Archaeological remains associated with the loss of HMS H-47 are not confirmed as present at this location, but may be in the general vicinity.
For information on the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 Act and its administration with regard to naval vessels, please contact the Ministry of Defence, Wreck Section, Fleet-DCS 3rd Sector-Heritage, Navy Command HQ (MP1.3), Leach Building, Whale Island, Portsmouth, PO2 8BY.
Event and Historical Information:
The H47 was a Type 'H21' Class coastal defence submarine. It was built by William Beardmore & Co, Dalmuir for the Royal Navy (Keel laid: 20 November 1917. Launched: 19 November 1918. Completed: 25 February 1919). Technical and configuration specifications are given as 410 tons displacement; 510 tons submerged 52.35m (171.9ft) x 4.67m (15ft 4in) x 3.42m (11ft 3in); 2 x 4 stroke 8 cylinder, air injected NELSECO diesels, 240bhp at 375rpm each continuous, with 480hp max; performance 13knots as designed, but sea speed 11.5knts; endurance1375nm @10knots, 2985nm 7.5knts, submerged 10nm @ 9knts, or 130nm @ 2 knots; 2 x Electric Dynamic Co electric motors rated 320bhp continuous or 620bhp maximum (for less than 1 hours). Batteries Exide 120 cells. Fuel capacity: 16 tons. Armament: 4 x 53.34cm bow torpedo tubes. Torpedoes: 8 x 53.34cm (21in) Funs 1 x 7.62cm (3in) deck gun. Maximum operating depth 54.85m (180ft). Complement: 22 men.
The H47 was commissioned by Lt Charles Ralfe Thompson on 1 December 1918 and was briefly attached to HMS THAMES at Campbeltown with the 'Periscope School'. There followed a transfer to 6th Submarine Flotilla at Portland for training duties, attached to HMS VULCAN. Logs show that it mainly operated on the south coast, except for annual exercises and occasional refits. In October 1925, it was temporarily attached to 5th Flotilla and following North Sea exercises took part in courtesy visits to Antwerp in company with M1 and M3. On 3 June 1924, the H47 was at Pembroke for exercises in the Irish Sea. There was also a visit to Swansea with H32, H49 and HMS VULCAN. From 1927 onwards, H47 undertook exercises with HMS ALECTO in Irish Sea until its final tragic patrol in July 1929. The H47 was proceeding on a almost parallel but converging course to two other British submarines, L12 an L14. The latter were returning to Portsmouth after summer exercises off Arran. Despite a course alteration by L12 and last minute slowing of speed, the two submarines collided at 0810hrs on 9 July 1929. Some 2ft of the L12's bow penetrated the H47's bow. Within 15 seconds, H47 began to list sharply to starboard and sank soon after. Onboard the L12, the bows dipped to 45degrees before the drop keel was manually released and L12 levelled out. The crew escaped via the engine room bulkhead door to be rescued by L14. The Secretary to the Admiralty announced to Parliament that attempts to salvage the H47 had been abandoned because of bad weather and strong currents. At sunset on 11 July, a memorial service was held at the place of loss onboard HMS RODNEY attended by an escort of destroyers and other craft.
The fatalities onboard L12 were: Bull, Charles, L/Sig; Sampson, Arthur, AB and Wheeler, Horace, PO. The fatalities onboard H47 were: Bain, David, AB; Bickmore, Noel, Lt; Crew, John, Stoker; Crimmins, Benjamin, Stoker; Ditcher, John ERA; Elliot, Edmond, PO; Goodlet, John, CERA; Harris, Tom, L/Sig; Hartland, Sydney, AB; Hawley, Frederick, AB; Henderson, Clifford, L/Stoker; Legg, Alfred, ERA; Maccabee, Edward, L/Stoker; Mann, Cyril, L/Sig; McSweeney, John, Stoker; Pike, Lionel, ERA; Robbins, Percy, PO; Spencer, Nat, L/Smn; Stone, Arthur, Tel; Taylor, Alfred, Tel; and Wise, William, L/Tel.
The Court Martials into the actions of Lt Harry Oram and Lt Claude Keen of the L12 and Lt Robert Gardne