HMS H6

HMS H-6, was an H class submarine of the Royal Navy built by Canadian Vickers & Co.

History

She was completed on June 10 1915 and that same year she was commissioned by the Royal Navy. She served the Royal Navy only shortly because on January 19 1916 she ran aground near the Dutch island of Schiermonnikoog after which she was interned by the Dutch Navy. On May 4, 1917 an agreement was reached to sell "H-6" to the Netherlands. [2]

Dutch service

The Dutch Navy renamed the "H-6" to "Hr. Ms. O 8" and refitted her with knowledge gained from the interned German submarine [http://uboat.net/wwi/boats/index.html?boat=UC+8 "UC 8"] After the "UC-8" was bought from Germany the "O 8" was equipped with the "Zeis" periscope from the "UC-8". During maintenance in October 1921 the "O 8" sank in the harbor at Den Helder. Because only minor damage was sustained she could be repaired and continue service. In the summer of 1925 "O 8" together with the "K XI", "Jacob van Heemskerk", "Tromp", "Z 3" and "Z 5" were part of an exercise in the Baltic Sea.

During the German attack on the Netherlands at the start of the Second World War the "O 8" was still in Dutch service. Because of her old age it was decided to scuttle her.

German service

After the surrender of the Netherlands the German forces were able raise the "O 8" and found her almost fully intact. [Bezemer, K.W.L.; "Zij vochten op de zeven zeeën"; Uitgeversmaatschappij W. de Haan N.V.; 1954]

Germany took the "O 8" into service as "U-D1" and transferred her from Den Helder to Kiel. In Kiel she was used as training ship to train crews for the German U-boats. Because of her old age she was decommissioned on November 23, 1943. On May 3, 1945, she was scuttled in the harbor at Kiel. [ [http://www.dutchsubmarines.com/boats/boat_o8.htm Dutchsubmarines.com "O 8"] ]

References