including
Midget Submarines & Human Torpedoes
LOSSES
BY YEAR and AREA
(in date order within
each year, ctl - constructive total loss)
|
Year
|
Atlantic
|
Europe
|
Mediterranean
|
Far
East
|
|
1939
|
-
|
Oxley
|
-
|
-
|
|
1940
|
-
|
Seahorse, Undine, Starfish,
Thistle, Tarpon, Sterlet, Unity, Seal,
Shark, Salmon, Narwhal, Thames, Spearfish,
H.49, Swordfish (total 15)
|
Odin, Grampus, Orpheus,
Phoenix, Oswald, Triad, Rainbow, Regulus,
Triton (9)
|
-
|
|
1941
|
H.31
|
Snapper, Umpire
|
Usk, Undaunted, Union,
Cachalot, P.32, P.33, Tetrarch, Traveller,
Perseus, P.48, Triumph (11)
|
-
|
|
1942
|
P.514, Unique, Unbeaten
|
|
Tempest, P.38, P.39, Pandora,
P.36, Upholder, Urge, Olympus, Thorn,
Talisman, Utmost, P.222, P.311 (13)
|
-
|
|
1943
|
P.615
|
Vandal
|
Tigris, Turbulent,
Thunderbolt, Regent, Splendid, Sahib,
Parthian, Saracen, Trooper, Usurper,
Simoon (11)
|
-
|
|
1944
|
-
|
Graph, Syrtis
|
Sickle
|
Stonehenge, Stratagem
|
|
1945
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Shakespeare (ctl), Porpoise,
Terrapin (ctl)
|
There
are links to only some submarine histories
WORLD
WAR 1 CLASSES
68. 'H' class,
9 boats - 410/500 tons, 13/10 knots, 4tt, 22 crew,
1918-20, 2 lost:
H.31
(Lt F B Gibbs+), December 1941, North Atlantic in
Bay of Biscay - 'overdue, presumed lost'. Sailed
from Falmouth and left escort on the 19th December
for Biscay patrol, 250 miles north of Cape
Finisterre because of possible breakout by German
heavy ships from Brest. Failed to answer signal on
24th and overdue by the 26th, cause of loss
unknown. Possibly German minefield or drifting
British mines between 19th and 24th; all 33 crew
lost (Bay of Biscay patrol)
H.49
(Lt
R E Coltart+), 18th October 1940, Western Europe,
off Texel island, Holland in North Sea - by depth
charges from five German anti-submarine trawlers
of the 5th A/S Flotilla including UJ.116 and
UJ.118. Sailed from Harwich on 17th for patrol off
Dutch coast at time of threatened German invasion
of Britain; 26 crew lost, one survivor reached the
surface and taken prisoner (Battle of Britain
patrol)
Surviving
boats all scrapped before end of war - H.28,
H.32, H.33, H.34, H.43, H.44, H.50.
HM S/M H.49
69. 'L' class,
3 boats - 760/1,080 tons, 17/10 knots, 1-4in/4tt,
40 crew, 1919
Surviving
boats - L.23, L.26, L.27
HM S/M L.27
INTERWAR
& WAR PROGRAMMES
70. 'O' class,
9 boats - 1,400/1,900 tons, 16/9 knots, 1-4in/8tt,
55 crew, 1927-30, 5 lost:
ODIN
(Lt Cdr K Mac I Woods+), 14th June 1940, Central
Mediterranean, off southern Italy in Gulf of
Taranto (c39.30N, 17.30E) - by depth charges of
Italian warships. Sailed from Alexandria, Egypt
for patrol in Gulf of Taranto, attacked late on
the 13th by destroyer ‘Strale’ with torpedoes
and gunfire and then probably damaged by depth
charges. Shortly after midnight as she surfaced,
sighted by destroyer ‘Baleno’, attacked again
with depth charges and sunk. All 56 crew lost,
including the Chinese steward (Italian Gulf of
Taranto patrol)
OLYMPUS
(Lt
Cdr H G Dymott), 8th May 1942, Central
Mediterranean, 6 miles from St Elmo Light, off
Malta Grand Harbour - German E-boat-laid mines.
On passage with personnel from Malta to
Gibraltar, including some of the crews of bombed
submarines ‘Pandora’, ‘P.36’ and ‘P.39’,
surfaced at the time; 98 lost composed of 68
crew, one from ‘Pandora’, three from
‘P.36’ and 26 from ‘P.39’, nine managed to swim
to the shore – three from ‘Olympus’ and six from
‘P.39’ (Battle for Malta)
ORPHEUS
(Lt
Cdr
J A S Wise+), possibly 19th June 1940, Eastern
Mediterranean, off Cyrenaica, eastern Libya –
cause of loss and location varies. Sailed from
Malta on 10th for patrol off coast of Libya, and
apparently acknowledged signal on 19th when 100
miles NW of Benghazi, before disappearing.
Causes listed include depth charged and sunk by
Italian destroyer 'Turbine' off Tobruk (c32.30N,
24.00E) on the 19th (but probably not if 100
miles NW of Benghazi on that date) or possibly
lost on minefield in the same Tobruk area. All
55 crew lost (North African patrol)
OSWALD
(Lt
Cdr
D A Fraser), 1st August 1940, Central
Mediterranean, 10 miles SE of Cape Spartivento,
SW Italy in Ionian Sea - rammed by Italian
destroyer ‘Ungolino Vivaldi'. Sailed from
Alexandria on 19th July for patrol east of
Sicily. Around noon on the 30th, made an
unsuccessful attack on escorted convoy. Italian
destroyers were sent out to hunt for her,
sighted just after midnight by ‘Vivaldi’,
rammed, depth-charged and fired on, and boat
abandoned. Three crew lost, 52 taken prisoner
(Ionian Sea patrol)
OXLEY
(Lt
Cdr
H G Bowerman), 10th September 1939, Western
Europe, off Norwegian coast, south of Stavanger
in North Sea (58.30N, 05.42E) - torpedoed in
error by RN submarine 'Triton'. On patrol off
Obrestad Light, SW Norway, out of position,
failed to respond to signals and challenges from
‘Triton’ and eventually torpedoed; 53 killed, CO
and one rating rescued (southern Norwegian
patrol)
Surviving
boats - OBERON,
OSIRIS,
OTUS,
OTWAY
HM S/M
Oxley (Courtesy NavyPhotos)
71. 'P' & 'R' classes,
9 boats - 1,480/2,050 tons, 17/9 knots, 1-4in or
4.7in/8tt, 55 crew, 1930-32, 7 lost:
PANDORA
(Lt
R
L Alexander), 1st April 1942, Central
Mediterranean, at Malta - by German or Italian
bombers. In harbour after supply trip from
Gibraltar, arrived 31st March and on the
surface, still being unloaded; 27 killed and one
wounded officer lost in ‘Olympus’ (Defence of
Malta)
PARTHIAN
(Lt
C
A Pardoe+), probably 6th August 1943, Central
Mediterranean - ‘overdue, presumed lost'. Sailed
from Malta on 22nd July for patrol west of
Greece and in southern Adriatic. Signal on 6th
August to leave patrol area was not
acknowledged, and nothing more heard. Overdue at
Beirut on 11th August. Probably mined off
Brindisi, SE tip of Italy around the 6th or when
returning to Beirut; all 65 crew lost (southern
Adriatic Sea patrol)
PERSEUS
(Lt
Cdr
E C D Nicolay+), 6th December 1941,
Central Mediterranean, 7 miles north of Zante
island, west coast of Greece in Ionian Sea - by
Italian mines. Sailed from Malta on 26th
November for Alexandria with orders to patrol
west of Greece on passage; 58 crew lost, one
rating got to the surface and swam 5 miles
ashore to Cephalonia before spending 18 months
being sheltered by the Greeks (Ionian Sea
patrol)
PHOENIX
(Lt
Cdr G H Nowell+), 16th July 1940, Central
Mediterranean, off Augusta, eastern Sicily in
Ionian Sea – probably by depth charges of
Italian torpedo boat 'Albatros'. Believed sailed
from Malta for patrol south of Strait of
Messina, last heard from night of 14th/15th
July, then disappeared. Possibly mined, but may
also have attacked an escorted tanker off Cape
Santa Croce, near Augusta on the 16th, and then
depth charged and sunk in counter-attack by
‘Albatros’; all 55 crew lost (Ionian Sea patrol)
RAINBOW
(Lt Cdr L P Moore+), 10th October 1940, Central
Mediterranean, Gulf of Otranto area – in
collision with Italian merchantman ‘Antonietta
Costa’. Believed sailed from Alexandria for
patrol in Gulf of Taranto and later Gulf of
Otranto area, attacking convoy and collided with
or rammed by the Italian ship, sank off Durazzo,
Albania, with all 55 crew. For many years,
the fate of ‘Rainbow’ and ‘Triad’ (see below)
had been reversed with ‘Rainbow’ described as
lost in a duel with Italian submarine ‘Enrico
Toti’ off Calabria on the 15th (Southern Italy
patrol)
REGENT
(Lt
W Knox+), probably 18th April 1943, Central
Mediterranean - 'overdue, presumed lost'. Sailed
from Malta on 12th April for patrol along S
coast of Italy. Attacked small convoy near Bari,
SE coast of Italy on the 18th April, but not
counter-attacked. Presumed lost on Italian mines
between the 18th and 25th, probably off Bari on
the evening of the 18th following the convoy
attack. Failed to return to Beirut on 1st May;
all 63 crew lost, three bodies washed ashore in
May (southern Adriatic Sea patrol)
REGULUS
(Lt
Cdr F B Currie+), November/December 1940,
Central Mediterranean - 'overdue, presumed
lost'. Sailed from Alexandria, Egypt on 18th
November for patrol in southern Adriatic. Failed
to return on 6th December and presumed mined
around Strait of Otranto area. Italian aircraft
claim to have sunk a submarine in these waters
on 26th November; all 55 crew lost (southern
Adriatic Sea patrol)
Surviving
boats - PROTEUS,
ROVER
HM S/M Parthian
72. Thames class,
3 boats - 1,850/2,700 tons, 22/10 knots,
1-4in/6tt, 60 crew, 1932-35, 1 lost:
THAMES
(Lt
Cdr W D Dunkerley+), probably 2nd/3rd August
1940, Western Europe in North Sea - 'overdue,
presumed lost'. Left Dundee, Scotland on 22nd
July for patrol off SW Norway. May have
torpedoed German torpedo boat ‘Luchs’ in attack
on battlecruiser ‘Gneisenau’ on the 26th and
sunk in the resulting explosion, failed to
return on 3rd August. (Some sources attribute
this sinking to ‘Swordfish’). Probably went down
on 2nd/3rd August in newly-laid German minefield
in around 56.45N, 03.26E; all 62 crew lost
(southern Norwegian patrol)
Surviving
boats -
CLYDE,
SEVERN
HMS/M Thames
73. Porpoise class minelayers,
6 boats - 1,500/2,100 tons, 15/9 knots, 1-4in/6tt
& 50 mines, 60 crew, 1933-39, 5 lost:
CACHALOT
(Lt
Cdr
H R B Newton), 30th July 1941, Central
Mediterranean, NW of Benghazi, eastern Libya -
rammed by Italian torpedo boat 'Generale Achille
Papa'. Sailed from Malta on 26th with personnel
for Alexandria with orders to search for a
Benghazi-bound tanker. Spotted by escorting
torpedo boat which opened fire and rammed;
Maltese steward lost, 67 crew and 20 naval
passengers taken prisoner (Defence of Malta)
GRAMPUS
(Lt
Cdr C A Rowe+), 16th June 1940, Central
Mediterranean, off Augusta, eastern Sicily in
Ionian Sea (c37.00N, 15.30E) - by Italian
torpedo boats 'Circe', 'Clio', ‘Calliope’ and
‘Polluce’. Sailed from Malta on 10th to lay
mines off east coast of Sicily, signalled
successful lay on the 13th, nothing further
heard. Sighted by Italian ships three days
later, a final depth charge attack by ‘Circe’
and ‘Polluce’ is believed to have sunk her; all
59 crew lost, including the Chinese steward
(Ionian Sea minelaying operation)
NARWHAL
(Lt
Cdr R J Burch+), probably 23rd July 1940,
Western Europe in North Sea - 'overdue, presumed
lost'. Sailed from Blyth, NE coast of England on
22nd July with orders to lay mines off
Kristiansund N on 28th. Failed to return and
paid off on 1st August, loss at the time
attributed to mines or aircraft. Later research
suggests that the day after departure, she was
bombed and sunk in the North Sea (in 56.30N,
01.10E?) by a German Dornier flying boat; all 60
crew lost (Norwegian minelaying operation)
PORPOISE
(Lt
Cdr H B Turner+), 19th January 1945, South East
Asia, Malacca Straits area between Malaya and
Sumatra - 'overdue, presumed lost'. Sailed from
Trincomalee on 2nd January to lay mines off
Penang, reported the laying, then not heard from
again. Japanese records suggest she was bombed
and damaged in an aircraft attack near Penang,
leaked oil and was sunk by anti-submarine
forces, probably on the 19th; all 74 crew lost
(Indian Ocean - Malacca Straits Patrol and
Minelaying)
SEAL
(Lt
Cdr R Lonsdale), captured 5th May 1940, Western
Europe off the Skaw, northern Denmark in the
Kattegat - captured by German Arado seaplane and
anti-submarine trawler ‘UJ.128’. Sailed on 29th
April for minelaying operation in southern
Kattegat. Attacked by German aircraft on 4th
without serious damage, mines laid but other
A/S forces were already alerted,
‘Seal’ damaged by German mine and stuck on
the bottom, still on the 4th. Managed to surface
on 5th with intention of making for neutral
Sweden, came under heavy aircraft attack, unable
to dive and surrendered; one crew lost, 54 taken
prisoner, of whom one died in captivity.
Re-commissioned as German UB (Kattegat
minelaying operation)
Surviving
boat –
RORQUAL
HM
S/M Seal after her capture
74. 'S' classes
- Pre-war Programme, 12 boats - 670/960 tons,
14/10 knots, 1-3in/6tt, 40 crew, 1932-38, 8 lost:
SALMON
(Lt
Cdr
E O B Bickford+), possibly 9th July 1940,
Western Europe in North Sea - 'overdue, presumed
lost'. Left Rosyth, SE Scotland on 4th July for
patrol off Skudesnes, SW Norway. Failed to
return on 14th or report on the 15th. Believed
lost on 9th in German minefield SW of Norway
around 57.22N, 05.00E; all 41 crew lost
(Southern Norwegian patrol)
SEAHORSE
(Lt
D
S Massey-Dawson+), 7th January 1940, Western
Europe, 18 miles NW of Heligoland island off
German North Sea coast (54.19N, 07.30E) - by
German 1st Minesweeping Flotilla. Sailed from
Rosyth on 26th December for patrol in Heligoland
Bight, failed to return on the 9th, assumed
mined at the time but now believed sunk by depth
charge attack; all 39 crew lost (German North
Sea coast patrol)
SHARK
(Lt
Cdr
P N Buckley), sank 6th July 1940, Western
Europe, off Skudesnes, Norway in North Sea - by
German aircraft. On patrol off south west
Norway, attacked on surface and damaged by bombs
dropped by seaplane late on the 5th. Back on the
surface, attacked by more aircraft, damaged and
surrendered. Four trawlers arrived, ‘Shark’
taken in tow, but sank on the 6th near
Stavanger. Three crew killed during the attacks,
32 survivors (southern Norwegian patrol)
SNAPPER
(Lt
G
V Prowse+), February 1941, Western Europe in Bay
of Biscay, possibly off Brest- 'overdue,
presumed lost'. Sailed from the Clyde, SW
Scotland on 29th January for Bay of Biscay
patrol, SW of Ushant. Left her escort at Land's
End, due to leave patrol area night of 10th
February, but not heard from again and failed to
rendezvous on the 12th. Possibly went down in
German minefield or to depth charge attacks late
on the 10th/early on the 11th by minesweepers
‘M.2’, ‘M.13’ and ‘M.25’; all 42 crew lost (Bay
of Biscay patrol)
SPEARFISH
(Lt
Cdr
J H Forbes+), 1st August 1940, Western Europe,
off Norway in North Sea (c58.00N, 01.00E) –
torpedoed by German ‘U.34’ (Rollmann). Sailed
from Rosyth on 31st July for Norwegian coast
patrol, on the surface, attacked and sunk by
‘U.34’, 180 miles WSW of Stavanger; 41 crew
lost, one survivor taken prisoner (Norwegian
patrol)
STARFISH
(Lt
T
A Turner), 9th January 1940, Western Europe, off
German North Sea coast in Heligoland Bight - by
depth charges from German minesweeper ‘M.7’ and
other vessels. Sailed from Blyth on 5th for
patrol off Horn Reef, attacked ‘M.7’, originally
identified as a destroyer. Other vessels joined
in the attack, ‘Starfish’ forced to surface,
came under fire and scuttled, all 39 crew saved
(German North Sea coast patrol)
STERLET
(Lt
Cdr
G H S Haward+), mid-April 1940, Western Europe,
off southern Norway in Skagerrak (c58.00N,
11.00E) - by depth charges from German
anti-submarine vessels, or possibly mined.
Sailed on 8th April for Skagerrak patrol during
German invasion of Norway, loss details are
still uncertain. On the 12th attacked a convoy
unsuccessfully, and on the 14th torpedoed German
gunnery training ship ‘Brummer’ off Jutland,
where she sank next day. She may have been sunk
in the counter-attack by the escort. Other
possibilities include depth-charged by
minesweeper ‘M.75’ on the 17th or 18th, by
anti-submarine trawlers ‘UJ.125’, ‘UJ.126’ and
‘UJ.128’ on the 18th, or mined in a field laid
on the 8th. All 41 crew lost (Norwegian Campaign
patrol)
SWORDFISH
(Lt
M
A Langley+), 7th November 1940, Western Europe,
English Channel off the Isle of Wight, southern
England - probably German mines. Sailed from
Portsmouth on 7th November for Brest patrol.
Failed to signal back on 15th and 16th, and not
heard from again. At the time she was declared
'overdue, presumed lost' and believed sunk in
the Bay of Biscay either on mines or at the
hands of German destroyers near Brest. Her wreck
was discovered in 1983 a few miles south of St
Catherine's Point off the Isle of Wight. She had
been mined a few hours after leaving Portsmouth,
with the loss of all 41 crew (Brest patrol)
Lost
while manned by Allied Navy - 'V.1'
(ex-SUNFISH), Russian Navy, 27th July 1944, on
passage to Russian
Surviving
boats - SEALION (expended in 1945 as
anti-submarine target), SEAWOLF, STURGEON (Dutch
'Zeehond' from 1943)
HM S/M Sterlet
War Programme
- 48 boats completed by war's end - 720/990 tons,
15/9 knots, 1-3in or 4in/6 or 7tt, 45 crew,
1942-45, 9 lost and 1 not repaired:
P.222
(Lt
A
J MacKenzie+), 12th December 1942, Central
Mediterranean, SE of Capri island, western Italy
in Gulf of Naples - by depth charges from
Italian torpedo boat 'Fortunale'. Sailed from
Gibraltar on 30th November for patrol off
Naples, last signal on 7th December, failed to
arrive at Algiers on 21st. Attacking Italian
convoy off Naples and probably sunk by escorts;
all 47 crew lost (Gulf of Naples patrol)
SAHIB
(Lt
J H Brommage), 24th April 1943, Central
Mediterranean, 10 miles north of Cape Milazzo,
NE Sicily in Tyrrhenian Sea (c38.30N, 15.15E) -
by depth charges from Italian torpedo boat
‘Climene’, corvettes ‘Euterpe’ and 'Gabbiano'
and attacks by German Ju.88 aircraft.
Counter-attacked after sinking escorted Italian
transport ‘Galiola’, managed to surface,
scuttled; one rating lost, 47 crew taken
prisoner (NE Sicily patrol)
SARACEN
(Lt
M
G R Lumby), 14th August 1943, Central
Mediterranean, off Bastia, NE coast of Corsica
in Tyrrhenian Sea - by depth charges from
Italian corvettes 'Euterpe' and 'Minerva'. On
patrol off approaches to Bastia, forced to the
surface and boat scuttled; four crew lost, 44
taken prisoner, two of whom died in captivity
(Corsica patrol)
SHAKESPEARE
(Lt
D
Swanston), damaged 3rd January 1945, South East
Asia, off Port Blair area, Andaman Islands in
the Andaman Sea - by gunfire of Japanese
merchant ship, and later damaged in bombing
attack. Surfaced to engage the merchantman and
damaged by return fire. Later attacked from the
air; two crew killed, 13 wounded. Not repaired
(Indian Ocean - Andaman Islands patrol)
SICKLE
(Lt
J
R Drummond+), around 16th June 1944, Eastern
Mediterranean - 'overdue, presumed lost'. Sailed
from Malta on 31st May for the Aegean Sea.
Engaged shipping in Mitylene Harbour on the 4th,
return fire from German patrol vessels ‘GA.76’
and ‘GA.91’ killed one of the gun crew and blew
a second into the sea. He was saved as a POW.
‘Sickle’ signalled convoy between Piraeus and
Leros on 12th June, but did not attack. Failed
to return when recalled on the 14th. Probably
went down on German mines after the 12th in the
southern Aegean, possibly the Kythera Channel on
the 16th; all remaining 49 crew lost (Aegean Sea
patrol)
SIMOOM
(Lt
G
D Milner+), around 19th November 1943, Eastern
Mediterranean. - 'overdue, presumed lost'.
Sailed from Port Said, Egypt on the 2nd November
for the Aegean and arrived off the Dardanelles
on 6th. Failed to answer signal on 19th,
presumed mined and paid off on that date.
Germans claim possibly sunk by ‘U.565’ (Henning)
SE of Kos island on 15th, but do not exclude
mining; all 49 crew lost (British Aegean
Campaign patrol)
SPLENDID
(Lt
I
L McGeoch), 21st April 1943, Central
Mediterranean, south of Capri, western Italy in
the Tyrrhenian Sea (c40.30N, 14.15E) - by depth
charges and gunfire of German destroyer
'Hermes'. Sailed from Malta on 17th April
for patrol off Naples and later the W coast of
Corsica, detected by the ex-Greek ‘Hermes’,
badly damaged in the depth charge attacks,
surfaced, fired on and scuttled; 18 crew lost,
27 saved and taken prisoner. Lt McGeoch lost an
eye in the sinking, but still escaped back to
Britain in May 1944 (Italian West Coast patrol)
STONEHENGE
(Lt Cdr D S Verschoyle-Campbell+), early to
mid-March 1944, South East Asia, Nicobar Islands
area - 'overdue, presumed lost'. Sailed from
Trincomalee, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) on 25th
February for patrol between the Nicobar Islands
and Malacca Straits, failed to return on 20th
March. Cause of loss unknown but possibly mine
or accident N of Sumatra between the 2nd and
16th March; all 50 crew lost (Indian Ocean -
Nicobar Islands patrol)
STRATAGEM
(Lt Cdr P Pelly+), 22nd November 1944, South
East Asia, off Malacca, SW Malaya in Malacca
Straits - by depth charges of Japanese
destroyer. Sailed from Trincomalee on 10th
November, attacked and sank tanker ‘Nichinan
Maru’ south of Malacca, possibly on 18th.
Spotted by Japanese aircraft on 22nd, destroyer
called up, attacked and sank her with depth
charges; 50 crew lost, eight escaped to the
surface, but only three survived Japanese
captivity. The fate of the other three is still
not known (Indian Ocean - Straits of Malacca
patrol)
SYRTIS
(Lt
M
H Jupp+), 28th March 1944, Western Europe, off
Bodo, northern Norway in Norwegian Sea - by
German mines. Sailed from Lerwick on 16th March
for patrol off Bodo. Sank steamer ‘Narvik’ with
gunfire on 22nd, failed to acknowledge signal to
return on 28th, believed lost in flanking
minefields with all 48 crew (Norwegian coast
patrol)
Boats
completed by war's end and surviving -
SAFARI,
SAGA, SANGUINE, SATYR, SCEPTRE, SCORCHER,
SCOTSMAN, SCYTHIAN, SEA DEVIL, SEADOG, SEA
NYMPH, SEA ROVER, SEA SCOUT, SELENE, SERAPH,
SHALIMAR, SIBYL, SIDON, SIRDAR, SLEUTH, SOLENT,
SPARK, SPEARHEAD, SPIRIT, SPITEFUL, SPORTSMAN,
SPRINGER, SPUR, STATESMAN, STOIC, STORM,
STRONGBOW, STUBBORN, STURDY, STYGIAN, SUBTLE,
SUPREME, SURF
HM S/M Stoic
75. 'T' classes
- Pre-war Programmes, 15 boats - 1,090/1,580 tons,
15/9 knots, 1-4in/10tt, 60 crew, 1938-41, 9
lost:
TALISMAN
(Lt
Cdr
M Willmott+), around 16th or 17th September 1942,
Western or Central Mediterranean - 'overdue,
presumed lost'. Left Gibraltar on 10th September
with stores for Malta, due to arrive on 18th.
Reported U-boat off Philippeville, Algeria on
15th, but not heard from again. Believed lost on
Italian mines in Strait of Sicily around 16th or
17th. Also claimed sunk by surface ships off
Marittimo island, west of Sicily; all 63 crew lost
(Defence of Malta)
TARPON
(Lt
Cdr
H J Caldwell+), probably 10th April 1940, Western
Europe off southern Norway in Skagerrak - by depth
charges of German anti-submarine vessel (probably
decoy ship Schiff 40 on the 10th or possibly
minesweeper ‘M.6’ on the 14th – sources vary,
although one lists ‘M.6’ taking part in the attack
on the 10th). Left Portsmouth with submarine
‘Severn’ on the 5th, bound for Rosyth, next day
ordered to Norway. On patrol in approaches to
Skagerrak during German invasion of Norway,
attacked the A/S vessel and counter-attacked in
return; all 53 crew lost (Norwegian Campaign
patrol)
TETRARCH
(Lt
Cdr G H Greenway+), possibly 27th October 1941,
Central Mediterranean - 'overdue, presumed lost'.
Sailed from Malta on 26th October for refit in
Britain, exchanged signals with ‘P.34’ on 27th,
but failed to arrive in Gibraltar on 2nd November.
Presumed went down on Italian mines in Strait of
Sicily on the 27th; all 62 on board, including
three submariner passengers were lost
(Mediterranean passage)
THISTLE
(Lt
Cdr W F Hanselfoot+), 10th April 1940, Western
Europe off Stavanger, SW Norway in North Sea
(c59.00N, 05.00E) – torpedoed by German ‘U.4’
(Hinsch). On patrol in Utsira area during German
invasion of Norway, unsuccessfully attacked ‘U.4’,
later on the surface and sunk in turn by her
previous target; all 53 crew lost (Norwegian
Campaign patrol)
THUNDERBOLT
(ex-'Thetis') (Lt Cdr C Crouch+), 14th March 1943,
Central Mediterranean, off Cape San Vito, NW
Sicily in Tyrrhenian Sea - by depth charges from
Italian corvette 'Cicogna'. On patrol off
Sicily, attacked and hit Italian merchant ship
‘Esterel’ on the 12th, Italian anti-submarine
forces sent out. Sighted same day by torpedo boat
‘Libra’ and again on the 14th by ‘Cicogna’ which
carried out a number of depth charge attacks,
sinking ‘Thunderbolt’; all 62 crew lost. Her wreck
has been found (N Sicily patrol)
TIGRIS
(Lt Cdr G R Colvin+), believed 27th February 1943,
Central Mediterranean, 6 miles SE of Capri, W
coast of Italy - depth charges of German submarine
chaser ‘UJ.2210’. ‘Tigris’ left Malta on 18th
February to patrol S of Naples. May have been
sighted off Capri on 24th, failed to return to
Algiers on the 10th, declared 'overdue, presumed
lost'. Italian aircraft reported probable mine
explosion off the Gulf of Tunis on the 10th March
that might have been 'Tigris' returning from
patrol. More likely she was sunk on the 27th
February by ‘UJ.2210’, escorting a convoy SE of
Capri; all 63 crew lost (Gulf of Naples patrol)
TRIAD
(Lt Cdr G S Salt+), 15th October 1940, Central
Mediterranean, off Calabria, SW Italy (38.15N,
17.37E) – by gunfire and possibly torpedo of
Italian submarine ‘Enrico Toti’. Sailed from Malta
on the 9th October for Alexandria where she was
due to arrive on the 20th to join the 1st
Flotilla. En route she was to carry out a patrol
off the Italian Calabrian coast in the Ionian Sea
in some sources, off the Libyan coast in others.
Originally listed as 'overdue, presumed lost', her
loss details vary – possibly mined off Benghazi,
Libya or in the Gulf of Taranto around the 13th or
20th. It has now been established that her fate
and that of ‘Rainbow’ had been reversed for many
years and it was in fact ‘Triad’ that was sunk in
the gun/torpedo duel with ‘Enrico Toti’ on the
15th. All 52 crew lost.
TRITON
(Lt
G C I St B S Watkins+), possibly 6th December
1940, Central Mediterranean - 'overdue, presumed
lost'. Sailed from Malta on the 28th November for
southern Adriatic, overdue on 18th December and
believed mined in the Strait of Otranto. However,
she may have been sunk by Italian torpedo boats
‘Altair’ and ‘Andromeda’ on the 6th following a
successful attack on Italian merchant ship
‘Olimpia’, or by torpedo boat ‘Clio’ (and/or
‘Confienza’) on the 18th, but this would have been
some days after she should have left her patrol
area; all 54 crew lost (southern Adriatic Sea
patrol)
TRIUMPH
(Lt
J S Huddart+), probably early January 1942,
Eastern Mediterranean in the southern Aegean -
'overdue, presumed lost'. Sailed from Alexandria
on 26th December to land party near Athens before
patrol in the Aegean Sea. Signalled on the 30th to
report the landing, but failed to rendezvous back
on 9th January. Probably sunk by Italian mines
somewhere off SE Greece, including the Cyclades
area, the island group SE of Athens and Hydra
(Ydra) island, SW of Athens; all 62 crew lost
(Aegean Sea patrol)
Surviving
boats - TAKU,
TORBAY,
TRIBUNE, TRIDENT,
TRUANT,
TUNA
HM S/M Triad
War Programme
- 34 boats completed by war's end - 1,090/1,580
tons, 15/9 knots, 1-4in/11tt, 60 crew, 1941-45, 6
lost and 1 not repaired:
When
Prime Minister Winston Churchill
discovered British submarines were being
allocated numbers like 'Narzi' U-boats, he
insisted they be given names.
Unfortunately for some it was too late.
P.311
(Cdr R D Cayley+), probably 1st January 1943,
Central Mediterranean - 'overdue, presumed
lost'. Left Scotland in November 1942 with
sister-boats ‘Thunderbolt’ and ‘Trooper’ after
addition of deck-mounted watertight containers
for human torpedoes, and headed direct for
Malta. From there, sailed on 28th December with
two Chariots for attack on Italian cruisers at
Maddalena, NE Sardinia (Operation ‘Principal’).
Last signal on 30th or the 31st December from
position 38.10N, 11.30E and failed to rendezvous
for attack or return to Malta on 8th January.
Probably lost on Italian mines in the approaches
to Maddalena on the 1st. Italians claim sunk by
torpedo boat 'Partenope' on 29th; 61 crew and 10
Charioteers – four naval officers, one Army and
five ratings, were lost (Human torpedo attack)
TEMPEST
(Lt
Cdr
W A K N Cavaye+), 13th February 1942, Central
Mediterranean, off Gulf of Taranto, southern
Italy in Ionian Sea (39.11N, 17.47E) - by depth
charges of Italian torpedo boat 'Circe'. Sailed
from Malta on 10th for Gulf of Taranto. Italians
had been alerted by the torpedoing of a tanker
by another submarine, ‘Tempest’ was located on
the surface by an anti-submarine patrol, heavily
depth-charged, brought to the surface and sank
after attempts were made to tow her; 39 crew
lost, 24 taken prisoner (Gulf of Taranto patrol)
TERRAPIN
(Lt
R H H Brunner), damaged 19th May 1945, East
Indies, west of Batavia, Java in Java Sea - by
depth charges of Japanese escort vessels.
Attacking escorted tanker; no crew lost. Not
repaired (Java Sea patrol)
THORN
(Lt
Cdr
R G Norfolk+), 7th August 1942, Eastern
Mediterranean, 30 miles from Gavdos Island off
SW Crete - by depth charges of Italian destroyer
escort 'Pegaso'. Attacking steamer ‘Istria’
sailing from Benghazi, spotted by escorting
Ju.88 aircraft, depth-charged and believed sunk
by ‘Pegaso’; all 60 crew lost (SW Crete patrol)
TRAVELLER
(Lt
Cdr
D St Clair Ford+), around 4th December 1942,
Central Mediterranean - 'overdue, presumed
lost'. Left Malta on 28th November for Gulf of
Taranto patrol, including reconnoitre of Taranto
harbour for Chariot human torpedo attack.
Overdue on 8th December and presumed lost on
Italian mines around the 4th December in her
patrol area; all 65 crew lost (Gulf of Taranto
patrol)
TROOPER
(Lt
J
S Wraith+), possibly around 10th October 1943,
Eastern Mediterranean - 'overdue, presumed
lost'. Sailed from Beirut on 26th September for
patrol west of the Dodecanese islands in the
Aegean Sea, including the Leros area, and not
heard from again. Failed to return on 17th
October and presumed lost on German mines east
of Leros around the 10th; all 64 crew lost
(British Aegean Campaign patrol)
TURBULENT
(Cdr J W ‘Tubby’ Linton+, awarded VC), possibly
12th-14th March 1943, Central Mediterranean, off
Maddalena, NE Sardinia in Tyrrhenian Sea -
'overdue, presumed lost'. Sailed from Algiers on
23rd February, not heard of again, cause of loss
uncertain. Known to have attacked escorted ship
on 11th March and possibly sunk next day by
anti-submarine trawler ‘Teti II’. More likely
mined in the same area between 12th and 14th,
failed to return on 23rd; all 67 crew lost
(Tyrrhenian Sea patrol)
Boats
completed by war's end and surviving - TACITURN,
TACTICIAN,
TALENT (1) (Dutch 'Zwaardvisch'), TALENT (2)
(ex-TASMAN),
TALLY HO,
TANTALUS,
TANTIVY,
TAPIR,
TARN (Dutch 'Tijgerhaai'), TAURUS,
TELEMACHUS,
TEMPLAR,
THOROUGH,
THRASHER, THULE,
TIPTOE,
TIRELESS, TOTEM,
TRADEWIND,
TRENCHANT,
TRESPASSER,
TRUCULENT,
TRUMP,
TRUNCHEON,
TRUSTY,
TUDOR,
TURPIN
HM S/M Turpin
76. 'U' & 'V' classes
- Pre-war Programme, 3 boats - 540/730 tons, 11/10
knots, 6tt (1-3in ‘Ursula’ only), 27 crew, 1938, 2
lost:
UNDINE
(Lt
Cdr A S Jackson), 7th January 1940, Western
Europe, 20 miles SW of Heligoland Island off
German North Sea coast - by depth charges of
German minesweepers ‘M.1201’, ‘M.1204’ and
‘M.1207’. Attacking minesweepers, believed to be
trawlers, while on Heligoland patrol. Forced to
surface and scuttled; all 30 crew saved (German
North Sea coast patrol)
UNITY
(Lt
J F Brooks), 29th April 1940, Western Europe off
Blyth, NE England in North Sea (c55.15N, 01.15W)
- collision in thick fog with Norwegian
steamship 'Atle Jarle'. Sailing from Blyth for
Norwegian patrol during the German invasion;
four crew lost, 23 saved (Norwegian Campaign
patrol)
Surviving
boat -
URSULA,
(Russian 'V.4' from 1944)
HM S/M
Undine pre-war
War Programmes
- 68 boats completed by war's end - 540/740 tons,
11/10 knots, 1-12pdr or 3in/4tt, 30 crew, 1940-45,
17 lost:
P.32
(Lt
D A B Abdy), 18th August 1941, Central
Mediterranean, off Tripoli, western Libya - by
Italian mines. Sailed from Malta on 12th August
for patrol off Tripoli, attacking Italian convoy
heading into the port and hit mine; 30 crew
lost, CO and one rating reached surface and
taken prisoner (Tripoli patrol)
P.33
(Lt
R D Whiteway-Wilkinson+), possibly 18th August
1941, Central Mediterranean - 'overdue, presumed
lost'. Left Malta on 6th August with orders to
attack Libya-bound convoy, reported overdue on
23rd August and presumed lost on Italian mines
in the Tripoli area. ‘P.32’ (lost herself)
reported hearing heavy depth charge attack on
the 18th, which may have accounted for ‘P.33’.
Italians claim she was sunk by torpedo boat
'Partenope' off Pantelleria island on the 23rd;
all 32 crew lost (Tripoli patrol)
P.36
(Lt
H N Edmonds), 1st April 1942, Central
Mediterranean, at Malta - by German or Italian
bombers. In harbour after covering
Alexandria/Malta convoy (believed MW.10) at time
of Second Battle of Sirte, near-missed, holed
and sank in Sliema Harbour; no crew lost (Malta
convoys)
P.38
(Lt
R J Hemingway+), 23rd February 1942, Central
Mediterranean, east of Tripoli, western Libya
(32.48N, 14.58E) - by Italian torpedo boat
'Circe' and destroyer 'Antonietta Usodimare'.
Sailed from Malta on 16th February to intercept
convoy off Tripoli. Preparing to attack, depth
charged and sunk by the escort; all 32 crew lost
(Tripoli patrol)
P.39
(Lt
N Marriott), 26th March 1942, Central
Mediterranean, at Malta - by German bombers. In
harbour following a patrol in the area east of
Tunisia. Previous bomb damage being repaired,
alongside jetty, hit by bomb, badly damaged and
beached. Not repaired (Defence of Malta)
P.48
(Lt
M E Faber+), 25th December 1942, Central
Mediterranean, northern Tunisia off Gulf of
Tunis (c37.15N, 10.30E) - by depth charges of
Italian destroyer escorts 'Ardente' and
'Ardito'. Sailed from Malta on 23rd December.
Attacking Italian convoy making for Tunis; all
34 crew lost (Gulf of Tunis patrol)
UMPIRE
(Lt M R G Wingfield), 19th July 1941, Western
Europe, NW of Cromer, eastern England in North
Sea (53.09N, 01.08E) - rammed in error by RN
armed trawler 'Peter Hendriks'. Working up and
on passage from Chatham to join 3rd Flotilla at
Dunoon on the Clyde, sailing with northbound
East Coast convoy EC.47, fell behind with engine
problems as a southbound convoy approached,
rammed by one of its escorts; 16 crew lost, 16
saved. One of the survivors was Sub Lt Edward
Young, first RNVR officer to command a
submarine.
UNBEATEN
(Lt
D E Watson+), 11th November 1942, North
Atlantic, in Bay of Biscay (47.00N, 07.00W) -
sunk in error by RAF Wellington. Sailed on 23rd
October for patrol in Bay of Biscay with orders
to intercept German blockade runner, ship
reported on 6th November but not attacked, then
failed to rendezvous back off Bishop Rock.
Probably depth charged and sunk by the
Wellington of 172 Sqn after being directed to a
reported submarine; all 36 crew lost (Bay of
Biscay patrol)
UNDAUNTED
(Lt
J L Livesay+), possibly 12th May 1941, Central
Mediterranean - 'overdue, presumed lost'. Sailed
from Malta on 1st May for patrol off Tripoli,
western Libya, but failed to return on 11th May,
presumed lost on mines. Italians claim she was
sighted by an aircraft, then attacked and sunk
by torpedo boat 'Pleiade' off Tripoli on the
12th after being detached from a nearby convoy;
all 32 crew lost (Tripoli patrol)
UNION
(Lt
R M Galloway+), 20th July 1941, Central
Mediterranean, 25 miles SW of Pantelleria island
in Strait of Sicily - by Italian torpedo boat
'Circe'. Sailed from Malta to intercept a convoy
off Tripoli the next day, attacked and lost in
the counter-attack by ‘Circe’; all 32 crew lost
(Strait of Sicily patrol)
UNIQUE
(Lt
R E Boddington+), possibly around 10th October
1942, eastern area of North Atlantic - 'overdue,
presumed lost'. Carrying out Bay of Biscay
patrol while on passage from Britain to
Gibraltar. Reported off Lands End on the 9th,
last contact was probably on the 10th, due to
arrive at Gibraltar on the 22nd, but not heard
from again. Cause of loss unknown, possibly
drifting mine. Germans made no claims for
attacks on a submarine at the times of her
passage; all 34 crew lost (partly Bay of Biscay
patrol)
UPHOLDER
(Lt Cdr M D Wanklyn VC+), possibly 14th April
1942, Central Mediterranean, NE of Tripoli,
western Libya (34.47N, 15.55E) - by depth
charges of Italian destroyer escort 'Pegaso'.
Sailed from Malta on 6th April, rendezvoused
with submarine ‘Unbeaten’ on the 10th, then
nothing more heard of her. Possibly attacked
Italian convoy on the 14th and lost in the
counter-attack by ‘Pegaso’. An alternative
explanation for her loss is mined off Tripoli on
the night of the 11th; all 32 crew lost (Tripoli
patrol)
URGE
(Lt
Cdr E P Tomkinson+), possibly 29th April 1942,
Central Mediterranean - 'overdue, presumed
lost'. On passage from Malta to Alexandria at
time of withdrawal of 10th Submarine Flotilla
from the heavily bombed island. Sailed on 27th
April, but failed to arrive on 6th May.
Explanations for her loss include mining off
Malta on the 28th or attacked by Italian
destroyer escort ‘Pegaso’. More recent sources
suggest sunk by Italian fighter-bombers off Ras
el Hilal, near Derna, Libya on the 29th; 32 crew
and 11 passengers lost (Defence of Malta)
USK
(Lt
G P Darling+), late April/early May 1941,
Central Mediterranean - 'overdue, presumed
lost'. Sailed from Malta on 19th April for
patrol off NW Sicily and later the Cape Bon,
Tunisia area in the Strait of Sicily. Last
signal was possibly on the 25th and failed to
return on 3rd May. Explanations include
mined in the Cape Bon area around the 28th,
mined on the 3rd May, or sunk by Italian
destroyers 'Pigafetta' and 'Zeno' on the 4th,
west of Sicily during a convoy attack; all 32
crew lost (Italian NW Sicily patrol)
USURPER
(Lt
D
R Mott+), around 3rd October 1943, Central
Mediterranean - 'overdue, presumed lost'. Sailed
from Algiers on 24th September for patrol off
Spezia, ordered to Gulf of Genoa on 3rd October.
Not heard from again, failed to answer signal on
11th October or return to Algiers on 12th.
Probably sunk in the Gulf of Genoa by German
anti-submarine vessel ‘UJ.2208’ on the 3rd,
otherwise mined in same area; all 46 crew lost
(Italian Gulf of Genoa patrol)
UTMOST
(Lt
J W Coombe+), 25th November 1942, Central
Mediterranean, off NW Sicily in Tyrrhenian Sea
(c36.30N, 12.00E) - by depth charges of Italian
destroyer escort 'Groppo'. Sailed from Malta for
patrol, attacked convoy on the 23rd, then on
25th while returning to Malta, depth charged and
sunk by ‘Groppo’ off Marittimo island; all 33
crew lost (Italian NW Sicily patrol)
VANDAL
(Lt
J
S Bridger+), 24th February 1943, Western Europe
in Mull of Kintyre/Arran area, west coast of
Scotland - 'overdue, presumed lost'. Left Holy
Loch on the Clyde on 22nd for three-day
working-up exercises in the Firth of Clyde.
Sighted on 24th, north of Isle of Arran when she
was due to carry out a deep dive and
disappeared, cause of loss unknown; all 36 crew
lost. Her wreck has since been found between
Arran and the island of Inchmarnock.
Lost
while manned by an Allied Navy - UREDD,
Norwegian Navy, 24th February 1943, off Norway
Boats
completed by war's end and surviving - P.47
(Dutch 'Dolfijn'), P.52 (Polish 'Dzik'),
ULTIMATUM,
ULTOR,
UMBRA,
UNA,
UNBENDING,
UNBROKEN
(Russian 'V.2' from 1944),
UNISON
(Russian 'V.3' from 1944),
UNITED,
UNIVERSAL,
UNRIVALLED,
UNRUFFLED,
UNRULY,
UNSEEN,
UNSHAKEN,
UNSPARING, UNSWERVING, UNTIRING (Greek
'Amfitriti' from 1945),
UPRIGHT,
UPROAR,
UPSHOT, UPSTART (Greek 'Xifias' from 1945),
URCHIN (Polish 'Sokol'), URTICA, UTHER,
VAGABOND, VAMPIRE, VARANGIAN, VARIANCE
(Norwegian 'Utsira'), VARNE (Norwegian 'Ula'),
VARNE (2), VELDT (Greek 'Pipinos'), VENGEFUL
(Greek 'Delfin'), VENTURER, VIGOROUS, VIKING,
VINEYARD (French 'Doris'(2)), VIRULENT, VIRTUE,
VISIGOTH, VITALITY (ex-UNTAMED), VIVID,
VOLATILE, VORACIOUS, VORTEX (French 'Morse' 2),
VOTARY, VOX (French 'Curie'), VOX(2), VULPINE
HM S/M United 1944
77. 'A' class,
2 boats completed by war's end - 1,120/1,620 tons,
18/8 knots, 1-4in/10tt, 60 crew, 1945
Boats
completed - AMPHION, ASTUTE
HMS/M Alcide completed post-war. One
of the "A" class boats built for
long-range Pacific operations. Only two were
completed by VJ-Day
FOREIGN
& CAPTURED BOATS
78. ex-American 'R' class,
3 boats transferred 1941-42 - 570/680 tons, 14/10
knots, 1-3in/4tt, 30 crew, 1918, 1 lost:
P.514
(Lt
Cdr
R Pain), 21st June 1942, North Atlantic off east
coast of Newfoundland - rammed in error by
Canadian minesweeping sloop 'Georgian'. Employed
on anti-submarine training duties off Canadian
east coast, sailed from Argentia on 20th on
passage for St Johns. ‘Georgian’ was waiting to
provide escort for a local convoy, and unaware
of a friendly submarine in the area, rammed and
sank ‘P.514’; all 43 crew lost (A/S Training
Duties)
Surviving
boats returned in 1944 - P.511, P.512
79. ex-American 'S' class,
6 boats transferred 1941-42 - 850/1,060 tons,
14/11 knots, 1-4in/4tt, 40 crew, 1919
Lost
while manned by an Allied Navy - JASTRZAB,
Polish Navy, 2nd May 1942, Arctic
Surviving
boats returned in 1944 – ‘P.552’, ‘P.553’,
‘P.554’, ‘P.555’, ‘P.556’
80. ex-Turkish boats,
Building in Britain and acquired by British Navy,
4 boats - 680/860 tons, 14/10 knots, 1-3in/5tt, 35
crew, 1941-42, 1 lost:
P.615
(Lt
C
W St C Lambert+), 18th April 1943, Central
Atlantic Ocean, south of Freetown, Sierra Leone,
West Africa (06.49N, 13.09W) – torpedoed by
German ‘U.123’ (Schroeter). Believed on passage
to South Atlantic Station for anti-submarine
training duties, left Freetown on 17th for
Takoradi under escort of motor minesweeper
‘MMS.107’; all 44 crew lost.
Surviving
boats transferred to Turkey in 1942 and 1945 –
‘P.611’, ‘P.612’, ‘P.614’
81. ex-German & Italian boats, Captured and commissioned into British Navy, 4 boats -
570/680 tons, 14/10 knots, 1-3in/4tt, 30 crew,
1918, 1 lost:
GRAPH
(ex-German ‘U.570’), 20th March 1944, Western
Europe, on Islay island, west coast of Scotland
(55.48N, 6.27W) - driven aground and wrecked. On
tow from Aberdeen to the Clyde for experimental
purposes and broke adrift.
Surviving
boats – ‘P.711’ (Italian 'Galileo Galilei'
captured 19th June 1940), ‘P.712’ (Italian
'Perla' captured 9th July 1942, Greek 'Matrozos'
from 1943), ‘P.714’ (Italian 'Bronzo' captured
12th July 1943, French 'Narval' from 1944)
MIDGET
SUBMARINES
82. 'X' classes,
X.3-X.10, X.20-X.25, XT.1-XT.6, XE.1-XE.9,
XE.11-XE.12, 31 boats - c30/33t, 6/6 knots, 2-2
ton side charges, 4 crew, launched 1942-45, 8
lost.
Miniature
submarines
with full diving capabilities, equipped with
periscope etc. and able to drop side charges
beneath the target after being towed to vicinity
by ocean-going submarines. XT boats were for
training and not equipped with side charges; XE
boats were more habitable and designed for Far
East operations. XE's also had a diving
compartment to allow divers to leave the boat
and attach limpet mines. On the 31st July 1945,
XE.3 sank Japanese heavy cruiser ‘Takao’ in the
Johore Strait off Singapore.
Six
submarines sailed from Scotland on the 11th/12th
September 1943, each with an X-craft in tow to
attack the heavy German ships lying in
Altenfiord. All six midget submarines were lost:
X.9
(Sub
Lt
E V Kearon RNVR+), 16th September 1943, Northern
Europe, Norwegian Sea – Sailing to attack
battlecruiser ‘Scharnhorst’, dived and under tow
by ‘Syrtis’. Failed to surface on the 16th, tow
rope found parted; passage crew lost.
X.8
(Lt
J Smart RNVR), 18th September 1943, Northern
Europe, Norwegian Sea – Sailing to attack pocket
battleship ‘Lützow’, under tow by ‘Sea Nymph’.
Tow parted on 15th, but ‘found by towing
submarine next day. Lt Smart, passage CO forced
to jettison both charges on the 17th, and the
mission had to be abandoned. ‘X.8’ scuttled on
the 18th.
X.5
(Lt
H Henty-Creer+), X.6 (Lt D Cameron RNR,
awarded VC), X.7 (Lt G Place, awarded
VC), 22nd September 1943, Northern Europe,
Altenfiord, Norway - Lost in attack on German
battleship ‘Tirpitz’ at anchor in Kaafiord.
‘X.6’ and ‘X.7’ laid their charges under or near
‘Tirpitz’ badly damaging her. Fate of ‘X.5’ is
not known. No survivors from ‘X.5’, all saved
from ‘X.6’, two saved and two lost from ‘X.7’.
X.10
(Lt
K R Hudspeth RANVR), 3rd October 1943, Northern
Europe, Norwegian Sea – Failed in attack on
battlecruiser ‘Scharnhorst’ and withdrew. Taken
in tow by submarine ‘Stubborn’ on 28th, tow
broke on 3rd, gale warning received and ‘X.10’
scuttled.
__________________________
X.22
(Lt
B M MacFarlane RAN), 7th February 1944, Western
Europe, Pentland Firth, off N Scotland – towing
exercises with submarine ‘Syrtis’, ‘Syrtis’
manoeuvred to rescue officer overboard, rammed
and sank ‘X.22’.
XE.11,
March 1945, Western Europe, Loch Striven,
Scotland – exercising, lost in collision with
boom defence vessel.
HUMAN
TORPEDOES
83. 'Chariots'
(losses in date order) – 1.6 tons, length 20ft,
3-4 knots, one bow charge with 590lb of Torpex, 2
crew, built from 1942, 28 lost:
Electrically
powered
submersible with crew of two equipped with diving
suits and breathing apparatus sitting astride the
torpedo-shaped hull. Armed with detachable bow
charge. Developed by the Italian Navy and
nicknamed ‘Maiale’ or pig, their greatest triumph
was the sinking of ‘Queen Elizabeth’ and ‘Valiant’
in Alexandria harbour on the 19th December 1941,
although both British battleships were raised and
put back into service. Design of the captured
craft was developed by the British and named
‘Chariots’.
No.
VI and VIII, 31st October 1942, Western Europe, off Trondheimfiord,
Norway - broke away in rough weather. Being
towed below Norwegian fishing boat ‘Arthur’ on
final approach for attack on German battleship
‘Tirpitz’ (Operation ‘Title’) in Fottenfiord
well inside Trondheimfiord. Tow broke in bad
weather; Charioteers on board ‘Arthur’ at the
time.
No.
X and XVIII, December 1942/January 1943, Central Mediterranean,
Maddalena, Sardinia area - lost with submarine
‘P.311’. Being carried in watertight deck
containers mounted on ‘T’ class submarine
‘P.311’ for attack on Italian cruisers at
Maddalena, NE Sardinia (Operation ‘Principal’).
See loss of ‘P.311’ above; all Charioteers lost.
No.
XV, XVI, XIX, XXII and XXIII,
2nd/3rd January 1943, Central Mediterranean,
Palermo, northwest coast of Sicily - scuttled.
Launched from watertight deck containers on
submarines ‘Thunderbolt’ (two Chariots) and
‘Trooper’ (three Chariots) for attack on Palermo
Harbour – also part of Operation ‘Principal’.
After two Chariots successfully penetrated the
defences, charges were laid which severely
damaged Italian light cruiser ‘Ulpio Traiano’
then being fitted out before completion and
transport ‘Viminale’ early on the 3rd. The
Palermo attack was part of the same operation,
which led to the loss of ‘P.311’ and Chariots
No.X and XVIII above.
No.
XII and XIII, 19th January 1943, Central Mediterranean, Tripoli, Libya
- scuttled. Two weeks after the Palermo attack,
submarine ‘Thunderbolt’ carried two Chariots for
an attack on Tripoli Harbour (Operation
‘Welcome’). The operation failed.
No.
LII and LVII, 22nd November 1943, Western Europe, Norway - scuttled in
heavy weather. Taking part in attack on German
shipping in Norwegian fiords.
No.
LVIII and LX, 21st/22nd June 1944, Central Mediterranean, La Spezia,
NW Italy - scuttled. A joint British-Italian
operation mounted from Italian destroyer
‘Grecale’ and MTB ‘MAS.74’, the Chariots were
launched for an attack on Italian warships under
German control in La Spezia harbour on the NW
coast of Italy (Operation ‘QWZ’). Heavy cruiser
‘Bolzano’ had been torpedoed and damaged by
submarine ‘Unbroken’ in 1942 and taken to La
Spezia for repairs. Later plans to convert her
to a cruiser-aircraft carrier came to nothing
and she was captured when Italy surrendered. In
the attack ‘Bolzano’ was sunk.
No.
LXXIX and LXXX, 28th October 1944, South East Asia, Phuket, SW coast of
Thailand in Andaman Sea - scuttled. Transported
to Phuket by submarine ‘Trenchant’, penetrated
harbour and sank transport ‘Sumatra Maru’, badly
damaged another ship.
No.
V, XXIX, XXXI and XXXIV,
1945, Western Europe, west Scotland. Loss
reported in June 1945
No.
XI, XIV, XVII, XX, XXI, XXIV and XXV,
1945, Central Mediterranean, Malta. Loss
reported in June 1945
ONE
MAN MIDGET SUBMARINES
84. Welman Craft,
approximately 100 craft - weight 5,750lb with
charge, length 20ft, 3 knots, 1 bow charge with
425lb of Torpex, 1 crew, built 1943, 5 lost.
Small
one-man operated submarines with limited range
and no periscope. Navigated on the surface
through window in small conning tower. Declared
unsuitable for operations in late 1943 and
scrapped 1944.
No.10
(Lt
B
Perdersen, Norwegian Army), 9th September 1943,
Western Europe in Loch Cairnbawn (Locha Chairn
Bhain) NW Scotland - by accident. Sank alongside
depot ship
Bonaventure.
No.
45, 46, 47 and 48,
22nd November 1943, Western Europe, Bergen, SW
Norway - captured/scuttled by their crews.
Carried by MTB's across the North Sea for attack
on Bergen Harbour. Failed to reach target area
with Welman 46 (Lt B Perdersen, Norwegian Army)
captured by the Germans and the other three
scuttled.
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