Third L.C.S. (Royal Navy) at the Battle of Jutland

On 7 June, 1916, Vice-Admiral Beatty asked the light cruiser squadrons that had operated with him to submit a report of the recent Battle of Jutland. Rear-Admiral Trevylyan Napier of the Third Light Cruiser Squadron replied on 10 June, forwarding reports of his own Falmouth, as well as Birkenhead, promising to supply data from Chester later, presumably because she'd been so badly mauled. Chatham was "not applicable", as she had struck a mine and was under repair and so missed the battle.

The Third was represented in the battle by four light cruisers, with another detached to screen the Third Battle Cruiser Squadron. seaplane carrier Engadine operated in a detached manner.

• Falmouth, Captain John Douglas Edwards Rear-Admiral Trevylyan Dacres Willes Napier
• Yarmouth, Captain Thomas Drummond Pratt
• Birkenhead, Captain Edward Reeves
• Gloucester, Captain William Frederick Blunt

For some reason, Yarmouth and Gloucester reports were noted as "Blank".

Chester was detached along with the very new and unaffiliated Canterbury to screen the Third Battle Cruiser Squadron.

• Chester, Captain Robert Neale Lawson
• Canterbury, Captain Percy Molyneux Rawson Royds

Falmouth

Falmouth's Captain's report was promptly offered on 9 June, noting that, "no consecutive records were kept in either control or transmitting stations, but notes were made when possible of ranges, rates, &c., ... The times given are taken from notes taken from the Bridge."

Time (approx)	Bearing	Range		Deflection		Remarks
		from	to	from	to
6.07 pm	Bow	9700	8100	18R	28R	Light cruiser
	Before beam	8100	5800	28R	38R	Target disabled and stopped.
	Beam	5800	4600	38R	28R
	Abaft beam	4600	5400	28R	22R	Target in sinking condition. Ceased fire.
6.15 pm to 6.30 pm	Beam	6000	6600	8R	zero	Battle cruiser
	Before beam	6000	9100	zero	8R	Light cruiser On fire aft.Enemy driven off. Lost in mist.
	Abaft beam	5200	6100	zero	8R	Battle cruiser Enemy turned away. Lost to sight.
8.18 pm to 8.38 pm	Beam	9600	6000	zero	8L	Light cruiser Z1 Very indistinct owing to dusk.
	Beam	6000	9300	8L	zero
	Beam	9300	9600	zero	zero	Light cruiser Z2
	Beam	9800	10200	zero	10R	Light cruiser Z1 Enemy turned away and disappeared.

Birkenhead

Birkenhead's Captain replied on 9 June from records kept in Control and Transmitting Stations.

6.5 p.m. Opened fire on enemy light cruiser (probably Wiesbaden class) at about Green 55, enemy heading about NW. Visibility increased at this moment and the sun could be seen shining on enemy's starboard side. She was stopped or going slow.

	Opening Range 8000. Rate 500 closing.
	Down 800.
	Up 200.
	"Straddle", in line with foremost funnel.

Enemy had foremost gun still in action, order "Right 4" was therefore given and a "straddle" obtained in line with foremost gun. A fire broke out on enemy's forecastle. Eight or nine salvoes were fired and hits obtained at each salvo after the first two.

Several ships were firing at the same enemy, bu by the use of the time of flight watch, our own salvoes could be easily distinguished. "Overs" could be seen.

The Officer in the after control observed an enemy destroyer on the light cruiser's port quarter, firing on gun at Birkenhead. This destroyer was not noticed on Fore Bridge or on Fore Top.

Minimum range used 4500 yards.

Fire was ceased when ships astern started engaging the enemy, all her guns had then ceased firing and an officer in the battery, afterward reported seeing her flag hauled down.

6.24.p.m. Birkenhead was about to fire a torpedo from the starboard tube at an enemy Battle Cruiser, when it was observed that the range of the 3rd Battle Cruiser Squadron was being fouled. Birkenhead therefore altered course, thereby losing the opportunity.

6.25.p.m. Engaged enemy Battle Cruiser of Lutzow class at about Green 100, range about 8000 yards. There were two enemy Battle Cruisers in company, the second being of Seidlitz [sic] or Moltke class, and some of the guns fired at the wrong target. Both were rendered very indistinct by their own funnel and gun smoke. Only three or four salvoes were fired and fall of shot could not be seen.

Enemy ships at this time appeared to be firing at 3rd Battle Cruiser Squadron, which was ahead of Birkenhead — a good many shots appeared to be missing for direction.

6.34.p.m. Mined were reported on starboard bow, but it is thought they were fisherman's bladders.

6.35.p.m. Observed Invincible enveloped in a cloud of smoke. Birkenhead was at the time about 1500 yards on her port quarter. A salvo of 5 rounds had been observed to pitch over Invincible and a second one of 3 rounds just over before the cloud of smoke started to rise. Before the next astern reached the spot, the smoke had cleared away, and only the bow and stern were seen above water, the ship apparently having broken in two amidships.

At almost the same time as Invincible blew up, a torpedo passed ahead of Birkenhead. Course of torpedo about NE.

8.20.p.m. While on port bow of Falmouth (3rd L.C.Squadron ahead of B.C.Fleet), observed her to be under fire. Birkenhead altered course 32 points to get in line and to get clear of the rest of the Squadron's smoke. Observed smoke of enemy's ships apparently being covered by a destroyer smoke screen.

An attempt was made to open fire, but the gunlayers could see nothing to fire at and only two rounds were fired.

The firing of Falmouth was of very short duration.

Canterbury

Canterbury's Track Chart (Plate 23)

Canterbury issued her report and a track chart on 2 June.

SIR,
I HAVE the honour to report proceedings of this ship from
30th May to Friday 2nd June, during which period I was attached
to a portion of your force, viz., first to Third Battle Cruiser
Squadron, and later to Third Light Cruiser Squadron.
Left Scapa Flow in company with 3rd B.C.S. at 9 p.m.
Tuesday 30th May, and took station five miles ahead, " Chester "
being five miles astern. Shaped course as necessary to maintain
position ahead of Grand Fleet, steaming in S. 73 East direction
until 3.45 p.m. 31st, when in latitude 57.40 North, Longitude
5.40 East, course was altered to South South East.
At 2.25 p.m. Wednesday 31st reports of enemy's vessels
commenced to be received, continuing to 5.40 p.m., when in
latitude 56.58 North, 6.14 East, Third B.C.S. turned round to
about N. 30 West. I immediately turned to the same direction
and increased to full speed, quickly closing.
At about 5.52 p.m. Third B.C.S. opened fire to port, and
immediately after, a four-funnelled cruiser of " Roon " class and a
three-funnelled cruiser were sighted on our port bow ahead of
the enemy's battle cruisers, distance about 12,000 yards, steering
in southerly direction.
To follow Third B.C.S. it would mean running past the
battle cruisers, and considering this inadvisable I turned roughly
16 points to port and engaged enemy's light cruisers, who were
then administering heavy punishment to two British destroyers,
one of whom was on fire aft, and the other standing by her :
our approach soon reduced the fire on them—we fired 40 rounds
of 6-in. and 35 rounds of 4-in. at a range of 10,000 yards.
The three-funnelled cruiser was seen to be badly on fire aft,
while this ship although surrounded by falling shot was only
hit once. A 4.1-in. high explosive armour-piercing shell hitting
her in the ship's side just abaft after 6-in. gun, passing through
two bulkheads, the main deck and landing in the fresh water tank
—failing to explode.
I was then joined at about 7.15 p.m. by 3rd Light Cruiser
Squadron, and asked permission to join up under the Rear-
Admiral, taking station next astern of him in Falmouth, and
with 3rd Light Cruiser squadron engaged enemy's head.
I remained under the orders of Rear-Admiral Third Light
Cruiser Squadron until 8.35 p.m. 1st June, when I received orders
to proceed to Harwich to join Commodore (T).
At 3.20 a.m. I received orders from the C.-in-C. to proceed
to the assistance of H.M.S. " Marlborough," and sighted her
off the Humber 2.45 p.m, 2nd June.
During the action the firing of the German light cruisers was
all by director, each salvo falling in a space of 30 yards, and being
very rapid.
" Invincible " was seen to blow up at 6.35 p.m., a terrible
explosion taking place, the ship being split in two, her bow and
stern standing on one end entirely separated. In addition to the
light cruisers already reported one battle cruiser (No. 2) was
seen to be heavily on fire.
Attached a rough track chart of the impression that remains
in my mind of the approximate movements.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

PERCY ROYDS,

Captain.

Vice-Admiral,

Commanding Battle Cruiser Squadron.