PORPOISE-Class submarine ordered on 15th March 1934 from Vickers-Armstrong at Barrow and laid
down on 19th May 1934. This minelaying submarine was launched on 29th August
1935 and was the 2nd RN warship to bear the name which
was introduced in 1915 when given to an M-Class destroyer broken-up in 1920.
Build was completed on 28th February 1937 and this submarine was then
commissioned for service. In 1938 she was serving with the
5th Submarine Flotilla in the Home Fleet. After the outbreak
of war in September 1939 she was deployed for convoy defence.
B a t t l e
H o n o u r s
JUTLAND 1916 - ATLANTIC
1939 -
NORTH SEA 1940 - NORWAY 1940
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field Green, a
Grampus Silver
(Note: After 1950 in a circular frame.)
M o t t o
Cave Quum Feriam: 'Beware when I strike'
S u m m a r y o f W a r
S e r v i c e
1 9 3 9
September Deployed for convoy defence
in Home waters.
to November
December Deployed in Atlantic with
HM Submarine SEAL and four French submarines for escort of
HX Series of
troop convoys during passage from Halifax to Clyde.
(Note: These
convoys were subject to threat of surface attack by major German surface
warships as
demonstrated by earlier loss of HM Armed Merchant Cruiser
RAWALPINDI in
defence of an Atlantic convoy in November 1939.)
1 9 4 0
January Home Fleet deployment
for convoy defence in NW Approaches
February Deployed with HM
Destroyers ESCAPADE, ESCORT, IMOGEN and INGLEFIELD as
escort for Convoy
HN14 during passage to Norway in North Sea.
25th Sighted U63 on
surface which dived.
(Note: U63 was
surfaced after sustained depth charge attacks by the destroyers which
picked up 24 survivors.
For details see U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)
March Nominated for minelaying
operations off Norway based at Immingham.
April Commanding Officer
Lieut. Cdr. RJ Burch, Royal Navy.
4th Deployed with HM
Submarine PORPOISE for minelay off Norwegian coast to deny use of
Norwegian Leads
for German mercantile iron ore traffic Part of Home Fleet operation
WILFRED.)
(Note: HM
Submarine SEAL was deployed later after German invasion of Norway.)
29th Carried out minelay
off Frederickstad.
(Note: This
Field later claimed several sinkings.)
May
Transferred to Blyth for future North Sea deployment.
1st Sank by
torpedo, mercantile ss BUENOS AIRES and damaged mercantile BAHIA
BLANCA during passage in
southern North Sea to carry out minelay.
Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to N45.
June
Commanding Officer awarded DSO for conduct in successful hazardous submarine
operations.
3rd Carried
out minelay off Feiestein.
(Note: German minesweeper M11 was sunk and two mercantiles damaged in this field
on
6th
June.)
12th Carried
out minelay off Utsire.
(Note: This minefield later claimed one mercantile.)
July
22nd Sailed
from Blyth to carry out minelay (FD22 off Kristiansund
(Note: Ordered to remain on surface during initial stage of passage.)
23rd Sunk by
attack from Do17 aircraft whilst surfaced.
P o s t
W a r N
o t e s
This name was re-introduced in October 1957
when given to a patrol
submarine launched by Vickers-Armstrong at Barrow.
She was deployed in the Active Fleet until
placed on the Disposal List and sunk for use as an
anti-submarine weapon
target in 1982.
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