BATTLE AT SEA

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 53, Issue 32403, 6 March 1944, Page 6

BATTLE AT SEA

END OF THE SCHARNHORST STARTS IN MIDDLE WATCH MORRINSVILLE BOY IN FIGHT “ I expect you heard the hig news about us being in the 'Scharnhorst affair. I am glad they announced the names of the ships and those hit so early, to save you any needless worry, though it would not be so good for those with people in the Norfolk,” writes Cadet “Billy” Williams of the cruiser Jamaica to his, parents, Mr and Mrs C. R. Williams, of Morrinsville. The letter added:— “Everything really started at the end of the middle watch, this is about four o’clock in the morning, when we altered course away from our patrol and increased speed to 24 knots. I therefore wasn’t surprised when after breakfast the commander told us that the Scharnhorst was at sea and that we would go to action stations in five minutes’ time. Then followed a long period l of waiting; the other cruisers who had already been in action with i her were shadowing and. reporting ■ her course and speed so that all we * had to do was steer to intercept. ' Lunch consisted simply of a huge ham sandwich ■ and some warm tea and Christmas cake. About quarter of an hour before the time calculated that we would meet her, people began to | get busy putting on tin helmets and • making last-minute adjustments to j instruments, anti-flash gear, etc. It reminded me of a lot of players before the curtain goes up. My actionstation was on the captain’s right, an instrument that is used to point out and keep the guns on the target. It is fitted with powerful binoculars and consequently I had a fine view of the whole proceedings. Scharnhorst Opens Fire

“When we went into range the cruiser which had been doing a great job of shadowing fired star shells and lit up the Scharnhorst for the Duke of York and ourselves, who were in the battle line, and a couple of seconds later the Duke opened fire. During this first stage we didn’t fire much as we didn’t want to confuse the Duke’s spotting, but what broadsides we did get away seemed to be in the right direction. We were using tracer and there would be a terrific crash, a sheet of flame and a cluster of bright: lights would rush with a low whistling sound right up into the sky, curving down again in a great arc to the horizon where the Scharnhorst lay. She wasn’t long in opening fire and her first shells passed overhead, making a sound like an express train. Later she corrected her range and one shell fell so close to the starboard bow that the spray drenched all of us on the bridge and shell splinters were continually snarling past. Destroyers Go In

“The Duke obtained one certain hit during’ this phase and others were suspected, while the Scharnhorst 'began. to open the range, so destroyers were sent in to make torpedo attacks. This 'began the second and really spectacular part. The destroyers went right in, especially the Saumorez and released their torpedoes, getting at least two to three hits, and so they came out again, with weapons filling the sky 'with streams of inter-weav-ing tracer. The .Scharnhorst returned their fire, but scored only one hit on the 'Saumorez, while her speed was considerably reduced. The destroy-

ers then fired more star shells, lighting her up beautifully, and we were i able to close to practically point-blank ■ range. The Duke’s broadsides were ( finding their mark now and soon the ' enemy mammoth was seen to be on fire aft. Her fire now became a little more erratic and she was forced to divert some of her main armament to the other cruisers who were coming in on the other side. In For Finish “Soon after this we were ordered to go in and make a torpedo attack, so we turned ninety degrees and pointed our bows straight on her gun flashes. We closed in to torpedo range and fired our port torpedo, but with no result. Then came a nasty few minutes, a star shell burst right overhead, lighting everything up like day and making us feel quite naked under its glare. As there was no point in keeping quiet any longer we opened fire with our main armament and at that range it was hard to miss. Her fire control must have been badly knocked around by now, for although a lot of tracer came our way she scored no hits. We then turned and fired our remaining torpedoes, getting two hits and what proved to be the final blow. We then steamed away out of the area and as we did so there came a penetrating smell of oil fuel. Then the destroyers switched on their searchlights to look for survivors—and it was all over. Tribute To Those Below “Everything was very unreal and it was hard to realise that it was not another practice shoot and that the red flashes on the horizon were being pointed at you. My feelings during the whole time were hard' to describe, but one gets a sort of fatalistic attitude and thank goodness I had plenty to do to keep my mind off the possibilities. The damage control people below who just have to wait until we are hit and all others shut in watertight compartments are the ones who must have had a rotten time. “Still that is enough of the action. It was quite a thrill to hear our own names on the radio at first, but one soon gets tired of it. , Parcels Appreciated “Youi 1 parcel was very well timed. It arrived just before we sailed so I had it on board for Christmas Day. There were also two other parcels, one from the Morrinsville Golf Club and the other from patriotic funds, so you can imagine I had plenty to celebrate with.”