Mimi and Toutou Go Forth: The Bizarre Battle Of Lake Tanganyika Lieutenant-Commander Geoffrey Spicer-Simson was in charge of the British troops, which consisted of two motorboats named HMS Toutou and Mimi. The commanding officer of the Kingani, Lieutenant Job Rosenthal, made numerous passes and witnessed the development of a new harbor in Kalemie, to the south of Lukuga, where Spicer-Simson planned to establish his base. Kingani was captured and damaged in the first combat on December 26, 1915, and became HMS Fifi. Battle for Lake Tanganyika - SASS Wire Saloon - SASS Wire Forum [24] Here Spicer-Simson met the Belgian army commander, Commandant Stinghlamber, and the naval commander, Commandant Goor, and preparations were made to launch Mimi and Toutou and to seek out the Germans. While Lee went out to pave the path across Africa, Spicer-Simson gathered 27 soldiers and 27 motorboats manufactured by John I. Thornycroft & Company to fulfill a pre-war order from the Greek government. Battle for Lake Tanganyika Mimi and Toutou were assembled and launched just before Christmas 1915. [18] Once they arrived in South Africa, they would have to be carried over 3,000mi (4,800km) inland, including the traversing of an 1,800m (5,900ft)-high mountain range. [32] The 1,500 long tons (1,500t) Baron Dhanis was not necessarily a threat to Gtzen in port, but he was determined to maintain his freedom of movement on the lake. [14] By the outbreak of war, he was in command of HMSNiger and a small flotilla at Ramsgate. From Cape Town, they and the men of the expedition travelled north by railway through Bulawayo to Elisabethville, where they arrived on 26 July. [13] His later years were spent in British Columbia. Fresh Water Fights - Six Naval Battles That Took Place Miles From the Rosenthal travelled down the railway line and discovered both Mimi and Toutou, and the disassembled parts of Baron Dhanis. Most of the men of the naval expedition returned to Britain, where Spicer-Simson was awarded the Distinguished Service Order but was reprimanded for some of his antagonistic behaviour toward his Belgian allies and was not given another command. In Britain he had originally suggested that Mimi and Toutou be named Cat and Dog, but the names were rejected by the Admiralty. Goor wanted to put the yet-to-be-assembled Baron Dhanis together with the hulk of Alexandre del Commune, which Hedwig von Wissmann had sunk earlier in the battle for lake Tanganyika, back into service. Spicer-Simson was given the Distinguished Service Order award but was punished for some of his aggressive behavior against his Belgian friends and was not granted another command. To fight it, [] Lake Tanganyika's naval Battle - Naval Encyclopedia He served in the Mediterranean, Pacific and Home Fleets. [13], After its initial success, Spicer-Simson's command ended in controversy. Lake Tanganyika - Everything You Need to Know Battle for Lake Tanganyika. During the battle for Lake Tanganyika, the events piqued the publics interest, and C. S. Forester adapted them for his novel The African Queen, which was eventually transformed into the film The African Queen, which John Huston directed. The leader of this improbable mission is Geoffrey Spicer . East African Campaign - Background, Fighting, Offensives & More He found one such vesselthe St George, a steel boat belonging to the British consul at Bananaand had her dismantled, dragged to Lake Tanganyika and reassembled. Hedwig arrived at Lukuga in mid-January to investigate the loss of the German ship. The shell damaged Hedwigs hull, causing flooding, and her engine room was hit by the last shell moments later, shattering the boiler and murdering 5 African sailors and 2 Germans. In April 1915, the Admiralty learned that Germany was preparing to launch Graf von Gtzen onto Lake Tanganyika. Though Geoffrey was born in Tasmania, he soon moved to France at his mother's wishes. [46][47][48] Zimmer did not immediately send Hedwig to investigate the disappearance of Kingani, possibly being too busy transporting troops and supplies. His father, Frederick Simson, had been in the merchant navy and was a dealer in gold sovereigns in India who eventually settled in Le Havre, France, at the age of thirty-one. [12] Lee went out to prepare the way through Africa, while Spicer-Simson assembled 27 men and two motor boats that had been built by John I. Thornycroft & Company to fulfil an order made by the Greek government before the war. The storm season in January also made navigation of the lake dangerous for vessels smaller than Gtzen, and it was not until mid-January that Hedwig came to Lukuga to investigate. In 1902 he married Amy Elizabeth, daughter of Edmund and Phoebe Baynes-Reed of Victoria, British Columbia. The Belgians lifted her and hauled her to Kigoma, but she sank in a storm at her moorings. He went ashore to entertain guests at a nearby hotel, from whose windows he watched Niger being torpedoed and sunk. [46] By now, Spicer-Simson had been given the repaired Dutch vessel Del Communenow renamed Vengeurto add to his flotilla. [49] Odebrecht scouted close to the shore, keeping clear of the shore batteries that were assumed to have sunk Kingani, but could not see anything worth reporting. It hugs the shallow zones around a deep and steep bottomed lake, up to 1470m in its deepest parts. However, a survivor of Kingani reported that Gtzen had recently been armed with a gun from the recently scuttled German cruiser Knigsberg. It is the longest freshwater lake in the world (410 miles [660 km]) and the second deepest (4,710 feet [1,436 metres]) after Lake Baikal in Russia. The shell damaged Hedwigs hull, causing flooding, and her engine room was hit by the last shell moments later, shattering the boiler and murdering 5 African sailors and 2 Germans. was almost complete. He is most famous for his role as leader of a naval expedition to Lake Tanganyika in 1915, where he commanded a small flotilla which defeated a superior German force during the Battle for Lake Tanganyika. Fifi narrowed the gap after the two circled for a while, unable to get hits. This was resisted, but continued incursions on Belgian territory and Lukuga bombardments persuaded the Belgians to collaborate with the British for support in winning the Battle for Lake Tanganyika. The Admiralty rejected Spicers suggestions for the names Dog and Cat. Toutou and Mimi were recommended as options by Spicer-Simson, which were both approved. The Germans maintained a third large and heavily armed craft on the lake, the Graf von Gtzen; this craft was attacked indecisively by Belgian aircraft and was subsequently scuttled. Graf von Gtzen, a third huge and highly armed German boat stationed on the lake, was indecisively attacked by Belgian aircraft and scuttled. The Battle for Lake Champlain The Battle of Valcour Island, the first sizeable naval action of the American Revolution, was also fought far from the nearest ocean. [65] She was raised again by the British in 1921 under their mandate for Tanganyika, where it was found that she was so well preserved by the greasing, that little work needed to be done to repair her. Mimi, Dix-Tonne, Fifi, and the whaleboat made up the joint Anglo-Belgian fleet, with Toutou still undergoing repairs from the damage it had sustained during one of the battles for Lake Tanganyika. The naval expeditionary troop stayed at Bismarckburg, where Spicer-Simson was chastised when he discovered that the guns at the fort were wooden dummies. Battle for Lake Tanganyika - Wikipedia [4] Despite this undertaking, there was little the Belgians or British could do to challenge the Germans. Pegasus Books, 2008, p.149-150, Paice, Edward "World War I The African Front". I Love Warships - The Battle for Lake Tanganyika was one | Facebook [33][34] Still lacking detailed information on the enemy's movements, Kingani returned early on the morning of 1 December and attempted to approach the harbour. But that did not stop him from participating in the, . The capture of the lake by the Germans was crucial for the entire Central African War and the Battle for Lake Tanganyika. ^ Paice records that Spicer-Simson had Mimi, Toutou, Fifi and 'a Belgian motor boat known only as Vedette'. He served in the Mediterranean, Pacific and Home Fleets. Lake Tanganyika sits between Tanzania (then German East. Wooden dummies were installed To preserve the idea of a heavily armed warship when the, By mid-1916, the Anglo-Belgian sovereignty of Lake Tanganyika had been established, albeit the African war had gone on for another two years. We have compiled every content from history, geography, government, culture, economy, people & more! By the start of the war, the Germans had two warships on Lake Tanganyika; the 60t (59 long tons; 66 short tons) Hedwig von Wissman, and the 45t (44 long tons; 50 short tons) Kingani. Lee advocated sending motor gunboats to Africa and transporting them to the lake via the interior to address this threat. [53] The two circled for a time, unable to score hits, until Fifi closed. On February 8, he was summoned back to Lukuga and told to meet Zimmer the following day on Gtzen. The crews were made up of friends and Royal Naval Reserve members. Despite this, he had led a survey vessel on the River Gambia and was chosen to take charge owing to a dearth of commanders. The Battle for Lake Tanganyika was one of the Strangest Battles of World War One Quote Lake Tanganyika is the longest freshwater lake in the world, and a natural wonder but one of the strangest battles of WWI took place on its placid waters. The Belgians were about to capture Kigoma and a British force was pushing north toward Bismarckburg. This mattered: it was the longest lake in the world and of great strategic advantage. He served in that role from 1921 to 1937. He is most famous for his role as leader of a naval expedition to Lake Tanganyika in 1915, where he commanded a small flotilla which defeated a superior German force during the Battle for Lake Tanganyika. The voyages purpose was to reinforce ground expeditions from the lake, and the flotilla, consisting of Toutou, Mimi, Vengeur, and Fifi, landed off Bismarckburg on June 5. **** Battle for Lake Tanganyika. [30], Against this formidable force, the Belgians could only muster a petrol-driven barge armed with two cannon named Dix-Tonne, a motor boat named Netta, and a whaler fitted with an outboard motor. When Henry Morton Stanley visited Ujiji in 1876, he discovered the phrase "Tanganika." However, because Kinganis 6-pounder cannon could only shoot forward, the quicker and more agile motorboats quickly closed in and started shooting with their three-pounder guns while evading the German fire. Spicer-Simson was given the Distinguished Service Order award but was punished for some of his aggressive behavior against his Belgian friends and was not granted another command. Geoffrey Spicer-Simson - Wikipedia Captain Geoffrey Basil Spicer-Simson DSO, RN (15 January 1876 29 January 1947) was a Royal Navy officer. Still, they were afraid of her being destroyed before she was launched since the Germans monitored the lake. After China, he was posted to Africa, and from 1911 to 1914 was in command of a survey ship on the Gambia river. Colonial Records: Who Colonized Tanzania? [59], Australian pilots next to a Short Type 827 floatplane, circa 1915, Meanwhile, the British had provided the Belgians with four Short Type 827 floatplanes to attack Gtzen at Kigoma. The loss of the SMS Knigsberg cruiser in July on the Rufiji River had enhanced Germanys position in Tanganyika. Despite this effort, the British and the Belgians were powerless to confront the Germans. Lake Tanganyika: a celebration of water, fish, and distant volcanoes The fate of Africa's Lake Tanganyika lies in the balance Still, without concrete information regarding the enemys activities, Kingani returned early on the morning of December 1 in preparation for the battle for Lake Tanganyika and attempted to approach the port. [2][15], The British naval force consisted of two 40ft (12m)-long motor boats. He almost sank a submarine in 1905 when he came up with the concept of extending a cable in between two destroyers to look for periscopes. They and the soldiers involved traveled north by rail from Cape Town to Elisabethville through Bulawayo and arrived on July 26. He proceeded toward the, Odebrecht took advantage of the moment when the rebound halted her dead in her tracks. Of the remaining crew after the, , a local shaman and a European stoker were injured when 2 of the ships boats were damaged by shells; 12 Europeans, including the captain and eight natives, were damaged and seized by the British. Wooden dummies were installed To preserve the idea of a heavily armed warship when the battle for Lake Tanganyika was still ongoing. He attempted to conceal himself and hoped that Kingani would return at nightfall, but was discovered by a Belgian patrol and taken prisoner. When Spicer-Simson saw a fort that protected the harbor, he opted not to start another battle for Lake Tanganyika and retreated to Kuta. The capture of Kingani and the sinking of Hedwig von Wissmann greatly weakened German naval power on Lake Tanganyika. [3] However, he lost two months of this additional seniority for being found absent without leave in 1894. [7] Lee had been in Eastern Africa and had personally observed the German ships on Lake Tanganyika. Copyright 2021 - Unitedrepublicoftanzania.com, Battle for Lake Tanganyika Background and the Aftermath. Junge and four other crew members were buried; one African crew member was permitted to remain on board as a stoker, while 3 Germans and 8 Africans were taken as war prisoners. Knigsbergs crew members also joined his troops, and Zimmer appointed Lieutenant, The Belgians only raised a petrol-powered barge named Dix-Tonne with two guns, a motorboat called Netta, and a whaler with an outboard engine against this overwhelming force. In 1874 the Spicer-Simsons moved to Tasmania. [8] 220ft (67m) long and displacing 1,575 long tons (1,600t), she would cement German control of the lake and allow 800-900 troops to be rapidly transported to any point on the lakeshore to raid into allied territory. Kingani was rechristened HMSFifi and brought under Spicer-Simson's command. However, his progress was halted due to missteps and misfortunes. Still, they were afraid of her being destroyed before she was launched since the Germans monitored the lake. A British army moved north into Bismarckburg, and the Belgians were ready to conquer Kigoma. The hundreds of . Rosenthal's successor Sub-Lieutenant Junge had orders to gather information on naval preparations, and at 06:00 in the morning as Spicer-Simson was conducting morning prayers she was sighted offshore. Hedwig moved at 9 knots (10 mph; 17 km/h) compared to Fifi, which could do 8 knots (9.2 mph; 15 km/h), but as it sped away from Fifi, Mimi rushed by, firing her three-pounder cannon on the retreating Hedwig. He also brought the news that the Germans were preparing to launch a new ship from their fortified port of Kigoma. The battle of lake Tanganyika While in Pretoria searching for the SMS Knigsberg's gun I saw an entry from Guadalupe, a Facebook friend, narrating her enriching experience of a few years back on board of the MV Liemba in lake Tanganyika. [7] He then took up a posting in the Admiralty in the department in charge of transferring Merchant sailors to the War Navy. GWPDA Maritime War Section - Battle for Lake Tanganyika. [50] Vedette is presumably the whaleboat with the outboard motor, identified by Foden as being termed by Commandant Goor as "la vedette (patrol boat)". He found a suitable vessel, St George, a steel boat owned by the British consul in Banana, and had it dismantled, transported to Lake Tanganyika, and reconstructed. The expedition, known by that point as "Simson's Circus" for all it had been through, arrived at the Belgian lake port of Lukuga on 24 October 1915. By mid-December, slipways in Kalemie were complete, and the preparation for the. After several more hits, her chief engineer hauled down the colours and the British took possession of her. [16] The boats were tested on the Thames on 8 June, where arrangements had been made for Mimi to fire a practice shell from her 3-pounder. Kevin Patience, 'Shipwrecks & Salvage on the East African Coast', Moiteret, V.A, Captain USN "IHO 50 Years of Progress 1921-1971", This page was last edited on 9 November 2022, at 11:23. Two special trailers and cradles were also brought along to allow them to be transported by rail or overland. He had gone to entertain visitors ashore at a neighboring hotel, where he observed the Niger being sunk and torpedoed through the windows. ^ Foden maintains throughout that the Admiralty were unaware of the existence of the Gtzen, and that the expedition only became aware of her after their arrival on the lake shore. Also, it will allow up to 800900 troops to be quickly moved to any location along the lakeside to raid enemy land and fight battles like the Battle for Lake Tanganyika. A shell got stuck in Fifis cannon at this point, and Hedwig withdrew again in the 20 minutes Fifis crew spent removing it, looking for Gtzen. Geoffrey Basil Spicer-Simson (1876 - 1947) was a Royal Navy officer. The novel has a British navy force made up of 2 motorboats named HMS Matilda and HMS Amelia. [2][44][45] Spicer-Simson explained that Fifi meant "tweet-tweet" in French, and was suggested by the wife of a Belgian officer who had a small caged bird. File : Belgian artillery from the Battle for Lake Tanganyika.jpg Mimi and Toutou were assembled and launched just before Christmas 1915. Rosenthal's vessel was spotted by the shore batteries and driven away, but returned the following night and Rosenthal himself swam to Lukuga to examine the slipways under construction. Shankland, Peter (1968), 'The phantom flotilla', London: Collins. [7] He was also appointed a Commander of the Belgian Order of the Crown. The novel has a British navy force made up of 2 motorboats named HMS Matilda and HMS Amelia. [51][b], Odebrecht spotted the approaching vessels, but continued to advance. During the Tabora attack, Kigoma was captured by troops led by General Charles Tombeur on July 28, although Gtzen had already left. In the second, the small flotilla overwhelmed and sank the Hedwig von Wissman. The Germans had sailed the ship to the south of Kigoma Bay and, after having her engines thoroughly greased in case there should be need to make use of her again, filled her with concrete and carefully scuttled her on 26 July in a depth of 20 m near the banks of the Katabe Bay (Belgian designation: Baie de llphant; British designation: Bangwe Bay) at the Position 04 54' 05" S; 029 36' 12" E.[61], Anglo-Belgian control of Lake Tanganyika was secured by mid-1916, though the war in Africa dragged on for another two years. The Belgians had the parts for Baron Dhanis, a massive steamer, which, if completed, would be far larger than either Hedwig von Wissmann or Kingani. Belgian floatplanes were stationed on the lake, allowing them the opportunity to monitor and bomb German positions. In the first action, on 26 December 1915 the Kingani was damaged and captured, becoming HMSFifi. [3] He was promoted to acting sub-lieutenant on 19 February 1896,[3] and confirmed in the rank of sub-lieutenant on 20 January 1897, back-dated to the original acting promotion date. Early in the morning, Hedwig was discovered, and the expeditions men set forth to intercept her. But both the gunner and the gun were thrown into the river. Lake Tanganyika | lake, Africa | Britannica Kigoma fell to General Charles Tombeurs forces on 28 July, but Gtzen was already gone. Naval Action on Lake Tanganyika - British Empire As for the KOENIGSBERG guns, it wasn't talk only . [33], The slipways at Kalemie were ready by mid-December, and on 22 December Toutou was launched onto Lake Tanganyika, with Mimi following the next day. On June 8, the boats were then tested on the River Thames, with Mimi firing a practice shell using her 3-pounder as part of the test. Alarmed, the seamen hastened to man their boats, but Spicer-Simson banned an attack. Junge ordered the pace to be increased as two motorboats unexpectedly followed him with the white ensign. The Lualaba was running low, and Mimi and Toutou had to be paddled 56 miles (90km) upstream, including running aground fourteen times in just 12 miles (19km). [35] He also discovered the camps, where the British flag revealed the presence of Spicer-Simson and his expedition. [58] By the time he returned in May, the German position on the lake had deteriorated further. Lake Tanganyika, second largest of the lakes of eastern Africa. Tabora offensive - Wikipedia Kingani was struck on her gun after a brief 11-minute battle, with the shell going through the gunshield and murdering Junge and two petty officers, Schwarz and Penne. After Kingani had gone by, Toutou and Mimi left the port in pursuit. Louisville Catholic Sports, Shea Brennan Yellowstone, Thailand Malaysia Aff, Lyra Boston Toll Brothers, Articles B
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battle for lake tanganyika

battle for lake tanganyika

The Battle for Lake Tanganyika was a series of naval engagements that took place between elements of the Royal Navy, Force Publique and the Kaiserliche Marine between December 1915 and February 1916, during the First World War. If the file has been modified from its . Toutou was released onto the lake on December 22, followed by Mimi the next day. Meanwhile, the Graf von Gtzen was launched during the battle for Lake Tanganyika on June 8. While testing Portsmouth Harbours defenses, he ran a ship aground, collided, and sank a small vessel, murdering a man. Background of the Battle for Lake Tanganyika, Lake Tanganyika is located between the Belgian Congo to the west and, , the Germans possessed two warships on Lake Tanganyika: the 60-tonne Hedwig von Wissmann (66 short tons; 59 long tons) and the 45-tonne Kingani (50 short tons;44 long tons). "[5][12] Jackson passed the task of finalising the details of the operation to his junior, Admiral David Gamble. Hedwig could do 9kn (10mph; 17km/h) to Fifis 8kn (9.2mph; 15km/h), but as Fifi fell behind, Mimi sped past, firing on the retreating German vessel with her three-pounder gun. Battle For Lake Tanganyika Shortly after arriving on Lake Tanganyika, Spicer-Simson relocated his base just south of Lukuga at Kalemie, where he had been building a port better protected from the lake's storms. [54] With her second to last shot, Fifi fired again. Toutou and Mimi completed the first stage of their 10,000-mile (16,000 km) expedition after a 17-day voyage and landing at the cape. While testing Portsmouth Harbours defenses, he ran a ship aground, collided, and sank a small vessel, murdering a man. Still, the Belgians were instead employing them as shore armory to protect Lukuga because they had little chance of being able to launch her. Although they missed, Hedwigs stern guns lacked the range of Mimis gun, forcing Odebrecht to come around and try to strike her with the 6-pounder mounted on her bow. Pegasus Books, 2008, p.100, Military History, December 2001, "Naval Struggle in Darkest Africa", Military History, December 2001, "Naval Struggle in Darkest Africa, Paice, Edward "World War I The African Front". Britannia. She was considerably larger than any other vessel on the lake, To counter this threat, Lee proposed that motor gunboats be sent to Africa and transported through the interior to the lake. Mimi and Toutou Go Forth: The Bizarre Battle Of Lake Tanganyika Lieutenant-Commander Geoffrey Spicer-Simson was in charge of the British troops, which consisted of two motorboats named HMS Toutou and Mimi. The commanding officer of the Kingani, Lieutenant Job Rosenthal, made numerous passes and witnessed the development of a new harbor in Kalemie, to the south of Lukuga, where Spicer-Simson planned to establish his base. Kingani was captured and damaged in the first combat on December 26, 1915, and became HMS Fifi. Battle for Lake Tanganyika - SASS Wire Saloon - SASS Wire Forum [24] Here Spicer-Simson met the Belgian army commander, Commandant Stinghlamber, and the naval commander, Commandant Goor, and preparations were made to launch Mimi and Toutou and to seek out the Germans. While Lee went out to pave the path across Africa, Spicer-Simson gathered 27 soldiers and 27 motorboats manufactured by John I. Thornycroft & Company to fulfill a pre-war order from the Greek government. Battle for Lake Tanganyika Mimi and Toutou were assembled and launched just before Christmas 1915. [18] Once they arrived in South Africa, they would have to be carried over 3,000mi (4,800km) inland, including the traversing of an 1,800m (5,900ft)-high mountain range. [32] The 1,500 long tons (1,500t) Baron Dhanis was not necessarily a threat to Gtzen in port, but he was determined to maintain his freedom of movement on the lake. [14] By the outbreak of war, he was in command of HMSNiger and a small flotilla at Ramsgate. From Cape Town, they and the men of the expedition travelled north by railway through Bulawayo to Elisabethville, where they arrived on 26 July. [13] His later years were spent in British Columbia. Fresh Water Fights - Six Naval Battles That Took Place Miles From the Rosenthal travelled down the railway line and discovered both Mimi and Toutou, and the disassembled parts of Baron Dhanis. Most of the men of the naval expedition returned to Britain, where Spicer-Simson was awarded the Distinguished Service Order but was reprimanded for some of his antagonistic behaviour toward his Belgian allies and was not given another command. In Britain he had originally suggested that Mimi and Toutou be named Cat and Dog, but the names were rejected by the Admiralty. Goor wanted to put the yet-to-be-assembled Baron Dhanis together with the hulk of Alexandre del Commune, which Hedwig von Wissmann had sunk earlier in the battle for lake Tanganyika, back into service. Spicer-Simson was given the Distinguished Service Order award but was punished for some of his aggressive behavior against his Belgian friends and was not granted another command. To fight it, [] Lake Tanganyika's naval Battle - Naval Encyclopedia He served in the Mediterranean, Pacific and Home Fleets. [13], After its initial success, Spicer-Simson's command ended in controversy. Lake Tanganyika - Everything You Need to Know Battle for Lake Tanganyika. During the battle for Lake Tanganyika, the events piqued the publics interest, and C. S. Forester adapted them for his novel The African Queen, which was eventually transformed into the film The African Queen, which John Huston directed. The leader of this improbable mission is Geoffrey Spicer . East African Campaign - Background, Fighting, Offensives & More He found one such vesselthe St George, a steel boat belonging to the British consul at Bananaand had her dismantled, dragged to Lake Tanganyika and reassembled. Hedwig arrived at Lukuga in mid-January to investigate the loss of the German ship. The shell damaged Hedwigs hull, causing flooding, and her engine room was hit by the last shell moments later, shattering the boiler and murdering 5 African sailors and 2 Germans. In April 1915, the Admiralty learned that Germany was preparing to launch Graf von Gtzen onto Lake Tanganyika. Though Geoffrey was born in Tasmania, he soon moved to France at his mother's wishes. [46][47][48] Zimmer did not immediately send Hedwig to investigate the disappearance of Kingani, possibly being too busy transporting troops and supplies. His father, Frederick Simson, had been in the merchant navy and was a dealer in gold sovereigns in India who eventually settled in Le Havre, France, at the age of thirty-one. [12] Lee went out to prepare the way through Africa, while Spicer-Simson assembled 27 men and two motor boats that had been built by John I. Thornycroft & Company to fulfil an order made by the Greek government before the war. The storm season in January also made navigation of the lake dangerous for vessels smaller than Gtzen, and it was not until mid-January that Hedwig came to Lukuga to investigate. In 1902 he married Amy Elizabeth, daughter of Edmund and Phoebe Baynes-Reed of Victoria, British Columbia. The Belgians lifted her and hauled her to Kigoma, but she sank in a storm at her moorings. He went ashore to entertain guests at a nearby hotel, from whose windows he watched Niger being torpedoed and sunk. [46] By now, Spicer-Simson had been given the repaired Dutch vessel Del Communenow renamed Vengeurto add to his flotilla. [49] Odebrecht scouted close to the shore, keeping clear of the shore batteries that were assumed to have sunk Kingani, but could not see anything worth reporting. It hugs the shallow zones around a deep and steep bottomed lake, up to 1470m in its deepest parts. However, a survivor of Kingani reported that Gtzen had recently been armed with a gun from the recently scuttled German cruiser Knigsberg. It is the longest freshwater lake in the world (410 miles [660 km]) and the second deepest (4,710 feet [1,436 metres]) after Lake Baikal in Russia. The shell damaged Hedwigs hull, causing flooding, and her engine room was hit by the last shell moments later, shattering the boiler and murdering 5 African sailors and 2 Germans. was almost complete. He is most famous for his role as leader of a naval expedition to Lake Tanganyika in 1915, where he commanded a small flotilla which defeated a superior German force during the Battle for Lake Tanganyika. Fifi narrowed the gap after the two circled for a while, unable to get hits. This was resisted, but continued incursions on Belgian territory and Lukuga bombardments persuaded the Belgians to collaborate with the British for support in winning the Battle for Lake Tanganyika. The Admiralty rejected Spicers suggestions for the names Dog and Cat. Toutou and Mimi were recommended as options by Spicer-Simson, which were both approved. The Germans maintained a third large and heavily armed craft on the lake, the Graf von Gtzen; this craft was attacked indecisively by Belgian aircraft and was subsequently scuttled. Graf von Gtzen, a third huge and highly armed German boat stationed on the lake, was indecisively attacked by Belgian aircraft and scuttled. The Battle for Lake Champlain The Battle of Valcour Island, the first sizeable naval action of the American Revolution, was also fought far from the nearest ocean. [65] She was raised again by the British in 1921 under their mandate for Tanganyika, where it was found that she was so well preserved by the greasing, that little work needed to be done to repair her. Mimi, Dix-Tonne, Fifi, and the whaleboat made up the joint Anglo-Belgian fleet, with Toutou still undergoing repairs from the damage it had sustained during one of the battles for Lake Tanganyika. The naval expeditionary troop stayed at Bismarckburg, where Spicer-Simson was chastised when he discovered that the guns at the fort were wooden dummies. Battle for Lake Tanganyika - Wikipedia [4] Despite this undertaking, there was little the Belgians or British could do to challenge the Germans. Pegasus Books, 2008, p.149-150, Paice, Edward "World War I The African Front". I Love Warships - The Battle for Lake Tanganyika was one | Facebook [33][34] Still lacking detailed information on the enemy's movements, Kingani returned early on the morning of 1 December and attempted to approach the harbour. But that did not stop him from participating in the, . The capture of the lake by the Germans was crucial for the entire Central African War and the Battle for Lake Tanganyika. ^ Paice records that Spicer-Simson had Mimi, Toutou, Fifi and 'a Belgian motor boat known only as Vedette'. He served in the Mediterranean, Pacific and Home Fleets. Lake Tanganyika sits between Tanzania (then German East. Wooden dummies were installed To preserve the idea of a heavily armed warship when the, By mid-1916, the Anglo-Belgian sovereignty of Lake Tanganyika had been established, albeit the African war had gone on for another two years. We have compiled every content from history, geography, government, culture, economy, people & more! By the start of the war, the Germans had two warships on Lake Tanganyika; the 60t (59 long tons; 66 short tons) Hedwig von Wissman, and the 45t (44 long tons; 50 short tons) Kingani. Lee advocated sending motor gunboats to Africa and transporting them to the lake via the interior to address this threat. [53] The two circled for a time, unable to score hits, until Fifi closed. On February 8, he was summoned back to Lukuga and told to meet Zimmer the following day on Gtzen. The crews were made up of friends and Royal Naval Reserve members. Despite this, he had led a survey vessel on the River Gambia and was chosen to take charge owing to a dearth of commanders. The Battle for Lake Tanganyika was one of the Strangest Battles of World War One Quote Lake Tanganyika is the longest freshwater lake in the world, and a natural wonder but one of the strangest battles of WWI took place on its placid waters. The Belgians were about to capture Kigoma and a British force was pushing north toward Bismarckburg. This mattered: it was the longest lake in the world and of great strategic advantage. He served in that role from 1921 to 1937. He is most famous for his role as leader of a naval expedition to Lake Tanganyika in 1915, where he commanded a small flotilla which defeated a superior German force during the Battle for Lake Tanganyika. The voyages purpose was to reinforce ground expeditions from the lake, and the flotilla, consisting of Toutou, Mimi, Vengeur, and Fifi, landed off Bismarckburg on June 5. **** Battle for Lake Tanganyika. [30], Against this formidable force, the Belgians could only muster a petrol-driven barge armed with two cannon named Dix-Tonne, a motor boat named Netta, and a whaler fitted with an outboard motor. When Henry Morton Stanley visited Ujiji in 1876, he discovered the phrase "Tanganika." However, because Kinganis 6-pounder cannon could only shoot forward, the quicker and more agile motorboats quickly closed in and started shooting with their three-pounder guns while evading the German fire. Spicer-Simson was given the Distinguished Service Order award but was punished for some of his aggressive behavior against his Belgian friends and was not granted another command. Geoffrey Spicer-Simson - Wikipedia Captain Geoffrey Basil Spicer-Simson DSO, RN (15 January 1876 29 January 1947) was a Royal Navy officer. Still, they were afraid of her being destroyed before she was launched since the Germans monitored the lake. After China, he was posted to Africa, and from 1911 to 1914 was in command of a survey ship on the Gambia river. Colonial Records: Who Colonized Tanzania? [59], Australian pilots next to a Short Type 827 floatplane, circa 1915, Meanwhile, the British had provided the Belgians with four Short Type 827 floatplanes to attack Gtzen at Kigoma. The loss of the SMS Knigsberg cruiser in July on the Rufiji River had enhanced Germanys position in Tanganyika. Despite this effort, the British and the Belgians were powerless to confront the Germans. Lake Tanganyika: a celebration of water, fish, and distant volcanoes The fate of Africa's Lake Tanganyika lies in the balance Still, without concrete information regarding the enemys activities, Kingani returned early on the morning of December 1 in preparation for the battle for Lake Tanganyika and attempted to approach the port. [2][15], The British naval force consisted of two 40ft (12m)-long motor boats. He almost sank a submarine in 1905 when he came up with the concept of extending a cable in between two destroyers to look for periscopes. They and the soldiers involved traveled north by rail from Cape Town to Elisabethville through Bulawayo and arrived on July 26. He proceeded toward the, Odebrecht took advantage of the moment when the rebound halted her dead in her tracks. Of the remaining crew after the, , a local shaman and a European stoker were injured when 2 of the ships boats were damaged by shells; 12 Europeans, including the captain and eight natives, were damaged and seized by the British. Wooden dummies were installed To preserve the idea of a heavily armed warship when the battle for Lake Tanganyika was still ongoing. He attempted to conceal himself and hoped that Kingani would return at nightfall, but was discovered by a Belgian patrol and taken prisoner. When Spicer-Simson saw a fort that protected the harbor, he opted not to start another battle for Lake Tanganyika and retreated to Kuta. The capture of Kingani and the sinking of Hedwig von Wissmann greatly weakened German naval power on Lake Tanganyika. [3] However, he lost two months of this additional seniority for being found absent without leave in 1894. [7] Lee had been in Eastern Africa and had personally observed the German ships on Lake Tanganyika. Copyright 2021 - Unitedrepublicoftanzania.com, Battle for Lake Tanganyika Background and the Aftermath. Junge and four other crew members were buried; one African crew member was permitted to remain on board as a stoker, while 3 Germans and 8 Africans were taken as war prisoners. Knigsbergs crew members also joined his troops, and Zimmer appointed Lieutenant, The Belgians only raised a petrol-powered barge named Dix-Tonne with two guns, a motorboat called Netta, and a whaler with an outboard engine against this overwhelming force. In 1874 the Spicer-Simsons moved to Tasmania. [8] 220ft (67m) long and displacing 1,575 long tons (1,600t), she would cement German control of the lake and allow 800-900 troops to be rapidly transported to any point on the lakeshore to raid into allied territory. Kingani was rechristened HMSFifi and brought under Spicer-Simson's command. However, his progress was halted due to missteps and misfortunes. Still, they were afraid of her being destroyed before she was launched since the Germans monitored the lake. A British army moved north into Bismarckburg, and the Belgians were ready to conquer Kigoma. The hundreds of . Rosenthal's successor Sub-Lieutenant Junge had orders to gather information on naval preparations, and at 06:00 in the morning as Spicer-Simson was conducting morning prayers she was sighted offshore. Hedwig moved at 9 knots (10 mph; 17 km/h) compared to Fifi, which could do 8 knots (9.2 mph; 15 km/h), but as it sped away from Fifi, Mimi rushed by, firing her three-pounder cannon on the retreating Hedwig. He also brought the news that the Germans were preparing to launch a new ship from their fortified port of Kigoma. The battle of lake Tanganyika While in Pretoria searching for the SMS Knigsberg's gun I saw an entry from Guadalupe, a Facebook friend, narrating her enriching experience of a few years back on board of the MV Liemba in lake Tanganyika. [7] He then took up a posting in the Admiralty in the department in charge of transferring Merchant sailors to the War Navy. GWPDA Maritime War Section - Battle for Lake Tanganyika. [50] Vedette is presumably the whaleboat with the outboard motor, identified by Foden as being termed by Commandant Goor as "la vedette (patrol boat)". He found a suitable vessel, St George, a steel boat owned by the British consul in Banana, and had it dismantled, transported to Lake Tanganyika, and reconstructed. The expedition, known by that point as "Simson's Circus" for all it had been through, arrived at the Belgian lake port of Lukuga on 24 October 1915. By mid-December, slipways in Kalemie were complete, and the preparation for the. After several more hits, her chief engineer hauled down the colours and the British took possession of her. [16] The boats were tested on the Thames on 8 June, where arrangements had been made for Mimi to fire a practice shell from her 3-pounder. Kevin Patience, 'Shipwrecks & Salvage on the East African Coast', Moiteret, V.A, Captain USN "IHO 50 Years of Progress 1921-1971", This page was last edited on 9 November 2022, at 11:23. Two special trailers and cradles were also brought along to allow them to be transported by rail or overland. He had gone to entertain visitors ashore at a neighboring hotel, where he observed the Niger being sunk and torpedoed through the windows. ^ Foden maintains throughout that the Admiralty were unaware of the existence of the Gtzen, and that the expedition only became aware of her after their arrival on the lake shore. Also, it will allow up to 800900 troops to be quickly moved to any location along the lakeside to raid enemy land and fight battles like the Battle for Lake Tanganyika. A shell got stuck in Fifis cannon at this point, and Hedwig withdrew again in the 20 minutes Fifis crew spent removing it, looking for Gtzen. Geoffrey Basil Spicer-Simson (1876 - 1947) was a Royal Navy officer. The novel has a British navy force made up of 2 motorboats named HMS Matilda and HMS Amelia. [2][44][45] Spicer-Simson explained that Fifi meant "tweet-tweet" in French, and was suggested by the wife of a Belgian officer who had a small caged bird. File : Belgian artillery from the Battle for Lake Tanganyika.jpg Mimi and Toutou were assembled and launched just before Christmas 1915. Rosenthal's vessel was spotted by the shore batteries and driven away, but returned the following night and Rosenthal himself swam to Lukuga to examine the slipways under construction. Shankland, Peter (1968), 'The phantom flotilla', London: Collins. [7] He was also appointed a Commander of the Belgian Order of the Crown. The novel has a British navy force made up of 2 motorboats named HMS Matilda and HMS Amelia. [51][b], Odebrecht spotted the approaching vessels, but continued to advance. During the Tabora attack, Kigoma was captured by troops led by General Charles Tombeur on July 28, although Gtzen had already left. In the second, the small flotilla overwhelmed and sank the Hedwig von Wissman. The Germans had sailed the ship to the south of Kigoma Bay and, after having her engines thoroughly greased in case there should be need to make use of her again, filled her with concrete and carefully scuttled her on 26 July in a depth of 20 m near the banks of the Katabe Bay (Belgian designation: Baie de llphant; British designation: Bangwe Bay) at the Position 04 54' 05" S; 029 36' 12" E.[61], Anglo-Belgian control of Lake Tanganyika was secured by mid-1916, though the war in Africa dragged on for another two years. The Belgians had the parts for Baron Dhanis, a massive steamer, which, if completed, would be far larger than either Hedwig von Wissmann or Kingani. Belgian floatplanes were stationed on the lake, allowing them the opportunity to monitor and bomb German positions. In the first action, on 26 December 1915 the Kingani was damaged and captured, becoming HMSFifi. [3] He was promoted to acting sub-lieutenant on 19 February 1896,[3] and confirmed in the rank of sub-lieutenant on 20 January 1897, back-dated to the original acting promotion date. Early in the morning, Hedwig was discovered, and the expeditions men set forth to intercept her. But both the gunner and the gun were thrown into the river. Lake Tanganyika | lake, Africa | Britannica Kigoma fell to General Charles Tombeurs forces on 28 July, but Gtzen was already gone. Naval Action on Lake Tanganyika - British Empire As for the KOENIGSBERG guns, it wasn't talk only . [33], The slipways at Kalemie were ready by mid-December, and on 22 December Toutou was launched onto Lake Tanganyika, with Mimi following the next day. On June 8, the boats were then tested on the River Thames, with Mimi firing a practice shell using her 3-pounder as part of the test. Alarmed, the seamen hastened to man their boats, but Spicer-Simson banned an attack. Junge ordered the pace to be increased as two motorboats unexpectedly followed him with the white ensign. The Lualaba was running low, and Mimi and Toutou had to be paddled 56 miles (90km) upstream, including running aground fourteen times in just 12 miles (19km). [35] He also discovered the camps, where the British flag revealed the presence of Spicer-Simson and his expedition. [58] By the time he returned in May, the German position on the lake had deteriorated further. Lake Tanganyika, second largest of the lakes of eastern Africa. Tabora offensive - Wikipedia Kingani was struck on her gun after a brief 11-minute battle, with the shell going through the gunshield and murdering Junge and two petty officers, Schwarz and Penne. After Kingani had gone by, Toutou and Mimi left the port in pursuit.

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