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H. M.
S. T H O R O U G H
B a t t l
e H o n o u r s
MALAYA 1944-45
Motto
Perfice: 'Be thorough'
First use of
the name by the RN was for this submarine. She was nominated for
service with the 4th Submarine Flotilla in the Eastern Fleet and
took passage to Ceylon after working-up in Home waters.
Deployed for interception of coastal shipping off Burma
and Siam, in the Malacca Straits and islands in the Indian
Ocean. In September during Malacca, Straits patrol she sank a
coastal ship. On 18 November 1944 she carried out a minelay on Outer
Mat!(?) Bank off Sumatra (Operation MLO18) followed by one of Terutan, Malaya on 23rd December (Operation
MLO22) during which she sank three Junks by surface gunfire.
Further
successes followed in February 1945 when she sank three coastal
ships, a landing craft and several Junks by ramming or gun attack.
This submarine was then transferred to Fremantle Australia with the
Flotilla and deployed for interception of shipping in Java Sea
during the allied military advance into enemy held territory in the
SW Pacific. In April during a patrol in her new area she sank two
more coastal ships, three landings craft and a gunboat and the next
month a supply ship, three coasters and a sailing ship. The Flotilla
was then transferred to Subic Bay for service with the British
Pacific Fleet and she was deployed for interception of coastal
traffic in the Gulf of Siam and South China Sea where she was
deployed with for a joint patrol with HMS TACITURN and attacked a
convoy which included an ex-Netherlands Navy submarine and a vessel
under tow. The ships in convoy were sunk by the tow submarines.
Her last
patrol with HMS TACITURN and HMS TIPTOE was in the west Java Sea and
six small craft were sunk. Before return to Fremantle and after VJ
Day she was attacked by two Japanese aircraft in Lombok Strait. Her
Commanding Officer was Lieutenant A G Chandler
RNR. |
