The action of 4 May 1917 was a naval and air engagement of the First World War in the North Sea. The action took place between the German ZeppelinLZ 92 (tactical name: L.43), several German submarines and a naval force led by the Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney. The action was inconclusive with no casualties on either side, concluding when the Zeppelin had dropped all of its bombs and the cruisers had expended all of their anti-aircraft ammunition.
Sydney was serving in British waters when on 4 May 1917, while part of an anti-submarine patrol from Rosyth, Scotland, the ship took part in a battle with a German Zeppelin, L.43, commanded by Kapitänleutnant Hermann Kraushaar.[1] In concert with another cruiser, HMS Dublin and four destroyers, HMS Obdurate, HMS Nepean(2), Pelican and Pylades.[2]Sydney, under the command of Commander John Dumaresq, the second-in-command of the 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron, had been patrolling between the Firth of Forth and River Humber, when lookouts spotted a vessel on the surface to the east of the British flotilla and Obdurate was detailed to investigate at around 10:00 am. About twenty-five minutes later, the Zeppelin was located by Dublin about 17 nautical miles (31 km; 20 mi) to the east, Sydney and Dublin turned towards the contact and fired at maximum range.[1][2]
ActionEdit
Obdurate continued to investigate the surface contact and subsequently located two German submarines. Coming under attack from one of these submarines, the destroyer dropped depth charges before turning away to attack the Zeppelin. As the destroyer closed on it, the Zeppelin turned away to the south-east. Within the space of the next half an hour, Dublin was attacked by the German submarines at least three times with torpedoes, leading Dumaresq to conclude that the Germans were attempting to spring a trap on the British vessels. He subsequently ordered Obdurate to complete its investigation of the suspect vessel, which was subsequently determined to be a Dutch fishing vessel.[1][3]
Dumaresq tried to draw the aircraft into following the British force by ordering his ships to turn back onto their original course. As the airship approached again, Dublin and Sydney turned about to attack. The Zeppelin commander began a high-altitude bombing run on Dublin but rapid changed of direction by the cruisers frustrated these efforts and the Zeppelin attacked Obdurate, dropping three bombs which achieved near misses. This was followed by a further attack on Sydney, with between ten and twelve bombs being dropped but missing due to the cruiser's evasive manoeuvres. Sydney returned fire with her anti-aircraft guns but the aircraft proved to be flying too high to be hit.[1][4]
A further Zeppelin moved towards the battle at around 1:00 pm, having been contacted by L.43 for assistance but it loitered to the north-east and did not close in to attack. The engagement ended when both sides exhausted their ammunition at around 2:30 pm. The Zeppelin was forced to remain high to stay out of range of the anti-aircraft fire, this meant that the bombs were dropped from too great of height to strike the Allied patrol. There was no damage or casualties.[1][5] After the action, the Zeppelins departed and the British vessels completed their patrol before returning to Rosyth.[6]
AftermathEdit
The action was commemorated in the early 1930s, in an oil painting by Australian war artist Charles Bryant.[7] It was the first time that a Royal Australian Navy vessel had been attacked by an aircraft and was one of the actions that resulted in Sydney being awarded the "North Sea 1916–18" battle honour.[8][9]
^"HMAS Sydney's fight with a Zeppelin in the North Sea". Art. Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
^"HMAS Sydney (I)". Royal Australian Navy. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
BibliographyEdit
Coulthard-Clark, Chris (1998). The Encyclopaedia of Australia's Battles (1st ed.). Sydney, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin. pp. 128–129. ISBN1-86448-611-2.
Odgers, George (1994). Diggers: The Australian Army, Navy and Air Force in Eleven Wars: From 1860 to 5 June 1944. Vol. I. Sydney, New South Wales: Lansdowne. ISBN978-1-86302-385-6.
External linksEdit
Kapitänleutnant Hermann Kraushaar: Zeppelin and Garrison Museum Tonder (4 December 2014)
October 24, 2023
action, 1917, part, world, painting, engagement, between, australian, light, cruiser, hmassydneyand, german, zeppelin, lz43, north, 1917, date4, 1917locationnorth, atlantic, ocean56, north, resultindecisivebelligerents, united, kingdom, australia, germanycomma. Action of 4 May 1917Part of World War IA painting of the engagement between Australian light cruiser HMASSydneyand German Zeppelin LZ43 in the North Sea on 4 May 1917 Date4 May 1917LocationNorth Sea Atlantic Ocean56 N 03 E 56 N 3 E 56 3 North Sea ResultIndecisiveBelligerents United Kingdom Australia GermanyCommanders and leadersJohn DumaresqHermann KraushaarStrength2 light cruisers 4 destroyers1 Zeppelin 2 submarinesCasualties and lossesNoneNoneclass notpageimage The battle location in the North Sea The action of 4 May 1917 was a naval and air engagement of the First World War in the North Sea The action took place between the German Zeppelin LZ 92 tactical name L 43 several German submarines and a naval force led by the Australian light cruiser HMAS Sydney The action was inconclusive with no casualties on either side concluding when the Zeppelin had dropped all of its bombs and the cruisers had expended all of their anti aircraft ammunition Contents 1 Prelude 2 Action 3 Aftermath 4 Footnotes 5 Bibliography 6 External linksPrelude EditSydney was serving in British waters when on 4 May 1917 while part of an anti submarine patrol from Rosyth Scotland the ship took part in a battle with a German Zeppelin L 43 commanded by Kapitanleutnant Hermann Kraushaar 1 In concert with another cruiser HMS Dublin and four destroyers HMS Obdurate HMS Nepean 2 Pelican and Pylades 2 Sydney under the command of Commander John Dumaresq the second in command of the 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron had been patrolling between the Firth of Forth and River Humber when lookouts spotted a vessel on the surface to the east of the British flotilla and Obdurate was detailed to investigate at around 10 00 am About twenty five minutes later the Zeppelin was located by Dublin about 17 nautical miles 31 km 20 mi to the east Sydney and Dublin turned towards the contact and fired at maximum range 1 2 Action EditObdurate continued to investigate the surface contact and subsequently located two German submarines Coming under attack from one of these submarines the destroyer dropped depth charges before turning away to attack the Zeppelin As the destroyer closed on it the Zeppelin turned away to the south east Within the space of the next half an hour Dublin was attacked by the German submarines at least three times with torpedoes leading Dumaresq to conclude that the Germans were attempting to spring a trap on the British vessels He subsequently ordered Obdurate to complete its investigation of the suspect vessel which was subsequently determined to be a Dutch fishing vessel 1 3 Dumaresq tried to draw the aircraft into following the British force by ordering his ships to turn back onto their original course As the airship approached again Dublin and Sydney turned about to attack The Zeppelin commander began a high altitude bombing run on Dublin but rapid changed of direction by the cruisers frustrated these efforts and the Zeppelin attacked Obdurate dropping three bombs which achieved near misses This was followed by a further attack on Sydney with between ten and twelve bombs being dropped but missing due to the cruiser s evasive manoeuvres Sydney returned fire with her anti aircraft guns but the aircraft proved to be flying too high to be hit 1 4 A further Zeppelin moved towards the battle at around 1 00 pm having been contacted by L 43 for assistance but it loitered to the north east and did not close in to attack The engagement ended when both sides exhausted their ammunition at around 2 30 pm The Zeppelin was forced to remain high to stay out of range of the anti aircraft fire this meant that the bombs were dropped from too great of height to strike the Allied patrol There was no damage or casualties 1 5 After the action the Zeppelins departed and the British vessels completed their patrol before returning to Rosyth 6 Aftermath EditThe action was commemorated in the early 1930s in an oil painting by Australian war artist Charles Bryant 7 It was the first time that a Royal Australian Navy vessel had been attacked by an aircraft and was one of the actions that resulted in Sydney being awarded the North Sea 1916 18 battle honour 8 9 Footnotes Edit a b c d e Coulthard Clark 1998 p 128 a b Jose 1941 p 294 Jose 1941 p 295 Jose 1941 pp 590 591 Jose 1941 p 297 Jose 1941 p 591 Odgers 1994 p 135 HMAS Sydney s fight with a Zeppelin in the North Sea Art Australian War Memorial Retrieved 4 December 2014 HMAS Sydney I Royal Australian Navy Retrieved 4 December 2014 Bibliography EditCoulthard Clark Chris 1998 The Encyclopaedia of Australia s Battles 1st ed Sydney New South Wales Allen amp Unwin pp 128 129 ISBN 1 86448 611 2 Jose A W 1941 1928 The Royal Australian Navy 1914 1918 Official History of Australia in the War of 1914 1918 Vol IX 9th ed Sydney New South Wales Angus and Robertson OCLC 7466152 Odgers George 1994 Diggers The Australian Army Navy and Air Force in Eleven Wars From 1860 to 5 June 1944 Vol I Sydney New South Wales Lansdowne ISBN 978 1 86302 385 6 External links EditKapitanleutnant Hermann Kraushaar Zeppelin and Garrison Museum Tonder 4 December 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Action of 4 May 1917 amp oldid 1160989949, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
