HMS Baralong
Encyclopedia
HMS Baralong, also known as HMS Wyandrawas a Royal Navy
warship that was active during World War I
. She was a "Special Service Vessel" (also known as Q-ship
s) whose function was to act as a decoy, inviting attack by a U-boat
in order to engage and (if possible) destroy it.
Baralong was successful on two occasions in her career, sinking in August 1915, and in September 1915; however both these actions caused controversy, particularly the first, being referred to as the Baralong Incident
.
and had an uneventful peacetime career with Ellerman & Bucknall
before the start of World War I. In 1915 she was requisitioned by the Royal Navy for conversion into a special service vessel.
She was armed with three 12-pdr guns in concealed mountings, equipped with devices for simulating damage, and other modifications fitting her for her role. She was manned by a volunteer crew and commanded by Cdr Godfrey Herbert, an experienced submariner in the role of "poacher turned gamekeeper".
The work was carried out at Barry Docks and was completed in April 1915.
, seeking to invite a U-boat attack.
On 19 August 1915 she received a distress call from the passenger liner Arabic
which was under attack, and headed towards the location in an attempt to engage the U-Boat responsible. After several hours she encountered the US steamer Nicosian, which was under fire from a German U-boat, U-27. At the time Baralong was flying the neutral US
flag and closed with Nicosian, signalling she intended to pick up survivors.
As she approached, U-27 passed behind the stern of Nicosian. Herbert had Baralong’s guns cleared away, and the flag replaced with the White Ensign
whilst she was obscured from view; when U-27 emerged from behind the bow of Nicosian she was met with a hail of gunfire. Baralong scored 34 hits with her main battery, as well as machine gun and small arms fire, and U-27’s crew abandoned ship as the U-boat sank.
Baralong manoeuvred to pick up Nicosian's crew, but the men from U-27, instead of surrendering, made for Nicosian in order to board her. Baralong’s men fired on them, killing most as they swam or climbed to Nicosian's deck. A party of Germans who gained the deck disappeared below, and Baralong landed a boarding party, who sought them out and dispatched them.
When Nicosian’s crew returned to the US the story became known, and the German government alleged the Baralong’s crew had committed an atrocity. The dispute continued for some time, and became known as the Baralong Incident
.
. As Baralong approached U-41 dived, surfacing when Baralong had drawn closer and ordering her to stop. Wilmot–Smith slowed and started to launch a boat in compliance as the U-boat came closer, but at 700 yards he swung to starboard and Baralong opened fire. Her first shots wrecked U-41’s conning tower, and killed her commander. The U-boat dived, but quickly re-surfaced; her crew started to abandon ship, but only two men escaped before the U-boat sank. Baralong then picked up Urbino’s crew and also the two German submariners.
One of these, U-41's first officer O/L I.Crompton, was severely wounded, and was repatriated to Germany; once there he made a series of allegations which were published in Germany and referred to there as the second Baralong incident. However these were refuted by the Admiralty, and unlike the first incident had little currency outside Germany itself.
Baralong was one of the first Q-Ships operational, and one of the most successful. She and her commanders, particularly Herbert, were instrumental in establishing Q-Ship procedures for the remainder of the Allied anti-submarine campaign.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
warship that was active 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 a "Special Service Vessel" (also known as Q-ship
Q-ship
Q-ships, also known as Q-boats, Decoy Vessels, Special Service Ships, or Mystery Ships, were heavily armed merchant ships with concealed weaponry, designed to lure submarines into making surface attacks. This gave Q-ships the chance to open fire and sink them...
s) whose function was to act as a decoy, inviting attack by a 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...
in order to engage and (if possible) destroy it.
Baralong was successful on two occasions in her career, sinking in August 1915, and in September 1915; however both these actions caused controversy, particularly the first, being referred to as the Baralong Incident
Baralong Incident
The Baralong Incidents were naval engagements of the First World War in August and September 1915, involving the Royal Navy Q-Ship HMS Baralong, later renamed HMS Wyandra, and two German U-boats....
.
Early career
Baralong was built in 1901 as a "three-island" tramp steamerTramp steamer
A ship engaged in the tramp trade is one which does not have a fixed schedule or published ports of call. As opposed to freight liners, tramp ships trade on the spot market with no fixed schedule or itinerary/ports-of-call...
and had an uneventful peacetime career with Ellerman & Bucknall
Ellerman Lines
Ellerman Lines was a cargo and passenger shipping company that operated from the late nineteenth century and into the twentieth century. It was founded in the late nineteenth century, and continued to expand with the acquisition of smaller shipping lines until it became one of the largest shipping...
before the start of World War I. In 1915 she was requisitioned by the Royal Navy for conversion into a special service vessel.
She was armed with three 12-pdr guns in concealed mountings, equipped with devices for simulating damage, and other modifications fitting her for her role. She was manned by a volunteer crew and commanded by Cdr Godfrey Herbert, an experienced submariner in the role of "poacher turned gamekeeper".
The work was carried out at Barry Docks and was completed in April 1915.
First action
Baralong spent the next four months patrolling the Southwest ApproachesSouthwest Approaches
The Southwest Approaches is the name given to the offshore waters to the southwest of Great Britain. The area includes the Celtic Sea, the Bristol Channel and sea areas off southwest Ireland...
, seeking to invite a U-boat attack.
On 19 August 1915 she received a distress call from the passenger liner Arabic
SS Arabic (1902)
The SS Arabic was an ocean liner which entered service in 1903 for the White Star Line. She was sunk on 19 August 1915 by the German submarine U-24, south of Kinsale...
which was under attack, and headed towards the location in an attempt to engage the U-Boat responsible. After several hours she encountered the US steamer Nicosian, which was under fire from a German U-boat, U-27. At the time Baralong was flying the neutral US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
flag and closed with Nicosian, signalling she intended to pick up survivors.
As she approached, U-27 passed behind the stern of Nicosian. Herbert had Baralong’s guns cleared away, and the flag replaced with the White Ensign
White Ensign
The White Ensign or St George's Ensign is an ensign flown on British Royal Navy ships and shore establishments. It consists of a red St George's Cross on a white field with the Union Flag in the upper canton....
whilst she was obscured from view; when U-27 emerged from behind the bow of Nicosian she was met with a hail of gunfire. Baralong scored 34 hits with her main battery, as well as machine gun and small arms fire, and U-27’s crew abandoned ship as the U-boat sank.
Baralong manoeuvred to pick up Nicosian's crew, but the men from U-27, instead of surrendering, made for Nicosian in order to board her. Baralong’s men fired on them, killing most as they swam or climbed to Nicosian's deck. A party of Germans who gained the deck disappeared below, and Baralong landed a boarding party, who sought them out and dispatched them.
When Nicosian’s crew returned to the US the story became known, and the German government alleged the Baralong’s crew had committed an atrocity. The dispute continued for some time, and became known as the Baralong Incident
Baralong Incident
The Baralong Incidents were naval engagements of the First World War in August and September 1915, involving the Royal Navy Q-Ship HMS Baralong, later renamed HMS Wyandra, and two German U-boats....
.
Second action
In September 1915, now under the command of Lt.Cdr A. Wilmot-Smith (Herbert having returned to the submarine service) Baralong was again on patrol in the South Western Approaches when she fell in with the steamship Urbino, which was under attack by U-41SM U-41 (Germany)
SM U-41 was one of the 329 submarines serving in the Kaiserliche Marine in World War I. U-41 engaged in naval warfare and took part in the First Battle of the Atlantic....
. As Baralong approached U-41 dived, surfacing when Baralong had drawn closer and ordering her to stop. Wilmot–Smith slowed and started to launch a boat in compliance as the U-boat came closer, but at 700 yards he swung to starboard and Baralong opened fire. Her first shots wrecked U-41’s conning tower, and killed her commander. The U-boat dived, but quickly re-surfaced; her crew started to abandon ship, but only two men escaped before the U-boat sank. Baralong then picked up Urbino’s crew and also the two German submariners.
One of these, U-41's first officer O/L I.Crompton, was severely wounded, and was repatriated to Germany; once there he made a series of allegations which were published in Germany and referred to there as the second Baralong incident. However these were refuted by the Admiralty, and unlike the first incident had little currency outside Germany itself.
Later career
Following this success Baralong, now named Wyandra, was transferred to the Mediterranean to join the Q-shop force being established there. She continued in this role but had no further success, and in November 1916 returned to civilian service.Baralong was one of the first Q-Ships operational, and one of the most successful. She and her commanders, particularly Herbert, were instrumental in establishing Q-Ship procedures for the remainder of the Allied anti-submarine campaign.