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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
Died: 26-01-1932
Arbuthnot, Crofton Keith 
Lieutenant Commander Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 30
Back, Leonard Stanley  M 37056
Electrical Artificer 3rd Class Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 26
Banks, Sydney Wilfred  J 48971
Petty Officer Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 33
Blake, Frederick James  J 46983
Petty Officer Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 33
Brown, Dougal McPherson  L 12605
Leading Steward Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 30
Burridge, Jack  J 60943
Leading Telegraphist Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 32
Butcher, Harold Frederick  J 91916
Able Seaman Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 30
Chapman, Cecil  JX 126505
Able Seaman Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 23
Clarke, Allan  J 43273
Petty Officer Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 32
Coleshill, Charles Jeffrey  J 102918
Able Seaman Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 26
Drummond, James  K 62886
Stoker 1st Class Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 29
Edwards, John Herbert  J 106978
Able Seaman Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 25
Ellis, Stanley Gilbert  J 29040
Petty Officer Telegraphist Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 34
England, George  J 58560
Able Seaman Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 31
Estcourt, George  K 65495
Stoker Petty Officer Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 31
Ferguson, Douglas  KX 79049
Stoker 1st Class Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 23
Gregory, Leslie  (RAF) 364018
Leading Aircraftsman Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 29
Hardy, Charles Percy  M 31105
Engine Room Artificer 1st Class Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 37
Harman, Frank James  (RAF) 364868
Leading Aircraftsman Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 27
Hayes, William Alfred 
Warrant Engineer Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 39
Head, Hamilton Charles Wrightson 
Lieutenant Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 23
Horn, Stanley Charles Albert  M 21453
Engine Room Artificer 1st Class Born: 24-02-1897 Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 34
RN DoB 24/02/1895
Jackson, Edward Victor  M 39396
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 22
Jacobs, Albert Ernest  J 96297
Leading Seaman Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 29
Jarrett, Sidney Reginald Williams  J 100140
Able Seaman Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 29
King, James  J 18133
Chief Petty Officer Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 37
Lakin, John William  K 59059
Leading Stoker Born: 08-02-1902 Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 29
from Sheffield, Yorkshire
RN DoB 08/02/1901
Leathes, John Duncan de Mussenden 
Lieutenant Commander Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 36
Commanding Officer
Leavy, Frederick William  J 94973
Signalman Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 29
Lewis, John William James  K 63662
Stoker 1st Class Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 26
MacDonald, Louis Peter  K 16558
Stoker Petty Officer Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 38
Macdonald, Somerled 
Lieutenant Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 23
Matthews, Edward  K 64672
Stoker 1st Class Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 30
Morris, Thomas  J 96156
Able Seaman Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 30
O'Dwyer, Albert Anthony Edward  J 102310
Able Seaman Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 27
Oliver, Frank Henry Joseph  L 12825
Leading Steward Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 30
Peplow, William  J 101056
Able Seaman Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 27
Powell, Henry  K 60855
Leading Stoker Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 33
Rawlings, William Herbert  J 108253
Able Seaman Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 25
Ready, Frank  J 25478
Able Seaman Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 35
Sharpe, George  K 59370
Leading Stoker Born: 09-07-1904 Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 27
RN DoB 09/07/1901
Sims, John Harold  M 35324
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 28
Smales, Joseph Frederick  J 22885
Yeoman of Signals Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 36
Smith, Reginald  J 99442
Able Seaman Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 27
Sweetland, Cecil Sydney  KX 75588
Stoker 1st Class Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 28
Thomas, Ernest Joel  J 76817
Telegraphist Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 31
Thornton, Thomas  JX 128413
Able Seaman Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 22
Threlfall, Charles Harold  KX 75873
Stoker 1st Class Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 28
Toppin, Henry Castlehow 
Lieutenant Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 28
Pilot
Totterdell, James Henry Francis  K 61157
Leading Stoker Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 28
Townsend, Claud Richard 
Lieutenant Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 29
Observer
Treacy, Philip  J 105646
Leading Seaman Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 27
Vincent, Arthur John  J 24276
Able Seaman Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 34
Walker, Ralph  KX 78023
Stoker 1st Class Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 23
Watson, William Alan  K 67092
Stoker 1st Class Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 24
Whiting, Francis Charles  JX 127947
Able Seaman Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 22
Williams, Leonard Walter  M 36709
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 26
Winfield, Harold  JX 128093
Able Seaman Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 22
Woodhouse, Frank Leslie  K 60100
Stoker 1st Class Died: 26-01-1932 Aged: 28
Wrathmall, Charles  J 37310
Able Seaman Died: 26-01-1932 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 26, 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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