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Prior to the conflict of World War One, the submarine was mainly seen as a tool of coastal defence,and to aid fleets of naval ships, protecting their flanks.

Germany and Austria were to prove that they were a supreme offensive weapon and the Allies had to change operations and tactics to counteract this.

In the early 20th Century, Submarines had been regular vistors to Cork,as part of visiting fleets on manouveres, and for demonstrations, including the ill-fated HMS A5. There were no submarines stationed here before 1917.

The unrestricted u-boat offensive of 1917 was proving catastrophic to England and her Allies. Vice -Admiral Lewis Bayley, received critical reports from the Admiralty complaining that u-boats were rounding the north and West coasts of Ireland with impunity.

HMS Vulcan
The Depot ship HMS Vulcan

This saw the advent of the defence of the 'hunter-killer' submarine. patrolling Irish waters, patrolling singly, shadowing commercial shippping, in the hope of spotting an enemy submarine and attacking it.

Two flotillas were established in Ireland. The Platypus and Vulcan flotillas, named after the submarine depot ships HMS Platypus and HMS Vulcan, which provided supplies, mobile workshops, and accomodation to resting submariners. HMS Ambrose

HMS Ambrose

During 1918 another depot ship HMS Ambrose was also stationed here to assist. This became for a time a combined Vulcan/Ambrose Flotilla . Thse flotillas were mobile, and at various stages were based in Queenstown (Cobh), Co. Cork, Berehaven Co. Cork, Lough Swilly, Co.Donegal, and Killybegs Co Donegal.

Twenty three Royal Navy submarines were stationed in Ireland over the course of World War One. By November 1918 There were five, all stationed in Donegal.

HMS C7.
Vulcan Flotilla Berehaven Nov 1917, Attached HMS Vernon Nov 1918
Sold 1919

HMS D1
Platypus Flotilla from April 1917, sunk as target Oct 1918

HMS D3
Platypus Flotilla from April 1917, Operating from Gosport when sunk by French Airship in Channel, on 12th March 1918

HMS D4
latypus Flotilla from April 1917.sold 1921

HMS D6
latypus Flotilla from April 1917 , sunk 28 June 1918 by UB-73.

HMS D7
Platypus Flotilla from April 1917. sSold 1921

HMS D7
HMS D7

HMS D8 .
Platypus Flotilla from April 1917. Sold 1921

HMS E 23
Vulcan Flotilla from May 1917. Sold 1922

HMS e27
Attached to Vulcan Flotilla , November 1917

HMS E32
Vulcan Flotilla from March 1917. Sold 1922.

HMS E35
Vulcan Flotilla from May 1917.

HMS E43
Attached Vulcan Flotilla but never stationed in Ireland.

HMS E47
Vulcan Flotilla from march 1917 - Lost in North Sea 20th Aug 1918

HMS E48
Vulcan Flotilla from May 1917. Broken up 1921.

HMS E54
Vulcan Flotilla from March 1917. Sold 1921

HMS E56
Vulcan Flotilla from May 1917. sold 1923

HMS G6
Vulcan Flotilla from Nov 1917. sold 1921

HMS H5
Vulcan Flotilla from March 1917 , Sunk in collision Mar 1918

HMS H8
Vulcan Flotilla from October 1917

HMS L1
Vulcan Flotilla from December 1917

HMS L1
HMS L1

HMS R7
Vulcan Flotilla (Killybegs) Nov 1918

HMS R8
Vulcan Flotilla (Killybegs) Nov 1918

HMS R11
Vulcan Flotilla (Killybegs) Nov 1918

HMS R12
Vulcan Flotilla (Killybegs) Nov 1918



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