H.M.S. New Zealand at the Battle of Jutland

Captain's Report on Action of 31st May 1916. H.M.S New Zealand.

Enclosure No. 7 to Battle Cruiser Fleet Letter No. B.C.F. 01 of 12/6/16.

No. 96/A. 4.

H.M.S. New Zealand,

2nd June 1916.

SIR,

I HAVE the honour to make the following report on the action which took place on Wednesday, 31st May 1916, between our fleet and the German Fleet.

2. The day was hazy and fine with practically no wind. I should put the visibility down as between 7 and 10 miles, varying in patches. Smoke also added occasionally to the haziness, but I was rather impressed by the little smoke interference there was.

3. Range-taking and Spotting were difficult. It was very difficult to distinguish hits, but occasional bursts of smoke with a salvo seemed to denote a hit.

4. The firing of the enemy was extremely good, their salvoes having very little spread, and they seemed to pick up the range quickly and correctly, and their salvoes were rapid.

5. We were fortunately only hit once by a heavy projectile, about 1 foot above the deck on the port side of "X" Turret (the after turret) which punched a hole about 2 feet in diameter. It also went through the tongue of the towing slip which was secured round the turret. The shell must have burst on deck as there were sputterings round about there. It also damaged the deck, cutting through it and through the deck below into the Engineer's Workshop.

6. I attach a timed account of the various incidents as they occurred. All these times are G.M.T. and are, I consider, absolutely reliable, as they come from 3 different sources.

7.¹

8. I consider that the Battle Cruiser described at 8.31 p.m. to be heelng over and on fire, was in a sinking condition when she hauled out of line. The different reports received by Officers in this ship agree that our last 2 or 3 salvoes fired at her hit her heavily. She appeared to be a Seydlitz class.

I have the honour to be.

Sir,

Your obedient Servant.

JOHN F. E. GREEN,

Captain,

The Rear-Admiral Commanding,

Second Battle Cruiser Squadron,

H.M.S. New Zealand.

Notes

¹ To be reproduced.