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Notable events involving Seal include:

The history of HMS Seal as compiled on this page is extracted from the patrol reports and logbooks of this submarine.

This page was last updated in February 2023.

1 Sep 1939
Around 0915C/1, HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) arrived at Aden.

Seal is on passage from the U.K. to the Far East (Singapore / Hong Kong) to join the 4th submarine flotilla based there. (1)

5 Sep 1939
Around 1800C/5, HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) departed Aden for her 1st war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off the southern entrance to the Red Sea.

For the daily positions of HMS Seal during this patrol see the map below.

(1)

9 Sep 1939
HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) briefly put into Perim harbour. She departed later the same day to resume her patrol. (1)

12 Sep 1939
HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) briefly put into Perim harbour. She departed later the same day to resume her patrol. (1)

14 Sep 1939
Around 0700C/14, HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) ended her 1st war patrol at Aden. (1)

19 Sep 1939
Around 1800C/19 HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) departed Aden for her 2nd war patrol. Again she was ordered to patrol off the southern entrance to the Red Sea.

For the daily positions of HMS Seal during this patrol see the map below.

(1)

21 Sep 1939
Around 0555C/21, HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) put into Perim harbour. (1)

22 Sep 1939
Around 1800C/22, HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) departed Perim harbour to resume her war patrol. (1)

27 Sep 1939
Around 0730C/27, HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) ended her 2nd war patrol at Aden. (1)

28 Sep 1939
Around 1750C/28, HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) departed Aden for Alexandria. It had been decided that HMS Seal was to return to the U.K.

For the daily positions of HMS Seal during the passage Aden – Portsmouth see the map below.

(1)

3 Oct 1939
Around 1755B/3, HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) arrived at Port Said. She departed later the same day (around 2350B/3) for Alexandria. (2)

4 Oct 1939
Around 1745B/4, HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) arrived at Alexandria. (2)

7 Oct 1939
Around 1715B/7, HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) departed Alexandria for Malta. She was 'escorting' the netlayer HMS Protector (Capt. G.H.E. Russell, RN) which was towing the damaged destroyer HMS Garland (Cdr. C.A.N. Chatwin, RN).

HMS Seal remained in company until 0815B/9 when she was detached to proceed to Gibraltar.

HMS Protector and HMS Garland arrived at Malta around 1330A/10. (3)

10 Oct 1939
Around 1240A/10, HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) arrived at Malta. (2)

11 Oct 1939
Around 0830A/11, HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) departed Malta for Gibraltar. (2)

15 Oct 1939
Around 0900Z/15, HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) arrived at Gibraltar. She departed for Portsmouth later the same day (at 1610Z/15). (2)

20 Oct 1939
Around 1015A/20, HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) arrived at Portsmouth. (2)

24 Oct 1939
HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) was docked in No.10 dock at the Portsmouth Dockyard. (2)

28 Oct 1939
HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) was undocked.

HMS Seal then departed Portsmouth for her 3rd war patrol around 1730A/28. She was ordered to patrol in the North Sea near the Doggerbank. She was escorted until 0420/29 by HMS Vansittart (Lt.Cdr. Sir M. Culme-Seymour, RN).

For the daily positions of HMS Seal during this patrol see the map below.

(2)

7 Nov 1939
At 0750A/7, HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) arrived in the rendez-vous position (about 40 nautical miles east of Harwich (approx. 52.00'N, 02.11'E) where destroyer HMS Boadicea (Lt.Cdr. G.B. Kingdon, RN) was already waiting. As HMS L 26 (Lt.Cdr. F.W. Lipscomb, OBE, RN) and HMS Cachalot (Lt.Cdr. S.W.F. Bennetts, RN) had not yet arrived A/S practice was given to HMS Seal, while doing so a seaplane was circling then at distance of about 4 miles for half an hour. It then disappeared but returned a few minutes later and bombed them. No damage was done to either Seal or Boadicea though. (4)

8 Nov 1939
HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) ended her 3rd war patrol at Portsmouth. She arrived around 0545A/8. (4)

11 Nov 1939
Around 0605A/11, HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) departed Portsmouth for her 4th war patrol. She was to provide ocean escort for convoy O.A. 33 together with HMS Cachalot (Lt.Cdr. S.W.F. Bennetts, RN).

For the daily positions of HMS Seal during this patrol see the map below.

(5)

23 Nov 1939
Around 0930Q/23, HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) ended her 4th war patrol at Halifax. She was escorted into the harbour by HMCS St. Laurent (Lt.Cdr. H.G. de Wolf, RCN). (5)

2 Dec 1939
Around 0940Q/2, HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) departed Halifax together with HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN). They were to proceed to the U.K. escorting convoy HXF 11 en-route.

This was Seal's 5th war patrol.

For the daily positions of HMS Seal during this patrol see the map below.

(6)

14 Dec 1939
Around 1630Z/14, HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) ended her 5th war patrol at Portsmouth. (6)

2 Jan 1940
HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) conducted exercises off Portsmouth. (7)

3 Jan 1940
HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) conducted exercises off Portsmouth. (7)

5 Jan 1940
HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) conducted exercises off Portsmouth. (7)

8 Jan 1940
Around 0045Z/8, HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) departed Portsmouth for Rosyth. She made the passage together with HMS Narwhal (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN). (7)

10 Jan 1940
Around 1730Z/10, HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) arrived at Rosyth. (7)

21 Jan 1940
Around 0001Z/21, HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) departed Rosyth for her 6th war patrol. She was to patrol in the North Sea.

For the daily positions of HMS Seal during this patrol see the map below.

(7)

23 Jan 1940
Around 1150Z/23, HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) ended her 6th war patrol at Rosyth. (7)

24 Jan 1940
Around 1630Z/24, HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) joined convoy ON 9 off Methil. The convoy was to proceed to Bergen, Norway where it arrived on the 27th.

HMS Seal had departed Rosyth around 1350Z/24.

At Bergen convoy HN 9A was then formed. This convoy was then escorted to Methil where it arrived on the 31th.

This was Seal's 7th war patrol.

For the daily positions of HMS Seal during this patrol see the map below.

(5)

24 Jan 1940

Convoy ON 9.

This convoy was formed off Methill on 24 January 1940. It arrived in Norwegian waters near Bergen on 27 January 1940.

This convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Anna (Finnish, 1043 GRT, built 1897), Basel (Norwegian, 1110 GRT, built 1924), Bolette (Norwegian, 1167 GRT, built 1920), Fanefjeld (Norwegian, 1354 GRT, built 1920), Helder (Dutch, 3629 GRT, built 1920), Kalix (Swedish, 2801 GRT, built 1913), Kurikka (British, 3106 GRT, built 1918), Majorca (British, 1126 GRT, built 1921), Minorca (British, GRT, 1123 built 1921), Pollux (Finnish, 1284 GRT, built 1898), Sekstant (Norwegian, 1626 GRT, built 1919), Transport (Norwegian, 1998 GRT, built 1921) and Wanda (Finnish, 1902 GRT, built 1897).

Escort was provided by the destroyers HMS Inglefield (Capt. P. Todd, RN), HMS Isis (Cdr. J.C. Clouston, RN), HMS Tartar (Cdr. L.P. Skipwith, RN) and HMS Kashmir (Cdr. H.A. King, RN).

The submarine HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) was also part of the escort.

HMS Tartar was relieved on the 25th by HMS Khartoum (Cdr. D.T. Dowler, RN) which in turn was relieved later that day by HMS Imogen (Cdr. C.L. Firth, MVO, RN).

Close cover for this convoy was provided by the light cruisers HMS Edinburgh (Capt. C.M. Blackman, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral G.F.B. Edward-Collins, CB, KCVO, RN) and HMS Glasgow (Capt. F.H. Pegram, RN) which departed Scapa Flow on the 25th.

The convoy arrived safely off the Norwegian coast on the 27th.

27 Jan 1940

Convoy HN 9A.

This convoy was formed near Bergen, Norway on 27 January 1940. It arrived at Methill on 31 January 1940.

This convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Albert (Swedish, 1745 GRT, built 1922), Carbonia (Swedish, 1918 GRT, built 1916), Ceres (Finnish, 996 GRT, built 1889), Edna (Norwegian, 915 GRT, built 1905), Eikhaug (Norwegian, 1436 GRT, built 1903), Ergo (Finnish, 1928 GRT, built 1893), Favorit (Norwegian, 2826 GRT, built 1920), Haardrade (Norwegian, 750 GRT, built 1922), Helios (Estonian, 1309 GRT, built 1894), Inga (Finnish, 2410 GRT, built 1907), Ingaro (Swedish, 1999 GRT, built 1916), Inger (Norwegian, 1409 GRT, built 1930), Ingerfire (Norwegian, 3835 GRT, built 1905), Julia (Greek, 4352 GRT, built 1914), Juta (Estonian, 1559 GRT, built 1908), Kjell Billner (Norwegian, 1128 GRT, built 1907), Knoll (Norwegian, 1151 GRT, built 1916), Kul (Norwegian, 1310 GRT, built 1907), Lab (Norwegian, 1118 GRT, built 1912), Ledaal (Norwegian, 3076 GRT, built 1899), Leonardia (Swedish, 1583 GRT, built 1906), Louis de Geer (Swedish, 1847 GRT, built 1916), Makefjell (Norwegian, 1567 GRT, built 1932), Mammy (Norwegian, 1656 GRT, built 1911), Namdo (Swedish, 2738 GRT, built 1907), Nordia (Swedish, 1316 GRT, built 1921), Nurgis (Norwegian, 700 GRT, built 1919), Ramava (Latvian, 2141 GRT, built 1900), Rigel (Nowegian, 3828 GRT, built 1924), Skotfoss (Norwegian, 1465 GRT, built 1917), Tautra (Norwegian, 1749 GRT, built 1920), Torne (Swedish, 3792 GRT, built 1913), Torni (British, 2044 GRT, built 1918), Vaga (Norwegian, 1612 GRT, built 1924), Veni (Norwegian, 2982 GRT, built 1901), Vesla (Norwegian, 1107 GRT, built 1913) and Vestfoss (Norwegian, 1388 GRT, built 1909).

Escort was provided by the destroyers HMS Inglefield (Capt. P. Todd, RN), HMS Imogen (Cdr. C.L. Firth, MVO, RN), HMS Isis (Cdr. J.C. Clouston, RN), HMS Kashmir (Cdr. H.A. King, RN) amd the submarine HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN).

Close cover for this convoy was provided by the light cruisers HMS Edinburgh (Capt. C.M. Blackman, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral G.F.B. Edward-Collins, CB, KCVO, RN) and HMS Glasgow (Capt. F.H. Pegram, RN).

The destroyer HMS Mohawk (Cdr. J.W.M. Eaton, RN) joined on 30 January and then split off from the convoy together with HMS Inglefield and twelve ships from the convoy to proceed to the west coast of the U.K.

The bulk of the convoy arrived safely at Methill on 31 January.

31 Jan 1940
Around 1245Z/31, HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) ended her 7th war patrol at Rosyth. (5)

4 Feb 1940
HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) conducted exercises off Rosyth. (8)

5 Feb 1940
Around 0955Z/5, HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) departed Rosyth for her 8th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off the Southern Norwegian coast and to capture a German iron ore carrier and sent her to Kirkwall. If this was not possible a neutral iron ore carrier was to be seized and sent to Kirkwall. Seal had embarked a boarding party.

For the daily positions of HMS Seal during this patrol see the map below.

(5)

23 Feb 1940
Around 1230Z/23, HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) ended her 8th war patrol at Rosyth. (5)

27 Feb 1940
HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) was docked in No.3 Dry Dock at the Rosyth Dockyard. (8)

7 Mar 1940
HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) was undocked. (9)

12 Mar 1940
Around 2030A/12, HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) departed Rosyth for her 9th war patrol.

She is to patrol in the Skagerrak as a cover for Operation R.3, an attempt to intervene in Norway by using the pretext of assistance to Finland. The operation will be cancelled the following day when the news of an armistice between Finnish and Soviet forces has been signed.

HMS Seal remained on patrol.

For the daily positions of HMS Seal during this patrol see the map below.

(5)

25 Mar 1940
Around 0915A/25, HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) ended her 9th war patrol at Rosyth.

A new battery was to be fitted to HMS Seal before she could go out on patrol again. (5)

2 Apr 1940
HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) is docked in No.3 dry dock at the Rosyth Dockyard. ORP Orzel (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) J. Grudzinski, DSO) was already in the dock since March 29th. (10)

3 Apr 1940
HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) and ORP Orzel (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) J. Grudzinski, DSO) are both undocked from No.3 dry dock at the Rosyth Dockyard. (10)

6 Apr 1940
HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) departed Rosyth for her 10th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off southern Norway between Egersund and Lindesnes. Later she moved to the Stavanger area. (5)

8 Apr 1940
Late in the evening HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) collided with the Estonian merchant Otto (1954 GRT, built 1918) in thick fog. Seal sustained minor damage and was able to remain on patrol. (5)

13 Apr 1940
HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) closed the harbour of Stavanger, Norway. No enemy warships or merchants were sighted inside the harbour. Seal then withdrew to seaward. (5)

16 Apr 1940

Operation Duck.

Bombardment of the Sola airfield off Stavanger.

Timespan: 16 to 18 April 1940.

The heavy cruiser HMS Suffolk (Capt. J.W. Durnford, RN) and the destroyers HMS Hereward (Lt.Cdr. C.W. Greening, RN), HMS Janus (Cdr. J.A.W. Tothill, RN), HMS Juno (Cdr. W.E. Wilson, RN) and HMS Kipling (Cdr. A. St. Clair-Ford, RN) departed Scapa Flow around 1700A/16 for this operation.

Early on the 17th this force contacted the submarine HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) which was to act as a beacon to home in the ships.

Between 0513A/17 and 0602A/17, HMS Suffolk bombarded the airfield. Following this she and the destroyers were ordered to proceeded northwards to intercept a reported group of enemy destroyers, the result was that their air cover that was provided during their retirement did not sight the ships which then came under heavy air attack from the German Luftwaffe for about seven hours from 0825A/17 onwards.

The result was that HMS Suffolk was heavily damaged. She suffered 32 dead and 41 wounded. HMS Kipling was also damaged by two near misses.

Air cover finally arrived at 1415A/17 but even then the Germans continued to attack.

The battlecruisers HMS Renown (Capt. C.E.B. Simeon, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral W.J. Whitworth, CB, DSO, RN), HMS Repulse (Capt. E.J. Spooner, DSO, RN), the AA cruiser HMS Cairo (Capt. P.V. McLaughlin, RN) and the destroyers HMS Eclipse (Lt.Cdr. I.T. Clark, RN), HMS Forester (Lt.Cdr. E.B. Tancock, RN), HMS Fury (Cdr. E.W.B. Sim, RN), HMS Tartar (Cdr. L.P. Skipwith, RN), HMS Javelin (Cdr. A.F. Pugsley, RN), HMS Kimberley (Lt.Cdr. J.S.M. Richardson, RN), ORP Blyscawica (Lt.Cdr. S.M. Nahorski, ORP) and ORP Grom (Lt.Cdr. S. Hryniewiecki) rushed towards to give support. The destroyer HMS Hyperion (Cdr. H.St.L. Nicholson, RN) joined later.

HMS Suffolk limped towards Scapa Flow where she arrived with a heavy list at 0545A/18. She arrived at Scapa Flow escorted by HMS Renown, HMS Forester, HMS Fury, HMS Hereward, HMS Hyperion, HMS Janus, HMS Juno, HMS Kimberley and HMS Kipling (also damaged). Upon arrival HMS Suffolk was beached to prevent her from sinking.

19 Apr 1940
HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) ended her 10th war patrol at Rosyth. She departed for Blyth, where she was to dock for repairs, later the same day. (5)

20 Apr 1940
HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) arrived at Blyth. (11)

21 Apr 1940
HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) was docked at Blyth.

The date of undocking is currently unknown to us. (12)

29 Apr 1940
HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) proceeded from Blyth to Immingham where she embarked a full outfit of mines. (12)

30 Apr 1940
HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) departed Immingham for her 11th war patrol. she was ordered to lay a minefield (F.D. 7) south of the Swedish island of Vinga in the Kattegat, across a German convoy route to Norway. (12)

4 May 1940
HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) succesfully laid minefield F.D. 7 (50 mines) in position 57°33'N, 11°35'E. Shorty after completing the lay she hit a mine herself and was badly damaged. She was put on the bottom until after dark when she surfaced and tried to make for Swedish waters but failed to do so due to the heavy damage.

At 0250/5 she was attacked by German He-115 aircraft from Aalborg, Denmark and then by a German Ar-196 seaplane, which also attacked. Joined by a second 'Arado'. Unable to dive, with her crew suffering from CO2 poisoning, Seal put up a fight but the Lewis gun jammed. At 0630/5 the auxiliary submarine chaser UJ-128 arrived on the scene. The crew of Seal then surrendered, expecting the submarine to sink, but it stayed afloat. All crew taken prisoner except for one casualty. Seal was towed to Frederikshavn, and later to Kiel.

5 May 1940
The small Swedish fishing vessel GG 256 / Almy hits a mine and sinks. The mine was laid by the British submarine HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) in the Kattegat in position 57°33'N, 11°35'E on 4 May 1940.

6 May 1940
The German merchant Vogesen (4241 GRT, built 1904) hits a mine and sinks. The mine was laid by the British submarine HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) in the Kattegat in position 57°33'N, 11°35'E on 4 May 1940.

28 May 1940
The Swedish merchant Torsten (1206 GRT, built 1880) hits a mine and sinks. The mine was laid by the British submarine HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) in the Kattegat in position 57°33'N, 11°35'E on 4 May 1940.

31 May 1940
The small Swedish fishing vessel GG 5 / Mode hits a mine and sinks. Most likely this was a mine from the German 'Paternoster-Sperre' laid along a line 57°43,9'N, 10°42,1'E to 57°43,8'N, 10°43,1'E and then to 57°43,3'N, 11°16,9'E

There is a remote possibility that the mine was laid by the British submarine HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) in the Kattegat in position 57°33'N, 11°35'E on 4 May 1940.

5 Jun 1940
The Danish sailing vessel Skandia (183 GRT) hits a mine and sinks. The mine was laid by the British submarine HMS Seal (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Lonsdale, RN) in the Kattegat in position 57°33'N, 11°35'E on 4 May 1940.