HMS Aboukir (1900) - Fate

Fate

See also: Action of 22 September 1914

At around 06:00 on 22 September, the three cruisers (the flagship Baccante with Admiral Christian had had to return to harbour to refuel) were steaming at 10 kn (12 mph; 19 km/h) in line ahead and they were spotted by the German submarine U-9, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Otto Weddigen. Although they were not zigzagging, all of the ships had lookouts posted to search for periscopes and one gun on each side of each ship was manned.

Weddigen ordered his submarine to submerge and closed the range to the unsuspecting British ships. At close range, he fired a single torpedo at Aboukir. The torpedo broke her back, and she sank within 20 minutes with the loss of 527 men.

The captains of Cressy and Hogue thought Aboukir had struck a floating mine and came forward to assist her. They stood by and began to pick up survivors. At this point, Weddigen fired two torpedoes into Hogue, mortally wounding that ship. As Hogue sank, the captain of Cressy realised that the squadron was being attacked by a submarine, and tried to flee. However, Weddigen fired two more torpedoes into Cressy, and sank her as well.

The entire battle had lasted less than two hours, and cost the British three warships, 62 officers and 1,397 ratings. This incident established the U-boat as a major weapon in the conduct of naval warfare.

In 1954, the British government sold the salvage rights to the ship and salvage is ongoing.

Read more about this topic:  HMS Aboukir (1900)

Famous quotes containing the word fate:

    “What generous beliefs console
    The brave whom Fate denies the goal!
    If others reach it, is content:
    To Heaven’s high will his will is bent.
    Firm on his heart relied,
    What lot soe’er betide,
    Work of his hand
    He nor repents nor grieves,
    Pleads for itself the fact,
    As unrepenting Nature leaves
    Her every act.”
    —Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)

    “This generation is very sure to plant corn and beans each new year precisely as the Indians did centuries ago and taught the first settlers to do, as if there were a fate in it.”
    —Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)

    “‘Tis weak and vicious people who cast the blame on Fate. The right use of Fate is to bring up our conduct to the loftiness of nature.”
    —Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)