THE GREAT NAVAL DISASTER OF JUNE 22

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 22, 26 August 1893, Page 3

THE GREAT NAVAL DISASTER OF JUNE 22

.The dark ovals' show the vessels in double line, and the light ovals, with dotted lines, the course which they were to have taken. The collision occurred between the leading pair at the place marked byf. *

The above, diagram-(taken from the Australasian) is given to explain how the great naval disaster of June 22 occurred in the Mediterranean oft the. coast of Syria, when H.M.S. Camperdown sunk H.M.S. Victoria with Admiral Tiyon and about 360 of her crew. Until particulars came to hand by the Ormuz, which left London on July 7th, it was impossible to make out clearly what the manoeuvre was that led to the collision , The fleet was proceeding- in parallel lines, as shown by the dark ovals, the Victoria (V.) heading one line and the Caraperdown (C.) the other. The width between the lines was six cable lengths (1,200 yards) while the ships were following each other at intervals of two cable lengths (400 yards). Admiral Tryon’s plan was for the lines to double inwards, as shown by the light models and dotted lines, and when the seven pairs w r ere all round they were then to turn again a quarter circle and proceed seven abreast, one behind another, to the anchorage. When the Admiral explained his intentions to the staff-com-mander (H.M.S. Victoria) that officer suggested that the lines were too near, and should be eight cables apart before the turning. Sir George Tryon assented, but gave no order to that effect. When he directed the puttingup of the signals for turning the staffcommander reminded him about the eight cable lengths, but he said the signal then flying' for six was to stand. Rear-Admiral Markman (H.M.S. Gamperdown) on reading the signal to turn inwards and describe half a circle hesitated to obey till the command was repeated, it was r peatad The vessels at the head of the respective lines then curved towards each other until they met at the point shown by the dagger in the diagram. The turning space w r as too narrow. Had the lines been eight cable lengths apart (1,600 yards), the manoeuvre would have been safely carried out, as each vessel would had nearly half a mile to turn in, instead of 600 yards, so as to be clear of the correspondingvessel. The disaster to the Victoria stopped the succeeding vessels from following out the order, and only the first pair met. In The Times article, commenting on this disaster, it is stated that the Victoria was supposed to turn in a circle of 600 yards diameter, with her engines going ahead at high speed. The Camperdown’s turning capacity was the same. In that case they would use up the whole space (1,200 yards between them, and could not but meet. Rear-Admiral Markham, in his report, states, knowing Admiral Tryon to be a first-class tactician, he expected that the Victoria would pass round him, and so obeyed the order. After the vessels had turned they were supposed to form a double line two cables apart. The signal, “ Columns to be six cables apart,” was put up at a quarterpast 2 p.m. At a quarter-past 3 the Admiral went on deck, and ten minutes aflerwards the order was given for the respective lines to alter course

in succession 16 points to starboard and port respectively. There being--32 points in the circle, 16 meant halfround or facing about; this signal was kept flying till half-past 3, when, the last vessel having answered, the two leading ships put their helms hard over, with the result above described.