Battle of May Island

Battle of May Island

The bow of the drydocked cruiser HMS Fearless after colliding with the submarine K17
Date	31 January – 1 February 1918 (1918-01-31 – 1918-02-01)
Location	Waters off the Isle of May
Coordinates	56°11′9″N 2°33′27″W / 56.18583°N 2.55750°W / 56.18583; -2.55750
Also known as	Operation E.C.1
Type	Naval accident
Cause	Human Error, Weather, Mechanical Failure
Participants	Royal Navy
Outcome	Total deaths: 105 2 subs sunk 4 subs damaged 1 Scout cruiser damaged
Deaths	K4 with 55 dead K17 with 48 dead K14 with 2 dead
Property damage	HMS K4 sunk HMS K17 sunk HMS K6 damaged HMS K7 damaged HMS K14 damaged HMS K22 damaged HMS Fearless damaged

The Battle of May Island is the name given to the series of accidents that occurred during Operation E.C.1 in 1918. Named after the Isle of May, a nearby island in the Firth of Forth, the "battle" consisted of a disastrous series of accidents amongst Royal Navy vessels on their way from Rosyth, Scotland, to fleet exercises in the North Sea. On the misty night of 31 January–1 February 1918, five collisions occurred between eight vessels. Two K-class submarines were lost and four other submarines and a light cruiser were damaged. 105 British sailors in total died in the accidents.