B a t t l
e H o n o u r s
SICILY 1943 -
MEDITERRANEAN 1943-44
Intended
before launch to be named ULLESWATER this submarine was identified
as P31 on launch but in April 1943 as part of the naming policy was
renamed. She was deployed with the Home Fleet for patrols of Norway
after completion but transferred for service in the Mediterranean
with the 10th Submarine Flotilla based in Malta.
Her first
patrols in late 1941 were uneventful and she was damaged at Malta in
an air raid during January 1942. Her first sinking was in March that
year when she attacked a supply ship off Tunisia. During the June
patrol she provided defence against Italian warships attempting to
intercept the VIGOROUS Malta relief convoy which failed to get to
the island after a series of tragic blunders. As part
of the defence of the PEDESTAL Malta relief convoy during early
August she was deployed south of Pantalleria and remained on the surface to
attract air attacks and divert any Italian attempt to interfere with
the passage of this vital convoy. Patrols to intercept supply ships
on passage to and from North Africa continued for the rest of the
year and included the sinking of a mercantile during this period.
In July 1943
she was deployed with other submarines off Taranto during and before
the allied landings in Sicily (Operation HUSKY). These patrols were
intended to prevent interference by Italian warships on the landings
and follow-up convoys. RN submarine activities after HUSKY included
patrols in the western Mediterranean and in the Aegean. This
submarine took part in attacks on shipping evacuating Sardinia and
sank three supply ships in the western Mediterranean between
September and December that year. In order to provide a navigational
marker for the assault forces prior to landings at Anzio (Operation
SHINGLE) she was stationed off the beachhead prior to arrival of the
Southern Attack Force (X) on 22nd January 1944. Whilst on patrol
off Toulon at the end of February 1944 she sank the mercantile CHIETL.
On release
from the Mediterranean this submarine returned to UK and after
refitting was deployed in Home waters. She Paid-off after the end of hostilities and was
reduced to Reserve. Placed on the Disposal List she was sold for
breaking-up in 1946 and sold for demolition at Inverkeithing where
she arrived in December that year. Her Commanding Officer on build
was Lieutenant Kershaw who was relieved by
Lieutenant Herrick during Mediterranean
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