HMS Otway
HMS Otway. 23/07/1917
Displacement: 12077 grt.
Length: 163.4 m. Beam: 19.3 m. Draught: 11.5 m.
Propulsion: 2 x 4 cyl. Quadruple expansion steam engines, dual shaft, 2 screws
Complement: 376 officers and men.
Men Lost: 10
Armament: Armed Merchant ship.
Otway was built by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd., Glasgow in 1909 for the Orient Pacific Line.
SS Otway was requisitioned as Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Otway in 1914 and joined the 10th Cruiser Squadron. Most patrols were conducted between NW Scotland and Iceland.
The following information is taken from evidence given in the Court of Enquiry into loss of HMS Otway (ADM137/3311)
At 2.45 pm on the 22nd July 1917 HMS Otway left Loch Ewe for a patrol off Rockall under the command of Commodore Colomb. At 8.00 pm HMS Otway was 8 miles off the Butt of Lewis. 10.10pm 14 miles abeam of Sula Sgeir.
At 10.13 pm in position 58 54N 6 28W in a calm sea a periscope was spotted off the port bow at about 1000 yards. The order was given to turn NE and put the periscope astern but almost immediately after the ship had turned a torpedo struck the port propeller ''A'' bracket causing the aft part of the ship to flood. The explosion had killed ten seamen who were sleeping in the bag flat directly above the ''A'' Bracket.
It was established by the carpenter that the damaged ship was going to sink so the engines were put full steam ahead and tried to make for the island of North Rona at 15 knots. The gun crews fired at the periscope.
A message from HMS Otway to S.O 10th Cruiser Squadron read:
''Course south 85 east magnetic steering towards North Rona Island 15 knots'' (no time recorded)
A message from R.A. Stornoway to HMS Otway read:
''Sending 3 whalers, 2 trawlers 2 yachts and tug 2325'' (Sent but no acknowledgment received)
After a while the port shaft broke causing more damage and the engine room started to flood. At 11.00 pm the ship was stopped and the order given to abandon ship. All the crew and wounded left the vessel but Commodore Colomb, his Steward and the First Lieutenant stayed aboard to ensure no one was left behind and to prevent any possible boarding by the U boat crew. The secret papers were dumped overboard in a steel box and depth charges set to safe.
Just after midnight the Commodore called back one of the lifeboats as the ship was settling fast and the three men left the ship.
At 12.15 am HMS Otway sank by the stern.
All the boats and rafts stayed together throughout the night and at 6.15am they were located by the whaler 'Rorqual' 10 miles west (T) Sulisker. 51 officers & 315 ratings were rescued and taken to Stornoway arriving there at 1.30pm. Owing to the lack of accommodation, at 10 pm, the officers and crew were taken in three armed trawlers to Kyle of Loch Alsh and from there by train to Inverness.
Displacement: 12077 grt.
Length: 163.4 m. Beam: 19.3 m. Draught: 11.5 m.
Propulsion: 2 x 4 cyl. Quadruple expansion steam engines, dual shaft, 2 screws
Complement: 376 officers and men.
Men Lost: 10
Armament: Armed Merchant ship.
Otway was built by Fairfield Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd., Glasgow in 1909 for the Orient Pacific Line.
SS Otway was requisitioned as Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Otway in 1914 and joined the 10th Cruiser Squadron. Most patrols were conducted between NW Scotland and Iceland.
The following information is taken from evidence given in the Court of Enquiry into loss of HMS Otway (ADM137/3311)
At 2.45 pm on the 22nd July 1917 HMS Otway left Loch Ewe for a patrol off Rockall under the command of Commodore Colomb. At 8.00 pm HMS Otway was 8 miles off the Butt of Lewis. 10.10pm 14 miles abeam of Sula Sgeir.
At 10.13 pm in position 58 54N 6 28W in a calm sea a periscope was spotted off the port bow at about 1000 yards. The order was given to turn NE and put the periscope astern but almost immediately after the ship had turned a torpedo struck the port propeller ''A'' bracket causing the aft part of the ship to flood. The explosion had killed ten seamen who were sleeping in the bag flat directly above the ''A'' Bracket.
It was established by the carpenter that the damaged ship was going to sink so the engines were put full steam ahead and tried to make for the island of North Rona at 15 knots. The gun crews fired at the periscope.
A message from HMS Otway to S.O 10th Cruiser Squadron read:
''Course south 85 east magnetic steering towards North Rona Island 15 knots'' (no time recorded)
A message from R.A. Stornoway to HMS Otway read:
''Sending 3 whalers, 2 trawlers 2 yachts and tug 2325'' (Sent but no acknowledgment received)
After a while the port shaft broke causing more damage and the engine room started to flood. At 11.00 pm the ship was stopped and the order given to abandon ship. All the crew and wounded left the vessel but Commodore Colomb, his Steward and the First Lieutenant stayed aboard to ensure no one was left behind and to prevent any possible boarding by the U boat crew. The secret papers were dumped overboard in a steel box and depth charges set to safe.
Just after midnight the Commodore called back one of the lifeboats as the ship was settling fast and the three men left the ship.
At 12.15 am HMS Otway sank by the stern.
All the boats and rafts stayed together throughout the night and at 6.15am they were located by the whaler 'Rorqual' 10 miles west (T) Sulisker. 51 officers & 315 ratings were rescued and taken to Stornoway arriving there at 1.30pm. Owing to the lack of accommodation, at 10 pm, the officers and crew were taken in three armed trawlers to Kyle of Loch Alsh and from there by train to Inverness.
KTB UC49
The following information is taken from the logbook of UC49. (all times are from U boat log and have a two hour difference)
22/07/1917.
Wind: SE 3 Sea State: 2 Visibility: Very Clear.
At 8.00pm. The KTB gives the UC49 position as 59 17N 6 20W course 240 deg and says North Rona and Sulisker are sighted.
At 10pm a course change is noted to 150 deg.
11.30pm. Smoke from steamship is seen and UC 49 dives to get in position for attack.
11.55pm. A large steamer, high speed, steering a zig zag course of roughly 240 deg.
23/07/1917.
00.22am. Bow port tube fails to fire so U boat turns to use stern tube. One torpedo is fired. After 1 minute 20 second a hit on the port side stern of the ship is seen and heard. The ship is described as being at least 10,000 ton, two funnels and two masts, a promenade deck and at least 160m long and its thought may be P & O liner.
The ship is then reported to be steering a course 040 deg running away. Cleared for second shot.
02.30am. Steamer sinks in position 59 00N 6 13W. Also states many lifeboats and more Destroyers observed.
02.40am. UC49 dives to 30m and leaves the area course 270 deg.
The following information is taken from the logbook of UC49. (all times are from U boat log and have a two hour difference)
22/07/1917.
Wind: SE 3 Sea State: 2 Visibility: Very Clear.
At 8.00pm. The KTB gives the UC49 position as 59 17N 6 20W course 240 deg and says North Rona and Sulisker are sighted.
At 10pm a course change is noted to 150 deg.
11.30pm. Smoke from steamship is seen and UC 49 dives to get in position for attack.
11.55pm. A large steamer, high speed, steering a zig zag course of roughly 240 deg.
23/07/1917.
00.22am. Bow port tube fails to fire so U boat turns to use stern tube. One torpedo is fired. After 1 minute 20 second a hit on the port side stern of the ship is seen and heard. The ship is described as being at least 10,000 ton, two funnels and two masts, a promenade deck and at least 160m long and its thought may be P & O liner.
The ship is then reported to be steering a course 040 deg running away. Cleared for second shot.
- 1.00am. Periscope being shot at with medium calibre guns. Dived to 30m on following course.
- 1.30am. Surfaced. The ship has stopped and seen to be sinking by the stern.
- 1.40am. Submerged 10m. Lifeboats are observed being launched. Also KTB reports of there being Destroyers around.
02.30am. Steamer sinks in position 59 00N 6 13W. Also states many lifeboats and more Destroyers observed.
02.40am. UC49 dives to 30m and leaves the area course 270 deg.
