HMS G8 was a G-class submarine of the Royal Navy built by Vickers at Barrow-in-Furness during the First World War. She was laid down on 18 December 1914, launched on 1 April 1916, commissioned on 30 June 1916, and cost approximately £125,000.
Design
The G-class was developed after reports that Germany was building large double-hulled submarines for long-range operations. The class featured a partial double hull and was intended primarily for North Sea patrol duties.
Specifications:
- Displacement: 703 tons surfaced, 837 tons submerged.
- Length: 187 ft 1 in (57 m).
- Beam: 22 ft 8 in (6.9 m).
- Crew: 30 officers and ratings.
- Speed: 14.25 knots surfaced, 9 knots submerged.
- Armament:
- Four 18-inch torpedo tubes
- One 21-inch torpedo tube
- Ten torpedoes carried
- One 3-inch deck gun.
Service History
Like the rest of her class, HMS G8 spent most of her career patrolling the North Sea searching for German U-boats. She served with the 10th Submarine Flotilla, operating from Scapa Flow, Tees, and occasionally Harwich. Her patrol areas extended from north of Shetland to Norway, including the Skagerrak, Kattegat, and Horns Reef.
Under Lieutenant-Commander Charles de Burgh, G8 achieved a notable success on 23 July 1917 when she torpedoed an enemy submarine at long range. De Burgh was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).
Loss
G8 departed Tees on 27 December 1917 for a patrol in the Kattegat, accompanied by HMS G12 and the destroyer HMS Medea. She was expected to return in early January 1918 but never arrived. The submarine was officially declared missing on 14 January 1918.
For many years it was believed she may have struck a mine. However, when the wreck was discovered in 2019 by the Sea War Museum Jutland in the Skagerrak at a depth of about 100 metres, examination showed no obvious evidence of mine or torpedo damage. The submarine's diving planes were found set to bring her to the surface, suggesting a possible mechanical failure or diving accident during an attempt to surface.]
Summary
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Class | G-class submarine |
| Builder | Vickers |
| Commissioned | 30 June 1916 |
| Crew | 30 |
| Displacement | 703 t surfaced, 837 t submerged |
| Length | 57 m (187 ft 1 in) |
| Main Area of Operations | North Sea, Skagerrak, Kattegat |
| Fate | Disappeared January 1918 |
| Wreck Found | 2019, Skagerrak |
| Cause of Loss | Still uncertain, possibly a diving accident |
The discovery of HMS G8's wreck more than a century after her loss helped solve one of the Royal Navy submarine service's enduring mysteries, although the exact cause of her sinking remains unknown.
