Themes

Conflict and Change

• Introduction

• In Focus: 1900

• In Focus: World War One

  • Surface Fleet

  • Submarines

  • Royal Marines

  • Fleet Air Arm

• In Focus: Interwar

• In Focus: World War Two

• In Focus: Post War Conflict

• In Focus: Cold War Climate

• In Focus: Falklands and Beyond

• Special Exhibition: Falklands 25

Learning

• How To: Understand Propaganda

• Propaganda Image Galleries

• Education Project: Sea With Your Own Eyes

Battle of May Island

Article Highlights

• Introduction

• The collision

• Sinking of K17 and K4

The collision

Two small patrol boats suddenly appeared around 7am, causing K11 and K17 to slow and turn to port to let them pass. K14 did the same but her rudder jammed and she swung out of line to the left. K22 then hit K14. The K boats slowly separated and lighted up, inspecting damage. Battleships were still steaming towards them unaware of what had happened. The submarines sent red flares into the sky and radio silence broke to announce the collision and ask for help.

All the ships passed close by, except HMS Inflexible, which in the confusion hit K22. Despite damage, K22 survived and continued to radio for help, which came after an hour when HMS Ithuriel and K11, 17 and 12 headed back to help. However, the rest of the force still headed towards them, blacked out. HMS Ithuriel and HMS Australia narrowly missed each other, and then the three submarines. Various other battleships and their destroyer screen followed, causing more narrow misses.

Related External Links

• Royal Navy Submarine Museum