One of
the second Group of PORPOISE Class submarines
ordered on 1st July 1936 from HM Dockyard Chatham and laid down on 9th December
1936. This minelaying submarine was launched on 27th September 1938 and was the
2nd RN warship to bear
the name which was introduced in
1897 for a destroyer sold in 1921. Build was completed on 24th May 1939. This submarine had been commissioned for service
on the China Station. After the outbreak of war the
submarine in September 1939 was at Aden during passage to join the Flotilla.
B a t t l e
H o n o u r s
DARDANELLES
1915
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field Green, a
Grampus Silver
(In a circular frame.)
M o t t o
Grandis inter alios: 'Great amongst others'
S u m m a r y o f W a r S e r v i c e
1 9 3 9
February Commissioned for service
under the command of Lieut Cdr R P Lonsdale, RN
March On completion of acceptance
trials prepared for foreign service.
to On passage to join
Flotilla at Hong Kong.
August
September At Aden and took return passage to UK for
minelaying duties in Home waters.
October Deployed at Portsmouth on
arrival.
Nominated for service
in Atlantic for defence of HX series convoys during passage from
Canada to UK.
November Deployed with HM Submarines
CACHALOT and NARWHAL for convoy defence based
at Halifax.
December Provided defence with HM
Submarine NARWHAL and four French submarines for
Convoys HXF11, HX11 and HX12
during Atlantic passage
1 9 4 0
January Atlantic deployed in
continuation
to
February
March Redeployed for interception
patrols in Home Waters based at Immingham
Carried out several
patrols.
April Deployed with HM Submarines NARWHAL, PORPOISE,
SWORDFISH and TETRARCH for
interception of warships and mercantiles on
passage to Norway
29th Deployed to carry out
minelay in Kattegat.
May
4th Entered Kattegat and
encounter HMS NARWHAL returning from minelay.
5th Under air attack without
serious damage.
Sighted enemy trawlers
and decided to carry out lay in in alternative area.
Under anti-submarine
search and during evasive manoeuvres detonated mine and
sustained major damage which
resulted in submarine being stuck in the mud on sea bed.
Obliged to surface
when air became foul.
When unable to surface
released drop keel and blew reserve tanks which enabled
submarine to
surface.
Under series of air
attacks which totally disabled submarine.
Later
towed to Frederickshaven, Denmark and crew were taken PoW
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS SEAL was not in repairable
condition, despite efforts being made at Kiel to bring her back into service. In 1943 this submarine was left to rust
at Kiel. In April 1946 after a court Martial Lieut. Cdr. Lonsdale was acquitted
of all charges relating to the loss of his command. He subsequently resigned
his commission and entered the Church.
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