K13 sinking, 1917: RN memorial service

[seaJane]

Please see at link:

https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2022/january/31/20220131-k13-crew-are-remembered-at-hm-naval-base-clyde

[ilkley remembers]

Yesterday was the anniversary of the loss of two other K class submarines, Ks 4 and 17, which were lost with all hands in the so called 'Battle of May Island' in 1918. Three other members of this notoriously accident prone class of submarine were damaged on the same night 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_May_Island

[KizmeRD]

9 hours ago, ilkley remembers said:

 this notoriously accident prone class of submarine

There were both design and operational issues responsible for many of the issues that troubled K-class submarines. They were intended to be fleet submarines i.e. having high enough speed to accompany a battle group and be ready to deal with any sub-surface threats that might be encountered. 
The operational issue was that the subs couldn’t manoeuvre as agile as surface consorts (especially large ones like the K’s), and with hindsight, they should not have been obliged to maintain a fixed station in the line. Also, the low silhouette of a submarine and the small cross-section of its conning tower made it more difficult for other ships in the same formation to keep station on them, even in clear daylight.
As to their design, being steam powered, they were certainly different to other more conventionally powered subs, and the procedure for diving was necessarily more complex - with dangerous consequences when proper procedure was not rigidly adhered to.

Perhaps they weren’t inherently unsafe, just ill-suited to the manner in which they got used?

MB

 

 

[The Treasurer]

On 31/01/2022 at 16:53, seaJane said:

Please see at link:

https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2022/january/31/20220131-k13-crew-are-remembered-at-hm-naval-base-clyde

Thanks for sharing this. The loss of K.13 is something I've been researching in depth recently as part of telling Commander Goodhart's story. It is certainly something that is very well remembered locally.

 

All submariners face unique dangers in their service, as the recent loss of the KRI Nanngala sadly demonstrated. The K class certainly added additional risk with their twin funnels, which led directly to the loss of K.13. The right drill can mitigate those risks - but it can't remove them.

[KizmeRD]

As an aside, did anyone notice that the Captain was wearing a black cap, rather than the more customary white naval cap? Apparently submariners have recently adopted this as standard uniform dress. He’s also wearing a coastal forces white sweater and so the overall look would have been much like that worn by officers on K-Class subs during WW1.

MB

Edited 3 February , 2022 by KizmeRD

[The Treasurer]

4 hours ago, KizmeRD said:

As an aside, did anyone notice that the Captain was wearing a black cap, rather than the more customary white naval cap? Apparently submariners have recently adopted this as standard uniform dress. He’s also wearing a coastal forces white sweater and so the overall look would have been much like that worn by officers on K-Class subs during WW1.

MB

A recent change (July last): "Last week on the 50th anniversary of the introduction of Dolphins the First Sea Lord tweeted: "To recognise the unique ethos of the Submarine Service within the Royal Navy, approval has been given for all qualified submariners, ratings and officers, to wear black cap covers as of today. Black covers will now be the default except for ceremonial events." As you say also commonly worn in WW1!

[seaJane]

That's odd - I know I wrote that out! I can't have pressed send ...

To perfectly correct, the caps were originally black, and the covers were white. In the 19th century it was a summer/winter difference.