1916 Campaign - Royal Navy

saddletank

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Re: 1916 Campaign

Some images of the armoured cruisers of 3rd and 7th cruiser squadrons and the battleships of 3rd battle squadron during their recent sortie to the western Bight 11th to 13th January.

1) 'Winter Dawn'. 3rd CS. HMSs Devonshire, Antrim and Kent steaming north east just after dawn on the morning of 13th Jan. In the distance the smoke of a cargo ship is visible.

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/22426/3rdCS_DutchCoast_AM_Jan12.jpg

2) 'Prize of War'. A few minutes later. HMS Kent hauls out of the screen formation and raises steam for 20kts as she approaches the Westward Ho! Kent's crew joked later that it was a very strange name for a ship registered at Oslo.

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/22426/Kent_WestwardHo_DutchCoast_AM_11Jan.jpg

3) 'Rule Britannia'. The crisp, bright afternoon of the 13th. 3rd BS steams into the Bight.

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/22426/3rdBS_Bight_PM_Jan12.jpg

4) 'German Bight: Rain later'. Bitter freezing rain greets 3rd CS as the enemy is sighted. Kent (foreground) trains her forward guns. Antrim beyond and Devonshire in the background.

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/22426/3rdCS01_Bight_PM_Jan13.jpg

5) 'Enemy in Sight!' 3rd CS turns together to the south as German cruisers appear in the east.

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/22426/3rdCS02_Bight_PM_Jan13.jpg

6) 'If You go Down to the Ems Tonight...'. 1st Scouting Group as seen from the aftertop of HMS Devonshire at 2:56pm. Smoke from enemy light cruisers is visible to both sides of the enemy capital ships.

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/22426/1SG_Bight_PM_13Jan.jpg

7) 'The Better Part of Valour'. 3rd BS reverses course at around 3:00pm.

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/22426/3rdBS02_Bight_PM_13Jan.jpg

8) 'Gloom and Gloaming'. HMS Lancaster leads HMS Donegal westwards in the gathering dusk. Devonshire and Antrim on the northern horizon.

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/22426/Lancaster_Donegal_Bight_PM_12Jan.jpg

9) 'Rearguard'. Making immense plumes of smoke Lancaster and Donegal (foreground) and Devonshire and Antrim make all speed to the west.

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/22426/Lancaster_Donegal02_Bight_PM_12Jan.jpg

10) 'Cruisers Will Withdraw. Utmost Speed'. The view looking south. Achilles and Kent in the foreground, Devonshire and Antrim in the distance.

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/22426/Achilles_Kent_Bight_PM_Jan12.jpg

11) 'Parthian Shot'. HMS Achilles firing her port 7.5" battery at the distant Frankfurt.

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/22426/Achilles_eng_Frankfurt_Bight_PM_12Jan.jpg
 

saddletank

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Re: 1916 Campaign

13 JAN
------

12:01am E.41 ordered to Zeebrugge to lay mines.

Initially it was thought that the German battlecruisers had put to sea to intercept and destroy the slower moving 3rd BS and initial moves during the night by Beatty, Bradford and Tyrwhitt were made with this in mind - that once aware they were facing light cruisers normally attached to the BCF the Germans would turn for home. However as searches to the east revealed nothing, Beatty ordered a course to the NW at 12:30am on the 13th and at 1:06am Elbing was again sighted from Southampton at 2,500m bearing 350, course 256, 21kts. 2nd LCS was on a course of 301 15kts and was sweeping through approximately the same area of sea the Boston had been sighted in 90 minutes earlier. It was clear now that the Germans were pushing west and north towards the English east coast and appeared to still be unaware that the BCF was in contact. Goodenough turned onto course 270 and Elbing swung away to the northwards. Her firing this time was very good and she opened fire before the British cruisers did, hitting Southampton six times with 6" shells and illuminating her with star shell, something the RN lacked. 2nd LCS replied back however and Elbing was hit several times before she withdrew. Two enemy destroyers, the B.97 and B.98 were now sighted to the NE of Elbing steering E. Rear Admiral Napier in HMS Falmouth leading 3rd LCS turned his four ships from 301 to 010 to close and engage. Goodenough swung 2nd LCS starboard to 340 to try and stay in contact with Elbing which was now making 27kts on 358.

Our 12 light cruisers and 6 armoured cruisers were now all making full speed in a NNW to N direction, spread on a wide front while Beatty followed still on 301 but now at 20kts, 3rd BS following at 18kts.

Napier now saw the B.112 dead ahead of Falmouth at 3,500m, making high speed east. Realising he was probably running into a strong destroyer screen at point blank range he ordered 3rd LCS to turn away to 070 and then to 090 while bringing B.112 under fire. Soon B.109, B.110 and B.111 appeared out of the darkness in the gap between B.97 and B.98 and B.112 - six of the newest and most powerful destroyers in the High Seas Fleet.

To the west Goodenough's turn to heading 340 had brought the light cruiser Pillau into sight, 2,000m bearing 000 course 110 27kts and within a minute or two Lancaster and Donegal sighted Pillau and added their fire. Frankfurt then came into action to the north in support of Pillau. Elbing by now had slid away once more in the dark beyond Pillau.

Napier's efforts against the B.97 destroyer flotilla were rewarded with a tremendous explosion that tore the leading enemy destroyer - B.112 - apart after Falmouth's third salvo. Falmouth then switched her guns to the second in line, B.111 while Gloucester opened fire on B.110 and Yarmouth, completing her turn, on B.109. Suddenly a cruiser appeared ahead of the enemy destroyers, and closer to Falmouth, switched on her searchlights and opened fire. She was the Regensburg and at the same time the Stralsund appeared astern of the destroyers. The speed with which the German ships located ours and engaged, almost simultaneously with putting their lights on, indicated they had better night action training than our crews, or the visibility north-east to south-west was better than on the reverse bearing.

Falmouth and Birkenhead, the leading and trailing two British cruisers engaged these new targets. Napier had been so far extremely fortunate in that none of his ships had been hit, the German destroyers either not firing at all or shooting very poorly. It was then that Napier saw two large low shapes to starboard of and beyond Regensburg. Seydlitz and Derfflinger appeared suddenly, 4,300m distant bearing 013 from Falmouth on course 191 at 26kts - heading directly for Beatty's line. Napier ordered a turn together away to 270, both to save his own ships and to clear the range between Beatty and the German battle cruisers. Likewise, Achilles and Kent which had been steaming towards that area seeking out further units of the German screen swung starboard onto 030 to keep clear of BCF's fire. The time was 1:14am, only eight minutes had elapsed since Southampton had identified Elbing.

It now began to rain heavily and on completing his turn, Napier's luck ran out: Falmouth was struck amidships by a heavy calibre shell from Seydlitz, a starboard 4" gun was disabled and Falmouth's speed began to fall off. Gloucester had also been hit at about this time by shells from B.111's flotilla. The German battlecruiser formation had been disrupted by B.111's line passing through it and Seydlitz was somewhat separated from Derfflinger, Moltke and Von der Tann, these last two ships having now been reported by Napier to Beatty. The three other German capital ships were 2000m to the west and north of Seydlitz, having steered around astern of B.97. Within minutes Falmouth was struck by upwards of 6 11" shells and 8 to 10 6". Her starboard battery was a shambles and several plates were punctured and displaced on her starboard side. She began to flood but the pumps could keep up for now. Her speed dropped to 16kts and Rear Admiral Napier ordered her to leave the line and make her way to safety steering course 234. She ceased fire and all men were ordered to the damage control parties.

Goodenough meanwhile, to the north and west of Napier, had lost contact with the Frankfurt, Wiesbaden, Pillau and Elbing group. He turned 2nd LCS to course 072 to relocate them. Rear Admiral Heath in Lancaster however, had no trouble locating them. The strange vagaries of the rainy night meant that patches of good and poor visibility moved about the sea and Lancaster and Donegal now steamed into a clear patch. It contained the four cruisers Goodenough was searching for, too far to the N and W, plus Stralsund and for the second time this night the Germans had a local superiority of firepower. Stralsund was especially aggressive, passing close under Lancaster's port quarter at under 200m. Heath turned away towards where he knew Goodenough was, on course 292 but not before his own ship and Donegal took a heavy punishment. At 1:21am Donegal shuddered and rolled from a torpedo hit, probably fired by either Wiesbaden or Frankfurt. She began to flood uncontrollably and her speed fell off rapidly.

Stralsund in return took heavy damage also. As she passed behind Lancaster she ran into 3rd LCS, less Falmouth and at point blank range the three British cruisers landed hit after hit. She limped away on course 103 on fire and slowing to 23kts.

East of the advancing German battlecruisers 1st LCS commanded by Alexander-Sinclair in HMS Galatea ran into the B.111 flotilla Napier had encountered earlier. Achilles and Kent having swung east away from the line of advance of the German battlecruisers were in company and the five German destroyers were hit badly, B.110 being struck by a torpedo fired from Inconstant as the two lines closed.

At 1:24am the German battlecruisers finally met 1st and 2nd BCS. The range was around 3,000m to 4,000m and the engagement was short and bloody. Lion, Queen Mary and Australia all took hits from large calibre guns, and Australia was hit by a torpedo, taking in water that slowed her speed to 20kts. Lion was hit on 'Q' and 'X' turrets disabling them both and Queen Mary lost 'X' turret. The German ships however took a murderous hammering. Appearing as they did at an oblique angle out of the dark each in turn was subjected to the concentrated fire of several ships. The German line bent and made away south-eastward and the British battlecruisers turned away also in individual cases to avoid torpedo tracks. The second ship in the German line, Derfflinger, seemed to take the worst of it and her speed was much reduced when again the Germans were lost to sight.

3rd LCS had shot Stralsund into a stationary wreck and as Beatty brought Lion round in a long slow turn from 300 to 068, coming back into the action after his ships turned away to avoid torpedoes, Elbing was sighted lying between the British battlecruisers and the direction in which the German battlecruisers had disappeared. Elbing was the only target and she was pounded by each British ship as she came into sight.

Alexander-Sinclair in Galatea, leading 1st LCS had left the remaining B.111 destroyers behind him in the dark and steering 285 at 23kts saw Frankfurt 4,500m on his starboard beam, course unknown. Kent and Achilles were now following the rear of his formation in close company with Devonshire and Antrim some miles astern (these two ships capable of only 22kts and being the furthest from where the action commenced had so far seen no enemy and had been steering generally NNE towards the sounds and flashes of combat). 1st LCS and the two armoured cruisers fired upon Frankfurt as they passed and though hits were observed their effects were unknown.

Beatty now at 1:39am, received a wireless report from Commodore Tyrwhitt that he was in contact with two German destroyers bearing 038 from Arethusa. His position was given and the ships plot showed 5th LCS was 31km from Lion bearing 081. Tyrwhitt also wirelessed that he had received a report from Commander Molteno in the flotilla leader Lightfoot, commanding 9th DF that he was observing three enemy cruisers to port, one with four funnels and two with three taller ones. These had appeared from the north. Beatty realised that such distant cruisers could not be part of the screen of the force he was fighting and considering that they could be the screen for the whole High Seas Fleet ordered his forces to break contact, Tyrwhitt reversing course to 170 and then 190 and the BCF and Channel Fleet steering to the north-west.

At 1:41am Lightfoot was hit by a large calibre shell from an unseen enemy. She was by now at the rear of 9th DF's column and working up steam from 24kts to 29kts. The shell struck the port side plating between the first and second funnels disabling the #2 4" gun and the 2pdr AA pom-pom. There was considerable port side flooding and a fire started in the rope lockers beneath the AA mount. She and the two ships ahead of her, Lucifer and Liberty, readied their torpedo tubes. A German battleship was somewhere within 3,000 or 4,000m of them. Seconds later Konig appeared out of the night 3,300m on her port side and steering straight for her. Molteno's ship was hit by a 6" shell and a second 12" almost immediately which destroyed #3 4" gun and disabled the forward pair of torpedo tubes. Lightfoot was already down to just 2 guns and 2 torpedo tubes. She was flooding heavily on the port side and on fire badly amidships. She was hit again aft by a third 12" shell from the next salvo which knocked out the remaining two torpedo tubes and cut the main steam lines. She still had not fired a shot. Ahead of her Liberty fired four torpedoes at the leading German and Lucifer was shooting with her 4" guns although this seemed little more than a gesture. Lightfoot was now shattered by numerous hits and began to sink. Fires were out of control and only her bow 4" remained in action. Liberty was also smothered with shells and set ablaze, within a minute the fires on board were out of control. Liberty's torpedoes had run well however, one struck the third German battleship and one the fourth. Several German battleships were now visible in the darkness as darker silhouettes though identification was difficult. It was thought all were of the Kaiser and Konig classes. It would seem that Harwich force, steaming north had blundered into the High Seas Fleet steaming north-west, 5th LCS had contacted some destroyers forming the German forward port screen while 9th DF passed behind the screen (the three cruisers Molteno reported to port as he steamed north) and directly across the bows of the leading battleship squadron.

The Harwich Force now entirely disengaged, making all speed away, except for the unfortunate Lightfoot which was pounded into a wreck and sank at around 1:50am. Lucifer also fell astern of 9th DF until she stopped entirely, well ablaze. At 1:55am there was a brief exchange between 3rd and 7th CS and Pillau and Regensburg and the German ships sheered away. At 2:08am Frankfurt again appeared to starboard and astern of the armoured cruisers and another inconclusive short exchange took place. Beatty ordered 3rd LCS to turn about and deal with Frankfurt. The Admiral wished to disengage but despite considerable damage the Germans insisted on continuing the pursuit.

At 2:20am a group of German destroyers appeared near the sinking Liberty and took the surviving crew prisoner. Only eighteen men were recovered from the sea from Lightfoot, the gallant Commodore Molteno not being among them.

During the night as Beatty retreated westwards the German light cruisers continued to harass the trailing ships. Donegal was especially vulnerable. She had shipped considerable water from the torpedo hit and at one point had reduced her speed to 10kts in an effort to generate more steam for the pumps. Now her earlier leaks had been plugged and her pumps were maintaining the water levels. Her speed was gradually worked back up to 19kts and she held a course of 270 along with the rest of BCF though Bradford with 3rd BS and 6th DF had turned away to 245 and some 20km now separated his and Beatty's forces. Determined that the only way to shake off the tenacious Germans would be to slow them down, Beatty ordered Inflexible and Indomitable which had remained undamaged in the battlecruiser action to reverse course and drive the enemy away. This they spectacularly did between 2:54am and 3:05am by heavily damaging Pillau and reducing her speed to 22kts and smashing Regensburg with salvos fired from under 1,500m. The two British ships then swung back to course 270 and the fleet continued to withdraw, watching for the Germans to attempt another move.

This they did at 3:56am and again Inflexible and Indomitable turned to fire at Frankfurt and Wiesbaden, hitting both several times with 12" and 4" gunfire.

It was agreed that the 'I' class made excellent night action rearguard ships.

* * *

At 4:23am however the worst situation occurred. 3rd BS having been sent off far to the south west saw a long low shape looming astern. The lead ship, King Edward VII was now 44km from Lion bearing 145 and had been making 18kts steadily away from what he had assumed to be the German line of advance, but it now transpired that only light cruisers had been pursuing Beatty, the German battlecruisers with an uncanny sense of direction had turned after the slower pre-dreadnoughts. Sir Edward Bradford had his 24 River Class destroyers in attendance plus the damaged Falmouth though these were some 8km and 21km west of him respectively. He ordered his destroyers to reverse course to assist while turning his squadron onto a line of bearing, course 300 to defend themselves. There was now nothing for it but to fight. Zealandia at the rear of the line took the brunt of the enemy's fire - soon all four German battlecruisers were visible although steaming at only 19kts. For several minutes Dominion (Rear Admiral Fremantle), Hindustan and Zealandia fired upon the approaching Derfflinger but soon the other German ships added their fire until Zealandia was crippled and ablaze, every gun on her starboard side destroyed or disabled and her speed had fallen off until she lost way altogether with intense fires raging in her starboard quarter. Of the two ships ahead of Fremantle in the line, Commonwealth fired a few salvoes in this exchange and Britannia one but the Germans turned to port and passed astern of the British line in a big looping turn to swing back for a second approach. Hibernia took some damage and slowed to 17kts but the remainder of the squadron kept on. Bradford ordered 18 of his destroyers to come about and make a torpedo attack but as they formed up the Germans slipped away into the dark. Bradford knew they would be back but he also knew Derfflinger had again been hit heavily and was now slowed a little more so he stood a chance of keeping ahead of them and if his destroyers could intervene at the rear of his line they should disrupt the German formation enough to give the pre-dreadnoughts time to escape.

At 4:41am the fires of the now stationary Zealandia, several miles astern, were seen to go out. Many eyes scanned the eastern horizon but the German battle cruisers did not reappear. Although a dull rumble as though of an explosion was faintly heard many miles to the north east at about 5:00am.

* * *

Our losses in the night action of 12th/13th January which is already being talked of as the Battle of Great Yarmouth were the pre-dreadnought battleship Zealandia, flotilla leader Lightfoot and the destroyer Liberty. Additionally eighteen other ships were damaged, Lion, Queen Mary, Australia, Invincible, Hibernia, Donegal and Falmouth moderately so, all four named battle cruisers having one or two main turrets destroyed or disabled. German losses are unclear though Stralsund and Elbing were certainly seen to founder and Regensburg probably so. Of the destroyers that Napier and Alexander-Sinclair engaged, B.112 exploded and B.110 sank from a torpedo hit, one or more of the others may also have sunk. German losses are certainly three light cruisers and two destroyers, plus Derfflinger damaged and two Konig or Kaiser class battleships each having been hit by a torpedo from the gallant Liberty. Given the seeming numerical weakness the Germans have in light cruisers, the battle can be considered a victory though the slow King Edward VII class ships should not venture so far east again.

* * *

4:43am Dunkerque Force ordered to lay mines off Zeebrugge.

12:30pm Channel Fleet enters Humber estuary to recoal. It had to divert here due to the shortage of fuel of it's destroyers.

1:42pm Harwich Force reached base and was stood down from on-duty status to effect repairs.

The D Class submarines D.3, D.8 and D.7 of 8th Flotilla (Harwich) were returning from a patrol of the west Bight entrance and were ordered to sweep north to try and locate the German fleet but nothing was seen. The boats were recalled to base at 2:35pm. It was thought that the High Seas Fleet had returned to the Jade via the Horns Reef light.

5:47pm Part of the Dover Patrol flotilla put to sea to sweep up the Flanders and Dutch coasts for neutral merchants carrying German cargoes.

8:44pm Kangaroo, an old 30-knotter of the Scapa Defence Patrol was torpedoed and sunk 50km SE of her base.
 

saddletank

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Re: 1916 Campaign

Some track charts of the action:

1) Upon sighting German cruisers to the north of the formation at 1:06am

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/22426/Jan12-13_Night_Encounter_03-01.jpg

2) A few minutes later with 3rd LCS turning to starboard and engaging B.112s flotilla.

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/22426/Jan12-13_Night_Encounter_03-02.jpg

3) The German battlecruisers appear

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/22426/Jan12-13_Night_Encounter_03-04.jpg

4) The German battlecruisers break off, Beatty's line in confusion and Harwich Force meeting the High Seas Fleet screen.

http://www.atomic-album.com/showPic.php/22426/Jan12-13_Night_Encounter_03-05.jpg
 

saddletank

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Re: 1916 Campaign

Glad you're enjoying it. I will try to put some pics up of the night battle but they don't always come out very well - too dark, but we'll see,
 

saddletank

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Re: 1916 Campaign

14 JAN
------
3:03am French TB #343 reported being torpedoed 50km SE of Harwich.

4:12am Battle Cruiser Fleet enters Rosyth and is stood down from on-duty status to effect repairs.

5:02am Torpedo boat Nr.6 and destroyer Myrmidon operating out of Cromarty and Scapa respectively both received a wireless transmission from the cargo ship Dover of a suspicious vessel steaming east through the Pentland Firth between South Ronaldsay and the Isle of Stroma. When Dover hailed the unknown ship it turned to starboard and made off to the west. Dover followed her at a distance of around 1km for an hour, periodically firing off signal rockets so that the two British warships could see her. At 6:17am both small warships arrived and the other vessel which was the American registered freighter Umea surrendered off Dunnet Head. She was carrying a mixed cargo to Cuxhaven. Their Lordships composed a letter of special thanks to Captain Innyne (pronounced 'in'), master of the Dover and ordered that he be sent a silver tankard engraved with a depiction of the Dover and the Umea. Henceforth the master of the Dover would be known as "Dunnet Head Innyne".

9:30 - 10:30am Dunkerque Force lays 120 mines off the Ems. The enemy does not retaliate.

9:40am Dover Patrol destroyers Saracen, Crusader, Nubian, Viking and Zulu 25km west of Rotterdam sighted the American freighter Frisia just off the coast and went in pursuit. The neutral surrendered at 10:07am.

2:40pm Our agent in Wilhelmshaven reported that the battleship Deutschland struck a mine when returning through the Helgoland Bight. How seriously she was damaged was not stated.

6:28pm Channel Fleet reports ready to weigh and depart Humber for the Nore where major repairs will be carried out.

11:20pm Part of Dover Patrol ordered to sweep the Flanders and Dutch coasts for enemy merchantmen.

11:34pm Mine laying submarine E.41 ordered to lay mines off Zeebrugge

11:44pm Harwich Force reports fully ready for action again, all repairs completed. Tyrwhitt ordered to lay mines off Horns Reef light.
 

VaDingo

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Re: 1916 Campaign

"Dunnet Head Innyne" - Should I comment on your humor or my ignorance????
 

saddletank

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Re: 1916 Campaign

My humour probably. It sounds like 'done his head in'. Yeah... not very funny. I'll get me coat.
 

saddletank

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Re: 1916 Campaign

15 JAN
------
8:03am 36km SSE Scapa the destroyers Myrmidon and Racehorse of Scapa Defence Patrol and TB Nr.7 working out of Cromarty observed the Swedish cargo ship Chemung steaming course 136 out of the Pentland Firth. The neutral, which was carrying a cargo of rubber from America to Bremerhaven surrended.

8:40am 76km E of Blyth TB Nr.18 patrolling on course 135 out of Sunderland observed the neutral steamer Gavle flying the American flag 15km to the NE. Nr.18 gave chase and the cargo ship was overtaken and captured at 8:55am

8:55am French TB #259 reported being torpedoed. No location was given. Their Lordships are much perturbed at the heavy losses the Frenchies are taking. There are no equivalent losses in any other area of operations and it was decided to order the Dunkerque Defence patrols back to base to review the situation. A more limited patrol area might be in order.

8:58am Dunkerque Force ordered to lay mines off the Ems.

10:33am Channel Fleet reached the Nore and was stood down for major repairs.

2:13pm 70km W of Lerwick AMC Motagua saw a smoke column to the NW and steered in that direction to investigate. It was the Norwegian merchant Drechterland. Motagua gave chase however the Drechterland was lost in the afternoon haze at 2:56pm. Motagua continued patrolling in the vicinity and further south at 6:16pm 10km off Wats Ness, West Shetland saw a light. Approaching the light it was the Drechterland again and this time Motagua captured the vessel and her cargo.

5:00pm - 7:00pm ML Abdiel with Harwich Force laid her 80 mines at Horns Reef. Harwich force started for home. There was no sign of the enemy.p

7:02pm AMC Moldavia captured the American cargo ship O.B. Jennings 70km W of Bergen.

16 JAN
------
2:40 - 3:40am Dunkerque Force laid mines off the Ems. No enemy forces encountered.

3:22am AMC Patia cruising 40km NW of Lerwick captured the Swedish cargo ship Johan Siem. Their Lordships sent a congratulatory telegram to Rear Admiral de Char, commander of 10th CS commending him on the excellent service his ships are carrying out for the war effort.

4:50 - 5:20am E.41 laid mines off Zeebrugge.

8:26am 25km N Zeebrugge, Dover Patrol 1st Flotilla of Afridi, Cossack, Ghurka, Mohawk, Tartar and Amazon strayed into gun range of the Zeebrugge batteries. Afridi was hit by a 6" shell at 8:29am but damage was light and quickly repaired. The American cargo ship Platuria was off the mouth of the Rhine below Antwerp and Afridi led her flotilla to investigate. The Dover boats drew out of gun range at 8:35am and shortly thereafter the Platuria hove to and allowed the British to send a search party aboard. The cargo of Dutch grain was bound for Brunsbuttel and was confiscated.

9:05am Battlecruiser Lion completed major repairs.

10:08am E.31 of 8th Submarine Flotilla based at Harwich and currently on patrol off the Ems reported striking a mine.

4:25pm French TB #345 torpedoed and sunk in the Strait of Dover. The Dunkerque boats are already operating a reduced patrol pattern but still these blasted U-Boats are sinking them! Our only reply is to keep mining the waters around Zeebrugge more heavily.

6:00pm Harwich Force and E.41 ordered to lay further mines at Horns Reef and Zeebrugge respectively.
 
Last edited:

saddletank

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Re: 1916 Campaign

17 JAN
------
12:20am Dunkerque Force ordered to lay mines off Zeebrugge. Operation completed 2:04am and the force returned without loss or sighting the enemy.

3:21am - 3:53am E.41 laid mines off Zeebrugge.

8:22am 34km NNE Oostende, Dover Patrol 2nd Flotilla led by HMS Saracen observed a Norwegian freighter steaming N 11km out of the port. Saracen gave chase. Dunkerque Force was returning from a mine laying operation and was steaming 225 near Dunkerque when dawn revealed the whole force had strayed too close inshore and had been caught within the range of the Oostende shore batteries. The force turned away to 270 and made all speed but Dupetit-Thouars, Pluton and Dunois were slow and at the most risk from being shelled. Almost all the batteries west of the port were firing and the nearest inshore destroyer squadron was their target. Francis Garnier was hit by a 6" shell at 8:27am and though fortunately, despite causing some flooding and a fire amidships she was not slowed down. Saracen had now identified the neutral freighter as the Hudiskvall and she had turned to ENE towards Zeebrugge. Fortunately for Dunkerque Force Hudiskvall surrendered at this point and a heavy rain squall that dropped visibility quickly allowed our ships to escape further damage.

Commanders of forces departing for and returning from operations were advised to plot courses that avoid enemy shore batteries.

11:32am Destroyer Cheerful patrolling 37km S of Scapa and 10km off the Scottish coast chased and captured the American cargo ship Rockingham which was carrying luxury goods and had evidently managed to pass through the Pentland Firth in daylight. The neutral vessel was seized at 12:10pm.

12:53pm Dunkerque Force, less Francis Garnier which was in dockyard hands was ordered to lay mines off Zeebrugge. It has been determined that we shall lay and maintain the densest practical mine barrier off this port, to be laid in two operations by ML Pluton and thenceforth maintained by E.41.

1:00pm Decision taken to return mine-laying submarine E.41 to Harwich and 8th Submarine Flotilla. Harwich is closer to Zeebrugge where most of E.41's operations take place.

1:14pm French TB #231 was patrolling between Dunkerque and Oostende 18km from the coast when her commander sighted smoke plumes to the east. Upon checking it appeared to be two lines of small craft on a course towards his vessel. Lieutenant Moulet's first priority was to report the sighting which he did and then to remove his vessel from the Oostende shore batteries range while keeping a watch on the unknown flotilla. Another boat, #344 was to the west of Dunkerque while a further pair, #280 and #258 were off Boulogne. All were recalled from patrol and ordered to join Moulet. Unfortunately no other Entente warships were then available; the quietest day for our eastern Channel approaches patrols so far this year. Not a co-incidence perhaps? #231 after steering 287 for half an hour was safely out of range of the Oostende batteries and turned to 186 to draw back to the coast and under the protective screen of Dunkerque's guns. #344 joined in company at 2:16pm. The other two boats were still some 16km to the west but were past Calais at this time making their best speed. The unidentified flotilla had now formed into a single column of 16 boats. They continued on course 242 into the zone of fire of our shore batteries. By 2:36pm the enemy flotilla was only some 7,500m distant and were identified as German A Class boats out of Zeebrugge. #231 and #344 were now safely cruising at 18kts directly under the harbour guns. #280 and #258 however were still some 10,000m to the west and the enemy flotilla seemed to be heading to cut them off from the port. #280 and #258 steered closer to the coast and by 2:43pm were partially protected with the German boats still 7,500m away. The enemy appeared reluctant to close the range and expose himself to our shore guns and at 2:47pm reversed course.

At 2:53pm Batterie de Mardyk and Batterie l'Ouest opened fire but the enemy boats continued to patrol just beyond range. Given that our four boats were not going to engage 4:1 odds the order was given to withdraw them into the harbour.

At 3:24pm in fading light Dunkerque Force returned from laying mines off Zeebrugge. The enemy boats were still patrolling NW of the port so the opportunity was taken to engage them with the cruisers escorting ML Pluton. The enemy turned towards the coast and made off to the west forming again into two columns but the Dover Patrol of 11 Tribal Class boats came out and set a course to cut the enemy off from the Straits. At around 3:30pm the rear boat of the most inshore column was struck by a 95mm shell from Batterie Mardyk and began to lose way. At 3:34pm Fearless was struck on her port side by an 11" shell from one of the Oostende batteries, though not seriously. The German boat that had been hit earlier was now struck again. She had bad fires on board and turned towards shore limping at 10kts with the apparent intention of beaching herself.

The enemy was now moving along the shore towards Calais and the Dover Patrol turned to 095 to cut them off. The enemy were still 20,000m from Dupetit-Thouars, flagship of Dunkerque Force and in the failing light contact was being lost against the gloomy shoreline. The boat that had been disabled by the guns of Batterie Mardyk now beached herself on the shore at Gravelines and burned out. Later examination of the wreck identified her as the A10. Seventeen German sailors, eight of them wounded, were taken prisoner by a detachment of French infantry.

Dunkerque Force was now on course 230 racing against time to catch the Germans before they evaded away in the dark. Once lost to sight they could turn north and slip away. The boats of Dover Patrol now increased speed from 25kts to 33kts in an effort to catch the Germans. It was now 4:00pm and raining heavily, a thoroughly filthy evening and the German boats had vanished from sight in the glue. Vice Admiral Rouyer ordered his right flank squadron of French destroyers to steer 255 and close off any escape route to the north. The right-hand most pair of screen cruisers, Bodicea and Bellona were ordered on that same course. Dunkerque Force had now passed their home port and Dover Patrol was north of Calais, the port bearing 158 6,700m from Afridi, lead ship of the starboard column. Visibility had fallen in the last few minutes from 15,000m to just 7,500m, then at 4:10pm in a thick haze and downpour that Captain Roebuck of the Afridi described as 'cabbage soup' dim outlines were seen close inshore east of Calais. Afridi and then the following Dover destroyers opened fire, turning to 078 parallel with the shore 4,000m distant.

Afridi was damaged early in the fight, her #2 torpedo tube and stern 12pdr both being put out of action but several hits were seen on the German boats. Afridi led 1st Flotilla parallel to the enemy on 066 while 2nd Flotilla led by Saracen and steaming further offshore turned to 135 together to pass astern of 1st Flotilla and cut off the German advance. The action did not last long. Cap Blanc Nez Battery opened fire with it's two 95mm guns at under 1,000m and other Calais shore batteries joined in as the Germans came along the coast. German boats began falling out of formation in all directions, ablaze and beaching themselves.

The cruisers Active and Fearless arrived at 4:36pm but their firepower was not needed. All along the gravely foreshore around Cap Blanc Nez the burning hulks of the German boats lay in the shallows, some beached high on the sand, others with just their upperworks showing, many rolled over at extreme angles. The artillery of Calais had enjoyed a turkey shoot that afternoon as the already disabled targets drifted helplessly along the shore past the town, each to be smothered in turn by heavy gunfire. There was one wreck at Gravelines and 15 more on the eastern side of Calais. Two companies of French infantry garrisoning the town were called out to round up the prisoners and guard the wrecks. By 4:56pm in growing darkness the action was over.

Of our forces, six of the Dover destroyers received minor damage. The worst loss was on Fearless from the 11" shell hit, the first hit of the battle and one that would require dry-docking.

* * *

At 3:00pm that afternoon major repairs had been effected on HMS Britannia at Chatham and she was floated out of #2 dry dock. During the afternoon repairs had also been completed on Invincible, Southampton and Galatea at Rosyth.

4:30 - 5:30pm Harwich Force laid mines off Tondern.

6:12pm Dunkerque Force, less Francis Garnier and Fearless (in dockyard hands) ordered to cover mine laying by ML Pluton off Zeebrugge.

7:56pm E.41 arrived Harwich and at once began taking on mines for another operation to Zeebrugge. It is imperative that we do all that we can to make the passage to and from that port hazardous to enemy submarines, particularly their mine-layers.
 

VaDingo

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Re: 1916 Campaign

Seems you're tightening the noose on the Hun! The AI seems to be providing a few surprises with the appearence of the small boats, a good sign.....
 

saddletank

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Re: 1916 Campaign

The Flanders Flotilla is a bit of a strange beast. The boats only do 20kts and the Channel is full of RN patrols which can go faster and punch harder so if they come out, they die. This was one of those annoying battles where the AI just ran away along the coast straight into my shore batteries. I guess I should have played the realism card and let him go when he went briefly out of sight, that might have been a more likely result.

In my German campaign I removed those boats from there in the first hour, taking them to the Jade to use as defence patrols to look outside the minefields once a day to see if any British cargo ships are around. They can't even do that in the Channel because Zeebrugge isn't a 'base' and they can't retreat into it.

I'm finding that to have an enjoyable campaign with this AI you have to do a bit of role-playing and cut the AI some slack some days, and let him go when you could easily squash him :(
 

VaDingo

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Re: 1916 Campaign

Best to be safe than sorry - a situation that may appear harmless could turn in to something extremely nasty.....
 

Von der Tann

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Re: 1916 Campaign

Under the circumstances, the A boats seem next to useless anyway. But they have one redeeming feature: they are the only type of expendable boat able to lay mines, if only four apiece.
 

rgreat

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Re: 1916 Campaign

Under the circumstances, the A boats seem next to useless anyway. But they have one redeeming feature: they are the only type of expendable boat able to lay mines, if only four apiece.
Chances are they all die before reaching destination... from a single enemy CL...
 

saddletank

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Re: 1916 Campaign

Agreed. I have yet to find a use for them where they start. At Zeebrugge they are just too vulnerable. I think the Russian Port Arthur Yacht Squadron is a more useful unit...

I'll see how they get on in my KM campaign. They are now all safely tucked up in Emden but I plan to divide them into groups of four and have them patrol that nice brown sea-lane off the Bight minefield and which extends up the Danish coast that has a lot of British mercantile traffic. I might get some success and it releases the older TBs from defence squadron duty to do other things... though I'm not certain what!

Now if Zeebrugge was marked as a base and allowed you to retreat into it life would not be so bad.

Ticket sent, BTW...
 

saddletank

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Re: 1916 Campaign

18 JAN
------
12:15am Dunkerque Force returns from mine laying operations off Zeebrugge and immediately refuels and takes on more mines for another operation in the Western Bight.

1:40am Submarine F.1 of 10th Submarine Flotilla patrolling in the northern Bight entrance reported striking a mine. We are unaware the Germans have been mining this channel. It may be a British mine that has drifted loose from its mooring. Agreed to henceforth mount submarine observation patrols further north outside our own mined zones.

2:59pm 1st Flotilla Dover Patrol (6 boats) ordered to sweep off the Belgian and Dutch coasts for enemy or neutral merchant ships.

3:55 - 4:24am E.41 deploys mines off Zeebrugge.

8:15am Submarine F.1 sinks.

9:34am Destroyer Leven of 5th DF (Tyne) torpedoed and sunk 75km ENE Blyth.

1:04pm E.41 having returned to Harwich is turned around, rearmed with mines and sent back to Zeebrugge. This boat to continue working this operation until further notice, therefore further mine-laying operations off Zeebrugge not recorded.

2:07pm 30km N Dunkerque destroyer Fervent (Nore Patrol) captured the American cargo ship Stockholm.

3:17pm 70km NNW Lerwick, AMC Arlanza of 10th CS captured the American cargo ship Seward.

4:18pm Dover Patrol 1st Flotilla ordered to sweep off Belgian and Dutch coasts. Due to the flotilla being stood down after its action with the Zeebrugge torpedo boats the boats will not leave port until after 5:00am on 19th.

6:50 - 7:50pm Dunkerque Force deploys mines off Ems estuary.

7:00pm AMC Andes captured the Swedish merchant ship Koldinghus 137km W of Bergen.

8:20pm Harwich Force ordered to lay mines off Tondern.

(At this point my campaign developed that known feature of cycling through only the last used neutral cargo ship names resulting in the same three names being the only ones I encountered from this point on. I shall from now on stop recording their names).
 

saddletank

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Re: 1916 Campaign

19 JAN
------
3:53am Fearless repaired and returned to active duty at Dunkerque.

9:49am AMC Hildebrand of 10th CS patrolling 83km WNW Lerwick, course 270 observed smoke bearing 270 26km distant. Working up to full steam Hildebrand went to intercept the other ship which turned about to 233 and made off, sending up a dense trail of smoke. The other vessel was overhauled at 11:36am and since it was a neutral carrying contrabrand, it was captured.

2:18pm Dunkerque Force was returning from another minelaying operation and was steaming S 21km NNE Oostende when a steamer was sighted departing the Rhine estuary. Unfortunately once again the French Admiral commanding this force allowed it to stray within range of the German shore batteries. HMS Active took damage before the squadron withdrew, a needless and avoidable loss. On the port flank of the formation the destroyers Javeline, Sagaie, Epieu and Harpon were sent in pursuit of the American-flagged vessel, Active joining the chase once she had steered north out of range of the Zeebrugge guns. The cargo ship was surrendered her cargo of paper bound for Brunsbuttel in the Rhine main channel at 3:07pm. It was fortunate that during the long chase, most of Active's disabled guns were brought back into service by her crew, only the starboard bow #4 4" mount still being unserviceable when she returned to Dunkerque.

At 6:10pm HMS Dominion was declared fit for duty and floated out of the #3 dry dock at Chatham.

At approximately 7:30pm the French torpedo boat #280 struck a mine and sank a few miles off Oostende. Their Lordships are at a loss to know what to do with these Frenchies. We have recalled them three times from their patrol duties and requested changed patrol areas and ranges but the losses among the old small boats the French operate out of Dunkerque are out of all proportion among all Entente naval operations. Of the 20 boats in this unit, 7 have been lost in 19 days. Curiously all these losses are in the 2nd and 3rd Squadrons which have almost been wiped out. Without knowing what else to do, their Lordships have ordered the unit withdrawn from active operations in the Channel. They will be rotated to Brest and the French unit at that port reassigned to Calais. If the patrol boats are based a little further along the coast away from the German bases this might assist, though it will count as a minor victory for our enemy.

8:30pm Dunkerque Force to return to the Ems and lay more mines.

11:20pm British cargo ship Algiers wirelessed that she was being approached by an unknown vessel with two raked funnels and a yacht bow. She gave her position as 54deg 4min N, 7deg 12min E which placed her behind the German main mine belt. What a British civilian vessel was doing there was beyond their Lordships to fathom but since Harwich Force was quite close by and somewhat to the north, a daring plan was put in motion to send Tyrwhitt's cruisers and destroyers back around Horns Reef and home through the German Bight past Helgoland. Seaplane Tender Vindex and Mine Layer Abdiel were to be detached and escorted home by two destroyers via the normal (western) route.

20 JAN
------
At 1:36am some very good news was received. Submarine E.31 on patrol in the Bight off the Ems at 53deg 52min N, 6deg 26min E, was on the surface watching for mercantile traffic moving outside of the Frisian Islands when she observed a vessel approaching. The ship had two raked funnels and a prominent yacht bow with bowsprit - similar to the one the SS Algiers had wirelessed about earlier in the night. The officer commanding E.31, Leftenant Barker-Owens identified her as the German cruiser minelayer Nautilus. She was operating alone which was a surprise. Barker-Owens dived to periscope depth and observed the enemy ship, manoeuvring his boat to try for an attack. He was surprised therefore to hear a very loud explosion and see a large column of water near the ships bow. She turned slowly and withdrew to the east, listing heavily. Barker-Owens did not hear the sound of her sinking. It was encouraging to know she was working alone as previous reports have stated she usually works in company with the Pelikan but this vessel was reported by our agents as having hit a mine earlier in the month so is conceivably out of service or even lost. The mining of Nautilus tonight may put an end to German mining operations in the Bight for some time.

An impromptu decision was taken immediately to order Commodore Tyrwhitt to reverse his course and return to the Bight Horns Reef light and steer a course south past the latitude of Tondern and south west through the Bight itself, north of Helgoland in the hope of intercepting the damaged Nautilus. This was an extremely risky move but the hopes of catching and sinking this prolific mine-layer were thought to out-weigh the risks. Tyrwhitt detached his mine-laying and aviation flotilla and sent these back to Harwich with two destroyers for escort.

At the Admiralty everyone sat down tensely to wait news of Tyrwhitt's search.

6:00am French Dunkerque Defence Patrol ordered to Brest. Brest Defence Patrol ordered to Calais. Both formations are preparing to move and should sail at 3:00am on the 21st.

6:27am 18km W of Helgoland Harwich Force ran right into the damaged Nautilus which had a slight list to starboard and was making only 12kts. Arethusa and Conquest, the centre pair of cruisers of the screen saw the enemy at under 4,000m dead ahead, steaming 225, the German ship being on a reciprocal course. A short violent exchange of gunfire ensued and the Nautilus we are pleased to say, sank at 6:42am. Tyrwhitt suffered minor damage to Arethusa, Conquest and the destroyer Mentor.

8:14am AMC Alcantara of 10th CS was patrolling 170km ESE Lerwick when she approached and then captured a Swedish steamer bearing a German cargo of manufactured goods.

10:12am Destroyer Loyal of 2/9th Flotilla (Harwich Force) struck a mine a few miles N of Borkum. Regrettably she sank at 11:40am although other boats in the flotilla took off all her surviving crew.

8:15pm HMS Active reported as repaired and ready for duty at Dunkerque.

10:51pm Harwich Force reached base to a well-earned celebration for sinking Nautilus and conducting such a daring raid. All ships were stood down for 48 hours to rest and conduct repairs and maintenance.
 

saddletank

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Re: 1916 Campaign

21 JAN
------
12:08am Arethusa major repairs completed at Harwich.

1:47am Active major repairs completed at Dunkerque.

8:11am 1st Flotilla, Dover Patrol ordered to conduct a sweep off the Belgian and Dutch coasts for neutrals carrying German cargoes.

Planning was put under consideration for a seaplane bombing raid on the German Zeppelin sheds and gas plant at Tondern. This operation would require the formation of a seaplane tender force comprising Campania from Scapa, Engadine from Rosyth, Vindex from Harwich and Riviera from the Nore. These vessels would be escorted by cruisers and destroyers to 55deg 24min N, 7deg 46min E, some 55km WSW Esbjerg. The task of hoisting out the seaplanes, taking off, bombing the target and returning would require four hours. Harwich Force would screen ahead of the aviation force and BCF and GF would patrol in support to the NW. Dunkerque Force would patrol off the western Bight near the Ems to give warning of any German forces reacting and leaving the Bight via that route.

Considerable logistical preparations are required, namely the gathering together of the aviation squadron and its close escort. Flag Officer BCF has stated that two of the battle cruisers are still in dockyard hands following the night action of the 13th and these two vessels are required in the line for this operation.

Initial preparations will involve the gathering together of the seaplane tenders at Rosyth, the only port on the east coast other than Scapa with the capacity to accept the additional vessels. For the operation the Aviation Squadron will rendezvous with Harwich Force and sail in company.

3rd LCS from BCF and 2nd CS from GF will work as close escort to the aviation squadron. HMS Yarmouth of 3rd LCS still under repair.

Campania and Vindex squadrons with escorts ordered to Rosyth with immediate effect.

Battlecruiser Aviation Squadron of 3rd LCS plus Engadine and two escorts, destroyers Sandfly and Tigress reported shall be ready by 10:00am, 22nd. The Grand Fleet Aviation Squadron of 2nd CS plus Campania and two escorts, destroyers Oak and Hardy reported shall be ready to leave Scapa at 9:00am 22nd. Harwich Aviation Squadron of Vindex and two escorts Lurcher and Lochinvar presently unable to depart as the destroyers are escorting Abdiel on a further mine laying operation due to commence this evening. Vindex to depart for Rosyth upon return of Abdiel force.

8:40am AMC Hildebrand of 10th CS operating in the Orkneys-Shetlands gap captured an American cargo ship 20km SW of Lerwick (A/S).

11:14am 90km NW Bergen AMC Andes of 10th CS intercepted a Norwegian steamer carrying oil products to Cuxhaven (N/S).

2:34pm 160km NW Bergen AMC Andes of 10th CS intercepted a Swedish steamer carrying timber to Emden. Andes' captain was having a good day! (S/K)

6:10pm with the return of Dunkerque Force from a mine laying operation off Zeebrugge we now have 600 mines off that port. E.41 should now be able to maintain that barrier.

6:16pm with Harwich Force enjoying a well-earned rest there was concern that the Horns Reef mine barrier would become degraded and therefore Abdiel and her two escort destroyers, Lochinvar and Lurcher would conduct a mine laying operation alone. The ships to leave Harwich at 7:28pm tomorrow.

8:53pm HMS Commonwealth completed her repairs and departed the #1 dry dock at Chatham.

9:00pm Dunkerque Defence Flotilla reached Brest and was renamed and reorganised. Granted 24 hours rest to refit and carry out maintenance on the boats before resuming their new duties, hopefully, from now on without further losses.

9:49pm Destroyer Mentor completed major repairs at Harwich.

10:00pm new Calais defence patrol organised. Commenced patrol duties limited to within 75km of Calais with immediate effect.

22 JAN
------
1:45am HMS Africa major repairs completed at Chatham.

8:36am 110km SE Scapa Flow, destroyer Myrmidon captured an American merchant ship (A/S).

11:37am Dunkerque Force was steaming course 045 75km NW of Amsterdam when smoke was sighted 42km distant bearing 165. The two starboard wing screen cruisers Boadicea and Bellona were ordered to turn back and intercept. It was an American cargo vessel coming out of Rotterdam. She surrendered at 12:25pm (A/S).

5:00pm Beatty took the bulk of the BCF to sea for gunnery and night manoeuvring practice. 230km E of Rosyth at 55deg 36min N, 0deg 18min E while steaming course 000, the centre lead screen cruiser, Southampton stopped and investigated - and then captured - a Swedish steamer (S/K).
 

saddletank

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Re: 1916 Campaign

23 JAN
------
6:04am 31km ESE Scapa, destroyer Myrmidon captured a Norwegian cargo ship (N/S).

11:48 Torpedo boat Nr.6 was patrolling in Hoy Sound off Stromness when the Ness Battery used a signal lamp to indicate smoke had been sighted to the SW. Nr.6 came out of the channel and increasing speed set a course of 235 towards a smoke plume 17km distant. Nr.6 overhauled the other ship after a chase of 35 minutes and captured an American registered cargo vessel (A/S).

Their Lordships did some head-scratching as to why Nr.6 was in Hoy Sound when her base is Cromarty and she has orders to patrol no more than 100km out from that port.

12:25 - 1:30pm Harwich Force minelayer Abdiel accompanied by only destroyers Lochinvar and Lurcher laid her 80 mines off Tondern and withdrew. Despite good visibility no German vessels were seen.

3:30pm HMS Hindustan declared fully repaired and fit for sea. The only ship of Channel Fleet remaining in dockyard hands following the 13th January night action is Donegal. Of the BCF, three ships remain out of service: Princess Royal, Australia and Falmouth. It is understood that these three ships were all more heavily damaged than any of 3rd BS ships.

This evening our agent in Cuxhaven reported that the old German light cruiser Thetis had struck a mine this afternoon while on patrol in the Bight. However much more welcome than this report was a report regarding the German losses in the night battle of the 12th/13th. Glum moods are abounding in Wilhelmshaven it would seem at the loss of no less than six big modern destroyers and all six light cruisers that customarily accompany the battlecruisers. If true, this is extremely good news as the German battlecruisers now have only old slow light cruisers to screen for them, or destroyers.

24 JAN
------
Following the news of the German loses in light cruisers it was agreed to make a sweep deep into the Bight with Harwich Force with the intention of sinking or damaging as many of the older patrolling cruisers and destroyers around the island of Helgoland as practical. Harwich force to depart at 2:00am and reach the Bight in daylight.

A further report from our Cuxhaven agent tonight advises that the damaged Thetis struck a second mine last night at just before midnight.

3:55am submarine E.22 lost with all hands in the western Bight, presumably to a mine.

4:50am destroyer Coquette ('D' Class, 30knotters) of 5th DF based at Blyth on the Tyne captured a Norwegian trader 75km NE of Hartlepool. Coquette's commander, Leftenant Baker was astonished that a neutral master carrying a German cargo would be so daring as to steam up the English East coast in the main shipping lanes. He had come out of Rotterdam three days ago bound for Stavanger and it was surprising he had got this far north undetected (N/S).

7:36am 71km SW of Stavanger a division of 10th CS steaming 135 comprising the AMCs Mantua, Alsatian (Flagship of squadron commander Rear Admiral de Char) and Columbella sighted a ship to the NE. De Char sent his port wing ship, Columbella to investigate and at 7:47 the Norwegian cargo ship surrendered (N/S).

9:30am 80km NNE of Lerwick AMC Gloucestershire of 10th CS captured an American steamer carrying rubber to Emden (A/S).

3:15pm torpedo boat Nr.31 torpedoed 50km off Sunderland. She sank 5 minutes later.

9:27pm French destroyer Rapière torpedoed just off the coast between Calais and Dunkerque. She sank at 10:17pm.
 
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