Damage Control Saved HMS Kelly
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- Garden Island
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- Naval Historical Review, Ship design and development
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‘. . . reached harbour despite bad weather’
KELLY, PROCEEDING AT 29 KNOTS, was hit port side abreast the bridge by a torpedo. There was immediate and rapid flooding between 35 and 48 bulkheads, followed by the slow flooding of No. 2 Boiler Room through a fracture in the bulkhead caused by No. 1 Boiler having been blown to starboard. The ship rolled 15 degrees to starboard - away from the damage.
While 35 and 54 bulkheads were being shored as a precautionary measure, 38 tons of topweight were jettisoned, including ready use ammunition - but more ready use ammunition had to be got up later when she was attacked on her way home.
Lessons Learned:
- Ready use ammunition should not be included in pre-planned topweight jettisoning schemes.
- Flooding boundary was successfully established by shoring bulkheads.
- With modern damage control equipment it would have been possible to prevent the slow flooding of No. 2 Boiler Room.
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