HMS Indefatigable (1909)

HMS "Indefatigable" was a battlecruiser of the Royal Navy, the lead ship of her class. She was essentially a lengthened version of HMS "Invincible", with additional room added amidships to allow both 'P' and 'Q' turrets to fire on either broadside.

During the early years of her career, the future First Sea Lord John H. D. Cunningham served aboard her as senior navigator.

Upon commissioning, "Indefatigable" served in the 1st Cruiser Squadron, which in January 1913 was renamed the 1st Battlecruiser Squadron. In December 1913, she transferred to the Mediterranean where she served in the 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron, and in August 1914 took part in the pursuit of "Goeben" and "Breslau". She participated in the bombardment of Cape Helles on 3 November. After undergoing refit at Malta, in 1915, she joined the Grand Fleet based at Scapa Flow. As part of the 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron, under the command of Captain C. F. Sowerby at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916, she was hit by 28 cm (11 inch) shells from "Von der Tann". She was hit first by two shells in the "X" magazine area, blowing out her bottom and causing her to fall out of formation, sinking by the stern. Following more hits in the area of 'A' turret, the forward magazine exploded, and the ship sank quickly, killing all but three—Leading Seamen Falmer and Elliot, and Signalman John Bowyer—of her crew of 1,017. According to one of the survivors, Captain Sowerby also survived the sinking, but died of his wounds before he could be rescued.

The wreck today is one of the most difficult of all the Jutland wrecks to locate. Commercial salvage during the 1950s reduced the ship to nothing more than a mass of metal, with most chunks hardly bigger than a standard hatchback car. The "Indefatigable", along with the other Jutland wrecks, has belatedly been declared a "protected place" under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 to discourage further damage to the resting place of 1,013 officers and men. In addition, one of the ship's life savers that survived the sinking is on display at the Imperial War Museum North in Manchester.

Mount Indefatigable in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park in Alberta, Canada is named in honour of this ship.

References

* Robert Gardiner, ed., "Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906 - 1921" (Conway Maritime Press, London, 1985)
* John Roberts, "Battlecruiser" (Chatham Publishing, London, 1997), ISBN 1-86176-006-X, ISBN 1-55750-068-1

External links

* [http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/great_britain/battleships/indefatigable/hms_indefatigable.htm Maritimequest HMS Indefatigable Photo Gallery]
* [http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20080950_en_1 SI 2008/0950] Designation under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986