Details of Battle Fleet Action
18. The First Battle Squadron, under Vice-Admiral Sir Cecil Burney, came into action at 6.15 P.M. with the enemy’s Third Battle Squadron, at a range of about 11,000 yards, and administered severe punishment, both to the battleships and to the battle cruisers and light cruisers which were also engaged. The fire of Marlborough (Captain George P. Ross) was particularly rapid and effective. This ship commenced at 6.17 P.M. by firing seven salvoes at a ship of the “Kaiser” class, then engaged a cruiser, and again a battleship, and at 6.54 she was hit by a torpedo and took up a considerable list to starboard, but re-opened at 7.3 P.M. at a cruiser and at 7.12 P.M. fired fourteen rapid salvoes at a ship of the “König” class, hitting her frequently until she turned out of the line. The manner in which this effective fire was kept up, in spite of the disadvantages due to the injury caused by the torpedo, was most creditable to the ship and a very fine example to the squadron.
The range decreased during the course of the action to 9,000 yards. The First Battle Squadron received more of the enemy’s return fire than the remainder of the battle fleet, with the exception of the Fifth Battle Squadron. Colossus was hit but not seriously damaged, and other ships were straddled with fair frequency.
In the Fourth Battle Squadron—in which squadron my Flagship Iron Duke was placed—Vice-Admiral Sir Doveton Sturdee, leading one of the divisions, the enemy engaged was the Third Squadron and some of the battle cruisers, as well as disabled cruisers and light cruisers. The mist rendered range-taking a difficult matter, but the fire of the squadron was effective. Iron Duke, having previously fired at a light cruiser between the lines, opened fire at 6.30 P.M. on a battleship of the “König” class at a range of 12,000 yards. The latter was very quickly straddled, and hitting commenced at the second salvo, and only ceased when the target ship turned away. The rapidity with which hitting was established was most creditable to the excellent gunnery organisation of the flagship so ably commanded by my Flag Captain, Captain Frederic C. Dreyer.
The fire of other ships of the squadron was principally directed at enemy battle cruisers and cruisers as they appeared out of the mist. Hits were observed to take effect on several ships.
The ships of the Second Battle Squadron, under Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Jerram, were in action with vessels of the “Kaiser” or “König” classes between 6.30 and 7.20 P.M., and fired also at an enemy battle cruiser which had apparently dropped back severely damaged.
19. During the action between the battle fleets, the Second Cruiser Squadron, ably commanded by Rear-Admiral Herbert L. Heath, with the addition of Duke of Edinburgh of the First Cruiser Squadron, occupied a position at the van of the battle fleet and acted as a connecting link between the battle fleet and the battle cruiser fleet. This squadron, although it carried out useful work, did not have an opportunity of coming into action.
The attached cruisers Boadicea, Active, Blanche, and Bellona carried out their duties as repeating ships with remarkable rapidity and accuracy under difficult conditions.
The Fourth Light Cruiser Squadron, under Commodore Charles E. Le Mesurier, occupied a position in the van until ordered to attack enemy destroyers at 7.20 P.M. and again at 8.18 P.M. when they supported the Eleventh Flotilla, which had moved out under Commodore James R. P. Hawkesley to attack. On each occasion the Fourth Light Cruiser Squadron was very well handled by Commodore Le Mesurier, his captains giving him excellent support, and their object was attained, although with some loss in the second attack, when the ships came under the heavy fire of the enemy battle fleet at between 6,500 and 8,000 yards. The Calliope was hit several times but did not sustain serious damage, although, I regret to say, she had several casualties. The light cruisers attacked the enemy’s battleships with torpedoes at this time, but were not able to observe the result; an explosion on board a ship of the “Kaiser” class was seen, however, at 8.38 P.M.
During these destroyer attacks, four enemy torpedo-boat destroyers were sunk by the gunfire of battleships, light cruisers and destroyers.