HMS E34 was an E-class minelaying submarine of the Royal Navy, built by John Thornycroft at Woolston, Hampshire. She was launched on 27 January 1917 and commissioned in March 1917, serving during the final phase of the First World War.
Design
E34 was one of the modified E-class submarines adapted for mine-laying operations. Unlike standard E-class boats, she sacrificed some torpedo armament to carry mines.
Her main characteristics included:
- Displacement: 662 tons surfaced, 807 tons submerged.
- Length: 181 ft (55 m).
- Crew: 31 (3 officers and 28 ratings).
- Armament: Three 18-inch torpedo tubes, a 12-pounder deck gun, and capacity for 20 mines.
The E-class was regarded as one of the Royal Navy's most successful submarine classes of the war.
Combat Service
HMS E34 operated primarily in the North Sea, where British submarines sought to disrupt German naval operations and U-boat activity.
Her most notable success came on 10 May 1918, when she sank the German submarine UB-16 off Harwich. This was a significant achievement, as successful submarine-versus-submarine attacks were relatively rare during the First World War.
Loss
On 20 July 1918, E34 was lost while operating near the Eijerlandse Gronden, the shoal waters between the Dutch Frisian Islands of Texel and Vlieland.
The submarine is believed to have struck a mine and sank. There were no survivors.
The loss occurred only two months after her success against UB-16 and less than four months before the end of the war.
Historical Significance
HMS E34 is remembered for:
- Successfully sinking the German U-boat UB-16.
- Serving as one of the Royal Navy's specialist mine-laying submarines.
- Being lost with all hands in the dangerous minefields of the North Sea.
- Representing the important contribution of the E-class boats to British submarine warfare during WWI.
Key Facts
- Name: HMS E34
- Class: E-class submarine (minelaying variant)
- Builder: John Thornycroft, Woolston, Hampshire
- Launched: 27 January 1917
- Commissioned: March 1917
- Major success: Sank UB-16 on 10 May 1918
- Lost: 20 July 1918
- Cause: Struck a mine near Texel and Vlieland
- Casualties: Entire crew of 31 lost.
HMS E34 had a short but active career, achieving a confirmed U-boat kill before being lost to one of the greatest hazards of First World War submarine warfare: naval mines.
