Poor ole Blücher...

Safe-Keeper · 10-04-06, 09:17 PM

Morning, 9th of April: Operation Weserübung is underway. The Hipper-class Heavy Cruiser Blücher leads a task force into the Oslo Fjord. Her mission is to spearhead the amphibious assault on the capital city, taking the Norwegians by surrpise and capturing the royal family, government officials, and gold reserves, forcing Norway into an early surrender...

Approaching: Blücher ignores both the warning shots and live rounds from the outlying guns. She also ignores the U-60, a VII-B present ahead of her to take screen-shots.

Having passed the shore defenses, the ship makes her further north, turning starboard into the Drobak Sound. In her path lies Oscarsborg Fortress.

Birger Eriksen, commander of Oscarsborg Fortress, deems the approaching task force to be hostile, and orders his German-made (the irony!) cannons Aaron and Moses to open fire on the Blücher. The battle of the Drobak Sound is on.

A one-sided battle: While Blücher's guns "fail to hit targets of military significance", the shore-based artillery of the Norsemen score several hits, crippling the Blücher. The doomed ship thunders forward at emergency speed, inevitably straying into the firing arc of a torpedo battery missed by German intelligence.

A turkey shot if there ever was one. Austrian-Hungarian-made torpedoes are fired in anger after over 200 test launches.

The Blücher, abandoned by her crew, sinks in the Drobak Sound.

The aftermath: The Norwegians have sunk one of Germany's greatest vessels, delaying the invasion of Oslo long enough for royals, government, and gold to be evacuated. Several hundred German sailors were captured by Norwegian royal guards. Blücher's task force turns around, with one Heavy Cruiser lost and a Pocket Battleship damaged (the Lutzow exchanged fire with Oscarsborg Fortress from a greater distance, losing a gun turret).

Heavy German retaliatory bombing took place later on the very same day. Despite the Luftwaffe's best efforts, however, no Norwegian casualties were suffered.

Notes: The above series of screen-shots depict a work-in-progress (hint, hint). They are, despite the designer's best efforts, not historically correct and should not be conceived as educational.

10-04-06, 09:17 PM	#1
Safe-Keeper Ocean Warrior Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Norway Posts: 3,234 Downloads: 11 Uploads: 0	Poor ole Blücher... Morning, 9th of April: Operation Weserübung is underway. The Hipper-class Heavy Cruiser Blücher leads a task force into the Oslo Fjord. Her mission is to spearhead the amphibious assault on the capital city, taking the Norwegians by surrpise and capturing the royal family, government officials, and gold reserves, forcing Norway into an early surrender... Approaching: Blücher ignores both the warning shots and live rounds from the outlying guns. She also ignores the U-60, a VII-B present ahead of her to take screen-shots. Having passed the shore defenses, the ship makes her further north, turning starboard into the Drobak Sound. In her path lies Oscarsborg Fortress. Birger Eriksen, commander of Oscarsborg Fortress, deems the approaching task force to be hostile, and orders his German-made (the irony!) cannons Aaron and Moses to open fire on the Blücher. The battle of the Drobak Sound is on. A one-sided battle: While Blücher's guns "fail to hit targets of military significance", the shore-based artillery of the Norsemen score several hits, crippling the Blücher. The doomed ship thunders forward at emergency speed, inevitably straying into the firing arc of a torpedo battery missed by German intelligence. A turkey shot if there ever was one. Austrian-Hungarian-made torpedoes are fired in anger after over 200 test launches. The Blücher, abandoned by her crew, sinks in the Drobak Sound. The aftermath: The Norwegians have sunk one of Germany's greatest vessels, delaying the invasion of Oslo long enough for royals, government, and gold to be evacuated. Several hundred German sailors were captured by Norwegian royal guards. Blücher's task force turns around, with one Heavy Cruiser lost and a Pocket Battleship damaged (the Lutzow exchanged fire with Oscarsborg Fortress from a greater distance, losing a gun turret). Heavy German retaliatory bombing took place later on the very same day. Despite the Luftwaffe's best efforts, however, no Norwegian casualties were suffered. Notes: The above series of screen-shots depict a work-in-progress (hint, hint). They are, despite the designer's best efforts, not historically correct and should not be conceived as educational. __________________ First Strike Mod tester. Hardcore sub skipper.