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Home → Boats → Submarines → M Class → M2

M 2

Built By: Vickers (Barrow)
Build Group: M
Fate: Foundered due to a leak in the hangar door on 26th January 1932
M2 launching plane
M2
M2 recovering plane
M2 recovering plane

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Commanders
1932: Lieutenant Commander   J. D. de M Leathes

Started life as K19.


M2 and M3 had their large 12-inch guns removed in the late 1920s to conform with the Washington Disarmament Treaty, which stated that no submarine should have larger than 8-inch calibre guns. M2 was refitted with a seaplane hangar forward of the conning tower and a catapult to launch a small Parnall Peto seaplane.

Specially designed for M2's hanger, the Parnell Peto Seaplane had a 135 hp engine and an endurance of about two hours at 70 knots
Specially designed for M2's hanger, the Parnell Peto Seaplane had a 135 hp engine and an endurance of about two hours at 70 knots
Schematic
Schematic

This conversion was a success, and M2 could surface from periscope depth, open the hangar door, catapult the plane, close the door and dive again within five minutes.

She was subsequently lost during exercises in the English Channel in 1932 when her hangar door was left open.

The wreck of M2 is used in the training of sonar operators.


Salvage tugs and submarine make attempt to reach sunken M2 submarine (1932)

Roll of Honour
60
 
Arbuthnot, Crofton Keith 
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Lieutenant Commander Aged: 30
Back, Leonard Stanley  M 37056
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Electrical Artificer 3rd Class Aged: 26
Banks, Sydney Wilfred  J 48971
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Petty Officer Aged: 33
Blake, Frederick James  J 46983
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Petty Officer Aged: 33
Brown, Dougal McPherson  L 12605
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Leading Steward Aged: 30
Burridge, Jack  J 60943
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Leading Telegraphist Aged: 32
Butcher, Harold Frederick  J 91916
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Able Seaman Aged: 30
Chapman, Cecil  JX 126505
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Able Seaman Aged: 23
Clarke, Allan  J 43273
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Petty Officer Aged: 32
Coleshill, Charles Jeffrey  J 102918
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Able Seaman Aged: 26
Drummond, James  K 62886
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 29
Edwards, John Herbert  J 106978
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Able Seaman Aged: 25
Ellis, Stanley Gilbert  J 29040
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Petty Officer Telegraphist Aged: 34
England, George  J 58560
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Able Seaman Aged: 31
Estcourt, George  K 65495
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Stoker Petty Officer Aged: 31
Ferguson, Douglas  KX 79049
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 23
Gregory, Leslie  (RAF) 364018
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Leading Aircraftsman Aged: 29
Hardy, Charles Percy  M 31105
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Engine Room Artificer 1st Class Aged: 37
Harman, Frank James  (RAF) 364868
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Leading Aircraftsman Aged: 27
Hayes, William Alfred 
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Warrant Engineer Aged: 39
Head, Hamilton Charles Wrightson 
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Lieutenant Aged: 23
Horn, Stanley Charles Albert  M 21453 Born: 24th Feb, 1897. 
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Engine Room Artificer 1st Class Aged: 34
RN DoB 24/02/1895
Jackson, Edward Victor  M 39396
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Aged: 22
Jacobs, Albert Ernest  J 96297
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Leading Seaman Aged: 29
Jarrett, Sidney Reginald Williams  J 100140
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Able Seaman Aged: 29
King, James  J 18133
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Chief Petty Officer Aged: 37
Lakin, John William  K 59059 Born: 8th Feb, 1902. 
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Leading Stoker Aged: 29
RN DoB 08/02/1901 from Sheffield, Yorkshire
Leathes, John Duncan de Mussenden 
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Lieutenant Commander Aged: 36
Commanding Officer
Leavy, Frederick William  J 94973
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Signalman Aged: 29
Lewis, John William James  K 63662
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 26
MacDonald, Louis Peter  K 16558
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Stoker Petty Officer Aged: 38
Macdonald, Somerled 
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Lieutenant Aged: 23
Matthews, Edward  K 64672
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 30
Morris, Thomas  J 96156
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Able Seaman Aged: 30
O'Dwyer, Albert Anthony Edward  J 102310
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Able Seaman Aged: 27
Oliver, Frank Henry Joseph  L 12825
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Leading Steward Aged: 30
Peplow, William  J 101056
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Able Seaman Aged: 27
Powell, Henry  K 60855
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Leading Stoker Aged: 33
Rawlings, William Herbert  J 108253
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Able Seaman Aged: 25
Ready, Frank  J 25478
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Able Seaman Aged: 35
Sharpe, George  K 59370 Born: 9th Jul, 1904. 
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Leading Stoker Aged: 27
RN DoB 09/07/1901
Sims, John Harold  M 35324
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Aged: 28
Smales, Joseph Frederick  J 22885
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Yeoman of Signals Aged: 36
Smith, Reginald  J 99442
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Able Seaman Aged: 27
Sweetland, Cecil Sydney  KX 75588
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 28
Thomas, Ernest Joel  J 76817
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Telegraphist Aged: 31
Thornton, Thomas  JX 128413
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Able Seaman Aged: 22
Threlfall, Charles Harold  KX 75873
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 28
Toppin, Henry Castlehow 
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Lieutenant Aged: 28
Pilot
Totterdell, James Henry Francis  K 61157
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Leading Stoker Aged: 28
Townsend, Claud Richard 
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Lieutenant Aged: 29
Observer
Treacy, Philip  J 105646
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Leading Seaman Aged: 27
Vincent, Arthur John  J 24276
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Able Seaman Aged: 34
Walker, Ralph  KX 78023
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 23
Watson, William Alan  K 67092
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 24
Whiting, Francis Charles  JX 127947
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Able Seaman Aged: 22
Williams, Leonard Walter  M 36709
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Aged: 26
Winfield, Harold  JX 128093
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Able Seaman Aged: 22
Woodhouse, Frank Leslie  K 60100
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 28
Wrathmall, Charles  J 37310
Died: 26th Jan, 1932.
Able Seaman Aged: 33
Real name, AKA John Edward Wrathmall

Events

 13-07-1916   Laid Down
 19-10-1918   Launched
 14-02-1920   Completed
 26-01-1932   Foundered due to a leak in the hangar door on 26th January 1932

At 9 o'clock on the morning of 26th January 1932 HMS M2 left Portland to take part in routine exercises. At 1011 she signalled her intention to dive at 1030. This was the last communication with the submarine.

The loss of radio communication did not cause any consternation until M2 failed to return to port as expected at 1615. Search vessels were dispatched but there was no sign of the submarine or her crew.

No explanation could be found for her loss until the Admiralty received a report from the captain of the coaster Tynesider which reported seeing a submarine diving stern first off Portland.

This had caused the Captain some anxiety but he thought he saw the same submarine a short time later. M2's exact position remained a mystery for a week until the Destroyer Torrid picked up sonar sounds that indicated a sunken submarine; divers confirmed this to be M2 lying with her stern in the sand at a depth of 90ft

Two bodies were recovered from the wreck during the next week. A number of attempts were made to raise the vessel but all failed.

It was believed she had dived with both inner and outer hangar doors open though the cause was never disclosed.
Comments

Comment by: Melanie Bishop on August 26th, 2022

My Grandfather is Harold Frederick Butcher J91916.

Prior to transferring to the submarine HMS M2, my grandfather served on various ships and land-based facilities. In 1929 he was with HMS Pembroke, during this time he took part in the Royal Tournament Field Gun Competition, he won two solid silver medals for best aggregate score and Fastest Run.

I am the proud custodian of these medals plus various memorabilia relating to the sinking of the M2, these passed into my possession on the death of my father, my grandfather's only son. My Grandfather had just had his thirtieth birthday when he met his fate in the M2.

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