Like all post-H20British H-class submarines, H49 had a displacement of 423 long tons (430 t) at the surface and 510 long tons (520 t) while submerged.[2] It had a total length of 171 feet (52 m),[3] a beam of 15 feet 4 inches (4.67 m), and a draught of 39 feet 4 inches (12 m).[1] It contained diesel engines providing a total power of 480 horsepower (360 kW) and two electric motors each providing 320 horsepower (240 kW).[1] The use of its electric motors made the submarine travel at 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph). It would normally carry 16.4 long tons (16.7 t) of fuel and had a maximum capacity of 18 long tons (18 t).[4]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph) and a submerged speed of 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph). Post-H20 British H-class submarines had ranges of 2,985 nautical miles (5,528 km; 3,435 mi) at speeds of 7.5 knots (13.9 km/h; 8.6 mph) when surfaced.[2][1]H49 was fitted with an anti-aircraft gun and four 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes. Its torpedo tubes were fitted to the bows and the submarine was loaded with eight 21-inch torpedoes.[2] It is a Holland 602 type submarine but was designed to meet Royal Navy specifications. Its complement was twenty-two crew members.[2]
Following commissioning, H49 joined the submarine training school at Portland.[6] She remained part of this establishment in December 1920.[7]
In March 1937 the submarine navigated the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal in the company of the submarine HMS H33.[8] The trip had been arranged by Lieutenant A.F Collett, the 1st Lieutenant of H33.[8] She was reduced to reserve at Portsmouth on 16 December 1938.[9]
H49 survived until the Second World War, when she was assigned with other H-class submarines to a training flotilla at Harwich. Following the fall of France in June 1940, these training submarines undertook operational patrols in the North Sea as an anti-invasion precaution. On 16 September 1940, H49 commanded by Lieutenant M A Langley, fired four torpedoes at a large enemy coastal convoy and sank a 2,189-ton ship; Langley was later awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for this action. On 1 October, the submarine fired four torpedoes at a six-ship convoy, but without success.[10]
On the afternoon of 18 October, under the command of Lieutenant R E Coltart DSC,[10]H49 was on her "billet" (prescribed patrol area) off the Dutch coast, when the unusual decision was taken to surface in daylight, probably presuming that the poor visibility would prevent their being sighted. However, they had not detected a nearby group of five German armed trawlers or Vorpostenboote of the 11th Anti-Submarine Flotilla, who attacked immediately.[11] Despite diving at once, H49 was sunk by depth charges from the German patrol craft UJ111, UJ116 and UJ118, commanded by Lieutenant-Commander Wolfgang Kaden aboard UJ116, off Texel, the Netherlands. There was only one survivor, Leading Stoker George William Oliver from Hartlepool. He was rescued by German trawlers and spent the rest of the war as a prisoner of war at Marlag M.[12][13][14][15] Following the loss of H49, operational patrols by the other H-class submarines were suspended, and the flotilla moved to Rosyth in December 1940 to resume training duties.[16]
In the mid-1980s amateur divers who had violated H49's war grave status were prosecuted by the Dutch government.[12] Following research by Dennis Feary, the son of one of H49's lost crew members, he arranged for a memorial plaque to the submarine to be placed in St Mary's Church, Shotley in 2019, and a display dedicated to the sinking at the Aeronautical and War Museum on Texel Island.[17]
^ abcdGardiner, Robert; Gray, Robert (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906-1921. London: Conway Maritime Press. p. 92. ISBN0-85177-245-5.
^Walters, Derek (2004). The History of the British 'U' Class Submarine. Casemate Publishers. pp. 2–. ISBN978-1-84415-131-8.
^J. D. Perkins (1999). "Building History and Technical Details for Canadian CC-Boats and the Original H-CLASS". Electric Boat Company Holland Patent Submarines. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
^"II. — Local Defence and Training Establishments, Patrol Flotillas etc.: Portland: Periscope School". The Navy List. December 1919. p. 705. Retrieved 20 September 2019 – via National Library of Scotland.
^"II. — Local Defence and Training Establishments, Patrol Flotillas etc.: Portland". The Navy List. December 1920. pp. 705–6. Retrieved 20 September 2019 – via National Library of Scotland.
^ abTall, J.J; Paul Kemp (1996). HM Submarines in Camera An Illustrated History of British Submarines. Sutton Publishing. p. 64. ISBN0-7509-0875-0.
^"H 49. Submarine". The Navy List. March 1939. p. 250. Retrieved 20 September 2019 – via National Library of Scotland.
^ abKemp, Paul (1999). The Admiralty Regrets British Warship Losses of the 20th Century. Sutton Publishing Ltd. p. 132. ISBN0-7509-1567-6.
^. U.S. Naval Submarine School. 1966. Archived from the original on 11 September 2009. Retrieved 8 September 2009. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^Podesta, James (31 October 2020). "The remarkable tale of the March historian and the World War Two submarine". www.cambstimes.co.uk. The Cambs Times / Archant Community Media Ltd. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
Evans, A S (2010). Beneath the Waves: A History of HM Submarine Losses 1904-1971. Barnsley, S Yorkshire: Pen & Sword Maritime. ISBN978-1848842922.
Harrison, A. N. (January 1979). "The Development of HM Submarines From Holland No. 1 (1901) to Porpoise (1930) (BR3043)". United Kingdom Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 20 September 2019 – via RN Subs.
british, class, submarine, built, william, beardmore, company, dalmuir, launched, july, 1919, commissioned, october, 1919, submarine, active, service, second, world, sunk, netherlands, german, patrol, vessels, october, 1940, history, united, kingdom, nameh49, . HMS H49 was a British H class submarine built by William Beardmore and Company Dalmuir She was launched on 15 July 1919 1 and commissioned on 25 October 1919 The submarine saw active service in the Second World War but was sunk off the Netherlands by German patrol vessels on 18 October 1940 History United Kingdom NameH49 BuilderWilliam Beardmore and Company Dalmuir Launched15 July 1919 Commissioned25 October 1919 FateSunk 18 October 1940 General characteristics Class and typeH class submarine Displacement423 long tons 430 t surfaced 510 long tons 518 t submerged Length171 ft 0 in 52 12 m Beam15 ft 4 in 4 67 m Propulsion1 480 hp 358 kW diesel engine 2 620 hp 462 kW electric motors Speed11 5 knots 21 3 km h 13 2 mph surfaced 9 knots 17 km h 10 mph submerged Range2 985 nmi 5 528 km at 7 5 kn 13 9 km h 8 6 mph surfaced 130 nmi 240 km at 2 kn 3 7 km h 2 3 mph submerged Complement22 Armament4 21 in 533 mm bow torpedo tubes 8 21 inch torpedoes Contents 1 Design 2 Construction and service 3 See also 4 References 5 BibliographyDesign editLike all post H20 British H class submarines H49 had a displacement of 423 long tons 430 t at the surface and 510 long tons 520 t while submerged 2 It had a total length of 171 feet 52 m 3 a beam of 15 feet 4 inches 4 67 m and a draught of 39 feet 4 inches 12 m 1 It contained diesel engines providing a total power of 480 horsepower 360 kW and two electric motors each providing 320 horsepower 240 kW 1 The use of its electric motors made the submarine travel at 11 knots 20 km h 13 mph It would normally carry 16 4 long tons 16 7 t of fuel and had a maximum capacity of 18 long tons 18 t 4 The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 13 knots 24 km h 15 mph and a submerged speed of 10 5 knots 19 4 km h 12 1 mph Post H20 British H class submarines had ranges of 2 985 nautical miles 5 528 km 3 435 mi at speeds of 7 5 knots 13 9 km h 8 6 mph when surfaced 2 1 H49 was fitted with an anti aircraft gun and four 21 inch 533 mm torpedo tubes Its torpedo tubes were fitted to the bows and the submarine was loaded with eight 21 inch torpedoes 2 It is a Holland 602 type submarine but was designed to meet Royal Navy specifications Its complement was twenty two crew members 2 Construction and service editH49 was laid down at William Beardmore and Company s Dalmuir shipyard on 21 January 1918 was launched on 15 July 1919 and completed on 25 October 1919 5 Following commissioning H49 joined the submarine training school at Portland 6 She remained part of this establishment in December 1920 7 In March 1937 the submarine navigated the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal in the company of the submarine HMS H33 8 The trip had been arranged by Lieutenant A F Collett the 1st Lieutenant of H33 8 She was reduced to reserve at Portsmouth on 16 December 1938 9 H49 survived until the Second World War when she was assigned with other H class submarines to a training flotilla at Harwich Following the fall of France in June 1940 these training submarines undertook operational patrols in the North Sea as an anti invasion precaution On 16 September 1940 H49 commanded by Lieutenant M A Langley fired four torpedoes at a large enemy coastal convoy and sank a 2 189 ton ship Langley was later awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for this action On 1 October the submarine fired four torpedoes at a six ship convoy but without success 10 On the afternoon of 18 October under the command of Lieutenant R E Coltart DSC 10 H49 was on her billet prescribed patrol area off the Dutch coast when the unusual decision was taken to surface in daylight probably presuming that the poor visibility would prevent their being sighted However they had not detected a nearby group of five German armed trawlers or Vorpostenboote of the 11th Anti Submarine Flotilla who attacked immediately 11 Despite diving at once H49 was sunk by depth charges from the German patrol craft UJ111 UJ116 and UJ118 commanded by Lieutenant Commander Wolfgang Kaden aboard UJ116 off Texel the Netherlands There was only one survivor Leading Stoker George William Oliver from Hartlepool He was rescued by German trawlers and spent the rest of the war as a prisoner of war at Marlag M 12 13 14 15 Following the loss of H49 operational patrols by the other H class submarines were suspended and the flotilla moved to Rosyth in December 1940 to resume training duties 16 In the mid 1980s amateur divers who had violated H49 s war grave status were prosecuted by the Dutch government 12 Following research by Dennis Feary the son of one of H49 s lost crew members he arranged for a memorial plaque to the submarine to be placed in St Mary s Church Shotley in 2019 and a display dedicated to the sinking at the Aeronautical and War Museum on Texel Island 17 See also editList of submarines of the Second World WarReferences edit a b c d Colledge J J Warlow Ben 2006 1969 Ships of the Royal Navy The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy Rev ed London Chatham Publishing ISBN 978 1 86176 281 8 Retrieved from Naval History on 20 August 2015 a b c d Gardiner Robert Gray Robert 1985 Conway s All the World s Fighting Ships 1906 1921 London Conway Maritime Press p 92 ISBN 0 85177 245 5 Walters Derek 2004 The History of the British U Class Submarine Casemate Publishers pp 2 ISBN 978 1 84415 131 8 J D Perkins 1999 Building History and Technical Details for Canadian CC Boats and the Original H CLASS Electric Boat Company Holland Patent Submarines Retrieved 20 August 2015 Harrison 1979 Appendix 1 p AI 12 II Local Defence and Training Establishments Patrol Flotillas etc Portland Periscope School The Navy List December 1919 p 705 Retrieved 20 September 2019 via National Library of Scotland II Local Defence and Training Establishments Patrol Flotillas etc Portland The Navy List December 1920 pp 705 6 Retrieved 20 September 2019 via National Library of Scotland a b Tall J J Paul Kemp 1996 HM Submarines in Camera An Illustrated History of British Submarines Sutton Publishing p 64 ISBN 0 7509 0875 0 H 49 Submarine The Navy List March 1939 p 250 Retrieved 20 September 2019 via National Library of Scotland a b Hezlet 2001 Chapter 6 Evans 2010 p 246 a b Kemp Paul 1999 The Admiralty Regrets British Warship Losses of the 20th Century Sutton Publishing Ltd p 132 ISBN 0 7509 1567 6 Submarine Casualties Booklet U S Naval Submarine School 1966 Archived from the original on 11 September 2009 Retrieved 8 September 2009 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help CS1 maint unfit URL link Paterson 2018 p 93 Divers find death lottery submarine Navy News March 1984 p 16 Young 1997 pp 41 42 Podesta James 31 October 2020 The remarkable tale of the March historian and the World War Two submarine www cambstimes co uk The Cambs Times Archant Community Media Ltd Retrieved 12 August 2022 Bibliography editColledge J J Warlow Ben 2006 1969 Ships of the Royal Navy The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy Rev ed London Chatham Publishing ISBN 978 1 86176 281 8 Evans A S 2010 Beneath the Waves A History of HM Submarine Losses 1904 1971 Barnsley S Yorkshire Pen amp Sword Maritime ISBN 978 1848842922 Harrison A N January 1979 The Development of HM Submarines From Holland No 1 1901 to Porpoise 1930 BR3043 United Kingdom Ministry of Defence Retrieved 20 September 2019 via RN Subs Hezlet Arthur Richard 2001 British and allied submarine operations in World War II Gosport Royal Navy Submarine Museum ISBN 978 0952669616 Hutchinson Robert 2001 Jane s submarines war beneath the waves from 1776 to the present day London HarperCollins ISBN 978 0007105588 Paterson Lawrence 2018 Hitler s Forgotten Flotillas Kriegsmarine Security Forces Barnsley UK Pen amp Sword Books ISBN 978 1473882393 Young Edward 1997 One of Our Submarines Ware Hertfordshie Wordsworth Editions ISBN 978 1853266812 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HMS H49 amp oldid 1145449815, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
