أنت هنا
قراءة كتاب The Story of Our Submarines
تنويه: تعرض هنا نبذة من اول ١٠ صفحات فقط من الكتاب الالكتروني، لقراءة الكتاب كاملا اضغط على الزر “اشتر الآن"
work. The VIII Flotilla ("D" and "E" boats) were at Harwich, a port which throughout the War has remained the chief Heligoland Bight Patrol base. The "C" boats were spread all up the East Coast, with a Channel guard at Dover and a large number of them at Leith.
The Heligoland Patrol started on the 5th. The boats of the VIII Flotilla not patrolling in the Bight guarded, till the 13th August, a line drawn across the northern entrance of the Channel (between the Belgian and English shoals) till the Expeditionary Force was safely over. During the passage of this force it was fully expected that the enemy would show naval activity and make an attempt to hinder or prevent the passage of troops. Precautionary measures were therefore taken. That the enemy made no attempt to interfere or to dispute the command of the Channel was a surprise to our War Staff, who based their calculations on what an enterprising Naval Power would do in similar circumstances. A possible reason for the enemy's sluggishness at this time is that he does not appear to have at all expected to be at war with England.
"From Commodore (S),
To Chief of War Staff, Admiralty.
7th August 1914 (Midnight).
"Propose to postpone oversea operations from Yarmouth, and to concentrate all submarines in area arranged until after transit of Expeditionary Force. How many days will passage occupy?"
On the 14th the patrol in the Bight continued.
The following despatch is a typical report of an E boat's trip into the Bight during these early days of war:—
H.M. Submarine "E 6,"
15th August 1914.
Sir,—I have the honour to submit a report of the proceedings of Submarine "E 6" on August 6th and 7th, when working in the Heligoland Bight.
August 6th—
1 A.M. Slipped by Amethyst, 30′ N.N.E. from Terschelling Light vessel, proceeded N. 69 E., 12 knots, making for allotted area, and avoiding T.B.D. patrol.
3 A.M. Dived to check trim; day breaking on rising; sighted two steam trawlers 4 to 5 miles to southward; dived away from them; 3 miles.
4.25 A.M. Proceeded E. × S., 12 knots.
6.30 A.M. Altered course S.E.
7.25 A.M. Sighted German cruiser, Stettin class, hull down, E.N.E., beam on, steering N. (approx.). Dived E. by N. 1 mile to avoid being seen; cruiser too far off to attack.
8.5 A.M. Rose. Sighted trail of smoke and yellow funnel, E.N.E.
Dived to attack, course N. 30 W., full speed.
8.55 A.M. Abandoned chase, enemy steaming very fast west (approx.).
Dived to avoid steam trawler, which had passed over boat during attack.
9.45 A.M. Rose. Proceeded to westward charging batteries.
11.30 A.M. Stopped. Charged on surface.
1.15 P.M. Proceeded S. 72 E., 12 knots.
2.45 P.M. Dived to avoid steam trawler, remaining on course S. 72 E.
3.40 P.M. Rose.
3.50 P.M. Sighted German large T.B.D., or flotilla cruiser, 10 miles to northward, steaming very fast E. Too far off to attack.
4.15 P.M. Proceeded S. 51 E., 12 knots.
5.45 P.M. Position W. ¾′ N. 23′ from Heligoland. Nothing in sight except numerous trawlers, chiefly sailing. Turned to N. 60 W., 9 knots. Sea rough.
8.10 P.M. Increased to 10½ knots. Many trawlers in sight at nightfall.
9.30 P.M. Stopped. Dived 50 feet on "grouper down" till—
August 7th—
2 A.M. Rose. Very dark; dived 50 feet.
3.15 A.M. Rose.
3.30 A.M. Proceeded under one engine, 8 knots, working round a large fleet of sailing trawlers making to southward; making for route of warships seen yesterday.
6 A.M. Altered course 12 knots.
7.45 A.M. Altered course S.E.
8.15 A.M. Sighted German submarine on surface, S.E. 4 to 5 miles distant, beam to beam. Dived to attack. At first thought she was stopped and had then dived, not sighting her through periscope till 8.45.
8.45. A.M. Sighted her steaming west, 4 or 5 miles off. Followed, diving.
9.30 A.M. Rose. Submarine not in sight. Followed, diving, for ¾ hour, in hopes of finding her stopped.
10.30 A.M. Proceeded S. 56 E., 12 knots.
12 noon. Stopped to let steam trawler pass across horizon, ahead.
Note.—Since about 7 A.M. I had given up the idea of trying to keep out of sight of trawlers, merely avoiding going within a mile of them.
12.10 P.M. Proceeded.
12.54 P.M. Altered course south, observed position being further north than intended. The steam trawler sighted at noon seemed suspicious of E 6, altering course so as to keep me in sight without getting close.
3.30 P.M. Turned and steered for trawler, signalling her to show colours (German), and to stop. Trawler fitted with W/T. Crossed her bows and shaped course N. 87 W., 14 knots. Position then N. 43 W. 37′ from Heligoland. Trawler proceeded, apparently shaping course for Emden. Steered to avoid our T.B.D. patrol.
August 8th—
6.30 A.M. Made Swarte Bank Light-vessel. Proceeded to Lowestoft to report.
Note.—The Heligoland Bight contained a very large number of trawlers, chiefly sailing, including a few which were apparently Dutch; they became more numerous closer in to Heligoland. I did not notice W/T in any except the one I spoke.
I have the honour to be, sir, your obedient servant,
(Sd.) G. P. Talbot,
Lieutenant-Commander.
The Commodore (S),
H.M.S. Maidstone.
That is the sort of way the submarine officers describe their experiences. The method is curt and unsatisfying somehow. I will try and give an idea of a submarine captain describing a trip during, say, the winter of 1915-1916, to an army brother:—
Yes, we got in yesterday. No—we had no luck. It's getting dull inside there now; it's not so much fun if there are no big ships about and only small craft chasing you. Well, you see, we left about 4 P.M. on Monday and had a poor sort of trip across—blowing from the north-east, so that we were head to sea, and even at eight knots we took nearly every wave over the bridge. They're a fine sight though, the E boats, when they're butting into it like that; they get out of step so, and you can feel just about when they are going to take a good one; you see more and more of her bow going dry as she goes wrong, and then she puts a great length of herself over a hollow, and that's the time to duck your head and hold tight to a rail, because she comes down wallop just in time for the next one to roll right over you. It was fairly clear, but devilish cold, and there were snow-squalls about one to the half-hour. We gave Terschelling (the