This may be of interest to some folks here. Details drawn from the account of USN naval attache present aboard HMS RODNEY during the pursuit of BISMARCK:
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Fm RODNEY to ComDes Flot6 - 0315hrs 25 May 41
My speed 20 the initial course 262. Follow at your best speed under weather conditions.
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Fm RODNEY to CinC H.F. – 0900hrs 25 May 41
My position 52deg 34’ N, 29deg 23’ W. Have 3 destroyers as screen - Intend to stay in this vicinity to intercept enemy if he breaks through to southeast. Visibility here 10 miles.
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Reminiscences, 25 May, 1941
The Commander-in-Chief's Home Fleet message of 1047/25 created a very difficult
situation for Captain Dalrymple-Hamilton. Should he direct the Rodney to remain in the
general area of our 0900 a.m. position? Should he order the Rodney to steer a course
which assumed the Bismarck was returning to Germany via the Denmark Strait or the
Iceland-Faroes Passage? Should he steer a course to arrive in the shortest possible time
at the intersection of the track between the Bismarck's last reported position at
02:00/25 by the Suffolk and Cape Finisterre? And if the Bismarck was not sighted
within a reasonable time after passing through this intersection, then alter course to cross
the Bismarck's track in the shortest possible time, on the assumption she was headed for
Brest from her last reported by the Suffolk at 02:00 a.m./25?
Captain Dalrymple-Hamilton's firm belief that the Bismarck was headed for a Bay of
Biscay port resulted in his decision to leave our general area, and direct the Rodney to
steam toward the intersection of the track between the Bismarck's last reported position
at 02:00/25 and Cape Finisterre. The Rodney altered course to 030° at 11:40 a.m.,
increased speed to 17 and then gradually to 20 and 21 knots. Captain Dalrymple-
Hamilton, Lieutenant Commander Gatacre and I were extremely happy to receive an
Admiralty message to the Rodney at 1158/25 which said: "Act as though the enemy is
proceeding to a Bay of Biscay port."
The Admiralty also sent the following message to a number of shore stations at
1200/25. The Rodney intercepted and decoded this message which read: "The
Admiralty believes the Bismarck is headed for Brest."
When the Bismarck was not sighted by 4:20 p.m.25 Captain Dalrymple-Hamilton,
after consultation with Lieutenant Commander Gatacre and Commander Grindle,
altered the Rodney's course to 055° in order to cross the Bismarck's track in the shortest
possible time on the assumption she was headed for Brest from her last reported position
by the Suffolk at 02:00/25.
When the Bismarck was not sighted by 9:00 p.m. Captain Dalrymple-Hamilton
ordered the Rodney to change course to 118°, as we headed toward Brest at a speed of
21 knots.
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Fm RODNEY (visual) to MASHONA - 1134hrs 26 May 41
KING GEORGE v should bear 270deg from me – distance about 20 miles. Search to westward, if contact made report my position – course 130, speed 21.5. Rejoin by 1500.
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Fm RODNEY to EDINBURGH – 1449hrs 26 May 41
If you can see KING GEORGE V please report my position. My course is 130, speed 22. Also inform him that I am detaching SOMALI, TARTAR and MASHONA to Plymouth at 1700 … PIORIN has not joined me.
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Fm RODNEY (visual) to CinC H.F. - 1544hrs 26 May 41
My course 130. speed 22. SOMALI, TARTAR will remain with me until 1800. MASHONA until 2300. All going to Plymouth to refuel. I had 1600 tons of oil on hand at 1800.
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Fm RODNEY (visual) to CinC H.F. - 1735hrs 26 May 41
Your 1714 … Engine room conditions are quite severe but I do not wish to slow since you may go on and I get left behind.
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Fm RODNEY (visual) to CinC H.F. - 1911hrs 26 May 41
Your 1829 … RODNEY had 1600 tons of oil on hand at 1800. We use at present speed 23 tons per hour and 19 tons per hour at 20 knots. Clyde and Gibraltar are within my endurance. If present course and speed are continued until 0800 tomorrow.
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Fm CinC H.F. (visual) to RODNEY, KING GEORGE V – 2028hrs 26 May 41
Accurate station keeping not necessary in order to save fuel.
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Fm RODNEY (visual) to CinC H.F. – 2029hrs 26 May 41
KING GEORGE V’s 22 knots is a bit faster than RODNEY’s and we are dropping distance.
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Fm CinC H.F. (visual) to RODNEY – 0030hrs 27 May 41
Steam at 19 knots.
B
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Fm RODNEY to ComDes Flot6 - 0315hrs 25 May 41
My speed 20 the initial course 262. Follow at your best speed under weather conditions.
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Fm RODNEY to CinC H.F. – 0900hrs 25 May 41
My position 52deg 34’ N, 29deg 23’ W. Have 3 destroyers as screen - Intend to stay in this vicinity to intercept enemy if he breaks through to southeast. Visibility here 10 miles.
- - - - -
Reminiscences, 25 May, 1941
The Commander-in-Chief's Home Fleet message of 1047/25 created a very difficult
situation for Captain Dalrymple-Hamilton. Should he direct the Rodney to remain in the
general area of our 0900 a.m. position? Should he order the Rodney to steer a course
which assumed the Bismarck was returning to Germany via the Denmark Strait or the
Iceland-Faroes Passage? Should he steer a course to arrive in the shortest possible time
at the intersection of the track between the Bismarck's last reported position at
02:00/25 by the Suffolk and Cape Finisterre? And if the Bismarck was not sighted
within a reasonable time after passing through this intersection, then alter course to cross
the Bismarck's track in the shortest possible time, on the assumption she was headed for
Brest from her last reported by the Suffolk at 02:00 a.m./25?
Captain Dalrymple-Hamilton's firm belief that the Bismarck was headed for a Bay of
Biscay port resulted in his decision to leave our general area, and direct the Rodney to
steam toward the intersection of the track between the Bismarck's last reported position
at 02:00/25 and Cape Finisterre. The Rodney altered course to 030° at 11:40 a.m.,
increased speed to 17 and then gradually to 20 and 21 knots. Captain Dalrymple-
Hamilton, Lieutenant Commander Gatacre and I were extremely happy to receive an
Admiralty message to the Rodney at 1158/25 which said: "Act as though the enemy is
proceeding to a Bay of Biscay port."
The Admiralty also sent the following message to a number of shore stations at
1200/25. The Rodney intercepted and decoded this message which read: "The
Admiralty believes the Bismarck is headed for Brest."
When the Bismarck was not sighted by 4:20 p.m.25 Captain Dalrymple-Hamilton,
after consultation with Lieutenant Commander Gatacre and Commander Grindle,
altered the Rodney's course to 055° in order to cross the Bismarck's track in the shortest
possible time on the assumption she was headed for Brest from her last reported position
by the Suffolk at 02:00/25.
When the Bismarck was not sighted by 9:00 p.m. Captain Dalrymple-Hamilton
ordered the Rodney to change course to 118°, as we headed toward Brest at a speed of
21 knots.
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Fm RODNEY (visual) to MASHONA - 1134hrs 26 May 41
KING GEORGE v should bear 270deg from me – distance about 20 miles. Search to westward, if contact made report my position – course 130, speed 21.5. Rejoin by 1500.
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Fm RODNEY to EDINBURGH – 1449hrs 26 May 41
If you can see KING GEORGE V please report my position. My course is 130, speed 22. Also inform him that I am detaching SOMALI, TARTAR and MASHONA to Plymouth at 1700 … PIORIN has not joined me.
- - - - -
Fm RODNEY (visual) to CinC H.F. - 1544hrs 26 May 41
My course 130. speed 22. SOMALI, TARTAR will remain with me until 1800. MASHONA until 2300. All going to Plymouth to refuel. I had 1600 tons of oil on hand at 1800.
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Fm RODNEY (visual) to CinC H.F. - 1735hrs 26 May 41
Your 1714 … Engine room conditions are quite severe but I do not wish to slow since you may go on and I get left behind.
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Fm RODNEY (visual) to CinC H.F. - 1911hrs 26 May 41
Your 1829 … RODNEY had 1600 tons of oil on hand at 1800. We use at present speed 23 tons per hour and 19 tons per hour at 20 knots. Clyde and Gibraltar are within my endurance. If present course and speed are continued until 0800 tomorrow.
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Fm CinC H.F. (visual) to RODNEY, KING GEORGE V – 2028hrs 26 May 41
Accurate station keeping not necessary in order to save fuel.
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Fm RODNEY (visual) to CinC H.F. – 2029hrs 26 May 41
KING GEORGE V’s 22 knots is a bit faster than RODNEY’s and we are dropping distance.
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Fm CinC H.F. (visual) to RODNEY – 0030hrs 27 May 41
Steam at 19 knots.
B
statistics: Posted by Blutarski — 3:22 PM - 1 day ago — Replies 3 — Views 135