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The British Submarine E.13 off Saltholm (1915):

A deadly morning
off Copenhagen
in August, 1915

British submarine aground and defenseless, inside Danish territorial waters, was this morning shelled and destroyed by German Torpedo Boat

The people of Copenhagen woke up in the morning on August19, 1915, unaware of the bloody incident happening at sea, just outside their capital.
An incident that cost the lives of 15 British submariners.

The survivors of the crew were interned in Denmark, until the end of The Great War

By Johnny E. Balsved

A British Submarine of the E-class (the E.14 shown)

During the night of August 19, 1915 the British submarines E.8 and E.13 attempted to pass through the narrow waters of  the Sound, between Denmark and Sweden. The submarines were on passage to reinforce the British submarine forces already operating in the Baltic area.

Danish and Swedish Naval vessels were patrolling the Sound, protecting the neutrality of these two countries during the Great War.

In combination with heavy mining in the waters, this short passage could quickly turn into a night-mare.

The grounding took place inside Danish territorial waters.

Danish Guard Vessel Observe the Grounding

• "If the submarine is German, and other German ships are trying to assist, you shall deliver an official protest.
  No other means are allowed.
  If the submarine is English, you must forestall any attempt to seize or attack the submarine.
  First you should signal an official protest, and if no respect is shown to the protest, you are allowed to use all necessary means available."

These orders were confirmed by the Chief of the Navy, Vice Admiral O. Kofoed-Hansen at 8 o'clock in the morning of August 19^th, 1915.

First Danish Torpedo Boat at the Scene

The Chief in Command (C-in-C) of the Naval Floating Defense Squadron at Copenhagen, Rear Admiral Evers, immediately ordered one of the torpedo boats under his direct command, the NARHVALEN (The Narwhal) to investi-gate and protect the Danish neutrality.

torpedo boat NARHVALEN immediately went along-side the grounded British submarine and informed E.13's commanding officer (CO), Lieutenant Commander Geoffrey Layton, that the E.13 in accordance with the Danish neutrality and International rules, was required to depart from Danish territorial water within 24 hours.

Lt.Cdr. Layton requested that one of his officers should be transported to the Danish guard ship. This request was granted and would be carried out, as soon as more Danish ships had arrived at the scene.

In view of these time deadlines, if the E.13 was not afloat and out of Danish territorial waters within 24 hours, both the E.13 and its crew would be interned.

Danish Reinforcements are Underway

By direct command from Denmark's Department of the Navy, the 1^st Danish Coastal Defense Squadron, under the command of Captain T. V. Garde, was ordered from its anchorage off Skovshoved, just north of Copenhagen, and to proceed to join the other Danish vessels in the vicinity of the E.13.

Flotilla, were ordered to the area where the E.13 was aground.

The two torpedo boats were made to the disposal of the C-in-C, Admiral Evers.

Also the torpedo boat of the Naval Floating Defense Squadron at Copenha-gen, the Torpedo Boat STØREN (The Sturgeon), under the command of Lieutenant Erik Garde, was ordered to the area, to release the NARHVALEN.

Around 8.45 a.m. the 3 Danish torpedo boats arrived at the scene.

The Germans Observe the Grounding as Well

Somewhat later, pursuant to the request from Lt.Cdr. Layton, the Torpedo Boat NARHVALEN came alongside the E.13 and transferred one of the British officers, Lieutenant Paul Eddis, to the Danish guard ship, the FALSTER, situated on just the other side of Saltholm.

did nothing other than to keep the E.13 under observation.

Further south, there was intensive German radio transmissions, which probably communicated the E.13 predicament, and requested further instructions from the headquarter.

The Battle Begins

At 10.28 a.m. the CO of the SØULVEN, Commander Haack, was reporting that he observed two German torpedo boats approaching from the south at full speed.

The German torpedo boats G132, under the command of Leutnant zur See, Graf von Montgelas, and G134 approached the E.13 from the south.

An attack on the British submarine E.13 was doubtlessly being initialized. On the mast of the G132, one could observe the signal "Abandon ship" being communicated to the E.13.

Immediately upon coming within firing range, the G132 fired a torpedo aimed at the E.13.

Where Were the Danes?

The Danish Torpedo Boats, standing by close to the British submarine, did not directly interfere in the German attack.

Even the 1^st Squadron, with the Coast Defense Ship PEDER SKRAM and the Light Cruiser GEJSER, was just keeping the situation under close observa-tion just 5 nautical miles to the north.

At 10.35 a.m. they observed an explosion close to the vicinity of the stranded submarine.

The guns on the Danish ships were manned, but never used.

The Danish ships' inaction occurred despite direct orders from the Danish Navy Chief of Staff, issued early that morning, to protect the stranded British submarine, if necessary by the use of force.

The Danes are Aroused

Immediately after the British CO had ordered his crew to abandon ship and  British submariners were attempting to swim the few hundred meters to firm ground, the Danish torpedo boats finally intervened.

and began rescuing the surviving British submariners swimming around in the water.

However, immediately following the Danish intervention, the G132 and G134 aborted their violent attack and were proceeding southward at full speed.

Result - 15 Dead British Submariners

The surviving British submariners, 14 in total, including the CO, Lt.Cdr. Layton, were later brought to Holmen Naval Base in Copenhagen by the Danish Torpedo Boat STØREN.

now face the fact that, for them, their participation in the Great War was over.

They would be interned in Denmark, and would only be released at the conclusion of hostilities. For most of them, this is what happened.

As a mark of respect, the dead submariners were repatriated to England for burial on board the S/S Vidar, accompanied by Captain Rørd Hammer of the Royal Danish Navy, and escorted by three Danish torpedo boats.

However, the CO, Lt.Cdr Geoffrey, and his his 1^st Officer had another view to the situation. They just simply escaped from internment.

The wreckage of the E.13 was later on salvaged by the Danes, and brought to the Naval Dock Yard in Copenhagen. After the end of the Great War the wreckage was sold for scrap to a Danish firm.

Follow the Unfolding Story of the E.13:

 Read the Report by Lt.Cdr. Layton to Vice Admiral W. F. Oliver,
Chief of the War Staff, Admiralty

Lt.Cdr. Geoffrey Layton and his 1^st Officer Escapes Internment

More In-Depth Articles Coming Up:

This incident was a major German violation
of the Danish neutrality during the Great War (1914 - 18)
- What were the consequences?

What were the orders issued by the C-in-C, Rear Admiral Evers?

According to the dairy of the Chief of the Navy,
Vice Admiral O. Kofoed-Hansen, the Danish Naval vessels
ignored the situation, in despite of given orders.
Captain Halfdan B. Barfod is postulating
that one of the Danish torpedo boats ran between
the fighting vessels, and thereby causing a ceased fire.
Who to believe?
- Are someone trying to glamorize the efforts?

What did the English submarine E13 do in neutral Danish waters,
and what was her mission?

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Report by
Lt.Cdr. Geoffrey
Layton to the
British Admiralty

-

Lt.Cdr. Geoffrey Layton and his
1st Officer escapes Internment

-

This page was last updated: September 24, 2001

This page was first published: July 29, 2001

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