![]() ![]() HMS Invincible exploding at the battle of Jutland. The Inflexible had to alter course to avoid the wreckage. Invincible was sunk with the loss of all but six of her crew of 1,032 officers and men. The battlecruisers themselves came under heavy fire, and although Inflexible was not hit, Slade later admitted in a letter to his mother that “we had a good many shells bursting pretty close to us & we got a few splinters from one. Inflexible’s Gunnery Officer later reported that the first salvo hit the target. As the main body of the High Seas Fleet under the command of Admiral Scheer (flagship SMS Fredrich der Grosse) were enemy’s observed ahead, Hood ordered his ships to alter course to port, and opened fire at a range of about 8,000 to 9,000 yards. Several torpedoes were fired at the British battlecruisers, but they managed to dodge them all. We have heard that six were picked up after + I think were all part … Huge pieces of steel + iron were falling everywhere but none touched us. ![]() Apparently a salvo pitched amidships + blew up her P + Q magazine. She broke in half + bows and stern were left floating but I saw no survivors. She went up in a tremendous cloud of yellow cordite smoke. formed astern of the B.C.s.Ħ.30 the “Invincible” was blown up. They were so formed as to be able to bring every gun to bear. We landed one salvo on her fore turret + appeared to have flatenned it out.Ħ.35 the Grand Fleet openned fire on the enemy. The Torpedo Lieut was afraid that the Gyro would fail + she might turn + bump us.Ħ.20 openned fire on a battleship of the “Kaiser” class. We watched it from the Fore Top + could even see the propellers moving. A Torpedo passed under our stern.Ħ.15 we are to starboard in order to avoid a Torpedo which passed about 10 yds away along out port side. When the battlecruisers opened fire, the German light cruiser, SMS Wiesbaden, was quickly disabled, but despite Slade’s claim she remained afloat.Īdditional entries in Slade’s journal describe the battle:Ħ.0 check fire. HMS Chester, scouting ahead of the squadron, was engaged by four German light cruisers, and badly damaged. Shortly after 4.00 PM, Admiral Jellicoe (flagship HMS Iron Duke), in command of the Grand Fleet, ordered the 3rd battle Cruiser Squadron to increase speed and join Beatty’s hard-pressed forces. Two of the British battlecruisers, HMS Indefatigable and HMS Queen Mary, blew up with heavy loss of life, and a number of the German ships were badly damaged. The opening phase of the action was fought between the German battlecruisers under the command of Admiral Hipper (flagship SMS Lutzow) and their British counterparts under Admiral Beatty (flagship HMS Lion), supported by the 5th battle Ship Squadron, consisting of the Queen Elizabeth class battleships (the most modern and powerful ships in either fleet). On the evening of, the Third battle Cruiser Squadron under the command of Rear Admiral Hood (flagship HMS Invincible) sailed from Scapa Flow, and steamed south westwards at high speed, followed at intervals by the rest of the British Grand Fleet. These were all concentrating on the “Chester” + she was having a very hot time of it.ĥ.55 opened fire on enemy light cruisers + succeeded in sinking at least one. It was 3.50 when the “Lion” reported that she was engaging the enemy.ĥ.29 heard the sound of firing right ahead + a short time later saw numerous gun flashes.ĥ.40 sighted enemy light cruisers and destroyers. ![]() We were now proceeding at full speed (about 27 kts). Heard that the “Lion” was engaging the enemy. Proceeded from Scapa Flow ahead of battle Fleet at 8.15.Ĥ.0 PM were given half an hour for tea. He left a personal account of his experiences in the form of a journal: Public Domain.ĭuring the battle of Jutland he was stationed on the ship’s fighting top high up on the main mast, where he had an excellent view of the action. ![]()
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