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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2
by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2003

HMS MEDWAY  - Submarine Depot Ship

Edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net;

HMS Medway (Photo Ships, click to enlarge) return to Contents List 
 

Submarine Depot Ship built by Vickers Armstrong at Barrow and laid down in April 1927. The ship was launched on 19th July 1928 as the 10th RN ship to carry the name, introduced in 1693 for a 3rd Rate and was last used for a destroyer sold in 19221. The ship went to the China Station early in 1940 and became the Depot Ship for the 4th  Submarine Flotilla at Hong Kong until being transferred to the Mediterranean

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

AIX 1758 - QUEBEC 1759 - GRENADE - MARTINIQUE 1780

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge:  On a Field Silver, a  Lion black upon a Bridge Red.

 (Note: The Badge derives from the Arms and Seal

of the Rochester Bridge Commissioners)

 

M o t t o

In medio Tutissmuss:  'Midway (Medway) you will be safest'

 

 

S u m m a r y   o f   W a r   S e r v i c e

 

(for more ship information, go to Naval History Homepage and type name in Site Search

 

 

1 9 3 9

 

September             Under refit by HM Dockyard Singapore.

to

December

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Under refit

to

February

 

March                    On completion of post refit trials took passage to Hong Kong.

                                Nominated for service in the Mediterranean with submarine Flotilla.

 

April

                2nd         Sailed from Hong Kong for passage to Mediterranean with calls at Singapore, Trincomalee and

                                Aden.

 

May

                3rd          Arrived at Alexandria for support of submarine operations in eastern Mediterranean.

 

June                        Deployment at Alexandria for support of 1st Submarine Flotilla in continuation

December

 

1 9 4 1

 

                                Support of Mediterranean submarines in continuation at Alexandria.

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Deployment at Alexandria in continuation.

to

April

 

May                        Nominated for transfer to Beirut in the event of threat of invasion of Egypt by enemy forces.

                                Remained at Alexandria for submarine support.

 

June

                29th        Embarked stores and 1,135 personnel for transfer to new base at Beirut.

                                Took passage to Beirut escorted by cruiser and seven Fleet destroyers.

                30th        Sunk by torpedoes fired from U372 off Alexandria.

                                Only 30 personnel were lost. (Casualty List - note on casualties)

                                See HITLER'S U-WAR by C Blair for details.

                                (Note: During later salvage operations 47 of the stock of 90 torpedoes carried were recovered.

                                HM Destroyers SIKH, ZULU, CROOME and TETCOTT sank U372 on 4th August in

                                position 32.28N 34..37E.

                                47 personnel from the submarine were rescued including a Lebanese civilian whose

                                presence on board has never been explained and may have been an Agent for German

                                intelligence.)

                                Later in 1942 HMS MEDWAY II was commissioned at Beirut for submarine support.

                                Accommodation was provided in HM Coastal Minelayer MEDUSA for personnel

                                employed in facilities ashore. Later support was transferred to Malta remaining

                                designated as HMS MEDWAY with accommodation provided in HM Minesweeper

                                BAGSHOT.

 

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revised 5/6/11
further editing and formatting is required


 

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