HMS Gloucester by Ken Otter

Author:Ken Otter
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Published: 2017-03-18T04:00:00+00:00

Gloucester’s final moments. Photographs taken by a German Pilot.

At 1413, with air attacks continuing, King repeated his call to Rawlings for close support, adding that his ships had practically no high angle ammunition left. Rawlings, by now, was extremely anxious about King’s orders to Gloucester and Fiji. He signalled his anxiety to King informing him of the desperate shortage of ammunition on both ships, especially Gloucester. King then changed his orders again and instructed Gloucester and Fiji to withdraw, at Captain Rowley’s discretion.

At 1530, Rawlings’ A1 Force and King’s Force C, could see Gloucester and Fiji steaming at full speed in a desperate attempt to rejoin the safety of the battle fleet. However, the two cruisers were by then engaging enemy dive-bombers and because Gloucester had used up her few remaining rounds of high angle ammunition, the attacks came in lower and lower.

At 1530, the inevitable happened and Gloucester was hit. Fiji, herself out of 4-inch ammunition, signalled that Gloucester was out of control. Rawlings received the signals from Fiji and relayed them to King. King replied that he would order Gloucester to be sunk.

King then became uncertain about his decision and at 1555, signalled to Rawlings, saying that if the battle fleet went back to support Gloucester, they ran the risk of more ships being damaged or even lost. He then asked for Rawlings’ views.

King’s signal to Rawlings clearly indicates that he was finding it impossible to decide on the best course of action. In the end, it was left to Rawlings to advise King that in view of the state of Force C, Gloucester would have to be left. King then ordered Fiji to sink Gloucester and withdraw.

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