First of Its Kind
Eye-witness Account of a Duel at Sea Between Great Steamers Built for Passenger Traffic
Early in the war the Cunard trans-Atlantic steamer Carmania was converted into an auxiliary cruiser. Painted black from stem to stern (that was before the art of “camouflage” was introduced), and mounted with eight 4.7 guns, she left Liverpool for a reconnoitering cruise in the South Atlantic. Between 600 and 700 miles east of the coast of Brazil there is a small island of rock known as Trinidad (not to be confused with the West Indian Island of that name). The Carmania came in sight of this island one morning toward the end of September and discovered three steamers in the vicinity. As soon as these steamers caught sight of the piratical looking Carmania they moved about uncertainly for a time and then made off. But when it was apparent that the black intruder was alone, the largest of the three steamers turned back. This ship proved to be the Cap Trafalgar, a magnificent steamer, the chief of the Hamburg-South American Line, built for the special purpose of successful competition with the British Royal Mail in securing the South American passenger traffic and shipping trade. She too was equipped as an auxiliary cruiser, with eight 4.1 guns, up to date, their newness offsetting the extra caliber of the Carmania’s older guns.
The tonnage of the Carmania was 19,524, that of the Cap Trafalgar, 18,710. Splendid targets, both “so colossal,” said a writer, “as to be beyond the possibility of a failure to hit with any gun-layer.” A well-matched pair—ocean-going palaces, taken from their peaceful pursuits, transformed into war machines, neither having any appreciable advantage over the other as a belligerent, and now ranged against each other for a decisive duel. There was a fair field, too, for the two steamers seen with the Cap Trafalgar continued their retreat and disappeared across the horizon, though one returned later.
It was the first sea duel of its kind. Never before had two floating hotels played at gun fire with each other, each intent on sending the other to Davy Jones’s locker if possible. When the action began the vessels were separated by about 8,000 yards, and their nearest approach was about 4,000 yards. As the sinking of its enemy was the aim, the guns of each combatant were directed at the water line of the other. Of the first few shells fired by the Cap Trafalgar, three made holes in the Carmania at and above the water line, one tore through the stewards’ quarters, one smashed the lower deck galley and carried away the fire main leading to the bridge and fore-part of the ship, the latter the most serious damage.
A report of the engagement written two hours after, by one who took part in it was published in the War Album De-Luxe, from which the following is taken: