Armed trawler Nelson
Encyclopedia
Armed trawler Nelson was a British
auxiliary warship which served during World War I
.
She was built in 1905 as the fishing smack
G&E, operating from Lowestoft
and registered as LT 649.
In 1915 she was armed for defence against U-boat
attack, and fought several actions against them.
She was sunk in action on 15 August 1917
.
in 1905. Prior to the First World War she had an uneventful career as part of the fishing fleet there, operating out into the North Sea
fishing grounds.
In 1915, as part of the Imperial German Navy's U-boat campaign of unrestricted submarine warfare
German U-boats had started to attack British trawlers (which had previously been protected by the 1907 Naval Convention) in the North Sea
. In response to this, fishermen had requested weapons for self-defence. G&E was one of these vessels, being equipped with a 3-pounder gun and assigned a naval rating as gunner. In this manner she entered service in August 1915.
coast G&E was attacked by a German U-boat, later identified as UB-6
. The U-boat approached G&E, intending to sink her by boarding and placing bombs (the early UB boats
had no deck gun, and their commanders and would not want to waste a torpedo on such a small target; sinking fishing boats in this way was the usual method used); when she was in range, G&E opened fire with her deck gun, scoring several hits on the conning tower. The U-boat quickly crash-dived, and G&E’s crew assumed they had sunk her, as did the Admiralty
, who credited G&E with a successful “kill”. However UB-6 was able to return to base; the damage to the conning tower was not fatal, as it was not part of the pressure hull, but merely a superstructure.
With the end of the first period of unrestricted submarine warfare, in September 1915, G&E returned to civilian duty. However in February 1917, with its reintroduction, G&E, now under the name I’ll Try, and under the command of skipper Tom Crisp
, as taken up again as an auxiliary.
On 1 February 1917, in company with another armed smack. Boy Alfred, commanded by skipper Wharton, the boats were approached by two U-boats closing in on the surface.
One of the U-boats, which were not identified, closed in on Boy Alfred and ordered her crew to abandon ship. As it was in range Wharton opened fire and the U boat sank from view (“and that was the end of that sub”)
The other submerged and for the next two hours played a cat and mouse game with I’ll Try. The U boat closed in at periscope depth and sought a favourable firing position for a torpedo attack, but I’ll Try was able to manoeuvre to avoid this by turning towards the periscope and forcing the U boat to go deep.
After two hours Crisp turned away, attempting to draw the U-boat to the surface; there was no sign of it, so he turned back to search. Then the U boat surfaced 150 yards from I’ll Try and turned to close, firing a single torpedo which just missed I’ll Try’s stern. Crisp opened fire, and scored hits on the U boats conning tower, which was away. She went down head first, showing her stern out of water and leaving the sea covered in oil.
On the basis of this it was judged that both U boats had been destroyed, and skippers Wharton and Crisp were awarded the DSC and an Admiralty bounty, but post war examination of records showed no U-boats sunk that day.
.
She was again in the company of Boy Alfred, now named Ethel & Millie
and under command of "Johnsey" Manning.
In the afternoon of the 15th Nelson was attacked by an unidentified U-boat, which fired on her at long range.
Nelson attempted to close, but was crippled by gunfire and left sinking. Crisp was mortally wounded ,and gave the order to abandon ship, remaining on board as the crew did so, and going down with her as she sank.
Ethel and Millie was also sunk in this action and her crew lost.
Nelson's crew survived, being two days in their lifeboat, before they were picked up by HMS Dryad. Crisp was awarded the VC
for his “seamanlike and brave manner”.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
auxiliary warship which served during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
She was built in 1905 as the fishing smack
Smack (ship)
A smack was a traditional fishing boat used off the coast of England and the Atlantic coast of America for most of the 19th century, and even in small numbers up to the Second World War. It was originally a cutter rigged sailing boat until about 1865, when the smacks became so large that cutter...
G&E, operating from Lowestoft
Lowestoft
Lowestoft is a town in the English county of Suffolk. The town is on the North Sea coast and is the most easterly point of the United Kingdom. It is north-east of London, north-east of Ipswich and south-east of Norwich...
and registered as LT 649.
In 1915 she was armed for defence against U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
attack, and fought several actions against them.
She was sunk in action on 15 August 1917
Action of 15 August 1917
The Action of 15 August 1917 was a naval engagement which occurred during the First World War. The action was fought between a German U-boat and two armed trawlers in the North Sea.-Background:...
.
Background
G&E was a 61 ton trawling smack, built and registered at LowestoftLowestoft
Lowestoft is a town in the English county of Suffolk. The town is on the North Sea coast and is the most easterly point of the United Kingdom. It is north-east of London, north-east of Ipswich and south-east of Norwich...
in 1905. Prior to the First World War she had an uneventful career as part of the fishing fleet there, operating out into the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
fishing grounds.
In 1915, as part of the Imperial German Navy's U-boat campaign of unrestricted submarine warfare
Unrestricted submarine warfare
Unrestricted submarine warfare is a type of naval warfare in which submarines sink merchantmen without warning, as opposed to attacks per prize rules...
German U-boats had started to attack British trawlers (which had previously been protected by the 1907 Naval Convention) in the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
. In response to this, fishermen had requested weapons for self-defence. G&E was one of these vessels, being equipped with a 3-pounder gun and assigned a naval rating as gunner. In this manner she entered service in August 1915.
Service history
G&E’s first action came on 11 August 1915, just three days after entering service as an auxiliary. While engaged in fishing off the SuffolkSuffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
coast G&E was attacked by a German U-boat, later identified as UB-6
SM UB-6
SM UB-6 was a German Type UB I submarine or U-boat in the German Imperial Navy during World War I. The submarine was interned after running aground in neutral Dutch waters, and was scuttled by her crew at Hellevoetsluis....
. The U-boat approached G&E, intending to sink her by boarding and placing bombs (the early UB boats
German type UB I submarine
The Type UB I was a class of small coastal submarines built in Germany at the beginning of the First World War. Twenty boats were constructed, most of which went into service with the German Imperial Navy. Boats of this design were also operated by the Austro-Hungarian Navy and the Bulgarian...
had no deck gun, and their commanders and would not want to waste a torpedo on such a small target; sinking fishing boats in this way was the usual method used); when she was in range, G&E opened fire with her deck gun, scoring several hits on the conning tower. The U-boat quickly crash-dived, and G&E’s crew assumed they had sunk her, as did the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
, who credited G&E with a successful “kill”. However UB-6 was able to return to base; the damage to the conning tower was not fatal, as it was not part of the pressure hull, but merely a superstructure.
With the end of the first period of unrestricted submarine warfare, in September 1915, G&E returned to civilian duty. However in February 1917, with its reintroduction, G&E, now under the name I’ll Try, and under the command of skipper Tom Crisp
Thomas Crisp
Skipper Thomas Crisp VC, DSC, RNR was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces...
, as taken up again as an auxiliary.
On 1 February 1917, in company with another armed smack. Boy Alfred, commanded by skipper Wharton, the boats were approached by two U-boats closing in on the surface.
One of the U-boats, which were not identified, closed in on Boy Alfred and ordered her crew to abandon ship. As it was in range Wharton opened fire and the U boat sank from view (“and that was the end of that sub”)
The other submerged and for the next two hours played a cat and mouse game with I’ll Try. The U boat closed in at periscope depth and sought a favourable firing position for a torpedo attack, but I’ll Try was able to manoeuvre to avoid this by turning towards the periscope and forcing the U boat to go deep.
After two hours Crisp turned away, attempting to draw the U-boat to the surface; there was no sign of it, so he turned back to search. Then the U boat surfaced 150 yards from I’ll Try and turned to close, firing a single torpedo which just missed I’ll Try’s stern. Crisp opened fire, and scored hits on the U boats conning tower, which was away. She went down head first, showing her stern out of water and leaving the sea covered in oil.
On the basis of this it was judged that both U boats had been destroyed, and skippers Wharton and Crisp were awarded the DSC and an Admiralty bounty, but post war examination of records showed no U-boats sunk that day.
Fate
On 15 August I’ll Try, now sailing under the name Nelson but still commanded by Crisp, was trawling off the HumberHumber
The Humber is a large tidal estuary on the east coast of Northern England. It is formed at Trent Falls, Faxfleet, by the confluence of the tidal River Ouse and the tidal River Trent. From here to the North Sea, it forms part of the boundary between the East Riding of Yorkshire on the north bank...
.
She was again in the company of Boy Alfred, now named Ethel & Millie
Armed trawler "Ethel & Millie"
The Armed trawler Ethel & Millie was a British auxiliary warship which served during World War I.She was built in 1908 as the fishing smack Ethel & Millie, operating from Lowestoft and registered as LT 200....
and under command of "Johnsey" Manning.
In the afternoon of the 15th Nelson was attacked by an unidentified U-boat, which fired on her at long range.
Nelson attempted to close, but was crippled by gunfire and left sinking. Crisp was mortally wounded ,and gave the order to abandon ship, remaining on board as the crew did so, and going down with her as she sank.
Ethel and Millie was also sunk in this action and her crew lost.
Nelson's crew survived, being two days in their lifeboat, before they were picked up by HMS Dryad. Crisp was awarded the VC
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
for his “seamanlike and brave manner”.