THE DEEDS OF DECOY SHIPS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1921, 31 December 1918, Page 1

THE DEEDS OF DECOY SHIPS.

THRILLING EXPLOITS NARRATED.

The Admiralty publishes thrilling accounts of some of the most notable actions between British decoy ships and enemy submarines. It is noteworthy that Captain Gordon Campbell, V.C., D. 5.0., was one of these “mystery” Victoria Cross winners. His name has previously been published from time to time as gaining very rapid promotions and an unusual number of awards for heroism.

Captain Campbell, in March, I'JIG, was commanding H.M.S. Earnborough, which was disguised as a collier. After cruising with the Earnborough throughout the winter as a decoy-ship, he got his first submarine. In the following month he secured his second U-boat.

In February, 1917, Captain Campbell was commanding the Q 5, which was torpedoed in action. Stations were sounded, and a “panic parly” abandoned the ship, but the engineer officer, although the engineroom was fast being flooded, gallantly remained at his post. A submarine was then seen, 200 yards distant, watching (hem through its periscope. Partly sub- 1 merged, the submarine steamed past on the starboard side of tho Q 5, which withheld its tire until (ho

enemy was within point-blank range. Then llio hidden gun crews leapt to their i'eet and opened a most deadly lire. The livst shell beheaded the submarine captain. The Admiralty regards the action, as a supreme test of naval discipline. The chief engineer and the members of the engineer watch remained at their posts until the rising water drove them up on deck. After that (hey remained concealed upon cylinders, and the guns’ creAv:-; lay concealed and motionless for half an hour, while the ship was sinking. H.M.S. Dunraven, it its role as an armed merchant vessel, commanded 'by Captain Campbell, in August, .1917, sighted a submarine on the horizon. The Dunraven pursued a zig-zag course, upon seeing which the submarine lessened its distance to 5,000 yards. Then it rose to the surface, and opened tire, which the Dunraven returned with a. “merchant vessel's gun.” Simultaneously reducing her speed, the Dunraven let I lie enemy overtake her, and sent out a wireless appeal for the submarine's benefit as follows: —“Help! Come quickly. Submarine chasing and shelling me!" When the shells came falling thick and fast, the Dunraven, which was on fire fore and aft, slopped, and a “panic parly” abandoned (lie ship. In the meantime the submarine bad closed to within 400 yards distance. As, however, it was partly obscured by smoke, Captain Campbell reserved bis lire, despite liis knowledge that the aft magazine, must soon explode, with the gun crew lying immediately Overhead. A A heavy explosion aft soon occurred, blowing up both gun and crew, and accidentally starting the fire gongs at the other guns. This caused a gun to open fire, and the submarine took to High!. Twenty minutes hater a torpedo struck (he, Dunraven abaft (lie engiaeroom. An additional “panic parly” then left the ship, leaving her apparently abandoned.

For 50 minutes after (in’s tit* submarine inspected the burning ship through its periscope. It was a wise proceeding, as boxes of cordite shells were exploding continuously and the poop was blazing furiously. Captain Campbell, with a handful of officers and men, lay

concealed throughout this ordeal. The submarine next rose to the surface astern of the Dunraven, where no guns could be brought to bear on it, and shelled the ship for 20 minutes. Subsequently, while the submarine was passing, submerged, the Dunraven fired two torpedoes, missing by inches. The Dunraven sank on the following day, with her colours flying. The crew was picked up by British torpedo boats. The instances recited are typical of the ordeals and most gallant exploits performed by a large number of British decoy ships, whose actions more often than not ended fatally for the U-boats. Another heroic instance concerns H.M.S. Prize, a 200-ton schooner, which was commanded by Lieuten-ant-Commander Sanders, V.C., who, with a gallant crew, after fighting successful actions, finally paid the supremo penalty in an engagement with a number of submarines.

[The rise of Captain Gordon Campbell almost rivals that of Admiral Beatty. The latter reached the rank of post-captain two months before reaching the age of 29, and that of rear-admiral just before he was 39. Captain Campbell, when the war began, was a lieutenant of seven years’ standing, and that would make him about 28. Wince (hen lie has become lieutenant-com-mander, commander, and post-cap-tain, and has won the V.C. and D.W.O. (with bar).]