The L25 submarineCommander Maurice William Bailward was charged with negligently stranding Submarine L25 in the Needles Channel at a Naval Court Martial in Portsmouth on 29th April 1924 – 100 years ago today. The L25 was a sister-ship to the submarine L24 which had sunk with the loss of 43 lives on 10th January of that year after being rammed by the battleship Resolution during naval manoeuvres. 2 tugs and 2 destroyers were required to come to the assistance of the L25 before she was refloated on the high tide on 8th April. In his defence, Commander Bailward contended that all proper precautions had been taken and that the stranding of the submarine was not his fault. His opinion was that eddies coming out of Alum, Totland and Colwell Bays had been responsible for making the submarine set a course different from the one he had intended. The prosecutor claimed that the accused had decided to re-enter the Needles Channel in thick weather, that he did not make sure of his position, did not make use of the Admiralty publication on these waters, which showed the inadvisability of making north-east Shingles Bay with the ebb tide, and did not alter his course. Commander Bailward was found guilty of negligence and given a reprimand.
He was lucky he wasn’t demoted or sacked.
More was to come from him: he ran L16 into a lock entrance at Portsmouth later in the year, and L1 collided with a Chinese junk the following year.
Switch Submarine for Frigate and you have all the hallmarks of the navigation prowess of HMS Troutbridge (The “Navy Lark” radio show for those too young)
Great story, keep them coming.
Not so great for Commander Bailward.
He was lucky he wasn’t demoted or sacked.
More was to come from him: he ran L16 into a lock entrance at Portsmouth later in the year, and L1 collided with a Chinese junk the following year.
Switch Submarine for Frigate and you have all the hallmarks of the navigation prowess of HMS Troutbridge (The “Navy Lark” radio show for those too young)