The King Edward VII. reported cracks in the inner A tubes of two of her 12-inch guns.
August 24th.—The Battle Fleet cruised between the Orkneys and the Norwegian coast, and carried out battle tactics during the forenoon, the weather becoming too thick in the afternoon.
The 1st Battle Squadron was detached to Scapa to fuel, as well as the 1st Light Cruiser Squadron, the latter being relieved by the 3rd Cruiser Squadron. The remainder of the cruisers continued their sweeping operations as on the 23rd.
August 25th.—The 3rd Battle Squadron left Scapa to relieve the 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron in immediate support of the cruisers at 6 A.M., and while en route to its position captured an Austrian steamer, the Attila. The remainder of the Battle Fleet left its cruising ground, arriving at Scapa at 7.30 A.M. on the 26th, with the 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron to fuel. The Agincourt, a new battleship which was bought from Turkey when still in an unfinished state, was met off Noss Head and entered with the Fleet.
At 5.30 P.M. a submarine was sighted from the bridge of the Iron Duke, and the Fleet manœuvred clear of the position. One-half of the 4th Flotilla, which had screened the 3rd Battle Squadron to sea, joined the Commander-in-Chief at 5 P.M., and was ordered to search for this submarine, but without result. The Drake, of the 6th Cruiser Squadron, left the Norwegian coast for Scapa at 4 A.M., the 25th, owing to condenser trouble.
The Dominion reported two of her 12-inch guns cracked. The King Edward VII. left Scapa for Devonport to change her two guns, which had also cracked, Vice-Admiral Bradford shifting his flag to the battleship Dominion.
The weather was thick during the night of the 25th–26th, but the fog lifted sufficiently for the Battle Fleet to enter Scapa.
August 26th.—The Iron Duke, the 2nd and 4th Battle Squadrons, 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron, and 2nd Flotilla, were at Scapa fuelling.
The 1st Battle Squadron, with one-half of the 4th Flotilla, left to join the 3rd Battle Squadron at sea, their departure having been delayed for some hours by thick fog.
The 2nd Cruiser Squadron left patrol at 5 P.M. for Rosyth to coal.