Emergencies and World Disasters
The Vanished Seahorse: 38 Men, One Name, Three Theories
23 min•24 juli 2026
Om avsnittet
The Vanished Seahorse: 38 Men, One Name, Three Theories
An entire submarine, 38 men, and only one name in the file - Lieutenant D. S. Massy-Dawson - vanished from Blyth harbor after a Boxing Day patrol in 1939, leaving three competing explanations and no confirmed wreckage. What could erase a Royal Navy boat so completely, and which of the three accounts best fits the sparse technical record?
In this episode, we lay out the Seahorse’s design, wartime service and final patrol, then present the three separate accounts that claim to explain her disappearance; which version reframes those last days at sea?
Person: Lieutenant D. S. Massy-Dawson
Event: Disappearance from Blyth harbor on 9 January 1940
Class: S-class submarine, first batch
Length: 202 feet 6 inches
Torpedoes: 12 carried (6 loaded, 6 spare)
- Laid down at Chatham Royal Dockyard in September 1931 and launched on 15 November 1932.
- Commissioned into the Royal Navy on 2 October 1934 and rated diving depth 300 feet.
- Collided with destroyer HMS Foxhound on 22 September 1938 (circumstances not detailed).
- Attacked by a British aircraft on return from first war patrol on 8 September 1939 at 20:08 UTC, struck seabed at 220 feet and lost ASDIC dome.
- Fired three torpedoes at German U-36 on 17 September 1939 at position 56°42′N, 0°52′E; all three missed.
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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].
An entire submarine, 38 men, and only one name in the file - Lieutenant D. S. Massy-Dawson - vanished from Blyth harbor after a Boxing Day patrol in 1939, leaving three competing explanations and no confirmed wreckage. What could erase a Royal Navy boat so completely, and which of the three accounts best fits the sparse technical record?
In this episode, we lay out the Seahorse’s design, wartime service and final patrol, then present the three separate accounts that claim to explain her disappearance; which version reframes those last days at sea?
Person: Lieutenant D. S. Massy-Dawson
Event: Disappearance from Blyth harbor on 9 January 1940
Class: S-class submarine, first batch
Length: 202 feet 6 inches
Torpedoes: 12 carried (6 loaded, 6 spare)
- Laid down at Chatham Royal Dockyard in September 1931 and launched on 15 November 1932.
- Commissioned into the Royal Navy on 2 October 1934 and rated diving depth 300 feet.
- Collided with destroyer HMS Foxhound on 22 September 1938 (circumstances not detailed).
- Attacked by a British aircraft on return from first war patrol on 8 September 1939 at 20:08 UTC, struck seabed at 220 feet and lost ASDIC dome.
- Fired three torpedoes at German U-36 on 17 September 1939 at position 56°42′N, 0°52′E; all three missed.
To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.
© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: [email protected].
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