HMS Storm becomes a submarine

21st August 1943: A young officer takes his first command on her first dive

An S Class submarine is launched from Birkenhead in 1943

An S-class submarine at sea.

The war saw a huge building programme of new warships and submarines. It was the practice of the Royal Navy for the crews to join the craft as she was still being built. First, the Engineering officer would arrive and be involved to some extent in overseeing the construction, enabling him to get an intimate understanding of the vessel's build. Soon after the prospective Commanding Officer would arrive.

Soon after the vessel was launched the whole crew would be assembled on board and would participate together in the first trials of the boat, and the 'working up' to operational readiness

Edward Young in early 1943 after he became the first member of the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve to command a submarine.

For a submarine commander there was no more demanding test than the first dive. Edward Young¹ had been with HMS Storm, a brand new S class submarine since June, overseeing the final stages of construction and dealing one or two early mechanical difficulties. It had to be hoped that they had all been resolved. It was not unknown for submarines to develop catastrophic failures at this stage.