HMS H41

History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS H41
Builder	Armstrong Whitworth, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Laid down	17 September 1917
Launched	26 July 1918
Commissioned	November 1918
Fate	Sunk, 18 October 1919 Sold, 12 March 1920
General characteristics
Class and type	H class submarine
Displacement	423 long tons (430 t) surfaced 510 long tons (518 t) submerged
Length	171 ft 0 in (52.12 m)
Beam	15 ft 4 in (4.67 m)
Propulsion	1 × 480 hp (358 kW) diesel engine 2 × 620 hp (462 kW) electric motors
Speed	11.5 knots (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph) surfaced 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) submerged
Range	2,985 nmi (5,528 km) at 7.5 kn (13.9 km/h; 8.6 mph) surfaced 130 nmi (240 km) at 2 kn (3.7 km/h; 2.3 mph) submerged
Complement	22
Armament	4 × 21 in (533 mm) bow torpedo tubes 8 × 21 inch torpedoes

HMS H41 was a British H class submarine built by Armstrong Whitworth, Newcastle Upon Tyne, England. She was laid down on 17 September 1917 and was commissioned in November 1918.

Sinking

The submarine, commanded by Lieutenant-Commander N.R. Peploe, was moored in a dock basin at Blyth (NZ319816), a few yards from the 6,620 ton depot ship Vulcan. The ex-cruiser was in harbour for repairs to her main engines and during the afternoon she built up a head of steam and began to carry out a slow-speed trial. In the restricted waters of the dock basin the suction from the depot-ship's propellers drew the submarine towards her and, despite the efforts of both crews to keep the two vessels apart, Vulcan's screws struck the stern of the submarine, cut through her outer casing and sliced open the pressure hull. H41 sank quickly as the sea rushed in and the crew were lucky to escape.

HMS H41 was raised and was then sold on 12 March 1920 in Sunderland.

References

• Hutchinson, Robert (2001). Jane's submarines : war beneath the waves from 1776 to the present day. London: HarperCollins. ISBN 9780007105588.