HMS E47 (Lt E C Carre) was ordered to patrol off the Texel Islands and left Harwich in company of  three other E class submarines and was not heard from or seen again. She was officially reported as missing, presumed lost with all hands, on 20 August 1917, when she failed to return to harbour as planned.

In 2012 a Dutch diving expedition found, surveyed and dived on a wreck that later proved to be E47 lying on the sea bed with her bows pointing East. They reported she had a large hole on her port side underneath the bridge area which indicated she had struck a mine. The deck gun that had been detached by fishing activity was recovered and this proved the wreck was that of E47.