90 Years Ago - Paragraph Eleven, Confirm

[Mark Powell]

Ninety years ago this Sunday, at 10:30 am on 21st June 1919 Rear Admiral Ludwig von Reuter gave the order to transmit the signal “Paragraph Eleven, Confirm”. This was the prearranged signal to start the scuttling of the German High Seas Fleet that had been interned in Scapa Flow.

The German High Seas Fleet was the result of the Angle German Arms race that had been one of the primary causes of the First World War. Despite building up an impressive navy the German fleet could still could not match the British Grand Fleet. The primary strategy of the German High Seas Fleet was to try to catch a subset of the Grand Fleet off guard and inflict a victory on them which would help to balance out the difference in strength between the two fleets. The British strategy was to aim for a major fleet engagement in which the Grand Fleet could comprehensively smash the High Seas Fleet. Neither side managed to achieve their goal. Apart from the occasional skirmish the only major fleet engagement between the two was at the Battle of Jutland. This was an inconclusive battle which both sides claimed as a victory. The British rate of fire and strength in numbers was offset by the resilience of the German ships and the accuracy of their gunnery. The High Seas Fleet retreated back to port and there it remained until the Armistice.


Under the terms of the Armistice the German High Seas Fleet was interned in Scapa Flow, the home of the British Grand Fleet. Disarmed and manned by just a skeleton crew the proud and undefeated High Seas Fleet were held as a bargaining counter in the peace negotiations.


The German High Seas Fleet at Scapa Flow

As the peace negotiations dragged on Rear Admiral von Reuter believed that there was a risk that hostilities might be renewed and the British might attempt to seize the fleet. The British had in fact drawn up plans for this very eventuality. Rather than allow the British to seize the fleet or allow it to be surrendered von Reuter drew up order to scuttle the fleet. Watertight doors were welded open, stop cocks removed and all possible preparations were made to allow the fleet to be scuttled as quickly as possible.


Rear Admiral Ludwig von Reuter

On 21st June 1919 von Reuter gave the order to scuttle the fleet, the greatest single loss of shipping. Over 400,000 tons of the finest, most modern warships inexistence were sunk in a single day. Seventy four vessels were scuttled with fifty two actually sinking; 5 battlecruisers, 11 battleships and 8 cruisers together with many more torpedo boats or destroyers.


SMS Baden While sinking


Some of wrecks were beached or settled in shallower water

In the years that followed many of the wrecks were salvaged as the price of steel made them economically attractive but in recent years the remaining wrecks have become a mecca for wreck divers.

Three of the battleships; Konig, Kronprinz Wilhelm and Markgraf remain. They are upside down in 35-45m.


SMS Kronprinz Wilhelm

In addition 4 of the cruisers lay on their sides in 25-35m. These are the Brummer, Dresden, Coln and Karlsruhe.


SMS Brummer

Together with a selection of other wrecks the German High Seas Fleet in Scapa Flow now form one of the best diving locations in the world.

[nickb]

Thanks for the timely reminder Mark.

Von Reuter did us divers a big favour, or maybe the credit should go to the British authorities that wouldn't let him have up-to-date newspapers. Either way there's still some great stuff up there. Shame Cox & Danks brought most of it back up.

[paramedic paul]

Thanks for the post Mark, this time next year i'll be diving up there

[Morag]

Thanks for the timely reminder Mark.

Von Reuter did us divers a big favour, or maybe the credit should go to the British authorities that wouldn't let him have up-to-date newspapers. Either way there's still some great stuff up there. Shame Cox & Danks brought most of it back up.

Didn't he just.

Shame i'm not getting intot he flow this year, but there are a few trips up there that have spaces for anyone who wants to check the wrecks out 90 years on.....


Scapa Flow. 4th - 11th July

August Scapa Trip - Place Available

Scapa 20th-26th Sept 2009 on Valkyrie

[The Duck]

Thanks for that Mark

I've dived Scapa for a couple of years on the run now and always love to go back up there. I was also fortunate get out and dive the Nurnberg recently (on Rocket out of Poole) which was one of the crusiers that was originally scuttled in Scapa but then refloated and brought down south (a cracking dive ).

[Kevin Heath]

Scapa Flow Marine Archaeological Project (ScapaMAP) a bit more about the wrecks

[Rob Dobson]

I was up there a couple of weeks ago and the wrecks have changed a lot since I was there last year. The Brummer was always my favourite because she was so intact but now I think the Brummer is my favourite because she is so open (great for scootering through). The Kronprinz had the best vis I had ever had her and again she was a completely different dive. I never tire of the diving up there - I have never had the same experience on one of the wrecks no matter how many times I have dived it.

The Markgraf was massive, dark and disorientating when I first dived her and then I went back with scooters and she became a recognisable ship (doing several laps in a single dive puts the whole thing into context). Over the past couple of years I gotten to know the Markgraf until I thought I knew her pretty well. This year I got to scooter around her on a Cuda for the first time and in good visibility - the best I've ever had on her: OMG, she is tiny! It took seconds to do a length of the Margraf, I was lapping her as if she was the Staingarph in Stoney Cove! It was like I was on a completely different wreck.

I just wish Cox had left a battle cruiser or two down there for us to dive (most inconsiderate of him).

[pies]

Cheers Rob (and Mark),

Have to say best wreck for me were the Dresden (what an anchor!) as the one voted most like a ship would have looked like when it went down and the Markgraf on a scooter, absolutely bleedin' marvellous! Laps of the Markgraf followed by lazy s-turns around the massive rudders and sitting astride the bow to clip off the scooter and bag off. Will remain for me two of the outstanding and most satisfying dives of my life.

2 weeks solid diving and really only scratched the surface - wish I had been up there years ago.

It may be a while before I get back there though........

Pies

[Woz]

Apparently a school trip from Kirkwall was out on a little chuggy boat when all the ships started sinking around them. Apparently all the kids thought it was put on for them...