Post by Jamie McTrusty / Redsky

The first casualty was HMS Express, which struck a mine just after 11pm. This blew off her bow as far as the bridge, killing 58 of her crew and wounding many more. HMS Esk closed to assist, but was herself immobilised after hitting a mine. 🧵3/8

HMS Express viewed from HMS Kelvin, with the extent of her damage evident. Note the MTB standing by in the background. 📷 IWM (A 533) (Viewed from another vessel, ratings stare at a destroyer which is missing her entire bow forward of the bridge. The sea is calm and a small boat is visible in the background)

aug 31, 2025, 10:02 am • 13 0

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Another explosion around 15 minutes later detonated Esk’s magazines. She broke her in half and sank almost immediately, with the loss of 135 crew. In the meantime, HMS Ivanhoe triggered a mine as she came alongside Express to rescue survivors. 11 of her crew were killed and she was immobilised. 🧵4/8

aug 31, 2025, 10:02 am • 13 0 • view

At this point, the escorting destroyers HMS Jupiter and HMS Kelvin (pictured) arrived, with HMS Vortigern marking the entrance to the minefield. They were later followed by a group of MTBs to help rescue survivors. 🧵5/8

Destroyer HMS Kelvin in the Clyde. 📷 IWM FL 3886 (Warship moving slowly ahead in calm waters, with hills visible in the background)

aug 31, 2025, 10:02 am • 13 0 • view

At around 8am, most of Ivanhoe’s crew abandoned ship, with 30 men remaining aboard to attempt to save her. It was soon apparent that her back was broken and she was sinking, but although finally abandoned at 2pm, she later withstood a German air attack and had to be torpedoed by Kelvin at 5pm. 🧵6/8

HMS Ivanhoe (on left) finally sinking after being torpedoed by HMS Kelvin. 📷 IWM (A 486) (Destroyer listing heavily to port, with another warship passing behind)

aug 31, 2025, 10:02 am • 13 0 • view

Express was taken in tow and arrived at Hull on 2nd September, though she would be out of action for almost a year while her bow was reconstructed. She would later be on hand to rescue hundreds of survivors from HMS Prince of Wales when the battleship was sunk off Malaya. 🧵7/8

HMS Express alongside HMS Prince of Wales to rescue survivors in December 1941. 📷 IWM HU 2675 (View from the bridge of a small warship of the side of a battleship, wreathed in smoke and listing badly away from the camera. Large numbers of men line the side of the battleship and are sliding down ropes to reach the deck of the rescue ship, where sailors are waiting to help)

aug 31, 2025, 10:02 am • 13 0 • view

In total, the entire episode had cost the Royal Navy over 200 killed and 100 more wounded or taken prisoner by the Germans. Two destroyers had been lost and another put out of action, at a time when every warship was a vital asset. An inquiry later declared the incident ‘unavoidable’. 🧵8/8

aug 31, 2025, 10:02 am • 16 0 • view

A great if grim thread that highlights just how dangerous minefields were - thanks Jamie.

aug 31, 2025, 10:55 am • 8 0 • view

Cheers Dave!

aug 31, 2025, 11:21 am • 4 0 • view

See also HMS Neptune at Sirte, December 1941 - 764 dead, 1 survivor. Plus destroyer Kandahar sunk and cruisers Aurora & Penelope damaged. Catastrophe.

aug 31, 2025, 12:03 pm • 2 0 • view

It really was, Force K was causing all sorts of trouble for Italian convoys, and that minefield in-effect removed them as a factor in the war in the Med.

aug 31, 2025, 10:33 pm • 2 0 • view