Originally Posted by
Bull at a Gate
Pettinger93, HMS Nottingham ran aground near Lord Howe Island (population 400) not Norfolk Island (population 1800 and not nearly as beautiful).
About 2/3 of the bottom of Nottingham was ripped open, massive flooding everywhere. Story I heard was that as the ship bounced over the rock she'd hit at 30knots, the one compartment that got missed out was the Ward Room Pantry, which stayed dry. So the port, stilton and crackers were OK. The Captain, who had only just come back on board and was reaching the bridge as the collision occurred, took command and made a fast decision to use engine power to drag her backwards off the rock, whilst power was still available. She'd not have survived if left see sawing on the rock. Two big Olympuses drowned saving the ship.
I saw the pictures looking down into the engine room; basically you couldn't because the water came up to the very top. Absolute miracle she didn't sink, due entirely to the damage control efforts of the crew, who didn't hear the Abandon Ship pipe because by then all the electrics were dead. So they carried on and ended up saving the ship
Australian Navy helped out with consolidation, rapid supply of pumps, etc.
The transport back to Pompey was let initially to a Dutch salvage firm who were the cheapest because they were going to sub it out to a Chinese firm. MoD told them to think again...