In the official report to the Admiralty made by Commander Bertram W. L.
Nicholson we find the expression of the belief that there were several
submarines, and that one was sunk. The report is quoted:
“The _Aboukir_ was struck at about 6.25 a.m. on the starboard beam. The
_Hogue_ and _Cressy_ closed and took up a position, the _Hogue_ ahead
of the _Aboukir_, and the _Cressy_ about 400 yards on her port beam. As
soon as it was seen that the _Aboukir_ was in danger of sinking all the
boats were sent away from the _Cressy_, and a picket boat was hoisted
out without steam up. When cutters full of the _Aboukir’s_ men were
returning to the _Cressy_, the _Hogue_ was struck, apparently under the
aft 9.2 magazine, as a very heavy explosion took place immediately.
Almost directly after the _Hogue_ was hit we observed a periscope on
our port bow about 300 yards off.
“Fire was immediately opened and the engines were put full speed ahead
with the intention of running her down. Our gunner, Mr. Dougherty,
positively asserts that he hit the periscope and that the submarine
sank. An officer who was standing alongside the gunner thinks that the
shell struck only floating timber, of which there was much about, but
it was evidently the impression of the men on deck, who cheered and
clapped heartily, that the submarine had been hit. This particular
submarine did not fire a torpedo at the _Cressy_.
“Captain Johnson then maneuvered the ship so as to render assistance
to the crews of the _Hogue_ and _Aboukir_. About five minutes later
another periscope was seen on our starboard quarter and fire was
opened. The track of the torpedo she fired at a range of 500 to 600
yards was plainly visible and it struck us on the starboard side just
before the after-bridge.
“The ship listed about 10 degrees to the starboard and remained steady.
The time was 7.15 a.m. All the watertight doors, deadlights and
scuttles had been securely closed before the torpedo struck the ship.
All the mess stools and table shores, and all available timber below
and on deck had been previously got up and thrown over side for the
saving of life.
“A second torpedo fired by the same submarine missed and passed about
10 feet astern. About a quarter of an hour after the first torpedo had
hit a third torpedo fired from a submarine just before the starboard
beam hit us under the No. 5 boiler room. The time was 7.30 a.m. The
ship then began to heel rapidly, and finally turned keel up, remaining
so for about twenty minutes before she finally sank, at 7.55 a.m.
“A large number of men were saved by casting adrift on Pattern 3
target. The steam pinnace floated off her clutches, but filled and sank.
“The second torpedo which struck the _Cressy_ passed over the sinking
hull of the _Aboukir_, narrowly missing it. It is possible that the
same submarine fired all three torpedoes at the _Cressy_.
“The conduct of the crew was excellent throughout. I have already
remarked on the bravery displayed by Captain Phillips, master of the
trawler _L. T. Coriander_, and his crew, who picked up 156 officers and
men.”
[Illustration:
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