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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 Italian mercantile CHIETE.
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 service,
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