Beneath the Waves. A History of the HM Submarine Losses 1904-1971

book summary

Since the beginning of the Royal Navy Submarine Service in 1901, 173 submarines have been lost and in many cirumstances with their entire crew. War inevitably takes a heavy toll: in World War Two alone - 341 officer and 2.801 ratings failed to return to harbour. The loss of personnel was roughly equivalent to the strength of the Submarine Arm at the outbreak of war.
Between the first loss, A1 en 1904, and the last, Artemis in 1971, lie many stories in which cool nerve was very much in evidence and one can only marvel at the escape of the only survivor of Perseus; and of the sinking of Olympus from which the few survivors had to swin seven miles before receiving help; and of Surgeon-Lieutenant Charles Rhodes who died that others may live. These and many other accounts of submarine escape are described within this history - and wherever possible in the words of survivors or witnesses.
CONTENTS:
The Early Years
The Great War
Between the Wars
The Second World War
1945 - 1971
Appendix 1: HM Submarine Losses 1904-71
Appendix 2: Principal Systems of Submarine Escape
Bibliography
Index