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Naval History and Heritage Command

Naval History and Heritage Command

British Admiralty to Vice Admiral William S. Sims, Commander, United States Naval Forces Operating in European Waters

 

ADMIRALTY

S.W.1.

31 August 1917.

SECRET.

Dear Admiral Sims,

          The Admiralty understand that it has been agreed that ten United States’ Submarines of the ‘K’ and ‘L’ Classes have been detailed for service on this side of the Atlantic: half to be based on Killybegs and half on the Azores (five to each). Will you be good enough to confirm this?1

Believe me,       

Yours very truly,

Source Note: Df, UK-KeNA, Adm. 137/1437. There is a note below the closing from RAdm. Henry F. Oliver, Deputy Chief of Staff, British Admiralty, stating that First Sea Lord Adm. Sir John R. Jellicoe had proposed to Adm. Henry T. Mayo, Commander-in-Chief, Atlantic Fleet, that half the American submarines be stationed at Killybegs, a seaport on Donegal Bay near Donegal Town, Ireland, and half at the Azores. Jellicoe believed that his proposal was “agreed to” but wished that fact to be confirmed and asked that Sims be “written to . . . accordingly.” For Sims’ response, see: Sims to Sir William Graham Greene, 1 September 1917.

Footnote 1: This was written in response to the expressed desire of Adm. William S. Benson, Chief of Naval Operations, to send a fleet of submarines to Europe to assist British anti-submarine efforts. See: Benson to Sims, 23 August 1917.

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