H.M.S. Bellerophon at the Battle of Jutland
Captain's Report of H.M.S. Bellerophon.
SIR
I HAVE the honour to forward the following report of the action fought on 31st May off the Horn Reef between the Grand Fleet and the German High Sea Fleet, or parts of those Fleets.
2. The weather on the afternoon of the Battle was misty, with a light southerly breeze and smooth sea; the visibility was very variable and deceptive, it did not often exceed four or five miles, but sometimes and during part of the engagement, it reached ten miles or more.
3. The Commander-in-Chief had informed the Fleet by signal of the main events of the afternoon, how the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron had sighted and chased two of the German Destroyers until their Battle Cruisers were sighted, and then turned and led them to the N.W.; and then that the enemy's Battle Fleet were coming North and that the Battle cruiser fleet and 5th Battle squadron were engaging them.
4. Meanwhile the 1st, 2nd and 4th Battle squadrons, less Emperor of India, Royal Sovereign and Dreadnought, with the Attached cruisers, 4th Light Cruiser squadron and Destroyers were steaming S.E. by S. at full speed, a nominal 20 knots and actually a little more.
5. At about 5.50 G.M.T. the sound of distant firing was heard, and at 6.03 some British four-funnel cruisers were sighted coming in from ahead, and shortly afterwards the Lion, Tiger, Princess Royal and New Zealand, but no enemy could be distinguished, though all these ships were firing briskly, and receiving the enemy's fire.
6. The Battle Fleet altered course to South by 9 Pdt. at 6 o'clock G.M.T., but went back to S.E. at 6.8 and at 6.15 we sighted some grey misty outlines through the intervals in the Battle cruisers and their smoke that appeared to be the enemy.
7. At 6.20 G.M.T. the position of the Fleet was very complicated. The Battle Fleet from divisions in line ahead steering S.E. by S. was forming line of battle to S.E. at 14 knots; the Battle Cruisers having come in from about S.S.W. were crossing between the battle line and the enemy to get ahead of the former; the Cruiser squadrons were steering roughly North and bearing about West, ahead of the enemy, on the Starboard quarter of the Battle Fleet; Light Cruiser squadrons were steaming about at high speed in various directions, and the Destroyers were taking up their positions for action on the battle line. The Battle Cruisers were firing with moderate rapidity and had evidently been hit here and there by the enemy, the Cruiser Squadrons were under a heavy fire, and at 6.22 one was seen to receive a salvo on her Fore turret and then to blow up and disappear.
8. As the Bellerophon turned into line to S.E. the enemy became more plain, and with a clear range to them I ordered "Commence" at 6.25 G.M.T. It was impossible to count down the line from the bridge, sometimes one ship was in sight and sometimes another, so I contented myself with pointing out the enemy line to the Control Officer and left him to fire at any of them that he could see at the time. At 6.40 fire was checked as no enemy could be seen. At 6.45 passed the Acasta with 6, flag flying and engines stopped. At 6.35 altered course by 9 Pdt. to South. At 7.4 passed the wreck of the Invincible, a Destroyer in attendance with a boat down. Just about this time several projectiles fell near the ship, and the Colossus in the next division was seen to receive a hit from a big shell.
