Hello,
the "Victoria", hrrrm, seems she sank because being rammed accidentally during a fleet "show" manoeuvre ..
" ... Victoria wrote a page in naval infamy when she was accidentally rammed by the
Admiral-class battleship HMS
Camperdown (left) and sunk in full view of crowds on the Tripoli waterfront, including a glittering array of military brass. ..."
" ...The 1200-yard gap between the columns was 400 yards less than double the ships' minimum turning radius. Unfortunately the Admiral failed to widen the space between columns (as subordinates timidly suggested several times) to build in a margin of safety before ordering the crash turn. Some sort of mental block seems to have blinded him to the peril, and his officers were wary of arousing his famous temper. The two leading ships,
Victoria and
Camperdown, drew closer and closer until the
Camperdown's ram sliced through the
Victoria's bow. Mercifully
Camperdown's captain had reversed engines at the last minute, as the collision course became obvious to him. ..."
A case of leading officer's expertise again, seems to be the US Navy is right with promoting officers that "have luck" rather than other, well, attributes
Well, no warship but seemingly an auxiliary cruiser ? :hmm: :
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti....html?ITO=1490#
Greetings,
Catfish