October 17th - On This Date - RN Submarine Service

1910                HMS D3 launched

1939                HMS Tribune completed

1941                HMS P38 completed

1940                HMS H-49 sunk by UJ116 and UJ118 off the Dutch coast

H49 put to sea from Harwich on with orders to patrol off the Dutch coast. At 1510 the submarine sighted a German anti-submarine flotilla of five vessels at a distance of 3000 yards, the flotilla also spotted the submarine. H49 immediately dived to 60 feet and depth charges began to fall around her. The submarine endured over two hours of depth charge attacks until 1850 when a large oil slick was sighted on the surface by the attacking vessels - marking the end of H49.

1940                Stoker George Oliver floated to the surface unconscious, without a DSEA set, after a depth charge attack opened up the hull. He was the only survivor. He was rescued and revived by the German Navy, became a POW.

1943                HMS Trooper sailed from Beirut on 26th September 1943 for a patrol west of the Dodecanese and later to the east of Leros. No signals were received and she failed to return on the appointed date, 17th October. Mining is strongly suspected.

1944                HMS Stygian sinks three small Japanese vessels with gunfire off Penang.

1962                HMS Otus launched

2009                E18 was found close to the Estonian island of Hiiumaa by a Swedish marine survey company, MMT. They were guided by information provided by an Australian descendant of one of the crew. The Swedish survey vessel, the MV Triad, deployed a remote-operated vehicle and obtained the first pictures showing the submarine in remarkably good condition.