HMS E30 (Lt Cdr G N Biggs) joined the 11th Submarine Flotilla, based at Blyth, Northumberland on commissioning in November 1915. From February 1916 E30 conducted a number of patrols off Denmark and Norway with the intention of capturing ships carrying iron ore from Norway to Germany, and to attack any German submarines that were escorting the Iron ore ships.

In April 1916, E30’s patrol was cut short when she suffered a battery explosion on the morning of 7 April, killing four men and forcing her return to base.

HMS E30 was lost in the North Sea, thought to have been mined in a previously unknown minefield off Orfordness, Suffolk on 22 November 1916. The minefield was not discovered until 25 November. There were no survivors.