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N0KFQ > TODAY 29.02.16 17:13l 36 Lines 1479 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 86193_N0KFQ
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Feb 29
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Sent: 160229/1508Z 86193@N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA BPQ1.4.65
1916
Two ships sink in North Sea battle
On the afternoon of February 29, 1916, both the British armed
merchant ship Alcantara and the German raider Grief sink after
engaging each other in a close-range battle on the North Sea.
The German raider Grief was in disguise, flying under the
Norwegian flag and with Norwegian colors displayed on its sides,
when it attempted to run a British blockade. The Alcantara, still
under the impression that the Grief was a Norwegian shipping
vessel, was sent to investigate. The Grief did not respond to
repeated attempts at communication from Captain Thomas E. Wardle
of the Alcantara and continued heading northeast. When Captain
Wardle ordered the ship to stop in order to be inspected, the
crew of the Grief quickly lowered the Norwegian colors and raised
the German flag before it opened fire on the surprised crew of
the Alcantara, who quickly returned fire.
The battle raged for 12 agonizing minutes at close range. The
Alcantara lost 74 men in the battle; the Grief lost nearly 200.
By the time a second British armed merchant ship, the Andes,
arrived on the scene, both ships had been badly damaged. On fire
and sinking quickly, the desperate Grief fired one final torpedo,
striking the Alcantara. Both ships eventually sank. The crew of
the Andes picked up the survivors of both ships, taking more than
120 German prisoners.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ N0KFQ.#SWMO.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: kohiggs@gmail.com
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