Amanda

H-31 was lost in 1941 she was one of nine survivors of the numerous 'H' class built for service in the First World War. Built at Barrow by Vickers, being launched in November 1918. 440 tons surface displacement, armed with four bow torpedo tubes. Between 1919 and 1934 the H-31 was based at Portsmouth as a training vessel; thereafter a couple of spells laid up in reserve before being commissioned again in August 1939 at Portsmouth for service with the 5th submarine flotilla. In June 1940 shifted to Blyth and the 6th Sub. Flotilla; conducted patrols in the North Sea (sank German armed trawler UJ.126 in July 1940). In September 1940 retired to training duties and moved to the Clyde; during 1941 continued training duties - during which she suffered several minor accidents.
In December 1941 she had just completed a refit at Sheerness and was at Falmouth under the command of Lieutenant Frank Gibbs. News was received that the powerful German warships Scharnhorst, Gneisenau and Prinz Eugen may be about to break out into the Atlantic from Brest to attack allied convoys. Eight submarines - including H.31 - were hastily ordered to proceed to the Bay of Biscay. She sailed from Falmouth on 19th December and was escorted to the Wolf Rock lighthouse on the surface after which she departed on patrol and was never seen or heard from again. SHe failed to make her scheduled radio contact on 24th December so is presumed to have been lost between the 19th and 24th with all her crew (4 officers 29 men). An accident is possible, but most likely cause of her loss was by striking a mine.
One possibility is hitting a stray mine which could have broken away from a field laid by the British minelayer Abdiel on the Little Sole Bank.


For photo's of the H class see:



[www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk]