TNA ADM 199 792

Raw OCR

Unformatted machine-generated OCR for document page 407.

1940
The Office of the Resident
Naval Officer,
WEYMOUTH.
No. 6/5 AB/40.
16th August, 1940.
18 AUG 1940
Report of Enquiry into the loss of
BRANCH MILITARY
6
H.M.S. "Grafton" in operation "Dynamo".
Sir,
With reference to AL. NL 6245/40 dated 1st August, 1940,
be pleased to submit to their Lordships the following report
resulting from an enquiry held into the circumstances attend-
ing the loss of H.M.S. "Grafton" on 29th May, 1940.
2.
I examined Lieutenant Commander H.C.J. McRea R.N., the
Senior surviving officer, and Lieutenant (E) J.A.L. Hoskin R.N.
the Engineer Officer of "Grafton".
3.
At about 0250 when in vicinity of KWINTE WHISTLE BUOY
"Grafton" was hit by a torpedo on the port quarter just ahead
of port propeller. The stern of the ship abaft the fore part
of the wardroom was completely severed and sank.
(ii)
The upperdeck watertight hatch to wardroom
lobby was, shortly afterwards, closed.
4.
The explosion of the torpedo caused the upper deck to
be considerably indented right across between the after
torpedo tubes and the after superstructure.
5.
Before the after bulkhead of the after magazine and shell
room the ship was making no water but shortly afterwards "Lydd"
was in collision with "Grafton" and hit her at about the posi-
tion of the indentation mentioned above. Water then commenced
to leak into No. 7 oil fuel tank. As water was getting through
to the after boilers with the fuel from No. 7 and 8 tanks,
these were shut off.
6.
Although "Lydd" struck "Grafton" on the starboard side
in the vicinity of No. 7 oil fuel tank, the blow was a glancing
one and, while not in itself fracturing the ship's side, caused
some indentation and probably started rivets and aggravated any
damage to the tank that may have been caused by the explosion.
A little later S.S. "Malines" came alongside and all surviving
troops were transferred to her.
7.
The Engineer Officer states that after the explosion it
was found that the starboard propeller shaft could be moved but
not the port shaft which was bent at the engine room bulkhead.
Otherwise all machinery and boiler rooms were in working order
and all lights were burning.
8.
Almost immediately after the torpedo struck the ship an
explosion in the vicinity wrecked the whole of the fore part of
the bridge killing the Captain and Navigating Officer. The
side plating on both sides were left intact. It has not been
possible
of the Admiralty.
Vice Admiral.
C. E. 7831/1922.
Wt. 48364/D6526 6/40 S.P.&Co