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2 June 916 - Beatty at Sea
0215 40 nautical miles Northeast of Rosyth, 22 June 1916
Beatty was at sea with three battle-cruiser and three light cruiser squadrons. Forewarned by Room 40 interceptions of German naval communication, his force had followed Jellicoe's Grand Fleet from Scapa Flow. The Grand Fleet had seemingly put to sea without incident. His own force had not been so lucky. For the last month, concerned by the possibility of German U Boats laying in wait of major fleet bases, particularly Rosyth, he had adopted an arrangement on Jellicoe's suggestion. This had been the sailing of the pre dreadnought HMS Albemarle up to 30 minutes ahead of his battlecruisers. As he had prepared to leave on the previous by the Albemarle had taken two torpedoes from a German U Boat, itself sunk by ramming from an escorting destroyer. The old pre dreadnought had slowly settled, a fate that may have befallen some of his more modern ships.
Beatty wondered if, unlike the warnings of the 31st May, the Germans would actually put to sea this time. He was eager to come to grips with them after the disappointments of the Battle of Dogger Bank. His was a substantial force, bolstered by the return of HMAS Australia from a refit. It consisted of:
1. Battle Cruiser Force, Vice Admiral Sir David Beatty, Rosyth
1BCS
HMS Lion, flag, Vice Admiral Sir David Beatty, VABCS, Captain A.E.M. Chatfield
HMS Princess Royal, flag, Rear Admiral O.de Brock, RA1BCS, Captain W.H. Cowan
HMS Queen Mary, Captain C.I. Prowse
HMS Tiger, Captain H.B. Pelly
2BCS
HMAS Australia, Capt. S.H. Radcliffe flag Rear Admiral W.C. Packenham, RA2BCS
HMS New Zealand, Captain H.Green
HMS Indefatigable, Captain C.A. Selby
3BCS
HMS Invincible, flag, Rear Admiral the Hon. H.A. Hood, RA3BCS, Captain A.L. Cay
HMS Inflexible, Captain EHF Heaton-Ellis
HMS Indomitable, Captain F.W. Kennedy
1LCS
HMS Galatea, flag, Commodore E.S. Alexander-Sinclair, Cmdre 1LCS
HMS Phaeton, Commander JE Cameron
HMS Inconstant, Capt. BS Thesiger
HMS Cordelia, Capt. TPH Beamish
2LCS
HMS Southampton, flag, Commodore W.E. Goodenough, Cmdre, 2LCS
HMS Birmingham, Captain A.A.M. Duff
HMS Nottingham, Captain C.B. Miller
HMS Dublin, Captain A.C. Scott
3LCS
HMS Falmouth, flag, Rear Admiral TDW. Napier, RA3LCS, Captain J.D. Edwards
HMS Yarmouth, Captain T.D. Pratt, (linking ship between light cruiser screen and VABCF)
HMS Birkenhead, Capt. E Reeves
HMS Gloucester, Capt. WF Blunt
HMS Chester, Captain R.N. Lawson
Seaplane carrier
HMS Engadine, Lt.Commander C.G. Robinson (4 Short Type 184 seaplanes)
HMS Onslow and HMS Moresby detached from 1DF to escort HMS Engadine
13 DF screening 1BCS:
HMS Champion, Captain J.U. Farie (D.13)
16 Admiralty M Class destroyers:
HMS Nestor, HMS Nomad, HMS Narborough, HMS Obdurate, HMS Petard, HMS Pelican, HMS Onslow, HMS Moresby, HMS Nicator, HMS Negro, HMS Nereus,HMS Paladin, HMS Pidgeon, HMS Penn, HMS Nepean, HMS Observer
1 Yarrow M Class destroyer:
HMS Nerissa
10DF (part, detached from Harwich Force), screening 1BCS
2 Talisman Class destroyers
HMS Turbulent, TMS Termagant
9DF (part, detached from Harwich Force), screening 2BCS
4 L Class destroyers
HMS Lydiard, HMS Liberty, HMS Landrail, HMS Laurel
In all, not counting the forces allocated to his scouting seaplane carrier, he had fully ten battle-cruisers, 13 light cruisers and 24 destroyers. This was to be backed by Jellicoe's massive Grand Fleet, consisting of:
Grand Fleet, Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, Scapa Flow
2BS, 1st Division, Cromarty
HMS King George V, flag, Sir Martyn Jerram, VA2BS
HMS Ajax, Capt. GH Baird
HMS Centurion, Capt. M Culme-Seymour
HMS Erin, Capt. VA Stanley
2BS, 2nd Division, Cromarty
HMS Monarch, flag Rear Admiral Arthur Leveson, RA2BS
HMS Conqueror, Capt. HHD Tothill
HMS Orion, Capt. O Backhouse
HMS Thunderer, Captain J.A. Ferguson
Attached 2BS
HMS Boadicea, Captain L.C.S. Woollcombe
4BS, 3rd Division, Scapa Flow
HMS Iron Duke, flag, Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, CinCGF, Captain F.W. Dreyer
HMS Emperor of India, Capt. C.W.R. Royds
HMS Royal Oak, Capt. C. MacLachlan
HMS Superb, flag Rear Admiral Duff, RA4BS, Capt. E Hyde-Parker
HMS Canada, Capt. WCM Nicholson
Attached Fleet Flagship:
HMS Active, Captain P.Withers
Tender to HMS Iron Duke:
HMS Oak, LtCdr. D Faviell (Destroyer Tender to the Flagship)
Marksman class destroyer-minelayer:
HMS Abdiel, Commander Curtis
4BS, 4th Division, Scapa Flow
HMS Benbow, flag, Vice Admiral Sir Doveton Sturdee, VA4BS; Capt. HW Parker
HMS Bellerophon, Capt. EF Bruen
HMS Temeraire, Capt. EV Underhill
HMS Vanguard, Capt. JD Dick
Attached 4BS
HMS Blanche, Captain J.M. Casement
HMS Blonde, Commander J.E.A. Mocatta
1BS, 5th Division, Scapa Flow
HMS Colossus, flag, Rear Admiral E.F.A. Gaunt, RA1BS, Captain A.D.P.R. Pound
HMS Collingwood, Capt. JC Ley
HMS Neptune, Capt. VHG Bernard
HMS St. Vincent, Captain W.W. Fisher
1BS, 6th Division,
HMS Marlborough, flag Vice Admiral Sir Cecil Burney, VA1BS, Captain G.P. Ross
HMS Revenge, Capt. ES Kiddle
HMS Royal Sovereign, Capt. A.T. Hunt
HMS Hercules, Captain Clinton-Baker
HMS Agincourt, Capt. HM Doughty
5BS, Rosyth, from Scapa Flow
13th Subdivision:
HMS Barham, flag, Rear Admiral Hugh Evans-Thomas, RA5BS, Captain A.W.C. Waller
HMS Valiant, Captain M. Woollcombe
14th Subdivision:
HMS Warspite, Captain E. Phillpotts
HMS Malaya, Captain the Hon. A.D.E.H. Boyle
HMS Queen Elizabeth, Capt. G.P.W. Hope
1DF, screening 5BS
HMS Fearless, Captain C.D. Roper, Captain (D.1)
I Class destroyers:
HMS Acheron, HMS Ariel, HMS Attack, HMS Hydra, HMS Badger, HMS Goshawk, HMS Defender, HMS Lizard, HMS Lapwing, HMS Botha, HMS Jackal, HMS Phoenix, HMS Archer, HMS Tigress
Attached 1BS:
HMS Bellona, Captain A.B.S. Dutton
1CS, Cromarty
HMS Defence, flag Rear Admiral Sir Robert Arbuthnot, Bt., RA1CS, Captain S.V. Ellis
HMS Warrior, Captain V.B. Molteno
HMS Duke of Edinburgh, Captain H. Blackett
HMS Black Prince, Captain T.P. Bonham
2CS, Scapa Flow
HMS Minotaur, flag, Rear Admiral H.L. Heath, RA2CS, Captain C.S.H. D’Aeth
HMS Hampshire, Capt. HJ Savill
HMS Cochrane, Capt. E la T Leatham
HMS Shannon, Capt. JS Dumaresq
HMS Achilles, Capt. F.M. Leake
HMS Donegal, Capt. W.H. D'Oyly
4LCS, Scapa Flow
HMS Calliope, flag, Commodore C.E. le Mesurier, Cmdre, 4LCS
HMS Constance, Capt. CS Townsend
HMS Comus, Capt. AG Hotham
HMS Caroline, Captain HR Crooke
HMS Royalist, Capt. H Meade
HMS Cambrian, Capt AH Read
4DF, Scapa Flow
Destroyer leaders:
HMS Tipperary, flag, Captain C.J. Wintour (D.4)
HMS Broke, Commander AL Wilson
1 Admiralty M Class
HMS Ophelia, Commander LGE Crabbe (escorting 3BCS)
16 K Class destroyers
HMS Achates, HMS Porpoise, HMS Spitfire, HMS Unity, HMS Garland, HMS Ambuscade, HMS Ardent, HMS Fortune, HMS Sparrowhawk, HMS Contest,
HMS Shark, HMS Acasta, HMS Christopher, HMS Owl, HMS Hardy, HMS Midge, HMS Cockatrice, HMS Victor, HMS Paragon
11DF, Scapa Flow
HMS Castor, Commodore J.R.P. Hawksley, Commodore (F)
Destroyer leader:
HMS Kempenfelt, Commander HE Sullivan
13 Admiralty M Class destroyers
HMS Ossory, HMS Mystic, HMS Magic, HMS Mandate, HMS Minion, HMS Martial, HMS Milbrook, HMS Marne, HMS Manners, HMS Michael, HMS Mons, HMS Marmion, HMS Musketeer
3 Yarrow M Class destroyers
HMS Morning Star, HMS Mounsey, HMS Moonvin
12DF, Scapa Flow
Destroyer leaders:
HMS Faulknor, Captain A.J.B. Stirling, D.12
HMS Marksman, Cdr. NA Sullivan (Flag, 2nd Half Flotilla)
16 Admiralty M Class destroyers
HMS Obedient, HMS Maenad, HMS Opal, HMS Mary Rose, HMS Marvel, HMS Menace, HMS Nessus, HMS Narwhal, HMS Mindful, HMS Onslaught, HMS Munster, HMS Nonsuch, HMS Nobel, HMS Mischief, HMS Napier, HMS Mameluke
Seaplane carrier (Scapa Flow):
HMS Campania, Captain O. Schwann, 10 aircraft
In all, 31 dreadnoughts, 10 armoured cruisers, 10 light cruisers and 73 destroyers. Also in support was the Harwich Force of 5 light cruisers and 29 destroyers, consisting of:
5LCS
HMS Carysfoot, flag, Commodore R. Tyrwhitt
HMS Arethusa, Captain TP Hutchinson
HMS Cleopatra, Captain GH West
HMS Conquest, Captain EE Withers
HMS Penelope, Captain T Amos
HMS Canterbury, Captain P.M.R. Royds
9th DF
1 destroyer leader (Marksman class)
HMS Lightfoot, Captain T. Leverson-Gower
17 L Class destroyers:
HMS Lark, HMS Laverock, HMS Linnet, HMS Laertes, HMS Laforey, HMS Lance, HMS Lawford, HMS Legion, HMS Lennox, HMS Leonidas, HMS Llewellyn, HMS Lookout, HMS Loyal, HMS Lucifer, HMS Lysander, HMS Lassoo, HMS Lochinar
1 destroyer leader
HMS Nimrod, Captain HW Gardam
10 Admiralty M class destroyers
HMS Manly, HMS Mansfield, HMS Matchless, HMS Mentor, HMS Meteor, HMS Milne, HMS Minos, HMS Miranda, HMS Murray, HMS Myngs
Finally, based at Sheerness was the Nore Force, consisting of 1 dreadnought, 7 pre dreadnoughts, 3 armoured cruiser and 11 destroyers consisting of:
Nore Command. Based at Sheerness, but actually lying in the Swin, the Northern passage of the Thames estuary:
3BS
HMS Dreadnought, flag, Admiral Sir George Callaghan
HMS Hibernia
HMS Zealandia
HMS Africa
HMS Britannia
HMS Commonwealth
HMS Dominion
HMS Hindustan
3CS
HMS Antrim
HMS Devonshire
HMS Roxburgh
6DF
Leader HMS Swift
10 Tribal Class destroyers
HMS Afridi, HMS Cossack, HMS Gurkha, HMS Mohawk, HMS Tartar, HMS Crusader, HMS Saracen, HMS Nubian, HMS Viking, HMS Zulu
Beatty was at sea with three battle-cruiser and three light cruiser squadrons. Forewarned by Room 40 interceptions of German naval communication, his force had followed Jellicoe's Grand Fleet from Scapa Flow. The Grand Fleet had seemingly put to sea without incident. His own force had not been so lucky. For the last month, concerned by the possibility of German U Boats laying in wait of major fleet bases, particularly Rosyth, he had adopted an arrangement on Jellicoe's suggestion. This had been the sailing of the pre dreadnought HMS Albemarle up to 30 minutes ahead of his battlecruisers. As he had prepared to leave on the previous by the Albemarle had taken two torpedoes from a German U Boat, itself sunk by ramming from an escorting destroyer. The old pre dreadnought had slowly settled, a fate that may have befallen some of his more modern ships.
Beatty wondered if, unlike the warnings of the 31st May, the Germans would actually put to sea this time. He was eager to come to grips with them after the disappointments of the Battle of Dogger Bank. His was a substantial force, bolstered by the return of HMAS Australia from a refit. It consisted of:
1. Battle Cruiser Force, Vice Admiral Sir David Beatty, Rosyth
1BCS
HMS Lion, flag, Vice Admiral Sir David Beatty, VABCS, Captain A.E.M. Chatfield
HMS Princess Royal, flag, Rear Admiral O.de Brock, RA1BCS, Captain W.H. Cowan
HMS Queen Mary, Captain C.I. Prowse
HMS Tiger, Captain H.B. Pelly
2BCS
HMAS Australia, Capt. S.H. Radcliffe flag Rear Admiral W.C. Packenham, RA2BCS
HMS New Zealand, Captain H.Green
HMS Indefatigable, Captain C.A. Selby
3BCS
HMS Invincible, flag, Rear Admiral the Hon. H.A. Hood, RA3BCS, Captain A.L. Cay
HMS Inflexible, Captain EHF Heaton-Ellis
HMS Indomitable, Captain F.W. Kennedy
1LCS
HMS Galatea, flag, Commodore E.S. Alexander-Sinclair, Cmdre 1LCS
HMS Phaeton, Commander JE Cameron
HMS Inconstant, Capt. BS Thesiger
HMS Cordelia, Capt. TPH Beamish
2LCS
HMS Southampton, flag, Commodore W.E. Goodenough, Cmdre, 2LCS
HMS Birmingham, Captain A.A.M. Duff
HMS Nottingham, Captain C.B. Miller
HMS Dublin, Captain A.C. Scott
3LCS
HMS Falmouth, flag, Rear Admiral TDW. Napier, RA3LCS, Captain J.D. Edwards
HMS Yarmouth, Captain T.D. Pratt, (linking ship between light cruiser screen and VABCF)
HMS Birkenhead, Capt. E Reeves
HMS Gloucester, Capt. WF Blunt
HMS Chester, Captain R.N. Lawson
Seaplane carrier
HMS Engadine, Lt.Commander C.G. Robinson (4 Short Type 184 seaplanes)
HMS Onslow and HMS Moresby detached from 1DF to escort HMS Engadine
13 DF screening 1BCS:
HMS Champion, Captain J.U. Farie (D.13)
16 Admiralty M Class destroyers:
HMS Nestor, HMS Nomad, HMS Narborough, HMS Obdurate, HMS Petard, HMS Pelican, HMS Onslow, HMS Moresby, HMS Nicator, HMS Negro, HMS Nereus,HMS Paladin, HMS Pidgeon, HMS Penn, HMS Nepean, HMS Observer
1 Yarrow M Class destroyer:
HMS Nerissa
10DF (part, detached from Harwich Force), screening 1BCS
2 Talisman Class destroyers
HMS Turbulent, TMS Termagant
9DF (part, detached from Harwich Force), screening 2BCS
4 L Class destroyers
HMS Lydiard, HMS Liberty, HMS Landrail, HMS Laurel
In all, not counting the forces allocated to his scouting seaplane carrier, he had fully ten battle-cruisers, 13 light cruisers and 24 destroyers. This was to be backed by Jellicoe's massive Grand Fleet, consisting of:
Grand Fleet, Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, Scapa Flow
2BS, 1st Division, Cromarty
HMS King George V, flag, Sir Martyn Jerram, VA2BS
HMS Ajax, Capt. GH Baird
HMS Centurion, Capt. M Culme-Seymour
HMS Erin, Capt. VA Stanley
2BS, 2nd Division, Cromarty
HMS Monarch, flag Rear Admiral Arthur Leveson, RA2BS
HMS Conqueror, Capt. HHD Tothill
HMS Orion, Capt. O Backhouse
HMS Thunderer, Captain J.A. Ferguson
Attached 2BS
HMS Boadicea, Captain L.C.S. Woollcombe
4BS, 3rd Division, Scapa Flow
HMS Iron Duke, flag, Admiral Sir John Jellicoe, CinCGF, Captain F.W. Dreyer
HMS Emperor of India, Capt. C.W.R. Royds
HMS Royal Oak, Capt. C. MacLachlan
HMS Superb, flag Rear Admiral Duff, RA4BS, Capt. E Hyde-Parker
HMS Canada, Capt. WCM Nicholson
Attached Fleet Flagship:
HMS Active, Captain P.Withers
Tender to HMS Iron Duke:
HMS Oak, LtCdr. D Faviell (Destroyer Tender to the Flagship)
Marksman class destroyer-minelayer:
HMS Abdiel, Commander Curtis
4BS, 4th Division, Scapa Flow
HMS Benbow, flag, Vice Admiral Sir Doveton Sturdee, VA4BS; Capt. HW Parker
HMS Bellerophon, Capt. EF Bruen
HMS Temeraire, Capt. EV Underhill
HMS Vanguard, Capt. JD Dick
Attached 4BS
HMS Blanche, Captain J.M. Casement
HMS Blonde, Commander J.E.A. Mocatta
1BS, 5th Division, Scapa Flow
HMS Colossus, flag, Rear Admiral E.F.A. Gaunt, RA1BS, Captain A.D.P.R. Pound
HMS Collingwood, Capt. JC Ley
HMS Neptune, Capt. VHG Bernard
HMS St. Vincent, Captain W.W. Fisher
1BS, 6th Division,
HMS Marlborough, flag Vice Admiral Sir Cecil Burney, VA1BS, Captain G.P. Ross
HMS Revenge, Capt. ES Kiddle
HMS Royal Sovereign, Capt. A.T. Hunt
HMS Hercules, Captain Clinton-Baker
HMS Agincourt, Capt. HM Doughty
5BS, Rosyth, from Scapa Flow
13th Subdivision:
HMS Barham, flag, Rear Admiral Hugh Evans-Thomas, RA5BS, Captain A.W.C. Waller
HMS Valiant, Captain M. Woollcombe
14th Subdivision:
HMS Warspite, Captain E. Phillpotts
HMS Malaya, Captain the Hon. A.D.E.H. Boyle
HMS Queen Elizabeth, Capt. G.P.W. Hope
1DF, screening 5BS
HMS Fearless, Captain C.D. Roper, Captain (D.1)
I Class destroyers:
HMS Acheron, HMS Ariel, HMS Attack, HMS Hydra, HMS Badger, HMS Goshawk, HMS Defender, HMS Lizard, HMS Lapwing, HMS Botha, HMS Jackal, HMS Phoenix, HMS Archer, HMS Tigress
Attached 1BS:
HMS Bellona, Captain A.B.S. Dutton
1CS, Cromarty
HMS Defence, flag Rear Admiral Sir Robert Arbuthnot, Bt., RA1CS, Captain S.V. Ellis
HMS Warrior, Captain V.B. Molteno
HMS Duke of Edinburgh, Captain H. Blackett
HMS Black Prince, Captain T.P. Bonham
2CS, Scapa Flow
HMS Minotaur, flag, Rear Admiral H.L. Heath, RA2CS, Captain C.S.H. D’Aeth
HMS Hampshire, Capt. HJ Savill
HMS Cochrane, Capt. E la T Leatham
HMS Shannon, Capt. JS Dumaresq
HMS Achilles, Capt. F.M. Leake
HMS Donegal, Capt. W.H. D'Oyly
4LCS, Scapa Flow
HMS Calliope, flag, Commodore C.E. le Mesurier, Cmdre, 4LCS
HMS Constance, Capt. CS Townsend
HMS Comus, Capt. AG Hotham
HMS Caroline, Captain HR Crooke
HMS Royalist, Capt. H Meade
HMS Cambrian, Capt AH Read
4DF, Scapa Flow
Destroyer leaders:
HMS Tipperary, flag, Captain C.J. Wintour (D.4)
HMS Broke, Commander AL Wilson
1 Admiralty M Class
HMS Ophelia, Commander LGE Crabbe (escorting 3BCS)
16 K Class destroyers
HMS Achates, HMS Porpoise, HMS Spitfire, HMS Unity, HMS Garland, HMS Ambuscade, HMS Ardent, HMS Fortune, HMS Sparrowhawk, HMS Contest,
HMS Shark, HMS Acasta, HMS Christopher, HMS Owl, HMS Hardy, HMS Midge, HMS Cockatrice, HMS Victor, HMS Paragon
11DF, Scapa Flow
HMS Castor, Commodore J.R.P. Hawksley, Commodore (F)
Destroyer leader:
HMS Kempenfelt, Commander HE Sullivan
13 Admiralty M Class destroyers
HMS Ossory, HMS Mystic, HMS Magic, HMS Mandate, HMS Minion, HMS Martial, HMS Milbrook, HMS Marne, HMS Manners, HMS Michael, HMS Mons, HMS Marmion, HMS Musketeer
3 Yarrow M Class destroyers
HMS Morning Star, HMS Mounsey, HMS Moonvin
12DF, Scapa Flow
Destroyer leaders:
HMS Faulknor, Captain A.J.B. Stirling, D.12
HMS Marksman, Cdr. NA Sullivan (Flag, 2nd Half Flotilla)
16 Admiralty M Class destroyers
HMS Obedient, HMS Maenad, HMS Opal, HMS Mary Rose, HMS Marvel, HMS Menace, HMS Nessus, HMS Narwhal, HMS Mindful, HMS Onslaught, HMS Munster, HMS Nonsuch, HMS Nobel, HMS Mischief, HMS Napier, HMS Mameluke
Seaplane carrier (Scapa Flow):
HMS Campania, Captain O. Schwann, 10 aircraft
In all, 31 dreadnoughts, 10 armoured cruisers, 10 light cruisers and 73 destroyers. Also in support was the Harwich Force of 5 light cruisers and 29 destroyers, consisting of:
5LCS
HMS Carysfoot, flag, Commodore R. Tyrwhitt
HMS Arethusa, Captain TP Hutchinson
HMS Cleopatra, Captain GH West
HMS Conquest, Captain EE Withers
HMS Penelope, Captain T Amos
HMS Canterbury, Captain P.M.R. Royds
9th DF
1 destroyer leader (Marksman class)
HMS Lightfoot, Captain T. Leverson-Gower
17 L Class destroyers:
HMS Lark, HMS Laverock, HMS Linnet, HMS Laertes, HMS Laforey, HMS Lance, HMS Lawford, HMS Legion, HMS Lennox, HMS Leonidas, HMS Llewellyn, HMS Lookout, HMS Loyal, HMS Lucifer, HMS Lysander, HMS Lassoo, HMS Lochinar
1 destroyer leader
HMS Nimrod, Captain HW Gardam
10 Admiralty M class destroyers
HMS Manly, HMS Mansfield, HMS Matchless, HMS Mentor, HMS Meteor, HMS Milne, HMS Minos, HMS Miranda, HMS Murray, HMS Myngs
Finally, based at Sheerness was the Nore Force, consisting of 1 dreadnought, 7 pre dreadnoughts, 3 armoured cruiser and 11 destroyers consisting of:
Nore Command. Based at Sheerness, but actually lying in the Swin, the Northern passage of the Thames estuary:
3BS
HMS Dreadnought, flag, Admiral Sir George Callaghan
HMS Hibernia
HMS Zealandia
HMS Africa
HMS Britannia
HMS Commonwealth
HMS Dominion
HMS Hindustan
3CS
HMS Antrim
HMS Devonshire
HMS Roxburgh
6DF
Leader HMS Swift
10 Tribal Class destroyers
HMS Afridi, HMS Cossack, HMS Gurkha, HMS Mohawk, HMS Tartar, HMS Crusader, HMS Saracen, HMS Nubian, HMS Viking, HMS Zulu
- johnboy
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