Maritime record MDO47941 - HM SM D1

1918 wreck of British submarine which foundered after being expended and scuttled as a target off the south coast of England. Completed in 1909 as the first of a new programme of British overseas attack submarines, she saw war service in common with others of the D-class before the class was retired to Portsmouth to act as training vessels over 1917-1918. Given the location of her final base at Portsmouth, and in common with other obsolete submarines and warships being expended as targets off the south coast in the early 20th century, it is likely that her final resting place lies somewhere off the Bill of Portland. Constructed of steel, she was powered by both diesel engines and electric motors. Status: Casualty

Prior History:

Class Development and Design:

The D-class was developed under the 1906-7 programme for use on overseas offensive operations rather than defensive coastal operations, as with earlier classes. Their design was a radical departure from previous classes and formed the prototype for later submarine development.

New design features included external main ballast tanks in a saddle formation on either side, increasing buoyancy and creating more space internally, twin screws, twin bow torpedo tubes arraged vertically rather than horizontally, and the addition of a stern torpedo tube. The vessels were also fitted with wireless as an integral part of the design (rather than retrofitted) which was only operational on the surface. Overall the vessels of this class were larger and had increased range, endurance and seaworthiness over earlier classes. (1)

Individual history of the vessel:

Vessel launched in strict secrecy, as reported in the Western Daily Mercury of 19 May 1908, from Vickers' Barrow yard, and immediately after launch she was hustled into a wharf and hidden away again for completion. (3)(4)

She then made a solo voyage from Portsmouth to the west coast of Scotland in 1910 and despite engine trouble was able to take part in fleet manoeuvres under her own power. She was able to patrol for three days without her presence being suspected, and torpedoed two of the Blue Fleet's cruisers on the last day of exercises. (3)

Photograph of D1 with HMS ABOUKIR on manoeuvres shortly before the First World War. (2)

The class operated out of Dover, Harwich, Immingham and Blyth until 1917-18, when they were relegated to training duties at Portsmouth. (1)

Fate:

23-OCT-1918: Sunk as a target. (1)

Location:

Comparison with other contemporary Royal Navy submarines and warships known to have been expended as targets within the present database suggests that an area of the south coast between the Solent and Lyme Bay is likely to correspond to the area of loss, particularly given the vessel's final base at Portsmouth in 1917-18. For comparison, those vessels are:

HMS LANDRAIL: sunk off the Bill of Portalnd, 1906;
HMSM A1: foundered in the Solent outward-bound from Portsmouth to be expended as a gunnery target, 1911, and designated under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973;
HMSM A3: expended south of Lulworth Cove, 1912, and designated under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973;
HMS EMPRESS OF INDIA: expended off Lyme Regis, 1913

Reconstruction of this area of loss is conjectural and for recording purposes only; it may be capable of refinement or alteration pending further research. (5)

Laid down: 14.05.1907 (1)
Launched: 16.05.1908 (1)
Completed: September 1909 (1)
Builder: Vickers (1)
Where Built: Barrow-in-Furness (1)
Propulsion: twin screw; Vickers diesel engines; electric motors (1)
Armament: 3 x 18in TT (2 x bow, 1 x stern) (1) [1 x 12pdr QF only fitted to D4 and later submarines] (1)
Dimensions: 500/620 tons displacement (surface/submerged); 162ft length overall x 20ft 6in x 11ft (1)
Owner: Royal Navy [all sources]

Date of Loss Qualifier: Actual date of loss

Davies, Roy, 1995, Nautilus: the story of man under the sea, 60 (Monograph). SDO20636.

<1> Akermann, Paul, 1989, Encyclopaedia of British submarines 1901-1955, 132-3, 140-143 (Monograph). SWX4814.

<3> Lipscomb, F W, 1975, The British Submarine, 14-15 (Monograph). SWX9354.

<4> Evans, A S, 1986, Beneath the waves: a history of HM submarine losses [1904-1971] (Monograph). SWX4816.

<5> NRHE Compiler's comments, 21-AUG-2018 (Verbal communication). SDO19863.

<6> National Record of the Historic Environment, 904626 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Mar 31 2024 9:27AM