Battleship Fleet versus Battleship fleet action here...
en.wikipedia.org
en.wikipedia.org
Instead of the Japanese Southern Force, it is replaced by the Imperial German High Seas Fleet and tasked with a similar mission to the Japanese one which will be to advance towards the Leyte Island Invasion sight and sink the transports and devastate whatever ground and naval forces might be in the area, foiling or massively disrupting their invasion and hopefully bringing the Navy to decisive battle.
But before they can do that, they have to make their way through the Surigao Straight where Rear Admiral Jesse Oldendorf has set up the 7th Fleet Support Force to make a stand. At his disposal are six battleships (West Virginia, Maryland, Mississippi, Tennessee, California and Pennsylvania) as well as four heavy cruisers including the flagship the USS Louisville as well as the Portland, Minneapolis and Australian Shropshire as well as four light cruisers, the Denver, Columbia, Phoenix and Boise. In addition they possess 28 destroyers and 39 PT Boats for a screening force.
Oldendorf as per OTL deployed the PT-Boats and then the destroyers ahead of his force, with the six battleships then crossing the straights with the eight cruisers as flanking support to bring about their concentrated gunfire. He'll attempt to delay or defeat the enemy force to the best of his ability.
Admiral Scheer will have in his possession a force similar to that at Jutland, with 16 Dreadnaught style battleships, six pre-dread battleships, five battlecruisers, eleven light cruisers and a force of sixty one destroyers/torpedo boats.
Scheer as per OTL deployed a scouting force consisting of five battlecruisers, five light cruisers and thirty torpedo boat destroyers under Admiral Hipper. The whole fleets intention will be to engage the enemy fleet, destroy as much of it as possible but with an overriding goal of striking at the Leyte Landing zones to the North.
Oldendorf obviously has the advantage of more advanced technology and perhaps more experience and for the moment a tactical advantage. Assuming the Japanese briefed the High Seas Fleet on what they know of the Americans in regards to their disposition and capabilities but unfortunately the High Seas Fleet has to follow the general zany plan which calls for their advance through this general area towards Leyte.
No reinforcements for either side will be available due to the multipronged nature of the engagement.
Will the High Seas Fleet be able to withdraw or circumvent Oldendorf's trap or break through? If they breakthrough will it be a pyrrhic victory and to what scale? If Oldendorf doesn't stop their advance will the Germans be able to decisively defeat their adversaries before they can withdraw? Will zee Germans suffer too many casualties even in light of a victory and withdraw anyways? Etc Etc Etc.
Battle of Leyte Gulf - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
Battle of Jutland - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
Instead of the Japanese Southern Force, it is replaced by the Imperial German High Seas Fleet and tasked with a similar mission to the Japanese one which will be to advance towards the Leyte Island Invasion sight and sink the transports and devastate whatever ground and naval forces might be in the area, foiling or massively disrupting their invasion and hopefully bringing the Navy to decisive battle.
But before they can do that, they have to make their way through the Surigao Straight where Rear Admiral Jesse Oldendorf has set up the 7th Fleet Support Force to make a stand. At his disposal are six battleships (West Virginia, Maryland, Mississippi, Tennessee, California and Pennsylvania) as well as four heavy cruisers including the flagship the USS Louisville as well as the Portland, Minneapolis and Australian Shropshire as well as four light cruisers, the Denver, Columbia, Phoenix and Boise. In addition they possess 28 destroyers and 39 PT Boats for a screening force.
Oldendorf as per OTL deployed the PT-Boats and then the destroyers ahead of his force, with the six battleships then crossing the straights with the eight cruisers as flanking support to bring about their concentrated gunfire. He'll attempt to delay or defeat the enemy force to the best of his ability.
Admiral Scheer will have in his possession a force similar to that at Jutland, with 16 Dreadnaught style battleships, six pre-dread battleships, five battlecruisers, eleven light cruisers and a force of sixty one destroyers/torpedo boats.
Scheer as per OTL deployed a scouting force consisting of five battlecruisers, five light cruisers and thirty torpedo boat destroyers under Admiral Hipper. The whole fleets intention will be to engage the enemy fleet, destroy as much of it as possible but with an overriding goal of striking at the Leyte Landing zones to the North.
Oldendorf obviously has the advantage of more advanced technology and perhaps more experience and for the moment a tactical advantage. Assuming the Japanese briefed the High Seas Fleet on what they know of the Americans in regards to their disposition and capabilities but unfortunately the High Seas Fleet has to follow the general zany plan which calls for their advance through this general area towards Leyte.
No reinforcements for either side will be available due to the multipronged nature of the engagement.
Will the High Seas Fleet be able to withdraw or circumvent Oldendorf's trap or break through? If they breakthrough will it be a pyrrhic victory and to what scale? If Oldendorf doesn't stop their advance will the Germans be able to decisively defeat their adversaries before they can withdraw? Will zee Germans suffer too many casualties even in light of a victory and withdraw anyways? Etc Etc Etc.