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Notable events involving H 49 include:

The history of HMS H 49 as compiled on this page is extracted from the patrol reports and logbooks of this submarine as well as several other files.

This page was last updated in December 2017.

1 Sep 1939
HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Portland. (1)

9 Sep 1939
HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) conducted exercises off Portland with HMS Kelly (Capt. L.F.A.V.N. Mountbatten, GCVO, RN). (2)

10 Sep 1939
During 10/11 September 1939, HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN), participated in exercises off Portland. These included night exercises. (1)

16 Sep 1939
HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Portland. (1)

17 Sep 1939
HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Portland. (1)

18 Sep 1939
HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Vanoc (Lt.Cdr. J.G.W. Deneys, RN) and HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN).

Following the exercises the destroyers attacked a submarine contact off St.Albans Head but this must have been a non-sub contact. (3)

20 Sep 1939
HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN). (1)

22 Sep 1939
During 22/23 September 1939, HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN), participated in exercises off Portland. These included night exercises. (1)

26 Sep 1939
HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Portland. (1)

28 Sep 1939
HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Portland. (1)

29 Sep 1939
HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Portland. (1)

3 Oct 1939
HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) shifted from Portland to Portsmouth. (4)

4 Oct 1939
HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) conducted exercises off Portsmouth. (4)

5 Oct 1939
HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) conducted exercises off Portsmouth. (4)

6 Oct 1939
HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) conducted exercises off Portsmouth. (4)

10 Oct 1939
HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) conducted exercises off Portsmouth. (4)

11 Oct 1939
HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) conducted exercises off Portsmouth. (4)

12 Oct 1939
HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) shifted from Portsmouth to Portland. (4)

13 Oct 1939
HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Spaniard (Lt.Cdr. F.J. Webster, RNR). (4)

14 Oct 1939
HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Spaniard (Lt.Cdr. F.J. Webster, RNR). (4)

16 Oct 1939
HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Portland. (4)

17 Oct 1939
HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Portland. (4)

18 Oct 1939
HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Portland. (4)

19 Oct 1939
HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Greenfly (Cdr.(Retd.) D.A. Stride, RN). (4)

20 Oct 1939
HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Kandahar (Cdr. W.G.A. Robson, RN). (4)

24 Oct 1939
HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Portland. (4)

25 Oct 1939
HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Portland. (4)

26 Oct 1939
HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Portland. (4)

1 Nov 1939
HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Portland. (5)

2 Nov 1939
HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Portland. (5)

3 Nov 1939
HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Kashmir (Cdr. H.A. King, RN). (5)

5 Nov 1939
HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) departed Portland for Sheerness. (5)

6 Nov 1939
HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) arrived at Sheerness Roads. (5)

7 Nov 1939
HMS H 49 (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) proceeded to the Sheerness Dockyard where she was taken in hand for refit. (5)

30 Jan 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted post-refit trials off Sheerness. (6)

2 Feb 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) departed Sheerness for Portsmouth. She took passage in convoy OA 84. (7)

3 Feb 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) arrived at Portsmouth. (8)

7 Feb 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) shifted from Portsmouth to Portland where she was to participate in A/S exercises. [As there are no logs available of HMS H49 from Februaury to MAy 1940 no details regarding these A/S exercises can be given.] (8)

10 May 1940
For the daily positions of HMS H 49 during her 1st war patrol see them map below.

(7)

10 May 1940
HMS H 28 (Lt. E.A. Woodward, RN), HMS H 44 (Lt. E.D. Norman, RN), HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) and HMS H 50 (Lt. A.R. Cheyne, RN) shifted from Portland to Portsmouth. They were escorted by HMS Shemara (Cdr.(Retd. H. Buckle, RN).

Later the same day all four submarines departed Portsmouth again for patrol in the North Sea. They were escorted until 1700/11 by HMS Foxglove (Lt.Cdr. T.I.S. Bell, RN). (9)

14 May 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) ended her 1st war patrol at Harwich. (10)

16 May 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) and HMS H 50 (Lt. A.R. Cheyne, RN) departed Harwich for Portsmouth. They were escorted by HMS Warrior II (Capt.(Retd.) A.E. Johnston, RN). (11)

17 May 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) arrived at Portsmouth. She continued on to Portland later the same day to resume her role as A/S training submarine. (8)

18 May 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) arrived at Portland. (12)

29 May 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) departed Portland for her 2nd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the English Channel.

[no log is available for HMS H 49 during this period and the patrol report does not mention daily positions, therefore no map of this patrol can be displayed.] (7)

1 Jun 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) ended her 2nd war patrol at Portsmouth. (7)

3 Jun 1940
HMS H 34 (Lt. A.F. Collett, RN), HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) and HMS H 50 (Lt. A.R. Cheyne, RN) departed Portsmouth for Harwich. They were escorted by HMS Warrior II (Capt.(Retd.) A.E. Johnston, RN). (13)

5 Jun 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) arrived at Harwich. (14)

9 Jun 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) departed Harwich for her 3rd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the North Sea.

For the daily positions of HMS H 49 during this patrol see the map below.

(15)

11 Jun 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) ended her 3rd war patrol at Harwich. (7)

13 Jun 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) departed Harwich for her 4th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the North Sea.

For the daily positions of HMS H 49 during this patrol see the map below.

(15)

20 Jun 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) ended her 4th war patrol at Harwich. (14)

2 Jul 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) shifted from Harwich to Dover. According to the log of HMS H 49 she was escorted by HMS Skipjack. But HMS Skipjack was lost on 1 June 1940 so this can't be correct.

Also according to the log of HMS H 49, HMS Spurs (T/Lt. R.S. Connell, RNR) took over the escort at 1800 hours. (16)

5 Jul 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) departed Dover for her 5th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off Dover. She returned later the same day. (16)

6 Jul 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) departed Dover for her 6th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off Dover. She returned later the same day. (16)

7 Jul 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) departed Dover for her 7th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off Dover. She returned later the same day. (16)

9 Jul 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) departed Dover for her 8th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off Dover. She returned later the same day. (16)

10 Jul 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) departed Dover for her 9th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off Dover. She returned later the same day. (16)

13 Jul 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) shifted from Dover to Harwich. (16)

12 Aug 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) shifted from Harwich to Lowestoft. She was escorted by HMS Shearwater (Lt.Cdr. P.F. Powlett, RN). (17)

21 Aug 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) is undocked. (17)

29 Aug 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) shifted from Lowestoft to Harwich. She was escorted by HMS Cordela (T/Skr. A. Hales, RNR). (17)

30 Aug 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) departed Harwich for her 10th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the North Sea.

For the daily positions of HMS H 49 during this patrol see the map below.

(18)

2 Sep 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) ended her 10th war patrol at Harwich. (7)

11 Sep 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) departed Harwich for her 11th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the North Sea.

[no log is available for HMS H 49 during this period and the patrol report does not mention daily positions, therefore no map of this patrol can be displayed.] (7)

16 Sep 1940
At 0439 hours HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) fired four torpedoes at a large, sixteen ship, convoy. Eight bunched ships were fired at during this surface attack. After 60 and 75 seconds two dull explosions were heard but no further explosions. It is / was assumed that two torpedoes hit and two missed and hit a sand bank. 'Breaking-up' noises were heard. It was assumed by the British that tanker ILL was damaged but as she was in ballast she was able to absorb the hits without much damage. Position of the attack was 53°16'N, 04°42'E.

20 Sep 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) ended her 11th war patrol at Harwich. (7)

26 Sep 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) departed Harwich for her 12th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the North Sea.

[no log is available for HMS H 49 during this period and the patrol report does not mention daily positions, therefore no map of this patrol can be displayed.] (7)

1 Oct 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) attacked a German convoy with four torpedoes off Texel, the Netherlands/ No hits were obtained.

2110 hours - Heard HE bearing 155°.

2112 hours - Surfaced. Sighted six merchant ships of between 5000-7000 tons crossing from south to north. Turned towards the enemy and proceeded at 7 knots for six and a half minutes.

2119 hours - Range was now 4800 yards. Decided to attack. In position 53°11'N, 04°34'E fired two torpedoes at the second ship.

2121 hours - Fired two torpedoes at the third ship then dived and retired to the west.

2128 hours - Heard a very loud explosion. This was though to be either the first torpedo hitting to bottom or the fourth torpedo hitting a ship. No further explosions were heard.

6 Oct 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. M.A. Langley, RN) ended her 12th war patrol at Harwich. (7)

17 Oct 1940
HMS H 49 (Lt. R.E. Coltart, RN) departed Harwich for her 13th war patrol. She is ordered to patrol off Texel, the Netherlands. (10)