HMS E49 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS E49
Builder	Swan Hunter, Wallsend
Laid down	15 February 1915
Launched	18 September 1916
Commissioned	14 December 1916
Fate	Mined, 12 March 1917
General characteristics
Class and type	E-class submarine
Displacement	662 long tons (673 t) (surfaced) 807 long tons (820 t) (submerged)
Length	181 ft (55 m)
Beam	15 ft (4.6 m)
Installed power	1,600 hp (1,200 kW) (diesel engines) 840 hp (630 kW) (electric motors)
Propulsion	2 × 800 hp (600 kW) diesel engines 2 × 420 hp (310 kW) electric motors 2 × screws
Speed	15 kn (17 mph; 28 km/h) (surfaced) 10 kn (12 mph; 19 km/h) (submerged)
Range	3,000 nmi (3,500 mi; 5,600 km) at 10 kn (12 mph; 19 km/h) (surfaced) 65 nmi (75 mi; 120 km) at 5 kn (5.8 mph; 9.3 km/h) (surfaced)
Complement	30
Armament	5 × 18 inch (450 mm) torpedo tubes (2 bow, 2 beam, 1 stern) 1 × 12-pounder gun

HMS E49 was a special type of underwater boat called an E-class submarine. It was built by a company called Swan Hunter in Wallsend, England, for the Royal Navy. The submarine was started on February 15, 1915, and was ready for duty on December 14, 1916.

Sadly, E49 was sunk by a mine near the Shetland Islands on March 12, 1917. This mine was part of a minefield laid by a German U-boat named UC-76 just two days earlier. All the sailors on board E49 were lost. Today, the submarine rests about 96 ft (29 m) underwater, with its front part damaged.

Submarine Design and Features

The E49 was an E-class submarine, similar to others built after the E8 model. When it was on the surface of the water, it weighed about 662 tonnes (730 short tons). When it was underwater, it weighed more, around 807 tonnes (890 short tons).

Size and Power

This submarine was about 180 feet (55 m) long and 22 feet 8.5 inches (6.922 m) wide. It had two powerful diesel engines, each with 800 horsepower (600 kW). It also had two electric motors, each with 420 horsepower (310 kW). These engines helped the submarine move through the water.

Speed and Travel Range

On the surface, E49 could travel at a top speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph). When it was underwater, its top speed was 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). E-class submarines like E49 could carry 50 tonnes (55 short tons) of diesel fuel. This allowed them to travel about 3,255 miles (5,238 km; 2,829 nmi) at a speed of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). The E49 could stay underwater for five hours while moving at 5 knots (9.3 km/h; 5.8 mph).

Weapons and Equipment

The E49 was armed with a 12-pounder gun (which is about 76 mm (3.0 in)). This gun was placed in front of the conning tower, which is like the submarine's control room. It also had five torpedo tubes, which are tubes that launch torpedoes. Two tubes were at the front, one on each side in the middle, and one at the back. The submarine carried a total of 10 torpedoes.

E-Class submarines also had wireless systems to communicate. Some of these systems were later made more powerful. These submarines were designed to go down to a depth of 100 feet (30 m). However, some were able to go even deeper, below 200 feet (61 m).

Remembering the Lost Submariners

A special memorial was created to honor the 31 submariners who lost their lives when E49 sank. This memorial was put up in Baltasound, Unst, on March 12, 2017. This date marked 100 years since the submarine was lost.

The memorial was organized by a retired local police officer named Harry Edwards. Members of the crew from another Royal Navy submarine, HMS Vengeance (S31), attended the unveiling. Also present were family members of E49's First Officer, Basil Beal, and its second-in-command, Reay Parkinson.