Ths story of the attempted salvage of the M2 is quite amazing, they so very nearly did it. Weymouth man Ron Harvey has over the years researched the M2 salvage operations and has very kindly handed over the many documents he has so that I can relate the story here. It's coming soon, in the meantime here are a couple of photographs, one was taken when the sub was tantalisingly just under the surface.

M2 was lost on the morning of the 26th of January 1932. The only witness to the event was the Captain and crew of the steamer Tynesider who through the drifting fog thought they saw a submarine diving stern first with the bow coming high out of the water. Although they found this strange the visibility and distance led them to believe that may be they had been mistaken. Just after 1000 that morning M2 had signalled her depot ship Titania that she was about to commence exercises, she was never heard from again. Part of the exercises included the launching and recovery of the Parnell Peto seaplane she carried, it was considered that the hangar doors had failed to close in time prior to diving or opened prematurely on surfacing.

Late afternoon after failing to make agreed call ups the alarm was raised. At 1700 two submarines left Portland and headed for M2’s last known position. Later that evening four destroyers were dispatched and just about any ship that was available joined the search with many sailors recalled from various cinemas and public houses. The next day a patch of oil was spotted in the bay; this was the only indication of the fate of the M2. On the 3rd of February the message came. “Have located submarine M2 in position approximately 312 degrees 5.8 miles Portland bill”.