13.18 W., the decoy ship _Stonecrop_, a small steamer commanded by Commander M.
Blackwood, R.N., armed with one 4-inch, one 6-pounder gun and some stick-bomb throwers and carrying four torpedo tubes, sighted a submarine, which opened fire on her at long range, the fire being returned by the 6-pounder mounted aft.

After the shelling had continued for some time the usual order was given to "abandon ship," and a little later the periscope of the submarine was sighted some distance away.

The submarine gradually closed, keeping submerged, until within about a quarter of a mile, when she passed slowly round the ship, and finally came to the surface at a distance of about 500 yards on the starboard quarter.

She did not close nearer, so the order was given to open fire, and hitting started after the third round had been fired and continued until the submarine sank stern first.

No survivors were picked up, but all the indications pointed to the certainty of the destruction of the submarine.
PATROL GUNBOATS Mention may here be made of another vessel of a special class designed in 1917.