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The January 2001 AusBG "Battle of the Bowning Sea".

January 26th - 28th 2001

 

Saturday Morning Battle.

HMS Invincible Dies Valiantly.

The Axis started well, with all their vessels sortieing to take on the USS Houston, the USS South Dakota and HMS Invincible.

IJN Tokyo Rose Maru was quickly sunk by the USS Houston but an Axis response was not long in coming. HMS Invincible was sunk by the FNS Strasbourg. HMS Invincible had come from West Australia where her skipper, Gordon Cranfield, had built her and her guns by himself. This was the first time she had ever fired her guns in anger. Invincible suffered from numerous teething problems and did not last long against the Strasbourg.

Click on a thumbnail to see the full sized picture.
Strasburg leaves HMS Invincible to sink She turns for home But does not make it She is lost
Strasbourg leaves HMS Invincible in a sinking condition. HMS Invincible turns for the shore, but water is already lapping around her X turret barbette. It is not to be. Her stern dips under and she plunges for the bottom. HMS Invincible - the 1st warship lost at the Australian Battle Group's 2001 National Meeting but certain not to be the last.
Photo: Kirwan Photo: Simpson Photo: Simpson Photo: Simpson



Graf Spee Sorties.

Graf Spee was the next casualty amongst the warships. Her front cannon barrels were not properly secured and were lost overboard within moments of setting sail. Pursued by USS South Dakota and USS Indiana she was quickly damaged and forced to withdraw.

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Graf Spee, sans 'A' turret, runs from South Dakota and Indiana
Peter shows off the damage that forced Graf Spee to break off
Graf Spee, sans 'A' turret, runs from South Dakota and Indiana. Peter shows off the damage that forced Graf Spee to break off.
Photo: kirwan Photo: kirwan



Sink the IJN Fujicowa Maru !

Brett Farquharson's IJN Fujikowa Maru was lost next. She suffered a propulsion failure near the outer buoy and despite being guarded by INS Littorio was put under by USS Houston after nearly drifting ashore on an island.

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IJN Fujicowa Maru is down slightly by the stern Then she is gone
IJN Fujicowa Maru is down slightly by the stern. Then, with her motors dead she slowly sinks. Finally going down by the bow.
Photo: Simpson Photo: Simpson



INS Imperator Makes Her Debut.

All Axis combat vessels withdrew for repairs, as did USS South Dakota and USS Indiana. USS Houston and USS Alabama were left guarding the allied merchant ships as they did their runs. INS Imperator, a highly manoeuvrable tramp steamer about 12" long tried her luck against the two allied warships. Her escort, Graf Spee, broke down moments after launch and Imperator continued alone. Weaving and dodging across the pond the Imperator avoided shot after shot from Alabama and Houston before being swamped by a point blank near miss from Alabama. She struggled on but was unable to make progress and was sunk by a single hit from the USS Houston.

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Swamped then holed, Imperator struggles on.
Everyone bar her captain can see she isn't going to make it Down she goes. Another one for Davy Jones' locker
Swamped then holed, Imperator struggles on. Everyone bar her captain can see she isn't going to make it. Down she goes. Another one for Davy Jones' locker.
Photo: Simpson Photo: Simpson Photo: Simpson Photo: Simpson



The Rest Of The Morning.

Through the rest the combat was indecisive.
Both sides entered the lunch-break feeling they had the upper hand.


Saturday Afternoon