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| Gneisenau (1907) Naval Art Prints, Paintings and Drawings |
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| Text for the above items : |
Battle of the Falkland Islands by Randall Wilson. Admiral von Spees Flagship SMS Scharnhorst leads SMS Gneisenau in the opening stages of engaging the Royal Naval ships east of the Falklands, 8th December 1914. |
The Last of Scharnhorst and Gneisenau by W L Wyllie. During the battle of the Falkland Islands, both the German ships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau were sunk after battling with the Royal Navy battleships HMS Invincible and HMS Inflexible and heavy cruiser HMS Carnarvon. |
The Gneisenaus desperate fight with the British battle cruisers Invincible and Inflexible. When the Scharnhorst had been disposed of, there still remained the Gneisenau to contend with. Though her condition was almost as terrible as that of her sister ship, she continued a determined but ineffectual effort to fight the two battle cruisers Invincible and Inflexible. At half past five, when barely able to move, she headed towards the flagship, and it was thought that her guns had all been silenced. Admiral Sturdee at once gave the order for his ships to cease-fire. Before the order could be signalled, however, the Gneisenau opened fire again, and continued firing at intervals from the only gun remaining intact. But at six oclock she turned over, and in less than a minute sank to the bottom of the sea. |
Boats from the British ships picking up the survivors of the Gneisenau. Nearly two hundred of the Gneisenaus crew were picked up after she sank, but many of these died as a consequence of their sudden immersion in nearly freezing water. The survivors declared that nearly six hundred men had been killed outright onboard, and that the entire upper deck of the ship had been shot away. When every round of ammunition had been fired, the surviving officers opened the submerged torpedo tubes to let in the water and sink the ship. For his services in destroying the German squadron, Admiral Sir Frederick Sturdee was created a Baronet. In the Invincible, Mr Thomas A Wells, Carpenter R.N., was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, while leading seamen (first Class Gunlayer) F.S. Martin, and engine room Artificer G. H. F. McCarten, were given the Distinguished Service Medal, which decoration was also awarded to Chief engine Room Artificer robber Snowdon of the Inflexible. |
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