British Submarine HMS Seal

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Conditions aboard the sub were now deteriorating. Rapidly diminishing oxygen was making many crew members sluggish and weak. Lonsdale decided to use more aggressive techniques during his second attempt to surface. Compressed air was used to blow a second group of fuel tanks and the midships freshwater tanks. In addition, the 11-ton drop keel was released from the hull. The latter decision was significant, because this release — normally resorted to only in case of extreme emergency — would preclude Seal’s diving again. Despite these drastic added measures, Seal refused to surface. Crew morale sagged.

Lonsdale had compressed air and battery power for one more attempt to surface, and he knew it had to be made quickly; too many crew members were being immobilized by lack of oxygen and carbon dioxide poisoning.

For this last attempt, Lonsdale ordered two small, previously overlooked ballast tanks aft by the motor room to be blown — and told as many of the crew members as were able to move forward in the pressure hull, now noticeably up by the bow. Lonsdale, a man of faith, also requested crew members to join him in the Lord’s Prayer.

At 0110 on May 5, nearly 23 hours after Seal had dived, the final effort to surface began. Using his remaining battery power to go ahead on both engines, Lonsdale blew the small after ballast tanks with Seal’s remaining compressed air. Suddenly, Seal shuddered, and her stern broke free of the sea floor. At 0130, she surfaced. But her problems were just beginning.

Cautioning the crew to remain in position, Lonsdale laboriously opened the conning tower hatch and climbed to the bridge. As fresh air rushed in, many crew members, suffering from carbon dioxide poisoning, were afflicted with severe headaches and began vomiting. Fearing possible capture, Lonsdale ordered secret code books and materials jettisoned over the side and had an encrypted situation report sent to the Admiralty, which acknowledged receipt of his message. He also ordered secret asdic (sonar) gear smashed and nautical charts with minefields plotted on them jettisoned in weighted bags. It was now about 0200, and Lonsdale decided to run for the Swedish coast. At 0210 he sent a coded message to the Admiralty reporting Seal’s damaged condition and his intent to run for Sweden. About 90 minutes later the Admiralty sent a fateful response to Lonsdale, but one that he unfortunately never received: ‘Safety of personnel should be your first consideration after destruction of Asdics.’ Failure to receive that message — which supported his subsequent decision — was to cause him severe anguish until he learned of it on his release.

Initially, only the sub’s starboard engine could be started, and it soon became evident that the steering mechanism was inoperative. Lonsdale concluded that the exploding mine had bent or jammed the rudder. At this juncture the port engine started, and Lonsdale prepared to steer with the engines. But Seal could not be turned toward Sweden with the engines alone. As a final resort, the captain decided to go astern toward Sweden, which was initially successful. Hope among crew members increased that they might somehow escape. Their optimism was soon dashed, however, when the starboard engine lost lubricating oil pressure and seized up completely. Repair attempts failed, and Seal was now left to wallow on the surface, unable to dive and capable only of going in circles. It was almost 0230, with dawn close at hand. Soon the drone of an approaching German Arado Ar-196 reconnaissance seaplane spelled more trouble.

Immediately after surfacing, Lonsdale had had Seal’s two Lewis guns brought up and mounted on the after end of the conning tower. He chose not to fire them as the Arado made its first attack, hoping to convince the German airmen that Seal was a disabled Swedish submarine returning to port. This ruse failed, however; the Arado commander recognized Seal’s British markings and continued his attack with machine guns, cannons and two bombs.

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Tags: 20th - 21st Century, Amphibious Operations, Historical Conflicts, World War II