HMS SHARK (54S)

'HMS ''Shark''' was a Royal Navy S-class submarine which was launched May 31, 1934 and fought in World War II. ''Shark'' is one of 12 boats named in the song Twelve Little S-Boats.
She was surfaced whilst on patrol off Skudesnes, south-west Norway on July 5 1940, when a seaplane was sighted astern. As the submarine submerged, she was bombed, the explosions causing considerable damage. Without steering gear and the hydroplanes jammed hard to rise, the submarine’s bow broached the surface, where she continued to be bombed. ''Shark'' began to sink by the stern and all high-pressure air was used to return her to the surface. Once on the surface she attempted to get underway steering on main engines, but was sighted yet again, and attacked. The No. 4 ballast tank was holed, and with more aircraft arriving she had no option but to capitulate. At about 0400 hours the next day three German minesweeping trawlers ''M-1803'', ''M1806'' and ''M-1807'' arrived to take ''Shark'' under tow but she began to sink stern first about 25 nautical miles west-south-west of Egersund, Norway. ^[1]

Contents

References

References

1. Submarine losses 1904 to present day, RN Submarine Museum, Gosport


★