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It is now 69 years since this incident occurred........................it is well worth revisiting both in a historical and political sense.
Post World War 2 - Contemporary Accounts
HMS AMETHYST INCIDENT, YANGTSE RIVER, April to May 1949......
Introduction
This is a short introduction to the HMS Amethyst incident in the Yangtse River when she was fired on by Communist forces with heavy losses to herself and those ships that attempted to rescue her. The London Gazette lists the honours awarded but did not include an official despatch. In its place the proceedings of the House of Commons as recorded in Hansard have been quoted. These cover events in some detail until around the arrival of Commander Kerans to take over command. His own account - from "The Naval Review" - continues the story until her escape and rejoining the Fleet.
The source of the images is Photo Ships unless otherwise captioned. The source of the maps are listed. My thanks to all.
A problem with this account is that the name of the locations in use in the 1940/1950's are no longer used. Most of the modern day Chinese names have been identified, with two exceptions and the variations are noted on the Google map. There is still the question of the name of the river itself. Maikel of the Old Weather project, which has edited the log books of British gunboats on the Yangtze lists nearly 20 English variations. In the event, both Yangtse and Yangtze has been used according to the sources quoted.
Contents
Hansard Parliamentary Proceedings (right)
Events in Outline
Background Maps
Main Ships Present and Images
Casualties
British Honours and Awards
The Film
EVENTS IN OUTLINE
April-July 1949
HMS Amethyst (Lieutenant-Commander Skinner) sailed from Shanghai on 19th April to relieve HMS Consort at Nanking. Fired at on 20th at around 0900, 60 miles from Nanking and grounded on Rose Island with heavy casualties, about 60 crew landed and many made their way to Shanghai with Chinese help
Consort ordered from Nanking to assist Amethyst; Black Swan ordered from Shanghai to Kiang Yin, 40 miles short of Amethyst. Consort arrived around 1500, but heavily hit (20th) and unable to take Amethyst in tow. Continued downstream. HMS London ordered to proceed up the Yangtse and meet Black Swan and Consort at Kiang Yin around 2000. Consort too damaged and ordered to Shanghai.
On the 21st at c0200, Amethyst refloated and anchored two miles above Rose Island. Later in the morning, London and Black Swan tried to close Amethyst but came under heavy fire, which was returned, and there were some casualties. Both ships returned to Kiang Yin where they were fired at again. Damaged and with more casualties, they proceeded to Shanghai. That evening, a naval officer and RAF doctor reached Amethyst by Sunderland flying boat.
On the night of 21st/22nd April Amethyst evacuated more wounded and moved ten miles up river to evacuate more. She now had three naval officers, one RAF doctor, 52 ratings and 8 Chinese on onboard. On the 22nd, in the PM, Lt-Cdr Kerans, Asst Naval Attache at Nankin arrived to assume command. Also on the 22nd, another attempt was made to land by a Sunderland but she was driven off by artillery fire. Amethyst moved a further four miles up river.
She remained there for three months before escaping on the night of 30/31st July. HMS Concord was present at this time.
There is much more to the story at the link below; including many images and maps.
http://www.naval-history.net/WXLG-Amethyst1949.htm
Post World War 2 - Contemporary Accounts
HMS AMETHYST INCIDENT, YANGTSE RIVER, April to May 1949......
Introduction
This is a short introduction to the HMS Amethyst incident in the Yangtse River when she was fired on by Communist forces with heavy losses to herself and those ships that attempted to rescue her. The London Gazette lists the honours awarded but did not include an official despatch. In its place the proceedings of the House of Commons as recorded in Hansard have been quoted. These cover events in some detail until around the arrival of Commander Kerans to take over command. His own account - from "The Naval Review" - continues the story until her escape and rejoining the Fleet.
The source of the images is Photo Ships unless otherwise captioned. The source of the maps are listed. My thanks to all.
A problem with this account is that the name of the locations in use in the 1940/1950's are no longer used. Most of the modern day Chinese names have been identified, with two exceptions and the variations are noted on the Google map. There is still the question of the name of the river itself. Maikel of the Old Weather project, which has edited the log books of British gunboats on the Yangtze lists nearly 20 English variations. In the event, both Yangtse and Yangtze has been used according to the sources quoted.
Contents
Hansard Parliamentary Proceedings (right)
Events in Outline
Background Maps
Main Ships Present and Images
Casualties
British Honours and Awards
The Film
EVENTS IN OUTLINE
April-July 1949
HMS Amethyst (Lieutenant-Commander Skinner) sailed from Shanghai on 19th April to relieve HMS Consort at Nanking. Fired at on 20th at around 0900, 60 miles from Nanking and grounded on Rose Island with heavy casualties, about 60 crew landed and many made their way to Shanghai with Chinese help
Consort ordered from Nanking to assist Amethyst; Black Swan ordered from Shanghai to Kiang Yin, 40 miles short of Amethyst. Consort arrived around 1500, but heavily hit (20th) and unable to take Amethyst in tow. Continued downstream. HMS London ordered to proceed up the Yangtse and meet Black Swan and Consort at Kiang Yin around 2000. Consort too damaged and ordered to Shanghai.
On the 21st at c0200, Amethyst refloated and anchored two miles above Rose Island. Later in the morning, London and Black Swan tried to close Amethyst but came under heavy fire, which was returned, and there were some casualties. Both ships returned to Kiang Yin where they were fired at again. Damaged and with more casualties, they proceeded to Shanghai. That evening, a naval officer and RAF doctor reached Amethyst by Sunderland flying boat.
On the night of 21st/22nd April Amethyst evacuated more wounded and moved ten miles up river to evacuate more. She now had three naval officers, one RAF doctor, 52 ratings and 8 Chinese on onboard. On the 22nd, in the PM, Lt-Cdr Kerans, Asst Naval Attache at Nankin arrived to assume command. Also on the 22nd, another attempt was made to land by a Sunderland but she was driven off by artillery fire. Amethyst moved a further four miles up river.
She remained there for three months before escaping on the night of 30/31st July. HMS Concord was present at this time.
There is much more to the story at the link below; including many images and maps.
http://www.naval-history.net/WXLG-Amethyst1949.htm
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