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#OTD in 1914 one of the strangest battles of World War One occurred off the coast of Trindade Island between British and German ships.
This is the Battle of Trindade where RMS Carmania sank her doppelgänger.
This is the Battle of Trindade where RMS Carmania sank her doppelgänger.
RMS Carmania was launched by John Brown Shipyard, Clydebank for Cunard Line.
Taking 7 days to travel from Liverpool to New York, in 1906 HG Wells travelled on her remarking "Carmania isn't the largest ship nor the finest. Greater ships are to follow and greater"
Taking 7 days to travel from Liverpool to New York, in 1906 HG Wells travelled on her remarking "Carmania isn't the largest ship nor the finest. Greater ships are to follow and greater"
The adversary of this battle is the SMS Cap Trafalgar, launched in Hamburg in 1914, she was to travel between Germany and South America.
She was remarked to be luxurious for her time with a swimming pool on board and furnished to a high level.
She was remarked to be luxurious for her time with a swimming pool on board and furnished to a high level.
The outbreak of hostilities between the UK and Germany caused both ships to be converted to an Armed Merchant Cruiser.
RMS Carmania was equipped with eight QF 4.7 inch Mk V guns giving her good firepower to raid convoys and merchant ships.
RMS Carmania was equipped with eight QF 4.7 inch Mk V guns giving her good firepower to raid convoys and merchant ships.
SMS Cap Trafalgar in August 1914 met with the gunboat SMS Eber to transfer crew, ammo, supplies and two 10.5cm guns from the ship.
She was also modified to represent a British liner such as RMS Carmania, with the removal of the third funnel. She was code-named Hilfskreuzer B.
She was also modified to represent a British liner such as RMS Carmania, with the removal of the third funnel. She was code-named Hilfskreuzer B.
On 13th September 1914 SMS Cap Trafalgar attempted to raid merchant shipping, however retreated after increase in radio chatter between Royal Navy cruisers.
She returned to secret colliery ships based in Trindade Island.
She returned to secret colliery ships based in Trindade Island.
On the morning of 14th September 1914 Carmania sailed to Trindade to check for a reported German coillery base.
Upon seeing Carmania approaching the Cap Trafalgar left the islands, until noticing she was a armed ocean liner and reversed course to engage.
Upon seeing Carmania approaching the Cap Trafalgar left the islands, until noticing she was a armed ocean liner and reversed course to engage.
Because the ships were merely converted ocean liner, ammunition and charges were carried by hand to the guns. Similar to how the crew of HMS Victory did during the Battle of Trafalgar.
(also have a lovely meme of the battle!)
(also have a lovely meme of the battle!)
Both ships moved to open waters to engage each other, with Carmania firing the opening shots at 12:10pm and missing.
Cap Trafalgar returned fire hitting it's target, in fact Carmania was hit heavily 79 times in the initial two hours of the battle, with her bridge being destroyed
Cap Trafalgar returned fire hitting it's target, in fact Carmania was hit heavily 79 times in the initial two hours of the battle, with her bridge being destroyed
Carmania eventually closed the distance with Cap Trafalgar allow the ships secondary armaments to open fire on each other.
Cap Trafalgar eventually tried to use her speed advantage to get out of range of the Carmania's main guns by at least 1330.
Cap Trafalgar eventually tried to use her speed advantage to get out of range of the Carmania's main guns by at least 1330.
However with both ships suffered multiple fires on board, Neither ship had a fire control system to prevent fires from getting out of control.
SMS Cap Trafalgar listing slowly to port started lowering lifeboats into the water. A shell below the waterline had ruptured several compartments causing fatal flooding.
The ship rapidly sank with the loss of between 50-70 of her crew including the Korvettenkapitän Wirth at 1345
The ship rapidly sank with the loss of between 50-70 of her crew including the Korvettenkapitän Wirth at 1345
RMS Carmania was heavily damaged, with fires threatening to consume the ship, she was also listing due to heavy flooding.
With nine of her crew killed with many others wounded.
With nine of her crew killed with many others wounded.
The Cap Trafalgar sent out SOS messages which was picked up by both German and British ships nearby. The SS Kronprinz Wilhelm armed merchant ship arrived, with the Carmania a sitting duck if attacked.
However the threat of Royal Navy cruisers arriving forced the Wilhem to leave
However the threat of Royal Navy cruisers arriving forced the Wilhem to leave
The Carmania was rescued the following day by the Royal Navy after steaming south in the aftermath of the battle.
Her navigation and communication equipment had been destroyed, if not rescued she would've sank.
She was towed to Pernambuco, Brazil for repairs.
Her navigation and communication equipment had been destroyed, if not rescued she would've sank.
She was towed to Pernambuco, Brazil for repairs.
She returned to Gibraltar for further work, later patrolling the coast of Portugal. In 1916 she took part in the Gallipoli campaign as it came to a close. After the war she helped return Canadian troops home.
Scrapped in 1932 after returning to liner service.
Scrapped in 1932 after returning to liner service.
One of her bells was kept at Ashington Rotary Club in Nothumberland, however it disbanded in 2017 with the bell being donated to the collections at @WDCHeritage.
A larger bell can be seen in the Model Room on board @HQSWellington on the staircase landing.
Hope you have enjoyed this thread! Have looked forward to writing it for some time!
