roon, evening, 5 knots, course 035
All ships had acknowledged his signals. His force was coming together, tightly together.
"Andreas, Operation Icebear is about to begin", Ziethen said with a smile to his First Officer.
"Engine, prepare to stop, ready for steerage way".
July 8th1915, SMS U - 19, evening, course 035
They long had crossed the 'line'. They were looking for a VERY special kind of prey at the moment.
"Herr Kaleunt, ship is in the right quadrant at the right time", Kapitaenleutnat Kolbe was adressed by his navigator.
"I do not take chances, dive. Open the doors of the front torpedo tubes!"
Some minutes later:
"Up periscope!"
Kolbes mind was racing. What if the Englisher might have laid out a trap? Had awaited them?
He had finished his round-sweep. No other ship was in sight, only that one, about 4000 meters away.
"Maintain course and speed!"
"Down periscope!"
"Hydrophone Operator, any unusual sounds?"
Some minutes later:
"Up periscope!" Kolbe ordered again. He took another round sweep.
"IO, what do you think?" He stepped back and his First Officer had a long look.
"Definitively, Sir. That's her."
Kolbe hesitated one moment. "Blow the tanks, gun crew ready, we're surfacing!"
July 8th1915, SMS Roon, about 8 pm, Polar Circle, steerage way
Trumpets were blaring, drums were beaten, heavenly choruses filled the air. His Majesty had arrived, with a large staff. Had they come from the ships aside the Roon? Or from heavens above? Nonsense, from out of the sea they had arisen.
"Welcome your majesty, aboard our humble ship," the voice of Fregattenkapitaen Ziethen filled the air.
Do I have explained already that most of Roon's crew, engine room staff and lookouts aside, had assembled on the quarterdeck of the Armoured Cruiser? Had it been coincidence, that ALL of the younger sailors, deck-officers and officers were there? Not a single exception?. The fighting stations were crewed without exception by VERY experienced personel. Still fun should and could not lead to a failure of this mission.
Many of those crewmembers looked frightened or uncertain, for the boarders were indeed strange a view.
Quite large a team it was, which boarded the ship. In fact they had left through a door near the starboard after casemate, walked along the outer deck, carefully for not being whashed away by the sea, which was flooding the lower deck time after time, and entered up a gangway to the upper deck. To those on deck it had seem the ocean had spewn them out.
Strange folk it was.
His majesty, Neptune himself, aka known as Stabsbootsmann Krueger, was quite an impressive person. Ziethen inwardly had wondered if he would have shivered to death with his naked torso.
Kruegers, errr. Neptun's head was crowned, as one could expect from a Majesty. His whole royal household did come along, pretty maiden and tough looking soldiers.
The strangest look were a couple of 'animals' to guard his Highness, one could more or less be recognized as an ice-bear. But only to those, which had never seen a real one. Not that many had.
This ice-bear probably was the only one of those assembled not being cold.
The ice-bear baptism was seldom practiced, much more common was the crossing the line ceremony much further south. The born idea lead to a modification of the masquerade, but still - they were just crossing the polar circle.
This ice-bear was a small representative of his species, but was roaring like there was no tomorrow.
"Small stature can lead to aggressiveness," Trapp, Roon'ssecond officer thought.
After the Commodore had greeted the visitors of the deep seas, the fun began. For fun it was, but not for all of them.
July 8th1915, SMS U - 19, late evening, course 35
Kolbe looked at the retreating plume. He had give the captain of that merchant his orders. The ship had indeed been the 2,380 ts displacing SS John Heidmann, built 1909 or Kohlenschiff 21, as she was registered now. They had left Brunsbuettel late July 2nd, covered by the whole Hochseeflotte, albeit that had been as distant a coverage as one could be. The skirmish July 3rdof Letters with the Grand Fleet that day had made the passing of the blokade-line possible.
So the first auxiliary was on the way. But Kolbe planned to 'collect' a bit more.
July 8th1915, Russian Armoured Cruiser Admiral Makaroff, late evening Reval, quay
They were as ready as they could be. He had ordered boilers on 2 hours notice recently. Kontre-Admiral Bachireff and his force was the first to leave Reval, shortly after midnight. As it seems fit for the overall Cover Force.
He still was impressed by their daring plan. His flagship, the 1908 vintage Admiral Makaroff, together with their sister, the Armoured Cruiser Bajan, 1911 vintage and the strongest Russian Protected Cruisers, the 1902 vintage Bogatyrand the 1904 vintage Oleg, accompanied by eight large destroyers of the Fifth Destroyer-Flotilla would primarily act as cover for the combined mining and shelling operation against the German harbor of Memel.
Apart of that, he was more than willing to trade shots with the sole remaining German Armoured Cruiser. He hoped it would be the SMS Roon, for her crew was reportedly inferior to the one of SMS Prinz Adalbert, the flagship of Kontre Admiral Hopman, his likely adversary. They were sure it would not been SMS Prinz Heinrich, for she was reported elsewhere. "Scouting in the North Sea for whatever good that might be", he tought.
His Armoured Cruisers were a bit smaller than their opponents, displacing 7,835 ts but much more heavily armoured. They also might have a slight speed advantage, the Admiral Makaroffhad reached 22.5 knots on trials. And Bajanwas only three and a half years old.
His two very strong Protected Cruisers were even faster than that. "Not that it makes that big a difference," he said to his flag-captain. His greatest worries were his destroyers. Long time steaming with high speed was not too good for the relatively short legged 650 ton ones. That was the reason why he would start the adventure tomorrow morning only with reduced speed at first.
His second worry was the deteriorating weather. It could be quite a stormy night.
July 8th1915, SMS Berlin, nearly midnight, 12 knots, course 035
Fregattenkapitaen von Bülow had finished another entry into the war journal. A bright smile entered his face. He had him, latest now, he was sure of it.
"How one can start such a thing, in the middle of a war and an extremely important mission. ICEBEARS, yes he knew that there existed a trait, a habit, at least sometimes, to celebrate the crossing of the polar circle. Merchant mariners do that, sometimes, sometimes. But never, NEVER sailors of the Kaiserliche Marine in a war."
Neptun and his staff had boarded his SMS Berlinas well. The most redicolous thing was this ice-bear imitation. As if ever one has seen an ice-bear smaller than 1.7 meters. He was rudely surprised to see how much fun the crew and his Officers had have. "Rediculous!" His crew and this inapt First Officer of his.
He had written it all down, he personally would bring Ziethen to a Kriegsgericht (Footnote 13). That upstart and shame of the fleet would be done with.
He started to plan to dispose Ziethen off. He had to save a mission. To win a war.
July 8th 1915, SMS Roon, midnight, 12 knots, course 035
Wilhelm Wudtke was still smiling. This day had been adventure again. In the morning little Willy had thought his end had arrived, when he had been escorted by Bootsmann Ebert to Korvettenkapitaen Findert. But events had turned out unexpected. In the afternoon he found himself back in his old profession, being a tailor. Being a 'real' professional in between all those experienced sailors,he had managed to stand his ground. Especially Ebert had been quite friendly to him, even after the show.
Wilhelm had helped to sew parts of many costumes but especially proud was he about the ice-bear. He personally had made most of it. And he had received a reward. HE was the ice-bear. How he had liked to 'shock' his friend Clemens Bock, Axel Strehl and Thomas Bornhold. How he had roared!
He had made up his mind not to tell his Kameraden that he was the ice-bear in person. Better not. Especially because Axel and even Clemens were not looking too healthy. The cocktails they were greeted with by Neptun's staff had been a bit 'spicy'. Especially Axel, who's profession was cook, had a real stomachache.
"Where have you been, Wilhelm", Thomas Bornhold had asked him, when the ceremony was over. "I have looked out for you, but I was unable to locate you."
"I, aahh, I had been ordered to my fighting station," Wilhelm was wiping his suddenly moisture brow.
Fortunately, Bornhold, one not to speak too many words, was content with that answer. And the other rooms members were either too uninterested or too ill to ask. Not even the next morning. But things had moved ahead then.
July 9th1915, Russian Armoured Cruiser Rossija, early morning, Reval, steerage way
They had cast off. The operation had begun. Kontre-Admiral Kurosch was watching the tugs to drag the big units of his Raiding Force free of the quay.
Turning around on his flag-bridge, looking ahead, he could see the already well lit superstructure of the younger Gromoboy. The huge four stacker was a decade long companion. Together both ships had fought the Russo-Japanese war, when both ship were stationed at Vladivostok. They had fought the Battle of Ulsan against their Japanese foe.
Both ships had been heavily damaged there. Back then they could not have prevented the loss of the old Ryurik, which had finally succumbed to heavy damage and had to be scuttled to prevent her falling into enemies hand. Today a new, much more powerful Ryurikwas part of their Baltic Fleet, though not part of Kurosch's force.
Both war hero Armoured Cruisers were supported by the old Protected Cruisers Avrora and Diana, both veterans of that war ten years ago as well.
His force could have been counted to be quite modern ten years ago. Even in the last years, when the Baltic Fleet was quite small, his ships had been relegated to second hand duties. Only when the war broke out, his ships had returned to front line duties.
But he had been assured that he would not meet modern German Forces at all. His duty was to hunt for German iron ore ships from Luela to the German Baltic ports on the southern coast.
And exactly that was what he planned to do. Interdict this traffic for some days. May be he would be able to cut off and sink German warships, most likely auxiliaries.
And to protect him against any odds he had the destroyers of 6thDestroyer Flotilla with him.
July 9th1915, early morning, Reval's harbor entrance
The destroyers of the 8thFlotilla were underway as well. All eight boats had been made ready for the sortie. Though they were the smallest of the destroyers for that operation, nonetheless an important mission was to be finished by them.
All boats save the Flotilla-Leader Lovkihad loaded 10 mines each. Their mission was to strengthen the already existing minefields near Steinort on the Courland-Coast south of Windau. The small destroyers ought not to take the course of all other units, but sail through the Moon-Sound into the gulf of Riga, which they should exit through the Irben Straits. Most likely they could not be detected during their concealed voyage.
July 09th1915, Russian destroyer Nowik, early morning, west of Reval's harbor entrance
Thick rainsqualls were limiting the vision of Kapitan II. Ranga Graf and of the whole force of course.
"Captain, we have lost the boats of 4thdivision," his First Officer could be heard. Was there excitement in his voice?
The huge form of the Ryurikcould still be made out in front of them.
"Increase speed enough to reduce the distance to 200 meters," he ordered. "Active two searchlights, one pointed aft to port, the other to starboard".
They would soon show up again, would they not?
July 09th1915, morning, Kiel harbor
The fleet was reaching the Außenförde (Note 14), having left the quay about half an hour ago. Already the planned formation was forming up.
Kontreadmiral Begas did not need binoculars to watch his fleet deploying. About one kilometer ahead SMS Amazonehad taken station, already accelerating to the planned speed of 13 knots.
His flagship SMS Woerthwas second, closely followed by SMS Brandenburg. In trail followed both Danzig bound SMS Kaiser Wilhelm der Großeand SMS Kaiser Barbaraossa. Not yet cleared the lighthouse, the boundary between the Innen- and the Außenförde was their final heavy unit, SMS Freya.
When finally reaching the Baltic, Begas planned to turn east. His plan was to reach Libau in the morning hours of July 11th.
Their escorts were forming up as well, the 'big' boats S 122and S 127, a temporary lease from Mischke's Küstenschutzverband Ostsee, had approached the Amazone. The four small boats of Hafenflottille Kiel and the even smaller but brand new ones of the A-Classwere trying to reach their positions.
July 09th 1915, morning, Libau harbor
Kommodore von Karpf had just given the command to blow the whistle. That was the signal for the operation to begin.
The SMS Beowulf had cast off hours before, to support the sweepers of 2ndMinensuchdivision, which had to clear reported Russian minefields near Steinort.
There was a secret mission behind that support as well. The current front lines between the Russian and the German forces were not too far away from the scheduled sweeping place. The Artillery Officer of Beowulfought to register some useful targets for the upcoming offensive. The Balticum soon might change its master.
His own forces, consisting of his flagship