Operational Duties: First World War 1914-1918
Twenty Chatham built submarines saw active service with the Royal Navy during the First World War:
C17;
C18;
C19;
C20;
C33;
C34;
D7;
D8;
E1;
E2;
E7;
E8 (1913);
E12;
E13;
F1;
G1;
G2;
G3;
G4;
G5
The 'C', 'D' and 'G' boats operated mainly in Home Waters, particularly in the North Sea. Whilst the 'E' boats operated in both the Baltic and through the Dardanelles into the Sea of Marmara where the Submarine Service enjoyed the most success. Amongst the notable tasks undertaken by Chatham built boats was the first submarine beach reconnaissance. In 1917,
C17 gathered tidal measurements off the Belgium coast to assist possible amphibious landings. The submarine remained submerged for 36 hours and many of her crew suffered from carbon dioxide poisoning.
Six Chatham submarines were lost during the War:
C33 (August 1915);
E7 (September 1915);
C34 (July 1917);
E1 (April 1918);
E8 (April 1918) and
E13 (August 1915).
The above image shows HMS
E7's navigator, Sub-Lieutenant Twyman manning her gun.
E7 was lost on only her second operational patrol. On the 4th September 1915, she became entangled in enemy torpedo nets off Nagara Point in the Dardenelles. All attempts to free the submarine failed. However, they had caught the attention of Oberleutnant zur See Heino von Heimburg, who was the Commanding Officer of a German U-boat, undergoing repair at nearby Chanak. He visited the spot in a small skiff, from which he lowered a small explosive charge. The submarine was forced to the surface. Her crew scuttled the submarine before they were taken as prisoners of war.
Image © Royal Navy Submarine Museum
