THE ROYAL NAVAL RESERVE
SERVICE RECORD
OF
JOHN WILSON
SERVICE RECORD | THE LOSS OF THE RUTLANDSHIRE | ADMIRALTY REPORTS | 23rd A/S TRAWLER GROUP
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THE LOSS OF THE
RUTLANDSHIRE
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 Map Point A

Having engaged the attacking aircraft with their 20mm Oerlikon Lewis and high angle 12-pounder guns at approximately 0900hrs, my grandfather reported that the Rutlandshire was steered into mid-stream, following a zigzagging course and making for the entrance to the fjord. The town of Namsos was evidently off the stern of the Rutlandshire at this point and, at an educated guess, would have been approximately 100m south west of Namsos at the start of the attack on the trawler.


Twin mount lewis gun


12-pounder high angle gun

Chief Engineer Winney reported that the bombing lasted for "hours". Under the conditions described by my grandfather as "A steady hail of bombs dropped around us, causing the water to spray up in gigantic fountains, and as soon as one of the formation - attacking us in waves from the stern - had unloosed its bombs, another was there to take its place….…", what must have seemed like "hours", I believe was probably nearer 1 - 1½ hours.

Allowing for zigzagging and evasive manoeuvring, the Rutlandshire travelled a total distance of approximately 8 - 10km before being severely damaged - her stern hull plates having buckled due to the concussion effect from an underwater detonation approximately 25m off the stern.

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