Grosser Kreuzer 1913 - 1919

SMS SEYDLITZ / Grosser Kreuzer 1913-1919 by Professor F. Ruge,Vice-Admiral a.D.

Seyd/itz coat of arms . (Three fishes in red ; background silver)

SMS'Seydlitz ': Operational History 28 Aug 1914 Unsuccessful counter-attack against British battle cruiser formation which had penetrated the German Bight. 3 Nov 1914 Shelling of Yarmouth (assault'J1'). 16 Dec 1914 Shelling of Hartlepool (assault 'J2'). 24 Jan 1915 Battle of Dogger Bank (received two heavy hits, both after turrets burned out, heavy personnel losses). 25 Apr 1916 Struck a mine during the advance for the attack on Lowestoft/Yarmouth ; retreated after shipping 1400 tons of water. 31 May 1916 Battle of Jutland, sinking Queen Mary, Seydlitz suffered 21 heavy, 2 medium hits, also torpedo hit by British destroyer Petard, D and E turrets burned out; in spite of having shipped more than 5300 tons of water, returned under own steam sailing astern; in the end, only 2.5m freeboard forward. Repaired in Wilhelmshaven; ready for action again 16 Sept 1916. 5 Nov 1916 Assault as far as west coast of Denmark 23 Apr 1918 Assault as far as Stavanger. 24 Nov 1918- Interned at Scapa Flow where she 21 Jun 1919 was scuttled by the crew on 21 Jun 1919. Raised on 2 Nov 1928. Broken up in Rosyth by 1930.

COVER PHOTO: Seyd/itz in the lock at Wilhelmshaven after Jutland , probably 3 June 1916. The guns of the forward turret have already been removed by crane (Bundesarchiv)

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1914, Seydlitz; manning the side

(BfZ)

1912, which increased the number of battleships to 41 and heavy cruisers to 20 (including all reserves). This Act made it necessary to lay down four large ships annually from 1908 to 1911. By then England had already concluded the Entente Cordiale with France. This German building programme contributed greatly to the deterioration of AngloGerman relations and the strengthening of AngloFrench ties. Although German naval expenditure increased by over 100% between 1903 and 1913, her expenditure was less than half that of the Royal Navy. In 1913 the naval estimates of the major powers were in the following order of magnitude: England, America, Russia, Germany, France. The New Ships The first four battleships, the Nassau class, were sturdily built with a displacement of 18,500 tons, practically the same as that of Dreadnought. They were armed with twelve 28cm guns in six turrets all at the same level. The battleships still had reciprocating engines and coal was mainly used as fuel. Small quantities of oil could be added for high speeds. The successive four ships, the Ostfriesland class, displaced a further 3000 tons and had a main armament of twelve 30.5cm guns. The secondary battery of both types consisted of twelve 1 5cm guns. Seydlitz under construction

(Bibliothek fiir Zeitgeschichte)

In the next type (Kaiser class, ten 30.5cm guns) and in all subsequent ships, turbines were used. The first step to the larger type in the cruiser class was not so successful. The armoured cruiser, Bluecher, authorised in 1906 and commissioned in 1909, was an intermediate type of 15,800 tons, with twelve 21cm and eight 15cm guns. With her reciprocating engines she could just reach 25 knots. Altogether she was too large for an armoured cruiser, but no match for a battle cruiser. This proved only too evident during the Battle of the Doggerbank on 24 January 1915, when she was sunk by the British battle cruisers under Admiral Beatty. A new English class had been inaugurated by the three Inv/nc/b/es, laid down shortly after Dreadnought and commissioned in 1908. They displaced 17,600 tons, had a main armament of eight 1 2in (30.5cm) guns, no secondary battery, and a speed of nearly 27 knots. On the German side, the first real battle cruiser was von der Tann, commissioned in the summer of 1910. Her specifications were: 19,000 tons, turbines, still mainly coal, 28 knots, eight 28cm and twelve 1 5cm guns. In the Battle of Jutland she destroyed her opposite number, Indefatigable, with 52 shells in 20 minutes. She was built by the famous shipyard of Blohm and Voss at Hamburg who also constructed the battle cruisers, Moltke, Goeben, Seydlitz and Derfflinger, one of whom was laid down in each fiscal year. The first two were identical. They displaced 23,000 tons, had a speed of 28 knots and an armament of ten 28cm, twelve 15cm and twelve 8.8cm guns, with four submerged torpedo tubes. SMS'SEYDLITZ' Seyd/itz was armed in exactly the same way, but she was larger, displacing 25,000 tons. Her underwater protection was improved, with her fo'c'sle one deck higher. This increased the freeboard which probably saved the ship on her return after the Battle of Jutland.

Characteristics Length: 200m Beam: 28.5m Draught: 8.24m, laden with 1000 tons of coal When filled to her top capacity of 3600 tons her draught increased to about 9m. Machinery She had two sets of Parsons turbines arranged in

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The quarter deck of Seydlitz

(BfZ)

'Maurice, I think we should now go full astern on all engines.' After training on her own for almost a year, Seyd/itz took over her duties as Flagship Scouting Forces, which post she held until the spring, 1916. RearAdmiral Hipper and his staff moved on board, and squadron and fleet exercises began. These were concluded by the usual training cruise to Norway in July, but this had to be broken off because of the increased political tension following the murder of the Austrian Archduke and his wife. Conflagration: 1914 When hostilities commenced in August 1914, Seyd/itz was rapidly made ready for action. As her crew was augmented by reservists, quarters became cramped. No one objected to this, however, as everybody expected that a decisive naval battle would be fought very soon, and that the war would be over'by Christmas'. In actual fact, a very different situation developed. Admiral von Ingenohl, Commander-in-Chief High Seas Fleet, was ordered by Emperor William II not to expose his battlefleet to unnecessary risks, and consequently the Admiral held back his squadrons. For this reason, Seyd/itz, with other large ships, was not present at the fight, off Heligoland on 28 August 1914, when Beatty's forces attacked German patrols and sank three light cruisers and one torpedo-boat. Von Ingenohl at first sent only light cruisers in

Seydlitz seen from the port quarter . The after steering position and the stern anchor are clearly visible (Bundesarchiv)

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The quarter deck of Seyd/itz awash at high speed in shallow water, 1913 (Bundesarchiv)

support, and the larger ships arrived when it was too late. The German torpedo-boats were similar to the British destroyers, but were somewhat smaller and armed with lighter guns. They were trained more for night torpedo attack than for daylight action with guns and torpedoes. (In the account which follows, 'torpedoboat' will be used exclusively for the German type, 'destroyer' for the British.) The First Months The fleet continued to wait at roadsteads, paintscraping being the main occupation. This paint was found to be inflammable and on the older ships several layers had accumulated which now had to be removed. After some weeks, all the battle cruisers had developed boiler trouble and numerous tubes had to be replaced. In addition, Seydlitz had to have a turbine overhauled. As Ingenohl waited until all his ships were ready again, the fleet did not undertake any significant operation before November 1914. By this time, the first phase of the land war was already over, and had in no way been influenced by any action on the part of the German fleet. The attempt to encircle the French armies (the famous Schlieffen Plan) had been foiled on the river Marne: both sides were exhausted and had dug Painting the after funnel

(B un desarchiv )

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Heavy cruiser B/uecher and light cruiser, Rostock, and the Fifth Torpedo Boat Flotilla leaving harbour fort he Dogger Bank Operation (23 January 1915) (Author's collection)

coast had been dramatic, but otherwise the results of the operation were meagre. There had been nothing very successful on either side. Entering port, the German armoured cruiser, Yorck, blundered into a defensive minefield, and sank within a few minutes with great loss of life. Reaction of the Grand Fleet As a direct result of the German action, the main part of the Grand Fleet returned to Scapa Flow. On 23 November, all available British forces met in the North Sea half way from the southern tip of Norway, and proceeded towards Heligoland. In excellent visibility, an advanced group of armoured cruisers and destroyers approached the island next morning. In the latter part of the night, without being aware of it, they had followed two German torpedo-boat flotillas returning from a night sweep to the northwest. Three days earlier, the German battle cruisers had made a similar daytime sweep for the benefit of Derfflinger (26,000 tons, eight 30.5cm guns, twelve 15cm guns) who had just joined the fleet. The British ships were sighted at a distance of about Seydlitz: the third hit from the Hartlepool shore battery. (See (BfZ) page 31)

30

20 miles. The German patrols then withdrew, and the heavy guns of the island fired a few rounds. This was the only time they were used on live targets during the whole war. The distance was too great for rapid hits and the British withdrew. The German C.-in-C. limited his countermeasures to pursuing them with two torpedo-boat flotillas. He gave his orders too late and nothing came of it. He made plans, however, for another raid on the English coast, in spite of the fact that at the end of November military correspondents were already speculating on such a move, possibly combined with an attempt at landing troops. Some German papers took up this disturbing piece of news, but von Ingenohl did not cancel his plans. The Second Sortie against the English Coast: 15 December 1914 Owing to bad weather, this operation could not start before the morning of 15 December, when the Scouting Forces (5 battle-cruisers including Bluecher, 4 light cruisers, 2 torpedo-boat flotillas) put to sea again led by Admiral Hipper in Seydlitz. After a few hours, they were again followed by the battle fleet (14 modern and 8 old battleships), screened by a large number of cruisers and torpedo-boats. The British W/T intelligence quickly located the Scouting Forces leaving port, but not the battle fleet. Admiral Jellicoe alerted the Second Battle Squadron (6 ships under Admiral Warrender) at Scapa Flow and the battle cruisers at Cromarty. They met in the North Sea and proceeded to a rendezvous about 100 miles due east of Flamborough Head. This put them exactly on the line of the German retreat. Admiral Hipper had orders to bombard Hartlepool, Whitby and Scarborough. Shortly after midnight, he passed a few miles ahead of the British battle cruisers, who were steering a course at right angles to his own. Both sides continued in blissful ignorance of the narrow shave they had shared. Just before dawn, the Fouth Destroyer Flotilla on the left wing of the British force became involved with torpedo-boats screening to starboard ahead of the German battleships. Several short actions ensued, some British destroyers being slightly damaged; a German light cruiser received a single hit, and the German battle fleet turned away to the south-east and east. Again the heavy ships did not clash, and neither side enjoyed a clear picture of the

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40 a.114 6UIWIagMJOAO eql Aq uoiloe 4o no Ind a.1aM saualleq aql spiennaal4e uoos A.1an •suigeo ,s.1001440 10J0A0S peAo.1lsap 11945 a 9)(l/off/ up 14e a.1nlon.1ls -.1adns aqT pa6ewep p.1lgm 0111 pue 'lauun4 p.1enn.1o4 aq1 ul 0!011 e nnalq Txau 041 •paaiedaa uoos seen galgnn als,o,040111aapun ilea! a pasneo 0u0 •sliq aaagl panlaoa.1 zj//pAas uagj •uoilae 4o Ino sun6 wog.g OMI Ind pue uaw auiu pal!o golgnn s!legs wog l ino4 Aq Ilq seen iatloan/g 'Isar •Alsno.1o6!n pa!lda.1 saualleq gsilia8 0gl'W0009lnoge 4o aauelsip ale 0.114 pauado sdigs uew.1a0 0111 ua11M -Iuawp.1egwoq aql Ino A.1.100 of lnq wags Mollo4 0l Iou paploap.1add!H •a6ewep awos pasneo g01gnn 'e.114 Aneaq .1apun AeMO pouinl Aagm'joelle opad.1ol e.1o4 Aenne.1e4 001 •lo.1Ied unnep uo eas le a.1aM ogAA sieAo.1lsap gsilu8 .1no4 Aq pabualle11o a.1aM Aagl 'loodall.1eH 440 ql.1ou pouwni Jagaan/g pue am/i/o/n/ 'zJ//pAas ol!gAA 'I.1osa.1 1eg1 .1eau lauue11o 6uiddigs 0111 ui saulw .1aq Ael of wags pannollo4 &aq/off/ •g6no.1oq.1eog p.1egwoq of glnos pa.1Oals Ja5ui//J.Jap pue uuel aap uon 'I46!s ul oweo AquugAA ua1M •seulw 001 Inoge pau.1eo 011M 6aaq/off/ 4o uoildeoxe aql gllnn )10eq sleoq-opad -.101 pue s.1asin.1o 1116!l siq pugs of paploap .1add!H -0106 Al.1alsann-qT.1ou a 01 pase9.1oui pu!nn 0111 'OSJOM sbulgl a)lew o1 'pue peq seen Al!!!q!S!n 'u1e6y •15003 gsllbu3 0111 sp.1eM01 as.1noo .1aq panulluoo 's.1asin.1o allleq aql 4o uen 041 ul 'zjllpAas 'awilueaw 9q1 ul !oode!;JBH :! ogled uwea o4;Aq pos!adang

SOSO13;3N 341

'1sea.1aals oT panulluoo Inq 'ule6e as.1noo pas.1en8.1 Iou peq Igou96uI uon '6uiuwow agl ui slaAo.1lsap gs111.1a 0111 gl!M loeluoo 1.10gs 041 .10140 '.1OAOMOH -wags 6uITJOMe Senn Taal4 9111eq uew.1a0 aq1 a.1agnn uolllsod aq1 .104 asanoo 6uidegs 'Isea paweals pue pa1lun uagl sao.1o4 0MT 041 •pauueld se sauiw 40 o6.1eo .1aq pies 'AIlneaq 6u!II0.1 '6iaq/off/ 'juawpiogwoq aq1 buun0 •pa6ewep a.1aM sal.1oloe4 pue sdogs^ponn se Bans suoil -ellelsul .1aglo pue 'paAo.1Tsep a.1eM s6uipllnq a1a41 •unne.1pgl!M uaaq peq a.10111 pauo!Tels Alsnolna.1d A.1uewoeA pue p.1en6lseoo aq1 se 'pa.1annsue Iou seen a.114 uew.180 0111 AgTigAA le pue g6no.1oq.1eog IV Aq;l4M pue 46noaogaeog •suoilelleisul le!.1lsnpul pue A.1ellllw uodn paloll4ul seen 96ewep elge.1eplsuoo 'w000E 01 6ulsea.1oap seouelsip le 'lnq .1noq ue 40 .1al.1enb e passel Aluo luawp.1egwoq a.1llua 041 sdiqs aaAgI aql

•10814.101110 011140 sdigs Aneaq Aue p81116ls peq s80104 1116!! 0111 4o auoN •uollenlls 1ea.1

The armoured cruiser, Bluecher, capsizing during the Battle of the Dogger Bank, 24J an uary 1915

(Author's collection)

The German light cruisers and torpedo-boats who were sent back because of the gale, would have run head-on into Beatty's battle cruisers, but for an advanced screen of British light cruisers. In bad visibility and between rain squalls, the Germans first sighted Southampton, the flagship of Commodore Goodenough, and immediately afterwards, Birmingham. Both sides opened intermittent fire, and the Germans turned south and increased speed as much as possible. No hits were registered because accurate gunnery was impossible in the heavily rolling ships. When Beatty saw Southampton opening fire, he also turned south, but soon west again because he correctly expected the German battle cruisers from that direction. Southampton and Birmingham then carried out a signal not in fact intended for them, and again took station ahead of their battle cruisers. In this way, contact was lost with the German light

forces, who hauled round to an easterly course again, and so narrowly avoided steering into the Second Battle Squadron. They passed the heavy ships on opposite courses at a distance of not more than 7-8000 metres. By using the British recognition signal, and with the help of rain squalls, the German ships succeeded in disappearing from sight before their identity became clear to Admiral Warrender. He at once turned after them, but his battleships were too slow to catch the light forces.

The Emperor Wilhelm II inspecting Seydlitz after the Battle of the Dogger Bank (Bundesarchiv)

The battle-cruiser, Moltke, 19 August 1915: torpedo hit (see page 41) (Author's collection)

32

An Interesting Conjecture It is impossible to say what would have been the outcome if the two vastly different adversaries had run directly into each other, the battleships pitching heavily in the short steep seas, while the light cruisers and torpedo-boats rolled and yawed. Would the 60 heavy guns have prevailed in the few minutes of contact, or would the same number of torpedoes and the fire of many light guns have been decisive?

(niq0,iesepung) (Lq abed 99S) 9 L6 L gDJeA j,'aMaojN'aapiei a3Jawwoo aq1 awoq 6uiwoDIeM

Aq paulol aq of uoos 'uoapenbs aaslnao lg61r saij aqi pue suoapenbs aaslnao allle8 puooeg pue sal j awl OJOM wlq g11M 001 aaagl panuae Allea8 lealwpy 'jueg aa66oa aqI pagoeoadde eaaol uewaao awl uagM '91,61, Menuep bZ lO 6uluaow aqi uo 9 L6 L alaenuer bZ 'NUBS aIa66oa 047k ;o 81:t;e8 041, •abessaw aqI papooep pue paldaoaalul aainaaS aaue6i11alu1 gs11u8 anllualle (aan aqi 'uaneq -swlagliM epislno aogoue ie 6ui (l zJ//pAaS u1 iedd!H lealwpy of sselaaiM Aq saapao ane6 puewwoo aalj uewaao aqI 'Aluesseoeuun allno •gsllla8 aqi iou -suewaao aqI aol nq 'asladans e paapul seM aaagi paaalunooua aq 1g61w iegl sdlgs gsllla8 Aue asudans of 'alglssod 11 'pue aaagl palgbis Alluenbaal slessOA aaglo pue 6u1gs11 gaaeas pue dots of seM loalgo aqi ,^ ue8 aa66oa aqi of (sleoq-opadaol OZ pue saaslnaa 18611 v ',iogoanlg 'saaslnaa-allleq E) aoaoj bullnoos aqi to lied pugs of aagieaM wleo bu!I!enaad aqi asn 01 paploap IgOUObul UOA '}less-to-lalgo sly 10 uo11 -se66ns aqI le 'ssalaglaanaN •uolleaado algeaaplsuoo Aue aol Apeaa iou seM alogM e se iaall aqi pue 'media iepun aaaM uuej ,lap uon aaslnao aliieq aqI 6ulpnloul 'sdlgs iegio awos 'sesioaaxa 1ol olile8 eq1 ul seM uoapenbs aliieq uewaao lsebuoals aqi awls legl IV 'uolloe Ieloads Aue bui)Iel InogliM ule6e paieaaiaa inq 'puelo6llaH JO sa11w of inoge ulgiiM pagoeoadde aoaol gsllu8 e6ael e'9 L6 I, Aaenuep 6 6 uo -seuuewgns gsllla8 1o 6ullg6ls aqI 1o sliodaa peieedei Aq peauanllul uaaq aneq /yew aH •sieoq-opadaol pue saasinao aliieq aqi 1no 6ulpues isulebe paploap lgoua6ul uon lealwpy inq 'saapual aueldeas 6uinow-MOTs aqi ua)Ielaano aneq Alisee plnoo aoaol uewaao lsel y •Aliuioin aqi ul Aq 6ulpuels seulaewgns gsllla8 Aq awos 'penosaa aaaM sMaaa alagi -ulebe saueldeas aqi ul 6uilsloq woal saapual aqi paiuanaad inq 'slabael magi Ile passlw /aqi -sdlgs gsliu8 aqi pajoelle pue palgBis uoos sdigsale pue seueldoaae uewaao -anllaalla SOW seM uogeaado aqi 'asudans sewlsugo e se 'inq pesneo seM a6ewep algelaaadde ON -seseq uewaao aqI ul sie6aei snouen ^aelle of pepee3oid saueld aqi -eieaado iou plnoM siegio oMi -seas wlea aqi uo saueldeas L Ind pue 'puelo6llaH 1o sallw OZ ulg11M pagoeoadde peq saapual aueldeas aaagi •paaeedde saueld gs111a8 Mal e i 66 6 aegwaoaa 9Z to 6uluaow aqi

seM it 'apls gsllla8 aqi uo 'AIln}IInIs pue AIlooo sdiqs siq paloaalp pue suoileniis bui6ue4o aqi palenlene Alloaaaoo aadd!H lealwpy 'zii/pAeg 1o ebpuq aqi uo -sdnoab builnoos siq to lied algeaaPlsuoo e asol of iou Ajonl seM aq pue '(liunlioddo leaa6 e lsol aq as bulop iou A8 •saoiol peouenpe siq to uanlaa aqI aol aoeld poluiodde aqi le palieM pue uoliualui leu161ao siq of ldal peq .Z)-ul--o uewaao aqi 11 'Inlssaoons uaaq anew AIgegoad plnoM iaalj seas g61H aqi 10 416uaaIS aailue aqi glint iaolj pueao aqi 10 lied wlagMaano of ueld uewaao aqi •suollenl!s 6u1snJuoo pue buibuega Allolnb asagl u1 paueddeq aneq ig61w buiglAue lsowly

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(nigo.iesapung) zvIp tas paeoq uo pa1sioq 6uieq un6 VV wo8 g uy'g L6 L

Seyd/itz after mining , 24 Apri11916. (No explanation of the four - figure numerals is possible)

the Harwich Force under Commodore Tyrwhitt. With 5 battle-cruisers, 7 light cruisers and 34 destroyers, the British were considerably stronger than the Germans. A f@w minutes after 8 am, Kolberg and Aurora sighted each other and opened fire. Both ships were hit and both turned away to keep in touch with their neighbours. The German ship was anxious to avoid coming within range of the destroyers; and the British ship, within range of the torpedo-boats. It was not yet full daylight, and Admiral Hipper first turned towards the direction of Kolberg, but he could Seyd/itzfiring , seen from the conning tower of her next - astern

34

(Bundesarchiv)

see only gun flashes against the dark horizon. After receiving several reports on various groups of enemy ships, he turned away to gain time to form a clearer picture of the situation. He gave orders to the light cruisers and torpedoboats to take up station at the head of the line and to decrease their smoke. Although his speed never exceeded 21 knots, it proved difficult for the coalburning torpedo-boats to execute both orders together.

Admiral Beatty followed on the starboard quarter of the German line, and increased speed from 24 to (Bundesarchiv)

(A!g3Jesapung)

pieoq-aajl nnoI jay a3ON -puellnp 1o aIlle8 ayljalle uaneyswIayII 6uiyoeojdde zJI,p tas

(nigaiesapung)

liy loajip e jalle 6uiujnq lajjnl31o uoiliunwwe jay 'pueµnp to aµleg ayl le zp1pAag

Seyd/itz off Wilhelmshaven, 2 June 191 6, tug and salvage steamer alongside

about 28 knots, which his older battle cruisers were unable to maintain. The distance decreased slowly, and the British ships started firing at 1000. Observation was very difficult, because a light wind from the east-north-east blew a dense pall of smoke in the direction of the British line. This was particularly unfavourable for the German gunnery, but Admiral Hipper decided to continue on this course. The concentration of British ships was proof that the German plan had somehow leaked out, and that in all probability the Grand Fleet would not be far away. (Actually, although at sea, it was then 150 miles from the scene of action.) Hipper therefore had to try to gain time for his C.-in-C. to collect whatever was available of the battlefleet to come to his support. In the meantime large silhouettes loomed over the horizon, and after some time, five battle cruisers could be distinguished, led by Lion, formed in Seyd/itz entering the Jade river after Jutland. From left to right: the pilot, Captain von Egidy, and the Officer of the Watch (injured) (BfZ)

38

(B un desarchiv )

quarter-line to port. Their fire, which they opened at a distance of 20,000m, was slow and deliberate. At first the Germans could not reply because the range was too great, but the British rapidly approached. When at 1011 Hipper hoisted the signal to open fire, only Derfflinger could comply with her 30.5cm battery. Immediately afterwards, Bluecher received the first hit on her fo'c'sle, but without significant damage. Distances now decreased, but were never less than 1 4,500m, and on average around 1 6,000m. DISASTER STRIKES ' SEYDLITZ' Now Seyd/itz received a shell on the fo'c'sle, and Tiger and Lion were also hit. Nevertheless, all ships continued to fire and to steam at high speed. At 1043 Seydlitz was hit again, but this time with disastrous consequences. A 34.3cm shell pierced the barbette of the aftermost turret, and ignited some cartridges in the ammunition hoists (see plan). The crew in the loading chamber tried to escape. The flash passed through the open bulkhead door to the ammunition hoists of the next (superimposed) turret. Within seconds, 6000kg of powder caught fire, and flames shot mast high from both turrets. These were silenced and all their crews, 165 men being killed. To the men on the bridges of the following ships and of Seyd/itz herself, the fate of the flagship seemed to be sealed. Because he felt that she might blow up at any moment, her gunnery officer ordered "Rapid fire"forthe remaining guns. Every 10 seconds a salvo now left the stricken ship. In the meantime, down below, the Warrant Officer in charge of damage control and some of his assistants groped their way through heat and poisonous fumes to the valves for flooding the magazines. Already the large valves for operating them were red-hot, but the men nevertheless opened them, burning their hands severely. Sea water rushed in, and the immediate danger to the ship was over. The flames flickered over the two turrets and then disappeared, leaving smoke and steam pouring out of the blackened gun embrasures, while the watchers on the bridges shouted their relief. The fierce fight continued, Lion being hit repeatedly,

(z1&) walse WOJ4 uaas ')ooh uanegswjaqjiM ag1 ui pueµnr Jalle zjgpAe

uaas eq AIJeap ueo sun6 eql}o aouasge (zla) eL 1 : uanegswjaqj!M 1e )ooh aql ui zJi/PAas }o MBIA Jaglouy

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Loosened plate on starboard 812

Holds Large torpedo flat (athwartships) Seydlitz state on 31 May 1916 at 2300hrs after Battle of Jutland. Water in ship 2626 tons. Draught forward deeper by 254m. Draught aft deeper by O 99m. Theoretical list 2° 5' to starboard. Actual real list 2° to starboard.

■ Compartments flooded as a counter measure

a 311 313 312 314

315 1411 413 316 .412 414

1 12 813 911 1012 822 712j

1212 1211

Trimming tanks Forward torpedo flats

Seydlitz state on 1 June 1916 at 1900 hours. Most unfavourable state. Water in ship 5308 tons, Draught forward deeper by 4.74m. Draught aft deeper by 1.63m. Theoretical list 2° 5' to port. Actual real list 8° to port.

812 814 9'

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Seyd/itz after Jutland : hit No . 4 on the fo'c'sle (Bundesarchiv )

Seyd/itz after Jutland: hit No. 6 and torpedo hit. Treffer=hit (Bundesarchiv)

Seyd/itz after Jutland : hit No. 5, below decks. The Armoured deck has been pierced (Bundesarchiv)

42

Seyd/itz after Jutland : hit No. 5 Einschuss =entrance of shell (Bundesarchiv)

Seyd/itz after Jutland: hit No. 6. Langaaplitterschott= longitudinal splinter proof bulkhead. Sprengpunkt?=bursting point? Gepanzertes Batteriedeck=armoured battery deck. Kasemattpanzerquerschott=armoured transverse bulkhead of casemate (Bundesarchiv)

Seyd/itz after Jutland : torpedo hit under the fo'c'sle , port side (Bundesarchiv)

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Seydlitz after Jutland: C turret (super-imposed), rear and front (Bundesarchiv)

was evident from the submarine activity and from a special code word signalled to the High Seas Fleet that something was in the wind. In cool spring weather with a light breeze from the west, the two German groups moved northwards, with light cruisers and torpedo-boats screening ahead. Meanwhile the British Battle Fleet steered roughly east-south-east from Scapa Flow. The Battle Cruiser Force sailed from the Firth of Forth until 1415. It then turned north as pre-arranged to meet the Battle Fleet. At a distance of about 40 miles, on slightly converg-

Seyd/itz after Jutland : hit on gun of E (port) turret (Bundesarchiv)

44

When they sighted each other, Hipper turned south east to draw Beatty towards the main German fleet. Hipper had 5 battle cruisers, while Beatty had 6 battle cruisers with 4 fast and powerful battleships of the Queen Elizabeth class somewhat in the rear. This gave Hipper the lee gauge and made conditions perfect for the gunnery of his ships; the Germans steamed in line-ahead. Beatty, eager for the fight, approached in quarterline at such an angle that he passed quickly through the range most advantageous for his heavier guns. At 1548 the range had fallen to about 15,000m, and both sides opened fire almost simultaneously. Seyd/itz fought a duel with Queen Mary, and, at the end of the line, von der Tann engaged Indefatigable. Lion, Princess Royal and Tiger were all soon hit, and Seyd/itz then received two shells. Again C-barbette was hit, and C-turret put out of action, but the safety measures installed after the Battle of the Dogger Bank confined the damage to the stricken turret and kept down the losses of its personnel. At 1600, Lion received a similar hit but was saved by Major Harvey of the Royal Marines, the turret commander who, although mortally wounded, ordered the magazines to be flooded. Three minutes later, Indefatigable was squarely hit by two salvoes in quick succession and blew up. However, the Fifth Battle Squadron now found the range with their 38cm guns and subjected the rear of the German line to a well-directed fire. Fumes and smoke, also coming from the cruisers and the destroyers, made observation very difficult. Tiger fired several salvoes at Seyd/itz, when a shell from Queen Mary put a 1 5cm casemate out of action. Derrflinger then mistook Queen Mary for the second ship and, at distances decreasing to 13,000m, a number of salvoes from the two German ships found their target on the Queen Mary. At 1627 she blew up, turned over and disappeared with her propellers still turning. Destroyers of the Thirteenth Flotilla and torpedoboats of the Ninth Flotilla now went into the attack and met between the battle lines. In the melee that followed, V27 and V29 were sunk, as well as Nomad. Nestor was brought to a halt and sunk shortly afterwards by German battleships. The main German fleet was now sighted by Southampton who was stationed ahead of the British battle cruisers. The long line of German battleships, surrounded by numerous cruisers and torpedo-boats, came as a complete surprise to the British. As a result of faulty intelligence , it was believed that the German battle fleet was still in port. Beatty had to reverse course, and the Fifth Battle Squadron followed under very heavy fire. Hipper also turned to take station ahead of the

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Seyd/itz at anchor in the ice of the Jade, February 1917

his divisions away. Scheer ordered a complete battle turn for the third time, the fleets separated, and the day battle was over. At dusk there was a short contact, and Seydlitz was hit again. Then, on almost parallel southerly courses, both fleets took up night cruising formations, the Grand Fleet by divisions, with destroyers behind. The High Seas Fleet formed a somewhat straggling line ahead, which literally hacked its way through the British destroyers. The torpedoboats searched in vain for the British battleships. Seydlitz was too damaged to keep station and proceeded on her own. In addition to one torpedo hit, the ship had received 21 heavy and 2 medium shells. 98 men were killed and 55 wounded. Four heavy and two medium guns were out of action, and one third of her electrical capacity gone. Cables, leads, ducts, and vents were cut or broken, and the gyro compass worked only intermittently. The magnetic compass proved

(Bundesarchiv)

unreliable, and there was no electric light in many vital places. Steam was leaking, the aerials were shot through, and the torpedo net, trailing in the water, threatened to foul the propellers. Repair parties worked their hardest. Thanks to previous battle drill carried out blindfolded (called 'blind man's buff'), specialists succeeded in finding switches in the dark. They made new connections which they improvised on the spot. The ship was still a fighting unit. The worst headache was the great number of minor leaks from warped covers and bulkhead doors, sprung seams and loose rivets, which could not be effectively repaired. In spite of desperate efforts, the water slowly gained, and the forward part of the ship sank deeper into the sea. Speed had to be consequently reduced. On the way to Horns Reef dark shapes were suddenly made out in the calm night, which were soon recognised as British battleships.

Seyd/itz, battle cruiser. Photo of an official document in the Military Archives at Freiburg; Gun calibres in centimetres; armour denoted in dark colour; armoured torpedo bulkhead denoted by diagonal lines

46

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Seyd/itz scuttled at Scapa Flow

Seydlitz from above: her turrets are ready to open fire on a bearing of Green 120. September 1918 (Bundesarchiv)

included in the 16 heavy ships interned at Scapa Flow, together with 8 light cruisers and 50 torpedoboats. With most of these ships, Seydlitz was scuttled by her skeleton crew on 21 June 1919. After two hours she capsized and sank. Nine years later she was raised, towed away and broken up. A heavy cruiser launched in 1939 was also named Seyd/itz, but never finished. The men of the old battle cruiser who are still alive continue to keep in touch with each other and to cherish the memory of their well-loved Seyd/itz.

SMS 'SEYDLITZ' Fiscal Year authorised Builder Laid down Launching Date of Commissioning Construction costs

1909 Blohm & Voss, Hamburg 4.2.1911 30.3.1912 22.5.1913 44.6 million gold marks

Dimensions : Length overall 200m Beam 28 5m Draught: With 1000 tons coal 824m With 3600 tons coal (total fuel capacity) 9m Complement : (Including Admiral's Staff) 1143 Armour Plating : Quarterdeck 150/1 50mm Side armour 0-100, 300,100mm Citadel 265mm Horizontal armour Upper deck and armoured deck 30-80mm plating : with chamfers 50mm Underwater protection : Torpedo bulkhead 45mm SA: B a r bettes 250 m m Turrets 250-70mm MA: Casemates 1 50mm Turret mast, forward 300mm Turret mast, aft 200mm Machinery : 2x marine turbines on 4 propellers 27 marine boilers (coal) Output 67,000s.h.p. Speed 26 5kn (during trials 89,738s.h.p.=29'12kn) Armament : 10 x 28cm naval guns L/50 etc as Moltke class (q.v.) 12x15cm naval guns L/45 in casemates 12, later 10, then from 1916 none x8 8cm naval guns From 1916, 2x88cm 4x50cm torpedo tubes (1 port-stern, 2 side, 1 bow, all submerged) With this single-ship class, the design of which was completed at the beginning of 1910, the conception of

48

Warship Series Editor: JOHN WINGA

the Mo/tke class was maintained. With the sa ment in the same arrangement, the speed increased by 1 knot, which resulted in in stability. The correctness of this design wa twice during the war. Finally the improv worthiness should be mentioned; a visible s was the increased height of the foredeck by as compared with her predecessors. From 1914, spotter-top on foremast. On remo 8 8cm naval guns, their gun-ports etc wer shut. After that, 8 8cm HA on raised af Towards the end, the heavy derricks were stow upper deck and a light derrick was fitted to ventilator.

SMS'SEYDLITZ': Operational History 28August 1914 Unsuccessful counter-attack agains battle cruiser formation which had pene German Bight. 3 November 1914 Shelling of Yarmouth (assault'J1'). 16 December 1914 Shelling of Hartlepool (assault'J2'). 24 January 1915 Battle of Dogger Bank (received two he both after turrets burned out, heavy p losses). 25April 1916 Struck a mine during the advance for th on Lowestoft/Yarmouth; retreated afte 1400 tons of water. 31 May1916 Battle of Jutland, sinking Queen Mary suffered 21 heavy, 2 medium hits, als hit by British destroyer Petard, D and burned out; in spite of having shipp than 5300 tons of water, returned un steam sailing astern; in the end, o freeboard forward. Repaired in Wilhelmshaven ; ready f again 16 September 1916. 5 November 1916 Assault as far as west coast of Denmark. 23 April 1918 Assault as far as Stavanger. 24 November 1918- Interned at Scapa Flow where she was s 21 June 1919 the crew on 21 June 1919. Raised on 2 November 1928. Broken up in Rosyth by 1930.

ation will follow the format which has proved so popular with the other series with first rate text, supported by many superb black and white illustrations and, of course, the famous Profile colour centre spread which will show complete side and plan views of each warship and, where applicable, additional information such as ships' badges, camouflage schemes, cross sections and details of ships' fittings.

Titles already published 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

HMS Dreadnought HMS Cossack USS Hornet (CV 8) Kriegsmarine Admiral Graf Spee HMS Campbeltown (USS Buchanan) Kriegsmarine Prinz Eugen

7. HM Motor Torpedo Boat!Vosper 70ft. 8. Kriegsmarine U- 107 9. USS Charles Ausburne (DD-570) 10. HMS Illustrious 11. HMS Illustrious 12. IJN Kongo

Next 12 titles are 13. HMS Exeter 8-inch-gun Cruiser, 1928-1942. Her life includes the Battle of the River Plate against Admiral Graf Spee, (Warship Profile No. 4) and the Battle of the Java Sea: by Robin Tonks, M.A., Assistant Director of Studies and Head of History Department, Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.

14. SMS Seydlitz Battle cruiser, 25,000 tons, commissioned Spring 1913, flagship of Scouting Forces, she led the bombardment of Great Yarmouth in December 1914. She was severely damaged in the Battle of the Dogger Bank, January 1915; she struck a mine in April 1916; she just made port after the Battle of Jutland, having been hit by one torpedo and twenty-three shells. She was scuttled at Scapa Flow, June 1919: by Professor F. Ruge, ViceAdmiral a. D.

15. USS Enterprise (CVAN 65) The first, and at this writing, the only nuclearpowered aircraft carrier and the largest combatant in the world; Enterprise celebrates ten years of commissioned service in 1971. During this period, this large ship has repeatedly demonstrated the great flexibility of nuclear propulsion from world girdling cruises to combat tours off North Vietnam. Two additional nuclear carriers now under construction will soon join her in the US Nuclear Fleet: by Commander W. H. Cracknell, USN.

16. HM Submarine Upholder A member of the Tenth Submarine Flotilla which operated from Malta during the siege, this U-class submarine's Commanding Officer, LieutenantCommander M. D. Wanklyn, was awarded the Victoria Cross: by her ex-First Lieutenant, Captain M. L. C. Crawford, D.S.C. AND BAR, R.N.

(Retired), who became a distinguished Submarine Commanding Officer of HM Submarines, H.50, Unseen (P.51), Tireless, Oberon and Artemis.

17. R It. N Zara Laid down in 1929, this Bin. gunned cruiser formed the backbone of Mussolini's cruiser forces. A superb ship, she ended her life a blazing inferno at the Battle of Matapan: by Lt.-Commander (Pay), Italian Naval Reserve, Aldo Fraccaroli, naval historian.

18. KM Bismarck With Tirpitz, Germany's other battleship, Bismarck, was the pride of the German fleet. `Big Brother' to Prinz Eugen, she forayed into the Atlantic in May 1941, where, after sinking HMS Hood, she was hunted and eventually destroyed by units of the Royal Navy: by Fregattenkapitan Paul Schmalenbach, author of Warship Profile No. 6, Prinz Eugen, whose Gunnery Officer he was for the duration of World War II.

19. HMS Hood The `Mighty Hood', the most graceful warship of her time, held pride of place in the hearts of the British public. A superb battle cruiser, she bore an inherent defect in design which was to lead to terrible disaster: by R. G. Robertson, the last man to leave Hood at Scapa Flow when she sailed for the Atlantic and her encounter with Bismarck.

20. HMS Hesperus 21. USS Tennessee (BB 43) 22. IJN Yukikaze 23. HMS Furious 24. HMS Furious

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Profile Publications Ltd, Coburg House , Sheet Street , Windsor , Berks . SL41 EB Also published by Profile Publications Limited are the world-renowned Aircraft, Loco, AFV and Car Series.

Aircraft Profiles

Loco Profiles

Currently reached number 224-an indication of the popularity of this series. Covers aircraft of all major aeronautical nations. Many new exciting titles to come. Published monthly. Edited by C. W. Cain, one of the leading editors of the Aircraft World, and backed by a team of specialist authors, second to none in their field. The `original' of the top quality series of colour Aircraft reference parts to be offered to the reader at economic rates-and now even better.

Newest of the current series, and already gaining international acclamation for its excellent text, and illustrations. Written by Brian Reed, who has lived with, written about, and worked on and around locomotives all his life. One of the first series ever to present the reader with accurate colour drawings of locomotives, these are proving very popular with all `Lovers' of steam'worthy of framing', to quote one reader.

AFV/Weapons Profiles Will eventually include all the major fighting vehicles of the world and many of the weapons used in two major wars. This is the second series on Armour from the Profile stable. Has come to be regarded as one of the major authorities on the subject. Produced by a team of world renowned armour experts, under the general editorship of Duncan Crow. Published monthly, this series is planned to exceed fifty parts.

Small Arms Profiles Profiles have scored another `first' by producing a new regular monthly series describing the famous revolvers, rifles, automatic-weapons etc. of the world. Produced to the usual high standard, each Profile has a colour illustration of the weapons featured. This series will prove to be one of the most popular yet published. Edited by a young Scottish expert, A. J. R. Cormack, the Profiles present all that the enthusiast wants to know about each weapon.

Classic Car Profiles As implied by the name, this 96 part series, at present `resting', highlights the `greats'. Heralded at the time of publication as a `new and unique' series, many of the Profiles are still available. Anthony Harding, as editor, was responsible for this superb series.

Warship Profiles A new and ambitious series, which is fulfilling a real need for the naval enthusiast, modeller and historian. Reviewers have remarked enthusiastically on this international series. Both writers and subjects are associated with the famous and infamous warships of the world's navies. Claimed to be the first series ever to give so much detailed history and information-including superb side and plan view colour drawings of each warship featured. John Wingate, D.S.C., ex-Naval Officer, is series editor and has planned over sixty titles in the series.

De-luxe Volumes All the series are available as annual hard-back editions. Superbly produced and bound to last. Full details available from most bookshops, or direct from the publishers.

The Profile Philosophy is, to be objective in style; clinical in presentation; accurate in detail-in text, black and white illustration and the superb colour drawings or illustrations featured in every Profile. To ensure that extreme care is taken to present the reader not only with all the available facts that space will allow, but also that these facts are accurate. To this end, nothing is published if there is any doubt as to its authority. Editor, Author and Artist accept that they are only human-and welcome constructive comment from readers. Every effort is made to ensure that the published titles and monthly programme are adhered to, but the publishers reserve the right to alter these should circumstances arise beyond their control.

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Profile Publications Ltd, Coburg House , Sheet Street , Windsor , Berks . SL41 EB Warship Profile and its contents are copyright © Profile Publications Limited, Coburg House, Sheet Street, Windsor, Berkshire, England Printed in England by Chichester Press Limited, Chichester, Sussex January 1972