H.M.S. New Zealand at the Battle of Jutland

New Zealand fought at the Battle of Jutland as part of the Second Battle Cruiser Squadron.

Captain's Report on Action of 31st May 1916. H.M.S New Zealand.

Track Chart taken from between p. 394 and p. 395.

Enclosure No. 7 to Battle Cruiser Fleet Letter No. B.C.F. 01 of 12/6/16.

No. 96/A. 4.

H.M.S. New Zealand ,

2nd June 1916.

SIR,

I HAVE the honour to make the following report on the action which took place on Wednesday, 31st May 1916, between our fleet and the German Fleet.

2. The day was hazy and fine with practically no wind. I should put the visibility down as between 7 and 10 miles, varying in patches. Smoke also added occasionally to the haziness, but I was rather impressed by the little smoke interference there was.

3. Range-taking and Spotting were difficult. It was very difficult to distinguish hits, but occasional bursts of smoke with a salvo seemed to denote a hit.

4. The firing of the enemy was extremely good, their salvoes having very little spread, and they seemed to pick up the range quickly and correctly, and their salvoes were rapid.

5. We were fortunately only hit once by a heavy projectile, about 1 foot above the deck on the port side of "X" Turret (the after turret) which punched a hole about 2 feet in diameter. It also went through the tongue of the towing slip which was secured round the turret. The shell must have burst on deck as there were sputterings round about there. It also damaged the deck, cutting through it and through the deck below into the Engineer's Workshop.

6. I attach a timed account of the various incidents as they occurred. All these times are G.M.T. and are, I consider, absolutely reliable, as they come from 3 different sources.

7. [See here.]

8. I consider that the Battle Cruiser described at 8.31 p.m. to be heelng over and on fire, was in a sinking condition when she hauled out of line. The different reports received by Officers in this ship agree that our last 2 or 3 salvoes fired at her hit her heavily. She appeared to be a Seydlitz class.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

JOHN F. E. GREEN,

Captain.

The Rear-Admiral Commanding,

Second Battle Cruiser Squadron,

H.M.S. New Zealand.

Record of Ranges

Taken from the Official Despatches, pp. 393-395.

---

H.M.S. " New Zealand,"

8th June 1916.

ACTION WITH GERMAN FLEET, 31ST MAY 1916.

RECORD OF RANGES, &C, COMPILED FROM TRANSMITTING STATION AND CONTROL TOP RECORDS.

All times are Rough G.M.T.

Time.	Remarks, &c.	Gun Range.
3.51	Commenced ranging on 4th Ship from right	—
3.52		—
3.53		—
3.57	Opened fire.	18,100
3.57½		17,000
3.58		15,800
3.58¼		—
3.58½		14,600
3.59		13,400
3.59½		13,000
4.0		12,500
4.1		12,300
4.1½		11,000
4.2		10,800
4.2½		11,100
4.3		11,400
4.3½		11,400
4.4		11,600
4.4½		11,600
4.5½		12,000
4.6	a/c to Star.	12,300
4.6½		13,200
4.7		13,800
4.9	Shifted fire to 5th (rear) Ship	—
4.10		14,100
4.10½		—
4.11		14,800
4.12		—
4.12½		16,000
4.13		16,400
4.14		16,400
4.16		17,100
4.17		16,900
4,19		17,400
4.20		—
4.21		18,100
4.21½		—
4.22		17,600
4.22½	Shifted to 4th Ship, 5th Ship obscured	—
4.23		18,100
4.24		17,600
4.25½		18,000
4.26		17,850
4.26½		17,450
4.29		17,800
4.30½		17,750
4.31		17,450
4.32		—
4.33		16,400
4.34		15,100
4.36		14,500
4.36½		14,800
4.37		15,200
4.38½		—
4.39½		—
4.41		17,350
4.42	Enemy out of range	18,850
4.58	Right hand Battle Cruiser. Set sight to longest range at which it would bear.	18,000
5.0	Enemy out of range	18,600
5.46	Green 76 a Battle Cruiser	18,000 (estimated).
5.47		17,000
5.48		15,700
5.50		14,600
5.51		—
5.51½		—
5.52		14,500
5.53		15,450
5.55		15,000
5.56		14,300
5.58	Enemy nearly lost in smoke and mist; spotting very difficult.	14,300
6.4	Enemy obscured	—
6.6	Starb. 71 the leading Battleship. Fired 3 salvoes. Enemy obscured	16,000
6.19	Left-hand Battleship	17,000
6.19½		16,000
6.20	a/c to Port	—
6.21½	Green 90. 2nd Ship from left	9,700
6.22		10,500
6.22		10,350
to 6.25		10,100
6.26		10,300
6.27		9,500
6.27½	Checked fire	—
8.24	Green 60. 3rd Ship from right	11,500 (estimated).
8.25		10,400
8.26		9,200
8.26½		9,600
8.27		9,500
8.28		9,100
8.29		9,400
8.30	Enemy on fire forward and hauling out of line, listing heavily	—
8.36		10,700
8.38	Impossible to see fall of shot	—
8.39	Checked fire	—

Gunnery

New Zealand had to check fire at 4.52pm due to insufficient elevation.

See Also

• Second B.C.S. (Royal Navy) at the Battle of Jutland

Bibliography

• Admiralty (1920). Battle of Jutland 30th May to 1st June 1916: Official Despatches with Appendices. Cmd. 1068. London: His Majesty's Stationary Office.