Historical information

Taken during World War I from the forecastle of a navy ship, the photograph depicts an eruption of water and smoke as a result of an underwater submarine being bombed from above.

Significance

The naval war of World War I was a conflict unlike any previous one with the exception of the brief Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), with naval warfare in World War I being mainly between the German forces and the Great Britain forces.
The naval war of World War I proved largely a disappointment to officials on both sides as it did not produce the decisive fleet actions envisioned in the pre-war years. Nevertheless, the war at sea was a crucial part of World War I overall. The German use of the submarine against commerce not only threatened the Allied war effort, but also drew the United States into the conflict. In addition, the British economic blockade of Germany afforded by the Royal Navy’s command of the sea inflicted great damage on the war effort of Germany. Finally, the naval war held great ramifications for the future since many practices employed in the First World War were those pursued in the Second World War.

Physical description

Black and white rectangular reproduced photograph on matte photographic paper

Inscriptions & markings

Reverse:
6527/
(Crown copyright notice from the Imperial War Museum)/ Naval 23/
23/
A99/