SMS Konigsberg in East Africa

[kookaburra]

Victories, Blockade and Destruction


I've said before, I feel there was something of an colonial epic quality in the operations of SMS Konigsberg in East Africa, her 8-month blockading in the poorly-charted delta of the Rufiji River and eventual destruction by the monitors Severn and Mersey (arduously towed, along with HMS Humber from Malta) on July 11, 1915.

The whole thing was a sort of masterpiece of improvisation and making do, the final actions pretty colourful - the Brits using string and struts spotter aircraft (one of which was shot down), and the German ship with a whole network of spotters linked up by telephone cables along the river banks. One was shot out of a tree by Severn , but another working effectively from a tub sunk in the mud on the river bank not 100 yards from where Severn was moored, until a chance shell severed his telephone line back to the ship.


Herakles has made the point that there was a film made of Wilbur Smith's book Shout At The Devil on the episode, but says the film wasn't very well done.


The story is pretty well told elsewhere on Wikipedia and various sites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Rufiji_Delta

Konigsberg was a sister ship to the famous WW1 SMS Emden.

I put together this little photo essay from various sources, mostly the Bundesarchive, and attibuted in footers on the photos. As the second last photo shows the Konigsberg's guns continued to fight on in the East Africa campaign: one is now in a park in Mombasa, and another in one of the other East African cities I just can't recall at the
I'll edit in in if/when I find it again. The first pic here is the cruiser at Dar ed Salaam.

[herakles]

Great pictures K. Thanks for putting them here.

[kookaburra]

dammit, somehow I left out one of the more evocative shots: here it is (click to open - for some reason. anyway it's a nice photo)

[HMS Bergamot]

Victories, Blockade and Destruction

Konigsberg was a sister ship to the famous WW1 SMS Emden.


To be more correct, Konigsberg was class leader of four cruisers, the Konigsberg, Stettin, Stuttgart and the Nurnberg (lost at Falklands).

Emden's sister ship was the Dresden, the main difference between those two being Emden had reciprocating engines whilst Dresden had turbines.

Apologies for being pedantic.

[Linton]

Kookaburra what are the dates on the photographs and does anything of this ship still exist in this position?Have you tried looking for it with google earth?

[kookaburra]

To be more correct, Konigsberg was class leader of four cruisers, the Konigsberg, Stettin, Stuttgart and the Nurnberg (lost at Falklands).

Emden's sister ship was the Dresden, the main difference between those two being Emden had reciprocating engines whilst Dresden had turbines.

Apologies for being pedantic.

Thanks, you are quite right, of course.

[kookaburra]

Kookaburra what are the dates on the photographs and does anything of this ship still exist in this position?Have you tried looking for it with google earth?

The Bundarchive photographs are not dated: Konigsberg was blockaded from September 1914 to July 11 1915 when she was sunk. Some of the wreck photos are dated August 1915, and others show the ship's deterioration since. The Dar es Salaam photos before the battle would of course be earlier, probably in 1914.

Apparently nothing is now visible, the hull having sunk completely into the river mud. The useful site below says photos of the last visible freeboard portion of the ship were taken in 1965.

http://www.richthofen.com/konigsberg/wrecks_relics/


It's still a very remote location. Google Earth has an 'i' information point at the 'approximate' site of the sinking,
but my version doesn't take you down close enough there to see anything clearly.

If you want try it, the Rufiji River Delta is adjacent to the northern tip of Mafia Island, quite prominently seen off the coast of Tanzania. K.

[Alex Shenec]

Hi.

"Koenigsberg" in "white-yellow 1898" to painting (existed till the summer 1910).

Best regards
Alex

[qprdave]

Taken from the Times 13th July 1915

[manowari]

I read the Kbg news with interest and attach the last known pic of the ship in 1965 when this was all that was showing above water. The following year the remains had disappered into the mud. The Somali, Kbg's supply ship is still there although in recent months a lot of hull plating has been removed by the locals for scrap. The aerial photo shows the ship in 1965 and finally having a specific interest in the ship and its history, I converted an Emden kit into a working model of KBG.

[dennis a feary]

KOOKA - great story & pictures, find here two awards (among many) for the action against Konigsberg ;

CUTLER Herbert D N/E Flt.S/Lt. RN 81I006 Kinfauns Castle
C in C East Indies N/E Recommended
Blocking Rufigi River against Konigsberg escape 10.12.14 N/E
Carried out two successful reconnaissances of the Konigsberg and the Delta of the Rufiji River in a somewhat unsatisfactory machine.
A most skilful and intrepid aviator.

SCOTT George A N/E Lt.Cdr. RN 87X475 Severn
Captain E.J.A. Fullerton 10.07.19 N/E Post War DSC
Lt. Scott was Executive Officerof H.M.S. "Severn", during the bombardment of the right flank of the German Army in September, October, November and December, 1914, and behaved with exceptional gallantry on several occasions. He was also Executive Officer of H.M.S. "Severn" during the attacks of S.M.S. "Konigsberg" in Rufugi River, July, 1915. On this occasion Lt. Scott showed great coolness, ability and excellent leadrship when under heavy fire. He showed quick decision and a disregard of danger in taking a motor boat away by himself with a Marine, in the heat of the action, to rescue the observers from an aeroplane which had been shot down.
The major part of the burden for preparing H.M.S. "Severn" for being towed out to East Africa and subsequent fitting out of the ship for action fell on Lt. Scott's shoulders.
He has received no reward of any kind, nor was he mentioned in Sir H. King-Hall's despatches, although very strongly recommended by me.

Sadsac

[manowari]

Herewith pic of the intrepid aviator Dennis Cutler, together with his Curtiss Hydroplane at Durban. The Kinfauns Castle was the mother ship for the duration of his early flights until he was shot down and taken PoW and the aircraft wrecked.

[dennis a feary]

MANO - great follow-up story & pictures. Here are two more awards re the operation, and brings in `your' reference to KINFAUNS CASTLE and S/Lt Cutler ;

GALLEHAWK Arthur N N/E MiD RNR 81I006 Kinfauns Castle C in C East Indies N/E Recommended
Blocking Rufigi River against Konigsberg escape 10.12.14 N/E
When Sub.Lieutenant Cutler was compelled to descend at the mouth of the Rufugi River Midshipman Gallehawk in motor boat and Sub.Lieutenant Charlewood in armed tug Helmutt proceeded inshore to attempt to rescue him and succeeded in recovering and towing out the seaplane under fire.

HUTTON Fitzroy E.P N/E S/Lt. RN 81I005 Dartmouth C in C East Indies N/E N/E
Blocking Rufigi River against Konigsberg escape 10.12.14 N/E
I consider that all concerned are entitled to high praise for the skilful manner in which this blocking operation was performed.
Captain Drury-Lowe was Senior Naval Office took command of Duplex after Lieutenant Triggs was severely wounded by the enemy's opening rounds and remained in command under severe fire until the operations were over, when he brought the ship safely out of the river.

Sadsac

[manowari]

Gallehawk received an MID for his efforts with the Curtiss seaplane, but went on to fly and earned an AFC serving in the RAF.

Hutton was commended for his action during the sinking of the blockship Newbridge.see below...

Newbridge
Builders : William Doxford, Sunderland, England. 1906
Length : 342 feet
Beam : 46 feet
Displacement : 3,737 tons
Machinery : Single triple expansion. 313 nhp.
Position : 07°.47'.16" S 39°.22'.50" E

The ship was ordered by Edward Nicholl & Co. of Cardiff in October 1905 for £34,000 but in February 1906 was requisitioned by the builders while still under construction and resold for £38,000. Launched on 27 April 1906 she was completed in June and registered to John Temperley & Co. of London as the Newbridge. Known as a turret ship she was one of a class of vessels designed to lessen tonnage dues under the Suez Canal system of measurement in that the hull below the water line was considerably wider than the deck.
In October 1914 the ship arrived in Mombasa chartered to the Admiralty with a consignment of coal. At the time the Königsberg had recently been located in the Rufiji Delta and the vessel was requisitioned as a blockship across one of the channels. The Newbridge arrived in Zanzibar and by 9 November had been modified for her one way trip with the addition of steel plate around the bridge and anchor windlass, and explosive charges in the engine room. Early the following morning with a crew of naval volunteers the ship sailed into the Ssimba Uranga channel of the delta under heavy fire escorted by the Duplex and four armed steam cutters also protected with hammocks, steel plate and sandbags. At 06.15 the anchors were let go and the raiding party hurriedly disembarked. A torpedo was fired at the ship from a cutter but dived into the river bed and minutes later the charges exploded and a huge column of coal and water rose into the air as the ship sank upright on the muddy bottom. The operation was a success with only two killed and nine wounded, and a number of gallantry awards were made for the action. Königsberg appeared to be imprisoned, however there were two alternative channels that the cruiser could have used, but with a shortage of coal and a number of larger warships outside the delta there was little chance of escape. After hostilities the wreck was bought for its cargo of coal by the South African company Irving and Johnson but whether they recovered any is not recorded. By 1930 only the masts and top of the funnel remained and within a few years the remainder had completely disappeared.

[dennis a feary]

MANO, following on your input re NEWBRIDGE here are awards to crews involved ;

BREMRIDGE James P.A N/E S/Lt. RN 81I004
Chatham C in C East Indies N/E N/E
Blocking Rufigi River against Konigsberg escape 10.12.14 N/E
I consider that all concerned are entitled to high praise for the skilful manner in which this blocking operation was performed.
Captain Drury-Lowe was Senior Naval Officer.
Was in Steam Cutter and his coolness in charge of it whilst Newbridge was being abandoned, contributed to keeping down the casualties.

LAVINGTON Hugh V N/E Lt. RN 81I004 Dartmouth
C in C East Indies N/E N/E
Blocking Rufigi River against Konigsberg escape 10.12.14 N/E
I consider that all concerned are entitled to high praise for the skilful manner in which this blocking operation was performed.
Captain Drury-Lowe was Senior Naval Officer.
Was in the "Newbridge" and gave Commander Fitzmaurice every possible assistance both in preparing her for the venture and carrying it out to a conclusion.

JOHNSON Frederick R.M N/E Lt. RN 81I004 Dartmouth
C in C East Indies N/E N/E
Blocking Rufigi River against Konigsberg escape 10.12.14 N/E
I consider that all concerned are entitled to high praise for the skilful manner in which this blocking operation was performed.
Captain Drury-Lowe was Senior Naval Officer.
Was in the "Newbridge" and gave Commander Fitzmaurice every possible assistance both in preparing her for the venture and carrying it out to a conclusion.

FITZMAURICE Raymond N/E Cdr. RN 81I004 Chatham
C in C East Indies 01.01.16 Gazetted
Blocking Rufigi River against Konigsberg escape 10.12.14 DSO
I consider that all concerned are entitled to high praise for the skilful manner in which this blocking operation was performed.
Captain Drury-Lowe was Senior Naval Officer.
Was in the "Newbridge" under heavy fire and sunk her successfully. Particularly commended by Captain Drury-Lowe for his coolness and gallantry.

Sadsac

[manowari]

Many thanks for the personnel details. Here are two related pics of Newbridge and its sinking and a pre war view of KBG visiting its namesake port of Konigsberg..

[manowari]

Further to the previous thread about the KBG guns, three are known to exist, one in Mombasa, a second in Pretoria and a third at Jinja in Uganda minus its carriage as it had been mounted as a fixed defence at Mwanza as opposed to being used in the field. There is a rumour of a fourth in the Congo but so far unconfirmed.

[astraltrader]

For those of you wishing to read more about Konigsberg, I include a link below to a forum thread dealing with her attack on HMS Pegasus....


http://www.worldnavalships.com/forums/showthread.php?t=926

[dennis a feary]

MANO - great pics of the `bang sticks' - perhaps they should also be in the ARMAMENTS Thread ??
Here are three awards for actions against KONIGSBERG ;

BADGER Harold G N/E Assistant Paymaster RN 81I010 Hyacinth
V/A. C in C. Cape of Good Hope Station 08.12.15 Gazetted
Operations against Konigsberg in Rufigi River 06-11.07.15 N/E
Volunteered to observe during the first attack on the Konigsberg, though he had no previous experience of flying.

WATKINS Harold E.M N/E Flt.Lt. RNAS 81I010 N/E
V/A. C in C. Cape of Good Hope Station 08.12.15 Gazetted
Operations against Konigsberg in Rufigi River 06-11.07.15 N/E
Acted as pilot on machine carrying six bombs which were dropped at the Konigsberg to hamper interference with the Monitors whilst getting in position.

BRIDGEMAN Robert O.B The Hon Commander RN 81I010 Hyacinth
V/A. C in C. Cape of Good Hope Station 08.12.15 Gazetted
Operations against Konigsberg in Rufigi River 06-11.07.15 N/E
Undertook preliminary reconnaissance as observer in inefficient seaplanes and with assistance of his sketches and photographs rendered it possible to fix correct position of Konigsberg.

Sadsac

[emason]

SMS Koenigsberg

Background

Prior to WW1, most of the European nations had established possessions, national interests and influence in all the African countries except Abyssinia and Liberia. When WW1 broke out, Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, all had colonies and/or protectorates, which they jealously guarded. They each viewed the others as rivals and were deeply suspicious of each other, and were prepared to fight to keep their possessions.

To Germany, the most valuable of their four possessions was German East Africa (Tanzania) with its capital Dar-es-Salaam, but it was isolated, being surrounded by British, Belgian and Portuguese possessions. British East Africa (Kenya) and Uganda were to the north; Belgian Congo (Zaire) to the East; Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) and Nyasaland (Malawi) to the southwest; and Portuguese East Africa (Mozambique) to the south, with the Indian Ocean, their only access, to the east.
　

WW1 starts, 4 August 1914

SMS Koenigsberg, a German 3,600 ton light cruiser, launched in 1905 and armed with ten 4.1inch guns had been stationed at Dar-es-Salaam. Her Captain was Max Looff who, on being advised of the possible outbreak of hostilities, put to sea on 31 July to prevent her being trapped in port.

Germany had already decided, in the event of war, not to defend its African ports so as to give no pretext to its enemies to bombard its coastal areas. Consequently, all its African ports were declared open ports, including Dar-as-Salaam where a floating dock was sunk in its entrance channel to prevent its usage by any warship.

The first British shots of WW1 were not fired in Europe but in Africa, when British forces invaded German Togoland (west Africa) to ensure its ports and its powerful wireless station could not assist in any threat to shipping lanes.

　
The Koenigsberg’s first actions

Captain Max Looff now found himself in an unenviable position; the Koenigsberg did not carry enough fuel for the journey back to Germany and with no German ports open for replenishment, it was destined to roam the seas in search of supplies, a sort of Teutonic Flying Dutchman. But with large numbers of British merchantmen trading with the Far East there was no lack of opportunities in the Indian Ocean. So her life as a commerce raider began.

On 6 August, the Koenigsberg captured the British freighter City of Winchester in the Gulf of Aden. It was Britain’s first merchant shipping loss of the war, and when the Koenigsberg was found to be responsible, its most recent port was implicated. Consequently, on 9 August Dar-es-Salaam suffered reprisals when the Royal Navy’s ships HMS Pegasus and HMS Astraea bombarded its wireless installation and railway station.

Since capturing the City of Winchester, the Koenigsberg had found nothing more and was getting short of supplies especially coal, searching as far south as Madagascar. The Governor of German East Africa (GEA) made several attempts to supply Koenigsberg with coal. The collier Koenig was intercepted by the Royal Navy and returned to port. But three smaller vessels with coal and other supplies made their way to the Rufiji delta in GEA, 100 miles south of Dar-ea-Salaam, for a possible rendezvous with the Koenigsberg.

Needing a safe anchorage in which to make repairs and re-supply, and with Dar-es-Salaam no longer an option, Loof needed a hiding place more than a port and made for the Rufiji delta, arriving at Salale in the Suninga channel on 3 September. The Rufiji delta, 100 miles south of Dar-es-Salaam, is formed by the estuaries of the Rufiji and Mohoro rivers and with over half dozen interconnecting, shallow, shifting exit channels, has many places in which a ship could hide.
　

The second foray

Supplied overland and by small vessels, the Koenigsberg was ready for the sea again by 19 September. That same day, Looff heard that a lone British cruiser had put into port at Zanzibar and decided to strike first. The Koenigsberg was quickly made ready for battle, left the delta and entered the open sea, setting course for Zanzibar, 200 miles to the north.

At 05.00 the next day, the Zanzibar harbour patrol saw in the first light of dawn, a large vessel approaching the port from the south. As the Union Castle Gascon was expected from Mombassa as about this time, it caused no particular concern until the daylight increased, when its three funnels were seen, and only then recognised as the Koenigsberg.

HMS Pegasus was moored alongside immobilised while her boilers were being repaired. When the first salvo from Koenigsberg’s five starboard guns was fired at the Pegasus from a range of six miles she was taken completely by surprise, and was unable to reply until after the seventh salvo. Koenigsberg continued firing until the starboard guns were overheating, then turned around and continued firing with the five port guns. The Pegasus replied, firing some fifty shells, but there was never any doubt about the inevitable outcome. After half an hour, Koenigsberg’s Gunnery Officer thought he saw a white flag being hoisted from Pegasus, but Looff didn’t believe a ship of the RN would capitulate and continued firing until all Pegasus’s guns had stopped and she began to sink.

Koenigsberg now turned its attention to targets of opportunity, shelling the wireless station and other targets, before trouble with one of her engines and smoke on the horizon forced her to depart. The smoke could have been from a warship, but was only the Union Castle Gascon from Mombassa, which promptly turned around and headed back. By 15.00 the Koenigsberg had returned to Salale in the Rufiji delta.

　
The RN response

When news of the Pegasus’s destruction reached Churchill, his response was to declare the destruction of the Koenigsberg to be "a matter of the highest importance", and despatched the cruisers Chatham, Dartmouth and Weymouth to East Africa, to set up a blockade of the German ports and locate the Koenigsberg.

Ships and coastal vessels were stopped and their cargoes and papers examined. One of these, the German liner Praesident was stopped by Chatham and, although she was flying a Red Cross flag, appeared to have sent coal in one of its lighters to the Rufiji delta. Chatham then steamed to the delta and, on 30 October, put a landing party ashore where they learned that a three funnelled warship was moored in the Delta. This same day, the Koenigsberg, after re-supplying and repairing its damaged engine, was preparing to put to sea again.

Chatham eventually located the Koenigsberg 6 miles up the Suninga channel. Chatham’s captain, Captain Sydney Drury-Lowe, was ordered to "hold her and fight her without fail", and HMS Fox was sent to assist, with Weymouth and Dartmouth joining on 2 November.

The only Admiralty map of the delta available was one from the 1880’s survey, which was now out of date as the channels shifted as they silted up. Consequently, Captain Drury-Lowe was reluctant to penetrate the channels very far for fear of grounding and mines.

On 2 November, Weymouth and Dartmouth joined Chatham. On a spring tide, Chatham moved up the channel, in only 3-4 fathoms, and fired from 14,500 yards, where she outranged the Koenigsberg but without spotters failed to hit her, but succeeded in sinking the Somali, her supply vessel, and withdrew on the ebb tide. Koenigsberg’s response was to move further up river out of range.

It was thought that smaller vessels could get close enough to torpedo her, but they were very vulnerable to the hidden shore defences. So for the next five days, Chatham fired on the shore defences but did insufficient damage to them to risk it.

It was then decided to block her in by sinking the collier Newbridge across the Suninga channel on 10 November. Later that month, the Koenigsberg made several attempts to reach the sea by way of the delta’s southernmost Msala channels, but every route tried was too shallow. She retraced her steps and finally moored 12 miles up the northernmost Kikunja channel near Kikale. Koenigsberg was trapped but untouchable.

96315


Aerial reconnaissance

Something new was needed and the use of aircraft seemed a possibility. Admiral King-Hall discovered that a mining company in Durban possessed two Curtis seaplanes. He arranged to hire one of them and co-opted the pilot, Herbert Dennis Cutler, into the RNAS with a temporary commission. They were dispatched to Niororo Island, 18 miles northeast of the delta, aboard the auxiliary cruiser Kinfauns Castle, arriving on 15 November.

On 19 November Cutler flew his first reconnaissance mission but the aircraft soon made a forced landing and had to be rescued. Two days later, the second flight was more successful and the Koenigsberg was spotted 12 miles up river, almost hidden by tall trees. The third flight, in the first week of December, was also the last when a forced landing in the river resulted in the loss of the aircraft and the capture of Cutler.

Despite this double setback, the use of aircraft had proved its worth, and with a base for further operations in mind, Mafia Island, 10 miles off the Rufiji delta, was captured on 9 January 1915.

No.4 squadron of RNAS was detailed to East Africa from Bombay arriving on 20 February on Kinfauns Castle with two Sopwith 807 seaplanes at Niororo Island. Unfortunately, the aircraft had insufficient power to take off in the hot air. On humid days they could just about drag themselves airborne without bombs, but only for one hours’ flight at a maximum altitude of 1,500ft. Three more powerful Short seaplanes sent from Britain end of March on the Laconia, but were in such poor condition that they needed refurbishing. All aircraft suffered in the hot humid air from glue melting and delaminating. But on 25 April one plane flew and managed to photograph the Koenigsberg.


Blockade

In early March, Admiral Herbert King-Hall in HMS Goliath arrived from Capetown to take charge of operations and ordered a full blockade. Weymouth, Hyacinth, Childers and Echo covered the main channels. Pioneer, Duplex and Pickle covered the northern channels. Pyramus and Fly covered the southern channels.

In April 1915 an attempt was made by a blockade runner to re-supply Koenigsberg using a captured British merchantman Rubens, disguised as a Danish steam Kronborg. Unfortunately for her, her radio messages and orders had been intercepted by the Admiralty and her route and plans were thus known. Her destination was Mansa Bay and, after successfully infiltrating the waters of East Africa, was spotted twelve miles north of the Tanga lighthouse and intercepted by the alerted Hyacinth, but a starboard engine failure disabled the Hyacinth for half and hour, allowing the Kronborg to escape. She reached Mansa bay and discharged her crew. When Hyacinth found her, she bombarded her from close range, leaving her sinking from explosions and on fire.

Later, upon investigation by the Germans, surprisingly, much of her cargo was deemed salvageable. Eventually, by the end of June, over 1000 tons of coal, 2000 rifles, 5,000,000 cartridges, 1000 shells for Koenigsberg’s guns and a light field gun were recovered.

Although Koenigsberg had nowhere to go and couldn’t be touched, just by being there she was tying up about a dozen British ships. She was out of range of every British gun, and aircraft couldn’t carry bombs to destroy her. To resolve this impasse, King-Hall was offered a couple of shallow draft monitors that could bring her within range.

　
Monitors Mersey and Severn

These two monitors had a draft of only 6.5ft. They were intended as river gunboats for the Brazilian Navy, but were requisitioned when war broke out and fitted with 6 inch guns salvaged from the wrecked battleship HMS Montagu. They were being sent to the Dardenalles, but on 28 April were diverted to East Africa when they reached Malta. Because of their shallow draft they made very poor sea going vessels and so had to be towed by two tugs each, namely: Blackcock, Revenger, Sarah Joliffe and T.A.Joliffe. They arrived at their new base at Mafia Island on 3 June, and for the next month they prepared by fitting armour plate to their sides as protection against the shore batteries.

Four modern aircraft were also sent from Malta which arrived 18 June aboard Laurentic. In 36 hours they were ready to fly and practised spotting for the monitors.

It was still not certain the monitors could get close enough to the Koenigsberg, nor which channel could be used. So King-Hall asked his chief scout, Piet Pretorius, who had been secretly surveying the delta and its defences for months, to chart the delta’s channels. He did this at night times by paddling a canoe up and down the channels, taking soundings with a pole. He found that the northern channel would be navigable for the monitors for seven miles, which would bring the Koenigsberg within range of their guns. He then spent the next month measuring the tides at mouth of this channel. With Pretorius’s charts and intelligence, King-Hall was now ready for the final action.

[Note: Piet Pretorius knew the Rufiji delta well as he used to have a cotton plantation there which was confiscated by the German Authorities. He became one of their "most wanted" fugitives and, had he been caught surveying the delta, would almost certainly have been executed as a spy. For his extraordinary contribution, Piet Pretorius was awarded a DSO. Later, when General Jan Smuts took charge of the land battle, he became his Chief Scout.]

　
Endgame

Round 1
On the night of 5-6 July, King-Hall positioned Weymouth and Pyramus off the northern channel, Hyacinth off the central channel, Pioneer and Trent off the southern channel. The two monitors were towed to within ten miles off the northern Kikunja channel.

At 04.00 on 6 July, two monitors moved towards the Kikunja channel, reaching its mouth at 05.45. They came under fire from a field gun and small arms before anchoring at 06.30 about six miles along the channel.

Using an aircraft for spotting, Severn fired first from 10,600 yards followed by Mersey. Koenigsberg answered with a couple of ranging shots then straddled Mersey, who was then hit on the forward 6 inch gun shortly after. Mersey then moved back downstream by 700 yards to assess the damage.

At 08.00 Severn scored a hit on Koenigsberg and Mersey moved back into position on the opposite bank. Using her aft gun she hit Koenigsberg, whose fire was becoming erratic due to her observation posts coming under fire. After a pause, Mersey moved closer upstream and recommenced firing. But due to communication failures from the spotting aircraft, both monitors retired from the delta at 15.30, firing at the shore defences as they went, returning to Mafia Island with their dead and wounded.

A later flight by an aircraft showed that Koenigsberg had been hit six times, putting one 4.1 inch gun out of action. Two aircraft, operating in relays, had been used for observing the fall of shot for the first time, logging 13 hours of flying time and 950 miles. The greatest difficulty they had was in distinguishing between the shots of the monitors when firing together. It was agreed the next time the monitors would take it in turns to fire.

Round 2
The next time was 11 July. At 08.00 the monitors left Mafia Island under tow for the twenty miles to the delta. Once again the shore defences fired on the monitors, hitting the Mersey and wounding three men manning the aft 6 inch gun, but their fire was less intense this time due to both they and their observation posts being bombarded by escorting cruisers. The monitors arrived at their firing positions at 11.30.

Mersey opened fire first while Severn moved 1000 yards further upstream. Koenigsberg’s opening salvoes were not as accurate as before as her observation posts were kept under fire from the cruisers. When Severn was in position, Mersey stopped firing and Severn commenced, scoring several hits, but coming under accurate fire from the Koenigsberg.

Communications with the spotting aircraft were working well this time. When Mersey re-commenced firing, at 12.35, she began to register telling hits straight away, and the return fire from the Koenigsberg immediately slackened. But despite having only three guns left in operation, managed to shoot down the spotting plane, which crashed in the river near the Mersey who rescued the aircrew. The other aircraft took over the spotting duties.

In the meantime, Severn was hitting the Koenigsberg repeatedly, when a huge explosion was heard, followed by two more. Mersey passed the Severn to within 7,000 yards of the Koenigsberg and opened fire, registering a hit with her third shot. A huge column of smoke arose from the Koenigsberg with intermittent secondary explosions. It was clear that her end had come, and both monitors retired on the falling tide.

The initial huge explosion heard from Koenigsberg, was from a torpedo warhead exploding, ordered by her captain Max Looff to scuttle the ship, which sank up to her upper deck in the shallow waters.

In the two attacks the monitors had expended 943 6 inch shells, 398 4.7 inch shells, 860 3 pounder shells and 16,000 machine gun rounds.

Because of deteriorating weather, aerial reconnaissance wasn’t possible for the next six days, so Piet Pretorius led a landing party to report. When he saw the Koenigsberg, he described it as little more than a vast disorder of tortured steel.
　

Postscript

From Koenigsberg’s complement of 322, 32 were killed and 125 wounded. Every crew member, living or dead, was awarded Iron Cross 2nd class. Captain Max Looff received the Iron Cross 1st class and the Pour le Merite.

Koenigsberg’s 4.1 inch guns were salvaged and used in the land war as field guns. When the wounded had recovered, they joined the others as soldiers. At the end of WW1, only 15 of the original crew and Max Looff saw Germany again, the rest were either killed in the land war or died from disease.

After the war, the wreck of the Koenigsberg was bought for £200 by Commander Ingles of the Pegasus, who salvaged the non ferrous metals and sold the remainder of the wreck.
　
96316 96319 96317 96318


Appendix

From the London Gazette of 18 September 1917

NOTICE OF INTENDED DISTRIBUTION OF NAVAL PRIZE BOUNTY MONEY.

Department of the Accountant-General of the Navy, Admiralty, S.W.1.
15th September, 1917.

Notice is hereby given to the Officers, seamen and marines, and to all persons interested therein, that the distribution of the Prize Bounty awarded for the destruction of the German cruiser " Konigsberg" by His Majesty's ships "Severn" and "Mersey", between 6th and 11th July, 1915, will commence on Wednesday, the 19th instant, in the Prize Branch of the Department of the Accountant-General of the Navy, Admiralty, S.W.1.

All applications from persons entitled to share, who are not serving afloat, should be addressed "On Prize Business:—to the Accountant-General of the Navy, Admiralty, London, S.W.1." Such applications (except in the case of Commissioned Officers) should be accompanied by Certificates of Service.

The following are the Shares due to Individuals in the several Classes: —
£ s. d.
Commanding Officers: —
Captain . . . . . . . 117. 3. 3
Commander . . . . . . 58.11. 7
Class 3 . . . . . . . . 21. 2. 9
Class 4 . . . . . . . . 17.12. 4
Class 5 . . . . . . . . 14. 1.11
Class 6 . . . . . . . . 10.11. 4
Class 7 . . . . . . . . . 8. 9. 2
Class 8 . . . . . . . . . 7. 1. 0
Class 9 . . . . . . . . . 5.12. 9
Class 10 . . . . . . . . 4. 4. 7
Class 11 . . . . . . . . 2. 2. 4
Class 14 . . . . . . . . 0.14. 1
　

[astraltrader]

A well researched and eminently readable account Bill. :)

[MelQuick]

A really interesting thread - thanks to all who contributed.

Mel

[Brett Hendey]

I was told that one of my predecessors at the then Durban Museum was offered a salvaged part of an aircraft that had taken part in the Konigsberg incident. He was an ornithologist and interested in feathered birds, rather than mechanical ones, so he turned down the offer. It was another piece of history that ended up in a scrapyard.

Brett

[emason]

This photograph taken in East Africa has no caption other than "RNAS aircraft and personnel". Can anyone identify the aircraft type please?

By the way, I just love the way they are all wearing solar topees. The guy on the right obviously thinks more about his head getting sunburnt than his backside!


96396

[John Brown]

Bill

I'm not an expert in WW1 aircraft but I think this is one of the float planes built by 'Shorts'. Which one though.....I don't know!


Regards...John

[astraltrader]

I agree with John about it being a Short floatplane

[patroclus]

I think this could be a Short 827 belonging to the RNAS detachment which arrived in Zanzibar in March 1916. The aircraft subsequently operated from AMCs.

Below is what appears to be the same aircraft (3097) being hoisted out of HMS LACONIA.

[peter schofield]

I had just posted this on the C Boat site when I noticed the link to the Konsiberg

Tuesday 27 Jan 1914
Lt. JT Cull RN lately commanding Submarine C25 of the Seventh Submarine Squadron will join the Central Flying School Upavon for a course of aviation.

John Tulloch Cull
John Cull was born on 22nd Aug 1887 and he joined the Royal Navy as a Cadet on DTBR. He was promoted to Midshipman on 15th Jan 1904 and was appointed to HMS LONDON on 26th Apr 1905. Promotion to Sub Lieutenant followed on 15th Mar 1907. Sub Lieutenant Cull was appointed to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS MERCURY ‘for Instruction in Submarine Boats’ on 15th Aug 1908. On 1st Jan 1909 he was appointed to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS THAMES ‘for Submarines’. He was promoted Lieutenant on 15th Mar 1909. His first Command appointment followed on 15th Dec 1910 when he was appointed to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS ONYX at Devonport ‘for Submarine A9 in Command’. This was followed, on 5th Oct 1911, by an appointment to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS VULCAN at Dundee ‘for Submarine C25 in Command’. He left Submarine C25 and Submarines on 12th Dec 1913 and was appointed to HMS HERMES ‘additional – for flying course at a private aerodrome’ on 13th Dec 1913. On 29th Apr 1914 he was serving in HMS PEMBROKE (the Royal Naval Barracks) at Chatham ‘for an advanced Course at the Isle of Grain Naval Air Station’. He was appointed as a Flight Lieutenant, Royal Naval Air Service on 1st Jul 1914. In December 1914 he was serving, as a Flight Lieutenant at the Dundee Naval Air Station to which he had been appointed on 15th Sep 1914. In summer 1915 he was based at Bombay, India with a Flight of Sopwith Seaplanes. He was sent (with two of these aircraft) to East Africa in June 1915 for operations against the German Surface Raider KONIGSBERG which was sheltering in the Rufiji River delta. On 6th Jul 1915 John Cull spotted for two Monitors that had been sent out to dispose of the enemy ship. This was successfully achieved although the aircraft was hit by gunfire and overturned in the river when making an emergency landing. John Cull was nearly drowned when he had trouble unfastening his safety belt but he was assisted by Flight Sub Lieutenant Arnold and both were rescued by a boat from HMS MERSEY. He was awarded the DSO – see London Gazette dated 8th Dec 1915 for these operations against the German Warship KONIGSBERG. John Cull was appointed as a Squadron Commander, RNAS on 1st Jan 1916 and he was promoted Lieutenant Commander on 15th Mar 1917. His Air Rank was advanced to Wing Commander, RNAS on 30th Jun 1917 and, in December 1918 he was serving in the Royal Air Force as a Major (Temporary Lieutenant Colonel, Royal Air Force) having been transferred to the RAF on its establishment on 1st Apr 1918. He was Mentioned in Dispatches – see London Gazette dated 19th Jul 1918 ‘for distinguished services on the night of 22nd/23rd Apr 1918’ at Zeebrugge. John Tulloch Cull was granted a permanent Commission in the RAF on 1st Aug 1919. John Cull was promoted to Group Captain, RAF on 1st Jan 1929. He was placed on the ‘Half Pay List, Scale A’ on 2nd Jan 1934 and was transferred to the Retired List of the RAF ‘at his own request’ on 6th Aug 1934. Group Captain John Tulloch Cull, DSO, DFC, RAF (Retired) was awarded a ‘Medal for Outstanding Acts’ – see London Gazette dated 2nd May 1952. No further information is currently available

Information supplied by Barrie Downer

[peter schofield]

River Monitors - Built to operate in the Amazon, and could navigate in shallow water. On July 6, 1915, after being towed all the way from Europe, the two British monitors entered the Rufiji River Delta to attack the Kaiser’s African cruiser. All three monitors had been built at Barrow-in-Furness, details as follows:

Yd No.433 Javery, River Momitor
Launched 17 June 1913 by Miss Lomos Basto. 1250 tons displacement, 266.8ft overall x 265 ft pp x 48.4ft x 8.3ft depth x 4.5ft mean draught. Twin shaft triple-expansion engines of 1200 IHP, speed 11.5 knots. Armament originally two 6in, two 4.7in howitzers, four 3 pounders and 6 MGs. She was completed with three 6in and 3 pounder AA guns and her displacement was altered to 1260 tons. Her draught was altered to 5.7ft. Complement approximately 100, radius of action 4000 miles.

Launched for the Brazilian Government but purchased by the RN and renamed HMS Humber, being completed as such. She saw action off the Belgian coast and at the Dardanelles. In 1920 she was sold for scrap.

Yd No.434 Solimoes, River Monitor
Launched 19 August 1913, details as Javery
On 11 July 1915 in conjunction with Mersey she sank the German cruiser Konisberg in the Rufiji River, East Arica, fire for the first time being directed from the air. She had been bought by the RN and renamed HMS Severn. In 1921 she was sold for scrap.

Yd No.434 Madeira, River Monitor
Launched 30 September 1930, details as Javery
Bought by the RN and renamed HMS Mersey, took part in the action in the Rufiji River. In 1921 she was sold for scrap

[emason]

I think this could be a Short 827 belonging to the RNAS detachment which arrived in Zanzibar in March 1916. The aircraft subsequently operated from AMCs.

Below is what appears to be the same aircraft (3097) being hoisted out of HMS LACONIA.

Thank you very much. A Short 827 it is then.

It was not one of the aircraft used for spotting the Koenigsberg at various times, which were a Curtiss, two Sopwith 807, two Henry Fardman and two Caudron.

Short 827s were used in later operations in west Africa.

[qprdave]

End of a Raider

Published in The Times of London on 9th Dec 1915

How the Konigsberg was Wrecked

[Sean Roberts]

Thank you Dave,for finding the time to research that and posting it.That is exactly what goes to making a "Historical Forum!" other than a gossip forum.

[emason]

Thanks for that interesting contemporary account Dave. It's good to see that the airmen received the recognition they deserved. It's easy to forget that it was only 12 years since the first aircraft flew.

[manowari]

I can enlighten you re the aircraft pic. It is in fact a Short 827 and the chap in front is Sultan Khalifa bin Haroub, Ruler of Zanzibat who was having his first flight and as someone pointed out, the first Monarch to view his kingdom from the air. This is circa August 1916