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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.
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