Papers of Cyril John Percy Hill - Part 6

COPY
H.M.S. "SUPERB"
24th November, 1918.
No. 51468.
MEMORANDUM.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CONDUCT OF THE ALLIED
FLEET PROCEEDING TO SEVASTOPOL.
The Allied Squadron consisting of:-
H.M.S. "SUPERB" (Flag of British Commander-In-Chief)
H.M.S. "TEMERAIRE",

H.M.S. "SKIRMISHER".
Six torpedo boat destroyers,
French Battleship "JUSTICE" (Flag of Rear-Admiral
Lojay).
French Battleship "DEMOCRATIE",
One French torpedo boat destroyer,
Italian Battleship "ROMA",
Italian Cruiser "AGORDAT",
Two Greek torpedo boat destroyers,
will leave Constantinople for Sevastopol on the 25th November,
1918. H.M.S. "CANTERBURY" and H.M.S "NORTHESK", and the French
destroyer "BISSON" have already left for that place on the 23rd
November. H.M.S. "ADAMANT" and Submarine "E.21" leave
Constantinople on the afternoon of the 24th November and will
rendezvous with the Allied Fleet at rendezvous "Y" (see paragraph
7) at 0700 G.M.T. on the 26th November.
2. The Allied Squadrons will unmoor as necessary so as to
leave Constantinople in the following order, and at the times
stated:-
(a) British Ships Destroyers 0630 G.M.T.
"SKIRMISHER" 0650 G.M.T.
Battleships 0700 G.M.T.
(b) French Ships 0710 G.M.T.
(c) Italian Ships 0720 G.M.T.
(d) Greek destroyers. immediately after Italian ships.
3. ORGANISATION OF ALLIED SQUADRON
As shown in enclosure No. 1 to this memorandum.
Open order will be kept until the Fleet has passed
through the swept channel into the Black Sea when the Allied
squadrons will form in close order as one complete squadron.
Battleships and Cruisers.
Distance of ships in column in open order 1000 meters
Ships in column in close order 500 meters
Destroyers.
Ships in column in open order 400 meters
Ships in column in close order 200 meters
Disposition

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4. DISPOSITION OF ALLIED SQUADRON IN CRUISING FORMATION.
Battleships Single Line ahead.
Cruisers Two miles ahead of Battle 
squadron in single line
ahead.
Destroyers First division of Allied
destroyers one mile on
the starboard beam of the 
Battle squadron.
Second division of Allied
destroyers one mile on the
port beam of Battle
squadron.
Divisions in single line
ahead.
British destroyers fitted with High Speed Mine Sweep will
be ordered to take station ahead of the Fleet on approaching
mineable waters off the Crimea.
5. ROUTE AND SPEED OF THE FLEET.
Will be as ordered by the British Commander-in-Chief.
6. NAVIGATION LIGHTS.
The usual navigation lights and stern light will be shown
by all ships.
7. RENDEZVOUS.
In case of separation rendezvous will be at a point five miles
south of Cape Sarich. This point will shown as rendezvous "X".
It is expected that the Allied Fleet will be met by a vessel
from Sevastopol at a point two miles south of Cape Feolent.
This point will be known as rendezvous "Y".
8. ORDER ON ENTRY INTO SEVASTOPOL AND ANCHORAGE.
Before arriving at the entrance of the harbour cruisers and
destroyers will be ordered to take station astern of the Battle
squadron.
On approaching the entrance to Sevastopol the signal "Proceed
into harbour" will be made by "SUPERB", when "ROMA" will haul out
of line to starboard, increase speed as necessary, and proceed to
her berth, followed by the remainder of the squadron in the
following order:-
"JUSTICE",
"DEMOCRATIE",
"SUPERB",
"TEMERAIRE",
"SKIRMISHER",
"AGORDAT",
British destroyers,
French destroyers,
Greek destroyers,
"ADAMANT" and "E.21".
Ships will...

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Ships will take up their berths according to Berthing
Orders attached hereto (Enclosure No. 2) unless other dispositions
are ordered by signal.
9. COMMUNICATIONS.
Aegean Code No. 2 will be used for visual signalling.
For details as regards communications, see enclosure No. 3.
10. FERRY SERVICE.
During the stay of the Fleet at Sevastopol, mail communication
will be maintained between that place and Constantinople by
British destroyers.
A. CALTHORPE.
Vice Admiral,
British Commander-in-Chief.
To all the Allied Flag Officers
and Commanding Officers of
the Allied ships concerned.

Enclosure No. 1 to the British Commander-in-Chief's
memorandum dated the 24th November, 1918, No. 51468.
ORGANISATION OF ALLIED SQUADRON.
Battle Squadron 1. H.M.S. "SUPERB" (Flag of the British 
Commander-in-Chief)
2. H.M.S "TEMERAIRE",
3. "JUSTICE" (Flag of French Rear-
Admiral),
4. "DEMOCRATIE",
5. "ROMA".
Cruisers 1. "SKIRMISHER"
2. "AGORDAT"
Destroyers.
In two divisions, under the orders of Captain (D), 5th
British Destroyer Flotilla.

Enclosure No. 2 to the British Commander-in-Chief's
memorandum dated the 24th November, 1918 No. 51648.
BERTHING ORDERS FOR BERTHING OF FLEET AT SEVASTOPOL.
It is understood that there are a line of nine buoys
on the Northern side of Sevastopol harbour in seven fathoms, a
line of four buoys South of them and mooring buoys for destroyers
and small craft in South Bay and close to the South shore of the 
harbour.
It is intended that the battleships should occupy the
line of buoys in seven fathoms, "SUPERB'S" berth being the buoys
nearest to South Bay.
"CANTERBURY" will arrange to mark the buoys allocated to
Allied battleships with their national flag. Ships may be
required to secure head and stern, heading up harbour.
"AGORDAT" and "SKIRMISHER" will be berthed in line of buoys South
of the seven fathom line.
"CANTERBURY" will arrange if possible for destroyers
to be berthed in South Bay, also "ADAMANT" and Submarine "E.21".
Should these buoys have been removed battleships and
cruisers will occupy berths as shown in attached Berthing Plan.

Enclosure No. 3 to the British Commander-in-Chief's
memorandum dated 24th November, 1918, No.51468.
COMMUNICATION ORDERS.
Allied Visual.
The Allied squadron will be organised as follows.
One division of Battleships...collective } 
distinguishing} XM
signal }
One division of cruisers " XP
Two divisions of destroyers:-
1st Division destroyers..." XS
2nd Division destroyers..." XT
Notation of above should be inserted in pencil on page
13 of Aegean Code No. 2.
2. The special distinguishing flag for Italian ships will
be that given in A.F.R. Signal Book, i.e. a triangular flag Blue
and Yellow vertical - MORSE sign ZZ.
This should be inserted in the table on page 5 of Aegean
Code No. 2.
"AGORDAT" has been allotted distinguishing signal AT
which should be inserted in list of ships page 3 Aegean Code No. 2.
3. British signal ratings will be embarked in each battleship.
BRITISH WIRELESS ORDERS.
On proceeding to Sea watch will be maintained as follows:-
"SUPERB"...600 meters and will read Rinella routine
(double reception) transmission, also Horsea.
"TERERAIRE" 600 meters and will read "EUROPA" routine
(double reception) transmission to Aegean on 3872 meters CW,
and the remainder of time look out on
4166 meters CW.
"SUPERB" and "TEMERAIRE" will intercommunicate by
Auxiliary W/T.
"SKIRMISHSER". 600 meters and 2800 CW, messages on
(double reception) latter wave to be passed to "SUPERB"
on 600 meters.
Destroyers.)
"ADAMANT")...600 meters
Submarine "E.21")
ALLIED WIRELESS ORDERS

Map SEVASTOPOL HARBOUR - See original document 

COMMANDING OFFICER
22 Dec 1918
H.M.A.S SWAN
THE COMMANDING OFFICER
H.M.A.T.B.D. Parrinalla
The following Copy of a letter received from the
British Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean, is forwarded for the
information of Officers and men of H.M.A.SHIP under your command:-
(SIGNED) A.G.H. BOND, COMMANDER, R.N
FROM:- THE BRITISH COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, MEDITERRANEAN, H.M.S."SUPERB",
TO:- COMMANDER ARTHUR G.H. BOND, R.N. H.M.A.S. "SWAN".
Date:- 18th. December, 1918. No. 50273.
On the impending departure of the Australian
Flotilla from the Mediterranean, I wish to express to the Officers
and men my warm appreciation of the manner in which they have carried
our their arduous duties. The good discipline and high seamanlike
qualities of the personnel must be a matter of pride and satisfaction to Australia. Under the late Commander Warren, and subsequently
under Commander Bond, the Australian Destroyers were continuously
employed, from its earliest stages, on the Otranto Mobile Barrage,
an offensive operation of great importance. I much regret that
probably the Australian Navy will shortly no longer be represented
in the fleet under my command.
I wish the officers and men a safe and speedy
return to their homes after they have visited England.
SIGNED A. CALTHORPE.
Vice Admiral,
BRITISH COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.

Newspaper cutting - See original document

Newspaper cutting - See original document