H.M.S. E 12 (1914)

H.M.S. E 12 (1914)
Pendant Number:	I.92 (1914) E.12 (mid 1915)
Builder:	Chatham Royal Dockyard
Launched:	5 Sep, 1914
Commissioned:	Oct, 1914
Sold:	Mar, 1921

H.M.S. E 12 was one of fifty-seven "E" class submarines completed in Britain before and during the Great War.

Service

Lt. Cdr.Kenneth Mervyn Bruce commanded E 12 in the Sea of Marmora in 1915. On 25 June, he encountered two steamers towing five sailing vessels. As he attempted to board one of the steamers, the Turks threw a bomb which failed to explode and opened fire with rifles and a concealed gun. A firefight ensued at ten yards range, and before long the steamer exploded, seemingly as from a magazine being set off. E 12 thereby succeeded in destroying one steamer and her two towed sailing vessels.

In September 1915, E 12 again entered the Marmora, this time equipped with a 4-in gun. This patrol lasted forty days, and the submarine accounted for four steamers and over thirty sailing craft, as well as damaging other patrol vessels and shore objectives. Bruce's successes, and his engagements with armed vessels on 25 June, 21 September and 5 October earned him his D.S.O., as well as entitling him to prize money which took fully eight years to be parcelled out to him, in October 1924.

Captains

Dates of appointment are provided when known.

• Commander Kenneth M. Bruce, 7 September, 1914 – 10 March, 1917
• Lieutenant & Commander Frederick A. P. Williams-Freeman, 6 May, 1917 – December, 1918

See Also

• Wikipedia