B a t t l
e H o n o u r s
SICILY 1943 -
MEDITERRANEAN 1943 - AEGEAN 1943
Commissioned
as P45 this submarine was renamed in conformation with the naming
policy introduced early in 1943. Operational deployment with the 9th
Submarine Flotilla began on 25 June 1942 and when she sailed from
Lerwick for patrol off Norway in support
of the passage of Russian convoy PQ17.
Two
unsuccessful attacks were made on German submarines during this
patrol intended to intercept U-Boats carrying out attacks on the
convoys and its escorts. On 22nd July she was involved in a
collision with HM Destroyer DOUGLAS near Scapa Flow and sustained
serious damage requiring repair. This submarine resumed Home Fleet
duties in September and was deployed for patrol off Norway to
supplement the anti-submarine defence of Russian convoys PQ18 and
QP14. These were uneventful and she returned to the Clyde on 26th of
that month. Transferred for service in me Mediterranean she took
passage to Gibraltar on 10th October and joined the 10th Submarine
Flotilla in Malta on 9th November after a patrol in the western
Mediterranean during passage. Before being deployed for support of
allied landings in Algeria (Operation TORCH) she carried out a
patrol in Gulf of Tunis where she damaged an Italian schooner in a
surface gun action. The subsequent deployment off Algiers was to
intercept any Italian attempt to interfere with landing operations.
On release from TORCH during deployment in Tunis area later in
December attacks were carried out on two small ships and one source
records sinking of the Italian hospital ship CITTA DA TRAPANI but
requires conformation.
Whilst
carrying patrol in the Gulf of Hammamet in
January 1943 attacks by surface gunfire were sinking six small
ships. A special reconnaissance operation was carried out in
preparation for the allied landings in Sicily during the first
patrol as first RN warship to carry the new name. Later she attacked
two ships off Palermo sinking one, mv BOYS
ROSE and damaging the other. A counter-attack was made by escorts
which dropped over 50 depth charges. On 29th March she sank two
submarine chasers, UJ2201 and 2202 in the Bay of Picenzi and during a patrol in late April two
more smaller ships were sunk. Her patrol in
May was carried out off north Messina where she sank two sailing
raft and a tug before sailing from Malta for special patrols off
possible landing areas in east and south east Sicily. Another
special operation was carried out in preparation for HUSKY during
mid June and she was deployed as a navigational marker for the
landing of Canadian troops from Force "V" on the west coast of the
Pachino Peninsula on 8th July. Further
patrol after HUSKY was in the north of the Messina Straits where two small ships were sank and a brigantine driven ashore. She was
selected for special operation at Taranto to attack warships using
"Chariots" but this was cancelled on 26th August, possibly because
of the delicate political discussions to negotiate an Italian
surrender.
Before being
specially deployed in the SW Aegean in October she was deployed in
the Bari area and returned with eight small craft carrying refugees
in company. Her service in support of the failed British defence of
the Dodecanese islands was unremarkable except for the rescue of
airmen from their dinghy and a failed attack on an invasion craft
carrying troops.
Recalled to UK
for refit she sailed from Malta on 17th November and after call at
Tobermory arrived at Blyth on 12th December. Refit and trials were
completed in May and the submarine then was deployed for training
duties based at Rothesay. In February 1945
she was taken in hand for repair at Devonport and on completion in
April was deployed for local anti-submarine training with the 5th
Flotilla until being paid-off at Portsmouth on 27th July 1945.
Laid-up at Lisahally she was placed on the
Disposal List and sold to T W Ward for breaking-up at Briton Ferry
where she arrived on 22nd January 1946. The Commanding Officers were
Lieut. Turner, 1942-43, Lieut. Sprice
1943 and Lieut Stevens
1943. |