Distribution of RN Submarines WW1

The statement that the headquarters of the various submarine flotillas in home waters are at Chatham Portsmouth, and Devonport, must not be taken as indicating that these are the only points along the coast protected by submarines. These places are merely the chief bases of the Patrol Flotillas. The wide range of action of modern submarines enables them to operate several hundred miles from any base or depot, and consequently Chatham becomes merely the general store, or head-depot, of what should be termed the North Sea Flotillas, which not only patrol the whole East, North-East and South-East Coasts of England and Scotland, but also have their floating secondary bases in the form of Depot ships, which, with their attached submarines, are often at Harwich, Newcastle, Rosyth, etc In the same way Portsmouth is merely the headquarters of the submarines patrolling the Channel; and Dover, Portland, etc, are seldom without strong flotillas of submarines with their Depot ships. The Devonport Flotillas have the longest coast-line to patrol, for their area covers not only the West Coast of England, Wales and Scotland, but also the Irish Coast They are, however, furthest removed from the zone of war.

Considerable alterations took place in the composition and distribution of the British submarine flotillas following the outbreak of war, with the object of materially strengthening the Fleet in the main theatre of operations, but the addition to the flotillas of new vessels of the E Class nearly completed when war broke out, made this rearrangement possible without materially weakening the flotillas guarding the more distant coasts of Great Britain or recalling vessels from overseas.

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Seneschal (P 255)

Class:	1935 - 1970: Improved S Class
Built By:	Scotts (Clyde)
Build Group:	S3
Fate:
Scrapped Dunstone 23rd August 1960

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Until recently Fort Blockhouse or HMS DOLPHIN provide a spiritual ad physical home for the Royal Navy’s Submarine Service. This short article details the Forts long history

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The statement that the headquarters of the various submarine flotillas in home waters are at Chatham Portsmouth, and Devonport, must not be taken as indicating that these are the only points along the coast protected by submarines. These places are merely the chief bases of the Patrol Flotillas. The wide range of action of modern submarines enables them to operate several hundred miles from any base or depot, and consequently Chatham becomes merely the general store, or head-depot, of what should be termed the North Sea Flotillas, which not only patrol the whole East, North-East and South-East Coasts of England and Scotland, but also have their floating secondary bases in the form of Depot ships, which, with their attached submarines, are often at Harwich, Newcastle, Rosyth, etc In the same way Portsmouth is merely the headquarters of the submarines patrolling the Channel; and Dover, Portland, etc, are seldom without strong flotillas of submarines with their Depot ships. The Devonport Flotillas have the longest coast-line to patrol, for their area covers not only the West Coast of England, Wales and Scotland, but also the Irish Coast They are, however, furthest removed from the zone of war.

Considerable alterations took place in the composition and distribution of the British submarine flotillas following the outbreak of war, with the object of materially strengthening the Fleet in the main theatre of operations, but the addition to the flotillas of new vessels of the E Class nearly completed when war broke out, made this rearrangement possible without materially weakening the flotillas guarding the more distant coasts of Great Britain or recalling vessels from overseas.

Featured Badge

Seneschal (P 255)

Class:	1935 - 1970: Improved S Class
Built By:	Scotts (Clyde)
Build Group:	S3
Fate:
Scrapped Dunstone 23rd August 1960

Read More

Featured Book

Until recently Fort Blockhouse or HMS DOLPHIN provide a spiritual ad physical home for the Royal Navy’s Submarine Service. This short article details the Forts long history

Buy from Amazon

Latest Updated Pages

11 pages added or updated in the last 1 month

Errors and Corrections

Buy Me A Coffee

If you find this site useful, please consider supporting my work with a small Donation. Or you can make a big one if you like :)

Click to Donate

Please Note: Donations made using this option go directly to the site owner and not to the Submariners Association.

Thankyou for your support.