The Rainbow. A World War One on Canada's West Coast Timeline
- Thread starter YYJ
- Start date
marathag
Banned
Much of the Canadian Pacific RR in British Columbia was Single Track, and mostly set for passengers and not freight at this point. Heavy freight would run into issues from tall grades and tight curves, sometimes combined. Derailing was common, and even runaways on the downslopes
marathag
Banned
Neutrality Laws may interfere with military shipments, unless a lot of 'Agricultural Equipment' is marked on the manifests and boxes
Three funnels
Aug 12, 0800. HMCS Rainbow, Off Cape Mendocino California.
Rainbow was heading north at a slow cruising speed, conserving coal and keeping maximum lookout for the two missing sloops. The sky was clear, the sun getting hotter, with some coastal fog burning off in the middle distance.
“Smoke!” called the lookout. “Due north.” A ship emerged from the fog, about 5 miles distant.
Hose went to grab his binoculars. Before he could get back to the bridge wing he heard the lookout call “Three funnels, cruiser stern! Appears to be a cruiser!” Range 10,000 yards.
Hose came to the rail at a run, and raised his binoculars. It was what the lookout said. Three funnels and a cruiser stern. Then his hands began to shake. There were, of course, only two possible cruisers on this coast of that description. Leipzig or Nürnberg. Here they were, the sea flat as a table, almost infinite visibility, at 10,000 yards within the range of the German guns, but not within Rainbow’s range.
“Action stations! Steer 14 points to starboard! Full speed ahead! Clear after gun for a stern chase!”
Everywhere, men ran to their stations. The Rainbow heeled over as she changed course. The deck vibrated under Hose’s feet as the revolutions came up. Black smoke poured from Rainbow’s twin funnels. Hose looked aft towards the cruiser. On his deck below, the 4.7 inch and 12 pounder guns were being swung out and prepared for action. Ammunition handlers were pulling flash hoods over their heads. The deck was swarming with sailors, each performing their discrete task to get ready for battle. Some of these men were reservists with only a month of service, and only such training as he could provide. Hose’s hands gripped the rail until his nails dug into the wood.
“Correction! Ship appears to be a merchant ship!” called the lookout.
“What!” Hose raised his binoculars again.
“Ship appears to be a merchant ship.” the lookout repeated.
Hose studied the ship. Three funnels, cruiser stern. High sides, high superstructure with two decks above the hull from the bridge to stern. Symmetrical row of lifeboats along the top deck. Definitely not a cruiser.
“Stand down from Action Stations! All ahead half speed. Come about to previous course.” Hose’s hands did not stop shaking.
He studied the ship again. The light was hitting her side now at a different angle, and Hose could make out a large red cross painted on the hull. A hospital ship. But the ship had a unique look, a familiar look.
“I identify the ship as possible Grand Trunk Pacific steamship Prince Rupert or Prince George,” said Hose.
Then, the ship signaled by wireless.
SS PRINCE GEORGE TO RAINBOW RETURN TO ESQUIMALT TO LOAD AMMUNITION STOP
As it turned out, Hose learned, the steamer was indeed the SS Prince George, of the Grand Trunk Pacific Steamship Line. She had been fitted out as a hospital ship and sent south to fetch Rainbow back up to Esquimalt, or rescue her survivors, which ever one turned out to be needed. She transferred some supplies to Rainbow, and was available to transfer coal if necessary, but Rainbow had just enough for the time being. The two ships fell into formation and headed north together.
This was the ship Hose had run from. I turned tail and ran from a hospital ship that had been dispatched to save me. Hose’s cheeks burned. Remember Nelson indeed! And Hose steeled himself that should he get another chance to face a German cruiser, it would be a different story.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Pr..._S.S._Prince_George,_c.1910_(16280529849).jpg
Rainbow was heading north at a slow cruising speed, conserving coal and keeping maximum lookout for the two missing sloops. The sky was clear, the sun getting hotter, with some coastal fog burning off in the middle distance.
“Smoke!” called the lookout. “Due north.” A ship emerged from the fog, about 5 miles distant.
Hose went to grab his binoculars. Before he could get back to the bridge wing he heard the lookout call “Three funnels, cruiser stern! Appears to be a cruiser!” Range 10,000 yards.
Hose came to the rail at a run, and raised his binoculars. It was what the lookout said. Three funnels and a cruiser stern. Then his hands began to shake. There were, of course, only two possible cruisers on this coast of that description. Leipzig or Nürnberg. Here they were, the sea flat as a table, almost infinite visibility, at 10,000 yards within the range of the German guns, but not within Rainbow’s range.
“Action stations! Steer 14 points to starboard! Full speed ahead! Clear after gun for a stern chase!”
Everywhere, men ran to their stations. The Rainbow heeled over as she changed course. The deck vibrated under Hose’s feet as the revolutions came up. Black smoke poured from Rainbow’s twin funnels. Hose looked aft towards the cruiser. On his deck below, the 4.7 inch and 12 pounder guns were being swung out and prepared for action. Ammunition handlers were pulling flash hoods over their heads. The deck was swarming with sailors, each performing their discrete task to get ready for battle. Some of these men were reservists with only a month of service, and only such training as he could provide. Hose’s hands gripped the rail until his nails dug into the wood.
“Correction! Ship appears to be a merchant ship!” called the lookout.
“What!” Hose raised his binoculars again.
“Ship appears to be a merchant ship.” the lookout repeated.
Hose studied the ship. Three funnels, cruiser stern. High sides, high superstructure with two decks above the hull from the bridge to stern. Symmetrical row of lifeboats along the top deck. Definitely not a cruiser.
“Stand down from Action Stations! All ahead half speed. Come about to previous course.” Hose’s hands did not stop shaking.
He studied the ship again. The light was hitting her side now at a different angle, and Hose could make out a large red cross painted on the hull. A hospital ship. But the ship had a unique look, a familiar look.
“I identify the ship as possible Grand Trunk Pacific steamship Prince Rupert or Prince George,” said Hose.
Then, the ship signaled by wireless.
SS PRINCE GEORGE TO RAINBOW RETURN TO ESQUIMALT TO LOAD AMMUNITION STOP
As it turned out, Hose learned, the steamer was indeed the SS Prince George, of the Grand Trunk Pacific Steamship Line. She had been fitted out as a hospital ship and sent south to fetch Rainbow back up to Esquimalt, or rescue her survivors, which ever one turned out to be needed. She transferred some supplies to Rainbow, and was available to transfer coal if necessary, but Rainbow had just enough for the time being. The two ships fell into formation and headed north together.
This was the ship Hose had run from. I turned tail and ran from a hospital ship that had been dispatched to save me. Hose’s cheeks burned. Remember Nelson indeed! And Hose steeled himself that should he get another chance to face a German cruiser, it would be a different story.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Pr..._S.S._Prince_George,_c.1910_(16280529849).jpg
Last edited:
The cargoes being held by this shipping stop are cargoes headed for Asia. I guess in war the powers that be find a way to make do, but shipping to Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, etc. from Halifax is not a normal shipping route. Also, in 1914, about 75% of the worlds merchant fleet was British. Those ships are held in port on the West Coast of North America or in Asian ports. The Germans cruisers, and fear of the German cruisers, caused big headaches, both OTL and ITTL.
I'll have you know all Irish whisky and beer used Irish barley until the Ards Malting Company closed its doors, in 2004 or 5 (if memory serves).
At this point OTL, Craddock and his 4th Cruiser Squadron are searching all over the East Coast and Caribbean, looking for the rampaging Dresden and Karlsruhe. This position has them also bottling up the east entrance to the brand new Panama Canal.
Brief northern night
Aug 12, SMS Nürnberg, Pacific Ocean near Dixon Entrance
During the brief northern night, one ship passed Nürnberg in each direction. Von Schönberg decided against night boarding action as being too risky at this point, so he let them pass. Nürnberg herself was invisible, blacked out in the darkness.
Just at dawn, in the half-light, Nürnberg almost missed a westbound barque under full sail. She was chased down, and proved to be the Abnoba–Victoria BC, 1500 tons, carrying barley, corn, flour, and canned vegetables to Australia. She was sunk with demolition charges. The boarding party returned with 22 crew, a Jack Russell terrier, 100 sacks of flour, and 80 cases of canned vegetables. Feeding the prisoners was becoming taxing on the Nürnberg’s cooks and bakers. Several of the cooks from the prizes were recruited to help, providing they did tasks that did not involve knives.
At around 1100 hours, more smoke was seen westbound, and the Nürnberg intercepted a steam freighter. This proved to be a problem. Once the Nürnberg closed she was identified as the Lykiardopoulo Shipping Company vessel SS Mount Chortiatis – Thessaloniki. 3500 tons. She was a neutral.
However, Von Schönberg had committed to the inspection, there was no way to discretely withdraw now. He decided to proceed with the boarding, and went along himself. Mount Chortiatis was cooperative and stopped on first request. Nürnberg jammed radio transmissions just to be sure.
Von Schönberg let the boarding party do their job and secure the ship, while he waited to the side. Soon the 26 crew were assembled on the foredeck, backed against the tarpaulin wrapped deck cargo. Von Schönberg observed that the boarding party looked very convincing with their bayonetted rifles, and the officers especially so with shoulder stocks fitted on their Mauser and Luger pistols. The Greek captain was ebullient and welcoming. He introduced himself with a flourish and greeted Von Schönberg in his best broken German.
The mood changed, and the Greek captain became visibly nervous when the inspection detachment returned, and reported to Von Schönberg that the cargo was agricultural machinery, twelve REO transport trucks, artillery shell casings (not filled) and half a million rounds of .303 rifle ammunition, bound for Australia.
Von Schönberg produced the articles of war, and explained that although this ship was a neutral, her cargo of vehicles was considered Conditional Contraband, and her cargo of ammunition was certainly Absolute Contraband. His orders required him to seize the cargo. He would prefer to inter the vessel in a German port for the duration of the war, however circumstances dictated that he instead needed to sink the vessel as is permitted at his discretion.
The Greek captain demonstrated that his knowledge of German was strongest in the area of curses.
Lieutenant Von Spee, of the landing party, cut the Greek captain short with a single shot in the air from his Mauser. Von Schönberg apologized, and reminded the captain that this was war, and that sometimes one had the take regrettable actions. He invited the Greek Captain to take up the matter at His Majesty’s Prize Courts, in Berlin or Wilhelmshaven. Although he advised the Greek captain that he doubted a hearing would be practical until after the war was concluded.
The boarding party returned with the crew, two nanny goats, a parrot, and the cutter loaded almost to the gunwales with sausages. The Mount Chortiatis was sunk with demolition charges, placed well clear of the rifle ammunition in the forward hold. Consequently she took longer to sink, and lingered with her bow bobbing in the air at 90 degrees, while the deck cargo of trucks on the foredeck broke loose and crashed into the sea, one at a time.
The Nürnberg was now getting seriously overcrowded, with 178 captured crew and passengers. Von Schönberg realized that this could easily be the limiting factor for how many prizes the Nürnberg could take. And what to do with them? If he landed them at an American port, he would immediately give away the game. He could not leave the crews floating in lifeboats, this location was far too exposed and that would be reckless, tantamount to murder. He was sure he could find a deserted stretch of coastline to maroon the crews, but he did not consider that to be humane treatment. If they were transferred to a neutral ship, word would still get out too soon for his liking. The only solution that kept Nürnberg’s location safe and took care of the captured crews was to take a prize and use her as an auxiliary. Von Schönberg pondered this option.
As it turned out, the Mount Chortiatis was the last ship to appear that day.
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28861/
During the brief northern night, one ship passed Nürnberg in each direction. Von Schönberg decided against night boarding action as being too risky at this point, so he let them pass. Nürnberg herself was invisible, blacked out in the darkness.
Just at dawn, in the half-light, Nürnberg almost missed a westbound barque under full sail. She was chased down, and proved to be the Abnoba–Victoria BC, 1500 tons, carrying barley, corn, flour, and canned vegetables to Australia. She was sunk with demolition charges. The boarding party returned with 22 crew, a Jack Russell terrier, 100 sacks of flour, and 80 cases of canned vegetables. Feeding the prisoners was becoming taxing on the Nürnberg’s cooks and bakers. Several of the cooks from the prizes were recruited to help, providing they did tasks that did not involve knives.
At around 1100 hours, more smoke was seen westbound, and the Nürnberg intercepted a steam freighter. This proved to be a problem. Once the Nürnberg closed she was identified as the Lykiardopoulo Shipping Company vessel SS Mount Chortiatis – Thessaloniki. 3500 tons. She was a neutral.
However, Von Schönberg had committed to the inspection, there was no way to discretely withdraw now. He decided to proceed with the boarding, and went along himself. Mount Chortiatis was cooperative and stopped on first request. Nürnberg jammed radio transmissions just to be sure.
Von Schönberg let the boarding party do their job and secure the ship, while he waited to the side. Soon the 26 crew were assembled on the foredeck, backed against the tarpaulin wrapped deck cargo. Von Schönberg observed that the boarding party looked very convincing with their bayonetted rifles, and the officers especially so with shoulder stocks fitted on their Mauser and Luger pistols. The Greek captain was ebullient and welcoming. He introduced himself with a flourish and greeted Von Schönberg in his best broken German.
The mood changed, and the Greek captain became visibly nervous when the inspection detachment returned, and reported to Von Schönberg that the cargo was agricultural machinery, twelve REO transport trucks, artillery shell casings (not filled) and half a million rounds of .303 rifle ammunition, bound for Australia.
Von Schönberg produced the articles of war, and explained that although this ship was a neutral, her cargo of vehicles was considered Conditional Contraband, and her cargo of ammunition was certainly Absolute Contraband. His orders required him to seize the cargo. He would prefer to inter the vessel in a German port for the duration of the war, however circumstances dictated that he instead needed to sink the vessel as is permitted at his discretion.
The Greek captain demonstrated that his knowledge of German was strongest in the area of curses.
Lieutenant Von Spee, of the landing party, cut the Greek captain short with a single shot in the air from his Mauser. Von Schönberg apologized, and reminded the captain that this was war, and that sometimes one had the take regrettable actions. He invited the Greek Captain to take up the matter at His Majesty’s Prize Courts, in Berlin or Wilhelmshaven. Although he advised the Greek captain that he doubted a hearing would be practical until after the war was concluded.
The boarding party returned with the crew, two nanny goats, a parrot, and the cutter loaded almost to the gunwales with sausages. The Mount Chortiatis was sunk with demolition charges, placed well clear of the rifle ammunition in the forward hold. Consequently she took longer to sink, and lingered with her bow bobbing in the air at 90 degrees, while the deck cargo of trucks on the foredeck broke loose and crashed into the sea, one at a time.
The Nürnberg was now getting seriously overcrowded, with 178 captured crew and passengers. Von Schönberg realized that this could easily be the limiting factor for how many prizes the Nürnberg could take. And what to do with them? If he landed them at an American port, he would immediately give away the game. He could not leave the crews floating in lifeboats, this location was far too exposed and that would be reckless, tantamount to murder. He was sure he could find a deserted stretch of coastline to maroon the crews, but he did not consider that to be humane treatment. If they were transferred to a neutral ship, word would still get out too soon for his liking. The only solution that kept Nürnberg’s location safe and took care of the captured crews was to take a prize and use her as an auxiliary. Von Schönberg pondered this option.
As it turned out, the Mount Chortiatis was the last ship to appear that day.
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28861/
Good story.
Commonwealth Navies say "Full speed ahead" and not "All ahead flank", that's an American term.
Commonwealth Navies say "Full speed ahead" and not "All ahead flank", that's an American term.
The Declaration of War was a matter between Britain and Germany and happened on August 4th. This declaration prompted the US to pass the Neutrality Act into law, which happened on the morning of August 5, 45 minutes after the submarines crossed into Canadian waters.
marathag
Banned
As is 'All ahead Bendix' at the very end of the Engine Telegraph scale
In wartime, it's typically "Give me everything the engines have, or get ready to swim"
Painted grey
Aug 13, 0500. HMCS Rainbow, Off Cape Flattery, Washington State.
The fog was omnipresent, but today it stayed on shore. Rainbow and Prince George kept about 12 miles off shore, so they were in clear skies as the sun came up. This meant they took a wide turn around Cape Flattery, when the two ships turned into the Straight of Juan de Fuca. At this point the stokers only had coal dust to shovel into Rainbow’s fireboxes. As they rounded Cape Flattery, Hose spotted a ship. She was painted grey, as opposed to the clean white he has last seen, but the ship was unmistakably the HMS Shearwater. There was much cheering, from all three ships.
Shearwater signalled by Morse light. QUESTION HAS WAR BEEN DECLARED
Rainbow, Prince George, and Shearwater entered Esquimalt harbour to much cheering themselves. Most citizens of Victoria thought that at least two and maybe all three ships had been sunk or captured, and were overjoyed to see them arrive whole. Captain Hose learned after docking that HMS Algerine had become separated from Shearwater overnight on the 10th, and had not been heard from since. That would just have to wait.
Rainbow was immediately directed to the coal wharf to fill her bunkers, and then steamed up Esquimalt harbour to the Cole Island Magazine to load with high explosive shells for the 6 inch and 4.7 inch guns. Finally, Hose sighed, she had some teeth. He stood on the bridge wing and watched the heavy shells being passed man-to-man by the loading detachment, from their trolleys on the magazine dock, over the rail, and down hatches to the ship’s magazines. Each 100 lb. six inch shell was painted yellow with a red band near the nose, and flat at the point for the fuse.
Rainbow’s gunnery officer climbed the bridge ladder.
“Sir, about the fuses” said the lieutenant. “It appears the fuses did not get included with the shipment of shells.” Hose stared at him. “I am in the process of contacting Vancouver, to find out if the fuses were on the train, and were misplaced from this shipment, or if they never made the trip from Halifax.”
“Well, that is a disappointment,” said Hose. “Please update me with what you learn.”
Without fuses, the high explosive shells were inert, they would not detonate on impact. They could however, thought Hose, detonate if an enemy shell penetrated Rainbow’s magazines.
A rating brought a wireless message to the bridge.
HMS ALGERINE REPORTED OFF WASHINGTON STATE STOP RAINBOW TO LOCATE AND ESCORT BACK TO ESQUIMALT STOP
NSHQ TO RAINBOW LEIPZIG AND NURNBERG REPORTED TO BE CAPTURING SHIPS OFF SAN FRANCISO STOP
Rainbow left Esquimalt at 1730 to seek HMS Algerine.
http://www.fortwiki.com/File:Fort_Rodd_Hill_Lower_Battery_-_31.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Shearwater_(1900)
The fog was omnipresent, but today it stayed on shore. Rainbow and Prince George kept about 12 miles off shore, so they were in clear skies as the sun came up. This meant they took a wide turn around Cape Flattery, when the two ships turned into the Straight of Juan de Fuca. At this point the stokers only had coal dust to shovel into Rainbow’s fireboxes. As they rounded Cape Flattery, Hose spotted a ship. She was painted grey, as opposed to the clean white he has last seen, but the ship was unmistakably the HMS Shearwater. There was much cheering, from all three ships.
Shearwater signalled by Morse light. QUESTION HAS WAR BEEN DECLARED
Rainbow, Prince George, and Shearwater entered Esquimalt harbour to much cheering themselves. Most citizens of Victoria thought that at least two and maybe all three ships had been sunk or captured, and were overjoyed to see them arrive whole. Captain Hose learned after docking that HMS Algerine had become separated from Shearwater overnight on the 10th, and had not been heard from since. That would just have to wait.
Rainbow was immediately directed to the coal wharf to fill her bunkers, and then steamed up Esquimalt harbour to the Cole Island Magazine to load with high explosive shells for the 6 inch and 4.7 inch guns. Finally, Hose sighed, she had some teeth. He stood on the bridge wing and watched the heavy shells being passed man-to-man by the loading detachment, from their trolleys on the magazine dock, over the rail, and down hatches to the ship’s magazines. Each 100 lb. six inch shell was painted yellow with a red band near the nose, and flat at the point for the fuse.
Rainbow’s gunnery officer climbed the bridge ladder.
“Sir, about the fuses” said the lieutenant. “It appears the fuses did not get included with the shipment of shells.” Hose stared at him. “I am in the process of contacting Vancouver, to find out if the fuses were on the train, and were misplaced from this shipment, or if they never made the trip from Halifax.”
“Well, that is a disappointment,” said Hose. “Please update me with what you learn.”
Without fuses, the high explosive shells were inert, they would not detonate on impact. They could however, thought Hose, detonate if an enemy shell penetrated Rainbow’s magazines.
A rating brought a wireless message to the bridge.
HMS ALGERINE REPORTED OFF WASHINGTON STATE STOP RAINBOW TO LOCATE AND ESCORT BACK TO ESQUIMALT STOP
NSHQ TO RAINBOW LEIPZIG AND NURNBERG REPORTED TO BE CAPTURING SHIPS OFF SAN FRANCISO STOP
Rainbow left Esquimalt at 1730 to seek HMS Algerine.
http://www.fortwiki.com/File:Fort_Rodd_Hill_Lower_Battery_-_31.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Shearwater_(1900)
“Sir, about the fuses” said the lieutenant. “It appears the fuses did not get included with the shipment of shells.” Hose stared at him. “I am in the process of contacting Vancouver, to find out if the fuses were on the train, and were misplaced from this shipment, or if they never made the trip from Halifax.”
Don't think FedEx is up and running yet!
Don't think FedEx is up and running yet!
