The Battle of Zanzibar was a naval battle of the First World War

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

 between the Kaiserliche Marine

Kaiserliche Marine

The Imperial German Navy was the German Navy created at the time of the formation of the German Empire. It existed between 1871 and 1919, growing out of the small Prussian Navy and Norddeutsche Bundesmarine, which primarily had the mission of coastal defense. Kaiser Wilhelm II greatly expanded...

and the Royal Navy

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...

. The German cruiser had been taking on coal in the delta of the Rufiji River

Rufiji River

The Rufiji River lies entirely within the African nation of Tanzania. The river is formed by the convergence of the Kilombero and Luwegu rivers. It is approximately 600 km long, with its source in southwestern Tanzania and its mouth on the Indian Ocean at a point between Mafia Island called Mafia...

 when her crew were told that a British cruiser—, which had been part of the Royal Navy's Cape Squadron sent to counter Koningsberg—had put in at Zanzibar

Zanzibar

Zanzibar ,Persian: زنگبار, from suffix bār: "coast" and Zangi: "bruin" ; is a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania, in East Africa. It comprises the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of the mainland, and consists of numerous small islands and two large ones: Unguja , and Pemba...

 for repairs. Konigsberg′s captain—Commander

Commander

Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...

 Max Looff—decided to attack Pegasus while she was in port.

On 20 September 1914, Konigsberg sailed past the picket ship Helmuth at the entrance to Zanzibar harbor. Helmuth was unable to warn Pegasus of Konigsberg′s approach, with the result that when Koningsberg opened fire she took Pegasus entirely by surprise. As a result, Pegasus suffered heavy damage before she was even able to return fire.

Konigsberg′s guns out-ranged those on Pegasus, which consequently was unable to damage her opponent. The one-sided battle ended in a German victory, and Pegasus sank later that day, having lost 38 crew dead.

Background

Shortly after outbreak of the First World War, on 19 September 1914, Commander Max Looff of the light cruiser

Light cruiser

A light cruiser is a type of small- or medium-sized warship. The term is a shortening of the phrase "light armored cruiser", describing a small ship that carried armor in the same way as an armored cruiser: a protective belt and deck...

  was coaling in the Rufuji Delta, when he learned from coast watchers that a British warship

Warship

A warship is a ship that is built and primarily intended for combat. Warships are usually built in a completely different way from merchant ships. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are usually faster and more maneuvrable than merchant ships...

 had entered Zanzibar harbour. Looff assumed the cruiser at Zanzibar was either or and ordered an immediate attack. As Konigsberg had been recently resupplied, she was prepared for battle. Konigsberg left on the afternoon tide for her run to Zanzibar harbour.

The protected cruiser Pegasus, under the command of Captain

Captain (naval)

Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The NATO rank code is OF-5, equivalent to an army full colonel....

 John Ingles, had just left the company of HMS Astraea and for repairs at Zanzibar to her boilers and engines. Also at Zanzibar, the British had armed the captured German tug with a 3-pounder gun and posted her as a picket ship at the entrance of the harbor.

Konigsberg had been built in 1905 and was armed with ten 4.1 in (104.1 mm) rapid fire guns, ten 2 in (50.8 mm) rapid fire guns and two 18 in (457.2 mm) torpedo tube

Torpedo tube

A torpedo tube is a device for launching torpedoes. There are two main types of torpedo tube: underwater tubes fitted to submarines and some surface ships, and deck-mounted units installed aboard surface vessels...

s. Pegasus—a Pelorus-class

Pelorus class cruiser

The Pelorus class cruiser was a "third-class" protected cruiser class of eleven Royal Navy warships designed by Sir William White , based on the earlier Pearl class cruisers. They were ordered in 1893 under the Spencer Program, and laid down 1896–1900...

 protected cruiser built in 1897—was armed with eight 4 in (101.6 mm) guns, eight 3-pounders and two 18-inch torpedo tubes. Her complement consisted of 234 officers and men.

Battle

At dawn on 20 September, Königsberg entered the southern end of the Zanzibar approaches and sailed past the picket ship Helmuth, firing a few warning shots as she passed. Helmuth could neither stop the Königsberg from entering the harbour nor even warn Pegasus of the German cruiser′s approach.

Once Koningsberg came within 9000 yd (8,229.6 m) of Pegasus, she began firing salvo

Salvo

A salvo is the simultaneous discharge of artillery or firearms including the firing of guns either to hit a target or to perform a salute.Troops armed with muzzleloaders required time in which to refill their arms with gun powder and shot...

s. Pegasus sat at anchor in Zanzibar Harbour, preparing steam and at that moment, was helpless. For about 20 minutes while Königsberg fired, Pegasus remained stationary. Pegasus did raise the White Ensign

White Ensign

The White Ensign or St George's Ensign is an ensign flown on British Royal Navy ships and shore establishments. It consists of a red St George's Cross on a white field with the Union Flag in the upper canton....

 and began firing, but her shells splashed into the water well short of Koningsberg. The light cruiser slowly continued forward and fired until the range had closed to within 7000 yd (6,400.8 m). One of the first British sailors wounded was gunnery officer

Gun

A gun is a muzzle or breech-loaded projectile-firing weapon. There are various definitions depending on the nation and branch of service. A "gun" may be distinguished from other firearms in being a crew-served weapon such as a howitzer or mortar, as opposed to a small arm like a rifle or pistol,...

 Lieutenant

Lieutenant

A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...

 Richard Turner

Richard Turner

Richard Turner may refer to:* Richard Turner , English Protestant reformer and Marian exile* Richard Turner * Richard Turner , card technician and poker player...

, who suffered both of his legs being mangled from shrapnel. Despite his injuries, Turner rallied his men, telling them; "Keep it up, lads, we’re outclassed and done for; but damn them, and keep it up!"

The British continued their futile fight for around 20 minutes more, taking additional hits from Konigsberg, the majority landing on Pegasus′ deck. Also, Pegasus′ ensign was shot away during the fight. Because the Germans were always at least 2000 yd (1,828.8 m) beyond the range of Pegasus′ guns, no British rounds struck Koningsberg.

Pegasus became holed near her waterline and began taking on water. All hope of defeating the Germans being gone, Ingles struck his colors

Striking the colors

Striking the colors is the universally recognized indication of surrender, particularly for ships at sea. Surrender is dated from the time the ensign is struck.-In international law:# "Colors. A national flag . The colors . ....

 and gave the order to abandon ship. Pegasus later sank.

After Konigsberg had finished with Pegasus, she fired a few parting shots at Helmuth, whose crew managed to abandon ship before one of the German cruiser's salvos struck the tug. With a clear German victory, Konigsberg turned around and headed back for the Rufiji Delta.

Aftermath

The Royal Navy′s losses were Pegasus sunk and Helmuth damaged. Thirty-eight British sailors on Pegasus had died; another 55 sailors were wounded, most of whom had been top-side when hit. Staff Surgeon

Ship's doctor

A Ship's doctor or Ship's surgeon is the person responsible for the health of the people aboard a ship whilst at sea. The term "ship's doctor" or "ship's surgeon" appears often in reference to the Age of Sail British Royal Navy's "surgeons." These men, like other physicians, often did not have much...

 Alfred J. Hewitt was on the deck of Pegasus from the beginning to the end of the battle, aiding wounded sailors and marines. Captain Ingles later recognized Hewitt′s courageous behavior in a report on the action. Although Helmuth had taken a hit from Konigsberg, the damage to the tug was relatively minor and her crew managed to reboard her after Konigsberg had sailed off. Only one man on board Helmuth died, a non-enlisted native working in the engine room.

The hospital ship and the Scottish

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

 ship rescued the survivors of Pegasus. Twenty-four of the British sailors that died in the battle were buried in a mass grave in the naval cemetery on Grave island, Zanzibar, while 14 others were laid to rest at the town's cemetery before being moved in 1971 to the Dar es Salaam war cemetery. The British salvaged six of Pegasus′ guns from the wreck and later used them in the East African

East African Campaign (World War I)

The East African Campaign was a series of battles and guerrilla actions which started in German East Africa and ultimately affected portions of Mozambique, Northern Rhodesia, British East Africa, Uganda, and the Belgian Congo. The campaign was effectively ended in November 1917...

 land campaign.

Though Konigsberg had suffered no hits or casualties, Looff′s plans to continue the offensive were soon cut short. One of her main engines failed. The British were watching the port of Dar es Salaam

Dar es Salaam

Dar es Salaam , formerly Mzizima, is the largest city in Tanzania. It is also the country's richest city and a regionally important economic centre. Dar es Salaam is actually an administrative province within Tanzania, and consists of three local government areas or administrative districts: ...

 so she had to return to the Rufiji River delta to await the overland transport of spare parts. The British soon discovered Koningsberg′s location and blockaded her. They damaged her beyond repair in the Battle of Rufiji Delta when they were able to bring up the monitor

Monitor (warship)

A monitor was a class of relatively small warship which was neither fast nor strongly armoured but carried disproportionately large guns. They were used by some navies from the 1860s until the end of World War II, and saw their final use by the United States Navy during the Vietnam War.The monitors...

s and .