View source for Action of 29 February 1916

{{Use British English|date=February 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{infobox military conflict
|conflict=Action of 29 February 1916
|partof      = the [[First World War]]
|image       = Alcantara 1916.jpg
|image_size  = 250px
|caption     = {{RMS|Alcantara|1913|6}} (left) and {{SMS|Greif|1914|6}} (right) duelling at close range
|date        = 29 February 1916
|place       = [[North Sea]], [[Atlantic Ocean]]
|coordinates = {{coord|56|N|03|E|scale:5000000_type:waterbody|name=North Sea|display=inline}}
|result      = British victory
|combatant1  = {{flagcountry|UKGBI}}
|combatant2  = {{flagcountry|German Empire}}
|commander1  = {{flagdeco|United Kingdom|naval}} [[Thomas Erskine Wardle|Thomas Wardle]]
|commander2  = {{flagdeco|German Empire|naval}} Rudolf Tietze
|strength1   = 1 light cruiser <br /> 2 armed merchant cruisers <br /> 1 destroyer
|strength2   = 1 auxiliary cruiser
|casualties1 = 72 killed <br /> 1 armed merchant cruiser sunk
|casualties2 = 187 killed <br />125 captured <br /> 1 auxiliary cruiser sunk
|campaignbox = {{Campaignbox North Sea 1914–1918}}
}}
The '''action of 29 February 1916''' was a naval engagement fought during the [[First World War]] between the [[United Kingdom]] and the [[German Empire]]. {{SMS|Greif |1914|6}}, a German [[commerce raider]], broke out into the [[North Sea]] and [[Admiral]] [[Sir]] [[John Jellicoe]] dispatched [[Royal Navy]] warships to intercept the raider. Four British vessels intercepted the commerce raider ''Greif''. The [[Armed merchantman|armed merchant cruiser]] {{RMS|Alcantara|1913|6}} and ''Greif'' fought a brief engagement before British reinforcements arrived when both were severely damaged, both being sunk.

==Background==
In April 1915 the [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]] requisitioned ''Alcantara'' and the other "A-series" ships {{RMS|Avon||2}}, {{SS|Arlanza|1912|2}} and {{SS|Atlantis|1913|6}} as [[Armed merchantman|armed merchant cruisers]].{{sfn|Nicol|2001|p=113}} ''Alcantara'' was armed with six {{convert|6|in|abbr=on}} guns, [[anti-aircraft gun]]s and [[depth charges]].{{sfn|Poole|1975|pp=52–57}} On 17 April at [[Port of Liverpool|Liverpool]] she was commissioned into the 10th Cruiser Squadron as HMS ''Alcantara''.{{sfn|Smith|2014}} ''Arlanza'' and ''Andes'' were also commissioned into the 10th Cruiser Squadron, which joined the [[Northern Patrol]], part of the [[Blockade of Germany (1914–1919)|Blockade of Germany]]. The Squadron patrolled about {{cvt|200000|sqmi|km2}} of the [[North Sea]], [[Norwegian Sea]] and [[Arctic Ocean]] to prevent German ships from sailing to or leaving the [[Atlantic Ocean|North Atlantic]].{{sfn|Nicol|2001|p=113}}

''Guben'', a 4,962 [[gross register tons]] (GRT) German-Australian Line ({{lang|de|Deutsche-Australische Dampfschiffs Gesellschaft}}) freighter, was converted to a [[auxiliary cruiser]] and renamed {{SMS|Greif|1914|6}}.{{sfn|Halpern|1995|p=310}} The cruiser was armed with four hidden {{cvt|150|mm}} [[naval gun|guns]], a {{cvt|105|mm}} gun and two [[torpedo tube]]s. ''Greif'' had a complement of around 360 officers and men and had orders to sail around the north of Iceland into the Atlantic via the [[Denmark Strait]] to operate as a [[Merchant raider|commerce raider]] and then make for [[German East Africa]], if it could not return to Germany.{{sfnm|1a1=Marder|1y=1965|1p=371|2a1=Corbett|2y=2009|2p=272}}

==Prelude==
''Greif'' departed its home port of [[Hamburg]] into the North Sea on 27 February; at noon on 28 February, the Admiralty warned Jellicoe that a ship, escorted by the submarine {{SMU|U-70}} {{cvt|40|nmi}} ahead until a position at 59° 20' N, had left the Elbe.{{sfn|OU6337|1940|p=16}} Admiral Sir [[John Jellicoe]] ordered two [[cruiser]]s and four destroyers from Rosyth into the North Sea, to block the path of the ship if it sailed west and the light cruisers {{HMS|Comus|1914|6}} (Captain [[Alan Hotham]]), ''Calliope'' and ''Blanche'' with the destroyer {{HMS|Munster||6}}, from Scapa Flow (Scapa), to sweep the Norwegian coast in case it sailed north. Just after midnight, British wireless direction-finders plotted a German ship off [[Egersund]] on the south-west coast of Norway and the light cruisers from Scapa were ordered to search an arc radiating from Egersund. ''Columbella'' and ''Patia'' of the 10th Cruiser Squadron, part of the Northern Patrol, were sent to search from the north end of the [[Shetland Isles]] to the north-east.{{sfn|Corbett|2009|p=270}} The auxiliary cruiser {{HMS|Andes|1913|6}} (15,620 GRT, Captain G. B. W. Young) was already there, having arrived to relieve {{RMS|Alcantara|1913|6}} (16,034 GRT, Captain [[Thomas Erskine Wardle|Thomas Wardle]]), which was due to sail to Liverpool to re-coal.{{sfnm|1a1=Corbett|1y=2009|1p=270|2a1=Halpern|2y=1995|2p=310}} Wardle had arranged to meet the relief {{cvt|60|nmi|mi+km}} east of Shetland and was close to the meeting-point at 08:00, when a signal arrived ordering ''Alcantara'' to remain, because a disguised German auxiliary cruiser was expected to sail through the patrol line that day from the south.{{sfn|Corbett|2009|p=270}}

==Action==
{{location map|British Isles Oceans
|width=200
|lat= 61.45
|long= 00.58
|relief= yes
|caption={{center|Position of ''Alcantara'' when ordered to rendezvous with ''Andes''}}
}}
At about {{nowrap|8:45 a.m.}} on 29 February, ''Alcantara'' was steaming north-north-east up its patrol line, when lookouts spotted smoke off the port beam; Wardle manoeuvred closer to identify the source of the smoke. Unbeknownst to him, the smoke was from SMS ''Greif''. A few minutes later ''Andes'' signalled "Enemy in sight north-east 15 knots" [{{cvt|17|mph|km/h}}]. Wardle ordered ''Alcantara'' to turn north at maximum speed and soon sighted a ship with one funnel, flying Norwegian flags. Another message from ''Andes'' described a two-funnelled ship and the identity of the ship in sight remained doubtful. A few minutes later, ''Andes'' was seen to starboard, apparently steaming north-east at speed, as if in pursuit. Before joining the chase, Wardle decided to examine the unknown ship, went to action stations and fired two blanks to force it [[heave to]].{{sfn|Corbett|2009|pp=270–271}}

By 09:20, Wardle had received a signal by ''Andes'' that it had altered course to the south-east, which only added to the ambiguity, because the ship could not be the one being pursued. The lookouts on the ''Alcantara'' could see the Norwegian name ''Rena'' on the stern and that the ship looked authentic.{{sfn|Corbett|2009|pp=270–271}} A boat was lowered from ''Alcantara'' when it was about {{cvt|1000|yd|m}} astern to check the ship's particulars, as the voyage of the ''Rena'' had been notified to the Admiralty. Wardle signalled to the ''Andes'' of developments and Young replied with "This is the suspicious ship". As the message was being read, a gun at the stern of the "''Rena''" was unmasked and flaps fell down along the sides, revealing more guns. ''Greif'' opened fire, hitting the boat containing the boarding party and damaging ''Alcantara's'' [[telemotor]] steering gear before the British ship could reply.{{sfn|Corbett|2009|p=271}} 

''Alcantara's'' gunners opened fire and the ship closed with the raider as it began to get under way. For about fifteen minutes the ships exchanged fire; ''Andes'' opened fire as it arrived and ''Greif'' began to disappear in a pall of smoke. The German gunners ceased fire and boats full of survivors were seen pulling away from the smoke. ''Alcantara'' was badly damaged and also ceased fire, apparently torpedoed and listing to port; Wardle ordered an abandon ship and by {{nowrap|11:00 a.m.}} the list had put ''Alcantara'' on its beam ends (on the brink of [[capsizing]]); it sank with 69 members of the crew.{{sfn|Corbett|2009|p=271}} Hotham, in ''Comus'', the most northern of the cruisers from Scapa, had seen the signals from ''Andes'' and sailed south in company with the destroyer ''Munster''; he arrived as the action ended, beginning rescue work with the crew of the ''Alcantara'' as it sank. ''Andes'' had reported a submarine between it and the lifeboats and could not close; after several submarine alarms, ''Comus'' and ''Andes'' moved closer to the wreck of ''Greif'' and sank it with gunfire; about 220 men of its crew of 360 were rescued.{{sfn|Corbett|2009|pp=271–272}} <!--[Can't find a source to cite these details]''Alcantara'' increased speed and returned fire, as the ''Greif'' headed towards the Norwegian coast. The first shot struck and disabled ''Greif''{{'}}s [[Stern|poop]] gun and killed the crew. For several minutes the vessels duelled at close range until gun fire was heard by ''Andes'', about {{convert|5|nmi|mi+km}} from the battle. She closed to within {{convert|3|nmi|mi+km}} of ''Greif'' and opened fire, hitting the bridge and destroying ''Greif's'' steering gear. ''Greif'' launched two torpedoes at ''Alcantara'' and hit amidships with the first but the second passed under the stern. By the end of the engagement, the British had knocked out another German gun and set ''Greif's'' fuel tanks on fire; a shell hit the hull of ''Greif'', exploded and slowed the vessel to a halt, sinking. Reports say that both ''Greif'' and ''Alcantara'' were struck several times at or below the waterline and left the ''Alcantara'' sinking as well. ''Greif'' ceased fire at 10:18 and a few minutes later, [[Lifeboat (rescue)|life boats]] were lowered from the ''Greif'' as it burned.

The British continued to fire and as the German commander climbed down a rope to his lifeboat he was hit and beheaded. Several moments later Wardle ordered his men to abandon ship and at 11:02 ''Alcantara'' sank. Around this time ''Comus'' and ''Munster'' arrived and finished off ''Greif''. Wardle and the survivors were in the water for about twenty minutes before being picked up. An estimated 187 German sailors were killed along with 72 British; five officers and 120 Germans were rescued by ''Andes'' and ''Munster'' and taken prisoner.-->

==Aftermath==
===Analysis===
Four British warships had encountered ''Greif'' which had been sunk; Wardle in ''Alcantara'' was later criticised for manoeuvring too close to the raider before properly identifying the ship, which out-gunned his ship. The mistake cost Wardle his vessel and several casualties but he was awarded the [[Distinguished Service Order]] and eventually reached the rank of [[rear admiral]]. The swift end to the voyage of the ''Greif'' led to the German Admiralty suspending commerce raiding and renewing their emphasis on submarine warfare.{{sfn|Corbett|2009|pp=272–273}}

==Order of battle==

'''Royal Navy:'''
* {{HMS|Comus|1914|6}}, light cruiser
* [[RMS Alcantara (1913)|HMS ''Alcantara'']], auxiliary cruiser, [[flagship]]
* [[SS Atlantis (1913)|HMS ''Andes'']], auxiliary cruiser
* {{HMS|Munster}}, destroyer

'''German Navy:'''
* {{SMS|Greif|1914|6}}, auxiliary cruiser

==Footnotes==
{{reflist|20em}}

==References==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |series=History of the Great War based on Official Documents |title=Naval Operations |volume=III |first=J. S. |last=Corbett |author-link=Julian Corbett |year=2009 |orig-year=1940 |publisher=Longmans, Green |location=London |edition=2nd |url=https://archive.org/details/navaloperations03corb |access-date=23 January 2016 |oclc=867968279}}
* {{cite book |last=Halpern |first=P. G. |title=A Naval History of World War I |year=1995 |orig-year=1994 |location=Annapolis |publisher=Naval Institute Press |edition=pbk. UCL Press, London |isbn=1-85728-498-4}}
* {{cite book |last=Marder |first=A. J. |author-link=Arthur Marder |title=From the Dreadnought to Scapa Flow, The Royal Navy in the Fisher Era, 1904–1919: The War Years to the Eve of Jutland 1914–1916 |volume=II |year=1965 |location=London |publisher=Oxford University Press |oclc=865180297}}
* {{cite book |last=Nicol |first=S. |year=2001 |title=MacQueen's Legacy; Ships of the Royal Mail Line |volume=II |place=Brimscombe Port and Charleston, SC |publisher=[[Tempus Publishing]] |isbn=0-7524-2119-0}}
* {{cite journal |last=Poole |first=F. (RCNR) |title=Alcantara vs. Greif: Duel of the Merchant Cruisers |journal=Proceedings of the Naval Institute |issue=7 |pages=869 |volume=CI |publisher=[[United States Naval Institute]] |location=Annapolis, MD |date=July 1975 |issn=0041-798X}}
* {{cite book |ref={{harvid|OU6337|1940}}
|title=Review of German Cruiser Warfare 1914–1918 (O. U. 6337 [40]) |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |year=1940 |publisher=The Admiralty |location=London |url=https://archive.org/details/ReviewOfGermanCruiserWarfare19141918 |access-date=23 January 2016 |oclc=60210159}}
* {{cite web |url=http://www.naval-history.net/OWShips-WW1-08-HMS_Alcantara.htm |series=Royal Navy Log Books of the World War 1 Era |editor-last1=Smith |editor-first1=K. |title=HMS Alcantara – April 1915 to January 1916, Northern Patrol (10th Cruiser Squadron) |date=13 September 2014 |website=naval-history.net |access-date=23 January 2016}}
{{refend}}

==Further reading==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last=Chalmers |first=Rear Admiral W. S. |title=The Life and Letters of David Earl Beatty |year=1951 |publisher=Hodder and Stoughton |location=London |oclc=220020793}}
* {{cite book |last=Hurd |first=A. S. |series=History of the Great War based on Official Documents by Direction of the Historical Section of the Committee of Imperial Defence |title=The Merchant Navy |volume=II |chapter=Chapter V, Merchant Seamen and the Blockade |pages=100–156 |year=1924 |publisher=John Murray |location=London |edition=online scan |url=http://www.naval-history.net/WW1Book-MN2a-Merchant_Navy_in_WW1_Hurd.htm#V |access-date=6 May 2021 |oclc=934752271}}
* {{cite book |title=Castles of Steel: Britain, Germany and the Winning of the Great War at Sea |last=Massie |first=R. K. |author-link=Robert K. Massie |year=2004 |orig-year=2005 |publisher=Jonathan Cape |location=London |edition=pbk. repr. Pimlico |isbn=1-8441-3411-3}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
* [https://www.naval-history.net/OWShips-WW1-08-HMS_Alcantara.htm HMS Alcantara]

{{World War I}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:19160229}}
[[Category:Conflicts in 1916]]
[[Category:Naval battles of World War I involving Germany]]
[[Category:Naval battles of World War I involving the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:North Sea operations of World War I]]
[[Category:February 1916 events in Europe]]