Difference between revisions of "H.M.S. Invincible at the Battle of the Falkland Islands"

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(Damage)
(Damage)
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Damage to deck was also caused from blast of "P" and "Q" turrets ; deck beams being distorted and planking broken across extensively.
 
Damage to deck was also caused from blast of "P" and "Q" turrets ; deck beams being distorted and planking broken across extensively.
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The capped 8.2 inch shell that was recovered complete has been carefully opened and examined ; it appears to be filled with T.N.T., and as its design, and the method of filling and fusing may present new features, everything will be sent to Woolwich for inspection.  The angle of descent of this shell as measured by the line of holes made in the various decks is 48°.
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Several different types of projectile were fired, and portions of at least one nose fuzed shell were recovered.
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Most of the effective shell which penetrated No. 5 bunker appears to have broken up, and not burst, after passing through the bottom plating, as the pieces recovered are large and all show crystalline fractures.
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The caps of two 8.2 inch shell and one 5.9 inch shell have been found.
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The incendiary effect of the shells was small, this was particularly noticeable in the Ward Room where all the furniture such as sideboards, sofas, chairs and tables, was split to fragments.  There was however no trace of fire other than a deposite [sic] of black smoke on everything.  In no case did paintwork catch fire.
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The shell which hit the starboard strut of the foremast caused severe blast to be felt in the control top.  The blast appeared to pass up the inside of the strut and into the mast, for it blew upon the door leading into the control top, knocked the control officer down, unshipped the Mk. VI Dumaresq which was well fastened down, and also rendered the Rate Transmitter useless.
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A considerable number of shell, generally 5.9 inch did not burst at all.
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The fumes from the shell were black, choking, and of a sweet taste.
  
 
==Footnotes==
 
==Footnotes==

Revision as of 13:07, 19 December 2012

Damage

Enclosure C to Letter No.A1/4 of 19th December 1914.[1]

DAMAGE CAUSED TO H.M.S. "INVINCIBLE" BY GUN FIRE, IN THE ACTION OF 8th DECEMBER 1914, WITH REMARKS AS TO GERMAN PROJECTILES.

(1) Armour plating on starboard bow from stem to No. 10 station at water line fractured and distorted ; framing and plating behind armour fractured and bent inwards ; stem casting fractured ; No. 10 bulkhead buckled, compartment above lower deck flooded - Caused by 8.2 inch shell bursting on armour at No. 4 station.

(2) Port bow at station No. 17 armour plate dented, rivets and margin angle of No. 17 bulkhead shorn off and bulkhead buckled girder rivets shorn off, by shell bursting on armour belt.

(3) Top plate of armour struck by (?) shell at 68 station, starboard, tearing off part of covering plate.

(4) Bulkhead margin angle rivets shorn off at station No. 81, starboard, above lower deck in wake of side armour, due to shell bursting on armour belt.

(5) Starboard side plating at middle of Ward Room holed by 8.2 inch shell which burst, completely wrecking and destroying everything in Ward Room, bursting up deck above, and holing deck under, also all bulkheads, coal shoots, stanchions, and funnel casings near, and bulging ship's side.

Shell burst two feet inside skin plating, no fire caused, but devastation extraordinary.

(6) Side plating and frame blown in at station 89 - 90 main deck, starboard side, starboard side, by 8.2 inch shell burst, which also wrecked mess gear in stokers' messes, and holed casing to boiler room.

(7) Side plating immediately below armour belt holed, about 4 feet by 2 feet at top streak, having fracture extending through adjacent plate under. Frame behind blown away at station 115 to 117 port side. Bulkhead No. 115 buckled and dented ; caused by 8.2 inch shell exploding just inside plating, flooding no. 5 lower bunker.

The fragments of shell are large, and rather present the aspect of a partial rather than a complete burst or detonation. The coal was washed out of the hole by the sea, until its level came well below the hole.

(8) Forecastle deck holed by 5.9 inch shell bursting at Fore Dynamo Hatch, destroying hatch coaming, deck plating, and girder under, also splintering mushroom top and tearing away ventilating trunk beneath.

(9) "A" turret apron holed by blast from detonating 5.9 inch shell which struck turret armour between guns.

(10) No. 1 boiler room ash hoist holed by 5.9 inch shell which entered through forecastle deck starboard side and on bursting in Admiral's lobby holed mast, strut, spiral ladder, and upper deck, plating, and all adjacent bulkheads.

(11) Ward room pantry, No. 8 cabin, and adjacent screen bulkheads wrecked by 5.9 inch shell which burst on entering through forecastle deck. Upper deck plating under also holed.

(12) Forecastle deck and ship's side holed by 5.9 inch projectile which entered through deck before "P" turret, port side, in No. 7 cabin and passed out without bursting.

(13) Forecastle deck and ship's side holed by 5.9 inch projectile which entered deck above Chaplain's cabin, going through Paymaster's cabin - wrecking furniture and money chest - and passing out without bursting.

(14) Forecastle deck at port side at station 85 to 87 badly torn and holed by 8.2. inch shell which burst on entering deck, tearing away girder and beams and holing extensively upper deck under ; holing watertight bulkhead and door, funnel casings, drinking tank, and damaging money chest, also smashing port fore coaling derrick and riddling superstructure side plating. Some splinters holed the top of forward funnel, and boat on booms.

(15) Starboard bower anchor grazed by projectile, which cut out piece of anchor crown.

(16) Starboard strut to foremast at No. 1 4-inch gun house struck by 8.2 inch shell which entered strut from starboard side, bursting inside strut, tearing away 10 feet of port side of strut, and also after end and side of gun house, riddled and distorted fore funnel extensively, and shattered ladder to bridge deck.

(17) No. 2 4-inch gun starboard, struck by capped armour piercing 8.2 inch shell which broke gun at middle, destroyed gun shield and holed deck under, distorted gun support, passed through forecastle deck wrecking painted cancas [sic] room, passed through upper deck and screen bulkhead to Admiral's storeroom, port side, in which it was found unexploded in a cupboard. The cap was knocked off at No. 2 4-inch gun, and point of shell slightly damaged. Shell has been opened and closely examined on board and will be sent to Woolwich.

(18) After Conning Tower Support partly blown away, fresh water gravity tank holed and helm signal gear damaged by 8.2 inch shell which burst on entering conning tower support from starboard.

(19) Sick Bay wrecked, and ship's side, main deck, watertight bulkhead and door holed by burst of 8.2 inch shell which entered Sick Bay through Upper Deck from starboard at ventilating trunk before "X" turret port side.

(20) Canteen wrecked, deck under and above holed, scupper pipe and vent. trunk blown away by 8.2 inch shell which burst on entering through upper deck abreast "X" turret starboard side, and splinters of which holed sailing launch extensively.

The canteen was nearly full of groceries at the time.

(21) Prisons wrecked, decks above and under, and watertight bulkhead and door holed, fire main pipe holed, which caused electric store to be flooded also fresh water stowage tank, port, caused by 8.2 inch shell bursting on entering from upper deck.

(22) Seamen's heads partly wrecked by 8.2 inch shell which destroyed girder and beams to deck on entering from upper deck aft, also holed deck over paint shop which was flooded from damaged fire main pipe.

Damage to deck was also caused from blast of "P" and "Q" turrets ; deck beams being distorted and planking broken across extensively.


The capped 8.2 inch shell that was recovered complete has been carefully opened and examined ; it appears to be filled with T.N.T., and as its design, and the method of filling and fusing may present new features, everything will be sent to Woolwich for inspection. The angle of descent of this shell as measured by the line of holes made in the various decks is 48°.

Several different types of projectile were fired, and portions of at least one nose fuzed shell were recovered.

Most of the effective shell which penetrated No. 5 bunker appears to have broken up, and not burst, after passing through the bottom plating, as the pieces recovered are large and all show crystalline fractures.

The caps of two 8.2 inch shell and one 5.9 inch shell have been found.

The incendiary effect of the shells was small, this was particularly noticeable in the Ward Room where all the furniture such as sideboards, sofas, chairs and tables, was split to fragments. There was however no trace of fire other than a deposite [sic] of black smoke on everything. In no case did paintwork catch fire.

The shell which hit the starboard strut of the foremast caused severe blast to be felt in the control top. The blast appeared to pass up the inside of the strut and into the mast, for it blew upon the door leading into the control top, knocked the control officer down, unshipped the Mk. VI Dumaresq which was well fastened down, and also rendered the Rate Transmitter useless.

A considerable number of shell, generally 5.9 inch did not burst at all.

The fumes from the shell were black, choking, and of a sweet taste.

Footnotes

  1. The National Archives. ADM 137/304. ff. 127-130.