View source for HMS G9

{{short description|Submarine of the Royal Navy}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=G9 at Scapa.jpg
|Ship image size=300px
|Ship caption= ''G9'' at [[Scapa Flow]].
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=United Kingdom
|Ship flag=[[Image:Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg|60px|Royal Navy Ensign]]
|Ship name= ''G9''
|Ship namesake=
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=[[Vickers]], [[Barrow-in-Furness]]
|Ship laid down=8 December 1914
|Ship launched=15 June 1916
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned=22 August 1916
|Ship decommissioned=
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=
|Ship struck=
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship fate=Sunk 16 September 1917
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
| Ship class = [[British G-class submarine|G-class]] [[submarine]]
|Ship displacement=*Surfaced: 703 tons
*Submerged: 837 tons
|Ship length={{convert|57.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{Convert|6.92|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{Convert|4.15|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
|Ship draft=
|Ship power=*{{convert|1600|bhp|lk=in|abbr=on}} (diesel)
*{{convert|840|hp|abbr=on}} ([[electric motor]])
|Ship propulsion=
*2 × [[Diesel engine]]s
*2 × Electric motors
|Ship speed=*Surfaced: 14.5 knots (27 km/h)
*Submerged: 10.0 knots (19 km/h)
|Ship range=44.14 tons of fuel oil giving 3,160 nm surfaced at 10 knots (19 km/h). 95 nm submerged, at 3 knots (6 km/h).
|Ship endurance=
|Ship test depth=
|Ship complement=31
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*Torpedoes: 2 × [[British 18 inch torpedo|18 inch (450 mm)]] bow tubes, 2 × 18 inch (450 mm) beam tubes, 1 × [[British 21 inch torpedo|21 inch (533 mm)]] stern tube. 10 torpedoes in total.
*Guns: 1 × 3" 10 cwt. Mk.1 Elswick Quick Fire High Angle (QFHA), forward. 1 × 12 pdr. 8 cwt. Mk. 1 gun HA mounting, aft.
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

'''HMS ''G9''''' was a [[British G class submarine|G-class]] [[submarine]], one of eight [[Royal Navy]] submarines known to have been lost to [[friendly fire]] in [[World War I]].

==Construction==
The second of her class built by [[Vickers]] at [[Barrow-in-Furness]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rnsubs.co.uk/boats/subs/g-class.html |title=1914-1921: G Class |website=Barrow Submariners Association Boat Database}}</ref> ''G9'' was laid down on 8 December 1914. She was launched on 15 June 1916, and commissioned on 22 August that year.

==Description==
The G-class submarines were designed by the [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]] in response to a rumour that the Germans were building [[double hull|double-hulled]] submarines for overseas duties. The submarines had a length of {{convert|187|ft|1|in|m|1}} [[length overall|overall]], a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|22|ft|8|in|m|1}} and a mean [[draft (ship)|draft]] of {{convert|13|ft|4|in|m|1}}. They [[displacement (ship)|displaced]] {{convert|703|LT|t}} on the surface and {{convert|837|LT|t}} submerged. The G-class submarines had a crew of 30 officers and [[Naval rating|ratings]]. They had a partial double hull.<ref name=gg9>{{cite book |last1=Gardiner |first1=Robert |last2=Gray |first2=Randal |name-list-style=amp |title=Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921 |year=1985 |page=90 |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |location=London |isbn=0-85177-245-5}}</ref>

For surface running, the boats were powered by two {{convert|800|bhp|lk=in|0|adj=on}} [[Vickers]] [[two-stroke]] [[diesel engine]]s, each driving one [[propeller shaft]]. When submerged each propeller was driven by a {{convert|420|hp|0|adj=on}} [[electric motor]]. They could reach {{convert|14.25|kn|lk=in}} on the surface and {{convert|9|kn}} underwater. On the surface, the G class had a range of {{convert|2400|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|16|kn}}.<ref name=gg9/>

The boats were intended to be armed with one [[British 21-inch torpedo|21-inch (53.3&nbsp;cm)]] [[torpedo tube]] in the bow and two [[British 18 inch torpedo|18-inch (45&nbsp;cm)]] torpedo tubes on the beam. This was revised, however, while they were under construction, the 21-inch tube was moved to the stern and two additional 18-inch tubes were added in the bow. They carried two 21-inch and eight 18-inch torpedoes. The G-class submarines were also armed with a single {{convert|3|in|cm|1|adj=on}} [[deck gun]].<ref name=gg9/>

==War service==
The role of the ''G'' class was to patrol the [[North Sea]] and [[German Bight]] in search of [[U-boats]].

==Loss==
''G9'' was sunk by the destroyer {{HMS|Pasley|1916|6}}<ref>HMS ''Petard'' is often named in error as the destroyer involved; ''Petard'' was nowhere near the scene of the incident.</ref> in foul weather on the night of 16 September 1917. ''G9'' had mistaken ''Pasley'' for a U-boat and fired two torpedoes at her. The first struck ''Pasley'' on her starboard quarter, but too acutely to detonate; the second passed astern. On seeing the submarine's wash, ''Pasley''{{'}}s officer of the watch, [[Midshipman]] Frank Wallis, RNR, turned the boat hard to starboard and rammed ''G9'' just aft of amidships all but cutting her in two, and she sank less than one minute later with the loss of all but one of her crew, [[stoker (occupation)|Stoker]] William Drake.

[[Image:Pasley.jpg|thumb|140px|HMS ''Pasley'']]
[[Image:Stoker Drake K11071.jpg|thumb|140px|Stoker Drake]]
[[Image:G9 crew.jpg|thumb|140px|''G9'' crew: Stoker Drake at extreme right of picture standing-easy. A B Baby centre of back row of 5.]]

''G9'' had sailed [[Scapa Flow]] on 9 September 1917 to patrol an area between [[Shetland]] and [[Norway]]. On 15 September 1917, she was ordered north to between latitudes 60.30 N and 61.30 N to keep her clear of the fleet on exercises en route from [[Rosyth]] to Scapa. Meanwhile, ''Pasley'' was attempting to locate merchantmen detached from the convoy she was escorting in appalling weather from Russia via [[Aspö Fjord]],<ref name=Aspo>{{cite web |url=http://www.geographic.org/geographic_names/name.php?uni=-383554&fid=4368&c=norway |title=Aspö Fjord: Norway |website=Geographic Names}}</ref> 100 &nbsp;km north of [[Bergen]], to [[Lerwick]], and had resorted to displaying a white light halfway up the mast by night for guidance. Weathering the heavy seas and blinding rain squalls, Cary sighted ''Pasley''{{'}}s light; forewarned a [[U-boat]] was in the area, he gave the order to attack. Presumably realizing the error soon afterwards, Cary ordered the connection of the [[cruiser arc lamp]] to signal the destroyer. The signal was recognised aboard ''Pasley''; her [[Captain (Royal Navy)|captain]], [[Commander (Royal Navy)|Commander]] [[Charles Ramsey (Royal Navy officer)|Charles Ramsey]], ordered 'Full Astern', but it was too late to prevent his ship ramming the submarine.

After the collision, the crew on ''G9'' were ordered to assemble beneath the [[conning tower]]. Stoker William Drake saw one man climb the ladder above him, and followed. Although caught in the stomach by the lower conning tower door, which had probably been ordered shut in the hope of keeping the boat buoyant, Drake managed to struggle free and reach the bridge, only to be swept off as the boat sank beneath him. Of the five men in the water, Drake was the only one to reach ''Pasley'', which had stopped to rescue survivors. Weakened by the effort and numbed by the cold water, Drake was unable to pull himself up on the lifeline lowered, and was only rescued after Able Seaman Henry Old clambered over the side of the destroyer to secure a [[running bowline]] around him; he was then hauled aboard and taken below. Still unconvinced of his attacker's identity, Commander Ramsey went to question the survivor. Finding Drake laid on his stomach to help rid his lungs of seawater, Ramsey kicked the soles of his feet and demanded to know his nationality.<ref name=Minutes>Minutes of the Court of Inquiry held aboard HMS ''Indomitable'', obtained from the [[Royal Navy Submarine Museum]], Gosport.</ref>

==Aftermath==
A Court of Inquiry was held aboard {{HMS|Indomitable|1907|6}} at Scapa, four days after the sinking. The court decided no blame could be attached to ''Pasley'', concluding "that the process of reasoning which led the captain of HM Submarine ''G9'' to mistake HMS ''Pasley'' for a U-boat is, and must remain, unexplained".

The findings were forwarded to the [[Commander in Chief]], [[Grand Fleet]], [[Admiral]] [[David Beatty, 1st Earl Beatty|David Beatty]], who remarked that the incident was "...one of those that are inseparable from war", but deplored the delay in introducing improved signalling facilities on submarines, particularly the substitution of the slow, unreliable and cumbersome cruiser arc lamp<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gwpda.org/naval/rmgf1916.htm |title=Recognition Marks and Signals, Grand Fleet 1916 |date=12 July 1999 |website=The Great War Primary Documents Archive}}</ref> with [[Aldis lamp]]s.

Their Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty later directed Commander Ramsey to inform Midshipman Wallis that in the opinion of the Court of Inquiry the action taken by him "was the right action to take under the circumstances, and that its result, so deeply to be regretted, is evidence that it was taken with commendable promptness and precision....".

The captain of ''G9'', Lt. Commander Cary, was posthumously awarded the [[Distinguished Service Order|DSO]] in recognition of his 'arduous service in submarines'.<ref name = Dreadnought>{{cite web |url=http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/Byron_Plantagenet_Cary |title=Byron Plantagenet Cary |website=Dreadnought Project |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180803224148/http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/Byron_Plantagenet_Cary |archive-date=3 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=30363 |date=2 November 1917 |page=11317 |supp=y}}</ref>

==Wreck==
The website 'Wrecksite' gives the final resting place of HMS ''G9'' as approximately 70&nbsp;miles north west of [[Bergen]] in position {{coord|61|00||N|3|20||E|display=inline,title}} in 350&nbsp;m of water.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?16137 |title=HMS G-9 (1917) |website=Wrecksite |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=60.993333,3.32&spn=0.01,0.01&t=m&q=60.993333,3.32 |title=Location of G9 |website=Google Maps}}</ref> However, the wreck is not shown on the relevant [[United Kingdom Hydrographic Office|UK hydrographic chart]] no. 299.

==Epilogue==
William Drake remained in the submarine service until the 1930s, and served aboard the [[frigate]] {{HMS|Swale|K217|6}} as [[Petty Officer|Stoker Petty Officer]] in [[World War II]]; he died in 1974 aged 80. Commander Charles Gordon Ramsey rose to the rank of [[Admiral]]. After retiring in 1942, he was knighted, and served as [[aide-de-camp]] to [[King George VI]]; he died in 1966 aged 84. Photographic portraits of Ramsey by [[Bassano (photographers)|Bassano]] are held by the [[National Portrait Gallery (United Kingdom)|National Portrait Gallery]], London.

==See also== 
*[[List of submarines of the Royal Navy]]
*[[List of submarine classes of the Royal Navy]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
*{{Cite book |last=Evans |first=A. S. |date=1986 |title=Beneath the Waves – A History of British Submarine Losses |publisher=Kimber |location=London |isbn=0-7183-0601-5}}
*{{Cite Colledge2006}}

==External links==
*{{Cite web |url=http://www.submarine-museum.co.uk/what-we-have/memorial-chapel/submarine-losses?start=7 |title=Submarine losses 1904 to present day |website=Royal Navy Submarine Museum|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130714021235/http://www.submarine-museum.co.uk/what-we-have/memorial-chapel/submarine-losses?start=7 |archive-date=14 July 2013 }}

{{British G class submarine}}
{{September 1917 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:G09}}
[[Category:British G-class submarines]]
[[Category:Ships built in Barrow-in-Furness]]
[[Category:World War I shipwrecks in the North Sea]]
[[Category:World War I submarines of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Royal Navy ship names]]
[[Category:1916 ships]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 1917]]
[[Category:1917 disasters in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Friendly fire incidents of World War I]]
[[Category:Submarines sunk by British warships]]