"HMS M2 submarine disaster 1932" Topic

A maritime disaster that I had never heard of until today.
HMS M2 was the world's first underwater aircraft carrier, lost with of all 60 crew in 1932.
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Lord God, our power evermore
Whose arm doth reach the ocean floor
Dive with our men beneath the sea
Traverse the depths protectively
O hear us when we pray, and keep
them safe from peril in the deep

I remember reading somewhere about it when I was a kid. She was a conversion from one of a class of submarine monitors (hemce the "M") with the hangar replacing the big gun. I've a feeling that the whole class were "troubled" IIRC.

I remember seeing a documentary a while back on the loss of the M1. Fitted with the 12" gun, went to sea in Nov. 1925 on an exercise and disappeared with all hands.

The wreck was rediscovered in 1999, it is believed she was hit by a freighter that knocked loose the gun housing thus making her uncontrollable.

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Let us hope that it was indeed quick for those on board, and that the relatives are able to visit their loved ones still aboard and on eternal patrol.

Always thought it was due to the prevelent mania amongst the RN for speed over safety, opening the main hanger doors before the submarine has totally surfaced is never a good idea!. The submarine was still partially submerged as it was opened and the water consequently poured in to the forward section of the sub, making it nose heavy and sending it to the bottom.

The same belief in speed above all else led to the removal fo flash doors and storing of cordite in the turrets which led to the loss of Cruisers at Jutland!….