PORPOISE-Class submarine ordered on 1st March 1934 from HM Dockyard Chatham and laid down
on 20th August 1934. This minelaying submarine was launched on 25th February
1936 and was the 10th RN warship to bear the name which
was introduced in 1731 for 14 gun Sloop which foundered in 1742. It was last
used in 1913 when given to HMS NAUTILUS a destroyer built in 1910 was renamed.
Build was completed on 10th March 1937 and this submarine was then commissioned
for service in the 4th Submarine Flotilla on the
China Station. After the outbreak of war in September 1939 she was deployed for
interception duties in the Far East. During 1940 she was transferred to the
Mediterranean and joined in 1st Submarine Flotilla
B a t t l e
H o n o u r s
DARDANELLES
1915
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field Green, a
Grampus Silver
(In a circular frame.)
M o t t o
Grandis inter alios: 'Great amongst others'
S u m m a r y o f W a r
S e r v i c e
1 9 3 9
January Deployed
with 4th Flotilla for fleet duties based at Hong Kong
to
(Note: Other submarines in Flotilla were:
July HM
Submarines PARTHIAN, PHOENIX, PROTEUS, PANDORA and RORQUAL
supported by HM Submarine Depot Ship MEDWAY.)
August Took up
war station for interception of enemy shipping.
September Deployed for
interception patrols with Flotilla
to December
1 9 4 0
January Flotilla
duties in continuation
to March Nominated
for transfer to Mediterranean with Flotilla.
April
Passage to Alexandria.
May Arrived
ion Alexandria and joined 1st Submarine Flotilla.
Nominated for service in Malta to carry out minelaying operations.
Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to N56.
June
Deployed in Malta under overall French command
Commanding Officer Lieut. Cdr C A Rowe RN)
10th Sailed
from Malts to carry out minelaying operation in swept Channel between Augusta
and Syracuse.
13th
Reported that minelay had been carried out successfully. Remained in area on
completion
of lay.
14th
Carried out torpedo attack on Italian Torpedo Boat POLLUCE which was avoided.
16th Under depth charge attacks by
Italian 13th Torpedo Boat Squadron which was carrying
out anti-submarine operations
(Note: Squadron comprised CIRCE, CLIO, CALLIOPE and POLLUCE.)
Fired two torpedoes at Italian Torpedo Boat POLLUCE which carried out depth
charge
attacks. Sunk by depth charges from ships of Italian Squadron. There were no survivors.
See BENEATH THE WAVES by A S Evans for details.
P o s t W a r
N o t e s
This name was carried forward
in December 1959 when given to a submarine of the PORPOISE Class when launched
at
Birkenhead
by Cammell Laird.
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