Founded
2nd April 1952
Last Update:
18th August 2008
Branch Standard Information
August Boat of the Month
HM Submarine E13
Laid down on 16 December 1912 E13 was launched on
22 September 1914 by Mrs Gaunt.
On 16th February 1915 E13 was sent to patrol
around the Maas Light Vessel. When she arrived on station, the weather was
so poor, she was forced to return home. During her return passage, she was
identified and reported as a hostile submarine by the Great Eastern Railway
Steamer
Colchester.
In May 1915, E13 sailed from Harwich to patrol
the German Coast. She sighted and attacked the Zeppelin
L9. The Zeppelin then began to drop bombs and E13
had to dive. During the same patrol she sighted two German Fleet auxiliaries
but no attack was made.
On 14 August 1915 E13 sailed for the Baltic under
the command of Lt.Cmd. G. Layton.
The magnetic compass failed on the 18th August and before the course could
be corrected she went aground off Saltholm.
Early on the 19th August , a Danish Torpedo Boat arrived and gave Lt. Cmd.
Layton 24 hours to move or be interned. One of the boats officers left with
the Danes to visit their Guardship.
Later that morning, a German Destroyer arrived but left soon after two
Danish ships came into view.
By mid morning two German Destroyers arrived and one of them attacked
E13 despite the Danish Guard boats presence.
When E13's crew dived into the water to swim to
the Danish ship, they were fired on by the German destroyer. This was only
stopped when the Dane's manoeuvred their ship between
E13 and the German destroyer. Both German ships then sailed away.
E13 had been hit with four German shells. Fifteen
of E13's crew were killed in the action. Their
bodies were returned to the UK by the merchant ship Vidar. The remainder of
the crew were interned by the Danes. Lt Cmd Layton and his first Lieutenant
escaped back to England.
E13 was taken into Copenhagen Harbour where she
was later sold to the Danish authorities.