Peter Shankland (1901–1995)

In 1915, Lieutenant-Commander Martin Nasmith brought His Majesty's Submarine, E11 to the Mediterranean with the intention of sailing it through the Dardanelles into the Sea of Amara to raise havoc by sinking Turkish ships.

This he did including torpedoing vessels in Constantinople Harbour which really shook up the Turks and forced them to delay shipping troops to Gallipoli to fight the Anzac landings.

Having just read a book by a skipper of a WWII British submarine and noting the differences between British and American subs of that period, reading this book on British subs of WW I really showed the primitive technology of subs of that time. It is also clear that surface ships hunting subs lacked most technology we take for granted in WW II and after. Sharp eyed lookouts on both the sub and on the surface vessel were the best defense and offense. Almost all enemy ships encountered by E11 chose ramming as the best offensive move. The lack of Sonar or any sounding equipment is extremely evident in these accounts as Naismith is able to close to very short distances before releasing his torpedoes.

The authors make the technology of these early subs understandable especially how torpedoes worked including how Naismith rigged them to float if he missed a target so he could recover them and reuse them.… (mehr)