HMS H41 was an H-class submarine of the Royal Navy, built by Armstrong Whitworth at Newcastle upon Tyne. She was laid down on 17 September 1917, launched on 26 July 1918, and commissioned in November 1918, just as the First World War ended.
Design
H41 was one of the later British H-class submarines. She displaced about 423 tons on the surface and 510 tons submerged, carried a crew of 22, and was armed with four 21-inch bow torpedo tubes carrying eight torpedoes.
Like other H-class boats, she was designed for coastal and patrol operations and was considered a reliable submarine type during and immediately after the war.
Service
Because she entered service only weeks before the Armistice, HMS H41 saw no significant wartime action. Her short career was spent in home waters during the immediate post-war period.
Sinking at Blyth
On 18 October 1919, H41 was moored in the dock basin at Blyth, Northumberland, close to the submarine depot ship HMS Vulcan. Vulcan was carrying out low-speed engine trials after repairs. In the confined waters of the basin, suction from Vulcan's propellers drew the smaller submarine towards the larger vessel.
Despite efforts by both crews to prevent a collision, Vulcan's propellers struck H41's stern. The rotating screws cut through the outer casing and breached the pressure hull, causing rapid flooding. H41 sank quickly alongside her berth.
Fortunately, the accident occurred in harbour and the crew escaped, avoiding the heavy loss of life that accompanied many submarine accidents of the period.
Recovery and Disposal
The submarine was subsequently raised from the harbour bottom, but the damage was severe and repair was not considered worthwhile. She was sold for breaking up at Sunderland on 12 March 1920.
Key Facts
- Name: HMS H41
- Class: H-class submarine
- Builder: Armstrong Whitworth, Newcastle upon Tyne
- Commissioned: November 1918
- Crew: 22
- Lost: 18 October 1919 at Blyth harbour
- Cause: Holed by the propellers of HMS Vulcan during harbour manoeuvres
- Crew casualties: None reported; crew escaped safely.
- Disposed of: Sold for scrap on 12 March 1920.
H41 had one of the shortest careers of any Royal Navy submarine, serving for less than a year before being accidentally sunk in harbour by her own depot ship.