TNA ADM 199 792

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CONFIDENTIAL.
NC
MILITARY BRANCI
66
24 AUG 1940
Room 90 Archway Block (s).
No.9/8.AB/40.
24th August, 1940.
9957
ENQUIRY INTO THE LOSS OF H.M.S. "KEITH"
IN OPERATION "DYNAMO".
1940
Sir,
With reference to Admiralty Letter, No. N.L. 6245/40 dated 1st August,
1940,
I have the honour to submit to Their Lordships the following report
resulting from an enquiry into the circumstances attending the loss of
H.M.S. "Keith" on 1st June, 1940.
2. Captain E.L. Berthon, D.S.C., R.N., the senior surviving officer of
"Keith" and who was in command of that ship, was examined on the 23rd August, 1940.
3. At about 0740 in the first dive bombing attack made on "Keith", delay
action bombs exploding just astern of the ship caused the wheel on the bridge
to jam but tiller flat steering wheel was connected up and the ship was conned
by telephone from the bridge.
4. At about 0750 a near miss or hit on the starboard side made a large
hole in the side at the forward end of the Starboard Engine Room below the water
line, and this or another bomb burst the bulkhead between the Engine Room and
After Boiler Room on the starboard side. Both these compartments were flooded.
A fire which had started in the boiler room thus being extinguished.
At about the same time another hit or near miss on the port side caused
ship to take a heavy list to Port.
5. Engines were now completely out of action, and ship stopped.
6. Ship lay with one anchor down and was water tight except for the
flooded Engine and After boiler rooms.
Shortly afterwards orders were given to abandon ship and only those
necessary for preparing ship to be towed, remained on board. At this time the
ship righted herself and remained for about ten minutes on an even Keel but very
low in the water. A further bombing attack now caused the stern to rise
sharply and the ship capsized to port and disappeared below the water in about
5 fathoms.
7. The severe bombing to which "Keith" was subjected, caused damage which
makes no reflection on the material, and no defects which contributed to her loss
were revealed.
8. As regards stability it is of interest to note that, prior to the
attacks, "Keith", with 1400 troops on the upper deck and mess decks, when
steaming at 28 knots was forced to put her helm hard over, and that though she
heeled very heavily and remained over for an appreciable time, she came back on
an even keel.
9. Lessons learnt from the experience in the case of "Keith" are as follows:-
(i) Armament.
The 3" Anti Aircraft gun is not the best weapon for repelling close Air
attack. It is considered that a larger number of, and better positioned,
small calibre guns with a high rate of fire and big spread, are the most
effective.
It is also considered very necessary that the gunners of small Anti
Aircraft weapons should have some form of shield.
(ii) Carley Floats.
These should not be stowed in a vertical position as they are, thus, more
difficult to launch and much more exposed to damage from gun fire, bomb
splinters, etc.
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