H.M.S. D 6 (1911)

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H.M.S. D 6 (1911)
Pendant Number: I.76 (1914)
D.6 (mid 1915)[1]
Builder: Vickers[2]
Ordered: 1909-10 Estimates[3]
Launched: 23 Oct, 1911[4]
Torpedoed: 26 Jun, 1918[5]
Fate: by UB 73
H.M.S. D 6 was one of 8 submarines of the "D" class.

Service

On 13 August 1917, D 6 was operating off the coast of Ireland in concert with H.M.S. Prize, a decoy sailing vessel, to attempt to ambush a U-boat. However, when one attacked, it was so sudden that Prize had to open fire on the the attacker before D 6 could make her move. Nine hours later, the chastened U-boat attacked by night by torpedo, sinking Prize at 56° N., 10° 30' W.. The operation was a distinct failure.[6]

After the war, the British determined that D 6 was probably sunk by a torpedo employing a magnetic pistol. UB 73 fired a torpedo from a range of just 80 metres and her shot passed under D 6 and exploded with an effect that seemed extremely mild, throwing a column of water 30-40 feet into the air. D 6 showed no signs of damage for 20-30 seconds after the explosion, but suddenly pitched nose down and was lost. It was thought that a tank had been ruptured, leading to the failure of a battery tank a short moment later.[7]

Lieutenant-in-Command Samuel Arthur Brooks and his second officer, Lt. Frederick Secker Bell were the only survivors. They were taken prisoner by the German submarine, which directed a wireless radio message to inform the Admiralty of their capture.

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

See Also

Footnotes

  1. Dittmar; Colledge. British Warships 1914–1919. p. 84.
  2. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. p. 87.
  3. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. p. 87.
  4. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. p. 87.
  5. Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. p. 87.
  6. The Technical History and Index, Vol. 1, Part 1. pp. 12, 13.
  7. Annual Report of the Torpedo School, 1919. p. 22.
  8. The Navy List. (July, 1913). p. 343.
  9. The Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 353.

Bibliography


"D" Class Submarine
Vickers Boats
  D 1 D 2 D 3  
  D 4 D 5 D 6  
Chatham Boats
  D 7 D 8  
<– "C" Class Submarines (UK) "E" Class –>