Royal Navy losses in World War 2

Major British Warship Losses in World War 2
by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

SUBMARINES, including Midget Submarines & Human Torpedoes

HM S/M H.49, lost 18 October 1940
(Courtesy NavyPhotos)

on to RN loss summary tables
or return to Naval History Homepage

LOSSES BY YEAR and AREA

(in date order within each year, ctl - constructive total loss)

Year	Atlantic	Europe	Mediterranean	Far East
1939	-	Oxley	-	-
1940	-	Seahorse, Undine, Starfish, Thistle, Tarpon, Sterlet, Unity, Seal, Shark, Salmon, Narwhal, Thames, Spearfish, H.49, Swordfish (total 15)	Odin, Grampus, Orpheus, Phoenix, Oswald, Triad, Rainbow, Regulus, Triton (9)	-
1941	H.31	Snapper, Umpire	Usk, Undaunted, Union, Cachalot, P.32, P.33, Tetrarch, Traveller, Perseus, P.48, Triumph (11)	-
1942	P.514, Unique, Unbeaten		Tempest, P.38, P.39, Pandora, P.36, Upholder, Urge, Olympus, Thorn, Talisman, Utmost, P.222, P.311 (13)	-
1943	P.615	Vandal	Tigris, Turbulent, Thunderbolt, Regent, Splendid, Sahib, Parthian, Saracen, Trooper, Usurper, Simoon (11)	-
1944	-	Graph, Syrtis	Sickle	Stonehenge, Stratagem
1945	-	-	-	Shakespeare (ctl), Porpoise, Terrapin (ctl)

WORLD WAR 1 CLASSES

68. 'H' class, 9 boats - 410/500 tons, 13/10 knots, 4tt, 22 crew, 1918-20, 2 lost:

H.31 (Lt F B Gibbs+), December 1941, North Atlantic in Bay of Biscay - 'overdue, presumed lost'. Sailed from Falmouth and left escort on the 19th December for Biscay patrol, 250 miles north of Cape Finisterre because of possible breakout by German heavy ships from Brest. Failed to answer signal on 24th and overdue by the 26th, cause of loss unknown. Possibly German minefield or drifting British mines between 19th and 24th; all 33 crew lost (Bay of Biscay patrol)

H.49 (Lt R E Coltart+), 18th October 1940, Western Europe, off Texel island, Holland in North Sea - by depth charges from five German anti-submarine trawlers of the 5th A/S Flotilla including UJ.116 and UJ.118. Sailed from Harwich on 17th for patrol off Dutch coast at time of threatened German invasion of Britain; 26 crew lost, one survivor reached the surface and taken prisoner (Battle of Britain patrol)

Surviving boats all scrapped before end of war - H.28, H.32, H.33, H.34, H.43, H.44, H.50.

HM S/M H.34

69. 'L' class, 3 boats - 760/1,080 tons, 17/10 knots, 1-4in/4tt, 40 crew, 1919

Surviving boats - L.23, L.26, L.27

HMS/M L.27

INTERWAR & WAR PROGRAMMES

70. 'O' class, 9 boats - 1,400/1,900 tons, 16/9 knots, 1-4in/8tt, 55 crew, 1927-30, 5 lost:

ODIN (Lt Cdr K Mac I Woods+), 14th June 1940, Central Mediterranean, off southern Italy in Gulf of Taranto (c39.30N, 17.30E) - by depth charges of Italian warships. Sailed from Alexandria, Egypt for patrol in Gulf of Taranto, attacked late on the 13th by destroyer ‘Strale’ with torpedoes and gunfire and then probably damaged by depth charges. Shortly after midnight as she surfaced, sighted by destroyer ‘Baleno’, attacked again with depth charges and sunk. All 56 crew lost, including the Chinese steward (Italian Gulf of Taranto patrol)

OLYMPUS (Lt Cdr H G Dymott), 8th May 1942, Central Mediterranean, 6 miles from St Elmo Light, off Malta Grand Harbour - German E-boat-laid mines. On passage with personnel from Malta to Gibraltar, including some of the crews of bombed submarines ‘Pandora’, ‘P.36’ and ‘P.39’, surfaced at the time; 98 lost composed of 68 crew, one from ‘Pandora’, three from ‘P.36’ and 26 from ‘P.39’, nine managed to swim to the shore – three from ‘Olympus’ and six from ‘P.39’ (Battle for Malta)

ORPHEUS (Lt Cdr J A S Wise+), possibly 19th June 1940, Eastern Mediterranean, off Cyrenaica, eastern Libya – cause of loss and location varies. Sailed from Malta on 10th for patrol off coast of Libya, and apparently acknowledged signal on 19th when 100 miles NW of Benghazi, before disappearing. Causes listed include depth charged and sunk by Italian destroyer 'Turbine' off Tobruk (c32.30N, 24.00E) on the 19th (but probably not if 100 miles NW of Benghazi on that date) or possibly lost on minefield in the same Tobruk area. All 55 crew lost (North African patrol)

OSWALD (Lt Cdr D A Fraser), 1st August 1940, Central Mediterranean, 10 miles SE of Cape Spartivento, SW Italy in Ionian Sea - rammed by Italian destroyer ‘Ungolino Vivaldi'. Sailed from Alexandria on 19th July for patrol east of Sicily. Around noon on the 30th, made an unsuccessful attack on escorted convoy. Italian destroyers were sent out to hunt for her, sighted just after midnight by ‘Vivaldi’, rammed, depth-charged and fired on, and boat abandoned. Three crew lost, 52 taken prisoner (Ionian Sea patrol)

OXLEY (Lt Cdr H G Bowerman), 10th September 1939, Western Europe, off Norwegian coast, south of Stavanger in North Sea (58.30N, 05.42E) - torpedoed in error by RN submarine 'Triton'. On patrol off Obrestad Light, SW Norway, out of position, failed to respond to signals and challenges from ‘Triton’ and eventually torpedoed; 53 killed, CO and one rating rescued (southern Norwegian patrol)

Surviving boats - OBERON, OSIRIS, OTUS, OTWAY

HM S/M Oxley (Courtesy NavyPhotos)

71. 'P' & 'R' classes, 9 boats - 1,480/2,050 tons, 17/9 knots, 1-4in or 4.7in/8tt, 55 crew, 1930-32, 7 lost:

PANDORA (Lt R L Alexander), 1st April 1942, Central Mediterranean, at Malta - by German or Italian bombers. In harbour after supply trip from Gibraltar, arrived 31st March and on the surface, still being unloaded; 27 killed and one wounded officer lost in ‘Olympus’ (Defence of Malta)

PARTHIAN (Lt C A Pardoe+), probably 6th August 1943, Central Mediterranean - ‘overdue, presumed lost'. Sailed from Malta on 22nd July for patrol west of Greece and in southern Adriatic. Signal on 6th August to leave patrol area was not acknowledged, and nothing more heard. Overdue at Beirut on 11th August. Probably mined off Brindisi, SE tip of Italy around the 6th or when returning to Beirut; all 65 crew lost (southern Adriatic Sea patrol)

PERSEUS (Lt Cdr E C D Nicolay+), 6th December 1941, Central Mediterranean, 7 miles north of Zante island, west coast of Greece in Ionian Sea - by Italian mines. Sailed from Malta on 26th November for Alexandria with orders to patrol west of Greece on passage; 58 crew lost, one rating got to the surface and swam 5 miles ashore to Cephalonia before spending 18 months being sheltered by the Greeks (Ionian Sea patrol)

PHOENIX (Lt Cdr G H Nowell+), 16th July 1940, Central Mediterranean, off Augusta, eastern Sicily in Ionian Sea – probably by depth charges of Italian torpedo boat 'Albatros'. Believed sailed from Malta for patrol south of Strait of Messina, last heard from night of 14th/15th July, then disappeared. Possibly mined, but may also have attacked an escorted tanker off Cape Santa Croce, near Augusta on the 16th, and then depth charged and sunk in counter-attack by ‘Albatros’; all 55 crew lost (Ionian Sea patrol)

RAINBOW (Lt Cdr L P Moore+), 10th October 1940, Central Mediterranean, Gulf of Otranto area – in collision with Italian merchantman ‘Antonietta Costa’. Believed sailed from Alexandria for patrol in Gulf of Taranto and later Gulf of Otranto area, attacking convoy and collided with or rammed by the Italian ship, sank off Durazzo, Albania, with all 55 crew. For many years, the fate of ‘Rainbow’ and ‘Triad’ (see below) had been reversed with ‘Rainbow’ described as lost in a duel with Italian submarine ‘Enrico Toti’ off Calabria on the 15th (Southern Italy patrol)

REGENT (Lt W Knox+), probably 18th April 1943, Central Mediterranean - 'overdue, presumed lost'. Sailed from Malta on 12th April for patrol along S coast of Italy. Attacked small convoy near Bari, SE coast of Italy on the 18th April, but not counter-attacked. Presumed lost on Italian mines between the 18th and 25th, probably off Bari on the evening of the 18th following the convoy attack. Failed to return to Beirut on 1st May; all 63 crew lost, three bodies washed ashore in May (southern Adriatic Sea patrol)

REGULUS (Lt Cdr F B Currie+), November/December 1940, Central Mediterranean - 'overdue, presumed lost'. Sailed from Alexandria, Egypt on 18th November for patrol in southern Adriatic. Failed to return on 6th December and presumed mined around Strait of Otranto area. Italian aircraft claim to have sunk a submarine in these waters on 26th November; all 55 crew lost (southern Adriatic Sea patrol)

Surviving boats - PROTEUS, ROVER

HM S/M Parthian

72. Thames class, 3 boats - 1,850/2,700 tons, 22/10 knots, 1-4in/6tt, 60 crew, 1932-35, 1 lost:

THAMES (Lt Cdr W D Dunkerley+), probably 2nd/3rd August 1940, Western Europe in North Sea - 'overdue, presumed lost'. Left Dundee, Scotland on 22nd July for patrol off SW Norway. May have torpedoed German torpedo boat ‘Luchs’ in attack on battlecruiser ‘Gneisenau’ on the 26th and sunk in the resulting explosion, failed to return on 3rd August. (Some sources attribute this sinking to ‘Swordfish’). Probably went down on 2nd/3rd August in newly-laid German minefield in around 56.45N, 03.26E; all 62 crew lost (southern Norwegian patrol)

Surviving boats - CLYDE, SEVERN

HMS/M Thames 1936

73. Porpoise class minelayers, 6 boats - 1,500/2,100 tons, 15/9 knots, 1-4in/6tt & 50 mines, 60 crew, 1933-39, 5 lost:

CACHALOT (Lt Cdr H R B Newton), 30th July 1941, Central Mediterranean, NW of Benghazi, eastern Libya - rammed by Italian torpedo boat 'Generale Achille Papa'. Sailed from Malta on 26th with personnel for Alexandria with orders to search for a Benghazi-bound tanker. Spotted by escorting torpedo boat which opened fire and rammed; Maltese steward lost, 67 crew and 20 naval passengers taken prisoner (Defence of Malta)

GRAMPUS (Lt Cdr C A Rowe+), 16th June 1940, Central Mediterranean, off Augusta, eastern Sicily in Ionian Sea (c37.00N, 15.30E) - by Italian torpedo boats 'Circe', 'Clio', ‘Calliope’ and ‘Polluce’. Sailed from Malta on 10th to lay mines off east coast of Sicily, signalled successful lay on the 13th, nothing further heard. Sighted by Italian ships three days later, a final depth charge attack by ‘Circe’ and ‘Polluce’ is believed to have sunk her; all 59 crew lost, including the Chinese steward (Ionian Sea minelaying operation)

NARWHAL (Lt Cdr R J Burch+), probably 23rd July 1940, Western Europe in North Sea - 'overdue, presumed lost'. Sailed from Blyth, NE coast of England on 22nd July with orders to lay mines off Kristiansund N on 28th. Failed to return and paid off on 1st August, loss at the time attributed to mines or aircraft. Later research suggests that the day after departure, she was bombed and sunk in the North Sea (in 56.30N, 01.10E?) by a German Dornier flying boat; all 60 crew lost (Norwegian minelaying operation)

PORPOISE (Lt Cdr H B Turner+), 19th January 1945, South East Asia, Malacca Straits area between Malaya and Sumatra - 'overdue, presumed lost'. Sailed from Trincomalee on 2nd January to lay mines off Penang, reported the laying, then not heard from again. Japanese records suggest she was bombed and damaged in an aircraft attack near Penang, leaked oil and was sunk by anti-submarine forces, probably on the 19th; all 74 crew lost (Indian Ocean - Malacca Straits Patrol and Minelaying)

SEAL (Lt Cdr R Lonsdale), captured 5th May 1940, Western Europe off the Skaw, northern Denmark in the Kattegat - captured by German Arado seaplane and anti-submarine trawler ‘UJ.128’. Sailed on 29th April for minelaying operation in southern Kattegat. Attacked by German aircraft on 4th without serious damage, mines laid but other A/S forces were already alerted, ‘Seal’ damaged by German mine and stuck on the bottom, still on the 4th. Managed to surface on 5th with intention of making for neutral Sweden, came under heavy aircraft attack, unable to dive and surrendered; one crew lost, 54 taken prisoner, of whom one died in captivity. Re-commissioned as German UB (Kattegat minelaying operation)

Surviving boat – RORQUAL

HM S/M Seal after her capture

74. 'S' classes - Pre-war Programme, 12 boats - 670/960 tons, 14/10 knots, 1-3in/6tt, 40 crew, 1932-38, 8 lost:

SALMON (Lt Cdr E O B Bickford+), possibly 9th July 1940, Western Europe in North Sea - 'overdue, presumed lost'. Left Rosyth, SE Scotland on 4th July for patrol off Skudesnes, SW Norway. Failed to return on 14th or report on the 15th. Believed lost on 9th in German minefield SW of Norway around 57.22N, 05.00E; all 41 crew lost (Southern Norwegian patrol)

SEAHORSE (Lt D S Massey-Dawson+), 7th January 1940, Western Europe, 18 miles NW of Heligoland island off German North Sea coast (54.19N, 07.30E) - by German 1st Minesweeping Flotilla. Sailed from Rosyth on 26th December for patrol in Heligoland Bight, failed to return on the 9th, assumed mined at the time but now believed sunk by depth charge attack; all 39 crew lost (German North Sea coast patrol)

SHARK (Lt Cdr P N Buckley), sank 6th July 1940, Western Europe, off Skudesnes, Norway in North Sea - by German aircraft. On patrol off south west Norway, attacked on surface and damaged by bombs dropped by seaplane late on the 5th. Back on the surface, attacked by more aircraft, damaged and surrendered. Four trawlers arrived, ‘Shark’ taken in tow, but sank on the 6th near Stavanger. Three crew killed during the attacks, 32 survivors (southern Norwegian patrol)

SNAPPER (Lt G V Prowse+), February 1941, Western Europe in Bay of Biscay, possibly off Brest- 'overdue, presumed lost'. Sailed from the Clyde, SW Scotland on 29th January for Bay of Biscay patrol, SW of Ushant. Left her escort at Land's End, due to leave patrol area night of 10th February, but not heard from again and failed to rendezvous on the 12th. Possibly went down in German minefield or to depth charge attacks late on the 10th/early on the 11th by minesweepers ‘M.2’, ‘M.13’ and ‘M.25’; all 42 crew lost (Bay of Biscay patrol)

SPEARFISH (Lt Cdr J H Forbes+), 1st August 1940, Western Europe, off Norway in North Sea (c58.00N, 01.00E) – torpedoed by German ‘U.34’ (Rollmann). Sailed from Rosyth on 31st July for Norwegian coast patrol, on the surface, attacked and sunk by ‘U.34’, 180 miles WSW of Stavanger; 41 crew lost, one survivor taken prisoner (Norwegian patrol)

STARFISH (Lt T A Turner), 9th January 1940, Western Europe, off German North Sea coast in Heligoland Bight - by depth charges from German minesweeper ‘M.7’ and other vessels. Sailed from Blyth on 5th for patrol off Horn Reef, attacked ‘M.7’, originally identified as a destroyer. Other vessels joined in the attack, ‘Starfish’ forced to surface, came under fire and scuttled, all 39 crew saved (German North Sea coast patrol)

STERLET (Lt Cdr G H S Haward+), mid-April 1940, Western Europe, off southern Norway in Skagerrak (c58.00N, 11.00E) - by depth charges from German anti-submarine vessels, or possibly mined. Sailed on 8th April for Skagerrak patrol during German invasion of Norway, loss details are still uncertain. On the 12th attacked a convoy unsuccessfully, and on the 14th torpedoed German gunnery training ship ‘Brummer’ off Jutland, where she sank next day. She may have been sunk in the counter-attack by the escort. Other possibilities include depth-charged by minesweeper ‘M.75’ on the 17th or 18th, by anti-submarine trawlers ‘UJ.125’, ‘UJ.126’ and ‘UJ.128’ on the 18th, or mined in a field laid on the 8th. All 41 crew lost (Norwegian Campaign patrol)

SWORDFISH (Lt M A Langley+), 7th November 1940, Western Europe, English Channel off the Isle of Wight, southern England - probably German mines. Sailed from Portsmouth on 7th November for Brest patrol. Failed to signal back on 15th and 16th, and not heard from again. At the time she was declared 'overdue, presumed lost' and believed sunk in the Bay of Biscay either on mines or at the hands of German destroyers near Brest. Her wreck was discovered in 1983 a few miles south of St Catherine's Point off the Isle of Wight. She had been mined a few hours after leaving Portsmouth, with the loss of all 41 crew (Brest patrol)

Lost while manned by Allied Navy - 'V.1' (ex-SUNFISH), Russian Navy, 27th July 1944, on passage to Russian

Surviving boats - SEALION (expended in 1945 as anti-submarine target), SEAWOLF, STURGEON (Dutch 'Zeehond' from 1943)

HM S/M Sturgeon 1933

War Programme - 48 boats completed by war's end - 720/990 tons, 15/9 knots, 1-3in or 4in/6 or 7tt, 45 crew, 1942-45, 9 lost and 1 not repaired:

P.222 (Lt A J MacKenzie+), 12th December 1942, Central Mediterranean, SE of Capri island, western Italy in Gulf of Naples - by depth charges from Italian torpedo boat 'Fortunale'. Sailed from Gibraltar on 30th November for patrol off Naples, last signal on 7th December, failed to arrive at Algiers on 21st. Attacking Italian convoy off Naples and probably sunk by escorts; all 47 crew lost (Gulf of Naples patrol)

SAHIB (Lt J H Brommage), 24th April 1943, Central Mediterranean, 10 miles north of Cape Milazzo, NE Sicily in Tyrrhenian Sea (c38.30N, 15.15E) - by depth charges from Italian torpedo boat ‘Climene’, corvettes ‘Euterpe’ and 'Gabbiano' and attacks by German Ju.88 aircraft. Counter-attacked after sinking escorted Italian transport ‘Galiola’, managed to surface, scuttled; one rating lost, 47 crew taken prisoner (NE Sicily patrol)

SARACEN (Lt M G R Lumby), 14th August 1943, Central Mediterranean, off Bastia, NE coast of Corsica in Tyrrhenian Sea - by depth charges from Italian corvettes 'Euterpe' and 'Minerva'. On patrol off approaches to Bastia, forced to the surface and boat scuttled; four crew lost, 44 taken prisoner, two of whom died in captivity (Corsica patrol)

SHAKESPEARE (Lt D Swanston), damaged 3rd January 1945, South East Asia, off Port Blair area, Andaman Islands in the Andaman Sea - by gunfire of Japanese merchant ship, and later damaged in bombing attack. Surfaced to engage the merchantman and damaged by return fire. Later attacked from the air; two crew killed, 13 wounded. Not repaired (Indian Ocean - Andaman Islands patrol)

SICKLE (Lt J R Drummond+), around 16th June 1944, Eastern Mediterranean - 'overdue, presumed lost'. Sailed from Malta on 31st May for the Aegean Sea. Engaged shipping in Mitylene Harbour on the 4th, return fire from German patrol vessels ‘GA.76’ and ‘GA.91’ killed one of the gun crew and blew a second into the sea. He was saved as a POW. ‘Sickle’ signalled convoy between Piraeus and Leros on 12th June, but did not attack. Failed to return when recalled on the 14th. Probably went down on German mines after the 12th in the southern Aegean, possibly the Kythera Channel on the 16th; all remaining 49 crew lost (Aegean Sea patrol)

SIMOOM (Lt G D Milner+), around 19th November 1943, Eastern Mediterranean. - 'overdue, presumed lost'. Sailed from Port Said, Egypt on the 2nd November for the Aegean and arrived off the Dardanelles on 6th. Failed to answer signal on 19th, presumed mined and paid off on that date. Germans claim possibly sunk by ‘U.565’ (Henning) SE of Kos island on 15th, but do not exclude mining; all 49 crew lost (British Aegean Campaign patrol)

SPLENDID (Lt I L McGeoch), 21st April 1943, Central Mediterranean, south of Capri, western Italy in the Tyrrhenian Sea (c40.30N, 14.15E) - by depth charges and gunfire of German destroyer 'Hermes'. Sailed from Malta on 17th April for patrol off Naples and later the W coast of Corsica, detected by the ex-Greek ‘Hermes’, badly damaged in the depth charge attacks, surfaced, fired on and scuttled; 18 crew lost, 27 saved and taken prisoner. Lt McGeoch lost an eye in the sinking, but still escaped back to Britain in May 1944 (Italian West Coast patrol)

STONEHENGE (Lt Cdr D S Verschoyle-Campbell+), early to mid-March 1944, South East Asia, Nicobar Islands area - 'overdue, presumed lost'. Sailed from Trincomalee, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) on 25th February for patrol between the Nicobar Islands and Malacca Straits, failed to return on 20th March. Cause of loss unknown but possibly mine or accident N of Sumatra between the 2nd and 16th March; all 50 crew lost (Indian Ocean - Nicobar Islands patrol)

STRATAGEM (Lt Cdr P Pelly+), 22nd November 1944, South East Asia, off Malacca, SW Malaya in Malacca Straits - by depth charges of Japanese destroyer. Sailed from Trincomalee on 10th November, attacked and sank tanker ‘Nichinan Maru’ south of Malacca, possibly on 18th. Spotted by Japanese aircraft on 22nd, destroyer called up, attacked and sank her with depth charges; 50 crew lost, eight escaped to the surface, but only three survived Japanese captivity. The fate of the other three is still not known (Indian Ocean - Straits of Malacca patrol)

SYRTIS (Lt M H Jupp+), 28th March 1944, Western Europe, off Bodo, northern Norway in Norwegian Sea - by German mines. Sailed from Lerwick on 16th March for patrol off Bodo. Sank steamer ‘Narvik’ with gunfire on 22nd, failed to acknowledge signal to return on 28th, believed lost in flanking minefields with all 48 crew (Norwegian coast patrol)

Boats completed by war's end and surviving - SAFARI, SAGA, SANGUINE, SATYR, SCEPTRE, SCORCHER, SCOTSMAN, SCYTHIAN, SEA DEVIL, SEADOG, SEA NYMPH, SEA ROVER, SEA SCOUT, SELENE, SERAPH, SHALIMAR, SIBYL, SIDON, SIRDAR, SLEUTH, SOLENT, SPARK, SPEARHEAD, SPIRIT, SPITEFUL, SPORTSMAN, SPRINGER, SPUR, STATESMAN, STOIC, STORM, STRONGBOW, STUBBORN, STURDY, STYGIAN, SUBTLE, SUPREME, SURF

HM S/M Stoic

75. 'T' classes - Pre-war Programmes, 15 boats - 1,090/1,580 tons, 15/9 knots, 1-4in/10tt, 60 crew, 1938-41, 9 lost:

TALISMAN (Lt Cdr M Willmott+), around 16th or 17th September 1942, Western or Central Mediterranean - 'overdue, presumed lost'. Left Gibraltar on 10th September with stores for Malta, due to arrive on 18th. Reported U-boat off Philippeville, Algeria on 15th, but not heard from again. Believed lost on Italian mines in Strait of Sicily around 16th or 17th. Also claimed sunk by surface ships off Marittimo island, west of Sicily; all 63 crew lost (Defence of Malta)

TARPON (Lt Cdr H J Caldwell+), probably 10th April 1940, Western Europe off southern Norway in Skagerrak - by depth charges of German anti-submarine vessel (probably decoy ship Schiff 40 on the 10th or possibly minesweeper ‘M.6’ on the 14th – sources vary, although one lists ‘M.6’ taking part in the attack on the 10th). Left Portsmouth with submarine ‘Severn’ on the 5th, bound for Rosyth, next day ordered to Norway. On patrol in approaches to Skagerrak during German invasion of Norway, attacked the A/S vessel and counter-attacked in return; all 53 crew lost (Norwegian Campaign patrol)

TETRARCH (Lt Cdr G H Greenway+), possibly 27th October 1941, Central Mediterranean - 'overdue, presumed lost'. Sailed from Malta on 26th October for refit in Britain, exchanged signals with ‘P.34’ on 27th, but failed to arrive in Gibraltar on 2nd November. Presumed went down on Italian mines in Strait of Sicily on the 27th; all 62 on board, including three submariner passengers were lost (Mediterranean passage)

THISTLE (Lt Cdr W F Hanselfoot+), 10th April 1940, Western Europe off Stavanger, SW Norway in North Sea (c59.00N, 05.00E) – torpedoed by German ‘U.4’ (Hinsch). On patrol in Utsira area during German invasion of Norway, unsuccessfully attacked ‘U.4’, later on the surface and sunk in turn by her previous target; all 53 crew lost (Norwegian Campaign patrol)

THUNDERBOLT (ex-'Thetis') (Lt Cdr C Crouch+), 14th March 1943, Central Mediterranean, off Cape San Vito, NW Sicily in Tyrrhenian Sea - by depth charges from Italian corvette 'Cicogna'. On patrol off Sicily, attacked and hit Italian merchant ship ‘Esterel’ on the 12th, Italian anti-submarine forces sent out. Sighted same day by torpedo boat ‘Libra’ and again on the 14th by ‘Cicogna’ which carried out a number of depth charge attacks, sinking ‘Thunderbolt’; all 62 crew lost. Her wreck has been found (N Sicily patrol)

TIGRIS (Lt Cdr G R Colvin+), believed 27th February 1943, Central Mediterranean, 6 miles SE of Capri, W coast of Italy - depth charges of German submarine chaser ‘UJ.2210’. ‘Tigris’ left Malta on 18th February to patrol S of Naples. May have been sighted off Capri on 24th, failed to return to Algiers on the 10th, declared 'overdue, presumed lost'. Italian aircraft reported probable mine explosion off the Gulf of Tunis on the 10th March that might have been 'Tigris' returning from patrol. More likely she was sunk on the 27th February by ‘UJ.2210’, escorting a convoy SE of Capri; all 63 crew lost (Gulf of Naples patrol)