Prior to the conflict of World War One, the submarine was mainly seen as a tool of coastal defence,and to aid fleets of naval ships, protecting their flanks. Germany and Austria were to prove that they were a supreme offensive weapon and the Allies had to change operations and tactics to counteract this.
In the early 20th Century, Submarines had been occasional vistors to Cork,as part of visiting fleets on manouveres, and for demonstrations, including the ill-fated HMS A5 . There were no submarines stationed here before 1917.
The unrestricted u-boat offensive of 1917 was proving catastrophic to England and her Allies. Vice -Admiral Lewis Bayley, received critical reports from the Admiralty complaining that u-boats were rounding the north and West coasts of Ireland with impunity. This saw the advent of the defence of the 'hunter-killer' submarine. patrolling Irish waters, patrolling singly, shadowing commercial shippping, in the hope of spotting an enemy submarine and attacking it.
HMS L1 Vulcan Flotilla, Dec 1917.
Two flotillas were established in Ireland. The Platypus and Vulcan flotillas, named after the submarine depot ships HMS Platypus and HMS Vulcan , which provided supplies, mobile workshops, and accomodation to resting submariners.
Submarine Depot Ship HMS Vulcan
During 1918 another depot ship HMS Ambrose was also stationed here to assist. This became for a time a combined Vulcan/Ambrose Flotilla . Thse flotillas were mobile, and at various stages were based in Queenstown (Cobh), Co. Cork, Berehaven Co. Cork, Lough Swilly, Co.Donegal, and Killybegs Co Donegal.
Submarine Depot Ship HMS Ambrose
Twenty three Royal Navy submarines were stationed in Ireland over the course of World War One. By November 1918 There were five, all stationed in Donegal.
HMS D7 Platypus Flotilla, 1917.
List of RN Submarines stationed in Ireland during WW1
Name | Details |
---|---|
HMS C7 | Vulcan Flotilla Berehaven Nov 1917, Attached HMS Vernon Nov 1918 Sold 1919 |
HMS D1 | Platypus Flotilla from April 1917, sunk as target Oct 1918 |
HMS D4 | Platypus Flotilla from April 1917. Sold 1921 |
HMS D6 | Platypus Flotilla from April 1917 , sunk 28 June 1918 by UB-73. |
HMS D7 | Platypus Flotilla from April 1917.Sold 1921 |
HMS D8 | Platypus Flotilla from April 1917.Sold 1921 |
HMS E23 | Vulcan Flotilla from May 1917. Sold 1922. |
HMS E27 | Attached to Vulcan Flotilla Nov 1917. Sold 1922. |
HMS E32 | Vulcan Flotilla from March 1917. Sold 1922. |
HMS E35 | Vulcan Flotilla from May 1917. Sold 1922 |
HMS E43 | Attached Vulcan Flotilla but never stationed in Ireland. Sold 1921 |
HMS E47 | Vulcan Flotilla from march 1917 - Lost in North Sea 20th Aug 1918 |
HMS E48 | Vulcan Flotilla from May 1917.1921 Target. Sold 1928. |
HMS E54 | Vulcan Flotilla from March 1917. Sold 1921 |
HMS E56 | Vulcan Flotilla from May 1917.Sold 1923. |
HMS G6 | Vulcan Flotilla from Nov 1917.Sold 1921 |
HMS H5 | Vulcan Flotilla from March 1917 , Sunk in collision Mar 1918 |
HMS H8 | Vulcan Flotilla from October 1917 |
HMS L1 | Vulcan Flotilla from December 1917 |
HMS R7 | Vulcan Flotilla (Killybegs) Nov 1918 |
HMS R8 | Vulcan Flotilla (Killybegs) Nov 1918 |
HMS R11 | Vulcan Flotilla (Killybegs) Nov 1918 |
HMS R12 | Vulcan Flotilla (Killybegs) Nov 1918 |