25th May 1915

[michaeldr]

Submarine warfare

25th May 1915

From Stephen Snelling’s ‘VCs of the First World War – Gallipoli'

the chapter on Lt. Cdr. Martin Eric Nasmith and the E11

“Having left Rodosto Bay on the evening of 24 May, Nasmith recharged his batteries and proceeded along the surface eastwards. He had decided this was the moment to test the Turkish defences inside Constantinople harbour. At 6.00 a.m. he dived unobserved near Oxia Island and made his way past an American guardship into the harbour which was filled with shipping. Taking care to follow a course he had seen being taken by a steamer on his previous reconnaissance two days earlier, he searched for likely targets. He picked out a large vessel lying along side the arsenal. Just ahead of her, Nasmith observed a smaller vessel. Then he settled into his attack:

‘12.35 p.m. Fired Port Bow Tube. Torpedo failed to run. Fired Starboard Bow torpedo and observed track heading for large vessel. Unable to observe the effect owing to being swept ashore by cross tide and the presence of what I took to be a Brennan torpedo. [it is now understood that no Brennan exists in Constantinople and it is probable that the torpedo sighted was in fact the one discharged which by now had blown out its tail plug and was running with a capsized Gyro.] Two explosions were heard, so it is probable that the stray torpedo found a mark as well as the one directed at the ship lying alongside the arsenal. Dived to 75 feet and turned to get out. Grounded heavily at 70 feet and bounced quickly up to 40 feet. Further rise was checked by going full speed astern and flooding internal tanks. The ship’s head then swung from SSE through East and North to West. It was therefore concluded that the vessel was resting on the shoal under the Leander Tower, and being turned round by the current. Her head was then brought to South and the motors stared ahead, the boat bumping gently down into 85 feet of water. After bumping for some time at this depth the boat was brought off the bottom. On bringing her to the surface about 20 minutes later she was found to be well clear of the entrance.’

Later it was learned that a troop-carrying barge had been sunk by the second torpedo, the explosion severely damaging the nearby transport Stamboul which had to run ashore. The first ‘rogue’ torpedo, having narrowly missed destroying the E11, struck a wharf, blowing away a large section. The dramatic effect of the raid was immense and immediately felt. Troopships were hastily evacuated and vast numbers of people fled into the country as rumours of an invasion circulated through the city, Nasmith, his great ambition realised, allowed his crew the day off.”

The photographs below are from ‘Gallipoli Then and Now’ by Steve Newman, in the After the Battle series

[michaeldr]

By coincidence, on that same day the German submarine service was also active in this theatre;

from the British O.H., Gallipoli Vol II

‘On 25th May the German submarines struck their first blow. The battleship Triumph, cruising off Anzac, was suddenly torpedoed, and sank in twenty minutes in full view of the opposing armies. Thanks to the skilful handling of the escorting destroyer Chelmer, very few lives were lost; for the destroyer came up under the sinking ship’s stern-walk and rescued most of the crew before she capsized. Shore boats dashed out to save the remainder. These were fired on by a Turkish battery, but it is pleasant to acknowledge that a moment later this firing stopped, apparently by higher Turkish authority, till the work of rescue was over…………………………….

Commander Hersing of U21 had left Germany on 25th April, and after an adventurous voyage, and a refit at Cattaro on the Dalmatian coast, had reached the peninsula on the morning of the 25th May……………………………..’

The photograph of HMS Triumph is from 'Gallipoli 1915 - Frontal Assault on Turkey' by Philip J. Haythornthwaite, in the Osprey Military Camaign Series