The carrier arrived to support French operations at Kastellorizo and anchored in a harbor exposed to artillery on the mainland. Ottoman batteries around the island included four 155 mm guns and roughly twelve smaller pieces, while Mustafa Ertuğrul Aker's concealed mobile battery opened the decisive fire. Its third shot hit Ben-my-Chree, and later shells disabled steering and ignited a hangar fire that spread across the upper deck. The crew abandoned ship after about forty minutes, with one officer and four ratings injured but no fatalities, although the bombardment continued for roughly five hours before she settled in shallow water. The captain and chief engineer later returned for the ship's cat and dog, and the accessible wreck was repeatedly inspected before salvage and demolition.
Chapter · 49:49-53:50
Ottoman guns destroy Ben-my-Chree at Kastellorizo
Anchored within range of concealed Ottoman guns, Ben-my-Chree was hit almost immediately and abandoned after an aviation-fuel fire consumed the upper deck.