above left  -

(click photographs for enlargements)

H. M. S.   U N I T Y

Battle Honours

ARMADA 1588 - ORFORDNESS 1666 - PELAGOSA 1811 - JUTLAND 1916
(All awarded to earlier ships.)

This name has been used since the 16th century, initially by an 80-ton ship hired at the time of the Armada and lastly by a 1913 destroyer sold in 1922. This submarine had a tragic war career since after eight patrols in the North Sea she was sunk after a collision in fog with the Norwegian freighter ATLE JARL when leaving Blyth for her ninth patrol on 29th April 1940.

The submarine sank within five minutes taking the First Lieutenant and a seaman down with her. The reason for her loss may have hinged on delivery of a signal giving details of the passage of a convoy off Blyth during the period o sailing. Survivors were rescued by boats from ships in the convoy. She was commanded on commissioning in 1938 by Lieut. Commander S H Pinchin RN who had been relieved by Lieutenant JFB Brown in July 1939. The captain at time of the sinking Lieutenant G E Hunt had been in command only nine days when she was lost.