Martin Antonenko
A Fixture
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2008
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On the evening of January 31, 1918, a task force of 40 British warships left the Rosyth naval base in Scotland.
The squadron is to unite with other associations from Scapa Flow the next day. The aim of the top secret mission is a large-scale exercise mission by Home Fleet called "Operation E.C.1".
The fleet leaving Rosyth consists among other things of the 5th Battle Squadron ...
... with three battleships and escorting destroyers, the 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron ...
... with four battle cruisers and escorts, two further cruisers and the 12th and 13th submarine flotillas, each led by a light cruiser.
The squadron forms an almost 50 km long chain of ships. For fear of German submarine attacks, the ships ran darkened with dim position lights and under absolute radio silence. In addition, the association runs - also to protect against the dreaded German submarines - at high speed.
To the by HMS "Fearless" ...
... guided 12th submarine flotilla belong to boats K3, K4, K6 and K7, the submarines K11, K12, K14, K17 and K22 together with their lead ship HMS "Ithuriel" ...
... the 13th submarine flotilla.
Both associations run in the top group of the squadron in front of the "thick ships".
At the island of May ...
... the giant fleet encounters a small association of British minesweepers and dodges. During the evasive maneuver, the rudder system of the submarine K14 ...
... which is why the submarine is leaving the line.
On the following K22 ...
... they have no idea of the accident, but rather follow the weak position lights of the K14 guide boat and leave the association unintentionally.
When the K14 tries to steer the machines and resume the course of the fleet, the two submarines collide, killing two seafarers.
The following battle cruiser HMS "Inflexible" ...
... rams the bow of the unpowered K22 27 minutes later. The two submarines were the rearguard of the 13th submarine flotilla. The three remaining submarines of the flotilla noticed the accident and turned back to help the wrecked boats.
The retreating 13th submarine flotilla thus travels on a direct collision course to the 12th submarine flotilla that follows but is not informed by the radio silence ordered.
HMS "Fearless" ...
... rams with full speed K17 ...:
The submarine is badly damaged, gets a huge leak in the pressure hull and sinks in 8 minutes.
In the following general confusion K6 ...
... runs across the K4 and tear it in two. The remnants of the K4 were also shortly afterwards by K7 ...
... rammed, sinks in a few moments and pull the entire crew of the submarine down.
Because of the sensitive radio silence, the following ships did not even notice the debacle.
The entire 5th battle squadron is going full steam through the accident area ...
... and kills many of the K17 survivors floating helplessly on the surface.
Only 9 seafarers can be rescued alive, one of whom succumbs to his injuries shortly after the rescue.
The British Navy loses on January 31, 1918 105 men and two submarines within 75 minutes. Four more submarines and a light cruiser are badly damaged ...:
This chain of several accidents has gone down in the history of the Royal Navy as the "Battle of May Island".
The squadron is to unite with other associations from Scapa Flow the next day. The aim of the top secret mission is a large-scale exercise mission by Home Fleet called "Operation E.C.1".
The fleet leaving Rosyth consists among other things of the 5th Battle Squadron ...
... with three battleships and escorting destroyers, the 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron ...
... with four battle cruisers and escorts, two further cruisers and the 12th and 13th submarine flotillas, each led by a light cruiser.
The squadron forms an almost 50 km long chain of ships. For fear of German submarine attacks, the ships ran darkened with dim position lights and under absolute radio silence. In addition, the association runs - also to protect against the dreaded German submarines - at high speed.
To the by HMS "Fearless" ...
... guided 12th submarine flotilla belong to boats K3, K4, K6 and K7, the submarines K11, K12, K14, K17 and K22 together with their lead ship HMS "Ithuriel" ...
... the 13th submarine flotilla.
Both associations run in the top group of the squadron in front of the "thick ships".
At the island of May ...
... the giant fleet encounters a small association of British minesweepers and dodges. During the evasive maneuver, the rudder system of the submarine K14 ...
... which is why the submarine is leaving the line.
On the following K22 ...
... they have no idea of the accident, but rather follow the weak position lights of the K14 guide boat and leave the association unintentionally.
When the K14 tries to steer the machines and resume the course of the fleet, the two submarines collide, killing two seafarers.
The following battle cruiser HMS "Inflexible" ...
... rams the bow of the unpowered K22 27 minutes later. The two submarines were the rearguard of the 13th submarine flotilla. The three remaining submarines of the flotilla noticed the accident and turned back to help the wrecked boats.
The retreating 13th submarine flotilla thus travels on a direct collision course to the 12th submarine flotilla that follows but is not informed by the radio silence ordered.
HMS "Fearless" ...
... rams with full speed K17 ...:
The submarine is badly damaged, gets a huge leak in the pressure hull and sinks in 8 minutes.
In the following general confusion K6 ...
... runs across the K4 and tear it in two. The remnants of the K4 were also shortly afterwards by K7 ...
... rammed, sinks in a few moments and pull the entire crew of the submarine down.
Because of the sensitive radio silence, the following ships did not even notice the debacle.
The entire 5th battle squadron is going full steam through the accident area ...
... and kills many of the K17 survivors floating helplessly on the surface.
Only 9 seafarers can be rescued alive, one of whom succumbs to his injuries shortly after the rescue.
The British Navy loses on January 31, 1918 105 men and two submarines within 75 minutes. Four more submarines and a light cruiser are badly damaged ...:
This chain of several accidents has gone down in the history of the Royal Navy as the "Battle of May Island".
