HMS Rhododendron
Flower Class Sloop.
HMS Rhododendron. 05/05/1918
Displacement: 1290 grt.
Length: 79.9 m. Beam: 10.7 m. Draught: 3.8 m.
Propulsion:1 x 3 cyl. Steam triple expansion engine, three boilers, single shaft, single screw.
Complement: officers and men.
Crew Lost: 15
Armament: 2 × 4 in guns, 2 × 12-pounder guns, Depth charge throwers
HMS Rhododendron was built by Irvine's Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. Ltd., West Hartlepool (Sunderland) in 1917.
On Sunday 5th May 1918 HMS Rhododendron was on patrol north of Westray, Orkney when approximately at 4.30 pm there was an explosion aft. Lieut Commander Charles A Peal RNR was heading to check the damage when there was a second larger explosion 30 seconds after the first. It was found the entire stern of the vessel had gone. It was initially thought by the commander it was a depth charge accident.
20 minutes after the two explosions the order was given to abandon ship. In the Court of Enquiry Lieut Commander Charles A Peal states that around 30 minutes after abandoning ship a U boat surfaced, approached and then started questioning crew in one of the other lifeboats. Someone was in the conning tower scanning the lifeboats with binoculars and he was worried that the U boat may be looking for him to take prisoner. He hid his jacket that he had given to a stoker to wear.
The U boat then manoeuvred around what was left of the stern of HMS Rhododendron and fired five shells into the ship. At this time there were still men onboard as some of the lifeboats had proved unseaworthy and the crew had returned to Rhododendron. Lt Comdr Peal stated he did not understand why they didn't open fire on the U Boat.
Petty Officer William Arthur Kensit in his evidence to the court gave a very interesting account of his interaction with the U boat crew. He said he saw a periscope coming towards his lifeboat, the U boat surfaced and approached them shouting questions. There were some issues with the language so Kensit was taken onboard the U boat and taken to its commander in the conning tower. He commented the the U boat felt very steady underfoot and did not move much with the swell.
Kensit was asked where the master of the vessel was which he replied that he was dead, Kensit was then given a pair of binoculars to check the other lifeboats to make sure that he was not in one of the other lifeboats.
The U boat commander then asked for the vessels name but could not understand the answer so Kensit wrote it down. Kensit then asked for the U boats number but was told it was secret, he then asked how many torpedoes had been fired and was told one. Kensit was then asked what he thought the cause of the second explosion was which he answered maybe the magazine aft. Kensit was then asked the tonnage of ship which he answered 1000 ton which the U boat commander refused to believe. Kensit was then returned to the lifeboat and the U boat left and fired some shots into the stern of Rhododendron before leaving the area. .
Two trawlers were later seen and were signalled, which were the Boscobel and Kennymore. All the survivors were recovered and Boscobel was ordered to Kirkwall while Kennymore stood by HMS Rhododendron.
The U boat that had torpedoed HMS Rhododendron was the U-70 commanded by Kapitänleutnant Otto Wünsche.
Displacement: 1290 grt.
Length: 79.9 m. Beam: 10.7 m. Draught: 3.8 m.
Propulsion:1 x 3 cyl. Steam triple expansion engine, three boilers, single shaft, single screw.
Complement: officers and men.
Crew Lost: 15
Armament: 2 × 4 in guns, 2 × 12-pounder guns, Depth charge throwers
HMS Rhododendron was built by Irvine's Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. Ltd., West Hartlepool (Sunderland) in 1917.
On Sunday 5th May 1918 HMS Rhododendron was on patrol north of Westray, Orkney when approximately at 4.30 pm there was an explosion aft. Lieut Commander Charles A Peal RNR was heading to check the damage when there was a second larger explosion 30 seconds after the first. It was found the entire stern of the vessel had gone. It was initially thought by the commander it was a depth charge accident.
20 minutes after the two explosions the order was given to abandon ship. In the Court of Enquiry Lieut Commander Charles A Peal states that around 30 minutes after abandoning ship a U boat surfaced, approached and then started questioning crew in one of the other lifeboats. Someone was in the conning tower scanning the lifeboats with binoculars and he was worried that the U boat may be looking for him to take prisoner. He hid his jacket that he had given to a stoker to wear.
The U boat then manoeuvred around what was left of the stern of HMS Rhododendron and fired five shells into the ship. At this time there were still men onboard as some of the lifeboats had proved unseaworthy and the crew had returned to Rhododendron. Lt Comdr Peal stated he did not understand why they didn't open fire on the U Boat.
Petty Officer William Arthur Kensit in his evidence to the court gave a very interesting account of his interaction with the U boat crew. He said he saw a periscope coming towards his lifeboat, the U boat surfaced and approached them shouting questions. There were some issues with the language so Kensit was taken onboard the U boat and taken to its commander in the conning tower. He commented the the U boat felt very steady underfoot and did not move much with the swell.
Kensit was asked where the master of the vessel was which he replied that he was dead, Kensit was then given a pair of binoculars to check the other lifeboats to make sure that he was not in one of the other lifeboats.
The U boat commander then asked for the vessels name but could not understand the answer so Kensit wrote it down. Kensit then asked for the U boats number but was told it was secret, he then asked how many torpedoes had been fired and was told one. Kensit was then asked what he thought the cause of the second explosion was which he answered maybe the magazine aft. Kensit was then asked the tonnage of ship which he answered 1000 ton which the U boat commander refused to believe. Kensit was then returned to the lifeboat and the U boat left and fired some shots into the stern of Rhododendron before leaving the area. .
Two trawlers were later seen and were signalled, which were the Boscobel and Kennymore. All the survivors were recovered and Boscobel was ordered to Kirkwall while Kennymore stood by HMS Rhododendron.
The U boat that had torpedoed HMS Rhododendron was the U-70 commanded by Kapitänleutnant Otto Wünsche.
SM U-70
The KTB (logbook) from U-70 shows that at 5.32 (Berlin Time) one torpedo was fired at a range of 500m. The second explosion was commented on and that a Royal Navy flag was seen flying. Four lifeboats were counted. The tonnage was marked as 2000 ton.
At 6.15 (Berlin Time) U70 surfaced and spoke to an English Deck Officer who told them ship was auxiliary cruiser RHODODENDRON.
The position in the KTB is shown as 59.33N 2.50W. There is a separate sheet showing vessels sunk and position is shown for Rhododendron as Mull Hd at 190 deg, 10 nautical miles.
The KTB (logbook) from U-70 shows that at 5.32 (Berlin Time) one torpedo was fired at a range of 500m. The second explosion was commented on and that a Royal Navy flag was seen flying. Four lifeboats were counted. The tonnage was marked as 2000 ton.
At 6.15 (Berlin Time) U70 surfaced and spoke to an English Deck Officer who told them ship was auxiliary cruiser RHODODENDRON.
The position in the KTB is shown as 59.33N 2.50W. There is a separate sheet showing vessels sunk and position is shown for Rhododendron as Mull Hd at 190 deg, 10 nautical miles.
KTB entry for U70 05/05/1918
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KTB sheet for vessels sunk with entry for HMS Rhododendron.
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Location of HMS Rhododendron.
The bow section of HMS Rhododendron remained afloat all night and was followed by the trawler Kennymore. There was a fire onboard and at 6 am there was a violent explosion from within the ship followed by a series of smaller ones. At 9.30 am it was decided to try and take the sloop in tow but as they approached the vessel it rolled over to starboard and sank.
Both the position given in the KTB (59 33N 2.50W) and the bearing given in the separate sheet correspond and there is a charted shipwreck located 7 miles east of this position at 59°33,2'N 02°35,783'W
.
The wreck was located in 1995 using paper trace side scan sonar. The image shows a damaged vessel with one end missing. The charted wreck could be the stern section. One day perhaps, a dive team will visit the site in the future to confirm identity.
The bow section of HMS Rhododendron remained afloat all night and was followed by the trawler Kennymore. There was a fire onboard and at 6 am there was a violent explosion from within the ship followed by a series of smaller ones. At 9.30 am it was decided to try and take the sloop in tow but as they approached the vessel it rolled over to starboard and sank.
Both the position given in the KTB (59 33N 2.50W) and the bearing given in the separate sheet correspond and there is a charted shipwreck located 7 miles east of this position at 59°33,2'N 02°35,783'W
.
The wreck was located in 1995 using paper trace side scan sonar. The image shows a damaged vessel with one end missing. The charted wreck could be the stern section. One day perhaps, a dive team will visit the site in the future to confirm identity.
Side Scan Sonar image of wreck 520 (UKHO)
The Crew - (Research ongoing)
BANHAM, Henry G, Telegraphist, J 27546 (Ch)
BIRCHALL, Charles J, Able Seaman, J 19236 (Ch)
BRADLEY, Arthur, Stoker 1c, K 33133 (Ch)
CRADDOCK, Arthur E, Stoker 1c, K 41377 (Ch)
CRANFIELD, William, Stoker 1c, K 33038 (Ch)
DOE, Leonard W, Stoker 1c, K 41405 (Ch)
DUNCAN, Joseph, Engine Room Artificer 4c, M 20113 (Ch)
HAMMOND, Stanley J, Ty/Lieutenant, RNR
HUGHES, Albert H, Stoker Petty Officer, 366197 (Ch)
JACKSON, Joseph, Leading Stoker, K 8323 (Ch)
MARSHALL, Henry G, Leading Stoker, K 15877 (Ch)
PARTINGTON, Reginald C, Officer's Cook 2c, L 9285 (Ch)
TOPP, Thomas E, Leading Victualling Assistant, M 12941 (Ch)
WHITE, Ambrose W, Stoker Petty Officer, 281483 (Ch)
WILDE, Fred, Sub Lieutenant, RNR