Aerial bombing of HMS Attentive |
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NickForder ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 01 Jun 2009 Location: Bolton Status: Offline Points: 1369 |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posted: 17 May 2011 at 17:04 |
"Rear Admiral Sir Reginald Bacon assumed command of the Dover Patrol in early 1915 and established systems of daily sweeping regularly used routes for mines as well as reviewing other operational requirements. The U-boat bases at Zeebrugge and Ostend were a major concern as it was believed that a majority of the German submarines operated from there. Thus Bacon made an attempt to bombard Ostend on 5 September, 1915, with the monitors Lord Clive, General Crauford, Prince Rupert and M25. Unfortunately, the sea was too rough for the safe and effective operation of monitors. On the evening of 6 September a second start was made, via Dunkerque and the Zuidcoote Pass, to the east of Sinal Bank to arrive off the coast early the following morning. Bacon sailed in the monitor M25. Although the day was fine, a heavy low lying mist obscured all but the cathedral spire which son disappeared also. An hour and a half later the mist had still not cleared and Bacon decided it prudent to withdraw. Bacon’s fleet sailed between Cliffe Island and the outer Rasel Bank, while HMS Redoubtable, Excellent and Bustard took the opportunity to bombard the Westende batteries and suppress their fire. As Bacon withdrew his ships they came under bombing attack by German ‘Albatros’ aircraft, and the order was given to break formation. One bomb hit Attentive on the deck, disabling one 4in gun Two of Attentive’s crew were killed (ADAMS, David, Private, RMLI, 7578 (Po) & DUNCAN, John F, Officer's Cook 3c, L 4113 (Po) and seven more were wounded. Bacon noted later that this was the only occasion on which one of his ships had been hit by a bomb while underway. The mist lifted in the early afternoon and the bombardment commenced." What were the 'Albatros' aeroplanes, and what unit wer they from ? |
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