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Appendix B History
in the Making The
World’s First Torpedo Attack by an Aircraft on a Ship - The
Operation Order HMS
Ben-my-Chree Operation
Orders No 26
Seaplanes
Nos 184 and 842 will be fitted for torpedo attack, and the first one is to be
ready for positioning out at
They
will be started off together by signal from the ship.
When sufficient height has been obtained, they are to cross the
The
greatest care is to be taken that no hospital; ships are torpedoed.
The two submarines operating in the
Reconnaissance
has reported that there is a large transport to the Eastward and smaller craft
to the Southward of the Asiatic shore.
On
completion of the attack Seaplanes return to the ship in the vicinity of
In the event of engine trouble, etc., necessitating the descent of a Seaplane in the Gulf of Xeros, but close to the Turkish shore, if the water permits the ship will be brought to the seaplane bows first, a heavy grass line passed to the seaplane and the ship backed out at full speed astern. If the seaplane is too close, No 1 motor boat will be sent.
After Nos 184 and 842 have been hoisted out, No 1560 is to be hoisted out to reconnoitre and report results, she is not to go out of gliding distance of the ship.
(signed)
Cecil L’Estrange Malone SQUADRON
COMMANDER The
Combat Report Report
of Flight In
accordance with your Operation Orders No 26 Seaplane – No 842 Pilot – Flight Commander Edmonds Armament – 14” Mark X Torpedo Time
and position at commencement of flight – Time
and position at completion of flight –
I
climbed to 1500 feet and crossing the Isthmus of Bulair over the low land one
mile to the East of Bulair, arrived over the of
The steamer to be attacked was lying just to the West of Injeh Burnu. There was a number of sailing craft, about twelve in all, between Injeh Burnu and Gallipoli, also a tug towing two large lighters just to the East of Injeh Burnu, all within two miles of the European shore. Opposite Dohan Aslan a navigation buoy was visible, but I cannot be certain whether this is the red conical
buoy or the light buoy shown on Admiralty Chart No 1004.
Approaching Injeh Burnu, I glided down and fired my torpedo at the steamer from a height of about 15 feet and range of some 800 yards, with the sun astern of me. I noticed some flashes from the tug previously mentioned, so presumed she was firing at me and therefore kept on a westerly course, climbing rapidly. Looking back, I observed the track of the torpedo, which struck the ship abreast the mainmast, the starboard side. The explosion sent a column of water and large fragments of the ship almost as high as her masthead. The ship was of about 8000 tons displacement, painted black, with one funnel and four masts. She was lying close to the land, so cannot sink very far, but the force of the explosion was such that it is impossible for
her to be of further use to the enemy. She
appeared to have settled down a little by the stern when I ceased watching her.
I noticed a line of trenches running North and South about 3 1/2 miles East of Bulair, also considerable rifle fire when in this vicinity. There were three groups of about five men in Khaki on the Exomili-Bulair road, and a small camp near the trenches mentioned
above and just to the North of the road.
It is submitted that information regarding the Dohan Aslan Bank buoys and the fact that all water traffic was within two miles of the
European coast, might be of use to commanding officers of HM Submarines.
(signed)
Chas HK Edmonds |
