Difference between revisions of "Second Battle of Heligoland Bight"
(→Battle) |
(→Battle) |
||
| Line 6: | Line 6: | ||
As the battle was a stern chase for the Royal Navy, none of the cruisers fired torpedoes. Gallingly, three of four destroyer torpedo firings had bad impulse charges, though one of these three torpedoes got free in time, anyway. The two successful firers were {{UK-Ursa}} and {{UK-Vanquisher}}.{{GFGTO|1/5/1918, p. 40}} | As the battle was a stern chase for the Royal Navy, none of the cruisers fired torpedoes. Gallingly, three of four destroyer torpedo firings had bad impulse charges, though one of these three torpedoes got free in time, anyway. The two successful firers were {{UK-Ursa}} and {{UK-Vanquisher}}.{{GFGTO|1/5/1918, p. 40}} | ||
| − | + | The {{UK-LCS|1}} presented an unfortunately nice torpedo target which the German light cruisers leapt at with fervour from a position four points on the bow at 14-16,000 yards range. Six to eight enemy torpedoes came through the squadron or passed near it. It was felt that during this period, {{UK-Galatea}} was hit near her bridge by a torpedo which did not explode.{{GFGTO|1/5/1918, p. 40}} | |
| − | + | {{UK-Caledon}} was hit by a 5.9-in and an 11- or 12-in shell. {{UK-Cardiff}} was hit by four 5.9-in shells, and {{UK-Calypso}} by a single 5.9-in shell in the conning tower that forced in an Electro-Pneumatic firing push and thereby caused her to fire a ready torpedo. This quirk inspired issuance of a Torpedo Order to keep safety pins or push covers in place until the moment before firing.{{GFGTO|1/5/1918, p. 40}} | |
{{TBC}} | {{TBC}} | ||
Revision as of 18:15, 6 May 2013
The Second Battle of Heligoland Bight was a naval skirmish fought on 17 November 1917 near the island of Heligoland near the main German naval base at Wilhelmshaven.
Battle
At 0730, the British First Cruiser Squadron was steering 90 degrees at 22 knots with the Sixth Light Cruiser Squadron one mile to their port beam at 25 knots and the First Light Cruiser Squadron three miles astern. Ten destroyers screened the forces.[1]
As the battle was a stern chase for the Royal Navy, none of the cruisers fired torpedoes. Gallingly, three of four destroyer torpedo firings had bad impulse charges, though one of these three torpedoes got free in time, anyway. The two successful firers were Ursa and Vanquisher.[2]
The First Light Cruiser Squadron presented an unfortunately nice torpedo target which the German light cruisers leapt at with fervour from a position four points on the bow at 14-16,000 yards range. Six to eight enemy torpedoes came through the squadron or passed near it. It was felt that during this period, Galatea was hit near her bridge by a torpedo which did not explode.[3]
Caledon was hit by a 5.9-in and an 11- or 12-in shell. Cardiff was hit by four 5.9-in shells, and Calypso by a single 5.9-in shell in the conning tower that forced in an Electro-Pneumatic firing push and thereby caused her to fire a ready torpedo. This quirk inspired issuance of a Torpedo Order to keep safety pins or push covers in place until the moment before firing.[4]
[TO BE CONTINUED - TONE]
British Order of Battle
Taken from the British Official History.[5]
First Cruiser Squadron
Sixth Light Cruiser Squadron
- Screened by:
- flotilla leader Valentine
- Vimiera
- Vanquisher
- Vehement
First Light Cruiser Squadron
First Battle Cruiser Squadron
First Battle Squadron
- Screened by:
See Also
Footnotes
Bibliography
- Newbolt, Henry (1931). Naval Operations. Vol. V. London: Longmans, Green and Co..
