THE BATTLE-CRUISER ACTION
"Are hell-gates burst at last? For the black deep
To windward burns with streaming crimson fires!
Over the wild strange waves, they shudder and creep
Nearer--strange smoke-wreathed masts and spare, red spires
And blazing hulks."
--ALFRED NOYES (_Drake_).
A few minutes after the German light-cruisers turned away to the
S.S.E. in accordance with his orders, Admiral Count von Spee,
apparently deciding to accept the inevitable, determined to try and
close so as to get into the effective range of his 8.2-inch guns.
With this intention, his two armoured cruisers turned in succession
about 80 degrees to port, which brought them into line-ahead with the
_Gneisenau_ leading, and then opened fire at 1.30 P.M. But he had
reckoned without his host, as this very obvious manœuvre did not at
all suit Admiral Sturdee's book, who was acting on the principle that
ammunition is cheaper than human life, and was resolved to fight at
his own chosen range. Our ships, therefore, eased speed to 24 knots,
and turned together away from the enemy to port, which brought them
at the same time into line-ahead with the flag ship _Invincible_ in
the van.
The two squadrons were on nearly parallel courses (_see_ facing page
79). The _Inflexible_ had checked fire for a while, but now reopened
on the _Scharnhorst_ at a range of 14,500 yards. Both the enemy ships
concentrated their fire on the _Invincible_ at this time, whilst ours
fired each at his opponent. The respective armaments are seen from
the following:
_Name_ _Tonnage_ _Armament_ _Speed_ _Completion_ _Armour_
_Belt_
_Invincible_ } 17,250 { 8--12" } 26 { 1909 7 to 4 in.
_Inflexible_ } { 16--4" } { 1908 7 to 4 in.
_Carnarvon_ 10,850 4--7.5" 22 1903 7 to 4 in.
6--6"
_Scharnhorst_} { 8--8.2" } { 23.5 1908 6 to 3 in.
} 11,420 { 6--5.9" } {
_Gneisenau_ } { 20--3.4" } { 23.8 1908 6 to 3 in.
Compiled from "Brassey's Naval Annual."
As Admiral Sturdee edged away and did not allow the range to get
below 13,500 yards, the fire of the Germans was not effective.
A gunnery officer stated that their fire control was efficient,
and that their salvoes, fired frequently, fell well together, the
spread being about 200 yards. They had been firing about ten minutes
when the _Scharnhorst_ went ahead and took the lead, so our ships
changed targets. For a short time both German ships now fired at the
_Inflexible_, but without result; soon afterwards they again honoured
the _Invincible_ with their attentions, and, getting the range,
scored their first hit about 1.45 P.M. The range was now increased,
spotting the fall of shot became more and more difficult, and finally
smoke interfered with our gunfire. At 2 P.M. the distance of the
enemy was 16,450 yards. Ten minutes later von Spee turned right away
and made a second attempt to escape, as he had been unable to get to
close quarters. We turned gradually after him, but as he continued
to turn away, in the words of Admiral Sturdee, "A second chase
ensued." All firing ceased, and there was an appreciable lull in the
proceedings.
Of the damage to the _Scharnhorst_ at this time no estimate can be
formed, but survivors from the _Gneisenau_ stated that they had three
direct hits, resulting in fifty men being killed and wounded. To the
uninitiated this may seem to be poor shooting; but the difficulty of
seeing clearly enough to make accurate corrections to the gunsights,
the extreme range, and the disturbing effect of the enemy's fire must
all be taken into account. Doubtless, too, there were several hits of
an insignificant nature on the upper works and rigging that were not
taken into account. It was impossible to tell at such a long range
whether we scored a hit unless a fire resulted.
The efficiency of the engine-room staff was now put to the test;
they nobly responded, with the result that our big ships attained a
greater speed than they had ever done before.
At this juncture a full-rigged sailing ship appeared on the port
hand of our battle-cruisers; she was painted white, and her sails
were shining as if bleached in the bright sunlight; with stunsails
and every stitch of canvas spread she sailed majestically along,
looking a perfect picture. So close was she that the Admiral was
forced to alter his course to pass a couple of miles clear of her, so
that the enemy's shell ricocheting should not hit her. Truly it must
have been a thrilling and dramatic moment for her to find herself
an involuntary witness of such a wonderful spectacle! Imagine her
consternation at being plunged suddenly into the middle of a red-hot
naval action between powerfully armed modern men-of-war, with shell
falling in the water quite close alongside.
The distance of the retreating enemy was rapidly decreasing, until
at 2.45 P.M. Admiral Sturdee gave the order to open fire at a range
of about 15,000 yards. Von Spee held on his course in the vain
hope, apparently, of drawing us on, so that by a sudden turn made
later he might "get to grips." Eight minutes afterwards the Germans
were forced to turn to port towards us, forming into line-ahead and
opening fire as soon as they came round. We hauled out once again
on to an almost parallel course. The range had appreciably dropped,
and was at one time under 12,000 yards. Things now became fast and
furious, shot and bursting shell were everywhere in the air, and
our 12-inch guns were doing terrible execution. "It was like hell
let loose," said a petty officer in the flagship, which was hit
several times. The German gunnery was not nearly as good as it had
been in the first phase of the engagement, whilst we had settled
down to business and were, on the whole, more accurate than before.
An officer in the _Inflexible_ remarked that at this time several
of the enemy's shell fell between our two ships and that as his
ship approached these yellow-green patches, he wondered whether the
debatable maxim that no two projectiles ever hit the same spot would
prove accurate.
The _Scharnhorst_ was badly hit at 3 P.M., starting a fire forward,
but she continued to blaze away; the _Gneisenau_ also bore signs
of the severe treatment she had received from the _Inflexible_. The
_Invincible_ now met with some damage, and suffered by far the most
as the enemy's fire was naturally concentrated on her. The wind
had increased, and was blowing the smoke across the guns, impeding
our gunners, and the _Carnarvon_ was coming up astern, so at 3.18
Admiral Sturdee executed a sudden manœuvre by putting his helm
over to starboard, turning completely around, and crossing his own
track so as to steer roughly S.W.; this put the enemy completely
off the range, and also forced him five minutes later on to a
parallel course, in order to avoid the alternative of being raked
fore and aft. As both our ships had altered course together, their
respective positions became reversed--the _Inflexible_ leading--and
they presented their port sides to the enemy (_see_ facing p. 79).
The _Carnarvon_ cut the corner and came up on the off side of the
battle-cruisers, in accordance with Admiral Sturdee's orders,
as her guns were useless at ranges exceeding 12,000 yards. The
_Scharnhorst_, who had already had a bad hammering from the flagship,
was now subjected to the concentrated fire of our two big ships for
a very short time, during which the _Gneisenau_ was lost sight of
in her consort's smoke. At 3.30 P.M. the _Scharnhorst's_ fire had
slackened perceptibly, and one shell had shot away her third funnel.
The _Invincible_ now engaged the _Gneisenau_, who was not nearly so
badly damaged and was firing all her guns. In fact, all ships were at
it as hard as they could go, but the _Inflexible_ came off lightly on
account of the plight of her opponent. The noise was indescribable,
shell were hurtling through the rigging; when one actually struck
and burst, the whole ship quivered and staggered, while the crash
of steel plates falling, and splinters of shell striking the upper
works, sounded like hundreds of empty tins being hurled against one
another.
The _Scharnhorst_ was clearly in a very bad way, and looked, as
she was, a perfect wreck. Masses of steel were twisted and torn as
if growing out in all directions like the roots of a tree, clouds
of steam were going up sky high, and she was blazing fore and aft.
The Admiral says, "At times a shell would cause a large hole to
appear in her side, through which could be seen a dull red glow of
flame." She was 14,000 yards distant. Up till quite near the end,
however, she continued to fire in salvos, her starboard guns having
only been in action since the last turn was made. At 3.56 P.M. the
Commander-in-Chief decided to close in and give her the _coup de
grace_, which enabled the Carnarvon to get into action and open fire
for the first time. By 4 P.M. both the _Scharnhorst's_ masts, as well
as her three funnels, were shot away, and she was listing heavily to
port. She struggled on hopelessly and went over more and more, until
at 4.10 P.M. she was on her beam ends. For seven minutes she remained
in this position, her screws still going round, and then suddenly
sank like a stone, with her flag still flying.
Shortly before the German flagship sank, our ships checked fire and
then opened on the _Gneisenau_. It will be seen from the plan of
the action that at the time the _Invincible_ turned two complete
circles in a sort of figure of eight, the _Gneisenau_ hesitated for
a minute or two as to whether she should stand by her consort to save
life. Under the impression, apparently, that our flagship, which had
turned towards the _Scharnhorst_, was about to pick up survivors, the
_Gneisenau_ passed on the far side of the sinking ship and opened a
heavy and well-directed fire on the _Inflexible_. We were now three
against one, who was, nevertheless, determined to sell herself as
dearly as possible. It was a gallant attempt.
The distance was fortunately too great to see clearly the wretched
survivors of the _Scharnhorst_ left struggling hopelessly against
their fate, but it brought the dark side of war very vividly into
notice for the first time. A quarter of an hour after she sank the
_Carnarvon_ passed over the exact spot, but neither survivors nor
wreckage were to be seen.
The weather now changed, a light drizzling mist obscuring the former
visibility. It was obvious that there could be only one end to the
fight now in progress, and that it could not long be delayed. At 4.15
P.M. the _Invincible_ opened fire on the _Gneisenau_, which shifted
her target from the _Inflexible_ and fired at the flagship with
creditable precision. She was "straddling" the _Invincible_ at 4.25,
the range being about 10,000 yards, so this was increased. During the
next quarter of an hour our flagship was hit three times, but the
German was taking terrible punishment. At 4.47 she ceased firing; her
colours had been shot away several times, but she had hoisted them
again and again. Now, however, no colours were to be seen, so it was
only natural to conclude she had struck, though it was afterwards
ascertained that she had no more left to hoist. Our ships turned to
avoid getting too far off, when, to the surprise of all, she suddenly
fired off a solitary gun, showing that she was still game. Unlike
her late consort, which looked a perfect wreck for some time before
actually sinking, she had to all appearances suffered very little. At
5.8 P.M., however, her foremost funnel went by the board.
The carnage and destruction wrought in the _Gneisenau_ by our three
ships were terrible, and it was astonishing what a deal of hammering
she was still able to bear. That her casualties at this time were
very heavy was beyond doubt, as shell were to be seen tearing up
her decks as they burst, while the upper works became a veritable
shambles. It was not till 5.15 that the doomed ship, being badly hit
between the third and fourth funnels, showed real signs of being
_in extremis_. She was still firing, however, and even scored an
effective hit--the last one she was to get--about this period.
At 5.30 she was obviously dead beat and turned towards our squadron
with a heavy list to starboard, afire fore and aft, and steam issuing
in dense clouds from all directions. Admiral Sturdee now ordered
"Cease fire," but before the signal could be hoisted _Gneisenau_
opened fire again, and continued to keep it up with her one remaining
undamaged gun. This was returned until it was silenced, when our
ships closed in on her. The ensign flying at her foremast head was
hauled down at 5.40, but the one at her peak was left flying. Five
minutes later she again fired, but only one solitary round, after
which she maintained silence. The signal was made to cease firing
immediately afterwards, when it was evident that her gallant struggle
was at an end.
She now heeled over quite slowly, giving her men plenty of time to
get up on deck. At 6 P.M. our ships were perhaps 4,000 yards off,
and the Germans could be seen gathering together on her "forecastle
quarter deck." Remaining on her beam ends for a few seconds, during
which the men were seen clambering about on her side, she quite
gently subsided and disappeared without any explosion, although a
film of steamy haze hovered over the spot where she sank. The bow
remained poised for a second or two, after which she foundered at 6.2
in latitude 52° 40′ S., longitude 56° 20′ W., having withstood the
combined fire of our ships for an hour and forty-five minutes.
The sea was no longer quite calm, and a misty, drizzling rain was
falling. Closing in hastily, every effort was made to save life, and
boats were got out and lowered. This is no easy job after an action,
as the boats are turned inboard, resting on their crutches, and are
kept partially filled with water in case a shell might strike them
and cause a fire. This water must first be drained out, then the
weight of the boat is hoisted on to the slips to enable it to be
swung outboard, which is not easy if the ship has been hit near the
water-line, causing a list. Finally, several of the boats are certain
to be riddled with shell splinters.
A midshipman, describing the scene that followed, writes, "We cast
overboard every rope's end we can and try our hands at casting to
some poor wretch feebly struggling within a few yards of the ship's
side. Missed him! Another shot. He's further off now! Ah! the rope
isn't long enough. No good; try someone else. He's sunk now!"
The men, however, had not yet heard of the rough weather during
the Coronel action, and still thought that the Germans might have
saved our poor fellows there. Lines were thrown over with shouts of,
"Here, Sausage, put this round your belly," and the like. Taking into
consideration that it was estimated some 600 men had been killed
or wounded, and that the temperature of the water was 40°, it was
fortunate that as many as 170 officers and men were rescued. The
gallant Admiral Count von Spee, whose conduct bears out the best
traditions of naval history, and his two sons, all lost their lives
in the course of the day.
A curious feature of this action was the terrific damage done by
12-inch lyddite shell. One of the _Gneisenau's_ turrets was severed
from its trunk and blown bodily overboard. Nearly every projectile
that hit caused a fire, which was often promptly extinguished by the
splash of the next one falling short. Indeed, it was stated by the
prisoners that the guns' crews in the German ships were frequently
working their guns up to their knees in water, and towards the latter
part of the engagements were unable to fire on account of the volume
of water thrown up by short shots.
The _Invincible_ had been hit about twenty-two times, but the
fighting efficiency of the ship was not affected. Eighteen of these
were direct hits, two being below the water-line on the port side,
one of which flooded a bunker and gave her a list to port. There
were no casualties, however, amongst her complement of 950. The
_Inflexible_ was only hit directly twice; she had one man killed and
three slightly wounded. Her main derrick was cut in two, so that she
was unable to use her steam boats. The few casualties speak more
eloquently than any words of the tactics adopted by Admiral Sturdee
in putting to the greatest possible use the heavier armament at his
disposal.
The _Invincible_ had some interesting damage. One 8.2-inch shell
burst and completely wrecked her wardroom, making a gigantic hole
in her side. Two others hit the stalk of her after conning tower
and burst, but did no damage to the inmates, who only complained
of the fumes being sweet and sickly, leaving an unpleasant taste
which, however, soon wore off. Another interesting case was the
extraordinary damage done by a spent projectile falling at an angle
of fifty degrees. Passing close under her forebridge, it cut the
muzzle of one of her 4-inch guns clean off, after which it passed
through the steel deck, through a ventilating trunk, through the
deck below, and finished up in the Admiral's storeroom--side by
side with the cheese, which put the finishing touch to its career.
Another shell caused a nasty hole on the water-line, seven feet by
three, which was found to be beyond the capabilities of the ship's
staff to repair temporarily. The bunker had to be left flooded, all
the surrounding bulkheads being carefully shored up and strengthened
until she returned to England. In "A Naval Digression"[8] "G. F."
says: "On a part of the main deck one might have imagined for a
second that a philanthropist had been at work, for there, strewn
about, were a thousand odd golden sovereigns; a shell had come
through the upper deck, and, visiting the Fleet-Paymaster's cabin,
had 'upset' the money chest. It had then gone through the bulkhead
into the chaplain's cabin next door, and finally passed out through
the ship's side, taking with it a large part of the reverend
gentleman's wardrobe, and reducing to rags and tatters most of what
it had the decency to leave behind."
The Commander of the _Gneisenau_ was picked up by the _Inflexible_,
and gave some interesting details. Describing the time when the
_Canopus_ fired at the _Gneisenau_ and _Nürnberg_ on their first
approach to Port Stanley, he told us that he said to his Captain,
"Captain, we must either fight or go faster," adding that in his
opinion the day would have ended very differently had they come
up boldly off the mouth of the harbour and bombarded our ships at
anchor before they were able to get out. There can be no doubt that
the issue would have been the same, but the Germans might have been
able to inflict some serious damage, especially to those ships
lying nearest the mouth of the harbour, who would have masked the
battle-cruisers' fire. However, his Captain elected to run, so they
went "faster."
During the action he had to go round the ship with the fire-master,
putting out any fires that were discovered. Whilst going his rounds
during the engagement he found a stoker near one of the drinking
tanks on the mess deck, who said he had come up to get a drink of
water. The Hun Commander told him that he had no business to leave
his post, and, drawing his revolver, shot him dead where he stood.
A curious yarn is connected with Admiral Stoddart, who was in the
_Carnarvon_. He had a distant cousin in the German Navy whom he
had never met and about whose career he had frequently been asked
in years gone by. This cousin of his was one of those saved by the
_Carnarvon_, and when he got aboard he said, "I believe I have a
cousin in one of the British ships. His name is Stoddart." To find he
was the Admiral on board that very ship must have indeed given him
what the sailor terms "a fair knock out." He stated that practically
every man on the upper deck of the _Gneisenau_ was either killed or
wounded, and that it was a feat of the greatest difficulty to climb
across the deck, so great was the havoc wrought in all directions.
Another officer, who was stationed in one of the 8.2-inch turrets,
had a remarkable experience. The turret was hit by a 12-inch shell,
and he emerged the sole survivor. He then went on to a casemate,
which was also knocked out and most of the crew killed. Trying a
third gun, he was perhaps even more fortunate, as it was also hit by
a 12-inch shell, and the same thing happened, but shortly after the
ship sank and he was saved! This hero was a fat, young lieutenant,
who apparently drowned his sorrows the evening before he quitted the
_Carnarvon_. Before retiring to bed he stood up in the mess, drink in
hand, bowed blandly to everyone and said, with a broad smile on his
fat face, "Gentlemen, I thank you very much--you have been very kind
to me, and I wish you all in Hell!"
The wisdom of Admiral Sturdee's orders to the _Carnarvon_ to keep
out of range of the Germans was brought home by an officer survivor
of the _Gneisenau_, who said that they knew they were done and had
orders "to concentrate on the _little_ ship and sink her if she came
within range!"
Upwards of 600 men had been killed or wounded when the _Gneisenau's_
ammunition was finally expended. The German captain "fell-in" the
remainder and told them to provide themselves with hammocks or any
woodwork they could find, in order to support themselves in the water.
A certain number of the German sailors that were rescued from the icy
ocean succumbed to exposure and shock, though the proportion was very
small. They were given a naval funeral with full military honours and
were buried at sea the day after the battle. When the funeral service
was about to take place on the quarter-deck of one of our warships,
the German prisoners were told to come aft to attend it. On rounding
the superstructure, however, the leading men suddenly halted dead,
brought up aghast with fright at the sight of the guard of armed
marines falling in across the deck, who were about to pay the last
tributes of military honours to the dead. When ordered on, these
terrified Huns point blank refused to move, being convinced that the
Marine Guard was there in order to shoot them!