HMS/m G.8

[sadsac]

Hello All, Looking into submarine G.8 loss / crew etc. She was supposed to have sunk a U-boat, but other member (Oliver) doubts this. ANY info on G.8 would be most appreciated.

Sadsac

[Michael Lowrey]

Dennis,

G 8 was declared missing on January 14, 1918 but she was lost earlier than that. She sailed from the Tees on December 27, 1917 for the Kattegat with G 12 (HMS Medea providing an outbound escort for a ways) and was due back home by January 6th. I don't have a good sense of the minefield situation she may have encountered.

I think Oliver's assessment of the odds that G 8 sank a U-boat might even be optimistic -- I'd go with very doubtful. (G 8 could certainly have fired torpedoes against a U-boat.) The Gs tended to operate against Germany-based (HSF) U-boats and this is the population of losses is easily the best understood. That's not to say that there aren't a few missing boats, but we've got a good handle on the issues in those cases.

I can go through the individual boats if you're interested.

Best wishes,

Michael

[Lörscher]

...

I think Oliver's assessment of the odds that G 8 sank a U-boat might even be optimistic -- I'd go with very doubtful

...

Well, I'm sure this was NOT an successful attack, details are as follows:

G 8 (Lt. Charles de Burgh), 23.07.1917

15.27h sighted an Armed Boarding Steamer of 10th C.S., made an practice attack (61°30'N-02°43'W)

16.20h sighted 4-funneld Cruiser going north, 6 miles away

16.45h sighted the Cruiser again, going fast to the south-west

18.34h sighted U-Boat type U 53 steering 90°, 5,5 miles away, 61°28'N-02°20'W (North-West of Shetlands)

18.52h abandoned attack against U-Boat as it was still 4 miles away

18.55h sighted second U-Boat type U 53 with course 239°, 7 - 8000 yards away, attacked

19.11h fired 2 torpedoes

19.12h fired another torpedo

19.24h fired forth torpedo at 6000 yards range

19.33h while being dived at 50 ft. heard heavy report, own boat was shooked

than going up to 16 ft. sighted nothing, on coming to the surface sighted U-Boat (reported as being the first one) 6 miles away, but U-Boat drew away, was chased on the surface

24.07.1917

02.00h sighted U-Boat stearing South-East, 3 miles away, 61°36'N-00°52'W (North of Shetlands), dived for attack

but U-Boat dived also and contact was lost

My goal is U 58 (Kptlt. Herrmann) which on 23.07. missed an british Armoured Cruiser with torpedo, North-West of the Shetlands (most probably the cruiser seen by G 8 at 16:20h/16:45h).

Not sure if there really was an second U-Boat nearby !?

Oliver

[historydavid]

Interestingly, the Admiralty death records show the date of loss as 3rd January 1918 with 32 men lost.

Sadsac, have crew details if you need them.

Best wishes

David

[sadsac]

Michael - thank you for info - great stuff - supposition re `sinking' was not Olivers `fault' it was a gong award re firing of G.8's that `supposed' a hit !!

Oliver - I apologise for getting you a `rowllaking' from Michael !!!

David I have crew `lost list' - but if you have further details would appreciate them.

Thanks to all - any photo's of G.8 around ???

Sadsac

[Lörscher]

...

Oliver - I apologise for getting you a `rowllaking' from Michael !!!

...

Sadsac

Dennis, nothing bad happened

I know Michael well from e-mail-exchange.

Oliver

PS: I have discovered, that I still have 19 days of leave left for 2008, will plan my next visit to TNA, I'm sure we will met each other at HQ this time !!!

[sadsac]

OK Oliver, let me know when you intend meeting PRO / HQQ.

DENNIS Sadsac