Difference between revisions of "Austro-Hungarian Naval Report on German Warships after Jutland"

Revision as of 10:30, 22 March 2024

It was prepared by Marineartillerie-Oberingenieure 2. Klasse Georg Schindler. This report is in many ways more detailed than that of Fregattenkapitäne Hieronymus Graf von Colloredo-Mannsfeld prepared immediately after Jutland.

Report

REPORT by a Mission undertaken in accordance with Order. Section 4 M.S. No.1746 of 1916.

On the inspection of German Warships which took part in the Battle of the Skaggerak (Jutland), 31st.May - 1st.June 1916; on Wilhelmshaven, Hamburg and Kiel, and on other inspections of ships and bases.

 By Georg Schindler,

 Gunnery Engineer, 2nd Class.

 AUSTRIAN NAVY.

The only details which have been dealt with are those which were of Gunnery interest.

Ships under A.B.C.J. and M. were in Wilhelmshaven. D.E.F. in Hamburg and G.H.K.L. in Kiel.

In the following reports on each ship, Section 1 deals with the effect of enemy hits on ships A. to H. above, in conjunction with the two attached ship sketches (Enclosures 1 and 2). [Not attached.]

Of the hits marked in the sketches those of a gunnery interest are distinguished by red ink. Section II gives general remarks concerning the ships in question.

Further a report is submitted on installations in newly commissioned ships (K. and L.) also on a ship still under construction (J.), as well as means of combating submarines installed in Fishing vessels (M.) and finally, briefly on the Ordnance workshops in the Naval Arsenals (N. and O.).

A. "SEYDLITZ" (Enclosure 1).

This Cruiser received 24 shell hits (38 cm. 34.3 cm. and 30.5 cm.)(15", 13.5" and 12") and one Torpedo hit.

Except for 1 shell hit (apparently 34.3 cm.) (13.5") on the starboard side forward (Hits nos.2-4) and one hit no.16 (38 cm.?) in the starboard after 15 cm. (6") casemate all hits came from the port side. At the time of the inspection all hits came from the port side. At the time of the inspection all Gun tubes, Guns and many fittings had been dismantled and landed.

1. A large calibre shell (hit no.8) struck the 2nd. 15 cm. port casemate (from forward), put the gun out of action and killed or seriously wounded the majority of the gun's crew.

2. A 38 cm. shell exploded in the 4th 15 cm. casemate (hit No.13) the gun was similarly damaged, and 2 men (wounded) remained alive of the crew.

3. In the port after 15 cm. casemate, No.6 gun, (hit No.15) had the same effect as the two described above.

4. A 38 cm. shell (hit No.16) penetrated the armoured bulkhead on starboard side aft, near the last 15 cm. casemate, close to the curve of the armour (Fig.1, Enc.3) destroyed the 15 cm. gun and killed most of the gun crew.

Of the twelve 15 cm. guns it appears that 2 port and 4 starboard fired unceasingly until the end.

5. No.2 Turret (starboard) received a hit from port on the vertical turret armour (hit No.21) to the right of the right gun. Part of the nose of the shell pierced the armour anddestroyed [sic] the cradle and training gear of the right gun. The left was undamaged. The turret remained in action with this gun.

6. An interesting hit is to be seen on the right 28 cm. gun of No.3 Turret port. The gun was on one of the jetties of the arsenal and could be examined. A large calibre shell hit the aforesaid gun a glancing blow just outside the turret, producing at the point of impact, a considerable elliptical scoop on the outside, causing a fracture of the inner tube and in addition bent the gun so that the axis of the tube at the muzzle was (as far as could be estimated) 200 mm. (about 8 in.) out of line.

The cradle of this gun was split, the trunnions somewhat bent and the caps thereof partially opened out.

The left gun of this turret, however, remained serviceable and the Turret could continue firing without interruption.

7. A 34.3 cm. (13.5") shell (hit No.18) pierced the vertical armour of the revolving structure of No.4 Turret superimposed to the left of the left gun exploded inside the turret, ignited the cartridges which were ready for loading, put the turret out of action and killed all the crew (about 70 men) except 6.

T [sic] This turret, already out of action, received another hit later from a 38 cm. (15") shell (hit No.17) this projectile struck the revolving Turret armour close to the lower edge at the right rear of the turret, and partially penetrated the turret.

8. A Large calibre shell tore off the roof of the after (No.5) turret. (Geschossgeller ? ricochet). The turret suffered no appreciable damage inside.

The remaining hits are being dealt with in the report on ship construction.≠ [I.D. Note: The original of this report can, unfortunately, not be obtained.]

1. Extensive "flash" protection was already installed in "SEYDLITZ".

(a) The openings for bringing 28 cm. cartridges into the lower loading chamber of the Ammunition Hoist can be shut off with sliding doors (schubtüren ?). The supply scuttles from the magazines are fitted with hinged flaps which open upwards on each side (Fig.3, Enc.3).

(b) The 15 cm. (5.9") Ammunition hoists at the supply position in the casemates are fitted with a "closing flap" which shuts automatically, but its own weight assisted by a spring, immediately after the ammunition has rolled out on to the Ammunition Tray (which is placed in a horizontal position by a Paternoster apparatus (endless chain) (Fig.4, Enc.3).

2. Apparently Gas Masks are employed in all ships. The method of use is the same as in the German Army. Every man was supplied with a mask (as it happened 2 days before action). These masks were to be brought into use immediately there was any evidence of suffocating gases, and they were so far successful that, according to the opinions of officers, at least one ship, if not two, was saved by their use.

3. Enemy "shorts" usually exploded on hitting the water, with the result that, (as in the cases of shells exploding on board), splinters of various sizes struck guns among other things, and caused damage, but in practically every case no stoppage of firing from the gun resulted. Shell splinters also entered Conning Towers and Turrets through the sighting slits. But they caused no internal damage as their force was broken by their passage through the deeps [sic] slits. (Fig.5, Enc.3).

4. In Turret firing. Salvoes were gradually used, and always with only one gun of each turret.

5. For transmission of orders to the guns (also to 15 cm. (5.9" guns) from the Gunnery Officers position (in the Conning Tower) Elevation pointers are used which are mounted (separately) on brackets away from the Turret armour.

6. Ranges of the individual rangefinders are shown on a circular scale (range receiver) by means of electrically worked pointers. All these dials are mounter [sic] in a circular box (Fig.6, Enc.3) so that the ranges of the same object shown by several rangefinders (Pointers in similar direction)[.] Further, it is possible to cut out one or other of the dials if the Rangetaker concerned is ranging badly.

7. Repulse of Destroyers is carried out invariably by means of broadside salvoes of 15 cm. (5.9) guns etc. and one target only is always used. But the Gunlayer is only to fire when sights are exactly on the target.

8. The 8.8 cm. (22 pr.) guns were not used in the battle. It is understood that in the future guns of this calibre, will only be retained on board as anti-aircraft guns, as was laid down for all ships.

9. (a) The empty 26 cm. (11") cartridge cases are thrown out of the turrets on to the deck through openings in rear of the Gun platforms (2 per turret). A covering flap, opening downwards when the cases are thrown out, automatically closes the hole by means of a spring (Fig.7, Enc.3).

(b) The fired 15 cm. (5.9") cartridge are placed in a large hanging net in the casemate, and are only removed from the casemate during a lull in the firing. It was stated that a very large number of fired cases (including Large Calibre ones) were collected and brought back.

10. The voice pipes are made of 60,100 and 150 mm. diameter (2.4 in., 3.8 in.,and 6 in.). (The last named are called Schallrohre and are intended for short distances). Voice pipes are not lagged.

11. The ventilation of the Turrets is similar to the method employed in our newer ships. A Fan placed between the two guns, sucks, on the one hand the powder gases from the breeches by means of a ventilation pipe from each gun when the breech is opened and on the other hand draws them away from the roof of the turret on the gun platform another fan, portable, and continually running, was installed when sucked in fresh air through a hose and passed it into the interior of the turret bymeans [sic] of a second hose. If any man had any difficulty in breathing he inhaled fresh air through the second hose. But even this method only afforded partial relief.

12. All Gunnery machinery (hydraulic and electric) appears to have function correctly.

13. From the Gunnery point of view there were no serious fires (magazines of any description), for which the "Flash door" protection described in Section II Miscellaneous, Pars. I (a) and (b) is principally responsible. All cartridges actually in a turret or casemate,when [sic] an enemy shell burst in the turret or casemate, were exploded in every case. Therefore the rule was most strictly enforced that only the absolute minimum of ammunition was kept ready at the guns.

14. "SEYDLITZ" had 1150 28 cm. (11" shell) on board, of which 450 were expended. (No ship expended all her ammunition).

15. The torpedo nets were not actually a hindrance in the action but they sustained heavy damage fromenemy [sic] hits and splinters so that parts of them hung down over the ships side.

In future these nets being useless ballast will no longer be carried. This is already the case in the new battleship "BAYERN".

This Battleship received no shell hits, but was struck by a mine onthe [sic] starboard side forward. The detailed description is contained in the report on Ship Construction.

At the time of the inspection of this ship the 30.5 cm. (12") Ammunition was being embarked. The shells were being slung from the Quay on to the Deck by means of a powerful floating crane in bundles (of about 5 projectiles). All cartridges are enclosed in long water-tight zinc containers, fitted with stiffening bands. They were being rolled on board carefully across broad planks and stowed in the Magazines. If several rounds of ready ammunition have to be stowed in the Turret, the charges are always kept in the zinc cylinders.

The 30.5 cm. (12") and also 28 cm. (11") projectiles are (according to the statement of the Gunnery Officer of this ship, Lt.Comdr.Lauenstein) of one description throughout, capped and fitted with base fuse. Total weight 405 kg. (about 890 lbs.) Bursting charge 12 to 13 kg. (26½ to 29 lbs.) of Trotyl. In the latest ships, however, "Armour piercing" and "high explosive" shell (but with a new explosive for bursting charge) are again to be used, as is already the case with the 28 cm. (15") shell in the Battleship "BAYERN".

For the 15 cm.(5.9") guns it is reported that there are two types of shell in use.

(a) Fused shell with base fuses.

(b) High explosive shell,with a very sensitive nose fuse and a base fuse.

This Battle Cruiser received 4 hits from large calibre shells (all on the starboard side).

(1). The foremost 28 cm. (11") Turret was hit in the Barbette on the starboard side. The shell exploded and the armour was just penetrated (Hit No.1). Three men in the turret sustained burns (not very severe) from the "Flash". But the Turret was placed out of action as the armour at the point of impact was bulged inwards and jammed the Turret.

(2). The after Conning Tower was similarly hit (Hit No.2)[.] But the shell only caused a shaking of the Tower and all apparatus inside remained intact.

(3.) A shell exploded in the neighbourhood of the after Turret No.4 (Hit No.3). The effect on the Turret was only evident in a shaking, and the armour in the vicinity of the explosion was very slightly indented but without doing any damage so that the Turret continued in action.

(4). No.4 hit is only of slight constructional interest.

(1). In this ship, as in "OSTFRIESLAND", the question as to whether the collection of scraps of metal (coming from driving bands or Cartridge cases) in the Breech made any difference to the condition of the breech was answered in the negative.

(2). The maximum rate of fire of the 28 cm. (11") guns of this Cruiser, as well as of the 30.5 cm. (12") guns of the "OSTFRIESLAND" is stated to have reached 3 - 4 rounds per minute in peace time.

(3). The arrangement in the 28 cm. (11") turrets is in principle the same as in "SEYDLITZ" or as in the 30.5 cm. (12") guns of the large Battle Cruiser "HINDENBURG" (now building), with the exception of a few improvements in the last named ship. But while in the later ships (30.5 cm. 12") hydraulic rammers with reserve Hand ramming are installed "VON DER TANN" has only double Hand rammers, which are hung under the Turret roof.

The ship was hit 8 times (large calibre) all from the port side.

(1) Hit No.4 (presumably 34 cm. 13.5") exploded before the Barbette armour of the foremost Turret.
Apart from breaking off small pieces of the hard armour (? Panzerschichte) and a slight shaking of the turret no damage was done to the Turret fittings. A fragment struck the upper surface of a sight slot and remained in the slot, while a good deal of gas entered the Turret and necessitated the use of gas masks by the crew for some time.

(2). A further heavy shell (Hit No.6) struck the port 15 cm.(5.9") Casemate (3rd. from forward) killed 10 of the crew of 14, but damaged the gun so little that after about 12 minutes the gun's crew having been made up, it was brought into action again. Two cartridges which were in the casemate were ignited.

(3). The other hits are only of constructional interest.

Some 30.5 cm. (12") and 15 cm. (5.9") guns were damaged on the outside by splinters from "shorts", but sustained no other damage.

The Magazine arrangements in this ship were somewhat more minutely examined as well as reports made concerning them. (The arrangements described below are also used in the other ships).

The shell bins and shell transport to the shell hoist are shown in Fig. 8, Enc.3) diagrammatically.

A shell grab (Z) worked by 2 electric motors automatically controlled is used to transport the shell from the bins to the waiting tray fixed round the trunk (Turmraum) (A 1.-4). This grab is suspended from a broad length of wire sword matting, the latter can be wound up or down round a drum (Wa), if the transporting shaft (T) which is provided with two diametrical opposite longitudinal feathers is turned in the corresponding direction. Shaft (T) is fitted into drum (Wa). By this the grab is wound up or down. The grab is moved horizontally by the carrier (R), which holds the above-mentioned revolving drum, being drawn to one side or the other by an endless rope, worked electrically along the shaft (T). To assist the long shaft a deck rail is fitted above it which carries the weights, (Projectile grab and drum with carrier), the carrier being suspended from the rail. The electrical starting levers for both motors are fitted in the shell handing room.