35 – The German Fleet at Anchor

CONFIDENTIAL

Armed Trawler Patrol to Guard German ships while anchored in the Firth of Forth

From. . . The Admiral second-in-command Grand Fleet
Date . . . 20th November 1918
To . . . . .The Officers commanding the command
Object of Patrol

A. To prevent all boats which are not manned by naval personnel approaching the German ships from the westward nearer than a distance of half a mile.

B. To stop any German boats that may attempt to leave their ships.

2. Force Employed

3. General Information
(C) A plan of the anchorage is attached *
* Supplied to armed trawlers only

(D) On arrival at the anchorage a preliminary examination of the German ships will be carried out by parties from the guarding ships & Destroyers, and a more detailed inspection will be made on Friday 22nd November.

(E) During the dark hours each ship of the guarding force on the columns adjacent to the German ships will keep two searchlights ready for instant use and also two secondary armament guns – 8 Destroyers of the Destroyers’ guarding force will have steam at instant readiness
Each German ship has been ordered to three white lights at the stem and two at the stern and to illuminate the upper deck with coaling lights.

(G) Two trawlers are to patrol continuously the western approach to lines A to E, and two armed trawlers are to patrol the Western approach to lines F,G,H.

The remaining two armed trawlers are to anchor as convenient under the lee of Inchkeith and keep steam at half an hours’ notice.

The Senior Officer of the trawler patrol is to arrange reliefs as convenient.

(H) The trawlers on patrol are to cruise continuously at slow speed, at a distance of not more than about 2 cables from the Western lines of heavy ships and Destroyers respectively. Navigation lights are to be shown during the dark hours.

(I) Boats from H. M. Ships only are to be permitted to approach the German ships.

(J) If any German boat attempts to leave a German ships she is to be stopped & towed alongside H.M.S. Revenge.

(5) Communications
If it is necessary for any trawlers on patrol to communicate with H.M.S. Revenge one of the following methods should be adopted

(X) Detach one trawler to close “Revenge”

(Y) Communicate through H.M.S. Blonde, in the case of trawlers patrolling the northern anchorage.

(Z) Communicate through the westernmost Destroyer of the 11th Destroyer Flotilla in the case of the Southern anchorage

NOTE: – The procedure outlined in (X) is desirable if long signals are involved.

(6) General
In the event of bad weather, the trawlers employed on patrol duties may be required to transport the searching parties mentioned in paragraph 3(D), in which case special instructions will be issued.

C. E. Madden – Admiral

Distribution