Submarine interest

Submarine interest, a silver and enamel cigarette case,

by Walker and Hall, Birmingham 1927,

rectangular form, the corner of the front cover enamelled in black with a submarine, the reverse with facsimile signatures, length 11cm, approx. weight 6.3oz.

Following the establishment of an independent Yugoslavia in the aftermath of the Great War, the new nation started to create its own navy in the early 1920s. In order to make savings where possible, it was decided to purchase two far-from-complete British submarines, the orders for which had been cancelled when the War ended. Numbered L67 and L68, both lay abandoned in Armstrong's Yard on the Tyne and work began on them as soon as the deal was finalised. The first of the two was renamed Hrabri and was ready for sea in 1928. Displacing 960 tons on the surface (1,150 tons submerged), she was 235 feet in length and was armed with 2-4in. guns and 6-21in. (bow) torpedo tubes. A source of great pride to the Yugoslavian navy, she was captured by the Italians in April 1941 and renumbered N3. Never recommissioned due to the poor condition of her engines however, she was scrapped later that year.

This cigarette case was clearly intended as a presentation to mark Hrabri's completion in 1928 and the facsimile signatures are presumably those of her first complement of officers.

We would like to thank Michael Naxton for his assistance in writing this footnote.