The
wreck of the British submarine HMS/M M2 is unique. 296 feet long she is
one of the four M class submarines laid down in 1916 during the dark days of
World War I. She was only completed in 1920, after the War and was
initially fitted out with a 12-inch battleship gun on her foredeck. In
1927, the 12-inch gun was removed and just forward of the conning tower a
watertight aeroplane hanger was fitted which housed the world's smallest
seaplane, the Parnell Peto. This was launched by steam catapult along
tracks on the top of the hull and recovered by crane from the water after
flight.In January 1932, M2 was tragically lost with all hands during an exercise when it is believed her hanger doors were opened before she was fully surfaced allowing water to flood into her hull and take her to the bottom. She now lies in 35 metres of water in Lyme Bay, a unique and fascinating glimpse of an experimental development in submarine warfare. More details of the M2 are given in Dive England's Greatest Wrecks.
