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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Sub's wartime grave discovered | Sub's wartime grave discovered |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| By James Landale BBC News | By James Landale BBC News |
| The wreck of a British naval submarine lost for more than 90 years has been found in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Estonia. | The wreck of a British naval submarine lost for more than 90 years has been found in the Baltic Sea off the coast of Estonia. |
| HMS E18 - with its complement of three officers and 28 ratings - went out on patrol in May 1916 and was never seen again. | HMS E18 - with its complement of three officers and 28 ratings - went out on patrol in May 1916 and was never seen again. |
| The submarine was one of a handful sent to the Baltic during World War I by Winston Churchill, the First Lord of the Admiralty, to disrupt German shipments of iron ore from Sweden and support the Russian navy. | The submarine was one of a handful sent to the Baltic during World War I by Winston Churchill, the First Lord of the Admiralty, to disrupt German shipments of iron ore from Sweden and support the Russian navy. |
| E18 left its base in the Russian port of Reval - now Tallinn, the capital of Estonia - on the evening of 25 May 1916 and headed west. | E18 left its base in the Russian port of Reval - now Tallinn, the capital of Estonia - on the evening of 25 May 1916 and headed west. |
| The following day she was reported to have engaged and torpedoed a German ship. | The following day she was reported to have engaged and torpedoed a German ship. |
| A few days later, possibly 2 June, she is believed to have struck a German mine and sunk with all hands. | A few days later, possibly 2 June, she is believed to have struck a German mine and sunk with all hands. |
| Appendicitis | Appendicitis |
| Following the submarine's loss, Tsar Nicholas of Russia gave posthumous medals to the crew, including my great-uncle, Luke Landale, the 1st Lieutenant, who was awarded the Order of St Vladimir. He was just 27 years old. | Following the submarine's loss, Tsar Nicholas of Russia gave posthumous medals to the crew, including my great-uncle, Luke Landale, the 1st Lieutenant, who was awarded the Order of St Vladimir. He was just 27 years old. |
| The submarine was found last weekend close to the Estonian island of Hiiumaa by a Swedish marine survey company, MMT. | The submarine was found last weekend close to the Estonian island of Hiiumaa by a Swedish marine survey company, MMT. |
| We want to investigate the exact cause of the sinking - and to honour the fallen by telling their story Carl Douglas, MMT | |
| They were guided by information provided by an Australian descendant of one of the crew, Darren Brown - an airline engineer from Melbourne - who has spent years researching the submarine's history. | They were guided by information provided by an Australian descendant of one of the crew, Darren Brown - an airline engineer from Melbourne - who has spent years researching the submarine's history. |
| His great-grandfather, Signalman Albert Robinson survived the loss of E18 because he fell ill with appendicitis shortly before its last patrol and was confined to his bed. | His great-grandfather, Signalman Albert Robinson survived the loss of E18 because he fell ill with appendicitis shortly before its last patrol and was confined to his bed. |
| The Swedish survey vessel, the MV Triad, deployed a remote-operated vehicle and obtained the first pictures showing the 181ft (55m)-long submarine in remarkably good condition. | The Swedish survey vessel, the MV Triad, deployed a remote-operated vehicle and obtained the first pictures showing the 181ft (55m)-long submarine in remarkably good condition. |
| The Baltic water is cold, brackish and anoxic which means wrecks suffer less rust and degradation than in other seas. | The Baltic water is cold, brackish and anoxic which means wrecks suffer less rust and degradation than in other seas. |
| There are also fewer potentially damaging ocean currents. | There are also fewer potentially damaging ocean currents. |
| Photographs from the seabed show the submarine with its hatch open, suggesting that it was sailing on the surface when it hit the mine. | Photographs from the seabed show the submarine with its hatch open, suggesting that it was sailing on the surface when it hit the mine. |
| David Hill, an expert in E-class submarines who has examined the images, said: "Without a shadow of doubt they do show an E-class submarine and certain details indicate that it is probably E18." | David Hill, an expert in E-class submarines who has examined the images, said: "Without a shadow of doubt they do show an E-class submarine and certain details indicate that it is probably E18." |
| Successful missions | |
| The owner of the survey company, Carl Douglas, said the discovery was the fruition of almost a decade of work. | The owner of the survey company, Carl Douglas, said the discovery was the fruition of almost a decade of work. |
| "We will now complete our mission to document this wreck and inform the relevant authorities," he said. | "We will now complete our mission to document this wreck and inform the relevant authorities," he said. |
| "We want to investigate the exact cause of the sinking - and to honour the fallen by telling their story." | "We want to investigate the exact cause of the sinking - and to honour the fallen by telling their story." |
| The E-class boats were considered to be Britain's most successful submarines during World War I. | The E-class boats were considered to be Britain's most successful submarines during World War I. |
| E18's sister ship, E19, once sank four German transport ships on one day in October 1915. | E18's sister ship, E19, once sank four German transport ships on one day in October 1915. |
| These were the submarines that flew the Jolly Roger after successful combat operations to cock a snook at the snobbish, surface-based admirals who looked down on their submerged colleagues. | These were the submarines that flew the Jolly Roger after successful combat operations to cock a snook at the snobbish, surface-based admirals who looked down on their submerged colleagues. |
| Such was the success of the eight submarines in the Baltic that it was here the Germans developed the convoy system to protect their shipping. | Such was the success of the eight submarines in the Baltic that it was here the Germans developed the convoy system to protect their shipping. |
| Advertisement | |
| Submarine's wartime wreckage found | |
| Shallow waters | Shallow waters |
| E18 carried five torpedo tubes and a 12lb gun on deck. It had a top surface speed of 15 knots, submerged it could make 10 knots. | E18 carried five torpedo tubes and a 12lb gun on deck. It had a top surface speed of 15 knots, submerged it could make 10 knots. |
| With its four diesel and electric engines and its twin screws, it had a surface range of about 3,000 nautical miles; submerged it could cover more than 60 nautical miles. | With its four diesel and electric engines and its twin screws, it had a surface range of about 3,000 nautical miles; submerged it could cover more than 60 nautical miles. |
| But the Baltic was a dangerous place for submarines. Not only is its entrance between Denmark and Sweden extremely narrow, but the sea itself is shallow, providing few deep hiding places. | But the Baltic was a dangerous place for submarines. Not only is its entrance between Denmark and Sweden extremely narrow, but the sea itself is shallow, providing few deep hiding places. |
| Rarely did E18 reach its diving limits of about 200 ft. | Rarely did E18 reach its diving limits of about 200 ft. |
| E18 was the only E-class submarine lost on active service in the Baltic; the rest were scuttled by the Navy off Helsinki in April 1918 to avoid capture by advancing German forces. | E18 was the only E-class submarine lost on active service in the Baltic; the rest were scuttled by the Navy off Helsinki in April 1918 to avoid capture by advancing German forces. |
| Of the 57 E-class submarines that were built during World War I, 26 were lost. | Of the 57 E-class submarines that were built during World War I, 26 were lost. |
| 'Pants down' | 'Pants down' |
| Conditions on board the E-class submarines were pretty basic and extremely cramped. | Conditions on board the E-class submarines were pretty basic and extremely cramped. |
| There was just one bunk which the three officers shared; the ratings slept where they could. | There was just one bunk which the three officers shared; the ratings slept where they could. |
| The heads - or toilets - were more often than not a bucket. The weather in the Baltic was also extremely cold, with much of the submarine's superstructure freezing over the moment it surfaced. | The heads - or toilets - were more often than not a bucket. The weather in the Baltic was also extremely cold, with much of the submarine's superstructure freezing over the moment it surfaced. |
| Luke Landale, right, and crew were given posthumous medals | |
| E18, which was launched in early 1915, was once bombed by a Zeppelin airship after its captain, Lt Cdr Robert Halahan, surfaced so he could go to the loo on deck rather than in the cramped conditions down below. | E18, which was launched in early 1915, was once bombed by a Zeppelin airship after its captain, Lt Cdr Robert Halahan, surfaced so he could go to the loo on deck rather than in the cramped conditions down below. |
| As such, he was literally caught with his pants down. | As such, he was literally caught with his pants down. |
| Shortly before E18's last patrol, Lt Cdr Halahan was told by a fortune teller that his life was "in grave danger". | Shortly before E18's last patrol, Lt Cdr Halahan was told by a fortune teller that his life was "in grave danger". |
| So he asked the local Vice-Consul's wife if she could inform his own wife of his death - if E18 was lost - before the official Admiralty telegram reached his home. | So he asked the local Vice-Consul's wife if she could inform his own wife of his death - if E18 was lost - before the official Admiralty telegram reached his home. |
| The story of E18's ill-fated voyage is to be retold in a documentary, Churchill's Lost Submarine, made by Mallinson Sadler Productions. | The story of E18's ill-fated voyage is to be retold in a documentary, Churchill's Lost Submarine, made by Mallinson Sadler Productions. |