CONTROLLING THE NORTH SEA
During the later months of 1915 the Grand Fleet continued to sweep
and control the North Sea in spite of the enemy’s efforts to effect
attrition by submarines and mines. On October 1st the 3rd Light Cruiser
Squadron, with destroyers escorting, left Rosyth and proceeded towards
the Little Fisher Bank; on reaching that locality the squadron turned
to the north-westward and steered towards Scapa, arriving on the 3rd.
The line thus swept was the possible course of enemy mine-laying or
other vessels, proceeding towards, or returning from, the vicinity of
Scapa and Cromarty. No enemy ships were sighted.
On October 2nd the battleship _Barham_, Flagship of the new 5th Battle
Squadron, arrived at Scapa.
Commodore Tyrwhitt, with the 5th Light Cruiser Squadron (now comprising
six light cruisers) and nine destroyers, left Harwich on the 6th to
sweep towards the Skagerrak in search of enemy vessels, particularly
fishing trawlers, which were suspected of acting as outpost vessels.
The operation on this occasion was fruitful in result; 14 German
trawlers were captured and sent in; one was also sunk. As usual during
such operations when a supporting force was not actually at sea, the
Battle Cruiser Fleet was kept at short notice for steam, to be ready to
put to sea if required.
On October 10th the 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron left Scapa and swept
down to the Little Fisher Bank, and thence to Rosyth with the same
object in view as that of the Harwich force, being met at daylight on
the 11th by destroyers from Rosyth, and arriving at that base on the
12th. On this occasion the operation gave no result.
The Dreadnought Battle Fleet, comprising the 1st, 2nd and 4th Battle
Squadrons, the 1st, 2nd and 7th Cruiser Squadrons, the 4th Light
Cruiser Squadron, and the 2nd and 4th Flotillas, left Scapa on the
13th, and proceeded into the northern portion of the North Sea for a
cruise. Owing to bad weather the destroyers were sent back on the 11th,
one, the _Mandate_, being damaged by a heavy sea; the _Ardent_ and
_Fortune_ collided, the former vessel being damaged. The fleet carried
out battle exercises during the cruise, and returned to the bases
at Scapa and Cromarty on the 15th, on which day the new battleship
_Canada_ joined the Grand Fleet.
On October 18th the Harwich force, consisting of the 5th Light Cruiser
Squadron and destroyers, sailed to operate off the Danish coast, north
of the Horn Reef, against any enemy vessels found there. The _Lion_,
with the 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron and eight destroyers, left
Rosyth to support the Harwich force, which closed the Danish coast
at daylight on the 19th, then steered to the north-westward, till
dark, returning afterwards to Harwich. The search was unproductive,
no enemy vessels being sighted. The _Lion_ and 1st Battle Cruiser
Squadron proceeded towards Cromarty, but were diverted to Scapa during
the night of the 19th–20th, owing to a report of suspicious vessels,
possibly mine-layers, being sighted off Noss Head. These vessels were
subsequently identified as two of our own trawlers.
On October 22nd three divisions of destroyers were sent from Scapa to
hunt a submarine off Fair Island, but were forced to return owing to
bad weather.
On October 27th the 1st Cruiser Squadron, with two armed
boarding-steamers, left Scapa to search the northern portion of the
North Sea, returning on the 30th. Nothing was sighted.
On October 30th Commodore Tyrwhitt, with the 5th Light Cruiser Squadron
and destroyers, left Harwich for another sweep off the Danish coast.
His force passed through a position some 70 miles north-west of
Heligoland before daylight on the 21st, steered for the Little Fisher
Bank, and thence to Harwich. A portion of the Battle Cruiser Fleet kept
steam at short notice during the operation, which was unproductive,
except for the interception of an ore-laden neutral steamer which was
sent in to a British port.
On October 30th the _Birkenhead_ and _Liverpool_, newly commissioned
light cruisers, left Scapa for a searching and exercise cruise in the
northern portion of the North Sea, and returned to Scapa on November
1st.
During October squadrons cruised independently in the North Sea from
Scapa, as in previous months, by day and at night. The ships of the
Battle Cruiser Fleet, as well as the 3rd Battle Squadron from Rosyth
and squadrons from Scapa, proceeded to Cromarty, in turn, in order to
carry out long-range firing at towed targets in the Moray Firth, being
screened from submarine attack by destroyers. Squadrons from Rosyth
proceeded also to Scapa to carry out practices.
A patrol, comprising the _Sappho_ and eight armed whalers, based
on Peterhead, was instituted as a guard against further attempted
mine-laying in the Moray Firth. The Peterhead and Cromarty
mine-sweeping vessels, which had been working under the Senior Officer
of Fleet mine-sweepers (Captain Preston) for the clearance of the Moray
Firth mine-field, reverted to their proper commands, and arrangements
were made for a constant sweep by mine-sweeping trawlers of the channel
along the south shore of the Moray Firth, which was that used by ships
based on Cromarty when concentrating with the remainder of the Grand
Fleet in the North Sea. It was essential to ensure that this channel
was kept clear of mines so long as any portion of the Grand Fleet was
based on Cromarty.
It may not be out of place here to state the patrol arrangements
existing in the vicinity of the Pentland Firth at this time. Usually
three armed boarding-steamers and three destroyers were patrolling to
the eastward of the Firth. They moved to the northward during daylight
and worked for a considerable distance to the south-eastward of the
Firth at night. An extended patrol, usually consisting of a light
cruiser and a destroyer, also worked from Peterhead. A patrol of one or
two destroyers was maintained at night off Noss Head on the north shore
of the Moray Firth. Destroyers were kept off the entrance to Hoy Sound
and Holm Sound, and a large number of trawlers near the Hoxa Sound
entrance. In bad weather the eastern destroyer patrol was withdrawn
to work between Swona Island and the land to the eastward and to the
north-westward. The old local defence destroyers also carried out
patrol work off the entrance, and off Kirkwall. These particulars are
of interest as conveying some idea of the sea work in a restricted area
which had to be carried out in all weathers.
From October 1st to October 11th the Fleet Flagship _Iron Duke_ was
refitting at Invergordon.
On October 28th the _Argyll_, _en route_ from Devonport to Rosyth
to rejoin the 3rd Cruiser Squadron, grounded on the Bell Rock, near
Dundee, early in the morning in thick weather, and became a total
wreck; all hands were taken off in a heavy sea by destroyers from
Rosyth. The destroyers were exceedingly well handled under very
difficult conditions. On the following day the _Arlanza_, of the 10th
Cruiser Squadron, which had been sent to the White Sea, struck a mine
and was seriously damaged, but succeeded in reaching the Yakanski
anchorage, in the neighbourhood. Repairs were impossible during the
winter and the greater part of her crew was, therefore, brought home in
the _Orcoma_, of the same squadron which had been sent north for the
purpose.
From October 29th to October 30th a heavy gale was experienced at
Scapa, and considerable damage was done to the anti-submarine defences
and to the block-ships at the entrances. Fog or mist was experienced on
October 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 9th, 14th, 16th and 30th.
The 10th Cruiser Squadron’s work showed as a weekly average the
following figures: Ships intercepted, 56; sent in, 16; number on
patrol, 14; number absent, 8. The bad weather experienced interfered
with the work of the squadron.
On November 2nd the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th Battle Squadrons, the 1st,
2nd and 7th Cruiser Squadrons, the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron and the
destroyers of the 4th and 11th (old 2nd) Flotilla left for a cruise
to the westward of the Orkneys. The destroyers were sent back on the
3rd owing to bad weather. Battle exercises and sub-calibre firing took
place during the cruise, which was otherwise uneventful; the Fleet
arrived at Scapa and Cromarty on November 5th, being screened in by the
destroyers.
On November 6th the 1st and 2nd Light Cruiser Squadrons, with
destroyers, left Scapa and Rosyth respectively, to carry out an
operation in the Skagerrak. The force was timed to arrive at the
eastern end of the Skagerrak at dawn on the 7th, and to sweep westward
during daylight in order that our ships should be between the enemy and
his Baltic base if enemy ships were sighted. The _Lion_, with the 1st
and 3rd Battle Cruiser Squadrons and destroyers, left Rosyth in time
to be in a supporting position by daylight on the 7th. A large number
of vessels were boarded by the destroyers, but nothing suspicious was
encountered, and the forces returned to the bases on November 8th.
During the night of November 6th–7th the battleship _Hibernia_, flying
the flag of Rear-Admiral S. Fremantle, with the _Zealandia_ and
_Albemarle_, passed through the Pentland Firth to the westward _en
route_ for southern ports and the Mediterranean. A strong wind was
blowing against the spring tides, and a very heavy sea was running in
the Firth, as was not unusual. Whilst passing through the Firth the
_Albemarle_, Captain R. A. Nugent, shipped two heavy seas which washed
away her fore bridge, with everyone on it, and even displaced the roof
of the conning tower; hundreds of tons of water flooded the decks and
poured down below. An officer and one man were washed overboard and
drowned, and several men injured; Captain Nugent found himself on the
upper deck amidst the wreckage of the bridge. The _Hibernia_, which
was ahead, turned to assist the _Albemarle_, and an urgent signal for
assistance was received on board the _Iron Duke_. One of the emergency
cruisers at Scapa was directed to raise steam with all despatch; the
_Hibernia_ arrived in with the _Albemarle_ at daylight. The ship
presented an extraordinary sight, the sea having made a clean sweep of
her bridge and everything on it. In all our experience of the Pentland
Firth, we had never witnessed such havoc before. The _Zealandia_ was
also obliged to turn back to repair her gunports, damaged by the sea in
the Firth.
The next few days were marked only by comparatively trifling incidents.
On November 6th the _Birkenhead_, which had recently been commissioned,
completed her practices at Scapa and joined the 3rd Light Cruiser
Squadron at Rosyth. Two days later the _Princess Margaret_ laid mines
successfully in the Heligoland Bight; on the 9th the _Crescent_,
harbour-defence vessel at Hoy Sound, was withdrawn and left to pay off;
and the _Matchless_, of the 10th Destroyer Flotilla, struck a drifting
mine in southern waters, her stern being blown off.
On the 12th Submarine E 17 was sent into the Kattegat to reconnoitre
and ascertain whether any German trawlers or other vessels were
working there. She returned on the 19th and reported in the negative.
On the night of the 15th–16th the s.s. _Kristianiafiord_, of the
Norwegian-American line, a ship which had been endeavouring on other
occasions to evade the blockading squadron, was intercepted by the
_Teutonic_ in high latitudes; she was steaming fast without lights,
and was sent to Kirkwall for examination. In this and in other similar
cases the ships ran great risk of being mistaken for enemy vessels and
sunk, since the methods employed by the Germans made it very difficult
to abstain from opening fire on vessels without running the serious
danger of our own ships being sunk by surprise attack. In the case of a
ship carrying a large number of passengers, like the _Kristianiafiord_,
the risk taken was very great and could not be justified.
On November 16th the 7th Cruiser Squadron, without the _Donegal_, but
accompanied by the _Liverpool_ and one armed boarding-steamer, left
Scapa to patrol an area north of the Shetlands and Faroe Islands, with
a view to intercepting possible raiders or other vessels.
At noon on the 18th a report reached me that an enemy three-funnelled
cruiser had been seen on the 17th to pass through the Danish Sound
going north. The possible objectives of this vessel, if the report were
true, appeared to be either mine-laying off our bases or an attempt to
interfere with the White Sea traffic, the Admiralty having informed me
on the 16th that large consignments of arms and ammunition would be
passing from France to the White Sea during November and December. In
view of the fact that the news had reached me too late to intercept
this vessel in southern waters, the dispositions made were as follows:
The _Donegal_, which had left Scapa on the 17th to cruise along the
trade route to the White Sea, was directed to rendezvous with the
_Orcoma_ (a ship of the 10th Cruiser Squadron on patrol off the
Norwegian coast), and to patrol the parallel of Lat. 66 N. between the
meridians of 5.30 E. and 7.30 E.
The 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron sailed from Scapa for a position Lat.
63 N., Long. 4 E., there to meet the 7th Cruiser Squadron, already at
sea. Both squadrons, widely spread, were to sweep to the northward
along the Norwegian coast, as far as the Rost Islands, and to cruise to
the westward of the Lofoten Islands during daylight of the 20th, then
returning to their base. The 2nd Cruiser Squadron also left Scapa and
proceeded north, the ships spread to cover a wide area to the westward
of the 7th Cruiser Squadron, in order to protect the Archangel trade.
The 4th Light Cruiser Squadron also left Scapa on the 18th to sweep to
the eastward, with orders to return to Cromarty on the 19th.
Strong destroyer patrols were despatched from Scapa and Rosyth to
prevent mine-laying off the bases, and one Battle Cruiser Squadron was
put at short notice for steam. No enemy vessels were sighted, and the
_Donegal_ eventually proceeded to the White Sea, being accompanied by
the _Minotaur_ as far as the North Cape.
On November 19th three submarines proceeded from Harwich to the
Kattegat to obtain information relative to the presence of any enemy
vessels.
On November 23rd the _Warspite_ rejoined the 5th Battle Squadron, after
having been for some weeks under repair in the Tyne, owing to injuries
sustained through grounding in the Firth of Forth.
On November 28th the Battle Cruiser Fleet left Rosyth for a cruise in
the northern portion of the North Sea, during which cruiser exercises
and gunnery practices were carried out; the squadron returned to Rosyth
on December 2nd.
From November 22nd to December 7th, the _Donegal_ and _Hampshire_ were
protecting the White Sea trade, working on the trade route and coaling
at Alexandrovsk.
During the month independent squadron exercise cruises from the bases
were continued, as was target practice from Cromarty.
The figures for the 10th Cruiser Squadron gave as a weekly average:
Ships intercepted, 30; sent in, 9; number on patrol, 10; absent
at ports or _en route_, 9; on special service, 3. The bad weather
experienced during the month interfered considerably with the boarding
operations of the squadron and also hampered Fleet movements.
On December 1st the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th Battle Squadrons, the 1st
and 2nd Cruiser Squadrons, the 4th Light Cruiser Squadron, and the
_Minotaur_ of the 7th Cruiser Squadron, proceeded to the westward for
a cruise. Battle exercises were carried out on the 2nd and 3rd, and
the Fleet returned to Scapa and Cromarty on December 4th. The exercises
were specially intended to represent the conditions that might arise if
the High Sea Fleet tried to draw the Grand Fleet over areas in which
mines had been laid or in which submarines were operating. During
the exercises the _Barham_ and _Warspite_ of the 5th Battle Squadron
collided, both being considerably damaged. They were escorted to Scapa
for temporary repairs and left later, the _Barham_ for Invergordon and
the _Warspite_ for Devonport.
On December 8th the 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron left Rosyth, swept to
the eastward to the Little Fisher Bank, and returned on the 10th.
From the 11th to the 13th two ships of the 4th Light Cruiser Squadron
were cruising to the eastward of the Fair Island Channel.
On December 12th Submarines D 7 and D 8, which were based temporarily
on Blyth, were directed to leave for the Norwegian coast to operate
against enemy trade and against enemy submarines. D 7 was directed to
make the Ryvingen Light during the dark hours and then to cruise to
intercept trade between Ryvingen and Arendal, and between Ryvingen and
the west coast of Denmark. It was anticipated that this might draw
enemy submarines to the northward from German ports to try to sink D 7,
and D 7 was directed to be back at Ryvingen 36 hours after she expected
that the first vessel she examined had reached port, so that she might
be ready to attack enemy submarines sent after her. D 8 was directed to
cruise on a bearing 270° from the Hantsholm Light (coast of Denmark)
in order to intercept enemy submarines sent after D 7. Bad weather
prevented D 7 leaving before December 15th. The enemy was apparently
not drawn, and no success was obtained.
On December 15th the 2nd Cruiser Squadron left Scapa for a sweep to the
south-eastward, and returned on the 17th.
Two neutral ships, steaming at high speed at night without lights on
the 15th and 16th, evidently intending to evade the blockade, were
intercepted by the 10th Cruiser squadron and sent into Kirkwall.
On December 20th Commodore Tyrwhitt left Harwich with the 5th Light
Cruiser Squadron, to sweep to the Danish coast, and the Battle Cruiser
Fleet was kept at the usual short notice for steam during the time that
he was absent until the 23rd.
On December 24th the 1st Cruiser Squadron left Scapa to search the
central portion of the North Sea. During the day anxiety was felt as
to the safety of the destroyers _Porpoise_ and _Morning Star_, which
had been escorting a Russian ice-breaker to the northward and which
had hove to near the Fair Island Channel in a heavy gale during the
23rd. The 1st Cruiser Squadron was directed to spread and search for
them, and the _Hampshire_ and _Donegal_ were also sent from Scapa to
endeavour to gain touch. Both the destroyers, however, reached Cromarty
in safety, the _Porpoise_ on the 25th, and the _Morning Star_ on the
26th, after having experienced very heavy weather. Many compartments
were flooded, and very considerable damage was done. They had been
handled with great ability during the exceptionally heavy weather. The
1st Cruiser Squadron, with the _Hampshire_ and _Donegal_, returned to
Scapa on the 26th.
On the 24th the 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron also proceeded from Rosyth
to search the North Sea, down to the vicinity of the Dogger Bank,
thence towards the Little Fisher Bank, and back to Rosyth. No enemy
vessels were sighted. The weather in the North Sea at this period was
very severe, and the _Sappho_, which was supporting the armed trawler
patrol to the north-eastward of Peterhead, lost her rudder in a heavy
sea.
On the 30th the 3rd Cruiser Squadron and 1st Light Cruiser Squadron,
with destroyers, left Rosyth and carried out a sweep to the
south-eastward, returning on the 31st.
On the same day, a lamentable disaster occurred, the cruiser _Natal_
(Captain Eric Back) being blown up in Cromarty harbour with great loss
of life. Captain Back was amongst those who lost their lives. It was
reported by adjacent vessels at 3.25 P.M. that the ship was on fire,
and at 3.30 P.M., before any action could be taken, the ship blew up
and sank, the explosion taking place in her after magazines. Steps were
taken to deal with the situation in case the explosion had been caused
by an enemy submarine having entered the harbour, but it soon became
evident that this was not the case. Examination of the wreck by divers
later showed no signs of any external explosion. A court-martial was
subsequently held at Chatham to investigate the causes of the disaster,
but the conclusions were not made public.
During the month of December independent exercises from the Fleet bases
were continued, as well as target practice from Cromarty. As to the
latter, an interesting practice was carried out by the _Iron Duke_ at
the range, and under the conditions of battle practice before the War,
in order to ascertain, by examining the actual hits made on the canvas
of the target, whether the pre-War standard of shooting was being
maintained. Some uncertainty existed owing to the great increase in the
ranges at which practices were carried out during the War, namely,
16,000 to 19,000 yards, as compared with the 9,500 yards, which was the
maximum peace range. The result was very satisfactory and indicated a
most decided advance on pre-War accuracy of fire.
On December 13th the first target practice was carried out in the
Pentland Firth. This was in the nature of an experiment and, being
successful, practice in this locality was later substituted for
practice in the Moray Firth; it was far more convenient for the main
Fleet base and much less extravagant in the use of screening and
protecting destroyers.
On December 16th Vice-Admiral Sir Martyn Jerram, K.C.B., relieved
Vice-Admiral Sir George Warrender, Bart., in command of the 2nd Battle
Squadron, on the termination of the latter officer’s three years’
command.
During December patrols seaward of the bases were strengthened and
considerably extended during the first and fourth quarters of the moon
in order to frustrate any attempted mine-laying on the part of the
enemy. This “dark night” patrol subsequently became a matter of routine.
The 10th Cruiser Squadron’s weekly average showed: Ships intercepted,
35; sent in, 14; number of ships on patrol, 12; number at bases or _en
route_, 7; number on special service, 2.
The long nights and bad weather were responsible for the reduction in
the number of vessels intercepted. During December fog or mist were
experienced at Scapa on the 15th, 22nd, 25th and 26th; gales on the
6th, 8th and 23rd; and snow on the 3rd, 4th, 8th and 12th. Although the
weather at Scapa Flow was fairly good, gales in the North Sea and to
the westward of the Orkneys were frequent and violent during the month.
Before turning to the events of 1916 it is of interest to notice
the work of the “decoy ships,” known later by the name of “Q” ships,
fitted out at Scapa during the year 1915. These vessels, five in
number, were designed to sink enemy submarines by inducing the latter
to close them for the purpose of attack by gun fire or by torpedo. The
same system was employed in southern waters, and was developed greatly
during the year 1917. At Scapa in 1915 and 1916 the ships were manned
principally by volunteers from the Grand Fleet, or from the depôt
ships at the base. Colliers or store-ships were selected for their
size and general suitability for the work, and they were fitted with
a very carefully concealed armament, which was kept hidden until the
submarine was within point-blank range, so that fire opened on her must
be immediately effective; unless the submarine was holed in less than
a minute after fire was opened on her she could submerge and escape,
and probably torpedo the decoy ship as well. The five ships, the
_Prince Charles_, _Vala_, _Duncombe_, _Penshurst_ and _Glen Isla_, were
fitted up by Captain Farrington of the _Cyclops_, under the direction
of Admiral Sir Stanley Colville and were marvels of ingenuity. Their
usual cruising-ground was in the vicinity of the Orkneys, Shetlands, or
Hebrides, or towards the Norwegian coast, or the White Sea, or down the
east coast of Scotland. They worked on a route that was freely used by
merchant-ships and altered their appearance according to their route so
as to give them the look of vessels usually trading on that route.
Many stories of the “Q” ships have been told in the Press and need
not be repeated here, but a high tribute must be paid to the extreme
gallantry and splendid discipline of the officers and men who manned
these vessels. I had personal knowledge of the work of the vessels
operating from Scapa. Their opportunities for engaging submarines
successfully were rare, and the work in the small ships in the heavy
seas encountered in northern latitudes was very arduous; there was
never any lack of volunteers for the duty, the difficulty always being
that of selection from the large number of officers and men anxious to
serve. It is satisfactory to record that the first submarine sunk by a
decoy ship fell a victim to a vessel working from Scapa Flow.
On July 25th, 1915, the _Prince Charles_ (Lieutenant W. P.
Mark-Wardlaw--of Admiral Colville’s staff--in command) sighted, near
North Rona Island, the Danish steamer _Louise_, stopped and with a
submarine close to. When the submarine sighted the _Prince Charles_ she
proceeded at full speed towards her and opened fire at 5,000 yards’
range. Lieutenant Mark-Wardlaw stopped his engines and went through the
usual process of lowering boats in a great hurry. The submarine, which
was the U 36, closed to within 500 yards, still on the surface, and at
that range the _Prince Charles_ revealed her true character, unmasked
her guns, and opened a most accurate fire with her two 6-pounders and
two 3-pounders. The U 36 was immediately holed, and two men killed
in the conning tower. She was unable to dive and sank stern first; 4
commissioned officers, 2 warrant officers, and 9 men were saved by the
_Prince Charles_.