HMS E49

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The memorial for the submarine HMS E49, Baltasound - geograph.org.uk - 5308911.jpg
History
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svgUnited Kingdom
NameHMS E49
Builder Swan Hunter, Wallsend
Laid down15 February 1915
Launched18 September 1916
Commissioned14 December 1916
Fate Mined, 12 March 1917
General characteristics
Class and type E-class submarine
Displacement
  • 662 long tons (673 t) (surfaced)
  • 807 long tons (820 t) (submerged)
Length181 ft (55 m)
Beam15 ft (4.6 m)
Installed power
  • 1,600  hp (1,200 kW) (diesel engines)
  • 840 hp (630 kW) (electric motors)
Propulsion
  • 2 × 800  hp (600 kW) diesel engines
  • 2 × 420 hp (310 kW) electric motors
  • 2 × screws
Speed
  • 15  kn (17 mph; 28 km/h) (surfaced)
  • 10 kn (12 mph; 19 km/h) (submerged)
Range
  • 3,000  nmi (3,500 mi; 5,600 km) at 10 kn (12 mph; 19 km/h) (surfaced)
  • 65 nmi (75 mi; 120 km) at 5 kn (5.8 mph; 9.3 km/h) (surfaced)
Complement30
Armament

HMS E49 was an E-class submarine built by Swan Hunter, Wallsend for the Royal Navy. She was laid down on 15 February 1915 and was commissioned on 14 December 1916. E49 was mined off the Shetland Islands on 12 March 1917. The minefield was laid by the German U-boat UC-76 on 10 March 1917. There were no survivors. E49 lies 96 ft (29 m) down with her bows blown off.

Contents

Design

Like all post-E8 British E-class submarines, E49 had a displacement of 662 long tons (673 t) at the surface and 807 long tons (820 t) while submerged. She had a total length of 180 feet (55 m) [1] and a beam of 22 feet 8.5 inches (6.922 m). She was powered by two 800 horsepower (600 kW) Vickers eight-cylinder two-stroke diesel engines and two 420 horsepower (310 kW) electric motors. [2] [3] The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) and a submerged speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). British E-class submarines had fuel capacities of 50 long tons (51 t) of diesel and ranges of 3,255 miles (5,238 km; 2,829 nmi) when travelling at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). [1] E49 was capable of operating submerged for five hours when travelling at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph).

E49 was armed with a 12-pounder 76 mm (3.0 in) QF gun mounted forward of the conning tower. She had five 18 inch (450 mm) torpedo tubes, two in the bow, one either side amidships, and one in the stern; a total of 10 torpedoes were carried. [2]

E-Class submarines had wireless systems with 1 kilowatt (1.3 hp) power ratings; in some submarines, these were later upgraded to 3 kilowatts (4.0 hp) systems by removing a midship torpedo tube. Their maximum design depth was 100 feet (30 m) although in service some reached depths of below 200 feet (61 m). Some submarines contained Fessenden oscillator systems. [1]

Memorial

A memorial to the 31 submariners lost in the sinking of E49 was unveiled in Baltasound, Unst, on 12 March 2017. The memorial was organised by retired local police constable Harry Edwards. The unveiling was attended by members of the crew of Royal Navy submarine HMS Vengeance (S31) and descendants of E49 First officer Basil Beal and second-in-command Reay Parkinson. [4]

Related Research Articles

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HMS <i>E50</i> Submarine of the Royal Navy

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HMS E48 was a British E class submarine launched by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan in 1916 and was completed by William Beardmore and Company, Dalmuir. She was launched on 2 August 1916 and was commissioned in February 1917.

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HMS E27 was a British E class submarine built by Yarrow Shipbuilders, Scotstoun. She was launched on 9 June 1917 and commissioned in August 1917. HMS E27 was sold to John Cashmore Ltd in Newport for scrapping on 6 September 1922.

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HMS <i>E34</i> Submarine of the Royal Navy

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HMS E37 was a British E class submarine built by Fairfield, Govan, Clyde. She was launched on 2 September 1915 and commissioned on 17 March 1916. E37 was lost in the North Sea on 1 December 1916. There were no survivors.

HMS E41 was a British E class submarine built by Cammell Laird, Birkenhead. She was laid down on 26 July 1915 and was commissioned in February 1916.

HMS E45 was a British E class submarine built by Cammell Laird, Birkenhead. She was launched on 25 January 1916 and was commissioned in August 1916. E45 torpedoed U-boat UC-62 in the North Sea on 15 October 1917. E45 was sold in South Wales on 6 September 1922.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Innes McCartney; Tony Bryan (20 February 2013). British Submarines of World War I. Osprey Publishing. pp. 11–12. ISBN   978-1-4728-0035-0.
  2. 1 2 Akerman, P. (1989). Encyclopaedia of British submarines 19011955. 149150. Maritime Books. ISBN   1-904381-05-7
  3. "E Class". Chatham Submarines. Archived from the original on 13 August 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  4. "Memorial unveiled in Unst for 31 submariners killed in 1917". The Shetland Times. 14 March 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.

Bibliography