NAVAL OFFICER

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18234, 1 November 1933, Page 7

NAVAL OFFICER

DISMISSED FROM COMMAND STRANDING OF SUBMARINES LONDON, Oct. 21. As a sequel to the stranding of submarines on October 8, Lieutenant-Com-mander Wilfred Edmund Warner, commanding the Ll 9, was court-martialled on charges of negligently stranding the Ll 9 on Patterson Rock, and, as senior officer of the flotilla, hazarding the remaining four submarines. It was stated that the flotilla was moving at 12 knots in line ahead, when the 1,19, which was leading, grounded. The vessel was put full speed astern, and was refloated. The 1,21, which was following the 1,19, turned to port, clearing the rocks. The 1,26 turned to starboard and grounded. Lieutenant-Commander Lewis, commanding the 1,26, gave evidence that he realised he was in shoalwater, but turned to starboard, because he feared if he turned to port lie would collide with the 1,21. Lieutenant-Commander Warner, in a statement, said he was misled by the Patterson bell buoy being unexpectedly far from its charted position, while the tide-set exceeded reasonable expectations. lie added that there was plenty of searoom and the others could have steered wider if they had thought it advisable. Lieutenant Anst-ice gave evidence that the hell buoy was 320 yards from its charted position. This was ail unusually large difference, although the sailing directions stated that it was unreliable. The court found the charges proved, dismissed Warner from his command, and severely reprimanded him. [The day after the stranding there was an explosion on the 1,26, in which two ratings were fatally injured, 14 were seriously hurt, and five were gassed. It was assumed that the explosion was due to sea water entering the batteries when the vessel grounded.]