In January 1917 HMS K4 ran aground on Walney Island. The British submarine giant was stranded on its beach but was undamaged. She was refloated the next day.
On 17 November 1917, K4 collided with sister ship during an accident off the Danish coast. The light cruiser operating with K1 had to make a sharp turn to avoid three units from the 4th Cruiser Squadron. And in the confusion, K4 collided with K1. The crew of K1 were rescued and K1 sunk by the Blonde. The K4 was under the command of Lieutenant-Commander Alfred Fenner.[1] There is a blue plaque on the wall of his home in the town of Cromer in Norfolk.
K4 was lost on 31 January 1918 during the night time fleet exercises later known as the Battle of May Island (Operation E.C.1) when she was attached to the 13th Submarine Flotilla. While attempting to avoid a collision with, she became the victim of collisions with and . She was lost with all hands. The wreck is designated as a protected place under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.[2]
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