BATTLE OF THE DOGGER BANK This naval action was fought during the World War on Jan. 24, 1915, near the Dogger Bank in the North Sea between British and German battle-cruisers and light forces.
Reports from America at this time had led the Germans to think that a plan for blocking their harbours was afoot and Rear Admiral Hipper was despatched at nightfall on Jan. 23 to recon noitre off the Dogger Bank. His force consisted of four battle cruisers of the ist scouting group, "Seydlitz" (flag), "Derfflinger," "Moltke" and "Blucher," with four light cruisers and 19 de stroyers. Before the ships left the Jade, their strength and inten tions had been revealed by their own wireless and Vice-Admiral Beatty left the Forth to intercept them at 6 P.M. on the 23rd. With him were the five battle-cruisers of the I st and 2nd Battle Cruiser Squadrons, the "Lion" (flag), "Tiger," "Princess Royal," "New Zealand" and "Indomitable," and the four light cruisers of the ist Light Cruiser Squadron under Commodore W. E. Good enough in the "Southampton." He was to proceed to a rendezvous in lat. 55deg. 12min. north, long. 3deg. I 2min. east, i 8om. from Heligoland, where he was to meet Commodore Tyrwhitt with three light cruisers and 3o destroyers of the Harwich force. The 3rd Battle Squadron, of seven "King Edwards," left Rosyth and Ad miral Jellicoe put to sea from Scapa with the battle-fleet at 9 P.M. In heavy guns Beatty's force was decidedly superior, mounting 24 13.5-in. and 16 12-in. against Hipper's 8 12-in., 20 I I-in. and 16 8.2-in.
The Fight Begins.—Beatty reached the rendezvous at 7 A.M. It was a crisp winter morning with a calm sea and good visibility. The battle cruisers were in single line ahead with Goodenough's light cruisers two miles on the port bow. Course was then altered to south by west at 18 knots. Ten minutes later "Arethusa," Tyrwhitt's flagship, was sighted southeast about seven miles on the port bow. She had hardly been identified when the flash of guns was seen to the south-south-east. "Aurora," some 15m. be hind Tyrwhitt, had met and engaged the German light cruiser "Kolberg," on the port bow of Hipper's squadron coming' from the southeast. Each received a couple of hits and "Kolberg" re tired at 7 : 2 5 A.M.
At the sound of the guns, Beatty ordered the light cruisers to chase to south. "Southampton" had barely gone two miles when she sighted "Aurora" on her starboard bow and, a few minutes later, German battle-cruisers on the port bow to the south-east. Dense clouds of smoke were pouring from their funnels and they were evidently raising steam for full speed. It was then 7:50 A.M. Beatty's appearance had come on Hipper as a surprise and, turn ing to the southeast, the latter ran for home.
Pursuit of the Germans.—At 8:3o A.M. Beatty's position was lat. 54deg. 5omin. north, long. 3deg. 4omin. east, and the two had settled down to a long rush towards Heligoland, i4om. away. The British battle-cruisers were in single line ahead on a south-east by south course, working up to full speed. Hipper was IIm. sharp on "Lion's" port bow, in full flight on a south-south-east course. In speed Beatty's squadron had a decided superiority. It was able to maintain a seagoing speed of 26 knots, while Hipper was limited at first to 23 or 24. At 8:52, when the range of "BlUcher" had come down to 2 2,000yd., "Lion" opened fire and at 9 :05 hoisted the signal to engage. The German battle-cruisers were then forming on a line of bearing to port. At 9 :09 Hipper opened fire as "Lion" scored her first hit on "BlUcher." The action ran on to the southeast with the range gradually decreasing, but it was not till 9:28 that the Germans scored their first hit on "Lion," sending an i 1-in. shell through her waterline aft. At 9 : 43 a 13.5-in. shell crashed through the quarter deck of "Seydlitz," penetrated the after turret and, exploding inside, set fire to the charges in the working chamber. The flames went roaring through the turret, passed through a small door into the adjoining one, set fire to the charges there and, wrapping both tur rets in a sheet of flame, slew as one every man inside. "Blucher" was having trouble with her engines at this time and about io A.M. drew out of the line, labouring heavily.
At 10 : 2 2 Beatty, to bring the rear of his line into action, or dered the battle-cruisers to form on a line of bearing north-north west and to proceed at utmost speed. "Lion" had eased to 24 knots to let the ships in the rear come up, and, as the enemy had turned slightly away, the range was increasing. At 10:30 a salvo fell on "BlUcher"; a shell penetrated the central ammunition passage, set fire to the cartridges and sent a flash of flame through the fore turrets. The main steam pipe was damaged, her speed came down to 17 knots and she gradually dropped behind, en veloped in smoke.
Beatty made a final effort to turn the squadron back on to the course of pursuit by signalling "Keep closer to the enemy," but which enemy was not specified. By now, however, the "Lion" was so far astern that Moore, in the "New Zealand," could not read the flagship's signal. Fire was therefore concentrated on the un fortunate "Blucher," while Hipper, with the remainder of the German force, having turned to the east-south-east, drew rapidly out of range. At II :38 the "Arethusa" came up and fired two torpedoes into the "Blucher." She ceased firing and, listing heav ily, ablaze fore and aft, she sank at 12 :13. Hipper was out of sight some fifteen miles off, so Moore formed the battle-cruisers into line ahead and steered to the westward.
Beatty by this time had transferred his flag to the destroyer "Attack" and was racing after his squadron. He reached "Prin cess Royal" at 12:3o and hoisted his flag, but pursuit was then hopeless and a warning had been received of the approach of the High Sea Fleet. He therefore gave up all idea of renewing the action. Hipper made for home and got in touch with the High Sea Fleet about 2 :30 P.M. "Blucher" had been lost, "Seydlitz" seriously damaged and "Derfflinger" hit. On the British side "Lion" had been put out of action and "Tiger" damaged.
Admiral Jellicoe with the battle-fleet met Beatty at 4:3o P.M.
"Lion" was taken in tow by "Indomitable" and, screened by light cruisers and destroyers, reached Rosyth safely the next morning. On the British side the result was regarded as disap pointing, but it must be remembered that, with the exception of "Blucher," the enemy's speed was not seriously diminished when the action was broken off.
The forces engaged were as follows: Casualties.—"Bliicher," which sank, received about 4o hits and 2 torpedoes, had 792 of her crew killed, 45 wounded and 189 taken prisoner. "Seydlitz" sustained 3 hits, had 159 killed and 33 wounded. "Derftlinger" was only hit once, and "Kolberg" twice, the latter having 3 killed and 2 wounded.
On the British side "Lion" was put out of action with 12 hits; I killed and 20 wounded. "Tiger" received 7 hits, having io killed and I 1 wounded : "Aurora" received 2 hits and "Meteor" sustained I hit, with 4 killed and 1 wounded. The British fired 1,154 rounds of heavy gun ammunition, of which 708 were armour-piercing shell, 77 common, 365 high explosive and 4 shrapnel. The Ger mans fired 976 rounds from their heavy guns.