HMS E47 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids History |
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 United Kingdom |
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| Name | HMS E47 |
| Builder | William Beardmore, Dalmuir |
| Launched | 29 May 1916 |
| Commissioned | October 1916 |
| Fate | Lost, 20 August 1917 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | E-class submarine |
| Displacement |
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| Length | 181 ft (55 m) |
| Beam | 15 ft (4.6 m) |
| Installed power |
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| Propulsion |
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| Speed |
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| Range |
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| Complement | 31 |
| Armament | 5 × 18 inch (450 mm) torpedo tubes (2 bow, 2 beam, 1 stern), 1 × 12-pounder gun |
HMS E47 was a special type of submarine called an E-class submarine. It was built for the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom. This submarine was launched on May 29, 1916, and officially joined the navy in October 1916. Submarines like E47 played an important role during World War I, often patrolling the seas to protect their country.
Contents
Submarine Design and Features
Submarines like E47 were built to travel both on the surface of the water and completely underwater. When on the surface, E47 weighed about 662 tons. When it was submerged, it weighed around 807 tons.
Size and Power
The submarine was about 180 feet (55 meters) long, which is longer than two basketball courts. It was also about 22 feet (6.7 meters) wide. To move, E47 used two powerful diesel engines when on the surface. Each engine had 800 horsepower. When underwater, it switched to two electric motors, each with 420 horsepower.
Speed and Travel Range
On the surface, E47 could travel at a top speed of about 16 knots (30 kilometers per hour or 18 miles per hour). Underwater, it was slower, reaching about 10 knots (19 kilometers per hour or 12 miles per hour). These submarines could travel a long distance, about 3,255 miles (5,238 kilometers) when moving at 10 knots on the surface. They could also stay underwater for about five hours while traveling at 5 knots.
Weapons and Equipment
E47 was armed with a 12-pounder gun, which is a type of quick-firing cannon. This gun was placed near the front of the submarine's control tower. For attacking other ships, it had five torpedo tubes. Two torpedo tubes were at the front (bow), one on each side in the middle, and one at the back (stern). The submarine carried a total of 10 torpedoes.
These E-class submarines also had special wireless systems to communicate. Some even had a Fessenden oscillator system, which helped them detect objects underwater. They were designed to dive to a depth of 100 feet (30 meters), but some could go even deeper, past 200 feet (61 meters).
Service During World War I
E47 was part of the 9th Flotilla, a group of naval ships, and was based in Harwich, England. Its main job was to patrol the North Sea, especially near the coasts of Germany and the Netherlands.
Patrols and Loss
During World War I, German ships started sailing again between Heligoland Bight and Rotterdam. To stop this, four E-class submarines, including E47, were sent to intercept them. Sadly, E47 was lost in the North Sea on August 20, 1917. There were no survivors from the submarine.
Discovery of the Wreck
The wreck of E47 was found in 2002 by a diving team from Vlieland, a Dutch island. It lies about 6 nautical miles (11 kilometers or 7 miles) northwest of Texel, another Dutch island.
Identifying the Wreck
The submarine's deck gun had been torn off, probably by a fishing trawler, and was found lying next to the wreck. This gun helped divers confirm that it was indeed E47. The wreck is officially known by the Dutch Hydrographic Department as wreck number 927. Its exact location is 53°6′8.10″N 4°33′28.0″E / 53.1022500°N 4.557778°E.
Remembering the Crew
Among the brave sailors lost when E47 sank was Lieutenant Colin Fraser Creswell. He was the son of Vice Admiral Sir William Rooke Creswell, a very important figure in the Australian Navy.
