The Falcon had a turtleback bow and a big bridge which had been rebuilt after a German shell from a Belgian coast battery scored a direct hit and killed the former captain and eight men.
The ship carried 80 tons of coal and was manned by a crew of 60 men.
When not on U-boat patrol, the Falcon was continually crossing the English Channel escorting troop and supply ships. At other times, the versatile ship could be found laying mines off the Belgian coast.
The Falcon's weaponry included depth charges, a 12-pdr. gun on the bow, five 6-pdrs. and two 18-inch torpedo tubes.
On April 1, 1918, the ship was escorting a 40-ship convoy when the trawler John Fitzgerald struck the Falcon amidship and almost cut it in two. Lightoller must have had thoughts of the Titanic again at this point. "Lights" transferred all the crew but three to the trawler and remained on the Falcon until it sank and then he spent 30 minutes in the stormy seas until the Fitzgerald picked them up.
He was later cleared of blame at a court martial.
A Real Survivor, That "Lights." --DaCoot
Showing posts with label HMS Falcon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HMS Falcon. Show all posts
Saturday, January 19, 2013
"Lights" and the Falcon: The Continuing Story of Charles Lightoller-- Part 1
For the whole story, see www.divernetxtra.com/weeks/falcon599.htn.
The wreck of the HMS Falcon is 60 meters deep and broken in two and has recently been discovered. It is located 29 miles from Bridlington in East Yorkshire.
Charles Lightoller's nickname was "Lights." Because of his efforts on the Titanic, six boatloads of women and children survived.
He was first officer on the Oceanic, when it wrecked with no loss of life on Shaold's Reef off Foula, Shetland.
The Falcon was an old three-funnel C-Class destroyer launched in 1899. It was 220 feet long, had a beam of 21 feet and weighed 375 tons. and could go as fast as 30-knots for short bursts. However, its strength amidship was always questioned.
More to Come. --Cooter
The wreck of the HMS Falcon is 60 meters deep and broken in two and has recently been discovered. It is located 29 miles from Bridlington in East Yorkshire.
Charles Lightoller's nickname was "Lights." Because of his efforts on the Titanic, six boatloads of women and children survived.
He was first officer on the Oceanic, when it wrecked with no loss of life on Shaold's Reef off Foula, Shetland.
The Falcon was an old three-funnel C-Class destroyer launched in 1899. It was 220 feet long, had a beam of 21 feet and weighed 375 tons. and could go as fast as 30-knots for short bursts. However, its strength amidship was always questioned.
More to Come. --Cooter
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