Q BOAT AND SUBMARINE

Evening Star, Issue 20688, 10 January 1931, Page 13

Q BOAT AND SUBMARINE

WAR-TIME INCIDENT TRAGIC MISTAKES Prcsi Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, January 8. How the misreading of a submarine s title caused British gunners to kill nineteen of the crow of a British submarine and received congratulations on thou’ marksmanship is disclosed for the first time in William Guy Carr’s book, ‘ By Guess and by God.’ The vessels concerned were tho cibmavino J 6 and an old topsail schooner which had been transformed at f, "Mt expense into a Q boat or mystery slno. She was keenly watching for German U boats going down the channel near Blyth, when, in tricky visibility, the JO hove in sight. Something hanging from its conning tower completed the vortical line of the “ J,” converting it into a “ U,” and the (J boat’s commander. who was many’ times decorated for gallantry, shouted: “Break out the ensign and lire!” Then, as the ensign dropped, it could not be identified owing to the absence of wind. The submarine’s ensign also bung motionless.

The first shot from the Q boat smashed tho arm of the man who *as standing at tho conning tower and was about to fire the recognition signal from a rifle. It also killed an officer who was beside him. Tho second shot pierced the submarine’s waterline and wrecked the control room.

Then tho Q boat’s tin gun registered a direct hit. An officer of tho submarine sprang on to the after hatch, frantically waving a white cloth ami the Q boat ceased fire. The submarine entered a fog hank, and when it emerged its bows were in tho air, tho conning tower being awash. Mon nc.-e observed struggling in the water in a newly-launched collapsible boat. Ihc L, boat crew went to their assistance, and were stunned to perceive “H.M. >’>'nmarine” on tho survivors’ caps. Fifteen of the submarine’s crew were rescued. A court of inquiry exonerated tbo Q boat’s commander and congratulated the gnu crew on tho accuracy of their fire The survivors of the J 6 sprang to attention and, sainted them as tho Q boat crew filed out of court.