~ Submarine Service Plaque Dated 1940 ~
This is a plaque that we’ve acquired along with other WW2 German and Allied naval reliques.
The plaque depicts what seems to be a Second World War submarine British T class submarine.
The Royal Navy’s T class (or Triton class) of diesel-electric submarines was designed in the 1930s to replace the O, P, and R classes. Fifty-three members of the class were built just before and during the Second World War, where they played a major role in the Royal Navy’s submarine operations. Four boats in service with the Royal Netherlands Navy were known as the Zwaardvisch class.
As the Royal Navy’s standard ocean patrol submarine, the T-class submarines were heavily engaged during World War II, from the North Sea to the Mediterranean, and finally the Far East.
The nature of the British submarine campaign against Germany during the early stages of the war was very different to that of the German submarine campaigns in the Atlantic and the later American submarine campaign in the Pacific. Germany did not depend on heavy mercantile traffic the way Britain was dependent on overseas trade, and thus there were no unprotected convoys or mercantile traffic for the British submarines to ravage. Most German mercantile traffic was confined to the North Sea, which was heavily mined. Thus, British submarines were obliged to undertake long, often fruitless patrols in these confined, dangerous waters.
Our plaque is made of aluminium and is attached to a wooden base.
At one point in time someone has written in pencil on the back “Kriegsmarine 1940 U-Boat”, but the piece is clearly not German.
~ Dimensions ~
The plaque is 47.5 cm long by 11 cm tall and 4 cm deep.
~ Condition ~
The plaque is in good condition for its age, as seen in the pictures.
