Difference between revisions of "Fourth L.C.S. (Royal Navy) at the Battle of Jutland"
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==LETTER OF PROCEEDINGS—FROM COMMODORE, 4TH LIGHT CRUISER SQUADRON== | ==LETTER OF PROCEEDINGS—FROM COMMODORE, 4TH LIGHT CRUISER SQUADRON== | ||
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+ | {|width=1024px | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top colspan=2| Enclosure No. 15 to Submission No. 1415/0022 of 20/8/16 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top colspan=2| from C.-in-C., Home Fleets. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top colspan=2| No. C. 14. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top colspan=2| "{{UK-Calliope}}," 3rd June 1916 | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top colspan=2|Sir, | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top colspan=2|I HAVE the honour to forward herewith, in the form of a diary, the proceedings of the Fourth Light Cruiser Squadron when not actually in station, during the Fleet action of 31st May 1916. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top|2.||The diary has been compiled from the reports and track charts forwarded by ships of the Squadron. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top colspan=2|I have the honour to be, | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top colspan=2|Sir, | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top colspan=2|Your obedient Servant, | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top colspan=2|[[Charles Edward Le Mesurier|C. E. LE MESURIER]],<br>Commodore,<br>Fourth Light Cruiser Squadron. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top colspan=2|The Commander-in-Chief, | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top colspan=2|Grand Fleet. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top colspan=2 align=center|(Enclosure to 4th Light Cruiser Squadron Letter No. C. 14 of 3rd June 1916.) | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top colspan=2 align=center|DIARY OF PROCEEDINGS. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top colspan=2|Date, 31st May 1916. All times G.M.T. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top colspan=2|P. M . | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top|5.45.|| Heavy firing S.S.W. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top|6.12.|| One Enemy Light Cruiser to Southward, on fire and<br>stopped. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top|6.13.|| 4th Light Cruiser Squadron turned to East in line ahead.<br> Battle Cruiser Fleet 2' South, steering East, engaging<br> enemy Battle Cruisers on parallel course. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top|6.20.|| One enemy four-funnel Light Cruiser observed to sink. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top|6.22.|| "{{UK-QueenMary}} " blew up. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top|6.32.|| " {{UK-Invincible}} " blew up. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top|6.35.|| " {{UK-Acasta}} " badly hit, passed through Squadron from<br> Southward. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top|6.35.|| Centre and Rear Divisions of Battle Fleet opened fire. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top|6.45.|| Altered course to close "King George V." division.<br> Received signal for deployment. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top|7.0-7.15.|| Took up action station on "King George V." | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top|7,15.|| One enemy Battle Cruiser ( ? " {{DE-Lutzow}} ") bearing West<br> surrounded by T.B.D.'s steering slowly to N.W. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top|7.18.|| Two enemy Battle Ships [[König Class Battleship (1913)|" König " class]], engaged by<br> " Orion " division, observed heavily on fire. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top|7.22.|| Ordered by Commander-in-Chief to attack enemy destroyers.<br> Latter—a half flotilla—bearing N.W. by N.,<br> steering towards head of "King George V." division.<br> Opened fire 8,000-9,000 yards, leading T.B.D.<br> disappeared; one other disabled. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top|7.25-7.35.|| At least six torpedoes observed in Squadron to pass<br> ahead or through the Squadron's track. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top|7.36.|| Enemy destroyers retired, 4th Light Cruiser Squadron<br> resumed station on "{{UK-KingGeorgeV}}." | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top|8.5.|| " {{UK-Castor}} " and T.B.D.'s turned to West, a smoke screen<br>observed W.N.W.—1st Division, " {{UK-Calliope}} ," <br>" {{UK-Constance}} ," and " {{UK-Comus}} " turned to support " {{UK-Castor}}." | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top|8.18.|| Opened fire on enemy's destroyers, a half flotilla steering<br>towards rear of Battle Cruiser Fleet in direction S.S.W. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top|8.24.|| Enemy destroyers made smoke cloud and retired on own line. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top|8.26.||Sighted enemy Battle Fleet N.W., 8,000 yards, [[Deutschland Class Battleship (1904)|" Pommern "<br> class]] centre, [[Kaiser Class Battleship (1911)|" Kaiser " class]] rear divisions, course south. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top|8.28.||Enemy Battleships opened fire on Light Cruisers. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top|8.30.||" {{UK-Calliope}} " fired a torpedo at leading ship of " Kaiser "<br>division at 6,500 yards—Light Cruisers retired on "King<br>George V." divisions heavily shelled by three enemy<br>battleships. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top|8.35.||Enemy ceased firing. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top|8.38.||An explosion noticed on one " Kaiser " class Battleship. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top|8.45.||" {{UK-Calliope}} " took station on 2nd Battle Squadron. " {{UK-Constance}} "<br> and " {{UK-Comus}} " proceeded through the line to<br>get ahead of the "King George V." | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top|8.45.||" {{UK-Caroline}} " and " Royalist " (ahead of " {{UK-Castor}} " and<br>destroyers) who were ahead of "King George V."<br>observed three enemy Battleships—pre-Dreadnoughts<br>N.N.W. closing slowly—leading enemy ship challenged<br>by Searchlight towards "Castor." | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top|9.5-9.10.||" {{UK-Caroline}} " fired two torpedoes and " {{UK-Royalist}} "<br>fired one torpedo at enemy, mean range 8,000 yards.<br>Enemy opened fire on " {{UK-Caroline}} " and " {{UK-Royalist}} ,"<br>also on " Comus "—rejoining "Caroline." Latter and<br>" Royalist " turned away. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top|9.14.||Enemy ceased firing. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top|9.17.|| Enemy fired one large star shell. | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | |valign=top|9.35.||" Calliope " reached head of line, 4th L.C.S. formed astern<br>of her. Squadron closed on "King George V." at<br>2.0 a.m. 1st June. | ||
+ | |} | ||
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=={{UK-Calliope|f=p}}== | =={{UK-Calliope|f=p}}== |
Revision as of 15:41, 25 September 2013
The Fourth Light Cruiser Squadron had five light cruisers operating in support of the Grand Fleet at the Battle of Jutland:[1]
- Calliope, Commodore 2nd class Charles E. Le Mesurier
- Constance, Captain Cyril Samuel Townsend
- Comus, Captain Alan Geoffrey Hotham
- Caroline, Captain Henry Ralph Crooke
- Royalist, Captain the Honourable Herbert Meade-Fetherstonhaugh, D.S.O.
On 3 June, 1916, Charles E. Le Mesurier submitted a short "Diary of Proceedings" on the operation of the squadron at the Battle of Jutland.[2]
LETTER OF PROCEEDINGS—FROM COMMODORE, 4TH LIGHT CRUISER SQUADRON
Enclosure No. 15 to Submission No. 1415/0022 of 20/8/16 | |
from C.-in-C., Home Fleets. | |
No. C. 14. | |
"Calliope," 3rd June 1916 | |
Sir, | |
I HAVE the honour to forward herewith, in the form of a diary, the proceedings of the Fourth Light Cruiser Squadron when not actually in station, during the Fleet action of 31st May 1916. | |
2. | The diary has been compiled from the reports and track charts forwarded by ships of the Squadron. |
I have the honour to be, | |
Sir, | |
Your obedient Servant, | |
C. E. LE MESURIER, Commodore, Fourth Light Cruiser Squadron. | |
The Commander-in-Chief, | |
Grand Fleet. | |
(Enclosure to 4th Light Cruiser Squadron Letter No. C. 14 of 3rd June 1916.) | |
DIARY OF PROCEEDINGS. | |
Date, 31st May 1916. All times G.M.T. | |
P. M . | |
5.45. | Heavy firing S.S.W. |
6.12. | One Enemy Light Cruiser to Southward, on fire and stopped. |
6.13. | 4th Light Cruiser Squadron turned to East in line ahead. Battle Cruiser Fleet 2' South, steering East, engaging enemy Battle Cruisers on parallel course. |
6.20. | One enemy four-funnel Light Cruiser observed to sink. |
6.22. | "Queen Mary " blew up. |
6.32. | " Invincible " blew up. |
6.35. | " Acasta " badly hit, passed through Squadron from Southward. |
6.35. | Centre and Rear Divisions of Battle Fleet opened fire. |
6.45. | Altered course to close "King George V." division. Received signal for deployment. |
7.0-7.15. | Took up action station on "King George V." |
7,15. | One enemy Battle Cruiser ( ? " Lützow ") bearing West surrounded by T.B.D.'s steering slowly to N.W. |
7.18. | Two enemy Battle Ships " König " class, engaged by " Orion " division, observed heavily on fire. |
7.22. | Ordered by Commander-in-Chief to attack enemy destroyers. Latter—a half flotilla—bearing N.W. by N., steering towards head of "King George V." division. Opened fire 8,000-9,000 yards, leading T.B.D. disappeared; one other disabled. |
7.25-7.35. | At least six torpedoes observed in Squadron to pass ahead or through the Squadron's track. |
7.36. | Enemy destroyers retired, 4th Light Cruiser Squadron resumed station on "King George V." |
8.5. | " Castor " and T.B.D.'s turned to West, a smoke screen observed W.N.W.—1st Division, " Calliope ," " Constance ," and " Comus " turned to support " Castor." |
8.18. | Opened fire on enemy's destroyers, a half flotilla steering towards rear of Battle Cruiser Fleet in direction S.S.W. |
8.24. | Enemy destroyers made smoke cloud and retired on own line. |
8.26. | Sighted enemy Battle Fleet N.W., 8,000 yards, " Pommern " class centre, " Kaiser " class rear divisions, course south. |
8.28. | Enemy Battleships opened fire on Light Cruisers. |
8.30. | " Calliope " fired a torpedo at leading ship of " Kaiser " division at 6,500 yards—Light Cruisers retired on "King George V." divisions heavily shelled by three enemy battleships. |
8.35. | Enemy ceased firing. |
8.38. | An explosion noticed on one " Kaiser " class Battleship. |
8.45. | " Calliope " took station on 2nd Battle Squadron. " Constance " and " Comus " proceeded through the line to get ahead of the "King George V." |
8.45. | " Caroline " and " Royalist " (ahead of " Castor " and destroyers) who were ahead of "King George V." observed three enemy Battleships—pre-Dreadnoughts N.N.W. closing slowly—leading enemy ship challenged by Searchlight towards "Castor." |
9.5-9.10. | " Caroline " fired two torpedoes and " Royalist " fired one torpedo at enemy, mean range 8,000 yards. Enemy opened fire on " Caroline " and " Royalist ," also on " Comus "—rejoining "Caroline." Latter and " Royalist " turned away. |
9.14. | Enemy ceased firing. |
9.17. | Enemy fired one large star shell. |
9.35. | " Calliope " reached head of line, 4th L.C.S. formed astern of her. Squadron closed on "King George V." at 2.0 a.m. 1st June. |
See Also
Footnotes
Bibliography