In this feature on early ship QSLs, we begin first with some very old color postcards associated with wireless transmissions in the early days. Our three oldest cards in this style all show the same picture, an artistic rendition of a humor scene. Two ships out on the ocean are talking to each other in Morse Code, and one fish underwater nearby says to another: What are they talking about?
The oldest of these cards is postmarked on December 4 in the ancient year 1902. The second card is postmarked two years later, and the third card is not postmarked at all. It seems that these cards were all printed in the year 1902, and they could apparently lay claim to being the oldest wireless cards in the world.
A wireless card dated in August in the year 1910 is just on 100 years old. This card is printed in the German language and script, and it carries the Captain’s arrival message when the ship Blucher arrived at Gudvangen Fjord in Norway.
Another early wireless card shows a large passenger ship communicating a Christmas message to a land station. Quite coincidentally, this postcard is postmarked December 24, 1914, which is the date of the remarkable Christmas truce on the front lines during World War 1.
However, we are also holding several QSL card issued for wireless and radio transmissions from transmitters aboard ships at sea; passenger liners, cargo vessels, and navy ships. The oldest of these cards is postmarked May 21, 1924, and it verifies the reception of a spark wireless transmission from a 1 kW transmitter on board the vessel Ka-Imi-Loa. At the time, the Kaimiloa was at anchor off New Caledonia in the South Pacific.
Another QSL card, dated in the year 1925, is actually a reception report on a QSL card, and it reports the reception of an amateur QSO from 7RY in the United States. At the time, the USS Wyoming was in the Pacific, near Hawaii, and the callsign of the transmitter on board this navy vessel was NWQ. This QSL is actually double sized and it is printed on paper rather than on card.
Then too, we hold a QSL card from station NRRL on board another navy vessel, the USS Seattle, at the time when the Great White Fleet was steaming towards the Australian waters.
We go back to the Kaimiloa, and its interesting story. In the year 1924, business man Medford Kellum formed what he called the Kaimiloa Expedition in association with the Bishop Museum in Honolulu. The purpose of this expedition was to scientifically study peoples and islands in various areas of the exotic South Pacific. The name Kaimiloa means, in the Hawaiian language, distant traveller.
Originally, this schooner carried a spark wireless transmitter licensed with the callsign KFUH and rated at 1 kW. However, during the first phase of its tour in the South Pacific, the operator had difficulty in making adequate wireless contact with the United States.
The owner, Medford Kellum gave approval for the installation of a valve, or tube, transmitter and so the Kaimiloa was taken back to Honolulu to receive the new equipment which was installed in May 1925. The transmitter was actually a double unit made up of two transmitters rated at 250 watts.
Soon afterwards, the Kaimiloa resumed its exploratory tour in the South Pacific, calling at several different island groups. Several QSL cards were issued from station KFUH, and posted in Suva, Fiji. It is probable that several news items from the expedition were passed on at times to the news world via station KFUH, and perhaps, even some voiced commentaries.
The claim to fame on the part of the Kaimiloa was that the electronic transmitter placed aboard was, it is stated, the very first occasion in the history of radio in which a valve, or tube, transmitter was installed on board a ship.
(AWR Wavescan/NWS 72 via Adrian Peterson)
Dutch submarine HNLMS Dolfijn (1949-1953), ex HMS Taurus (T-class). It was loaned from the Royal Navy.
The Royal Navy's T class (or Triton class) of diesel-electric submarines was designed in the 1930s to replace the O, P and R classes. Fifty-three members of the class were built just before and during World War II, where they played a major role in the Royal Navy's submarine operations. In the decade following the the war, the oldest surviving boats were scrapped and the remainder converted to anti-submarine vessels to counter the perceived growing Soviet submarine threat. The Royal Navy disposed of its last operational boat in 1969, although it retained one permanently moored as a static training submarine until 1974. The last surviving boat, serving in the Israel Defense Forces, was scrapped in 1977.
Forward view from the conning tower of HMS Tribune running on the surface in Scottish waters. September 1942.
Design and development
Design began in 1934 but was constrained by the 1930 London Naval Treaty restricting the total British submarine fleet to 52,700 tons, a maximum of 2,000 tons for any boat, and maximum armament of one 5.1 inch (130 mm) gun. The "Repeat P"s, as the design was originally called, were intended to be large and powerful enough to operate against Japan in the absence of other British naval units. This demanded a large boat with impressive firepower, and the eventual design had 10 forward-facing torpedo tubes and a maximum diving depth of 300 ft (91 m). The design was finalised in 1935 and on June 24 June the decision was made to drop the "Repeat P" designation and give all boats names starting with "T".
The lead boat, Triton, was ordered March 5, 1936 and ran her first-of-class trials in December 1938. Fifty-three T-class submarines were built before and during the war in three distinct groups, although there were minor differences between boats within the same group. The second and third groups had the fuel capacity increased on many boats to 230 tons, giving a range of 11000nm at 10 knots.
Service history
T-class submarines fought in all theatres in the Second World War and suffered around 25 percent losses. They were particularly vulnerable in the Mediterranean, where their large size made them easily visible from the air in the clear waters, but they had much more success elsewhere.
After the war, all surviving Group One and Two boats were scrapped and the remainder fitted with snorts.
In the late 1940s and 1950s, most were streamlined for quiet and higher-speed underwater operation against Soviet submarines, in place of the anti-surface-ship role that they had been designed for. In January 1948, it was formally acknowledged that the main operational function of the British submarine fleet would now be to intercept Soviet submarines slipping out of their bases in Northern Russia to attack British and Allied merchant vessels. The following April, the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff, Rear-Admiral Geoffrey Oliver, circulated a paper in which he proposed that British submarines take a more offensive role by attacking Soviet submarines off the Northern Russian coast and mining the waters in the area. With the dramatically reduced surface fleet following the end of the Second World War, he commented that this was one of the few methods the Royal Navy had for "getting to the enemy on his home ground."
Much of the work carried out on the submarines was underpinned by results of measurements made using Tradewind, which had been modified in July 1945-September 1946 to become an acoustic trials submarine, with external tubes and guns removed, the bridge faired, the hull streamlined and some internal torpedo tubes blanked over.
Starting in 1948, eight newer all-welded boats underwent extensive "Super-T" conversion at Chatham Dockyard. The modifications included the removal of deck guns and the replacement of the conning tower with a "sail", a smooth-surfaced and far more symmetrical and streamlined tower. An extra battery was installed, and a new section of hull inserted to accommodate an extra pair of motors and switchgear. This varied between 14 ft (4.3 m) in the earlier conversions and 17 ft 6 in (5.33 m) in the later ones. These changes allowed an underwater speed of 15 knots (28 km/h) or more and increased the endurance to around 32 hours at 3 knots (6 km/h). The first boats to undergo this modification were Taciturn in November 1948-March 1951, followed by Turpin in June 1949-September 1951. The programme was completed with the conversion of Trump in February 1954-June 1956.
The conversion was not entirely successful since the metacentric height was reduced, making the boats roll heavily on the surface in rough weather. This was alleviated in 1953 in those conversions which had been completed by increasing the buoyancy by raising the capacity of a main ballast tank by 50 tons. This was done by merging it with an existing emergency oil fuel tank. For the four boats remaining to be converted, increase in buoyancy was achieved by lengthening the extra hull section to be inserted from 14 ft (4.3 m) to 17 ft 6 in (5.33 m). The effect was to lengthen the control room and strict instructions were issued that this space was not to be used for extra equipment otherwise the improved buoyancy would be affected.
In the meantime, in December 1950, approval was made for the streamlining of five riveted boats. This was a much less extensive process with the removal of deck guns, external torpedo tubes and the replacement of the conning tower with a "sail" and the batteries replaced with more modern versions providing a 23 percent increase in power. The work was much more straightforward than the conversion of the welded boats and was undertaken during normal refit. The first riveted boat to undergo this modification was Tireless in 1951.
The last operational Royal Navy boat of the class was Tiptoe, which was decommissioned on August 29, 1969. The last T class boat in service with Royal Navy, albeit non-operationally, was Tabard which was permanently moored as a static training submarine at the HMS Dolphin shore-establishment from 1969 until 1974, when she was replaced by HMS Alliance.
The last operational boat anywhere was the INS Dolphin, formerly HMS Truncheon, one of three T-class boats (and two S-class ones) sold to the Israeli Navy - and which was decommissioned in 1977.
Another submarine sold to Israel, Totem renamed INS Dakar, was lost in the Mediterranean in 1969 while on passage from Scotland to Haifa - a tragedy still remembered in Israel decades later. Although the wreck was discovered in 1999, the cause of the accident remains uncertain.
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Group One boats
These fifteen pre-war submarines were ordered under the Programmes of 1935 (Triton), 1936 (next four), 1937 (next seven) and 1938 (last three). The boats originally had a bulbous bow covering the two forward external torpedo tubes, which quickly produced complaints that they reduced surface speed in rough weather. These external tubes were therefore removed from Triumph during repairs after she was damaged by a mine and Thetis during the extensive repairs following her sinking and subsequent salvage. Only six survived the war, less than half.
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HMS Triton underway on the 2nd of May 1939.
HMS Triton
HMS Triton (N15) was a submarine of the Royal Navy named for the son of Poseidon and Amphitrite, the personification of the roaring waters, was the lead ship of her class. Her keel was laid down on 28 August 1936 by Vickers Armstrong at Barrow-in-Furness. She was launched on 5 October 1937, and commissioned on 9 November 1938 with Lieutenant Commander H. P. de C. Steel in command.
Career
Triton had a brief but eventful career, serving in the North Sea and the Mediterranean.
The sinking of HMS Oxley
When the Admiralty was notified that His Majesty's Government would declare war on Germany, five submarines of the Second Flotilla were ordered to patrol on the Obrestad line off Norway on 24 August 1939. Thus, on 3 September all British submarines were in their combat patrol sectors.
At 1955 on 10 September 1939, Triton had surfaced, fixed a position off the Obrestad Light, set a slow zigzag patrol, and began charging batteries. Lieutenant Commander Steel, having verified that the area was clear and having posted lookouts, gave the bridge to the Officer of the Watch (OOW) and went below, leaving orders that he was to be called if anything unusual appeared. At 2045, he was called to the bridge when an object in the water could be seen very fine on the port bow.
Steel ordered propulsion shifted to the main motors, the signalman to the bridge, and torpedo tubes 7 and 8 readied for firing. The object was recognised as a submarine low in the water.
Once on the bridge, the signalman sent three challenges over several minutes with the box lamp, none of which were answered. Steel wondered if the boat could be HMS Oxley, which should have been patrolling next in line, but some distance away. Steel and his bridge crew studied the silhouette, but could not distinguish what type of submarine it was.
A fourth challenge was sent: three green rifle-grenade flares. After firing, Steel counted slowly to 15 and then decided that they were seeing a German U-boat. He ordered tubes 7 and 8 fired with a three-second interval. Less than a minute later, an explosion was heard.
Triton moved into the area to investigate and heard cries for help. The light from the Aldis lamp revealed three men floundering amid oil and debris.
Lieutenant Guy C. I. St.B. Watkins and Lieutenant Harry A. Stacey entered the water and rescued Lieutenant Commander H.G. Bowerman, Oxley's commanding officer, as well as Able Seaman Gluckes, a lookout. The third person in the water, Lieutenant F.K. Manley, was seen to be swimming strongly when he suddenly sank from view. Neither Manley's body nor any other survivors from Oxley were found.
A Board of Enquiry found that Steel had done all he reasonably could in the circumstances. Oxley was out of position, Triton had acted correctly, and the first Allied submarine casualty of World War II was due to "friendly fire." During the war, the loss of Oxley was attributed to an accidental explosion. After the war, it was explained to have been a collision with Triton. The truth not was revealed until the 1950s.
Home waters and the Mediterranean
Triton continued her war patrols, first in Baltic waters. On 10 April 1940, she sank the German steamers Friedenau, Weibert, and patrol vessel Rau in the Kattegat. She shifted patrol areas to the Mediterranean Sea, basing her operations in Alexandria. During her first patrol in the Gulf of Genoa, Lieutenant Watkins, now Triton's commanding officer, decided to enter the harbor of Savona. She found a supply ship at anchor in the harbor, at which she fired a single torpedo and claimed an 8000-ton kill, though the sinking could not be confirmed. No other ships were available to torpedo, so Watkins surfaced Triton. The submarine began shelling a large factory and a gas works on the shore, damaging both of them before departing.
Sinking
On 28 November 1940, Triton left Malta for a patrol in the southern Adriatic Sea. On 6 December, she picked up an distress message from the Italian merchant Olimpia and set course to intercept and finish her off. Neither Olimpia nor Triton was heard from again. Triton was declared lost with all hands on 18 December. The Italians claimed that she was sunk by torpedo boats, probably Confienza, possibly by Clio, but the date they cite was several days after contact was lost. The British claimed that she was sunk by naval mines in the Strait of Otranto.
Noteable events involving Triton include:
10 Sep 1939 HMS Triton (Lt.Cdr. H.P. De C. Steele, RN) torpedoes and sinks (in error) the British submarine HMS Oxley (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Bowerman, RN) some 28 nautical miles south-south-west of Stavanger, Norway in position 58º30'N, 05º30'E. Triton picked up two survivors, one of these was Lt.Cdr. Bowerman.
28 Feb 1940 HMS Triton (Lt.Cdr. E.F. Pizey, RN) tries to intercept the German blockade breaker Wangoni (7848 GRT) of Kristiansand, Norway. The Wangoni however doesn't stop and manages to escape.
8 Apr 1940 HMS Triton (Lt.Cdr. E.F. Pizey, RN) fires 10 torpedoes against the German cruisers Blücher, Lützow and Emden off Skagen. All torpedoes fired missed their targets.
10 Apr 1940 While operating in the Kattegat HMS Triton (Lt.Cdr. E.F. Pizey, RN) torpedoes and sinks the German merchants Friedenau (5219 GRT) and Wigbert (3648 GRT) in position 57º27'N, 10º46'E and the auxiliary patrol vessel V 1507 / Rau 6 (356 GRT) in position 57º50'N, 11º22'E.
4 Oct 1940 HMS Triton (Lt. G.C.I.S.B. Watkins, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Franca Fassio (1858 GRT) about 16 nautical miles north of Cape Noli near Genoa.
8 Oct 1940 HMS Triton (Lt. G.C.I.S.B. Watkins, RN) attacks the Italian merchant Spezia (1825 GRT) with torpedoes off Vado Ligure, Savona, Italy. The target is not hit.
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HMS Thunderbolt stationary in harbour after a patrol. Crew members on deck - 1940.
HMS Thetis
HMS Thetis was a Group 1 T-class submarine of the Royal Navy which served under two names. Under her first identity, HMS Thetis, she commenced sea trials on 4 March 1939. She sank during trials on 1 June 1939 with the loss of 99 lives. She was salvaged, repaired and recommissioned as HMS Thunderbolt serving in the Atlantic and Mediterranean theatres until she was lost with all hands on 14 March 1943. This makes Thetis one of the few military vessels that have been lost twice with her crew in their service history, like the H. L. Hunley.
HMS Thetis
Thetis was built by Cammell Laird in Birkenhead, England and launched on 29 June 1938. After completion, trials were delayed because the forward hydroplanes jammed, but eventually started in Liverpool Bay under Lieutenant-Commander Guy Bolus. Thetis left Birkenhead for Liverpool Bay to conduct her final diving trials, accompanied by the tug Grebecock. As well as her normal complement of 59 men she was carrying technical observers from Cammell Laird and other naval personnel, a total of 103 men. The first dive was attempted on 1 June 1939 at about 14:00. The submarine was too light to dive, so a survey of the water in the various tanks on board was made. One of the checks was whether the internal torpedo tubes were flooded.
Lieutenant Frederick Woods, the torpedo officer, opened the test cocks on the tubes. Unfortunately, the test cock on tube number 5 was blocked by some enamel paint so no water flowed out even though the bow cap was open. This combined with a confusing layout of the bow cap indicators - they were arranged in a vertical line with 5 at the bottom - 1,2,3,4,6, and then 5; and the shut position for tube 5 on the dial was in a different position to the other torpedo tubes - led to the inner door of the tube being opened. The inrush of water caused the bow of the submarine to sink to the seabed 150 ft (46 m) below the surface.
An indicator buoy was released and smoke candle fired. By 1600, Grebecock was becoming concerned for the safety of Thetis and radioed the HMS Dolphin submarine base at Gosport. A search was immediately instigated. Although the stern remained on the surface, only four crew escaped before the rest were overcome by carbon dioxide poisoning caused by the crowded conditions, the increased atmospheric pressure and a delay of 20 hours before the evacuation started. Ninety-nine lives were lost in the incident. In addition to the normal crew of 53, there were 26 Cammell Laird employees, another 9 naval officers, 4 Vickers-Armstrong employees and 2 caterers. The crew waited before abandoning the vessel until it had been discovered by Brazen, a destroyer which had been sent to search for it and which indicated her presence by dropping small explosive charges into the water.
The incident attracted legal action from one of the widows, who brought a claim of negligence against the shipbuilders, for not removing the material blocking the valve. Unfortunately for her the Admiralty successfully invoked Crown Privilege (now termed Public Interest Immunity) and blocked the disclosure of, amongst other items, 'the contract for the hull and machinery of Thetis' as evidence in court, on the basis that to do so would be 'injurious to the public interest'. The case is one of interest in English law, as the judges in this case accepted the Admiralty's claim on face value with no scrutiny, a ruling later overturned.
One further fatality occurred during salvage operations, when Diver Petty Officer Henry Otho Perdue died from "the bends" on 23 August 1939. On Sunday 3 September Thetis was intentionally grounded ashore at Moelfre Bay, Anglesey. It was the same day that war was declared. Human remains that had not already been removed by the salvage team were now brought out to a Naval funeral, with full honours.
The Thetis disaster was in marked contrast to the successful rescue of the survivors of USS Squalus, which had sunk off the coast of New Hampshire just a week previously.
In 1997, BBC Radio 4 broadcast a radio play about the Thetis disaster. The play was called Close Enough To Touch and was written by Liverpool writer Fred Lawless. The play was also broadcast on BBC Radio Merseyside and the BBC World Service. In 1999 a play entitled 'HMS Thetis' by Mark Gee in association with David Roberts, was performed at the Liverpool Bluecoat Chambers and at Birkenheads Pacific Road Theatre.
Lieutenant B J Andrew, RN (centre) with the crew of HM Submarine THUNDERBOLT and their 'Jolly Roger' flag. They had just returned from the Mediterranean to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS FORTH in Holy Loch, Scotland. 27th March 1942.
HMS Thunderbolt
The submarine was successfully salvaged and repaired, being commissioned in 1940 as Thunderbolt under the command of Lt. Commander Richard Crouch.
During the next 18 months, she saw service in the Atlantic: In December 1940 she was on patrol in the Bay of Biscay and on 15 December she encountered and sank the Italian submarine Tarantini.
In the autumn of 1942 Thunderbolt was converted with her sister ships Trooper and HMS P311 to carry two "Chariots" (a type of manned torpedo) and their crews for operations against Axis shipping in harbour, and was transferred with them to the Mediterranean in December 1942.
Their first mission, Operation Principal, was undertaken in December 1942, the three boats taking their charges to targets around the Mediterranean. Thunderbolt's objective was shipping in Cagliari, but the operation was not a success, and P311 was lost at La Maddalena, her intended target.
A second operation against Palermo harbour in January 1943 was more successful. On the 2-3 January, the manned torpedoes entered the harbour and mined the ships there, sinking the cruiser Ulpio Traiano and the freighter SS Viminale.
A further mission to Tripoli harbour took place on 18 January. This was to prevent the Axis using blockships to neutralize Tripoli harbour, which was about to be occupied by the British Eighth Army.
Thunderbolt was sunk on 14 March 1943 off Cap St Vito by the Italian corvette Cicogna, which had detected her and attacked with depth charges. All hands were lost and the sub settled to the bottom in 1,350 m of water.
The Thetis Clip
The torpedo tubes on British and Australian submarines were afterwards equipped with a Thetis clip, one of the modifications introduced as a result of the accident. This is a latch which allows a torpedo tube door to be opened no more than a small amount in case it is open to the sea at the bow end. Once it is clear that no flooding will occur the latch can be released and the door fully opened.
Noteable events involving Thunderbolt include:
15 Dec 1940 At 1017 hours the Italian submarine Capitano Tarantini (offsite link) was torpedoed and sunk south-west of the Gironde Estuary near Bordeaux, France in position 45º25'N, 01º22'W by the British submarine HMS Thunderbolt (Lt. C.B. Crouch, RN).
15 Jun 1941 HMS Thunderbolt (Lt. C.B. Crouch, DSO, RN) fires torpedoes at the German submarine U-557 in the North Atlantic in position 42º00'N, 47º00'W. The torpedoes however miss their target.
At 1155 hours (time zone +3) HMS Thunderbolt spots the conning tower of a German submarine about 3.5 nautical miles away. Due to the sea conditions contact was lost.
At 1243 hours contact was gained again at 5000 yards. At 1250 hours a salvo of 6 torpedoes was fired from 4300 yards (2 torpedoes misfired and did not left the torpedo tubes). No explosions were heard after 5 minutes so no hits were obtained.
At 1312 hours another two torpedoes were fired but these also missed. Lt. Crouch decided to prepair for gun action but the suprise was gone as the uboat was seen to follow up the torpedo tracks. Lt. Crouch decided to go deep.
7 Sep 1941 HMS Thunderbolt (Lt.Cdr. C.B. Crouch, DSO, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Sirena (974 GRT) about 50 miles west of Benghasi, Libya.
10 Sep 1941 HMS Thunderbolt (Lt.Cdr. C.B. Crouch, DSO, RN) sinks the Italian auxiliary patrol vessel V 224 / Svan I (388 GRT) with gunfire in the Gulf of Syrte off Marsa el Auegia.
11 Sep 1941 HMS Thunderbolt (Lt.Cdr. C.B. Crouch, DSO, RN) torpedoes and sinks the German merchant Livorno (1829 GRT) about 35 nautical miles west-south-west of Benghazi, Libya in position 31º58'N 19º23'E.
14 Sep 1941 HMS Thunderbolt (Lt.Cdr. C.B. Crouch, DSO, RN) fires three torpedoes against the German merchant Tinos (2826 GRT) about 30 nautical miles north-west of Benghazi, Libya. All torpedoes fires missed their target.
10 Oct 1941 HMS Thunderbolt (Lt.Cdr. C.B. Crouch, DSO, RN) sinks the Italian sailing vessel Citta di Simi (25 GRT) with gunfire some 12 miles north-east of Cape Sidero, Crete in position 35º31'N, 26º25'E.
25 Nov 1941 HMS Thunderbolt (Lt.Cdr. C.B. Crouch, DSO, RN) sinks the German sailing vessel L VII (300 BRT) with gunfire off Kythera, Greece.
2 Jan 1942 HMS Thunderbolt (Lt.Cdr. C.B. Crouch, DSO, RN) torpedoes and damages the Italian merchant Anna Capano (1216 GRT) off Argostoli, Keffalonia Island, Greece.
4 Jan 1942 HMS Thunderbolt (Lt.Cdr. C.B. Crouch, DSO, RN) sinks the Italian auxiliary minesweeper R 195 / Nuovo San Pietro (32 GRT) with gunfire west off Keffalonia Island, Greece.
30 Jan 1942 HMS Thunderbolt (Lt.Cdr. C.B. Crouch, DSO, RN) fires four torpedoes against the Italian torpedo boat Solferino in the Ionian Sea.
1 Feb 1942 HMS Thunderbolt (Lt.Cdr. C.B. Crouch, DSO, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Absirtea (4170 GRT) about 6 nautical miles bearing 320 of Cape Dukato, Greece in aproximate position 38º40'N, 20º30'E.
3 Feb 1942 HMS Thunderbolt (Lt.Cdr. C.B. Crouch, DSO, RN) damages the Italian auxiliary submarine chaser AS 80 / Lanciotto Piero (180 BRT) with gunfire off Gheregambe.
6 Feb 1942 HMS Thunderbolt (Lt.Cdr. C.B. Crouch, DSO, RN) attacks the German submarine U-431 south-west of Crete in position 34º36'N, 23º22'E. The German submarine escapes unharmed.
8 Feb 1942 HMS Thunderbolt (Lt.Cdr. C.B. Crouch, DSO, RN) damages the Italian sailing vessel Maria Grazia Siliato with gunfire 12 nautical miles east of Brindisi, Italy.
13 Feb 1943 HMS Thunderbolt (Lt.Cdr. C.B. Crouch, DSO and Bar, RN) sinks the Italian auxiliary minesweeper No.112 / Mafalda (44 GRT) with gunfire off Isola Lungha (Dugi Otok, Croatia).
18 Feb 1943 HMS Thunderbold (Lt.Cdr. C.B. Crouch, DSO and Bar, RN) damages the Italian auxiliary patrol vessel F 95 / San Giorgio (364 GRT) with gunfire north-west of Pola in position 45º02'N, 13º35'E.
20 Feb 1943 HMS Thunderbold (Lt.Cdr. C.B. Crouch, DSO and Bar, RN) sinks an Italian sailing vessel with gunfire off Bari.
12 Mar 1943 HMS Thunderbold (Lt.Cdr. C.B. Crouch, DSO and Bar, RN) torpedoes and sinks (later raised) the French merchant (in German service) Esterel (3100 GRT) off Capo San Vito, Sicily, Italy.
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HMS Tribune underway 1939.
HMS Tribune
HMS Tribune was a British T class submarine built by Scotts, Greenock. She was laid down on 3 March 1937 and was commissioned on 17 October 1939. HMS Tribune was part of the first group of T class submarines.
Career
Tribune started the war with operations in the North Sea and off the Scandinavian coast. She had a number of fruitless patrols, attacking an unidentified German submarine and merchant, the U-56, the German tanker Karibisches Meer and the German merchant Birkenfels, all without success.
She had marginally better luck in the Mediterranean, damaging the French merchant Dalny, which was beached to prevent her from sinking, and then damaging the now beached Dalny the next day. She also torpedoed and damaged the German tanker Präsident Herrenschmidt, and attacked the Italian merchant Benevento, but failed to hit her.
HMS Tribune survived the war, and was sold for scrap in July 1947, and was broken up in November, by Ward, of Milford Haven.
Noteable events involving Tribune include:
17 Jan 1940 HMS Tribune (Lt.Cdr. G.P.S. Davies, RN) fires 6 torpedoes against ' what is identified as ' an enemy submarine in the Skagerrak about 15 nautical miles east-north-east of Skagen, Denmark in position 57º50'N, 11º00'E. No German submarine reported this attack.
22 Jun 1940 HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) makes a torpedo attack on an enemy merchant of about 7000 GRT off Standlandet, Norway. All torpedoes fired missed their target.
6 Sep 1940 HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) attacks a submarine about 15 nautical miles north-east of St. Kilda, Hebrides in position 57º58'N, 08º14'W. Two torpedoes were fired but these missed their target. It leaves little doubt that the torpedoes were fired against the German submarine U-56 as this was the only submarine passing through that general area on that day. The Germans however reported no attack.
16 Dec 1940 HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) attacks the German tanker Karibisches Meer (6973 GRT) in the Bay of Biscay east of Ile de Yeu, France in position 46º46'N, 02º38'S. All torpedoes fired missed their target.
19 Dec 1940 HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN) attacks the German merchant Birkenfels (6322 GRT) in the Bay of Biscay west-south-west of Belle Ile, France in position 47º02'N, 04º14'S. All torpedoes fired missed their target due to the effective dazzle camouflage of the German ship.
10 Jan 1943 HMS Tribune (Lt. S.A. Porter, RN) torpedoes and damages the French merchant Dalny (6672 GRT) 15 nautical miles from San Remo, Italy. The Dalny was beached to prevent her from sinking.
11 Jan 1943 HMS Tribune (Lt. S.A. Porter, RN) again torpedoes and damages the (now beached) French merchant Dalny (6672 GRT) off Cape Cervo, Sardinia, Italy.
22 Mar 1943 HMS Tribune (Lt. S.A. Porter, RN) torpedoes and damages the German tanker Präsident Herrenschmidt (9103 GRT) about 10 nautical miles north-west of Cape Suvero in position 39º14'N, 15º59'E.
30 Mar 1943 HMS Tribune (Lt. S.A. Porter, RN) unsuccesfully fires four torpedoes at the Italian merchant Benevento (5229 GRT) about 50 nautical miles north of Ustica, Italy in position 39º37'N, 13º15'E.
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HMS Trident underway entering dock, WWII.
HMS Trident
HMS Trident was a British T class submarine built by Cammell Laird, Birkenhead. She was laid down on 12 January 1937 and was commissioned on 1 October 1939. HMS Trident was part of the first group of T class submarines.
Career
Trident operated in most of the naval theatres of the Second World War, in home waters in the North Sea and off the Scandinavian coast, in the Mediterranean and in the Pacific far east.
Home waters
She spent the period from 1941 to mid 1943 in the North Sea, where she sank the German merchants Edmund Hugo Stinnes 4, Ostpreußen, Donau II, Hödur and Bahia Laura, the German tanker Stedingen and the German auxiliary submarine chaser UJ 1213 / Rau IV. She also attacked and damaged the German merchants Cläre Hugo Stinnes andLevante, and unsuccessfully attacked the German merchants Palime, Wandsbek, Pelikan and Altkirch, the German oiler Dithmarschen, the German hospital ship Birka, the German minesweeper depot ship MRS 3 / Bali and the German submarine U-31. Whilst returning to base at Polyarnoe, Russia, Trident was fired upon but missed by the German submarine U-566.
Perhaps her most important targets were the German heavy cruisers Prinz Eugen and Admiral Hipper, which she sighted off Norway on the 23 February 1942. Trident fired seven torpedoes against them, one of which hit Prinz Eugen in the stern and jammed her rudder and damaged her engines, but the Admiral Hipper escaped unscathed.
During much of this time the submarine had a young reindeer doe on board. It had been presented as a gift by the Russians in August 1941 as part of the diplomatic ceremonies to honour the alliance between Russia and Britain. The Reindeer was named Polyarnoe after the base and apparently adapted well to life on board. When the submarine returned to the UK Polyarnoe had grown to the extent that the services of the local slaughterman had to be used to truss her securely so she could be safely removed from the boat. Polyarnoe then proceeded to live out the rest of her days in the local zoo.
Mediterranean
In 1943, Trident was assigned to operate in the Mediterranean. She sank five sailing vessels and damaged the Italian merchant Vesta and the German patrol vessel GA 41 / Tassia Christa, and attacked the German auxiliary submarine chaser UJ 2202. She was unlucky on numerous occasions, however, her torpedoes missing two submarines, the Italian merchant Agnani and the French passenger/cargo ship Cap Corse.
She did not spend long in the Mediterranean before being reassigned to the Pacific far east, arriving there in mid 1943.
Far east
She spent the last part of her wartime career in operations against the Japanese, sinking a Japanese sailing vessel and landing craft and unsuccessfully attacking the Japanese training cruiser Kashii. The landing craft was attacked and sunk by her 4-inch (100 mm) deck gun on 19th june 1945 off the Batu islands, Indonesia.
Post war
HMS Trident survived the war, and was sold for scrap on 17 February 1946, and was broken up by Cashmore, of Newport.
Noteable events involving Trident include:
8 Apr 1940 HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. A.G.L. Seale, RN) torpedoes and sinks the German tanker Stedingen (former Posidonia, 8036 GRT) south of the Oslofjord in position 58º57'N, 10º25'E.
10 Apr 1940 HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. A.G.L. Seale, RN) fires two torpedoes against the German merchant Wandsbek (2388 GRT) south-south-east of the Oslofjord in position 58º36'N, 10º58'E. Both torpedoes missed their target.
25 Apr 1940 HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) fires two torpedoes against the German merchants Palime (2863 GRT) and Pelikan (3464 GRT) about 30 nautical miles south-west of Lindesnes, Norway in position 57º30'N, 06º10'E. Both torpedoes missed their targets.
2 May 1940 HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) attacks and damages the German merchant Cläre Hugo Stinnes (5295 GRT) with torpedoes and gunfire off the Björn fjord, Norway.
23 Jun 1940 HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) fires four torpedoes at the German oiler Dithmarschen (10816 GRT) north of Frohavet in position 64º21'N, 09º12'E. The torpedoes however miss their target.
8 Oct 1940 HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) attacks the German submarine U-31 with torpedoes in the Bay of Biscay about 15 nautical miles south of Lorient, France in position 47º28'N, 03º25'W. All torpedoes fired missed their target.
27 Dec 1940 HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) fires five torpedoes against a darkened ship that entered Punta Delgada, Azores. All five torpedoes missed their target.
19 Aug 1941 HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) damages the German merchant Levante (4769 GRT) east of Havoysund, Norway in position 71º01'N, 24º34'E.
22 Aug 1941 HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) torpedoes and sinks the German merchant Ostpreußen (3030 GRT) in the Kvaenangenfjord, Norway in position 70º12'N, 21º05'E.
30 Aug 1941 HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) torpedoes and sinks the German merchants Donau II (2931 GRT) and Bahia Laura (8561 GRT) in Lopphavet, Norway in position 70º35'N, 21º45'E.
3 Sep 1941 While returning to base at Polyarnoe, Russia, HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) is fired upon but missed by the German submarine U-566.
30 Sep 1941 HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) fires three torpedoes against the German hospital ship Birka (1000 GRT) in the Breidsundet about 4 nautical miles north-west of Havøysund, Norway in position 71º03'N, 24º34'E. All three torpedoes missed their target.
3 Nov 1941 HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) torpedoes and sinks the German auxiliary submarine chaser UJ 1213 / Rau IV (354 GRT) in the Porsangerfjord in position 70º58'N, 26º08'E. The German merchant Altkirch (4713 GRT) is missed in the same attack.
7 Nov 1941 HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) fires three torpedoes against the German minesweeper depot ship MRS 3 / Bali north of the Laksefjorden in position 71º06'N, 26º57'E. The torpedoes missed their target.
23 Feb 1942 HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSO, DSC, RN) fires 7 torpedoes against the German heavy cruisers Prinz Eugen and Admiral Scheer west of Kristiansund, Norway in position 63º12'N, 07º00'E. Prinz Eugen is hit in the stern with one torpedo but Admiral Hipper is missed.
20 Apr 1942 HMS Trident (Lt. A.R. Hezlet, DSC, RN) torpedoes and sinks the German merchant Hödur (5368 GRT) in the Svefjord, Norway in position 64º38'N, 10º49'E.
3 Apr 1943 HMS Trident (Lt. P.E. Newstead, RN) fires 6 torpedoes against a submarine off La Spezia, Italy. All torpedoes missed their target.
9 Apr 1943 HMS Trident (Lt. P.E. Newstead, RN) fires two torpedoes against an Italian submarine off Corsica. Both torpedoes missed their target,
14 Apr 1943 HMS Trident (Lt. P.E. Newstead, RN) attacks the German auxiliary submarine chaser UJ 2202 with gunfire south-east of Capo Mele, Italy in position 43º51'N, 08º19'E.
12 May 1943 HMS Trident (Lt. P.E. Newstead, RN) unsuccesfully fires 6 torpedoes at the Italian merchant Agnani (5718 GRT) east of Cevrione, Corsica, France in position 42º27'N, 09º53'E.
14 May 1943 HMS Trident (Lt. P.E. Newstead, RN) unsuccesfully fires 4 torpedoes at the French passenger/cargo ship Cap Corse (2444 GRT) north-west of Corsica in position 43º05'N, 08º04'E (Italian souces give 43º03'N, 08º03'E).
27 Jun 1943 HMS Trident (Lt. P.E. Newstead, RN) sinks a caique with gunfire north of Crete.
At 0500 hours (no time zone given in patrol report must be either -2 or -3) a heavily laden two masted caique of about 100 tons was sighted. Trident closed to 1000 yards.
At 0510 hours fire was opened with the 4" gun. The first round hit the stern and after 9 rounds the caique was seen to be sinking. 5 minutes later the caique sank in position 35º54'N, 25º10'E.
2 Jul 1943 HMS Trident (Lt. P.E. Newstead, RN) sinks two sailing vessels with gunfire north of Rhodos, Greece.
At 0620 hours (time zone -2 or -3) a 40 ton caique was sighted in position 36º31'N, 27º44'E about 3 nautical miles away. When Trident had closed to 2500 yards she surfaced and engaged the caique with the deck gun. At 0707 hours the caique was sunk in position 36º32'5"N, 27º45'E. 21 rounds were expended.
2018 hours two small caiques were seen in position 36º29'N, 27º07'E. At 2104 hours one of the caiques was sunk. The other one was allowed to proceed with the survivors.
4 Jul 1943 HMS Trident (Lt. P.E. Newstead, RN) torpedoes and damages the Italian merchant Vesta (3351 GRT, built 1923) west of Leros, Greece in position 37º03'N, 26º07'E.
At 0009 hours (time zone -2 or -3) three ships were sighted bearing 150º distance 3000 yards. The target was later identified as a medium sized merchant of about 3500 tons escorted by two torpedo boats. (According to Italian Official History this convoy was made up of the Vesta, small tanker Cerere and naval auxiliary Orsini, they had departed Piraeus the same day for Leros) Lt. Newstead turned to make a surface attack.
At 0016 hours three torpedoes were fired from 1300 yards. Three minutes later, while Trident was diving a hit was observed on the target (amidships). Trident went to 250 feet while one of the escorts was hunting for her. No depth charges were however dropped. (According to Italian Official History the damaged Vesta was towed into Syros for emergency repairs).
8 Jul 1943 HMS Trident (Lt. P.E. Newstead, RN) damages the German patrol vessel GA 41 / Tassia Christa with gunfire north of the Doro Channel.
At 0650 hours (time zone -2 or -3), while Trident was in position 345 Cape Doro 10 nautical miles, a two masted schooner of about 150 tons was sighted.
At 0804 hours Trident surfaced and engaged the target with gunfire from 1200 yards. Lt. Newstead thought he had hit and holed the schooner amidships but it was a drop hatch revealing a 3" gun. The schooner also opened fire with 40mm guns fore and aft and closed Trident. After Trident had fired 8 rounds the fire of the enemy became to close and Lt. Newstead decided to break of the action and dive.
While Trident was diving she was hit by several bursts of gunfire but not much damage was done. Trident was now heavily depth charged. In all 50 depth charges were dropped.
29 Aug 1943 HMS Trident (Lt. P.E. Newstead, RN) attacks the Japanese training cruiser Kashii with eight torpedoes off northern Sumatra in the Strait of Malacca with a spread of eight torpedoes. All eight torpedoes miss their target.
28 May 1945 At 1400 hours (time zone -6.5) HMS Trident (Lt. A.R. Profit, DSC, RN) departs Trincomalee for her 33th war patrol (2nd in far eastern waters). She is ordered to patrol in the Malacca Strait and of the west coast of Sumatra.
2 Jun 1945 HMS Trident (Lt. A.R. Profit, DSC, RN) sinks a Sumatran junk with demoliotion charges in the Strait of Malacca.
At 1600 hours (time zone -6.5) a 2 masted junk of approximately 15 tons) was destroyed with a demolition charge in position 04º45'N, 99º25'E. The cargo of the junk consisted of tabacco and flax. The crew of three Sumatrans were taken aboard and later transferred to a Chinese fishing sampan.
16 Jun 1945 HMS Trident (Lt. A.R. Profit, DSC, RN) sinks a Japanese landing craft with gunfire off the West coast of Sumatra.
At 1150 hours (time zone -6.5) Trident spotted a camouflaged landing craft. At 1201 hours Trident surfaced and engaged the landing craft with 4" gunfire. The landing craft was left beached and abandoned after 27 rounds were fired.
18 Jun 1945 HMS Trident (Lt. A.R. Profit, DSC, RN) sinks a Japanese landing craft with gunfire off the West coast of Sumatra.
At 1310 hours (time zone -6.5) Trident spotted and engaged a camouflaged landing barge. At 1425 hours, after 53 rounds were fired, the target was considered a total loss.
29 Jun 1945 At 1529 hours (time zone -6.5) HMS Trident (Lt. A.R. Profit, DSC, RN) ends her 33th war patrol (2nd in far eastern waters) when she berthed alongside HMS Wolfe in Trincomalee harbour.
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HMS Triumph underway after reconstruction 4th of October 1940.
HMS Triumph
HMS Triumph (N18) was a T-class submarine of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by Vickers at Barrow-in-Furness and launched in September 1938.
Career
Triumph had a relatively active, yet tragic career, serving in the North Sea and the Mediterranean.
Home waters
On 26 December 1939, Triumph hit a German mine in the North Sea. Eighteen feet of bow was blown off and her pressure hull was also damaged, but fortunately the torpedoes in the torpedo tubes did not detonate. She managed to limp back home under the protection of fighter aircraft and destroyers, and was under repair at Chatham Dockyard until 27 September 1940.
Mediterranean
Operating in the Mediterranean from early 1941, Triumph sank the Italian merchants Marzamemi, Colomba Lofaro, Ninfea, Monrosa, the Italian auxiliary patrol vessels V 136 / Tugnin F, Valoroso, V 190 / Frieda and V 137 / Trio Frassinetti, the Italian tugs Dante de Lutti and Hercules, the German merchant Luvsee, and the Greek sailing vessels Panagiotis and Aghia Paraskeva. She also damaged the Italian armed merchant cruiser Ramb III, the Italian tankers Ardor and Poseidone, the Italian merchant Sidamo and the German merchant Norburg
In early 1941, she sank the Italian submarine Salpa off the port of Alexandria, Egypt. In August of that year, she torpedoed the Italian cruiser Bolzano, which suffered considerable damage but survived. Bolzano was later captured by the Germans after the surrender of Italy in 1943, while she was under repair from the damage she had received from Triumph. The cruiser was later sunk in 1944.
Sinking
Triumph was also used for covert operations, such as landing agents in German occupied areas. She was planned to be used as a rendevouz for commandos in Operation Colossus, but this had to be cancelled when the landing site became untenable. She undertook one such mission in December 1941, in which she successfully landed agents in Greece. She was lost just over a week later, off Greece, probably to a collision with a mine in early January 1942. All fifty-nine crew were lost.
Noteable events involving Triumph include:
26 Dec 1939 HMS Triumph (Lt.Cdr. J.W. McCoy, RN) hits a German mine in the North Sea in position 56º44'N, 05º00'E. Her bow was badly damaged, but fortunately the torpedoes in the torpedo tubes did not detonate. Some eighteen feet of bow was blown off and her pressure hull was also damaged. The boat managed to limp back home under the protection of fighter aircraft and destroyers. Triumph was under repair at Chatham Dockyard until 27 September 1940.
5 Mar 1941 HMS Triumph (Lt.Cdr. W.J.W. Woods, RN) torpedoes sinks the Italian merchants Marzamemi (958 GRT) and Colomba Lofaro (897 GRT) near Capo dell'Armi, Calabria, Italy position 37º54'N, 15º46'E.
3 May 1941 HMS Triumph (Lt.Cdr. W.J.W. Woods, RN) sinks the Italian auxilary patrol vessel V 136 / Tugnin F. (425 GRT) with gunfire about 10 nautical miles west of Marsa el Brega, Libya.
30 May 1941 HMS Triumph (Lt.Cdr. W.J.W. Woods, RN) torpedoes and damages the Italian armed merchant cruiser Ramb III (3667 GRT) at Bengasi, Libya.
5 Jun 1941 HMS Triumph (Lt.Cdr. W.J.W. Woods, RN) sinks the Italian auxiliary patrol vessels Valoroso (340 GRT), V 190 / Frieda (246 GRT) and V 137 / Trio Frassinetti (244 GRT) with gunfire in the Gulf of Sirte off Beurat, Libya in position 31º39'N, 15º39'E.
At 1313 hours (time zone -3) Triumph spotted three schooners (estimated at 300 tons each) escorted by an A/S trawler coming up astern.
At 1440 hours Triumph surfaced and engaged the A/S trawler with gunfire from 600 yards. The trawler was on fire after 24 rounds.
Two of the schooners were sunk with 9 and 7 rounds respectively.
The third schooner, which was about a mile astern of the other two managed to escape to shallow water.
Lt.Cdr. Woods then returned to the trawler that was showing no signs of sinking, therefore another round was fired that holed the ship on the waterline. Triumph now retreated seawards. The trawler was seen to sink an hour later.
27 Jun 1941 The Italian submarine Salpa (611 tons) was torpedoed and sunk near Mersa Matruh, Egypt in position 32º05'N, 28º47'E by the British submarine HMS Triumph (Lt.Cdr. W.J.W. Woods, RN).
At 0800 hours (time zone -3) a surfaced submarine was sighted about 2000 yards away. As the enemy manouvering made it impossible to make a submerged torpedo attack Triumph surfaced at 0811 hours and opened fire with the deck and Lewis guns from 1500 yards.
The enemy also manned his deck gun. After firing 33 rounds (with 5 hits) the enemy was almost stopped and appeared to be sinking by the stern. The enemy's gun crew, after firing five rounds that all went over, abandoned their gun and went below.
At 0818 hours Lt.Cdr. Woods fired two torpedoes from 600 yards. The second torpedo hit the enemy submarine. An enormous column of smoke and water shot into the air and debris showered all round. A large pool of oil appeared but no survivors were seen in the water.
5 Jul 1941 HMS Triumph (Lt.Cdr. W.J.W. Woods, RN) sinks, during ong gun battle, the Italian merchant Ninfea (607 GRT, built 1917) and the Italian tug Dante de Lutti (266 GRT) off Ras Tajunes, Libya.
During this battle Triumph is also damaged.
At 2222 hours (time zone -3) a 1500 tons merchant ship and a A/S trawler that were at anchor were sighted. At 2244 hours Triumph was only 100 yards from the trawler when fire was openened with the deck gun and a Lewis gun. After 6 rounds of flashless 4", all of which hit, the trawler was on fire, steam was escaping from the boiler and the ready use ammunition for it's gun had exploded. A round eas fired into the trawlers waterline. Fire was now shifted to the merchant.
Fire on the merchant was opened at 800 yards. After 15 rounds, with several hits, the stock of flashless ammunition was gone and regular shells had to be used. After the first one was fired Triumph was fired upon by a shore battery. A round from the shore battery fell close enough to wet the bridge and gun crew. Actually it was a hit forward but this was not realised at that time. Triumph withdrew from the scene.Later it was found out that no.1 ballast tank had been holed on the waterline.
26 Aug 1941 HMS Triumph (Lt.Cdr. W.J.W. Woods, RN) fires two torpedoes against the Italian heavy cruiser Bolzano north of Messina, Sicily, Italy. Both torpedoes missed their target.
18 Sep 1941 HMS Triumph (Lt.Cdr. W.J.W. Woods, RN) torpedoes and damages the Italian tanker Ardor (8960 GRT) off Capo Colonna. The damaged Italian ship was towed to Crotone.
23 Sep 1941 HMS Triumph (Lt.Cdr. W.J.W. Woods, RN) torpedoes and sinks the German merchant Luvsee (2373 GRT) north-east of Sibenek.
24 Sep 1941 HMS Triumph (Lt.Cdr. W.J.W. Woods, RN) damages the Italian tanker Poseidone GRT) and the Italian merchant Sidamo (2384 GRT) off Ortona, Abruzzi, Italy.
23 Oct 1941 HMS Triumph (Lt.Cdr. W.J.W. Woods, RN) sinks the Greek sailing vessels Panagiotis and Aghia Paraskeva with gunfire in the Gulf of Petali, Greece.
25 Oct 1941 HMS Triumph (Lt.Cdr. W.J.W. Woods, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Monrosa (6703 GRT) in the Gulf of Athens, about 3 nautical miles north-west of Patroklou island, Greece in position 37º41'N, 23º53'E.
24 Nov 1941 HMS Triumph (Lt. J.S. Huddart, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian tug Hercules (632 GRT) in Iraklion harbour, Crete. Triumph also damages the German merchant Norburg (2392 GRT).
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HMS Taku in Malta harbour 26th - 28th of January 1943.
HMS Taku
HMS Taku was a British T class submarine built by Cammell Laird, Birkenhead. She was laid down on 18 November 1937 and was commissioned on 3 October 1940.
Career
Taku served in home waters and the Mediterranean. In April 1940, she mistook HMS Ashanti for a German destroyer and fired several torpedoes at her. Fortunately, they all missed. In an attack on a German convoy in May, she damaged the German torpedo boat Möwe, and in November, launched a failed attack on the German tanker Gedania.
Assigned to the Mediterranean in 1941, she scored numerous kills, including the Italian merchants Cagliari and Silvio Scaroni, the Italian passenger / cargo ship Caldea, the German munitions transport Tilly L. M. Russ, the Italian auxiliary minesweeper Vincenso P., the Italian tankers Arca and Delfin, and the Greek sailing vessels Niki, Lora and a small unidentified one. She also attacked, but failed to hit the German merchant Menes and the Italian tanker Cerere.
Reassigned to operate off the Scandinavian coast in 1944, Taku sunk the German merchants Rheinhausen and Hans Bornhofen, and heavily damaged the German merchant Harm Fritzen. In March she attacked a convoy, but missed her target, the German merchant Moshill.
Taku struck a mine in April 1944, and was damaged. After the end of the war, she was sold for scrap in November 1946 and broken up in South Wales.
Noteable events involving Taku include:
17 Apr 1940 While searching for 5 German destroyers reported to be in her area HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, RN) fires 4 torpedoes against the British destroyer HMS Ashanti (Cdr. W.G. Davis, RN). Luckily all torpedoes fired missed their target.
8 May 1940 HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, RN) attacks a German convoy with ten torpedoes and torpedoes and damages the German torpedo boat Möwe (900 tons) east of Denmark in position 56º45'N, 06º12'E. After the attack Taku was depth charged for 10 hours.
2 Nov 1940 HMS Taku (Lt. J.F.B. Brown, RN) hit the the German tanker Gedania (8923 GRT) in the Bay of Biscay about 35 nautical miles south-west of Belle-Ile island in position 46º54'N, 03º50'W with a dud torpedo.
6 May 1941 HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. E.C.F. Nicolay, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Cagliari (2322 GRT) in the Tyrrhenian Sea about 20 nautical miles north-north-west of Stromboli Island, Italy in position 39º11'N, 15º05'E.
11 Jun 1941 HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. E.C.F. Nicolay, RN) torpedoes and sinks the German munitions transport Tilly L.M. Russ (1600 GRT, built 1926) at Bengasi, Libya.
At 2140 hours (time zone -3), Taku, while in position 1 nautical mile bearing 270 from the Bengasi breakwater light, fires one torpedo against a supply ship in the harbour. The torpedo hit the target and started a large fire. Three minutes later Taku proceeded up the Bengasi swept channel back out to sea.
12 Jun 1941 HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. E.C.F. Nicolay, RN) intercepts a convoy and torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Silvio Scaroni (1367 GRT, built 1921) in the Gulf of Syrte 70 nautical miles bearing 283 off Benghazi, Libya in position 32º27'N, 18º42'E.
At 0435 hours (time zone -3), while in position 32º20'N, 18º49'E, HMS Taku sighted a convoy. The convoy is identified as an Italian Orione class torpedo boat, an Italian MAS boat and three merchant ships of 1500, 2600 and 2500 tons respectively.
At 0503 hours two torpedoes were fired against the last ship in line. One of these torpedoes was seen to hit just abaft the foremast. The ship sank.
At 0505 hours the torpedo boat was seen heading strait for Taku so Lt.Cdr. Nicolay went deep.
13 Jul 1941 HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. E.C.F. Nicolay, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian passenger / cargo ship Caldea (2703 GRT, built 1928) 10 nautical miles bearing 312 of the Bengasi lighthouse, Libya.
At 0956 hours (time zone -3) Taku sighted the target about 7000 yards away. The target was escorted by three A/S trawlers. Taku closed for a torpedo attack.
At 1014 hours Taku fired four torpedoes. The first torpedo missed the target but the remaining three all hit. The ship sank and there was no counter attack on Taku.
15 Jul 1941 HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. E.C.F. Nicolay, RN) sinks the Italian auxiliary minesweeper Vincenzo P. (270 GRT) about 25 nautical miles south-east of Auegia, Libya.
At 1430 hours (time zone -3) an armed tug and a schooner were sighted in position 30º56'N, 17º56'E. Weather conditions were unfavourable for gunnery action. Taku shadowed the ships.
At 2126 hours the ships were at anchor close inshore in position 30º41'N, 18º19'E. Taku surfaced to launch a folbot party. The folbot however broke in a wave and the idea of a folbot attack was abandoned. (A folbot is a folding kayak).
At 2314 hours the armed tug was engaged with gunfire from 300 yards. A lighter was sighted laying astern of the tug. The lighter was slipped and drifted ashore. The tug was hit, the crew slipped the anchor cable and beached itself.
Taku now shifted fire to the schooner. 12 rounds were fired from 150 yards. The schooner was then boarded. Charts, books, etc. were captured. The schooner was the Vincenzo P. and was loaded with provisions. The schooner was then sunk by gunfire.
15 Aug 1942 HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. J.G. Hopkins, RN) attacks the German merchant Menes (5609 GRT) with 4 torpedoes about 90 nautical miles north-east of Benghazi, Libya in position 33º16'N, 21º16'E. All 4 torpedoes fired missed their target.
24 Oct 1942 HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) sinks a small Greek sailing vessel with gunfire west of Kos, Greece in position 36º23'N, 27º00'E.
25 Oct 1942 HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) attacks the Italian tanker Arca (2238 GRT) off Chios, Greece. The torpedoes fired however missed their target.
26 Oct 1942 HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian tanker Arca (2238 GRT) south-west of Chios, Greece in position 38º04'N, 25º27'E.
27 Oct 1942 HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) sinks the Greek sailing vessel Lora (121 GRT) with gunfire off Lemnos, Greece.
31 Oct 1942 HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) fires four torpedoes against the Italian tanker Cerere (1267 GRT) about 10 nautical miles south of Cape Sounio, Greece in position 37º30'N, 24º03'E. All torpedoes fired missed their target.
14 Dec 1942 HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian tanker Delfin (5322 GRT) in the Aegean Sea about 5 nautical miles north of Macrosini island, Greece in position 37º52'N, 24º06'E.
22 Dec 1942 HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) sinks the Greek sailing vessel Niki (150 GRT) with gunfire in the Potidea Channel in position 40º13'N, 23º19'E.
7 Feb 1944 HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) torpedoes and sinks the German merchant Rheinhausen (6298 GRT) about 20 nautical miles north of Stavanger, Norway.
12 Feb 1944 HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) torpedoes and heavily damages the German merchant Harm Fritzen (4818 GRT) off Stavanger, Norway. The ship was run aground to prevent it from sinking. The ship was later salvaged.
13 Feb 1944 HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) torpedoes and sinks the German merchant Hans Bornhofen (2130 GRT) in the Boknafjorden, 8 nautical miles south of Skudeneshavn, Norway in position 59º08'N, 05º24'E.
24 Mar 1944 HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) fires 5 torpedoes against a tanker in a German convoy about 25 nautical miles west of Namsos, Norway in position 64º33'N 10º37'E. The German merchant Moshill (2959 GRT, former Norwegian) was missed in this attack.
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HMS Tarpon
HMS Tarpon (N17) was a T-class submarine of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by Scotts, Greenock and launched in October 1939.
Career
Tarpon had a tragically short career, serving in the North Sea.
She left Portsmouth on 5 April 1940 for Rosyth in company with HMS Severn. The following day they were ordered to Norway. On the 10th Tarpon was ordered to take up a new position. Tarpon was never heard from again. Post War German records showed that Tarpon had attacked the Q-ship Schiff 40/Schürbek, but her first torpedoes had missed. The Q-ship picked up the Tarpon on her sonar and her periscope was sighted. The ship dropped numerous depth charges in a sustained counter attack that went on most of the morning. Finally a pattern of depth charges brought wreckage to the surface. The Schiff remained on the scene until 0500 the next morning until it became clear the submarine had been sunk. Tarpon was reported overdue on 22 April 1940.
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HMS Thistle underway at Spithead on the 2nd of August 1939.
HMS Thistle
HMS Thistle (N24) was a T-class submarine of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow and launched in October 1939.
Career
Thistle had a short wartime career with the Royal Navy.
Thistle was ordered to patrol off Stavanger, and to sink any enemy vessel that she might spot in the harbour, since the authorities believed that a German invasion of Norway was imminent. On 10 April Thistle signalled her intention to comply with this order and that she had two torpedoes remaining after an unsuccessful attack on a U-boat. With this in mind the Admiralty changed her orders to patrol off Skudenes. No further contact was made with Thistle. It was later discovered that U-4, the U-boat Thistle had previously attacked, had sighted the submarine on the surface and sunk her with torpedoes.
Noteable events involving Thistle include:
9 Apr 1940 At 17.05 hours on 9 April 1940 HMS Thistle (Lt.Cdr. W.F. Haselfoot, RN) missed the German submarine U-4 with a spread of four torpedoes southwest off Stavanger, Norway in position 59º00'N, 05º10'E.
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HMS Tigris underway in Plymouth Sound on the 17th of July 1942.
HMS Tigris
HMS Tigris (N63) was a T-class submarine of the Royal Navy. She was laid down at Chatham Dockyard and launched in October 1939.
Career
Tigris had a relatively active career, serving in the North Sea and the Mediterranean.
Home waters
Tigris was active in the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay in mid 1940. She sank the French fishing vessels Sancte Michael, Cimcour, Charles Edmond and Rene Camaleyre, the French merchants Jacobsen and Guilvinec, and the German tanker Thorn. She unsuccessfully attacked a number of submarines, including U-58 and the Italian submarine Veniero and may have also attacked the Italian submarine Otario. Tigris also succeeded in sinking the Italian submarine Michele Bianchi.
She was assigned to operate in the North Sea off the Scandinavian coast in mid 1941. Here she sank the Norwegian passenger / cargo ships Haakon Jarl and Richard With. She also attacked and heavily damaged the German auxiliary submarine chaser UJ 1201 off the Rolvsoy Fjord. The bow of the ship sank but the stern was towed to port and the ship was rebuilt, entering service again in April 1944. Tigris also unsuccessfully attacked the German merchant Bessheim and a merchant of 3000 tons, and also attacked a convoy, but missed her targets of the Norwegian merchants Mimona, Tugela and Havbris.
She was also one of the ships assigned to track the German battleship Bismarck.
Mediterranean
Tigris was reassigned to the Mediterranean, and was active there from late 1942. She torpedoed and sank the Italian submarine Porfido and the Italian merchant Citta di Genova.
Sinking
Tigris left Malta on 18 February 1943 to patrol off Naples. She was last sighted at 0730 on 24 February, 39 miles (63 km) from Capri. On the morning of the 27th, the German submarine chaser UJ2210, escorting a convoy six miles south east of Capri, made contact with a submarine and carried out three depth charge attacks, the third attack brought oil to the surface and the contact was noted to be stationary. A fourth attack of fifteen depth charges brought a huge bubble of air to the surface. On 6 March, Tigris was ordered to Algiers but there was no reply to this signal. She failed to return to Algiers on 10 March 1943 and was declared overdue on that date. Tigris was most likely the submarine sunk on 27 February by UJ-2210.
Tributes
Each year there is an annual Remembrance Service for the submarine and the crew lost at St Nicholas Church, Newbury, Berkshire, on the Sunday nearest 27 February. The submarine had been adopted by Newbury during the Second World War.
Noteable events involving Tigris include:
1 Sep 1940 HMS Tigris (Lt.Cdr. H.F. Bone, RN) sinks the French fishing vessel Sancte Michael (168 GRT) with gunfire in the Bay of Biscay near Brest, France.
2 Sep 1940 HMS Tigris (Lt.Cdr. H.F. Bone, RN) attacks the German submarine U-58 with torpedoes in the Bay of Biscay about 30 nautical miles south-west of Lorient, France in position 47º29'N, 04º04'W. All torpedoes fired missed their target. U-58 had departed Lorient that day.
5 Oct 1940 HMS Tigris (Lt.Cdr. H.F. Bone, RN) attacks a submarine with torpedoes in the Bay of Biscay. This might have been the Italian submarine Otario.
16 Oct 1940 HMS Tigris (Lt.Cdr. H.F. Bone, RN) sinks the French fishing vessel Cimcour (250 GRT) with gunfire in the Bay of Biscay in position 45º44'N, 03º45'W.
2 Nov 1940 HMS Tigris (Lt.Cdr. H.F. Bone, RN) fires two torpedoes against the Italian submarine Veniero in the Bay of Biscay of the Gironde estuary. Both torpedoes missed their target.
12 Nov 1940 HMS Tigris (Lt.Cdr. H.F. Bone, RN) sinks the French fishing vessel Charles Edmond (301 GRT) with gunfire about 70 nautical miles west of the Gironde estuary in position 45º41'N, 02º57'W.
12 Feb 1941 HMS Tigris (Lt.Cdr. H.F. Bone, DSO, DSC, RN) torpedoes and sinks the French fishing vessel Rene Camaleyre (243 GRT) in the Bay of Biscay about 5 nautical miles east of Biarritz, France in position 43º30'N, 01º42'W.
19 Feb 1941 HMS Tigris (Lt.Cdr. H.F. Bone, DSO, DSC, RN) torpedoes and sinks the French merchant Jacobsen (523 GRT) off Bayonne and the French merchant Guilvinec (3273 GRT) about 90 nautical miles south-west of the mouth of the Gironde estuary in position 44º48'N, 03º01'W.
2 Apr 1941 HMS Tigris (Lt.Cdr. H.F. Bone, DSO, DSC, RN) torpedoes and sinks the German tanker Thorn (5486 GRT) about 25 nautical miles west off the Loire estuary.
5 Jul 1941 The Italian submarine Michele Bianchi is torpedoed and sunk in the Bay of Biscay west of Bordeaux, France in approximate position 45º03'N, 04º01'W by the British submarine HMS Tigris (Cdr. H.F. Bone, DSO, DSC, RN).
At 0941 hours the officer of the watch, Lt. N.J. Coe, RNR, sighted what he thought was a surface vessel escorted by two trawler. Cdr. Bone was called to the control room. Three minutes later the target was identified as an Italian submarine. Tigris turned to close the target at high speed.
At 0958 hours six torpedoes were fired from 3000 yards. After nearly three minutes two hits were heard.
At 1014 hours Cdr. Bone want to surface to investigate the area for survivors but a Ju-88 aircraft was seen to approach. Cdr. Bone took Tigris deep.
17 Aug 1941 HMS Tigris (Cdr. H.F. Bone, DSO, DSC, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Norwegian passenger / cargo ship Haakon Jarl (1492 BRT, offsite link) near Sværholt, Norway in position 71º03'N, 26º43'E.
13 Sep 1941 HMS Tigris (Cdr. H.F. Bone, DSO, DSC, RN) torpedoes and sinks the German merchant Richard With (905 BRT) off the Rolvsoy Fjord about 11 nautical miles north-east of Hammerfest, Norway in position 70º50'N, 23º57'E.
15 Sep 1941 HMS Tigris (Cdr. H.F. Bone, DSO, DSC, RN) fires four torpedoes against the German merchant Bessheim (1774 GRT) in Lopphavet, Norway. All torpedoes missed their target.
17 Sep 1941 HMS Tigris (Cdr. H.F. Bone, DSO, DSC, RN) fires four torpedoes against ' what is identified as ' a merchant of 3000 tons in a German convoy in Lopphavet about 10 nautical miles west of Loppa Island, Norway in position 70º21'N, 21º10'E. All four torpedoes missed their target.
26 Sep 1941 HMS Tigris (Cdr. H.F. Bone, DSO and Bar, DSC, RN) torpedoes and heavily damages the German auxiliary submarine chaser UJ 1201 (527 GRT) off the Rolvsoy Fjord. The front part of this German ship sinks but the stern is towed to port and the ship is rebuilt end enters service again in April 1944.
14 Oct 1941 HMS Tigris (Cdr. H.F. Bone, DSO and Bar, DSC, RN) attacks a convoy off the Laksfjord in position 71º03'N, 27º10'E. Tigris fired three torpedoes but missed the Norwegian merchants Mimona (1147 GRT), Tugela (5559 GRT) and Havbris (1316 GRT) (all offsite links).
6 Dec 1942 The Italian submarine Porfido was torpedoed and sunk about 90 nautical miles north-north-east off Bone (Annaba), Algeria in position 38º10'N, 08º35'E by the British submarine HMS Tigris (Lt.Cdr. G.R. Colvin, RN).
21 Jan 1943 HMS Tigris (Lt.Cdr. G.R. Colvin, DSC, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Citta di Genova (5413 GRT) in the Strait of Otranto about 25 nautical miles west of Saseno Island in position 40º32'N, 18º45'E.
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HMS Triad underway during WWII.
HMS Triad
HMS Triad (N53) was a T-class submarine of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow and launched in May 1939. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name Triad.
Career
Triad had a relatively short career, serving in the North Sea and the Mediterranean. In April 1940 she sank the German troop transport Ionia and attacked, but failed to sink the German depot ship Tsingtau.
Mediterranean and loss
Shortly after, she was assigned to the Mediterranean. On 9 October 1940 she sailed from Malta to operate in the Gulf of Taranto, with orders to reach Alexandria on completion of her patrol. She failed to make port and by 20 October the submarine was declared overdue. She was believed to have been lost in a minefield or sunk by Italian anti-submarine aircraft. New evidence suggests that Triad was engaged and sunk on the night of 14/15 October by the Italian submarine Enrico Toti.
It was assumed that the Enrico Toti had engaged and sunk HMS Rainbow, which was thought to be operating in the same area.
Last action
At 0100 hours on 15 October, the Enrico Toti sighted a large submarine 1,000 metres to port: both boats manoeuvred into attack position but the British opened fire first, scoring two hits, one on the Conning Tower, the other on the bow. She also fired a torpedo which Enrico Toti avoided by turning sharply, then closed on the enemy submarine at top speed, firing as she approached. Soon, machine gun fire compelled the British gunners to abandon the exposed deck. As the British submarine started to dive, Toti fired a torpedo and hit the British submarine with two shells. The boat rose vertically then disappeared without survivors. The entire action had lasted less than 30 minutes
Rainbow had been ordered to leave the area on 13 October, she would have been gone 26-30 hours before the action described above began. Even at the modest speed of 6 knots (11 km/h), Rainbow would have been 200 nautical miles (370 km) away from the spot at the time of the action. The only boat in Toti's vicinity was Triad.
Noteable events involving Triad include:
11 Apr 1940 HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) torpedoes and sinks the German troop transport Ionia (3102 GRT) in the Skagerrak south of the Oslofjord, Norway in position 58º30'N, 10º35'E.
19 Apr 1940 HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) fires four torpedoes against the German depot ship Tsingtau in the Skagerrak south of the Oslofjord in position 58º18'N, 10º48'E. All torpedoes fired however missed their target.
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HMS Truant underway in coastal waters, WWII.
HMS Truant
HMS Truant (N68) was a T-class submarine of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow and launched on the 5 May 1939.
Career
Truant had a relatively active career, serving in the main naval theatres of war, Home waters, the Mediterranean and the Pacific Far East.
Home waters
Truant's first major victory came when she torpedoed and damaged the German light cruiser Karlsruhe, which disabled both engines and power stations. The Karlsruhe had to be scuttled with two torpedoes by the German torpedo boat Greif. Truant later attacked the British merchant Alster, unaware that it had been recently captured from the Germans, but fortunately her torpedoes missed. She also intercepted the German merchant Tropic Sea. The Tropic Sea had formerly been in Norwegian service, but had been captured by the German armed merchant cruiser Orion in the South Pacific. The Tropic Sea was scuttled by the German prize crew in the Bay of Biscay.
Truant had a narrow escape, when she was attacked by HMS Clyde, who had mistaken her for an enemy submarine. Fortunately, Clyde's torpedoes missed.
Mediterranean
Assigned to the Mediterranean in mid 1940, Truant went on to sink a number of enemy ships, including the Italian merchants Providenza, Sebastiano Bianchi and Multedo, the Italian tankers Bonzo and Meteor, the Italian auxiliary submarine chaser V 62 / Vanna, the Italian passenger/cargo ship Bengasi and the German merchant Virginia S. Truant also damaged the small Italian tanker Prometeo and the Italian torpedo boat Alcione, which was later declared a total loss. She also unsuccessfully attacked the Italian merchants Utilitas, Silvia Tripcovich, Bainsizza and Arborea, the small Italian tanker Labor and the German merchant Bellona.
Far East
Truant was assigned to operate in the Far East, against Japanese shipping in 1942. She torpedoed and sank the Japanese merchant cargo ships Yae Maru and Shunsei Maru and the Japanese army cargo ship Tamon Maru No.1. She also attacked the Japanese light cruiser Nagara, but the torpedoes missed their target. She was also prominent in the Battle of Badung Strait.
Post war
Truant survived the war and was sold to be broken up for scrap on 19 December 1945. She was wrecked in December 1946 whilst en-route to the shipbreakers.
Noteable events involving Truant include:
25 Mar 1940 HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Hutchinson, RN) torpedoes and sinks the German merchant Edmund Hugo Stinnes 4 (2189 GRT) off Jylland, Denmark in position 56º42'N, 08º04'E.
9 Apr 1940 Around 1900 hours HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Hutchinson, RN) torpedoes and damages the German light cruiser Karlsruhe (8350 tons) off Kristiansand, Norway in position 57º55'N, 08º14'E. At 2150 hours the Karlsruhe was scuttled with two torpedoes by the German torpedo boat Greif.
23 May 1940 HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. H.A.V. Haggard, RN) fires two torpedoes against the British merchant Alster (8514 GRT) off the Breidsundet, Norway in position 71º03'N, 24º26'E. Alster was under escort of the British anti-submarine trawler HMS Ullswater (Sub-Lt. D.R. Stavert, RN).
The German merchant Alster was captured in the Vestfjord, north of Bodö, Norway on 10 April 1940 by the British destroyer HMS Icarus (Cdr. C.D. Maud, DSC, RN). Lt.Cdr. Haggard was unaware of this but fortunately both torpedoes missed their target.
3 Sep 1940 HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. H.A.V. Haggard, RN) intercepts the German merchant Tropic Sea (5781 GRT, former Norwegian Tropic Sea (offsite link) captured by the German armed merchant cruiser Orion in the South Pacific on 18 June 1940). The Tropic Sea is scuttled by the German prize crew in the Bay of Biscay about 235 nautical miles north-west of Cape Finisterre, Spain in position 46º30'N, 11º30'W.
22 Sep 1940 HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. H.A.V. Haggard, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Providenza (8459 GRT) about 4 nautical miles south-east of Ischia Island, Italy.
13 Dec 1940 HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. H.A.V. Haggard, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Sebastiano Bianchi (1546 GRT) south of Calabria, Italy in position 37º58'N, 16º15'E.
16 Dec 1940 HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. H.A.V. Haggard, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian tanker Bonzo (8177 GRT) east of Punta Stilo in position 38º28'N, 16º44'E.
3 Feb 1941 HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. H.A.V. Haggard, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Multedo (1143 GRT) north-west of Benghazi, Lybia in position 32º18'N, 19º51'E.
4 Feb 1941 HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. H.A.V. Haggard, RN) attacks an Italian convoy near Benghazi, Libya with 3 torpedoes. The Italian merchants Utilitas (5310 GRT) and Silvia Tripcovich (2365 BRT) are missed in this attack.
11 Feb 1941 At 1415 hours HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. H.A.V. Haggard, RN) attacks the Italian merchant Bainsizza (7933 GRT) with gunfire about 45 nautical miles north-north-west of Tripoli, Libya in position 33º32'N, 12º56'E. The target was not hit and Truant was forced to dive by the escort.
At 1634 hours HMS Truant attacked the same ship with 3 torpedoes about 60 nautical miles north-north-west of Tripoli, Libya in position 33º46'N, 12º57'E. All torpedoes fired missed their target.
19 Mar 1941 HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. H.A.V. Haggard, RN) attacks the small Italian tanker Labor (510 GRT) off Buerat, Libya. All torpedoes fired missed their target.
17 Apr 1941 HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. H.A.V. Haggard, RN) sinks the Italian auxiliary submarine chaser V 62 / Vanna with gunfire off Apollonia, Libya in position 33º00'N, 22º00'E.
21 Apr 1941 HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. H.A.V. Haggard, RN) damages the small Italian tanker Prometeo (1080 GRT) with gunfire off Tripoli, Libya.
6 May 1941 HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. H.A.V. Haggard, RN) torpedoes sinks the Italian passenger/cargo ship Bengasi (1716 GRT) about 3 nautical miles south-east off the Cavoli lighthouse, Sardinia, Italy.
23 Oct 1941 HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. H.A.V. Haggard, DSC, RN) torpedoes sinks the German merchant Virginia S. (3885 GRT) in the Otranto Strait about 30 nautical miles east of Capo Santa Maria di Leuca, Italy of in position 39º52'N, 19º00'E. The Italian Arborea (4959 GRT) was missed during the same attack.
31 Oct 1941 HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. H.A.V. Haggard, DSC, RN) torpedoes sinks the Italian tanker Meteor (1685 GRT) 2 nautical miles south-east of Punta Penna, Ortona, Italy.
7 Dec 1941 HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. H.A.V. Haggard, DSC, RN) fires two torpedoes against the German merchant Bellona (1297 GRT) off Suda Bay, Crete, Greece. Both torpedoes missed their target.
11 Dec 1941 HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. H.A.V. Haggard, DSC, RN) torpedoes and heavy damages the Italian torpedo boat Alcione north of Crete in position 35º29'N, 24º11'E. The Alcione is beached and declared a total loss.
19 Feb 1942 HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. H.A.V. Haggard, DSC, RN) fires 6 torpedoes against the Japanese light cruiser Nagara (offsite link) north of Bali, Netherlands East Indies. All torpedoes fired missed their target.
1 Apr 1942 HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. H.A.V. Haggard, DSO, DSC, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese merchant cargo ships Yae Maru (6780 GRT) and Shunsei Maru (4939 GRT) in the Malacca Strait about 80 nautical miles west-north-west of Penang, Malaya in position 05º42'N, 98º57'E.
3 Jul 1942 HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. H.A.V. Haggard, DSO, DSC, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese army cargo ship Tamon Maru No.1 (3019 GRT) in the Strait of Malacca in position 03º14'N, 99º48'E.
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HMS Tuna with her Jolly Roger flying after a successful action against a U-Boat, approaches the depot ship HMS Forth at Holy Loch on the 26th of August 1943.
HMS Tuna
HMS Tuna (N94) was a T-class submarine of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by Scotts, Greenock and launched on the 10 May 1940.
Career
Tuna had a relatively active career, serving in the North Sea and off the French and Scandinavian coasts.
She sunk the German merchant Tirrana on 1 September 1940. The Tirrana had previously been captured by the German armed merchant cruiser Atlantis, in the Indian Ocean. She also torpedoed and sank the German catapult ship Ostmark and the French tug Chassiron. She fired upon and sank the German submarine U-644 and attacked the German submarine U-302 and the Italian submarine Brin as well as two unidentified submarine contacts, all unsuccessfully. Another attack on the German tanker Benno, formerly the Norwegian Ole Jacob, which had also been captured earlier by the Atlantis, also failed.
Tuna was also used to deliver the "Cockleshell Heroes" to the mouth of the Gironde for their daring raid on Bordeaux, France, in which six German ships were mined. The raid was called Operation Frankton, and only two of the 12 men returned.
Post war
Tuna survived the war and was sold to be broken up for scrap on 19 December 1945, a job carried out at Briton Ferry from June 1946.
Noteable events involving Tuna include:
1 Sep 1940 At 0150 hours HMS Tuna (Lt.Cdr. M.K. Cavenagh-Mainwaring, RN) fires torpedoes at ' what is identified as ' a submarine in the North Sea about 175 nautical east of Dundee, Scotland in position 56º09'N, 02º15'E. All torpedoes fired missed their target.
22 Sep 1940 HMS Tuna (Lt.Cdr. M.K. Cavenagh-Mainwaring, RN) torpedoes and sinks the German merchant Tirrana (7230 GRT, former Norwegian Tirrana (offsite link) in the Bay of Biscay south of the Gironde estuary, about 15 nautical miles south-west of Soulac-sur-Mer, France in position 45º19'N, 01º20'W.
Tirranna was captured by the German armed merchant cruiser Atlantis in the Indian Ocean about 675 nautical miles east-south-east of Port Louis, Mauritius in position 22º40'S, 69º20'E on 10 June 1940.
24 Sep 1940 HMS Tuna (Lt.Cdr. M.K. Cavenagh-Mainwaring, RN) torpedoes and sinks the German catapult ship Ostmark (1281 GRT) in the Bay of Biscay about 35 nautical miles south-west of St. Nazaire, France in position 47º01'N, 03º02'W.
18 Dec 1940 At 0430 hours HMS Tuna (Lt.Cdr. M.K. Cavenagh-Mainwaring, DSO, RN) attacks the Italian submarine Brin with torpedoes and gunfire in the Bay of Biscay about 55 nautical miles east of the Gironde estuary in position 45º28'N, 02º27'W. The Italian submarine escapes unharmed.
At 2314 hours HMS Tuna sinks the French tug Chassiron (172 GRT) with gunfire about 25 nautical miles west-south-west of the Gironde estuary in position 45º28'N, 01º38'E.
10 Jul 1941 While on patrol in the Bay of Biscay HMS Tuna (Lt.Cdr. M.K. Cavenagh-Mainwaring, DSO, RN) fires two torpedoes at a submerged Asdic contact stearing approximate course 191, of what is thought to be an enemy submarine in position 46º00'N, 09º40'W. The torpedoes misses their target. No Axis submarines were however reported to be near that position at that date, so that attack was most likely against a non-sub target.
19 Jul 1941 HMS Tuna (Lt.Cdr. M.K. Cavenagh-Mainwaring, DSO, RN) fires 6 torpedoes at the German tanker Benno (8306 GRT, former Norwegian Ole Jacob, offsite link) escorted by the German minesweepers M 18, M 25, M 27 and M 30 60 nautical miles north-west of the Gironde estuary. Although six detanations were heard all torpedoes missed their target(s).
The Ole Jacob was captured on 10 November 1940 by the German armed merchant cruiser Atlantis in the Bay of Bengal in position position 06º30'N, 90º13'E.
7 Dec 1942 HMS Tuna (Lt. R.P. Raikes, DSO, RN) delivered the "Cockleshell Heroes" to the mouth of the Gironde for their daring raid on Bordeaux, France in which 6 German ships were mined. The raid was called Operation Frankton, and only two of the 12 men returned.
7 Apr 1943 The German submarine U-644 was sunk in the North Sea north-west of Narvik, Norway, in position 69º38'N, 05º40'W, by torpedoes from the British submarine HMS Tuna (Lt. D.S.R. Martin, RN).
14 Apr 1943 HMS Tuna (Lt. D.S.R. Martin, RN) attacks the German submarine U-302 with 4 torpedoes south of Jan Mayen Island. The torpedoes however miss their target.
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HMS Talisman seen arriving home after a successful period of service in the Mediterranean on the 11th of February 1942.
HMS Talisman
HMS Talisman (N78) was a T-class submarine of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by Cammell Laird & Co Limited, Birkenhead and launched on the 29 January 1940.
Career
Talisman had a relatively short but active career, spending most of her time in the Mediterranean.
One of her first actions was the capture of the French fishing vessel Le Clipper, which was then used to observe U-boat movements off the Gironde estuary before being brought into Falmouth. She later attacked HMS Otus by mistake, but fortunately was unsuccessful. She went on to sink two sailing vessels, the Vichy-French passenger ship Theophile Gautier and the Italian merchant Calitea, as well as destroying the grounded wreck of the German merchant Yalova. She also unsuccessfully attacked the German merchant Salzburg and an Italian convoy, missing the Italian merchant Lauretta, and being heavily depth charged by the escorting Italian torpedo boat Libra.
Sinking
Talisman left Gibraltar on 10 September 1942 carrying supplies to Malta, where she was due no later than the 18th. She reported sighting a U-boat off Philippeville, Algeria on the 15th, but was not heard from again, and she failed to arrive at Malta. She is presumed either to have hit an Italian mine off Sicily or to have been destroyed by Italian surface forces on the 17th. She was declared overdue on 18 September 1942.
Noteable events involving Talisman include:
25 Nov 1940 HMS Talisman (Lt.Cdr. P.S. Francis, RN) captures the French fishing vessel Le Clipper (40 GRT) in the Bay of Biscay near Lorient in position 47º16'N, 04º16'W. The French vessel was then used to observe U-boat movements off the Gironde estuary before being brought into Falmouth.
14 Aug 1941 HMS Talisman (Lt.Cdr. M. Willmott, RN) attacks a submarine with torpedoes about 140 nautical miles north-west of Alexandria in position 32º41'N, 27º35'E. All torpedoes fired fortunately missed their target as the submarine attacked later turned out to be HMS Otus (Lt. R.M. Favell, RN).
30 Aug 1941 HMS Talisman (Lt.Cdr. M. Willmott, RN) claims the sinking of two sailing vessels with gunfire north of Benghazi, Libya.
1 Oct 1941 HMS Talisman (Lt.Cdr. M. Willmott, RN) attacks an Italian convoy with torpedoes in the Zea Channel missing the Italian merchant Lauretta (938 GRT). Talisman was heavily depth charged by the escorting Italian torpedo boat Libra.
3 Oct 1941 HMS Talisman (Lt.Cdr. M. Willmott, RN) destroyes the wreck of the German merchant Yalova (3751 GRT) that is grounded at Agios Giorgios Island.
4 Oct 1941 HMS Talisman (Lt.Cdr. M. Willmott, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Vichy-French passenger ship Theophile Gautier (8194 GRT) north-east of Kea Island, Greece in position 37º45'N, 24º35'E.
7 Oct 1941 HMS Talisman (Lt.Cdr. M. Willmott, RN) attacks the German merchant Salzburg (1742 GRT) with torpedoes west-north-west of Kasos Island, Greece in position 35º31'N, 26º25'E. All torpedoes fired missed their target.
11 Dec 1941 HMS Talisman (Lt.Cdr. M. Willmott, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Calitea (4013 GRT) about 60 nautical miles west-south-west of Schiza island, Greece in position 36º23'N, 20º33'E.
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HMS Tetrarch alongside the coaling jetty at Blyth in 1940.
HMS Tetrarch
HMS Tetrarch (N77) was a T-class submarine of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow and launched in November 1939.
Career
In common with many of her class, Tetrarch saw extensive service in the key naval theatres, Home waters, serving in the North Sea and off the French and Scandinavian coasts, and the Mediterranean.
Home waters
Tetrarch's first success came in May 1940 when she torpedoed and sank the German submarine chaser UJ B / Treff V in the Skagerrak. She also sunk the Danish fishing vessel Terieven and the German tanker Samland, and captured the Danish fishing vessel Emmanuel, which was taken to Leith as a prize.
Mediterranean
Tetrarch was assigned to operate in the Mediterranean in late 1940. She sank the Italian merchants Snia Amba, Giovinezza and Citta di Bastia, the Italian tanker Persiano, the Italian sailing vessels V 72/Fratelli Garre, V 113/Francesco Garre and Nicita, and the Greek sailing vessel Panagiotis Kramottos. She also damaged the German merchant Yalova and claimed to have damaged a sailing vessel in the Aegean. Tetrarch also launched an unsuccessful attack on the Greek tanker Olympos.
Sinking
Tetrach sailed from Malta on 26 October 1941 for a refit in Britain, via Gibraltar. She failed to arrive in Gibraltar on 2 November and was declared overdue. The route she was to take meant her passing through a known minefield. On Monday 27th she communicated with P34 who was in the same area. This was the last contact with the submarine. She is presumed lost on Italian mines off Capo Granditola, Sicily, Italy in late October 1941.
Noteable events involving Tetrarch include:
23 Apr 1940 HMS Tetrarch (Lt.Cdr. R.G. Mills, RN) torpedoes and sinks the German submarine chaser UJ B / Treff V (330 GRT) in the Skaggerak in position 58º21'N, 10º24'E.
20 May 1940 HMS Tetrarch (Lt.Cdr. R.G. Mills, RN) captures the Danish fishing vessel Emmanuel in the North Sea in position 56º59'N, 06º58'E. The ship is taken to Leith as a prize.
20 May 1940 HMS Tetrarch (Lt.Cdr. R.G. Mills, RN) sinks the Danish fishing vessel Terieven with scuttling charges in the North Sea west of Denmark in position 56º55'N, 06º50'E.
16 Jun 1940 HMS Tetrarch (Lt.Cdr. R.G. Mills, RN) torpedoes and sinks the German tanker Samland (5978 GRT) south-west of Lista, Norway in position 58º12'N, 06º13'E.
4 Nov 1940 HMS Tetrarch (Lt.Cdr. R.G. Mills, DSC and Bar, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Snia Amba (2532 GRT) off Benghazi, Libya in position 31º35'N, 19º20'E.
12 Apr 1941 HMS Tetrarch (Lt.Cdr. R.M.T. Peacock, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian tanker Persiano (2474 GRT) about 30 nautical miles north-west of Tripoli, Libya in position 33º29'N, 13º01'E.
18 May 1941 HMS Tetrarch (Lt.Cdr. R.M.T. Peacock, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Giovinezza (2362 GRT) off Bengasi, Libya in position 31º55'N, 19º55'E.
22 Jul 1941 HMS Tetrarch (Lt.Cdr. G.H. Greenway, RN) claims to have damaged a sailing vessel with gunfire in the Aegean off Karlovassi.
25 Jul 1941 HMS Tetrarch (Lt.Cdr. G.H. Greenway, RN) attacks the Greek tanker Olympos (5216 GRT) off Gaidero Island, Greece. The vessel is not hit.
27 Jul 1941 HMS Tetrarch (Lt.Cdr. G.H. Greenway, RN) sinks the Italian sailing vessel Nicita with gunfire 5 nautical miles south of Kos, Greece.
23 Aug 1941 HMS Tetrarch (Lt.Cdr. G.H. Greenway, RN) sinks the Italian sailing vessels V 72/Fratelli Garre (413 GRT) and V 113/Francesco Garre (399 GRT) with gunfire in the Gulf of Syrte.
26 Sep 1941 HMS Tetrarch (Lt.Cdr. G.H. Greenway) torpedoes sinks the Italian merchant Citta di Bastia (2499 GRT) in the Aegean Sea about 18 nautical miles south of Milos Island, Greece in position 36º21'N, 24º23'E.
27 Sep 1941 HMS Tetrarch (Lt.Cdr. G.H. Greenway, RN) sinks the Greek sailing vessel Panagiotis Kramottos (120 GRT) with gunfire south-west of Milos Island, Greece.
28 Sep 1941 HMS Tetrarch (Lt.Cdr. G.H. Greenway, RN) torpedoes and damages the German merchant Yalova (3751 GRT) in the Aegean Sea south of Agios Giorgios Island.
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HMS Torbay secured to a buoy in Plymouth Sound fitted with an external stern tube, 20mm Oerliken and radar on the 23rd of August 1943.
HMS Torbay
HMS Torbay (N79) was a T-class submarine of the Royal Navy. She was laid down at Chatham Dockyard and launched on 9 April 1940.
Torbay had an active and successful career, serving mainly in the Mediterranean, although she also served in the Pacific Far East at the end of the war.
Altogether she sank 17 merchant ships, totalling 38,000 tons, plus 5 warships and 24 sailing vessels, and was involved in an attack on Corfu harbour that won her captain, Lieutenant Commander (Lt. Cdr.) Anthony Miers, the Victoria Cross.
Torbay was also involved in two incidents alleged to be war crimes.
Service History
Torbay was commissioned on 14 January 1941, under the command of Lt. Cdr. Anthony Miers.
In March 1941 she sailed from Portsmouth on her first offensive patrol, to intercept the battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, which were heading for Brest after their raiding sortie in the North Atlantic. Unable to find them, Torbay was ordered to continue to Gibraltar, and, after another patrol in the Mediterranean, to join the 1st Flotilla at Alexandria.
Mediterranean
From there, Torbay operated for the next 12 months, sinking a number of ships, and taking part in several special operations.
Lt Cdr Anthony Cecil Capel Miers
In July 1941, on her first patrol from Alexandria, Torbay was involved in two incidents which gave rise to allegations of war crimes. It is alleged that on two occasions after sinking enemy ships, Miers had directly ordered Torbay's crew fire on troops as they swam in the water. Miers made no attempt to hide his actions and reported it in his official logs. He received a strongly worded reprimand from the Royal Navy following the first incident.
Torbay was involved in attacks on Axis convoys on two occasions. The attack on the first, on 10 June 1941 involved Torbay making three attack runs on an Italian convoy off the Dardanelles. The first attack failed to produce any results; the second attack resulted in a torpedo hit on the Italian tanker Utilitas but the torpedo failed to explode. In the third attack the Italian tanker Giuseppina Ghirardi was torpedoed and sunk. The attack on the second convoy took place on 12 August 1941, west of Benghazi, Libya. Torbay fired on the Italian merchant ships Bosforo and Iseo but missed both. Torbay was heavily depth charged following these attacks.
In November 1941 Torbay was tasked with landing a party of commandos, under Geoffrey Keyes, for the ill-fated Operation Flipper.
On 4 March 1942 in Corfu Harbour, north-western Greece, Torbay, having followed an enemy convoy into the harbour the previous day, fired torpedoes at a destroyer and two 5,000 ton transports, scoring hits on the two supply ships, which almost certainly sank. Torbay then had a very hazardous withdrawal to the open sea, enduring 40 depth-charges. The submarine had been in closely patrolled enemy waters for 17 hours. For this exploit, her commander, Lieutenant Commander Anthony Miers was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Home Waters
In the summer of 1942 Torbay returned to Britain. She returned to the Mediterranean in February 1943 under the command of Lieutenant (Lt.) Robert Clutterbuck.
Return to the Mediterranean
Back in the Mediterranean, Torbay carried out a further series of successful patrols. She also had a close encounter with the German Q-ship GA 45. In October 1943 Torbay's periscope was sighted first by GA 45 which dropped depth-charges very close to Torbay. The submarine later surfaced, intending to attack GA 45 with her deck gun but the German vessel opened fire and forced her to break off the action. GA 45 did not drop any further depth-charges (perhaps having run out). Torbay managed to escape damage during this encounter.
As the war in the Mediterranean quieted, Torbay was again reassigned, this time to the Pacific Far East.
Far East
Arriving in May 1945, and under the command of Lt. C.P. Norman, Torbay continued to cause losses amongst enemy shipping. She sank two Japanese sailing vessels and a coaster, and damaged a second coaster, before the end of the war.
Post war
Having survived the war, Torbay was sold on 19 December 1945 to be broken up for scrap. After a distinguished wartime career, she was scrapped at Briton Ferry, Wales in March 1947.
Raiding career
Torbay attacked and sank the following ships:-
Twelve Greek sailing vessels, including the Sofia and the P III
The Italian sailing vessels Gesu E Maria, Pozzalo, Columbo, Gesu Giuseppe E Maria and Gesu Crocifisso
The Italian merchants Citta di Tripoli, Ischia, Maddalena G. and Lido
Seven German sailing vessels, including the L XIV, L I, L XII, L V and the L VI
The Italian submarine Jantina
The sailing vessel Evangelista
The German army cargo ship Bellona
The Italian auxiliary patrol vessels R 113 / Avanguardista, V 90/San Girolamo and V 276 / Baicin
The German auxiliary submarine chaser 13 V 2 / Delpa II
The Danish merchant Grete
The French merchant Lillios
The Italian fishing vessel Madonna di Porto Salvo
Two unknown sailing vessels
The small Italian merchants Versilia and Tarquinia
A Greek fishing vessel
The German troopship Kari (the former French Ste. Colette, in turn the former Norwegian Kari)
A German floating dock
The German troop transport Palma (the former Italian Polcevera)
The Spanish merchant Juan de Astigarraga and the French merchant Oasis (Both ships were under German control)
The Italian ship Aderno (the former British Ardeola)
Torbay also damaged the following ships:-
The Vichy French tanker Alberta
The Italian oiler Strombo
The German merchant Norburg. The damaged ship settled on the bottom of Iraklion harbour but was later salvaged.
The Italian destroyer Aviere. The Aviere was already grounded after being damaged on 19 November 1941 by the Polish submarine ORP Sokół.
The Italian auxiliary minesweeper Monte Argentario
The Italian merchant (in German service) Trapani. The Trapani was further damaged that night by the British escort destroyer HMS Hursley and the Greek escort destroyer RHS Miaoulis. The wreck of the Trapani was finally destroyed off Kalymnos, Greece the following night by the British destroyers HMS Penn and HMS Jervis.
An unknown sailing vessel
Noteable events involving Torbay include:
28 May 1941 At 1230 hours (time zone -3) HMS Torbay (Lt.Cdr. A.C.C. Miers, RN) departs Alexandria with orders to patrol in the northern Aegean Sea. (This is HMS Torbay's 2nd Mediterranean War Patrol)
1 Jun 1941 HMS Torbay (Lt.Cdr. A.C.C. Miers, RN) sinks a fully laden Greek (German controlled) caique with gunfire in the Doro Channel, Greece.
The vessel was sighted at 0745 hours (time zone -3). At 0936 hours it was noticed that the vessel was wearing the German flag so Torbay surfaced and sank the vessel with five rounds of gunfire 17 nautical miles bearing 87º from Cape Doro.
The 2nd round of gunfire was a hit aft and was followed by a violent explosion which blew the stern off and a cloud of yellow smoke enveloped the target.
At 0943 hours Torbay dived and resumed patrol.
3 Jun 1941 HMS Torbay (Lt.Cdr. A.C.C. Miers, RN) sinks a well laden caique with gunfire off Mitylene, Lesbos, Greece.
The vessel was sighted at 1600 hours (time zone -3). At 1643 hours Torbay surfaced and sank the vessel with gunfire 21.5 nautical miles bearing 305 Sigri Island. Torbay submerged at 1651 hours and resumed patrol.
6 Jun 1941 HMS Torbay (Lt.Cdr. A.C.C. Miers, RN) torpedoes and damages the Vichy French tanker Alberta (3357 GRT, built 1938) off Cape Hellas.
At 1242 hours (time zone -3) a 3000 ton merchant was sighted. Torbay struggled with the strong current to get into an attack postition but at 1415 hours a torpedo was fired, in position 3.5 nautical miles bearing 229º Cape Hellas, that hit the target aft. The ship appeared to be sinking so Torbay left the area to the North-West.
Later Torbay closed in again to finish off the ship. At 1545 hours another torpedo was fired. The target was again hit aft but as the ship was already flooded in that part not much more damage was done. After firing this torpedo Torbay once again left the area to the North-West.
At 1558 hours, Torbay sighted a 1500 ton merchant approching the Dardanelles from the North, Torbay turned to intercept but the target was later identified as Turkish.
Torbay then turned to the west as battery power was running low. At 2115 hours Torbay surfaced in position 8 nautical miles, bearing 152 Avlaka Point (Imbros) and started to charge her depleted battery's.
7 Jun 1941 Continuation of the events of 6 June 1941
At 0448 hours (time zone -3) Torbay submerged and closed the entrence to the Dardanelles once again from the west.
At 0600 hours Alberta was sighted still afloat and at anchor. The ship was just within Turkish territorial waters and not aground.
At 0751 hours Torbay spotted a merchant of about 1500 tons coming from the entrance of the Dardanelles and gave chase. The ship was later identified as Turkish so it was not attacked.
At 1130 hours Torbay was back at the position where Alberta was anchored. The ship appeared deserted. Lt.Cdr. Miers decided not to fire another torpedo but to board the ship after dark to search for valuable documents and to scuttle the ship.
At 1515 hours a small Turkish coaster emerged from the Dardanelles and went alongside Alberta but soon continued on to the south.
At 1600 hours a merchant of about 4000 tons was sighted approaching the Dardanelles from the south. The ship was identified as the Turkish Refah (3805 GRT, built 1901) so it was not attacked.
At 2145 hours Torbay surfaced in position 4.7 nautical miles bearing 222º, Cape Hellas.
At 2305 hours Torbay secured alongside Alberta. It proved however impossible to scuttle the ship as the engine room was completely flooded.
At 2344 hours Torbay slipped and proceeded back out to sea.
At 2359 an explosion was observed aboard Alberta but this failed to sink the ship.
8 Jun 1941 Continuation of the events of 7 June 1941
At 0050 hours (time zone -3) Torbay stopped in position 10.6 nautical miles bearing 120º Avlaka Point (Imbros) to charge her battery's.
At 0450 hours Torbay submerged in position 7.8 nautical miles bearing 261º, Cape Hellas.
At 0545 hours Alberta was observed chattered by fire and aground on the shoal to the North of Rabbit Island. It was decided to leave the ship there in the hope that she would break up in the next gale.
At 1920 hours, Torbay sighted a Turkish merchant ship of about 1500 tons entering the Dardanelles. As bad weather was closing in it was decided to retreat to the northward.
9 Jun 1941 Continuation of the events of 8 June 1941
At 0130 hours (time zone -3), Torbay, in position 6 nautical miles bearing 326º Cape Hellas, sighted a large merchant ships approaching the Dardanelles from the south. Torbay closed to the limit of the territorial waters to identify the target. At 0153 hours the target was identified as Turkish. At 0157 hours Torbay submerged in position 4.8 nautical miles bearing 322º Cape Hellas.
At 0900 hours a 3000 tons merchant was sighted coming out of the Dardanelles. The ship was identified as the Turkish Tirhan (3085 GRT, built 1938). The ship proceeded towards the Alberta and attempted to tow her off.
At 1230 hours a 1500 tons merchant was sighted coming out of the straits. Once again the ship was identified as the Turkish, this time the Trak (1500 GRT, built 1938).
At 1700 hours it was observed that the Tirhan had succeeded in towing off the Alberta and was heading towards the strait with the Alberta in tow. Lt.Cdr. Miers decided that Alberta was not allowed to escape and that he had to attack again.
At 1742 hours, in position 2.3 nautical miles bearing 236º Cape Hellas, Torbay fired a torpedo that missed the target. The Turks slipped the tow and the Tirhan fled at high speed into the straits.
At 1815 hours Torbay sighted a merchant ship resembling the German Salzburg. (Torbay was warned that the German Salzburg was about the leave the Dardanelles). The ship turned towards the south and did not leave Turkish territorial waters. No positive identification could be made and Torbay did not manage the get into attack position.
At 1830 hours, as Lt.Cdr. Miers intended to surface to finish off Alberta with gunfire when an Italian torpedo boat of the Spica class was sighted only 2.5 nautical miles away. Torbay went deep and retreated to the North towards Lemnos.
At 2237 hours Torbay surfaced in position 12.5 nautical miles bearing 127º Avlaka Point (Imbros).
10 Jun 1941 HMS Torbay (Lt.Cdr. A.C.C. Miers, RN) finally finishes off the Alberta (see 6 June 1941). Torbay also torpedoes the Italian tanker Utilitas (5342 GRT, built 1918). Unfortunately the torpedo failed to explode. Later she torpedoes and sinks Italian tanker Giuseppina Ghirardi (3319 GRT, built 1892).
Continuation of the events of 9 June 1941.
At 0242 hours (time zone -3) Torbay fired 40 rounds and Alberta was left ablaze and in a sinking condition 17 nautical miles east of Lemnos.
At 0450 hours, Torbay submerged in position 9.7 nautical miles bearing 270º Cape Hellas.
At 0940 hours, while in position 4.8 nautical miles bearing 259º Cape Hellas a convoy of 6 ships escorted by two Italian torpedo boats was sighted bearing 280, distance 5 nautical miles and course 080 degrees. Lt.Cdr. Miers decided to attack and put Torbay into attack position. This was however frustrated by the movements of the enemy.
At 1043 hours, Lt.Cdr. Miers finally managed to fire three torpedoes against one of the merchant ships in the convoy. After firing the torpedoes Torbay went deep. Two explosions were heard that were linked with a torpedo hitting the target. At 1049 hours five depth charges were dropped. At 1055 hours a full pattern of depth charges exploded fairly close. Between 1100 and 1125 hours more depth charges were dropped but the were not close.
At 1140 hours Torbay came to periscope depth. At 1150 hours, while Torbay was in position 6.1 nautical miles bearing 251 Cape Hellas. One of the Italian escorts was sighted patrolling off the entrance to the Dardanelles.
At 1208 hours the Italian tanker Giuseppina Ghirardi (3319 GRT, built 1892) was sighted coming out of the straits. The Italian torpedo boat patrolled a mile ahead. Lt.Cdr. Miers at once turned to attack.
At 1259 hours, in position 8.3 nautical miles bearing 255º Cape Hellas, Torbay fired three torpedoes at a range of 700 yards at the tanker. Two torpedoes hit the target. Torbay went deep and increased to full speed to evade the counter attack. The Italian torpedo boat only dropped two depth charges.
At 1335 hours Torbay came to periscope depth and at 1045 hours, while in position 10.6 nautical miles bearing 250º Cape Helles, sighted the enemy torpedo boat stopped bout two nautical miles to the eastward in the approximate position where the tanker was sunk. Also two MAS boats were seen approaching at high speed from the westward. Torbay went deep again and proceeded on homeward passage in accordance with her orders to leave her patrol area at 2400 hours on the 10th.
At 2200 hours Torbay surfaced in position 21.5 nautical miles bearing 356º Sigri Island (Mytilene) and proceeded south.
11 Jun 1941 HMS Torbay (Lt.Cdr. A.C.C. Miers, RN) rams and sinks a Greek caique about 15 nautical miles south off Mitylene, Lesbos, Greece.
At 0030 hours (time zone -3) Torbay, while in position 15.3 nautical miles bearing 328º Sigri Island (Mytilene), sighted a caique making for Mitylene from the west. Lt.Cdr. Miers decided to destroy the vessel by ramming as he did not want to use his gun while he was escaping the area of his previous sinkings.
At 0104 hours Torbay rammed the caique and allowed the Greek crew to abandon ship before completing the destruction.
12 Jun 1941 HMS Torbay (Lt.Cdr. A.C.C. Miers, RN) sinks the Italian schooner Gesu E Maria (238 GRT) with gunfire off Skyros, Greece in position 39º10'N, 25º20'E.
At 1115 hours (time zone -3) Torbay sighted a large schooner about three miles away.
At 1218 hours, Lt.Cdr. Miers surfaced and gave chase.
At 1239 hours, Torbay, in position 19 nautical miles bearing 137º Strati Island, opened fire and sank the enemy ship with 25 rounds of gunfire.
At 1252 hours Torbay dived and proceeded to the south.
16 Jun 1941 At 0800 hours (time zone -3) HMS Torbay (Lt.Cdr. A.C.C. Miers, RN) arrives at Alexandria.
28 Jun 1941 At 1600 hours (time zone -3) HMS Torbay (Lt.Cdr. A.C.C. Miers, RN) departs Alexandria with orders to patrol in the Aegean Sea. (This is HMS Torbay's 3rd Mediterranean War Patrol)
30 Jun 1941 HMS Torbay (Lt.Cdr. A.C.C. Miers, RN) sinks a sailing vessel with gunfire off Cape Malea, Greece.
At 1810 hours (time zone -3) a laden caique of about 50 tons was spotted. The target was chased.
At 2054 hours Torbay surfaced and sank the caique with gunfire in position 264º Phalconeria Island, 6 nautical miles.
2 Jul 1941 HMS Torbay (Lt.Cdr. A.C.C. Miers, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Cittá di Tripoli (2933 GRT, built 1915) in the Zea Channel, Greece in position 37º41'N, 24º15'E.
Around 0630 hours (time zone -3), while in position 295º Pt. St.Nikolo (Zea Island) 4.9 nautical miles, two merchants escorted by an Italian torpedo boats of the Libra class was sighted. Overhead of the convoy an aircraft was circling. Torbay took action to get into attack position. (This convoy was made up of the Cittá di Savona (2500 GRT, built 1930) and Cittá di Tripoli (2933 GRT, built 1915) escorted by the Italian torpedo boat Libra and from 0600 (Italian official time) a German aircraft. They were on the way back from Vathi (Samos) where they had landed troops).
At 0722 hours, while in position 304º St. Nokolo 4.5 nautical miles, three torpedoes were fired at the leading merchant from 3300 yards.
At 0724 hours three torpedoes were fired at the rear ship.
At 0725 hours the leading ship was struck by one torpedo.
From 0730 to 0840 hours the escorting Italian torpedo boat dropped 18 single depth charges but none were very close.
(The escorting German aircraft sighted the torpedo tracks and signalled the ships, Cittá di Tripoli attempted coming about but was not quick enough and was hit at 0623 hrs (Italian official time). Cittá di Savona rescued 48 survivors, there were 11 dead).
4 Jul 1941 HMS Torbay (Lt.Cdr. A.C.C. Miers, RN) sinks two German sailing vessels with gunfire in the Doro Channel.
At 0615 hours (time zone -3) Torbay sighted a large caique of about 100 tons on a direct course from the Doro Channel from Lemnos. The caique was well filled with troops and stores.
At 0659 hours Torbay surfaced in position 084º Doro Island 8.5 nautical miles and engaged the caique with gunfire. The caique finally sank at 0943 hours.
At 1425 hours, while Torbay was in position 159º Doro Island 6.4 nautical miles, a schooner flying the Nazi coulours and approaching the Doro Channel from the north-east was sighted. The schooner was of about 60 tons and well loaded with troops and stores. Torbay surfaced at 1450 hours and engaged the schooner with gunfire from both Lewis guns.
5 Jul 1941 The Italian submarine Jantina (599 tons, built 1933) was torpedoed and sunk in the Aegean south of Mykonos, Greece in position 37º21'N, 25º20'E by the British submarine HMS Torbay (Lt.Cdr. A.C.C. Miers, RN).
At 1946 hours (time zone -3), while Torbay was in position 240º Stapodia Island 11.5 nautical miles, a submarine was sighted bearing 080º 4 nautical miles away. Torbay at once turned to engage the target.
At 2016 hours 6 torpedoes were fired from 1500 yards. One minute later an explosion was heard followed by a tremendous double explosion 10 seconds later. The explosion shook Torbay violently causing some light damage. When Lt.Cdr. Miers took a look through the periscope an aircraft was seen approaching so he took Torbay deep.
8 Jul 1941 HMS Torbay (Lt.Cdr. A.C.C. Miers, RN) sinks the German sailing vessel L XIV with gunfire east off Kythera, Greece.
At 0928 hours (time zone -3) HMS Torbay, while in position 059º Cape Malea 7 nautical miles sights an auxiliary schooner of about 200 tons bearing 317º distance 5 nautical miles course 160º.
At 1122 hours Torbay surfaced in position 164º Cape Malea 7 nautical miles. The schooner was seen to be full of troops and stores and was wearing the German flag. After firing some rounds with the Lewis gun but before fire wirh the 4" gun could be opened an aircraft was spotted so Torbay dived.
The schooner now proceeded westward to flee to Kythera Island. At 1142 hours Torbay surfaced again and resumed the action. The schooner was sunk with 4" gunfire.
9 Jul 1941 Around 0220 hours HMS Torbay (Lt.Cdr. A.C.C. Miers, RN) sinks the German sailing vessels L V and L VI, with gunfire and scuttling charges about 10 nautical miles north of Antikythera, Greece.
At 0220 hours, while Torbay was in position 100º Cape Malea 24 nautical miles a caique was seen on the horizon in very good visibility. Torbay turned to close. While doing so three more caiques were seen about 2 nautical miles apart all stearing the same course. As Torbay had not much ammo left for the deck gun it was decided that thay were to be stopped with one well aimed round of the deck gun, then clear the decks with the Lewis gun and then scuttle them with demolition charges.
At 0320 hours, while in position 126º Cape Malea 22 nautical miles, fire was opened on the first caique with the Lewis gun and the 4" gun. Such a blazing fire was started in the caique that it was not possible to go alongside. Lewis gunfire was continued with until all the occupants were either killed or forced to abandon ship. The caique of about 100 tons was left to burn (This must hsave been L VI)
At 0327 hours Torbay set course to engage the 2nd caique. At 0357 hours fire was opened on the second caique. Most of the crew took to the water and those who remained on board made signals as if to surrender shouting 'captain is Greek'. The submarine came alongside and the caique was boarded. A German soldier tried to throw a grenade but he was shot before he could do so. The whole crew turned out to be Germans and they were forced to launch their rubber boat and jump into it. Another German was shot by Torbay's navigating officer when he tried to shoot this officer with a rifle from point blank range. The caique was of about 100 tons, was carrying troop, ammo and petrol. She had L V painted on her side. This caique was fitted with demolition charges. The German soldiers in the rubber boat were shot by the Lewis gun to prevent them from returning to their ship. At 0435 hours the demolition charges exploded and the caique was sunk.
Around 0530 hours HMS Torbay sinks the German sailing vessel L XII with gunfire and scuttling charges about 10 nautical miles north of Anti-Kythera, Greece.
At 0445 hours a third sailing vessel was sighted, a large auxiliary schooner of about 300 tons making for Anti-Kythera. Torbay chased at full speed but as the target was making a good 10 knots it was not until 0530 that Torbay was close to the target. By that time it was daylight and boarding was out of the question.
At 0530 hours, while Torbay was in position 068º Pori Island 11.5 nautical miles, fire was opened. The schooner was filled with petrol and explosives and was quickly ablaze from stem to stern. Torbay dived soon after. This schooner was seen to sink at 0900 hours. The fourth caique escaped due to the arrival of an aircraft.
10 Jul 1941 HMS Torbay (Lt.Cdr. A.C.C. Miers, RN) torpedoes and damages the Italian oiler Strombo (5232 GRT, built 1923) in the Zea Channel in position 37º30'N, 24º16'E.
At 1355 hours, while Torbay was in position 325º Cape Tamelos (Zea Island) 6.4 nautical miles, an Arado 95 aircraft was sighted. This aircraft appeared to be an escort for the Italian tanker Strombo that was expected to arrive in this position shortly. At 1430 hours smoke was sighted in the direction of the aircraft.
At 1446 hours the Strombo was sighted and an attack was commenced. The Strombo was escorted by the above aircraft and an Italian torpedo boat of the Curtatone class that was zig-zagging about half a mile ahead of the target (according to Italian official history this was the Monzambano, indeed a torpedo boats of the Curtatone class).
At 1552 hours, while Torbay was in position 269º Pt. St.Nikolo 6.6 nautical miles, four torpedoes were fired from 1200 yards. Two hits were obtained.
From 1555 to 1620 hours Torbay was counter attacked by the escort with 13 single depth charges some of which were extremely close. At 1630 hours Torbay came to periscope depth and saw that the tanker had sunk and that the aircraft and escorting torpedo boat were searching to the northward. Torbay went deep again. (According to Italian official history the tanker did not aink, she was taken in tow to Salamis by the Monzambano, there were two dead among the crew).
At 1700 hours a fairly loud explosion was heard, which might have been a bomb, Torbay went still deeper.
At 1750 hours Torbay returned to periscope depth and saw two 'destroyers' coming towards her. (these were the Italian torpedo boats Climene and Calatafimi). From 1800 to 1920 hours Torbay was hunted. 25 Depth charges were dropped but none were very close.
As Torbay was now out of torpedoes and had only 19 rounds for her deck gun left, Lt.Cdr. Miers decided to proceed to Alexandria.
15 Jul 1941 At 0800 hours (time zone -3) HMS Torbay (Lt.Cdr. A.C.C. Miers, RN) arrives at Alexandria.
12 Aug 1941 HMS Torbay (Lt.Cdr. A.C.C. Miers, RN) attacks an Italian convoy 4 nautical miles west of Benghazi, Libya. The four torpedoes fired against the Italian merchants Bosforo (3648 GRT) and Iseo (2366 GRT) all miss their targets and Torbay is heavily depth charged following this attack by the Italian torpedo boat Partenope.
16 Aug 1941 HMS Torbay (Lt.Cdr. A.C.C. Miers, RN) sinks the sailing vessel Evangelista (28 GRT) with scuttling charges in position 106º Cape Matapan 1.3 nautical miles.
10 Sep 1941 HMS Torbay (Lt.Cdr. A.C.C. Miers, RN) torpedoes and damages the German merchant Norburg (2392 GRT) inside Iraklion harbour, Crete. The damaged German merchant settles on the bottom of the harbour but is later salvaged.
11 Dec 1941 HMS Torbay (Lt.Cdr. A.C.C. Miers, DSO, RN) sinks the Greek sailing vessel Sofia (800 GRT) with gunfire north-west of Suda Bay, Crete.
12 Dec 1941 HMS Torbay (Lt.Cdr. A.C.C. Miers, DSO, RN) sinks the Greek sailing vessel P III with gunfire north-west of Suda Bay, Crete.
15 Dec 1941 HMS Torbay (Lt.Cdr. A.C.C. Miers, DSO, RN) sinks three Greek sailing vessels with gunfire off Cape Methene.
22 Dec 1941 HMS Torbay (Lt.Cdr. A.C.C. Miers, DSO, RN) sinks a Greek sailing vessel with gunfire off Cape Methene.
23 Dec 1941 HMS Torbay (Lt.Cdr. A.C.C. Miers, DSO, RN) torpedoes and further damages the Italian destroyer Aviere (1645 tons) at Navarino harbour. The Aviere was already grounded after being damaged on 19 November 1941 by the Polish submarine ORP Sokol.
27 Feb 1942 HMS Torbay (Cdr. A.C.C. Miers, DSO, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Lido (1243 GRT) about 15 nautical miles south of Antipaxe, Korfu, Greece.
5 Mar 1942 HMS Torbay (Cdr. A.C.C. Miers, DSO, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Maddalena G. (5212 GRT) off Korfu, Greece.
9 Apr 1942 HMS Torbay (Cdr. A.C.C. Miers, DSO and Bar, RN) sinks the Italian auxiliary patrol vessel R 113 / Avanguardista (34 GRT) with gunfire off Patras, Greece.
11 Apr 1942 HMS Torbay (Cdr. A.C.C. Miers, DSO and Bar, RN) sinks the Italian sailing vessel Gesu Crocifisso (137 GRT) with gunfire north-west of Korfu.
18 Apr 1942 HMS Torbay (Cdr. A.C.C. Miers, DSO and Bar, RN) torpedoes and sinks the German army cargo ship Bellona (1297 GRT) in the Ionian Sea about 50 nautical miles east-south-east of Capo Colonna, Italy in position 38º52'N, 18º15'E.
19 Apr 1942 HMS Torbay (Cdr. A.C.C. Miers, DSO and Bar, RN) sinks the German auxiliary submarine chaser 13 V 2 / Delpa II (170 GRT) with gunfire north of Crete in position 36º36'N, 24º15'E.
11 Feb 1943 HMS Torbay (Lt. R.J. Clutterbuck, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Danish merchant Grete (1563 GRT) off Cape Oropesa, Spain. Two torpedoes were fired resulting in one hit one the ship.
25 Feb 1943 HMS Torbay (Lt. R.J. Clutterbuck, RN) damages the Italian auxiliary minesweeper Monte Argentario (80 GRT) with gunfire off Ajaccio, Corsica, France. The ship was run aground by her crew. Torbay fired 17 rounds, scoring 2 hits. Torbay broke off the action as she was fired upon by a shore battery.
26 Feb 1943 HMS Torbay (Lt. R.J. Clutterbuck, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Spanish merchant Juan de Astigarraga (3561 GRT) off San Remo, Italy.
Torbay also sinks the French merchant Oasis (1327 GRT) with scuttling charges (?) about 30 nautical miles south of Cape Mele, Italy in position 43º27'N, 08º08'E.
Both ships were under German control.
27 Feb 1943 HMS Torbay (Lt. R.J. Clutterbuck, RN) sinks the Italian auxiliary patrol vessel V 276 / Baicin (173 GRT) with gunfire about 35 nautical miles south-west of La Spezia, Italy in position 43º37'N, 09º25'E.
28 Feb 1943 HMS Torbay (Lt. R.J. Clutterbuck, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Ischia (5101 GRT) off Portofino, Italy.
3 Mar 1943 HMS Torbay (Lt. R.J. Clutterbuck, RN) sinks the Italian sailing vessel Gesu Guiseppe E Maria (64 GRT) with gunfire off Milazzo, Sicily, Italy.
28 Mar 1943 HMS Torbay (Lt. R.J. Clutterbuck, RN) torpedoes and sinks the French merchant Lillios (3680 GRT) off Cape Scalea, Italy in position 39º05'N, 15º46'E.
1 Apr 1943 HMS Torbay (Lt. R.J. Clutterbuck, RN) sinks the Italian fishing vessel Madonna di Porto Salvo (21 GRT) with gunfire 8 nautical miles bearing 170 of Punta Licosa, Italy in position 40º15'N, 14º54'E.
11 Apr 1943 HMS Torbay (Lt. R.J. Clutterbuck, RN) claims the sinking of a sailing vessel with gunfire ofCorfu, Greece.
17 Jul 1943 HMS Torbay (Lt. R.J. Clutterbuck, RN) sinks the Italian sailing vessel Pozzalo (127 GRT) 5 nautical miles west of Civitavecchia, Italy. (5 nautical miles bearing 270 from Torre Chiaruccia according to Italian sources)
18 Jul 1943 HMS Torbay (Lt. R.J. Clutterbuck, RN) sinks the Italian auxiliary patrol vessel V 90/San Girolamo (109 GRT) with gunfire south-east of Giglio, Italy.
23 Jul 1943 HMS Torbay (Lt. R.J. Clutterbuck, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian Aderno (2609 BRT, former British Ardeola) off Civitavecchia, Italy in position 42.04N, 11.47E.
31 Aug 1943 HMS Torbay (Lt. R.J. Clutterbuck, RN) sinks the Italian sailing vessel Columbo (15 GRT) with gunfire 15 nautical miles west of Kos, Greece.
2 Sep 1943 HMS Torbay (Lt. R.J. Clutterbuck, RN) torpedoes and sinks the small Italian merchant Versilia (591 GRT) off Paros Island, Greece in position 37º11'N, 25º20'E.
15 Oct 1943 HMS Torbay (Lt. R.J. Clutterbuck, RN) torpedoes and sinks the small Italian merchant Tarquinia (749 GRT) off Kalymnos, Greece and a Greek fishing vessel with gunfire east of Leros, Greece.
Following these sinkings Torbay had an encounter with the German Q-ship GA 45. Torbay's periscope was sighted first by GA 45 which dropped 5 depth-charges very close. Later Torbay surfaced intending to dispose of GA 45 with her gun but the German vessel was very alert and opened an accurate fire as soon as the submarine surfaced and forced her to break off the action. She did not drop any further depth-charges which led Lt. R.J. Clutterbuck of Torbay to conclude that she was out of depth-charges. The submarine was not damaged during this encounter.
16 Oct 1943 HMS Torbay (Lt. R.J. Clutterbuck, RN) torpedoes and sinks the German troopship Kari (1925 GRT, former French Ste. Colette, former Norwegian Kari) and torpedoes and damages the Italian merchant (in German service) Trapani (1855 GRT) east of Naxos, Greece in position 36º59'N, 26º10'E.
The Trapani was further damaged that night by the British escort destroyer destroyer HMS Hursley and the Greek escort destroyer destroyer RHS Miaoulis. The wreck of the Trapani was finally destroyed off Kalymnos, Greece the following night by the British destroyers HMS Penn and HMS Jervis.
21 Nov 1943 HMS Torbay (Lt. R.J. Clutterbuck, RN) sinks a sailing vessel with gunfire west of Psathoura Island, Greece in position 39º30'N, 24º10'E.
22 Nov 1943 HMS Torbay (Lt. R.J. Clutterbuck, RN) torpedoes and sinks a German floating dock north of Skiathos Island, Greece in position 39º24'N, 23º24'E.
26 Nov 1943 HMS Torbay (Lt. R.J. Clutterbuck, RN) fires three torpedoes against the German merchant Salomea (751 GRT) off Lemnos island, Greece. All three torpedoes missed their target.
27 Nov 1943 HMS Torbay (Lt. R.J. Clutterbuck, RN) torpedoes and sinks the German troop transport Palma (2609 GRT, former Italian Polcevera) off Karlovasi, Samos, Greece in position 37º47'N, 26º38'E.
25 Dec 1943 HMS Torbay (Lt. R.J. Clutterbuck, RN) damages a sailing vessel with gunfire off Cape Stavros, Crete, Greece.
26 Jan 1944 HMS Torbay (Lt. R.J. Clutterbuck, RN) fires 5 torpedoes against the German merchant Leda (4572 GRT, former Italian Leopardi) south of Amorgos Island, Greece. All torpedoes fired missed their target.
31 Jan 1944 HMS Torbay (Lt. R.J. Clutterbuck, RN) sinks a Greek sailing vessel with gunfire south of Lemnos Island, Greece.
16 Mar 1945 HMS Torbay (Lt.Cdr. C.P. Norman, DSO, RN) damages a Japanese coaster with gunfire of the west coast of Siam.
26 Jun 1945 HMS Torbay (Lt.Cdr. C.P. Norman, DSO, RN) sinks a Japanese coaster with gunfire off Sabang, Sumatra, Netherlands East Indies.
At 1100 hours (time zone -7.5) the mast and funnel of a coaster was sighted at 10000 yards. Torbay manouvered to get ahead of the target. At 1250 hours range was still 8000 to 9000 yards. At 1300 Torbay surfaced and gave chase on the surface. At 1306 hours the enemy turned towards the nearest shore zig-zagging wildly.
At 1314 hours Torbay opened fire with the deck gun from 6000 yards. At 1329 hours fire was ceased as the target was now on fire from amidships to aft. In all 58 rounds were fired.
At 1335 hours Torbay dived in position 02º57'N, 100º04'E. At 1350 hours the target was seen to blow up and sink.
28 Jun 1945 HMS Torbay (Lt.Cdr. C.P. Norman, DSO, RN) sinks a Japanese sailing vessel with a demolition charge in the Strait of Malacca.
At 1915 hours (time zone -7.5) Torbay surfaced in position 03º24'N, 99º42'E. a 10 ton tongkang was boarded. The cargo was made up of solid rubber tyres. The tongkang was sunk by a demolition charge.
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Group Two boats
These seven vessels were all ordered under the 1939 War Emergency Programme. The first, Thrasher, was launched on November 5, 1940. The external bow torpedo tubes were moved seven feet aft to help with sea keeping. The two external forward-angled tubes just forward of conning tower were repositioned aft of it and angled backwards to fire astern, and a stern external torpedo tube was also fitted. This gave a total of eight forward facing tubes and three rear facing ones. All Group Two boats were sent to the Mediterranean, only Thrasher and Trusty returned.
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HMS Tempest underway in 1941.
HMS Tempest
HMS Tempest (N86) was a T-class submarine of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by Cammell Laird & Co Limited, Birkenhead and launched in June 1941.
Career
Tempest had a shortlived career, serving in the Mediterranean.
She sailed from Malta on the night of 10 February to patrol the Gulf of Taranto. On the evening of the 11th Tempest was signalled that the Italians were aware of a submarine in her vicinity and that it should be assumed that her patrol had been compromised. On the 13th, Tempest was sighted on the surface by the Italian destroyer Circe. Tempest attempted to dive, but Circe began depth charging the area, eventually resulting in oil being seen on the surface. Tempest had been crippled, and forced to surface, where she was hit by gunfire from the Circe. The crew abandoned the submarine, and were picked up by the destroyer. The Italians attempted to board the abandoned vessel but were unable to, due to rough seas. Unable to board Tempest due to the bad weather, the Italian destroyer opened fire scoring more than a dozen direct hits, but failing to sink the Tempest. Finally the Italians attempted to take the submarine in tow. Two members of the destroyer’s crew boarded the submarine and prepared the tow. As Circe manoeuvred to take up the tow, Tempest suddenly started to sink forcing those onboard to jump into the sea. HMS Tempest slipped beneath the waves stern first with the bows disappearing vertically.
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HMS Thorn underway on the River Mersey on completion in 1941.
HMS Thorn
HMS Thorn (N11) was a T-class submarine of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by Cammell Laird & Co Limited, Birkenhead and launched in March 1941.
Career
Thorn had a shortlived career, serving in the Mediterranean.
Commencing operations in late 1941, Thorn sank the German tanker Campina, the Italian tanker Ninuccia, the Italian submarine Medusa, the Italian auxiliary patrol vessel AS 91 / Ottavia and the Italian transport ship Monviso. She also attacked an Italian convoy in the central Mediterranean, but failed to hit any ships.
On 7 August 1942 Thorn encountered the Italian torpedo boat Pegaso, escorting the steamer Istria from Benghazi, off southern Crete. Pegaso spotted an escorting aircraft machine-gunning the sea’s surface and moved in to investigate. Just four minutes after the aircraft’s attack the Pegaso picked up a contact and carried out seven attacks after which contact was lost. Thorn failed to return from the patrol and is believed to have been lost in this attack. She was declared overdue on 11 August 1942.
Noteable events involving Thorn include:
30 Dec 1941 HMS Thorn (Lt.Cdr. R.G. Norfolk, RN) torpedoes and sinks the German tanker Campina (3032 GRT) about 5 nautical miles west off Cape Dukato in position 38º35'N, 10º27'E.
28 Jan 1942 HMS Thorn (Lt.Cdr. R.G. Norfolk, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian tanker Ninuccia (4583 GRT) off Cape Planka, Yugoslavia in position 43º30'N, 15º55'E.
30 Jan 1942 The Italian submarine Medusa (599 tons, offsite link) was sunk in the Adriatic near Promontore, Istria, Italy in position 44º45'N, 13º56'E by the British submarine HMS Thorn (Lt.Cdr. R.G. Norfolk, RN).
5 Mar 1942 HMS Thorn (Lt.Cdr. R.G. Norfolk, RN) sinks the Italian auxiliary patrol vessel AS 91 / Ottavia (259 GRT) with gunfire of Kefalonia, Greece.
7 May 1942 HMS Thorn (Lt.Cdr. R.G. Norfolk, RN) fires four torpedoes against an Italian convoy in the central Mediterranean about 180 nautical miles north-west of Benghazi, Libya in position 34º34'N, 17º56'E. All four torpedoes missed their intended target(s).
3 Aug 1942 HMS Thorn (Lt.Cdr. R.G. Norfolk, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian transport ship Monviso (5322 GRT) 8 nautical miles bearing 333 from Sidi Sueicher, Libya.
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HMS Thrasher seen here underway, date and location unknown.
HMS Thrasher
HMS Thrasher (N37) was a T-class submarine of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by Cammell Laird & Co Limited, Birkenhead, launched in November 1940, and had an active career in the Mediterranean and Pacific Far East.
Mediterranean
Thrasher began her service by heavily damaging the French fishing vessel Virgo Fidelis in the Bay of Biscay, while in transit to the Mediterranean. The Virgo Fidelis was beached, but declared a total loss. Also in the Mediterranean she sank a number of ships, including three Greek sailing vessels, including the San Stefano; the Italian sailing vessel Esperia; the Italian merchants Attilio Deffenu, Fedora, Gala, Penelope, Lero, Sant Antonio and Padenna; the German army cargo ship Atlas; the Italian tugs Pilo and Roma; and the Italian sloop Diana. She also unsuccessfully attacked the German transport Ankara and the German merchant Arkadia. She also attacked the German barge F 184, but was forced to withdraw due to return fire.
On 16 February 1942 north of Crete, Thrasher, was attacked after sinking a supply ship. After surfacing later, two unexploded bombs were discovered in the gun-casing. Lieutenant Peter Scawen Watkinson Roberts and Petty Officer Thomas William Gould removed the first one without too much difficulty, but the second was lying in a very confined space and they had to approach it lying full length. Gould lay on his back with the bomb in his arms while Roberts dragged him along by the shoulders. It was 40 minutes before they got the bomb clear and dropped it over the side. As a result of their heroic actions which likely saved Thrasher, both men were awarded the Victoria Cross. The citation read
"The King has been Graciously pleased to approve of the grant of the Victoria Cross for great valour while serving in HM Submarine Thrasher to Lieutenant Peter Scawen Watkinson Roberts, RN and Petty Officer Thomas William Gould. "On February 16th, in daylight, HM Submarine Thrasher attacked and sank a heavily escorted supply ship. She was at once attacked by depth-charges and was bombed by aircraft. The presence of two unexploded bombs in the gun-casing was discovered when after dark the submarine surfaced and began to roll. Lieutenant Roberts and Petty Officer Gould volunteered to remove the bombs, which were of a type unknown to them. The danger in dealing with the second bomb was very great. To reach it they had to go through the casing, which was so low that they had to lie at full length to move in it. Through this narrow space, in complete darkness, they pushed and dragged the bomb for a distance of some 20 feet until it could be lowered over the side. Every time the bomb was moved there was a loud twanging noise as of a broken spring which added nothing to their peace of mind. This deed was more gallant as HM Submarine Thrasher's presence was known to the enemy; she was close to the enemy coast and in waters where his patrols were known to be active day and night. There was a very great chance, and they knew it, that the submarine might have to crash-dive while they were under the casing. Had this happened they must have been drowned."
In July 1942, Thrasher was bombed in error by a British Swordfish aircraft off Port Said, Egypt. She was under repair for a month due to the damage sustained.
Far East
Thrasher was assigned to the Far East in the early part of 1945. She sank 20 sailing vessels and four coasters before the end of the war.
She survived the war and was broken up for scrap at Briton Ferry, Wales on 9 March 1947.
Noteable events involving Thrasher include:
15 Aug 1941 HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Cowell, DSC, RN) fires four torpedoes against the German transport Ankara (4768 GRT, built 1937) off Cape Sunion, Greece in position 37º36'N, 24º03'E. All torpedoes however miss their target.
(All times are zone -3)
0307 hours - Dived and patrolled off the Western junction of the Thermia and Zea Channels
1105 hours - Sighted a Fiat bi-plane (convoy air escort) over the Zea Channel. Turned to the East expecting a convoy from the Zea Channel
1120 hours - Sighted smoke in the Mandri Channel, turned towards. Sighted a destroyer of the Folgore class and a merchant ship that was thought to be the Bulgarian ship Bulgaria. Started attack
1158 hours - In position 37º36'N, 24º03'E fired four torpedoes and withdrew to the South-East. Intermittent depth-charging was heard until 1246 hours
1300 hours - The destroyer was no longer heard
2133 hours - Surfaced and proceeded through the Siphano Channel towards the Naxos Channel.
20 Aug 1941 HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Cowell, DSC, RN) sinks the Greek sailing vessel San Stefano with gunfire off Cape Malea, Greece.
(All times are zone -3)
0525 hours - Dived / Patrolled in the Elaphonisos Channel. Sighted a large number of small sailing vessels and when of Cape Sta Maria sighted two caiques coming from the Westward. Decided to follow the 2nd caique
1600 hours - Sighted a schooner coming from the Westward, position 36º26'5"N, 23º00'E
2015 hours - The schooner entered Lephki Bay. Followed him into the bay and then surfaced at 2050 hours and sank the schooner (about 250 tons) with gunfire at 2055 hours.
28 Oct 1941 HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) sinks the Italian schooner Esperia (384 BRT, built 1925) with gunfire north-east of Benghazi, Libya in position 32º20'N, 20º10'E.
(All times are zone -2)
0556 hours - Dived in position 32º27'N, 20º08'E
0930 hours - While Thrasher was in position 32º19'N, 20º10'E sighted and commenced an attack on a three masted schooner of about 800 tons
0941 hours - Fired one torpedo that missed. The torpedo must have passed very close as the crew started to abandon ship
1010 hours - Surfaced and sank the schooner with 9 rounds of gunfire in position 32º20'N, 20º10'E
1016 hours - Dived
1036 hours - The schooner was observed to sink. Later a Crotone class minelayer and a Spica class torpedo boat were seen searching the area
1900 hours - Surfaced in position 32º24'5"N, 20º08'E and proceeded to intercept a convoy that was signalled.
25 Nov 1941 HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Attilio Deffenu (3510 GRT, built 1929) about 20 nautical miles east of Brindisi, Puglia, Italy in position 40º37'N, 18º27'E.
(All times are zone -2)
0643 hours - Dived in position 40º28'5"N, 18º31'5"E and proceeded north-west along the coast towards Brindisi
1551 hours - In position 40º32'5"N, 18º18'E sighted two ships bearing 155 degrees. Turned towards and commenced attack. The convoy proved to be three ships in line ahead about 1/2 mile apart. The first ship was estimated at 6000 tons, the second at 4000 tons and the 3rd at 2000 tons. Decided to fire at the leading and 2nd ship
1653 hours - In position 40º31'5"N, 18º13'E fired four torpedoes at the leading ship and turned to fire at the second ship. Before a salvo could be fired at the second ship the first ship was hit by one torpedo resulting in that the convoy scattered immediately. Thrasher continued to close in the hope of getting a further shot
1704 hours - Fired one torpedo at the second ship which appeared to be stopped at a range of 1000 yards. The torpedo missed and the ship got under way
1708 hours - A cloud of smoke was seen coming towards from Brindisi and approaching fast. Thrasher went deep and retired to the seaward. When last seen the ship hit was down by the bows, listing to starboard and the crew had abandoned ship
1720 to 1800 hours - Intermittent depth charging while Thrasher continued to retire to the North-East reloading the torpedo tubes
1845 hours - Lost contact with the ship that was hunting
2105 hours - Heard two distant explosions
2113 hours - Surfaced in position 40º39'N, 18º25'E and decided to carry out the first of the two special operations (patrol report does not mention the nature of the special operations)
10 Jan 1942 HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Fedora (5016 GRT, built 1909) about 35 nautical miles north-east of Cape Dukato, Greece in position 38º59'N, 19º52'E.
(All times are zone -2)
0106 hours - In position 39º14'N, 19º41'E sighted a distant dark object bearing 310 degrees, turned towards and closed
0115 hours - The object was identified as a medium seized merchant ship that was coming strait towards. The ship was accompanied by one smalled vessel. The enemy's course was 130 degrees
0120 hours - Dived to attack from periscope depth. The weather on the surface was to rough for a surface attack. But the ships passed before an attack could be mounted
0154 hours - Surfaced and gave chase
0355 hours - Attacked on the surface and fired the first of four torpedoes at the largest vessel. The second and third torpedo of this salvo hit the target
0358 hours - Dived in position 38º59'N, 19º51'5"E
0400 hours - Heard loud breaking up noises
0401 hours - The first of about 20 depth charges was dropped. Depth charging continued for another two hours but none was close
1845 hours - Surfaced.
16 Feb 1942 HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) makes a torpedo attack on the German merchant Arkadia (1756 GRT, built 1927) off Suda Bay, Crete, Greece. All torpedoes fired however missed their target.
(All times are zone -2)
0413 hours - Sighted three darkened ships bearing 255 degrees, distance 5 nautical miles. Altered course towards. Thrasher is however unable to get into an attack position
0520 hours - Proceeded towards Suda Bay
0730 hours - Dived in position 060 degrees, Cape Drepano distance 11,5 nautical miles
0855 hours - A small 1000 ton merchant ship escorted by a minesweeper or motor launch was sighted bearing 200 degrees, distance 5 nautical miles. Their course was 120 and they had just left Suda Bay. Closed at speed to within 6000 yards. Could not get closed and at the range Lt. MacKenzie did not considered it worth firing torpedoes so the attack was abandoned
0945 hours - Sighted one small patrol vessel in the entrance to Suda Bay
1020 hours - Saw one motor launch approaching from Suda Bay. It passed 2 nautical miles astern and disappeared at about 12 knots in a north-easterly direction
1050 hours - Saw one M.A.S. boat leaving Suda Bay at high speed
1055 hours - The M.A.S. boat stopped about 3000 yards away bearing 240 degrees. Thrasher went deep and retired to the Eastward
1150 hours - Sighted a large two-masted schooner entering Suda Bay
1155 hours - Sighted one merchant vessel bearing 060 degrees. Altered course and started an attack. The merchant ship was about 3000 tons and was deeply laden. Five escorts were seen, one ahead, one on each beam and one on each quarter. Three of the escorts were transmitting on Asdics. Also one or two aircraft were circling overhead
1234 hours - Fired the first of a salvo of four torpedoes from 2000 yards. A few seconds after firing the first torpedo a muffled explosion shook the submarine considerably, probably a bomb dropped by an aircraft. Less then a minute later machine gun bullets were heard striking the water. Almost three minutes after firing the first torpedo a loud distant explosion was hear followed ten seconds later by another. This might have been the torpedoes exploding or depth charges. Thrasher dived to 270 feet and retired to the Northward
1245 hours - The first of a total of 33 depth charges was dropped. Most were too close for comfort. Minor damage was caused
1430 hours - While at periscope depth three A/S vessels were seen to be still hunting. Aircraft were also seen. Thrasher went deep again and continued to retire while reloading the torpedo tubes
1545 hours - Came to periscope depth again. Nothing in sight
1906 hours - Surfaced.
29 Mar 1942 HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) departs Alexandria for her 9th war patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the Gulf of Sirte.
30 Mar 1942 HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) is attacked by a friendly aircraft in position 32º20'N, 28º12'E. Two bombs are dropped but no damage is caused.
(All times are zone -2)
0350 hours - In position 32º20'N, 28º12'E dived to 80 feet on being attacked by a Sunderland aircraft, two bombs were dropped but these were not close enough to cause any damage
0452 hours - Surfaced
0507 hours - Sighted an aircraft, dived
1928 hours - Surfaced.
9 Apr 1942 HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Gala (1029 GRT, built 1897) about 20 nautical miles west-south-west of Bengasi, Libya in position 31º49'N, 19º42'E.
(All times are zone -3)
7 April 1942 0529 hours - Dived and set course for Ras Zorug anchorage
1050 hours - Altered course to the eastward as no shipping was spotted at the Ras Zorug anchorage
1325 hours - In position 32º22'N, 15º23'E sighted one Spica class torpedo boat and two small merchant ships bearing 275 degrees distant 8 nautical miles. Turned towards but was unable to close further then 8000 yards. Decided to intercept them the following night
2053 hours - Surfaced and set off in pursuit of the convoy.
8 April 1942 0927 hours - Dived but the convoy was not sighted during the day
2050 hours - Surfaced.
9 April 1942 0451 hours - In position 31º52'N, 19º33'E sighted three darkened ships. Increased speed and altered course as to get ahead of them
0604 hours - Dived to complete the attack from periscope depth. The ships were soon identified as being the same as sighted 2 days before
0635 hours - In position 31º49'N, 19º42'E fired the first torpedo of a salvo of three from 2000 yards at the leading merchant ships that was of about 1500 tons
0637 hours - One torpedo hit the leading ship just forward of the bridge. Also fired the first torpedo of a salvo of three against the second merchant (2500 tons). The first torpedo broke surface upon firing. No hits were obtained
0640 hours - Went to 80 feet and retired to the south-west. No counter attack followed
0700 hours - Came to periscope depth. Northing was seen of the merchant that was hit. The second was seen to make off towards Benghazi at full speed and the torpedo boat was picking up survivors in the position of the attack
0735 hours - The destroyer was now searching the area and was joined by a trawler or patrol vessel. Also a seaplane was circling overhead so went to 80 feet, continued to retire to the south-west and reloaded the torpedo tubes
2105 hours - Surfaced.
13 Apr 1942 HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) torpedoes and sinks the German army cargo ship Atlas (2297 GRT, built 1927) south-west of Bengasi, Libya in position 31º26'N, 18º56'E. She also sinks the Italian lighter Pilo 210 (30 GRT) with gunfire in the same area.
(All times are zone -3)
12 April 1942 0700 hours - Dived
0924 hours - Sighted one Spica class torpedo boat and three merchant ships bearing 210 degrees, distance 7 to 8 nautical miles, course 090. Altered course to close
0950 hours - The convoy altered course, range could not be closed further then 10000 yards so broke off the attack
1307 hours - Surfaced and set off to get ahead of the convoy for a night attack. The ships were most likely the same as sighted on 5 April now with a 2000 ton tanker with them. They were now also fully laden
1316 hours - Dived for an aircraft
1335 hours - Surfaced and continued the chase
1656 hours - Sighted masts and funnels bearing 105 degrees. These were soon identified as the convoy. Altered course to get ahead of them
1740 hours - Lost sight of the convoy
1900 hours - Contact had not been regained so it seemed likely that they had altered course to the northward in the meantime
1925 hours - Sighted the upperworks of a destroyer coming strait towards, bearing 045. Forced to alter right away and retired on a course of 225 degrees
1940 hours - The destroyer altered course to the westward, not having sighted Thrasher at all. Altered course to get round him and to set of in pursuit of the main convoy
1950 hours - The destroyer, now about 8 nautical miles to the northward was seen to be escorting a small westbound merchant ship. This looked like the same ship that was missed on 9 April. This ship was now most likely returning in ballast to Tripoli.
13 April 1942 0700 hours - Dived
0855 hours - In position 31º48'N, 19º17'E sighted masts and funnels bearing 270 degrees. These were soon identified as being yesterday's convoy
0930 hours - The convoy was seen to have one fighter aircraft as escort and also three small patrol vessels were present
1012 hours - In position 31º26'N, 18º56'E fired the first of three torpedoes against the leading merchant ship from 1800 yards. Obtained two hits and the ship was seen to sink in five minutes. Breaking up noises and explosions were heard for another hour
1015 hours - The first of a total of 19 depth charges was dropped. These were dropped by the patrol vessels. The torpedo boat took no part in the counter attack. None of the depth charges were close. Thrasher went to 80 feet and retired to the southward
1115 hours - Came to periscope depth, sighted one patrol vessel, one lighter (most likely part of the deck cargo of the sunken ship) and a lot of wreckage in the position of the attack
1120 hours - The patrol vessel left the area to go after the convoy
1302 hours - Surfaced to sink the lighter by gunfire as it appeared undamaged
1322 hours - Sank the lighter with 15 rounds of gunfire of which 5 were hits
1330 hours - Proceeded on the surfaced towards position 33º09'N, 14º37'E as ordered by Captain S.10.
19 Apr 1942 HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) attacks the German barge F 184 with gunfire west of Derna, Libya in position 32º53'N, 22º23'E. Return fire forced Thrasher to break off the attack.
(All times are zone -3)
0633 hours - Dived / 1408 hours - In position 32º53'N, 22º23'E sighted one eastbound motor lighter bearing 220 degrees, distant 2 nautical miles
1416 hours - Surfaced and engaged with the deck gun from 2000 yards. Fired 37 rounds for only one possible hit
1422 hours - Machine gun fire from the target and heavier gunfire from shore forced Lt. Mackenzie to break off the action and dive
2107 hours - Surfaced and proceeded towards Alexandria.
22 Apr 1942 HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) ends her 9th war patrol at Alexandria
6 May 1942 HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) departs Alexandria for her 10th war patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the southern Adriatic.
19 May 1942 HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Penelope (1160 GRT) about 5 nautical miles north-west of Monopoli, Italy in position 41º01'N, 17º16'E.
(All times are zone -3)
0532 hours - Dived in position 41º09'N, 17º08'E and closed the coast 10 nautical miles north-west of Monopoli
0830 hours - In position 41º02'N, 17º17'E sighted masts and funnel of one heavily laden merchant ship of about 3500 tons approaching from the direction of Bari. Commenced attack
0852:30 hours - In position 41º00'6"N, 17º15'6"E fired the first of three torpedoes from 800 yards
0853 hours - Two torpedoes hit the target, the third missed astern and exploded when hitting the shore
0900 hours - Proceeded to the north-west towards Bari, reloading the torpedo tubes in the meantime
1300 hours - In position 41º07'N, 17º07'E sighted one Abba class torpedo boat and one auxiliary schooner approaching from the direction of Bari, apparently carrying out an A/S sweep. They remained within 2000 yards, proceeding at slow speed, until 1400 hours when the torpedo boat proceeded to the south-east and the schooner retired towards Bari
1630 hours - In position 41º11'N, 17º03'E sighted one small armed tug steaming out of Bari on a course of 070 degrees. When in position 9 nautical miles 070 degrees from Bari it slowed down and started circling about. Altered course to close its position. The tug was probably waiting to pilot a ship into Bari. If this ship appeared so much the better, it not Lt. Mackenzie intended to surface and sink the tug with gunfire as soon as it shows signs of returning to Bari
1920 hours - In position 41º15'N, 16º59'E sighted one very effectively camouflaged torpedo boat the Giuseppe Missori approaching from the eastward, course 250 degrees, speed 15 knots. The tug joined up with the torpedo boat and they both proceeded into Bari
2226 hours - Surfaced in position 41º15'N, 17º03'2"E.
28 May 1942 HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) ends her 10th war patrol at Alexandria.
23 Jun 1942 HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Sant Antonio (1480 GRT, former Yugoslavian Anton, built 1919) in the Gulf of Sirte in position 31º53'N, 16º35'E.
At 2245 hours (time zone -3) on the 22nd Thrasher sighted the convoy (2 merchants, 1 torpedo boat) again she had already chased and attacked some hours before. At 0050 hours (23rd) she was in position six nautical miles right ahead of the convoy. She dived to make a submerged attack.
At 0133 hours three torpedoes were fired at the larger (2500 tons) of the two merchants. One hit was obtained. A slight and ineffective counter attack was carried out by the escorting torpedo boat. The merchant that was hit was heard to break up.
Note: the torpedo boat was the Italian Perseo.
29 Jun 1942 HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian sloop Diana (1568 tons) north of Tobruk, Libya in position 33º30'N, 23º30'E.
At 1125 hours (time zone -3) masts were sighted in position 33º21'N, 23º20'E, bearing 360º distance eight nautical miles away. The ship appeared to be coming steight towards. Five minutes later it could be seen that the vessel was a small auxiliary travelling at high speed. This ship must be carrying a very important cargo.
At 1144 hours six torpedoes were fired from 600 yards. No less then four hits were obtained and the ship sank quickly. There was an immediate counter attack by motor torpedo boats (these had not been seen previously). 17 depth charges were dropped. At 1240 hours Thrasher returned to periscope depth. At the place of the attack a few rafts were seen as well as two motor torpedo boats.
26 Jul 1942 HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO, RN) is bombed in error by a British Swordfish aircraft off Port Said, Egypt. She is under repair for about a month due to the damage sustained.
4 Sep 1942 HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Padenna (1589 GRT) about 40 nautical miles north of Tobruk, Libya in position 32º44'N, 24º11'E.
12 Oct 1942 HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO, RN) sinks a Greek sailing vessel with gunfire in the Aegean Sea, about 15 nautical miles east of Cape Drepano, Sithonia peninsula, Greece in position 39º56'N, 24º17'E.
13 Oct 1942 HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO, RN) sinks a sailing vessel with gunfire in the Aegean Sea about 10 nautical miles south-west of Cape Pinnes, Athos peninsula, Greece in position 40º01'N, 24º10'E.
19 Oct 1942 HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO, RN) sinks the Italian tug Roma (130 GRT) with gunfire off Stampalia, Greece in position 36º43'N, 26º41'E.
20 Oct 1942 HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Lero (1980 GRT) between Symi and Rhodos Islands, Greece in position 36º26'N, 27º54'E.
22 Jan 1945 HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. M.F.R. Ainslie, DSO, DSC, RN) sinks four Japanese sailing vessels with gunfire of the west coast of Siam.
27 Jan 1945 HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. M.F.R. Ainslie, DSO, DSC, RN) sinks three Japanese sailing vessels with gunfire of the west coast of Siam.
28 Jan 1945 HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. M.F.R. Ainslie, DSO, DSC, RN) sinks three Japanese sailing vessels with gunfire of the west coast of Siam.
16 Mar 1945 HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. M.F.R. Ainslie, DSO, DSC, RN) sinks a Japanese sailing vessel with gunfire of the west coast of Burma.
18 Mar 1945 HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. M.F.R. Ainslie, DSO, DSC, RN) sinks a Japanese sailing vessel with gunfire of the west coast of Burma.
19 Mar 1945 HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. M.F.R. Ainslie, DSO, DSC, RN) sinks three Japanese sailing vessels with gunfire of the west coast of Siam.
22 Jun 1945 HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. M.F.R. Ainslie, DSO, DSC, RN) sinks three sailing vessels with gunfire off the west coast of Siam.
At 0650 hours (time zone -6.5) the sails of a junk were sighted south of Pulau Adang. It was a small vessel, only about 10 tons, and loaded with a cargo of rice. The crew was taken on board and the junk was sunk with gunfire.
At 0952 hours, a warning shot was fired against a junk of about 60 tons from 3000 yards. After the crew abandoned ship this junk was sunk with 14 rounds of gunfire.
At 1345 hours another junk was sighted. At 1440 hours the crew of six was seen to abandon ship. The junk, of about 30 tons, was then sunk with three rounds of gunfire. At 1459 hours HMS Thrasher made a crash dive as a Japanese 'Jake' aircraft dived down from the cloud cover. Thrasher bottomed at 40 feet. A small bomb exploded close by but did no damage.
25 Jul 1945 HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. M.F.R. Ainslie, DSO, DSC, RN) sinks a Japanese sailing vessel with gunfire north of the Strait of Malacca.
27 Jul 1945 HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. M.F.R. Ainslie, DSO, DSC, RN) sinks four Japanese coasters and a Japanese sailing vessel with gunfire in the northern part of the Strait of Malacca.
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HMS Traveller underway in the Gareloch on completion in April 1942.
HMS Traveller
HMS Traveller (N48) was a T-class submarine of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by Scotts, Greenock and launched in August 1941.
Career
Traveller spent most of her career serving in the Mediterranean. She was unsuccessful in most of her attacks, sinking the Italian merchant Albachiara, but launching failed attacks against the Italian merchant Ezilda Croce, the Italian 'small light cruiser' Cattaro (the former Yugoslavian Dalmacija), the Italian tanker Proserpina (the former French Beauce) and the Italian torpedo boats Castore and Ciclone. She also claimed to have attacked two so far unidentified submarines.
Traveller left Malta on 28 November 1942 for a patrol in the Gulf of Taranto. She carried out reconnaissance of Taranto harbour for a Chariot human torpedo attack (Operation Portcullis). The submarine did not return from the operation and was reported overdue on 12 December. She probably struck an Italian mine on or about the 4th of December.
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HMS Trooper
HMS Trooper (N91) was a T-class submarine of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by Scotts, Greenock and launched in March 1942.
Career
Trooper spent most of her short career serving in the Mediterranean. She sank the Italian tanker Rosario, the Italian merchant Forli, a sailing vessel and the Italian submarine Pietro Micca. She also damaged two other enemy vessels, and unsuccessfully attacked the Italian merchant Belluno (the former French Fort de France).
On her first operation, she took part in Operation Principal, which used human torpedoes to sink Italian ships in Palermo harbour.
Trooper sailed from Beirut on 26 September 1943, on her 8th War Patrol to patrol in the Aegean Sea off the Dodecanese islands. On 14 October she challenged Levant Schooner Flotilla F8 off Alinda Bay, Leros. She failed to return on 17 October and was reported overdue on that day. She is presumed lost on German mines around Leros.
The Germans claimed that Trooper was sunk by Q-ship GA.45 on 15 October 1943. The submarine GA-45 attacked was actually HMS Torbay which escaped undamaged.
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HMS Trusty (left) passing HMS Sibyl (foreground), as the latter nears port at Dundee 26 - 27 March 1943.
HMS Trusty
HMS Trusty (N45) was a T-class submarine of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow and launched in March 1941.
Career
Trusty served in the Mediterranean and in the Pacific Far East. She sank the Italian merchant Eridano in December 1941, and on reassigning to the Pacific, she sank the Japanese merchant cargo ship Toyohashi Maru and damaged the Japanese troop transport Columbia Maru.
She survived the war and was sold to be broken up for scrap in January 1947. She was scrapped at Milford Haven in July 1947.
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HMS Turbulent on the outboard side, moored up WWII.
HMS Turbulent
HMS Turbulent (N98) was a T-class submarine of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow and launched in May 1942.
Career
Turbulent spent most of her career serving in the Mediterranean. During her time in service, she sank the following ships:
Six Greek sailing vessels, including the Prodromos, Aghios Apostolos, Aghios Yonizov, Evangelista, Aghios Dyonysios and Aghia Traio.
Nine Italian merchants: Rosa M., Delia, Bolsena, Capo Arma, Regulus, Marte, Vittoria Beraldo, Pozzuoli and San Vincenzo
The Italian sailing vessels Franco and San Giusto
The Italian destroyer Emanuelle Pessagno
The wreck of the Italian destroyer Strale. The Strale grounded near Cape Bon on 1 June 1942 and was finally destroyed by Turbulent
The German ship Kreta
The German auxiliary submarine tender Bengasi
The Italian tanker Utilitas
Turbulent also damaged the Italian tanker Pozarica and the Italian transport ship Nino Bixio. This ship is loaded with some 2000 Prisoners of War, of which over 300 perished as a result.
She also launched a number of failed attacks on the following ships:
An unidentified submarine off Fiume
The Italian merchants Anna Maria Gualdi and Sestriere
The German submarine U-81, in two attacks
The German transport Ankara
The Italian armed merchant cruiser Ramb III
The small Italian passerger / cargo vessel Principessa Mafalda
Sinking
On 23 February 1943 Turbulent sailed from Algiers for a patrol in the Tyrrhenian Sea. On 1 March she attacked and sank the Italian steam ship Vincenz. On the 11th she is known to have attacked the mail ship Mafalda. The following morning the anti-submarine trawler Teti II sighted the periscope and conning tower of a submarine and attacked, it is believed, without success. Turbulent did not respond to any further messages and did not return when expected on 23 March. It is thought that Turbulent fell victim to a mine off Maddalena, Sardinia .The wreck has never been found and any reference to its discovery is incorrect.
Aftermath
Turbulent had sunk a huge amount of enemy shipping and endured numerous attacks.
Turbulent sank over 90,000 tons of enemy shipping. She was depth charged on over 250 occasions by enemy forces hunting her.
In recognition of this achievement, and the gallentry of Turbulent's crew, her commander, John Wallace Linton, DSO, DSC, RN was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross on 25 May 1943. The citation read:
The King has been Graciously pleased to approve of the grant of the Victoria Cross for great valour in command of HM Submarines to Commander John Wallace Linton, DSO, DSC, Royal Navy. From the outbreak of war until HMS Turbulent's last patrol, Commander Linton was constantly in command of submarines, and during that time inflicted great damage on the enemy. He sank one cruiser, one destroyer, one U-boat, twenty-eight supply ships, some 100,000 tons in all, and destroyed three trains by gunfire. In his last year he spent two hundred and fifty four days at sea, submerged for nearly half the time, and his ship was hunted thirteen times and had two hundred and fifty depth-charges aimed at her. His many and brilliant successes were due to his constant activity and skill, and the daring which never failed him when there was an enemy to be attacked. On one occasion, for instance, in HMS Turbulent, he sighted a convoy of two merchantmen and two Destroyers in mist and moonlight. He worked round ahead of the convoy and dived to attack it as it passed through the moon's rays. On bringing his sights to bear he found himself right ahead of a destroyer. Yet he held his course 'till the destroyer was almost on top of him, and, when his sights came on the convoy, he fired. His great courage and determination were rewarded. He sank one merchantman and one destroyer outright, and set the other Merchantmen on fire so that she blew up.
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Group Three boats
Wartime austerity meant that they lacked many refinements such as jackstaffs and guardrails, and had only one anchor. Much of the internal pipework was steel rather than copper. The first Group Three boat was P311, launched on June 10, 1942. Welding gradually replaced riveting and some boats were completely welded, which gave them an improved rated maximum diving depth of 350 ft (107 m).
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Nine submarines were ordered under the 1940 Programme.
HMS P311
HMS P311 was a T-class submarine of the Royal Navy, the only boat of her class never to be given a name. She was to have received the name Tutankhamen but was lost before this was formally done. P311 was a Group 3 T-class boat built by Vickers-Armstrong at Barrow-in-Furness and commissioned on 5 March 1942 under the command of Lieutenant R.D. Cayley. She was one of only two T-class submarines completed without an Oerlikon 20 mm anti-aircraft gun, the other being HMS Trespasser.
Naming
The Prime Minister, Winston Churchill had minuted the Admiralty on 5 November 1942, 19 December and again on 27 December, saying that all submarines should have names. In the final minute, he provided a list of suggestions and insisted that all unnamed submarines be given names within a fortnight. P311 was to be assigned the name Tutankhamen, after the Egyptian king. She would have been the only vessel of the Royal Navy, before or since, to bear the name. She was lost in the Mediterranean between late December 1942 or early January 1943, before the new name could be formally assigned. She therefore never received the name Tutankhamen, and is officially designated as P311.
Career
She joined the 10th Submarine Flotilla at Malta in November 1942, and was lost with all hands between 30 December 1942 and 8 January 1943 whilst en route to La Maddalena, Sardinia where she was to attack two Italian 8-inch gun cruisers using Chariot human torpedoes carried on the casing as part of Operation Principle. She was reported overdue on 8 January 1943 when she failed to return to base. It was assumed that she was mined.
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HMS Trespasser under tow at Barrow on the 23rd of September 1942.
HMS Trespasser
HMS Trespasser was a British submarine of the third group of the T class. She was built as P312 by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow, and launched on 29 May 1942. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name Trespasser.
She was one of only two T-class submarines completed without an Oerlikon 20 mm anti-aircraft gun, the other being HMS P311.
Service
Trespasser served in a number of naval theatres, home waters, the Mediterranean and the Far East during her wartime career. While on patrol in the Gulf of Lyon, she fired three torpedoes at a dead whale, having mistaken it for an enemy submarine. She also attacked the German auxiliary patrol vessel Uj 6073 / Nimeth Allah, but failed to hit her. Her luck changed when she sank the Italian auxiliary patrol vessel V8 / Filippo with gunfire. Transferred to the Pacific Far East, she torpedoed and damaged the Japanese auxiliary gunboat Eifuku Maru off Burma.
She survived the war and continued in service with the Navy, finally being scrapped at Gateshead on 26 September 1961.
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Dutch submarine HNLMS Dolfijn (1949-1953), ex HMS Taurus (T-class). It was loaned from the Royal Navy.
Taurus
HMS Taurus (P399) was a Second World War British T class submarine, built by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow.
Career
As HMS Taurus
The submarine was laid down on the 30th of September 1941, and launched on 27 June 1942. She served in the Mediterranean and the Pacific Far East during the Second World War. Whilst serving in the Mediterranean, she sank the small French merchant Clairette, the Spanish merchant Bartolo, the Italian merchant Derna, the French tug Ghrib and two barges, the Portuguese Santa Irene , the small Italian tanker Alcione C., the Italian sailing vessel Luigi, twenty eight Greek sailing vessels, and the small Greek ship Romano. She also damaged a further two sailing ships and the Greek merchant Konstantinos Louloudis.
She was transferred to the Far East to operate against the Japanese, where she sank the Japanese submarine I-34, two Japanese tugboats and a barge and the Japanese salvage vessel Hokuan I-Go. She also laid a number of mines, which damaged the Japanese submarine I-37 and sunk the Japanese transport ship Kasumi Maru.
Having survived the war, Taurus was transferred to the Royal Netherlands Navy on 4 June 1948 and commissioned into service the same day. She was renamed Dolfijn.
As HNLMS Dolfijn
Dolfijn had a relatively quiet career, making a number of cruises before being decommissioned on 7 November 1953 and transferred back to the Royal Navy.
As HMS Taurus again
Dolfijn was recommissioned into the Royal Navy on 8 December 1953 and her name returned to the original HMS Taurus. She served for another seven years before being sold to be broken up for scrap in April 1960.
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HMS Tactician underway at Barrow on the 27th of November 1942.
HMS Tactician
HMS Tactician was a British submarine of the third group of the T class. She was built as P314 by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow, and launched on 29 July 1942.
Service
Tactician served in the Mediterranean and the Far East during her wartime career. Whilst operating against the Italians, she sank the Italian auxiliary patrol vessel V17 / Pia and the Italian sailing vessel Bice. She also torpedoed and damaged the Italian merchant Rosandra off the coast of Albania. The ship sank the following day.
On being transferred to the Pacific, she continued to harass enemy shipping, sinking a small Japanese vessel and two Siamese sailing vessels before the end of the war.
Tactician survived the war and continued in service with the Navy, finally being scrapped at Newport on 6 December 1963.
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HMS Truculent underway at Barrow in December 1942.
HMS Truculent
HMS Truculent was a British submarine of the third group of the T class. She was built as P315 by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow, and launched on 12 September 1942.
Service
Truculent spent much of her World War II wartime service in the Pacific Far East, except for a period in early 1943, operating in home waters. Here she sank the Nazi German U-Boat submarine U-308, on her first war patrol, with all hands. She also took part in Operation Source, towing X-class midget submarines to Norway to attack the heavy German Navy warships Tirpitz, Scharnhorst and Lutzow.
On transfer to the Pacific, she sank the Japanese army cargo ship Yasushima Maru, the small Japanese vessel Mantai, the Japanese merchant cargo ship Harugiku Maru and five Japanese sailing vessels. She also laid mines, one of which damaged the Japanese minelayer Hatsutaka.
She survived the war and returned to the UK to continue in service with the Navy.
Sinking
On 12 January 1950 Truculent was returning to Sheerness, having completed trials after a refit at Chatham. In addition to her normal complement she was carrying an additional 18 dockyard workers. She was travelling through the Thames Estuary at night. At 7 o’clock a ship showing three lights appeared ahead in the channel. It was decided that the ship must be stationary and as Truculent could not pass to the starboard side without running aground, the order was given to turn to port. At once the situation became clear as the Swedish oil tanker Divina, on passage from Purfleet and bound for Ipswich, came out of the darkness: the extra light indicated that she was carrying explosive material. A collision was unavoidable. The two vessels remained locked together for a few seconds before the submarine sank.
57 of her crew were swept away in the current after a premature escape attempt, 15 survivors were picked up by a boat from the Divina and five by the Dutch ship Almdijk. Most of the crew survived the initial collision and managed to escape, but then perished in the freezing cold mid-winter conditions on the mud islands that litter the Thames Estuary. 64 people died as a result of the collision. Truculent was salvaged on 14 March 1950 and beached at Cheney Spit. The wreck was moved inshore the following day where ten bodies were recovered. She was refloated on 23 March 1950 and towed into Sheerness Dockyard. An inquiry attributed 75% of the blame to Truculent and 25% to Divina.
Truculent was then sold to be broken up for scrap on 8 May 1950.
Her loss led Peter de Neumann of the Port of London Authority to develop plans for a port control system, and the later introduction of the 'Truculent light', an extra steaming all round white light on the bow, on British submarines, to ensure they remained highly visible to other ships.
In Film
On 21 February 1950 the film "Morning Departure" was released. The film tells the story of a British submarine that sinks on a training cruise from the perspective of a small group of survivors. Filming finished shortly before HMS Truculent sank, and the film was almost withdrawn. The decision was made to release the film as planned, and to add the following message that appears in the opening credits of the film.
This film was completed before the tragic loss of HMS Truculent, and earnest consideration has been given as to the desirability of presenting it so soon after this grievous disaster. The Producers have decided to offer the film in the spirit in which it was made, as a tribute to the officers and men of H.M. Submarines, and to the Royal Navy of which they are a part.
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Back from a successful patrol in Far Eastern waters, HMS Templar arrives at the depot ship at Colombo, Ceylon during February 1944.
HMS Templar
HMS Templar was a British submarine of the third group of the T class. She was built as P316 by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow, and launched on 26 October 1942. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name Templar, probably after the chivalric order, the Knights Templar.
Service
Templar served in the Far East for much of her wartime career, where she sank the Japanese merchant cargo ship Tyokai Maru and laid mines. She torpedoed and damaged the Japanese light cruiser Kitakami, and attacked the German submarine U-1062 but missed her with torpedoes.
She survived the war and continued in service with the Navy, finally being used as a target and sunk in Loch Striven, Scotland in 1954. She was salvaged on 4 December 1958 and arrived at Troon, Scotland on 19 July 1959 to be scrapped.
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HMS Tally-Ho underway off Barrow during May 1943.
HMS Tally-Ho
HMS Tally-Ho was a British submarine of the third group of the T class. She was built as P317 by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow, and John Brown & Company, Clydebank, and launched on 23 December 1942. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name Tally-Ho, probably after Tally-ho, a hunting call.
Service
While commanded by Captain L. W. A. Bennington DSO and Bar, DSC and two Bars, Tally-Ho served in the Far East for much of her wartime career, where she sank 13 small Japanese sailing vessels, a Japanese coaster, the Japanese water carrier Kisogawa Maru, the Japanese army cargo ships Ryuko and Daigen Maru No.6, the Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 2, the Japanese auxiliary minelayer Ma 4 and the German submarine UIT-23. She also damaged a small Japanese motor vessel, and laid mines, one of which damaged the Japanese merchant tanker Nichiyoku Maru.
On 11 January 1944, Tally-Ho, then based out of Trincomalee, Ceylon spotted the Japanese light cruiser Kuma and Uranami on anti-submarine warfare exercises about 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Penang. Tally-Ho fired a seven-torpedo salvo at the Japanese cruiser from 1,900 yards, hitting her starboard aft with two torpedoes, and setting the ship on fire. Kuma sank by the stern in the vicinity of 05°26′N 99°52′E / 5.433°N 99.867°E / 5.433; 99.867.
On the night of 24 February 1944 Tally-Ho was ordered back to the Sembilan Islands, and while zig-zagging on the surface at night charging the batteries, lookouts spotted two wakes ahead. Believing there was a possibility of the two vessels being friendly (both Truculent and Tactician being in the area), Tally-Ho immediately altered course to avoid a collision with the rapidly approaching vessels. On making a challenge with the Aldis lamp the vessels responded by altering course straight towards them and dropping depth charges, leaving no doubt they were unfriendly vessels. At this point the closest ship fired a shell which passed dangerously close over Tally-Ho's conning tower before the attacker passed closely by the submarine and then turned for another attack. During this encounter Tally-Ho had been unable to dive due to the proximity of the attackers and the shallowness of the waters in the straight, in addition, diving would have presented the attacking ships with the opportunity to ram or depth charge the submarine. In the darkness Tally-Ho manoeuvred to a parallel course to the approaching attacker and the enemy vessel passed closely by the submarine, a loud hammering and tearing noise being heard as the ship passed, the vessel being identified as a Hyabusa-class torpedo boat of 600 tons. As the attacker disappeared in the murk Tally-Ho took on a list to port and assumed a marked bow-down attitude. Bennington decided that the batteries would have sufficient charge to risk diving which Tally-Ho then did. Before closing the conning tower hatch, he noticed that the submarine had taken on a 12-degree list. Once submerged, the crew took stock of the damage, and apart from smashed light bulbs and gauge dial glasses, Tally-Ho appeared to be seaworthy, and she remained submerged until 06:30 of 24 February when Bennington brought Tally-Ho to periscope depth and observed his attacker making unusual manoeuvres apparently searching for the submarine on the starboard quarter some four miles (6 km) off. Tally-Ho remained dived for the following 12 hours before surfacing after dark at 18:25. Upon surfacing it was noticed that the submarine's list had increased to 15 degrees, and it was possible to see the damage to the submarine's port ballast tanks which were all open at the top and beyond further use. With transfer of fuel and water from various tanks and moving of stores and torpedoes, the bow-down attitude was reduced to 4 degrees, and the three-day journey to Trincomalee commenced. This was uneventful apart from encountering a monsoon during the passage of the Bay of Bengal and the possibility of encountering a Japanese submarine close to home. Arriving at Trincomalee harbour on 29 February 1944, Tally-Ho missed her escort and found herself amongst Admiral James Sommerville's battle fleet at exercises. Later, upon examination in dry dock prior to repairs, the extent of the damage to Tally-Ho 's port ballast tanks became apparent. The rotating screws of the torpedo boat had run the length of the tanks, chewing large holes in them, phosphor bronze fragments of the attacker's propeller blades being discovered inside. Post-war enquiries learned that their attacker's behaviour after the attack had been due to a combination of Tally-Ho's lowered port bow hydroplane having pierced the torpedo boat's hull, and the vessel's port screw having been shorn of its blades almost down to the hub.
Tally-Ho survived World War II and continued in service with the Royal Navy, finally being scrapped at Briton Ferry, Wales on 10 February 1967.
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HMS Tantalus moored at a buoy in Plymouth Sound on the 5th of August 1948.
HMS Tantalus
HMS Tantalus was a British submarine of the third group of the T class. She was built as P318 by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow, and launched on 24 February 1943. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name Tantalus, after the mythological Tantalus, son of Zeus.
Service
Tantalus served in the Far East for much of her wartime career. She sank the Malaysian tug Kampung Besar, and the Malaysian Pulo Salanama in April 1944, and went on to sink the Japanese army cargo ships Amagi Maru and Hiyoshi Maru, the Japanese cargo ship Hachijin Maru, the Japanese coaster Palang Maru, the Japanese fishing vessel Taisei Maru No. 12, a Japanese tug and three barges, an unknown Japanese vessel, and a Siamese sailing vessel, whilst claiming to have damaged a second. Tantalus also damaged a tug and the Japanese submarine chaser Ch 1. She also attacked, but missed the Japanese submarine I-166, which was sunk later that day by HMS Telemachus.
Tantalus survived the war and continued in service with the Navy, finally being scrapped at Milford Haven in November 1950.
Noteable events involving Tantalus include:
3 Jun 1943 HMS Tantalus (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) begins training in and around Holy Loch. She also undergoes training at Scapa Flow. This training lasts till late August.
27 Aug 1943 At 2100 hours (time zone -1) HMS Tantalus (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) departs Lerwick for her 1st war patrol (work-up patrol). She is to patrol in the Norwegian and Arctic seas as far north as Spitsbergen.
8 Sep 1943 At 0630 hours (time zone -1) HMS Tantalus (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) surfaced in position 75º15'N, 11º52'E and proceeded north at full speed to intercept German task force sighted of Spitsbergen.
At 2135 hours HMS Tantalus dived in position 78º04'N, 13º10'E and closed Icefjord
9 Sep 1943 During the night HMS Tantalus (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) entered the Icefjord, Spitsbergen. Barentsburg was seen to be on fire but there was no sign of the enemy
At 0746 hours (time zone -1) HMS Tantalus surfaced in position 78º08'N, 13º00'E.
12 Sep 1943 HMS Tantalus (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and BAR, RN) sights a German submarine of Spitsbergen in position 78º03'N, 12º16'N but when she dived to attack contact was lost.
(All times are zone -1)
0410 hours - Dived in position 78º08'N, 12.14E
2126 hours - Surfaced in position 78º05'N, 12º28'E
2155 hours - In position 78º03'N, 12º16'E sighted a surfaced u-boat right ahead about 4-5000 yards away, Dived to attack but nothing could be seen through the periscope (U-boat was possibly U-277)
2203 hours - HE (160 revs.) heard bearing 280 degrees, contact was however not obtained / 2318 hours - Surfaced in position 78º03'7N, 12º14'E, as Tantalus was to the west of the u-boat against the light of the horizon and the u-boat was against the land Lt.Cdr. Mackenzie though it not wise to search for the u-boat and proceeded to the seaward.
14 Sep 1943 HMS Tantalus (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) enters the Icefjord at Spitsbergen to have a closer look at the damage at Barentsburg.
(All times are zone -1)
0408 hours - Dived in position 78º09'N, 12º50'E and set course to enter the Icefjord to have a look at Barentsburg. At Barentsburg no survivors of the German raid were seen, the place looked deserted and completely wrecked.
1400 hours - Set course to the northward to depart Icefjord
2125 hours - Surfaced in position 78º04'N, 13º06'E and set course for Lerwick.
21 Sep 1943 HMS Tantalus (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) ends her 1st war patrol at Lerwick.
24 Sep 1943 At 1653 hours (time zone -1) HMS Tantalus (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) slipped and departed Lerwick bound for Holy Loch.
26 Sep 1943 At 1230 hours (time zone -1), HMS Tantalus (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) berthed alongside HMS Wolfe at Holy Loch.
28 Sep 1943 At 1630 hours (time zone -1) HMS Tantalus (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) departs Holy Loch for Portsmouth.
1 Oct 1943 At 1740 hours (time zone -1) HMS Tantalus (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) arrives at Portsmouth and secures at Fort Blockhouse. Here she is to prepair for her deployment in the Far East.
11 Jan 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) departs Portsmouth for some more training at Larne and Holy Loch.
14 Jan 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) arrives at Larne.
22 Jan 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) departs the Larne area for Holy Loch where she arrives later on the same day.
24 Jan 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) is briefly docked for a final inspection in the floating dock at Holy Loch. She is undocked after a few hours.
At 2025 hours (time zone -1) HMS Tantalus departs Holy Loch for her outward passage to the Far East. She is to perform a brief patrol along the Portugese coast on the passage to Gibraltar.
Daily positions (1200 hours) for 3 February to 11 February 1944, the time spent in the patrol area of the Portugese coast:
3 February 39º37'N, 09º26'W
4 February 39º33'N, 09º34'W
5 February 39º35'5N, 09º18'W
6 February 39º35'N, 09º16'W
7 February 39º35'N, 09º42'W
8 February 39º34'N, 09º26'5W
9 February 39º35'5N, 09º30'W
10 February 39º36'N, 09º20'W
11 February 39º36'5N, 09º33'W
13 Feb 1944 At 1455 hours (time zone -1) HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) entered Gibraltar harbour.
17 Feb 1944 At 0815 hours (time zone -1) HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) departs Gibraltar harbour and takes station in convoy KMS-41 for the passage to Malta.
23 Feb 1944 Around 0730 hours (time zone -1) HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) parts company with convoy KMS-41 and proceeds to Port Said.
26 Feb 1944 1800 hours (time zone -2) HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) enters Port Said harbour.
7 Mar 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar) transits the Suez Canal. She stays at Ismalia during the night. She proceeds to Aden the following day.
13 Mar 1944 At 1800 hours (time zone -3) HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar) arrives at Aden.
16 Mar 1944 At 1045 hours (time zone -3) HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar) slippes her moorings at Aden and proceeds to Colombo.
25 Mar 1944 At 1750 hours (time zone -6,5) HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar) arrives at Colombo and secures on HrMs Plancius.
26 Mar 1944 At 1800 hours (time zone -6,5) HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) passes the gate at Colombo bound for Trincomalee.
28 Mar 1944 At 1045 hours (time zone -6,5) HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) arrives at Trincomalee and secures on HMS Tactician alongside HMS Adamant.
12 Apr 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) departs Trincomalee at 1850 hours (time zone -6.5) for her 2nd war patrol (1st in Far Eastern waters), patrol area is the Straits of Malacca. Tantalus passed the boom at 1910 hours and parted company with HMS Taurus and escort HMS Maid Marion at 0000 hours.
17 Apr 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) is fired upon by an unknown enemy submarine. A torpedo was heard approaching but it missed.
(All times are zone -6.5)
1000 hours - In position 06º15'N, 98º25'E sighted what is thought to be a periscope, dived
1015 hours - Came to persicope depth
1034 - When about to surface the HE of a torpedo approaching was heard so Tantalus remained below (Note German U-1062 / U-532 in area but further to the west, might have been a Japanese submarine; candidates I-37, I-166)
1437 hours - Surfaced in position 06º23'N, 98º25'E
1500 hours - sighted a large junk in position 06º23'N, 98º33'E bearing 090 degrees distance 10 nautical miles
1530 hours - Passed floating wreckage
19 Apr 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) sinks a Malaysian tug of about 300 tons with gunfire in the Malacca Strait in position 03º03'5N, 99º59'5E.
(all times are zone -6,5)
0522 hours - Dived in position 03º21'N, 99º55'E
1400 hours - In position 03º09'N, 100º02'E sighted the masts of a convoy of five small ships, Tantalus was unable to get into attack position as she was to far off
1700 hours - In position 03º06'N, 100º00'E sighted one small ship approaching from the south-east
1715 hours - Commenced attack on this vessel that turned out to be a medium sized tug of about 300 tons towing a couple of barges. The tug was keeping close inshore
1747 hours - The tug was seen to alter course to the westward andin so doing increasing reange most likely to enter Kampung Besar ancohrage (position 03º05'N, 99º52'E) to spent the night there. As Tantalus was bumping along the bottom at periscope depth it was decided to surface and engage with the deck gun
1750 - Surfaced in position 03º03'5N, 99º59'5E and opened fire from 2800 yards. The third round was a hit and brought the target to a standstill
1800 hours - Fire was checked after 44 round with 14 hits and the target wass seen to be on fire. As Tantalus was in very shallow water with fishing vessels all around Lt.Cdr. Mackenzie decided to retire to the seaward
2315 hours - In position 03º35'N, 100º32'E sighted a destroyer or torpedo boat one nautical mile away and coming towards. Dived to 150 feet. HE was not heard after 0035/20th
29 Apr 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) sinks the Malaysian Pulo Salanama (ca. 400 GRT) with gunfire in Malacca Strait in position 03º19'N, 99º44'E
(all times are zone -6.5)
0258 hours - While to the eastward of Pulo Pandang sighted a dark object ahead laying stopped. It did not look like a junk or sampam sighted frequently. Closed to investigate. When range ws about a mile it was identified as a submarine chaser and course was altered right away. Tantalus was lucky in not being sighted
0508 hours - Dived in position 03º16'5N, 99.51E
1138 hours - In position 03º19'N, 99º44'E sighted smoke and masts approaching from the south-east. A few minutes later a seaplane was sighted patrolling to the seaward. Lt.Cdr. Mackenzie started an attack. By 1230 hours it was realised that the target was very small and not worth a torpedo. As the seaplane was not sighted for a while it was decided to attack with the gun
1242 hours - Surfaced astern of the target and opened fire at a range of 2000 yards. At 1247 hours fire was checked as the crew began to abandon ship. Tantalus closed with the intention to hole the ship at the waterline. At 1250 hours the ship was seen to get underway again so fire was at once re-opened. The 2nd round was a hit in the targets engine room, a dense cloud of black smoke went up and in a minute the target was ablaze from end to end. The target was an ancient looking coaster of about 400 tons with a diesel engine aft
1258 hours - Dived and proceeded to the northward
1400 hours - Two submarine chasers and one motor trawler were seen closing the burning wreck from different directions. By the time they had closed the burning wreck Tantalus was well clear to the north. By 1500 hours a seaplane had joined the hunt. In all seven depth charges were dropped between 1500 and 1530 hours but all were well off
1832 hours - Surfaced in position 03º33'5N, 99º43'5E and proceeded further northward
3 May 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese army cargo ship Amagi Maru (3165 GRT, built 1924) about 40 nautical miles south of Port Blair, Andaman Islands in position 11º00'N, 92º00'E.
(all times are zone -6.5)
1 May 1944 0528 hours - In position 06º21'N, 97º33'E. Morning sights have just been taken and when about to dive one of the lookouts sighted a puff of smoke on the horizon. Tantalus turned towards and increased speed. More smoke was sighted a few minutes later.
0650 hours - Now sighted the two masts of one ship with a lot of smoke from a second ship behind it.
0740 hours - Both ships were lost out of sight due to a rainstorm.
0825 hours - Both ships emerged suddenly from the rainstorm. Range was about 8 nautical miles. The ships masts were kept just above the horizon as Tantalus worked her way around to get into a position of attack although this would take most of the day. During the day the ships were identified as a merchant and an escort. The escort produced a lot of smoke making it rather easy to keep contact.
1625 hours - Dived in position 07º59'N, 95º47'E and commenced attack on the merchant ship that was laden and of about 3500-4500 tons. The escort was identified as a mineweeper.
1748 hours - Four torpedoes were fired but these all missed or went under. The escort dropped four depth charges but these did no damage.
1901 hours - Surfaced in position 08º01'N, 95º46'E and gave chase.
2 May 1944 0418 hours - The enemy was sighted again about 5 nautical miles away. Tantalus manouvered for attack.
0719 hours - In position 09º25'N, 94º20'E sighted a seaplane about 12 nautical miles away. Tantalus slowed down so the wake woul not be so visible as Tantalus was also right up sun.
0721 hours - The aircraft was seen to alter course directly towards.
0722 hours - Dived
0900 hours - The aircraft was no longer in sight.
0955 hours - Surfaced in position 09º28'N, 94º15'E and continued the chase
1843 hours - Dived in position 10º55'N, 93º00'E, later a small escort joined the small convoy from the northward.
2008 hours - Fired the first of a salvo of six torpedoes (tubes 1 to 6) from 4000 yards away. Three and a half minutes after firing the first torpedo one explosion was heard and all HE off the target stopped. Tantalus went deep and retired to the southward. The escorts dropped eleven depth charges but these were way off.
2100 hours - Returned to periscope depth. Spotted one escort about a mile astern and the target laying stopped about three miles away to the north-east. Tantalus went deep and started to close the target
2230 hours - Came to periscope depth again. The target was still laying stopped. The minesweeper was patrolling about a mile away to the westward with the smaller escort further off on the same bearing. The ballast pump had to be run to maintain trim at periscope depth and this was probably heard by the minesweeper as it speeded up and between 2247 and 2257 hours dropped eight depth charges but none were close. Tantalus went deep again and continued to close the target. Between 2325 and 2327 hours another nine depth charges were dropped but one again not close
2345 hours - Returned to periscope depth. The target was now to the south a bit further off then hoped but still laying stopped. It appeared to be slighly down by the stern
2357 hours - Fired no 11. tube from 3000-4000 yards
2400 hours - The torpedo hit the target and it went down in a few minutes. Tantalus went deep and retired to the eastward.
3 May 1944 0008 hours - 8 depth charges dropped but once again not close.
0113 hours - Surfaced in position 11º02'N, 93º05'E. Both escorts were visible about five miles away and there was no sign of the target. Tantalus retired stern on the the escorts.
0544 hours - Dived in position 10º06'N, 93º49'E
1852 hours - Surfaced in position 10º00'N, 93º27'E and set a course for Trincomalee.
Note: The Amagi Maru had left Singapore on 28 April 1944 bound for Port Blair. She carried 600 Japanese troops. Escort was provided by the minelayer Hatsutaka (offsite link) and the auxiliary minesweeper Keinan Maru No.5. On 2 May Keinan Maru No.5 was detached and auxiliary minesweeper Kyo Maru No.1 replaced her.
6 May 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) ends her 2nd war patrol at 1040 hours (time zone -6.5) at Trincomalee.
24 May 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) departs Trincomalee at 1650 hours (time zone -6.5) for her 3rd war patrol (2nd in Far Eastern waters), patrol area is the Straits of Malacca. Escort was provided by HMS Magnolia.
1 Jun 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) is detected by an enemy patrol vessel and depth charged in position 04º09'N, 100º28'5E. No damage was done.
0400 hours - In position 04º09'N, 100º28'5E sighted a dark object bearing 250 degrees about 2 nautical miles away. At 0404 hours the object opened a very accurate fire. Tantalus crash dived to 80 feet.
0409 hours - 5 depth charges were dropped fairly close. The enemy made a circle around Tantalus and then moved off to the Westward where he stopped and was heard transmitting on Asdics. Tantalus continued to close the Southern entrance to the Dindings while submerged.
0530 hours - Tantalus came to periscope depth and sighted the enemy patrol vessel about four nautical miles away to the North Westward. The vessel continued searching to the Westward for the whole day. It was also joined by a seaplane.
1345 hours - An A/S trawler and the patrol vessel sighted earlier that day were sighted closing in from the seaward. They carried out an A/S sweep. All unnecessary machinery aboard Tantalus was stopped. The A/S trawler came very close but did however not detect Tantalus.
1530 hours - Both enemy vessels retired to the seaward. Later they were seen proceeding Northwards. They were later also joined by a seaplane.
1903 hours - Surfaced in position 04º04'N, 100º29'E and proceeded to seaward. Intention was to return to the southern entrance to the Dindings to lay mines on the next day.
2 Jun 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) lays mines in the Strait of Malacca in position 04º08'N, 100º35'E.
0456 hours - Dived in position 04º01'N, 100º21'E and set a course for the Southern entrance to the Dindings.
1035 hours - In position 04º04'N, 100º31'E sighted an A/S trawler bearing 053, distance 3 nautical miles. The trawler was coming towards at slow speed. All unnecessary machinery was stopped when the range had closed to 3000 yards. Tantalus remained at periscope depth. Tantalus was not heard or seen and the trawler passed 1200 yards astern.
1130 hours a seaplane was sighted that patrolled nearby for half an hour and then disappeared in the same direction as the A/S trawler.
1300-1530 hours - Laid 12 mines in position 04º08'N, 100º35'E
1304 hours, mines 1-4, position of first mine 04º07'40N, 100º35'10E, direction of lay 090 degrees.
1424 hours, mines 5-8, position of first mine 04º08'05N, 100º35'00E, direction of lay 090 degrees.
1528 hours, mines 9-12, position of first mine 04º08'15N, 100º35'27E, direction of lay 280 degrees.
All mines were spaced 480 feet apart.
During the lay a submarine chaser, with a circling seaplane overhead, passed at slow speed on a southerly course about 5 nautical miles to the westward. After the lay Tantalus proceeded seawards.
1700 hours - An A/S trawler was seen patrolling off the Northern entrance to the Dindings.
1815 hours - Two more A/S vessels were sighted to the Northward, closing at slow speed. By 1900 hours the vessels were within 2000 yards and were still closing on a steady bearing. Tantalus went deep. When it was seen that there was nothing in sight at 2015 hours Tantalus surfaced in position 04º10'N, 100º23'S. One torpedo boat was sighted bearing 340 degrees, distance about 5 nautical miles. Tantalus retired to the Southward. Due to the heavy A/S activity Lt.Cdr. Mackenzie decided to leave the Dindings area for now.
10 Jun 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) sinks the Japanese army cargo ship Hiyoshi Maru (536 GRT, former Dutch Mandar, built 1929) with gunfire in the Strait of Malacca in position 03º05'N, 99º56'E.
(all times are zone -6.5)
0517 hours - Dived in position 03º08'N, 100º09'E and closed the Jumpul Bank
0845 hours - In position 03º06'N, 100º02'E sighted the mast and part of a ship bearing 290 degrees. Ran in towards the Jumpul Bank at full speed to intercept
0910 hours - The target was seen to be the same or a very similar ship, to that unsuccesfully attacked with gunfire two days before. It was followed at intervals of 1200 yards by three coasters of 400 tons each. All ships were on a course 140 degrees, speed 5 knots. All were deeply laden
0938 hours - Surfaced and opened fire at the merchant ship from 1500 yards. Lt.Cdr. Mackenzie had hoped to put the merchant ship out of action with a few rounds and then deal with the coasters. Although hit repeatedly the merchant made an effort to escape into shallow water to the south and had to be followed which allowed the three coasters to escape to the north-west
0945 hours - The bridge and after part of the merchant was a mass of flames but it engines were still going and he was turing slowly in circles
0950 hours - Fire was ceased as the target had stopped by now and was settling. By now the crew had abandoned ship. Tantalus now headed north-east in pursuit of the three coasters
1010 hours - The nearest coaster was now only 4000 yards away and was rapidly overtaken but a Japanese aircraft appeared that forced Tantalus to break of the pursuit and dive to safety. Course was set to the South-West. The original target was seen to sink at 1105 hours
1200 hours - Two twin engined bombers were seen searching the area of attack, these searches continued throughout the whole forenoon
1840 hours - Surfaced in position 03º02'N, 100º17'E and set course to return to the Sembilan Islands
19 Jun 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) ends her 3rd war patrol at 1610 hours (time zone -6.5) at Trincomalee.
6 Jul 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) departs Trincomalee at 1840 hours (time zone -6.5) for her 4th war patrol (3rd in Far Eastern waters), patrol area is the Straits of Malacca. Escort to Tantalus and HMS Stoic was provided by HMS Maid Marion.
15 Jul 1944 While on patrol in the Malacca Straits in position In position 04º01'N, 100º10'E HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) sights a medium sized merchant ship. She gaves chase but was unable to get into an attack position.
(All times are zone -6,5)
15 July 1944 0520 hours - Dived in position 03º56'N, 100º11'E and closed the Southern entrance of the Dindings during the day
1853 hours - Surfaced in position 04º11'N, 100º22'E and set a course to close Pulo Jerak and then to patrol towards the One Fathom Bank
2156 hours - In position 04º01'N, 100º10'E, sighted a dark shape bearing 210 degrees. Turned towards and closed slowly
2202 hours - The target was identified as a medium seized merchant ship with two escorts, Tantalus manouvered to get into attack position
2204 hours - The starboard escort opened fire at Tantalus and both escorts altered course to close. Dived and altered course towards the target
2215 hours - One of the escorts passed fairly close and five depth charges were dropped fairly accurately. Tantalus went to 150 feet and proceeded to the eastward
2345 hours - Surfaced in position 04º02'N, 100º13'E and set off to the northward in pursuit of the merchant ship
16 July 1944 0010 hours - Taken under fire by an unseen ship on the port beam. Most likely it was one of the escorts encountered previously. Tantalus crash dived to 150 feet
0028 hours - The escort was in contact with asdic and dropped four depth charges. These were close enough to cause minor damage
0038 hours - Three more depth charges were dropped but these were not as close as the ones dropped ten minutes before
0050 hours - Another set of three depth charges were dropped close, but not so close as to cause any damage. The escort seems to have lost contact after this set of depth charges. HE and asdic transmissions however were heard for over an hour
0315 hours - Surfaced and proceeded to the south-east to finish charging
0520 hours - Dived in position 03º45'N, 100º31'E and proceeded towards the One Fathom Bank
1835 hours - Surfaced in position 03º26'N, 100º26'E and proceeded during the night so as to dive at dawn in the One Fathom Bank Channel
17 Jul 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) tries to attack the Japanese submarine I-166 (offsite link) with torpedoes in the Strait of Malacca In position 02º43'N, 100º54'5E. Due to a sudden change of course of the enemy submarine Lt.Cdr. Mackenzie did not fire his torpedoes. I-166 was sunk later that day by HMS Telemachus.
0510 hours - Dived in position 02º53'N, 100º53'E
0630 hours - In position 02º43'N, 100º54'5E Sighted an object bearing 250 degrees. The object was almost immediately indentified as the conning tower of a large Japanese submarine, estemated course 130 degrees, range 9000 yards. Tantalus manouvered to get into attack position. When the range had closed to 6000 yards the enemy turned away and left Tantalus almost unable to attack. Lt.Cdr. Mackenzie decided not to fire as he thought HMS Telemachus that was patrolling to the South-West might have a better chance (how right he was soon proven to be ! )
1300 hours - In position 02º57'N, 100º52'E sighted 2 A/S vessels bearing 300 degrees, distant 4 miles, course 130 degrees. They passed at a distance of 3000 yards
1854 hours - Surfaced in position 03º01'N, 100º40'E and set a course to the northward and later to the eastward to patrol between Pulo Jerak and Klang Strait
2 Aug 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) ends her 4th war patrol at 1315 hours (time zone -6.5) at Trincomalee.
25 Aug 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt. J. Nash, RN) departs Trincomalee at 1138 hours (time zone -6.5) for her 5th war patrol (4th in Far Eastern waters), patrol area is the Straits of Malacca and after this patrol she is to proceed to Fremantle, Australia
(all times are zone -6.5)
To sea for exercises before leaving on patrol. Lt. J. Nash, RN took temporary command as Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie left the ship sick
1138 hours - Slipped from HMS Maidstone and proceeded to exercise area
2344 hours - Completed exercises and left for patrol
29 Aug 1944 While transiting the Andaman Sea HMS Tantalus (Lt. J. Nash, DSC, RN) has a narrow escape when she is attacked by a Japanese aircraft in position 07º23'N, 96º17'E.
(all times are zone -6.5)
0858 hours - In position 07º23'N, 96º17'E crash dived when an aircraft was spotted. The aircraft was spotted very late and when it passed over HMS Tantalus the Officer of the Watch was still on the bridge. For some reason unkonwn it did not drop a bomb or fired it machine guns probably thinking we were Japanese as we did not dive. When the aircraft turned round it dropped a bomb when Tantalus was at 70 feet. The bomb was close enough for the navigational lights on the bridge to be smashed. The aircraft kept patrolling the area until almost three hours later. A narrow escape
1156 hours - Surfaced in position 07º15'N, 96º27'E
1302 hours - Aircraft sighted, crash dived
1330 hours - Surfaced in position 07º07'N, 96º27'E and proceeded to the eastwards as it was now impossible to arrive in the Penang area at dawn
1423 hours - Dived for aircraft in position 07º06'5N, 96º39'E
1445 hours - Surfaced
31 Aug 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt. J. Nash, DSC, RN) sinks a Siamese sailing vessel with gunfire in the Strait of Malacca in position 05º50'N, 100º10'5E. She also damages another with gunfire.
(all times are zone -6.5)
0446 hours - Dived in position 05º58'N, 100º02'E and patrolled to the eastward of the Bunting Islands down towards Penang
0930 hours - Sighted an aircraft approaching from the South. The aircraft passed over Tantalus and then proceeded to patrol to the North and South about 6 to 8 nautical miles to the seaward. Around noon he disappeared to the North-West
1630 hours - Sighted a junk coming down from the North, Tantalus altered course to intercept
1725 hours - The junk passed close to the Port side as Lt. Nash examined her through the periscope. She was not very big, around 30 tons, but was heavily laden and also had a deck cargo of sacks, probably rice. Lt. Nash decided to sink her / 1736 hours - Surfaced in position 05º50'N, 100º10'5E and opened fire with the deck gun from the junks Starboard quarter from 850 yards. The first round hit but after a good beginning the shooting became a bit erratic . After 10 hits Lt.Nash ordered to check fire
1748 hours - The junk was seen to sink with a sudden and spectacular nose dive. Tantalus now proceded Northwards where a group of junks was spotted about 5 nautical miles away
1803 hours - Opened fire on a junk of about 30 tons at a range of 4400 yards. Ten rounds were fire of which two hit before at 1811 hours an auxiliary patrol vessel was sighted coming towards us from the haze at the Starboard side. Lt. Nash broke off the action, dived and retired seawards. What ever enemy it was it was not a determined one as nothing further was seen of it
1915 hours - Surfaced in position 05º55'N, 100º08'E
1 Sep 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt. J. Nash, DSC, RN) is lightly damaged when she is attacked by a Japanese patrol vessel in the Straits of Malacca.
(all times are zone -6,5)
0241 hours - Sighted what is thought to be an enemy escort vessel alterered course away and made a wide detour around him
0459 hours - Dived in position 04º54'N, 100º05'E
0618 hours - Sighted mast and funnel of a ship coming up from the South-East, Tantalus turned to attack, this contact however turned out to be an enemy A/S vessel
0700 hours - 4 Depth charges dropped in position 04º51'N, 100º06'E
0702 hours - 2 Depth charges dropped
0737 hours - 3 Depth charges dropped, during these attacks Tantalus was lightly damaged
1210 hours - Came to periscope depth, the sea was empty and land was far astern
1855 hours - Surfaced in position 04º50'N, 99º43'E and set course to patrol of Pulo Perak
2100 hours - Alterered course to patrol of Pulo Jarak after receiving a signal from Captain (S) 4 giving Tantalus also freedom of action in nearby area's
3 Sep 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt. J. Nash, DSC, RN) damages two lighters with gunfire in position 03º11'N, 99º50'E. Later on this day HMS Tantalus attacks a convoy of coasters in position 03º08'5N, 99º59'5E, two salvo's of two torpedoes each were fired. The destruction of two coasters was claimed.
(all times are zone -6.5)
0502 hours - Dived in position 03º07'5N, 100º02'5E and closed the coast
0740 hours - Sighted smoke, then a mast and funnel, Tantalus was however to far to the North to get in an attack position
0839 hours - Again sighted smoke, mast and a funnel, Tantalus was however still a bit to far to the North but non the les she tried to intercept
0910 hours - When just about to surface for gun action another bigger target was sighted coming from the North, Tantalus turned to intercept this larger prey
0921 hours - Surfaced for gun action. The target was unfortunately just a small tug towing two lighters. Fire was opened on the tug from 4500 yards. The tug immediately cast her tow, turned stern on and made off as fast as possible. Twelve rounds were scored but no hits were obtained. Fire was now shifted to the lighters. Lt. Nash had to open the range slightly in order to get into deeper water. Two of the twenty rounds fired were hits. As the targets proved very difficult to hitat this range fire was checked at 0937 hours. Tantalus now made off to get into deeper water and also a few junks were seen coming up from the South-East however at 0940 hours an aircraft was sighted approaching from the South-East. Dived in position 03º12'N, 99º53'E and retired to seawards. Tantalus was not attacked
1038 hours - Altered course down the coast to take up an more strategic position
1352 hours - In position 03º08'5N, 99º59'5E sighted a convoy of coasters on a Southeasterly course. There were six ships of between 600 and 800 tons all with funnels aft. They were steaming in line ahead. To the seaward there was a Japanese submarine chaser. Lt. Nash decided to fire two torpedoes at each of the three leading ships when at 1406 hours two bombs exploded nearby
1410 hours - Fired two salvo's of two torpedoes each at the leading ships of the convoy before the attack was broken off as an aircraft was seen coming towards. Also Tantalus was right ahead of the submarine chaser. Tantalus went deep and retired seawards. At 1412, 1413 and 1415 hour torpedo explosions were heard. It was now found out that not four but three torpedoes were fired. Lt. Nash claimes two sinkings
1710 hours - Sighted an aircraft patrolling astern
1857 hours - Surfaced in position 03º12'5N, 100º06'E and set course to patrol of the Brother Islands
4 Sep 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt. J. Nash, DSC, RN) claims to have damaged a tug with gunfire in the Strait of Malacca in position 03º06'3N, 100º00'E.
0515 hours - Dived in position 03º18'N, 99º49'E
1705 hours - Sighted a tug coming up to coast, Tantalus turned to intercept
1715 hours - In position 03º06'3N, 100º00'E, surfaced and opened fire at 5000 yards. After the first rounds the tug turned towards the shore and made off at her best speed. One hit was scored just abaft the bridge
1727 hours - Fire was checked as Tantalus was getting into to shallow water for comfort
1753 hours - The tug was now grounded and Tantalus re-opened fire. After firing 58 rounds (with only 40 rounds left) fire was checked again as the target proved difficult to hit from this range (Tantalus could not get closer due to the shallow water)
1752 hours - Set course to the Eastward. The tug was left aground in position 03º04'7N, 99º58'E
7 Sep 1944 HMS Tantalus attacks a Japanese patrol vessel with three torpedoes in the Straits of Malacca. The torpedoes however missed the target.
0159 hours - In position 04º13'5N, 100º20'5E sighted a large patrol vessel bearing 010 degrees. A rain squall had just passed and she was less then a mile away. Turned away at once feeling sure we must be sighted at any moment, but the patrol vessel continued steadily on her course, about 150 degrees, offering such an inviting target that Lt. Nash decided to have a go at her with a stern salvo
0206 hours - Fired three torpedoes from about 3000 yards and increased speed to 14 knots. The torpedoes however missed or ran under their target. Three minutes after firing the Japanese woke up and turned towards and gave chase. Lt. Nash swung Tantalus gradually to the Northwards but the enemy appeared to be gaining
0236 hours - Dived in position 04º16'N, 100º14'5E expecting the worst. The enemy however did not approach very close and after a while made off in a North-Westerly direction
0335 hours- Altered course to patrol off Penang during the day
1900 hours - Surfaced in position 04º53'N, 100º12'5E
10 Sep 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt. J. Nash, DSC, RN) tries to intercept a merchant ship in the Straits of Malacca. The efforts however fails due to the escorts.
(all times are zone -6.5)
0247 hours - In position 06º16'N, 98º28'E sighted what looked like a patrol vessel to the Northward. Tantalus turned away. The enemy appeared to be on a Southerly course. Tantalus kept stern on the her as the bearing passed towards the East
0317 hours - The enemy altered course towards and appeared to give chase although she was three nautical miles astern. Lt. Nash could not believe that Tantalus was spotted but at 0345 hours the enemy was still in persuit and appeared to be gaining so Tantalus dived in position 06º14'N, 98º18'E and changed course to the North. The enemy approached and listened with hydrophones but failed to locate Tantalus
0431 hours - Just as the submarine chaser was moving off to the westward more H.E. was heard bearing 070. This sounded like a merchant ship accompanied by another chaser. The merchant ship appeared to be going very fast and passed very close and appeared to be heading for Sabang. Tantalus altered course to try to catch up
0452 hours - At periscope depth nothing could be seen and H.E. had faded bearing 260. Lt. Nash considered that Tantalus had been detected by sound or by radar by the Port wing escort of this convoy who had turned to the south about 0247 hours to investigate and had detected Tantalus at 0317 hours. Trying to evade this escort Tantalus had stumbled onto the track of this convoy
0457 hours - Surfaced and gave chase trying to work round the Starboard flank of the merchant ship
0506 hours - Sighted a submarine chaser to the South. Tantalus turned to the North to get clear before dawn broke
0515 hours - The chaser was out of sight for several minutes so Tantalus changed course again to chase the merchant ship again
0535 hours - The chaser was sighted again to the South. Tantalus again turned away. However in the rapidly improving light Tantalus was sighted after a few minutes. The chaser turned towards and gave chase. She appeared to be gaining slowly and as Tantalus would have to dive in the end anyway so at ...
... 0603 hours - Dived to 180 feet in position 06º25'N, 98º13'5E and rigged for depth charging. The chaser was about seven nautical miles astern. Tantalus turned 90 degrees to Port and ran fast for ten minutes before reducing to silent speed
0624 hours - The chaser could be heard approaching on the Port quarter but did not come close
0630 hours - Two depth charges exploded a comfortable distance away. H.E. faded out bearing 120 as Tantalus continued to the West
0735 hours - Tantalus came to periscope depth and five minutes later sighted the mast and funnel of the chaser about four nautical miles to the South-East patrolling back and forth
0802 hours - The chaser was seen approaching so Tantalus went deep again. By now it was out of the question that the merchant ship heard earlier could be intercepted
0910 hours - Came to periscope depth, northing in sight
0931 hours - Surfaced in position 06º26'N, 08º03'E but almost at once a seaplane was sighted patrolling about ten nautical miles to the East so Tantalus dived again. The seaplane did not sight Tantalus
0940 hours - Sighted smoke, then a mast, bearing 060. This seemed to be another merchant ship and the seaplane was most likely part of the escort. Tantalus turned on a closing course
0955 hours - The course of the enemy was for Sabang but Tantalus had to go deep as the seaplane was seen to approach. Tantalus continued on her course to intercept
1020 hours - The enemy was recognized as a submarine chaser and not a merchant ship so Tantalus went deep again. Almost at once the chasers diesel H.E. and Asdic transmissions could be heard. The chaser passed to the North of Tantalus and eventually H.E. was heard to fade out to the West
1225 hours - Heard the submarine chaser passing to the South and the H.E. fading away to the East
1330 hours - Nothing in sight
1341 hours - Surfaced in position 06º20'5N, 97º57'E
1352 hours - Sighted a bomber about five nautical miles away bearing 360. He had already started a dive towards so Tantalus dived in position 06º21'N, 98º02'E and turned 90 degrees to Starboard
1356 hours - One bomb exploded fairly close
1358 hours - Three more bombs even closer. Lt Nash realised Tantalus was getting nowhere on the surface and that the enemy had realised that the submarine sighted wanted to go in a westerly direction. Tantalus remained deep and steered to the North
1625 hours - Upon coming to periscope depth a submarine chaser was sighted bearing 020 about two nautical miles away. Tantalus altered course to 200 degrees. The chaser did not locate Tantalus and did not come closer
1655 hours - A pattern of eight depth charges was heard to explode some miles away
1806 hours - Altered course to the West
1904 hours - Surfaced in position 07º26'N, 97º24'5E
2043 hours - An unseen enemy opened fire on Tantalus from bearing 020. Tantalus dived in position 06º31'N, 97º33'E. The H.E. and Asdic transmissions of two submarine chasers could be heard
2052 hours - Two depth charges exploded but not very close. Lt. Nash decided to make a big detour around Sabang as he gained little by trying to stear West
2345 hours - Surfaced in position 06º30'5N, 97º44'5E and steered 060 while charging
18 Sep 1944 While en-route from the patrol area to Australia HMS Tantalus (Lt. J. Nash, DSC, RN) is attacked by an aircraft in position 09º56'S, 103º41'E. The aircraft dropped a bomb but no damage was done.
(all times are zone -6.5)
0943 hours - In position 09º56'S, 103º41'E an aircraft was sighted between two clouds only one mile away. Dived. The aircraft was beam on and must have sighted Tantalus at the same time for he dropped a bomb which was not very close
1016 hours - Surfaced
1023 hours - Aircraft detected by radar, dived
1101 hours - Surfaced
1114 hours - Sighted aircraft bearing 240 about 10 nautical miles. The aircraft was seen to turn towards. Dived in position 10º01'S, 103º44'E
1250 hours - Surfaced
1321 hours - Two aircraft were sighted bearing 200, distance 5 nautical miles. Dived in position 10º08'S, 103º52'E
1523 hours - Surfaced
23 Sep 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt. J. Nash, DSC, RN) enters Exmouth Gulf to take on board some fuel.
(all times are zone -6.5)
0523 hours - Entered Exmouth Gulf
0952 hours - Secured to fuel barge
1645 hours - Slipped from fuel barge and proceeded
16 Oct 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) departs Fremantle at 1145 hours (time zone -8) for her 6th war patrol (5th in Far Eastern waters), patrol area is the southern part of the South China Sea to the east of Singapore Straits. Escort to Tantalus was povided by HMAS Dubbo.
19 Oct 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) enters Exmouth Gulf to top off with fuel.
(all times are zone -8)
0500 hours - Entered Exmouth Gulf to top off with fuel
0815 hours - Secured alongside oiler and commenced fueling
1640 hours - Slipped from oiler
1930 hours - Passed entrance to Exmouth Gulf and set course for Lombok Strait
22 Oct 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) begins her passage of Lombok Strait.
(time zone -8)
2345 hours - Increased speed to 14 knots and entered Lombok Strait on its Eastern side. Set course up the centre and made an uneventful passage
28 Oct 1944 While in position 01º10'N, 105º12'E HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) sights a medium seized merchant ship approaching Singapore from the east. The persuit had to be broken off as it becomes clear that Tantalus is to close to the eastern entance of Singapore Strait to make a complete 'end around' during daylight.
(all times zone -8)
0601 hours - As dawn was breaking sighted an object bearing 212 distant about six nautical miles, in position 01º10'N, 105º12'E. Altered course away to remain unsighted against the lighter horizon and gradually worked round to the north-west. By 0615 hours the object could be identified as the funnel and two masts of a medium sized merchant ship on a course a little north of west. Tantalus was not in a favourable position , being abaft his beam and not very far to go before he entered Singapore Strait. Inreased speed and set a course to the north-west in the hope of getting ahead of him. During the chase it was seen that the merchant was accompanied by two smaller vessels, most likely escorts, one on each quarter. By 0720 hours we were still abaft his beam, in sight of land, and it was plain that Tantalus would not get ahead in a position to attack until well inside Singapore Strait so the persuit was broken off
0829 hours - In position 01º25'N, 105º15'E dived for radar contact with an aircraft bearing 285 degrees, 50000 yards. It was not the intention to dive for an aircraft at this range but the Officer of the watch thought the range was 15000 yards so he was right in diving when the aircraft had been at that range
0938 hours - Surfaced. Three minutes later the radar detected an aircraft bearing 290 distant 20000 yards. Dived again at 0945 hours. As we did not yet know what air patrols, if any, were maintained off the eastern entance to Singapore Strait it was decided to remain submerged all day.
30 Oct 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) encounters an unidentified submarine in position 02º38'N, 107º50'E. Neither submarine attacks. Tantalus lost contact soon after the sighting.
(all times are zone -8)
Maintained surface patrol
0815 hours - In position 02º14'N, 106º46'E dived for radar report and sighting of two aircraft, bearing 275 degrees, distant 23000 yards
0908 hours - Surfaced and continued patrol
1815 hours - In position 02º38'N, 107º50'E sighted what was first thought to be a junk bearing 070 degrees, range about 10 nautical miles. In the rays of the setting sun it had a distinct reddish appearance, like a junks sail, but as soon as the sun had sunk behind a low cloud, it lost it junk-like look, and was seen to have a tall single mast - generally more like a conning tower and a raised periscope
1824 hours - Turned away and increased speed to work round and close the object from the Northward, away from the light horizon against which we must have been clearly visible. As Tantalus turned a puff of smoke appeared low down on each side of the object and it rapidly disappeared. The puffs of smoke were exactly what one might have expected from a submarine increasing speed. Tantalus made a sweep to the Northward and then to the East, but nothing further was sighted
2000 hours - Set course to the Southward to clear the shipping route in order to clean out No. 3 main ballast tank, the fuel in which had been finished two days previously
1 Nov 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) sets course for the Api Passage.
(all times are zone -8)
0202 hours - Received a signal that USS Gurnard had spotted two merchant ships of Miri, Borneo. They were thought to be bound for Singapore
0400 hours - Tantalus set course to patrol off the Api Passage to intercept
1118 hours - In position 02º08'N, 107º44'E dived for an aircraft
1138 hours - Surfaced
1144 - In position 02º08'N, 107º46'E dived again for an aircraft
1250 hours - Surfaced in position 02º07'N, 107º45'E
2130 hours - The weather has changed and Tantalus was now in a storm with limited visibility
2 Nov 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese cargo ship Hachijin Maru (1915 GRT, built 1943) and damages the Japanese submarine chaser Ch 1 (266 tons) about 225 nautical miles east of Singapore in position 00º48'N, 107º43'E.
(all times are zone -8)
0315 hours - Nothing had been sighted and it was thought possible that the expected ships had got through under cover of the storm. Set course to the South-West along the coast of Borneo. Around midday course was set to pass through the Tembelan Islands
1417 hours - In position 00º40'N, 107º48'E, sighted several columns of smoke bearing 285 degrees. Proceeded to close. By 1455 hours the masts and funnels of several ships were visible, between 260 and 270 degrees on an easterly course
1504 hours - Dived to attack in position 00º48'N, 107º44'E. All went well for a further 30 minutes but then a heavy rainstorm reduced visiblilty. Tantalus manouvered to get into what was thought to be the best attack position
1603 hours - Sighted a submarine chaser about 200 yards away.The submarine chaser passed ahead of Tantalus. Visibility increased slightly to about 500 yards
1610 hours - The outline of a torpedo boat or destroyer was sighted. It was lost in the rain almost at once
1613 hours - Sighted a small blurred object thought to be yet another escort
1615 hours - Sighted two very dim shapes. Just over a minute later another dim shape was sighted. Half a minute later one of the shapes was identified as a funnel-aft merchant ship
1618 hours - Fired two torpedoes against this merchant ship from about 400 yards. Two explosions were heard 17 and 24 seconds after firing the first torpedo. A quick look through the persicope after the second explosion showed the target almost enveloped in spray and smoke. The ships HE stopped and breaking up noises were heard for a few minutes. Position was 00º45'N, 107º44'E. The nearest escort, a submarine chaser, was only 200 yards away so Tantalus went deep. Tantalus was now hunted by this and two other escorts but they never gained contact and no depth charges were dropped. (Lt.Cdr. MacKenzie identified the target as Taga Maru (2868 GRT, built 1939) but this was not the case (The convoy encountered was convoy Sima-4 and consisted of the following ships; cargo ship Hachijin Maru (1915 GRT, built 1943), tanker Ayagiri Maru (2854 GRT, built 1944), cargo ship Atsuta Maru (2725 GRT, built 1943) and cargo ship Toyo Maru (2725 GRT, built 1943), escort was provided by the submarine chasers Ch-1, Ch-19, Ch-26, Ch-36 (all offsite links). This convoy had left Singapore the previous day bound for Manila. The ship sunk by Tantalus was the Hachijin Maru, Ch-1 is also reported to be damaged, the nature of the damage is however not clear)
1745 hours - All had been quiet for 20 minutes so came to periscope depth. One escort could be seen astern patrolling the position of the attack. Visibility was still poor but nothing else was in sight. Proceeded to the eastward reloading tubes 1 and 2 in the meantime
1936 hours - Surfaced in position 00º44'5N, 107º51'E and set course to the Api passage. The intention was to attack the convoy again the following day. However Tantalus was ordered to proceed to a position East of Singapore Strait to perform air-sea resque duties
3 Nov 1944 HMS Tantalus receives a signal that the airstrikes for which they had to abandon the persuit of yesterdays convoy are postponed.
(all times are zone -8)
0905 hours - In position 01º48'N, 107º15'E an aircraft detected by radar but as the range opened up there was no need to dive
1025 hours - In position 01º49'N, 107º02'E detected and sighted an aircraft, dived
1049 hours - Surfaced
1245 hours - In position 01º51'N, 106º37'E radar detected two aircraft but as range was opening up there was no need to dive
1345 hours - Another aircraft appeared briefly on the radar screen but it soon disappeared
1347 hours - Received a signal that tomorrows air strikes had been postponed. Continued on a course towards Singapore Strait
4 Nov 1944 HMS Tantalus receives a signal that the airstrikes will take place at 0900 hours/5 November.
(all times are zone -8)
0035 hours - Received a signal that the airstrikes would take place at 0900 hours on 5 November. Tantalus was then to be in position 01º45'N, 105º00'E to carry out lifeguard duties from 0800 hours to sunset. In the meantime Tantalus patrolled along the traffic route from Singapore to north-west of the Anamba Islands.
5 Nov 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) is in position for air/sea rescue duties but no action is required. After the air attacks course is set to patrol off Pulo Tenggol.
(all times are zone -8)
0800 hours - Patrolled as ordered the previous day
0821 hours - In position 01º44'N, 104º58'E, sighted the masts and later the bridge and two funnels of a destroyer bearing 285 degrees, range 9 to 10 nautical miles, approximate course was 045 degrees, speed was 15 knots. Tantalus retired to the South-East and South to keep clear. Regaining station as soon as she had gone passed
0945 hours - In position 01º36'N, 105º00'E sighted one unidentified aircraft, possibly a fighter, bearing 260 degrees, distance 10000 yards, course 240 degrees, height 5000 feet
1400 hours - In position 01º45'N, 105º00'E sighted a large transport aircraft bearing 300 degrees, distance 7000 yards, course 240 degrees, height 4000 feet
1830 hours - Set course to patrol up the east coast of Malaya to patrol near Pulo Tenggol
6 Nov 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) spots two submarine chasers 03º38'N, 104º24'E. She evades them but Lt.Cdr. Mackenzie decides to remain in the area in the hope that some 'bigger prey' might come this way. One again he has to let go his intentions when a signal is received ordering Tantalus south for air/sea rescue duties the following day.
(all times are zone -8)
1404 hours - In position 02º55'N, 104º26'E sighted one transport aircraft bearing 280 degrees, distant 12 nautical miles on a southerly course
1516 hours - In position 03º38'N, 104º24'E sighted two submarine chasers, bearing 030 degrees, range 10 nautical miles. They closed and followed for a short time and appeared to be carrying out a A/S sweep on a south-easterly course. It was thought they might be a prelude of something biggerand better coming up later
1550 hours - Course was resumed to the north-west in full hopes of a decent target showing up that night or on the following day
1848 hours - Received a signal ordering Tantalus to be in position 01º45'N, 105º00'E again from 0800 to 1200 hours on the following day
2030 hours - Reluctantly altered course to comply with the signal received earlier
7 Nov 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) is in position for air/sea rescue duties as ordered. After these she again proceeds to the North to patrol in the Pulo Tenggol area.
(all times are zone -8)
0800 hours - Patrolled as ordered the previous day
1200 hours - Proceeded to the Northward and after dark to the North-West, to continue patrol of the East coast of Malaya
8 Nov 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) is depth charged when she tries to attack a Japanese merchant ship. The attack had to be broken off.
(all times are zone -8)
0815 hours - While on a northerly course in position 03º44'N, 103º53'E sighted smoke bearing 330 degrees. Increased speed and closed
0845 hours - Sighted the masts and funnel of one ship bearing 320 degrees on a southerly course. Tantalus turned to the south-west to gain a position to dive and attack
0928 hours - Tantalus was now right ahead of the ship, its course 180 degrees, and the masts of two escorts could be seen
0948 hours - Sighted an aircraft that was not detected by radar. The aircraft was only five nautical miles off and was flying rather high. It was hoped it was a transport plane and that it had not sighted us. Tantalus dived in position 03º37'N, 103º43'E. The depth of the water was only 12 to 13 fathoms
1110 hours - Started attack. The target was a two-masted, single funnelled coal burning merchant ship of about 5000 tons, on a steady course of 185 degrees, speed 9 knots. There were two escorts, one on its port (seaward) beam and one ahead, both zigging independently and sweeping on Asdics. At the start of the attack Tantalus was fine on the targets port bow, but at 1123 hours Lt.Cdr. Mackenzie decided to run across and attack from its starboard and least protected side. This was easily accomplished and at 1200 hours, range 5000 yards, angle on the bow 15, Tantalus started to turn in to a firing course. At this time the nearer escort was 2000 yards ahead and had appeared to have ceased weaving. At 1205 hours he however altered towards on a steady bearing. At 1210 hours he was getting a bit close and hoisted a string of flags. Lt.Cdr. Mackenzie took Tantalus deep and one minute later the escort passed overhead. In the meantime Tantalus continued to turn in and was regaining periscope depth, hoping the escort had not detected us. The escort however turned round and came back over Tantalus. It was fairly evident that he was in A/S contact with Tantalus. Also the other escort was heard approaching so the attack was broken off. Tantalus went deep and hugged along the bottom at 60 feet. The first escort was in A/S contact and kept astern of Tantalus. The other escort kept to the seaward
1240 hours - The first escort passed overhead and dropped nine depth charges. The first two were fairly close and did some light damage. The other seven did no damage
1250 hours - The escort passed overhead again but dropped nothing. Thereafter he seemed to have lost contact
1315 hours - The escorts H.E. and Asdic transmissions faded out to the seaward
1330 hours - Returned to periscope depth to find the merchant and one escorts far off to the south, zig-zagging furiously. The other escort was trying to catch up on them. Tantalus proceeded to the seaward
1640 hours - Surfaced in position 03º28'2N, 03º55'2E and set course for Pulo Tenggol.
11 Nov 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) sinks the Japanese coaster Pahang Maru (approx. 200 GRT) with gunfire of the east coast of Malaya in position 04º28'3N, 103º36'E.
(all times are zone -8)
1055 hours - In position 04º36'N, 103º46'E radar detected an aircraft bearing 295 degrees, range 12000 yards. Dived
1123 hours - Surfaced in position 04º36'N, 103º45'E. 15 minutes later smoke was sighted bearing 190 degrees. Course was altered toward and speed was increased
1200 hours - A mast and a funnel was in sight and course was altered towards the coast to get inshore and ahead of the ship
1238 hours - Dived in position 04º35'N, 103º37'E, being almost right ahead of the vessel, which was proceeding on an approximate course of 340 degrees. For fourty minutes its smoke continued to be seen, but then there occured a long blank
1350 hours - Tantalus surfaced in position 04º36'N, 103º35'5E to see what had happened
1400 hours - More smoke could now be seen
1410 hours - The mast and funnel were again sighted
1419 hours - Dived in position 04º31'5N, 103º36'8E to continue the attack with the ship once again coming our way
1515 hours - The target is now identified as a small coaster that must have some problems with her engine
1617 hours - Surfaced in position 04º28'N, 103º35'2E to attack the target with the deck gun. The first round fired was a hit and started a fire amidships and subsequent rounds another in the engine room. After five rounds fire was checked and the crew abandoned ship. Then another ten rounds were fired to finish her off. At 1630 the forward end started to sink in position 04º28'3N, 103º36'E (The name of the ship was Pahang Maru, She was bound from Kuantan to Bankok with 75 drums of oil fuel and 9 drums of lubricating oil. She was to load 250 tons of Rice in Bankok for the return to Kuantan). The next half hour was spent in picking up the survivors who consisted of nine Malays, one Chinese and one Japanese soldier. The latter had swum well clear of the others and initially refused to be picked up. After an unsuccesful attempt to drown himself he eventually took hold of a line and was hauled aboard. He was very frightened and was burnt about the face. Lt.Cdr. Mackenzie decided to get rid of the native crew as soon as possible / 1800 hours - Put the native crew aboard a Chinese junk in position 04º22'N, 103º32'E
1817 hours - Cast off from the junk and set course to patrol the traffic route passing North-West of the Anamba and Natuna Islands. During the night No.5 main ballast tank was cleaned out (the fuel that had been in it had been used two days previously)
17 Nov 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) tries to intercept a merchant on a course towards Singapore. As Tantalus has to change course due to actions of the escort she eventually runs out of time to get ahead of the merchant before it enters Singapore Strait.
(all times are zone -8)
Patrolled of the Eastern end of Singapore Strait
0740 hours - In position 01º23'N, 105º23'E sighted distant smoke bearing 311 degrees. Increased speed and altered course to close
0756 hours - Altered further to the westward, the enemy was heading for Singapore
0850 hours - In position 01º33'N, 104º58'E sighted the masts and funnel of a medium seized merchant ship bearing 305 degrees, course roughly 250 degrees. It now became a race as who was to get to Singapore Strait first. Lt.Cdr. Mackenzie closed as much as possible, until the bridge, foc'sle and poop of the merchant and the bridge of the escort were visible
0953 hours - The escort altered course and made a sweep towards Tantalus forcing Lt.Cdr. Mackenzie to open range
1000 hours - Resumed the chase
1030 hours - Altered course towards to close the range, being favoured by a rainstorm
1050 hours - The chase had to be abandoned as it was impossible to get ahead of the enemy before they entered Singapore Strait
1246 hours - Dived in position 01º09'4N, 105º07'6E for an aircraft sighted bearing 280 degrees, range 12 nautical miles
1310 hours - Surfaced in position 01º08'8N, 105º08'8E
27 Nov 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) makes a torpedo attack on a merchant ship. The attack fails as a torpedo explodes prematurely most likely effecting the other one's as well.
(all times are zone -8)
0817 hours - In position 05º03'S, 114º24'E while on a southerly course towards Lombok, when three ships emerged suddenly from a rainstorm to the South of Tantalus. The nearest, an escort, whose masts, funnel and bridge were clearly visible bearing 175 degrees, range about 8 nautical miles. The next ship was considerably further away and looked like a small merchant ship, of the third and most distant ship only the masts were visible but they looked like a warships. All were on a northerly course. Tantalus turned to the North and increased speed, hoping that the nearest escort had not spotted us. But as he started to follow Tantalus it soon became clear that Tantalus was spotted. Fortunately the escort was slower then Tantalus and gradually dropped astern until at 0900 hours he gave up the chase.and altered to the eastward to rejoin the other two ships, which have been making off to the north-east
0903 hours - Altered course to regain contact
0920 hours - sighted all three ships bearing 180 degrees on a course to the North
0927 hours - Dived in position 04º55'N, 114º28'E and turned towards to attack
1003 hours - All three ships were in view and were identified as one small to medium transport, with one funnel and two masts, size 2000-3000 tons. The other ships were escort vessels, one submarine chasers and one ex-whaler. From the start of the attack Tantalus was nicely placed, fine on the starboard bow of the target, which was not zigging. The targets speed was estimated at 12 knots bearing 005 degrees. The attack however did not went well as Lt.Cdr. Mackenzie turned in to late
1028 hours - Fired four torpedoes from 1500 yards. However 30 seconds after firing the first torpedo one of the torpedoes explode prematurely taking another one with it as well. The other two were probably also effected. Due to this the target was not hit. The nearest escort, the whaler, turned towards and came rushing towards us. Tantalus went to 70 feet and retired to the south-west. The escort was searching with Asdics but failed to gain contact
1050 hours - Came to periscope depth and saw him hunting 3000 yards away
1105 hours - The whaler was seen moving off to the North, where he was joined by his companion and were sene searching an area 6 to 10 nautical miles to the North of Tantalus until ...
... 1330 hours - Tantalus reloaded the torpedo tubes while withdrawing on a course of 200 degrees
1435 hours - Surfaced in position 05º05'5S, 114º25'5E and set course to the western end of Kangean Island en route to Lombok Strait
6 Dec 1944 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) ends her 6th war patrol at 0750 hours (time zone -8) at Fremantle.
3 Jan 1945 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) departs Fremantle at 1557 hours (time zone -8) for her 7th war patrol (6th in Far Eastern waters), patrol area is the southern part of the South China Sea to the east of Singapore Straits.
7 Jan 1945 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) toppes off with fuel at Exmouth Gulf.
(all times are zone -8)
0550 hours - Entered Exmouth Gulf
0654 hours - Secured alongside HMS Sturdy alongside the oiler
1757 hours - Slipped from HMS Sturdy and proceeded out of Exmouth Gulf passing the entrance at at 2030 hours
11 Jan 1945 Due to the bad weather HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) had to abandon her first attempt to transit Lombok Strait.
(all times are zone -8)
0130 hours - Entered the southern entrance of Lombok Strait. Due to the very bad weather the transfer of Lombok Strait was abandoned as it was impossible to navigate.
12 Jan 1945 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) transits Lombok Strait northbound.
(all times are zone -8)
0030 hours - Once again entered the southern entrance of Lombok Strait
0350 hours - Transfer of Lombok Strait completed
0845 hours - In position 07º23'N, 115º24'E radar detected an aircraft bearing 060 degrees, range 30000 yards. It was sighted soon afterwards but there was no need to dive as the range was opening
1013 hours - Dived in position 07º12'S, 115º20'E for an aircraft sighted bearing 020 degrees, range about 10 nautical miles. Tantalus remained dived to make the passage between the western end of Kangean Island and Kemirian Island. Several small sailing craft were spotted during the afternoon
1923 hours - Surfaced in position 06º59'S, 115º07'E and set course for the southern entrance to Karimata Strait, passing north of Bawean Island
30 Jan 1945 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) sinks the Japanese sea truck Taisei Maru No. 12 (120 GRT) with gunfire off Bangka Strait in position 01º26'S, 105º01'E.
(all times are zone -8)
Patrolled along the route between Banka and Lingga Island
1205 hours - While on a southerly course in the northern approaches to Banka Strait sighted a small vessel bearing 185 degrees, range about 8 nautical miles on an opposite course. Dived in position 01º28'S, 105º02'E
1300 hours - Identified the target as a heavily laden sea-truck
1341 hours - Surfaced 800 yards off for gun action. The target increased speed and turned towards. The frist hit (the 4th or 5th round) disabled the enemy's steering. It then proceeded round in small circles. By 1350 hours a round in the engine room stopped the enemy. It was also on fire
1407 hours - The enemy rolled over and sank in position 01º26'5S, 105º01'E
1419 hours - After a lot of manouvering and chasing one unwilling Japanese survivor was hauled out of the water
1440 hours - One other survivor was picked up, this was the only non-Japanese on board, a Malay who spoke English and a little Japanese. He was delighted to be picked up and was willing to be of assistance. The remaining survivors, some 20 in number, all Japanese, refused to be picked up with many of them trying to drown themselves when approached, were left in the water. The enemy vessel was en-route from Java to Singapore. The cargo (90 tons in all) consisted of rice, sugar and brandy. Her normal crew was 20 Japanese and the Malay who was the 'dogsboy' and slave
31 Jan 1945 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) sinks a Japanese fishing vessel with gunfire in the southern part of the South China Sea in position 00º28'S, 105º18'E.
(all times are zone -8)
Patrolled to the South and South-East of Lingga
1135 hours - In position 00º34'S, 105º16'E sighted a small ship bearing 055 degrees, range about 8 nautical miles, on a north-westerly course. Closed on the surface, identifying the vessel as a small sea-truck or lugger of about 50 tons. The ship was diesel powered and heavily laden
1203 hours - When the range was 1000 yards, fired a shot across it's bow. It turned away at once and hoised the Japanese flag
1206 hours - Opened fire while chasing the enemy. The first round that hit brought the enemy to a standstill and setting it on fire. The crew abandoned ship
1230 hours - After a few more rounds the ship sank in position 00º28'S, 105º18'E. 12 survivors were picked up, 10 Chinese and 2 Japanese (1 Japanese was killed in the attack. 1 Japanese refused to be picked up. The ship was a fishing vessel and was on its way to Singapore, fully laden with fish
1255 hours - Set course for Gaspar Strait
1912 hours - Received a signal to pick up a downed aircraft pilot
2130 hours - Arrived in the position where the pilot had ditched. Searched during the night for the pilot but unable to find him
1 Feb 1945 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) sinks a Japanese tug and three lighters in the southern part of the South China Sea in position 01º31'S, 105º29'E.
(all times are zone -8)
Continued to search for the airman but now in the direction of Banka Island
1020 hours - In position 01º31'S, 105º29'E sighted an eastbound tug towing four large lighters four nautical miles to the south-east. The tug of about 50 tons, one coal laden wooden lighter and one empty iron lighter were sunk by gunfire. One other coal laden wooden lighter was sunk by demolition charges. These three lighters were all of 100 tons. The fourth lighter, an empty wooden one, was left for the survivors. While all this was being accomplished a small motor launch was sighted approaching from the eastward, it was also towing a lighter, and shortly after mid-day it was closed and hailed and evantually persuaded to come alongside. The crew of the tug was Malay and there were no Japanese on board. The 10 Chinese survivors were then put on board this tug. Tantalus then continued the search for the airman during the afternoon
2320 hours - Sent a signal to base of the intention to patrol 10 more days and with a requist to join HMS Tradewind that was patrolling to the North of Singapore. Permission for this was signalled to Tantalus the next day.
11 Feb 1945 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) sights a Japanese force in position 03º36'N, 107º00'E. She tries to get into an attack position but is unable to do so due the high speed of the enemy and a patrolling aircraft. She sets off in pursuit hoping that the enemy would be slowed down in some way.
(all times are zone -8)
Patrolling to the east of the Anamba Islands
0651 hours - Dived for trim in position 03.08N, 106.40E
0728 hours - Surfaced
1102 hours - Dived in position 03º30'N, 106º55'E for two high-flying aircraft sighted bearing 120 degrees, range 12 nautical miles on a south-westerly course
1227 hours - Surfaced
1245 hours - In position 03º36'N, 107º00'E sighted the fore-tops and masts of two Japanese battleships and the masts of a third ship, bearing 125 degrees, range 17 nautical miles; they appeared to be on a course of 25 degrees. (These ships were the Japanese battleship-carriers Ise and Hyuga and the light cruiser Oyodo, they were escorted by the destroyers Kasumi, Asashimo and Hatsushimo (all offsite links), they had left Singapore on the same day and were bound for Japan). Tantalus increased to full speed and tried to work ahead of the ships to get into an attack position
1425 hours - Sighted an aircraft coming towards so dived in position 03º53'N, 107º10'E. This ended the effort to get ahead of the ships and attack them
1654 hours - Surfaced and sent an anemy report and continued to the north-east at 14 knots but the chance of catching up with the enemy was slim but it was always possible that they were slowed down
12 Feb 1945 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) abandons the pursuit of the Japanese force. She begins the return trip to Fremantle.
26 Feb 1945 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) ends her 7th war patrol at 1055 hours (time zone -8) at Fremantle.
25 Mar 1945 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) departs Fremantle for the U.K. where she is to refit.
7 Apr 1945 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) arrives at Trincomalee.
17 Apr 1945 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) departs Trincomalee bound for Aden.
27 Apr 1945 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) arrives at Aden.
28 Apr 1945 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) departs Aden bound for Port Said.
3 May 1945 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) arrives at Port Said.
8 May 1945 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) departs Port Said bound for Malta.
11 May 1945 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) arrives at Malta.
14 May 1945 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) departs Malta bound for Gibraltar.
18 May 1945 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) arrives at Gibraltar.
20 May 1945 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) departs Gibraltar bound for Portsmouth. She is to sail in convoy MKS.102G (Gibraltar-Liverpool).
27 May 1945 HMS Tantalus (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO and Bar, RN) left convoy MKS.102G to proceed to Portsmouth
_____________________________________________
HMS Tantivy underway at Barrow on the 22nd of July 1943.
HMS Tantivy
HMS Tantivy was a British submarine of the third group of the T class. She was built as P319 by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow, and John Brown & Company, Clydebank, and launched on 6 April 1943. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name Tantivy.
Service
Tantivy served in the Far East for much of her wartime career, where she sank a Siamese sailing vessel, the Japanese merchant cargo ship Shiretoko Maru, the Japanese Communications Vessel No. 137, the Japanese barge No. 136 and the Japanese motor sailing vessel Tachibana Maru No.47, a Japanese tug, two Japanese coasters, a Japanese sailing vessel, the small Japanese vessels Chokyu Maru No.2, Takasago Maru No.3, and Otori Maru, as well as twelve small vessels that are unidentified. She also laid numerous mines.
She survived the war and continued in service with the Navy, finally being sunk as an anti-submarine target in the Cromarty Firth in 1951.
Noteable events involving Tantivy include:
23 Jul 1943 Tantivy departs her builders yard bound for Holy Loch where she will be commissioned on the 25th.
28 Jul 1943 HMS Tantivy (Cdr. M.G. Rimington, DSO, RN) begins her training program. During this time that last till ca. the middle of October. She undergoes training at, among other places, Loch Ranza, Arrochar, Campbeltown, Scapa Flow and Larne.
18 Oct 1943 HMS Tantivy (Cdr. M.G. Rimington, DSO, RN) departs Holy Loch bound for Lerwick.
20 Oct 1943 HMS Tantivy (Cdr. M.G. Rimington, DSO, RN) departs Lerwick for her 1st war patrol. This is a working up patrol off the Norwegian coast in the Trondheim area.
30 Oct 1943 HMS Tantivy (Cdr. M.G. Rimington, DSO, RN) ends her 1st war patrol (working up patrol) at Lerwick. The patrol was uneventful. She is now ordered to proceed to Chatham Dockyard.
Nov 1943 Unfortunately the logs of HMS Tantivy from November to February 1944 are not at the National Archives in London, so there is a lack of details of this period.
6 Jan 1944 HMS Tantivy (Cdr. M.G. Rimington, DSO, RN) departs Plymouth bound for Gibraltar, this is the first leg of her passage to Trincomalee.
15 Jan 1944 HMS Tantivy (Cdr. M.G. Rimington, DSO, RN) arrives at Gibraltar.
23 Feb 1944 HMS Tantivy (Cdr. M.G. Rimington, DSO, RN) departs Trincomalee for her 2nd war patrol (1st in Far Eastern waters), patrol area is the Sunda Strait.
29 Feb 1944 Sortly before arriving in her assigned patrol area HMS Tantivy (Cdr. M.G. Rimington, DSO, RN) is sighted and bombed by a Japanese aircraft. No damaged was caused.
(all times are zone -6,5)
1240 hours - Sighted an aircraft and dived. When Tantivy passed 70 feet a bomb exploded. Cdr. Rimington is not happy with that he was sighted shortly before arriving in the patrol area
2030 hours - Surfaced
22 Mar 1944 HMS Tantivy (Cdr. M.G. Rimington, DSO, RN) ends her 2nd war patrol at Trincomalee. The patrol was uneventful.
17 Apr 1944 HMS Tantivy (Cdr. M.G. Rimington, DSO, RN) departs Trincomalee for her 3rd war patrol (2nd in Far Eastern waters). Patrol area is the Malacca Straits and the west coast of Siam.
29 Apr 1944 HMS Tantivy (Cdr. M.G. Rimington, DSO, RN) attacks shipping inside Phuket harbour. Three torpedoes were fired into the harbour against damaged / sunken ships that were undergoing salvage. The attack fails as the torpedoes most likely got stuck in mud.
(all times are zone -6,5)
0448 hours - Dived and ran in to attack shipping inside Phuket harbour
1143 hours - At a range of 4500 yards fired No 1. torpedo tube at a sunken ship in the harbour, No 2 and 3 torpedo tubes were fired at a damaged ship. All torpedoes fired were seen running for the first 3000 yards. They were also seen to be running strait towards their intended targets. However nothing happened and all torpedoes probably got stuck in mud. Tantalus retired to deeper water
1912 hours - Surfaced
4 May 1944 HMS Tantivy (Cdr. M.G. Rimington, DSO, RN) attacks a Japanese submarine with six torpedoes south of the mouth of the Perak river. All torpedoes fired missed their target.
All times are zone -6,5)
0456 hours - Dived
1540 hours - Sighted a Japanese submarine of the I-68 class to the south of the mouth of the Perak river
1549 hours - Attacked the Japanese submarine with six torpedoes. The enemy however sighted the tracks and combed them. They were then seen to pass to the eastward of the Sembilan Islands making for the Dindings
1903 hours - Surfaced. As it was hoped that the submarine would spent the night in the Dindings and proceed towards Penang the next day. Cdr. Rimington decided to proceed to a position between the Dindings and Penang
7 May 1944 HMS Tantivy (Cdr. M.G. Rimington, DSO, RN) sinks a Siamese sailing vessel with gunfire of the west coast of Siam.
(All times are zone -6,5)
0502 hours - Dived
1525 hours - Surfaced for gun action, 24 rounds were fired at a junk (about 150 tons) from about 700 yards of which 14 were hits. After the junk sank 4 survivors were picked up. The junk was fully loaded with tin and also had a deck cargo of bagged rice. She was en-route from Puket to Penang
9 May 1944 HMS Tantivy (Cdr. M.G. Rimington, DSO, RN) encounters a submerged submarine. She is not able to attack.
(all times are zone -6,5)
0530 hours - Dived
1400 hours - Surfaced
1548 hours - Dived to periscope depth upon sighting of periscope. H.E. (= Hydrophone Effect) was heard and echo contact was obtained until 1850 hours. During a cat and mouse game neither submarine was able to attack
1910 hours - The other submarine was heard to inrease speed and make off. Contact was lost soon afterwards
2115 hours - Surfaced
12 May 1944 HMS Tantivy (Cdr. M.G. Rimington, DSO, RN) ends her 3rd war patrol at Trincomalee.
1 Jun 1944 HMS Tantivy (Cdr. M.G. Rimington, DSO, RN) departs Trincomalee for her 4th war patrol (3rd in Far Eastern waters). Patrol area is the Malacca Straits and the west coast of Siam.
7 Jun 1944 HMS Tantivy (Cdr. M.G. Rimington, DSO, RN) lays mines in the Strait of Malacca off Sembilang Island.
At 1915 hours (time zone -6.5) commenced minelaying operation
M.L.O. 11.
2200 hours - completed minelaying
15 Jun 1944 HMS Tantivy (Cdr. M.G. Rimington, DSO, RN) tries to intercept a small merchant vessel off Phuket. She is not able to attack.
(All times are zone -6,5)
0522 hours - Dived and started approaching Phuket harbour
1112 hours - Sighted a small diesel merchant ship of about 1500 to 2000 tons leaving Phuket harbour. Tantivy turned to intercept. Immediataly after three A/S vessels were seen making a direct attack impossible. Cdr. Rimington decided to try to intercept the ship off Go Lantar Yai about 25 nautical miles away. The target was however not seen again
1900 hours - Surfaced and proceeded to the vicinity of Goh Beng light
26 Jun 1944 HMS Tantivy (Cdr. M.G. Rimington, DSO, RN) ends her 4th war patrol at Trincomalee.
24 Jul 1944 HMS Tantivy (Cdr. M.G. Rimington, DSO, RN) departs Trincomalee for her 5th war patrol (4th in Far Eastern waters). Patrol area is the Malacca Straits.
31 Jul 1944 HMS Tantivy (Cdr. M.G. Rimington, DSO, RN) tries to intercept a merchant vessel bound for Sabang (see also 1 August 1944)
(All times are zone -6,5)
0635 hours - Dived
1215 hours - Sighted an unidentified aircraft
1810 hours - Surfaced
1814 hours - Sighted two submarine chasers about five nautical miles inshore steering north-west along the coast. They sighted Tantivy at the same time and turned towards. Tantivy retired to seawards at 13 knots. One of the submarine chasers turned towards the coast again to other continued to follow Tantivy. A merchant was now sighted about two to three nautical miles to the westward of the escorts in position 05º15'N, 97º10'E. After about ten minutes the submarine chaser that was following Tantivy abandoned the pursuit. Tantivy now proceeded towards the south-east point of Pulo Weh to intercept as the merchant was obviously bound for Sabang.
1 Aug 1944 While trying to attack the merchant spotted the previous day, HMS Tantivy (Cdr. M.G. Rimington, DSO, RN) is spotted by an aircraft. The attack therefore had to be broken off.
(All times are zone -6,5)
0508 hours - Dived off the south-east corner of Pulo Weh.
0608 hours - The masts and bridge of a ship were sighted. Also one single engined aircraft was patrolling over the Malacca Passage. After a while the ship suddenly turned towards leaving Tantivy perfectly placed for an attack. At 0704 hours when Cdr. Rimington wanted to have a last quick peep through the attack periscope an aircraft bomb went off. Fortunately it was not close. The aircraft had probably seen us and dropped the bomb as a warning that a submarine was very close. The target immediately changed course. One of the escorts was only 400 yards away and turned strait towards Tantivy. Cdr. Rimington immediately ordered Tantivy deep. It was only after seven minutes that the first two depth charges were dropped and these were not close. When Tantivy was able to return to periscope depth the target could be seen stern on and out of range. At the same time a twin-engined bomber, a Sally, was seen to dive towards us from 1000 feet but failed to drop anything as Tantivy went deep again
0910 hours - Returned to persicope depth to find the sea and sky clear. Proceeded to a position to the north-west of the One Fathom Bank
1852 hours - Surfaced.
6 Aug 1944 HMS Tantivy (Cdr. M.G. Rimington, DSO, RN) is spotted by a Japanese torpedo boat. She is depth charged but no damage was done.
(All times are zone -6,5)
0440 hours - In position 210 degrees, 3 nautical miles from Observation Island (Butangs) a light was sighted flashing. It was challenging us. Tantivy turned to the south stern on to the light. A small destroyer was then sighted that started to challenge again. We had clearly been sighted and as it was getting light Cdr. Rimington dived at 0449 hours. Tantivy went deep immediately expecting to be attacked. The destroyer was picked up on the Asdic and was approaching at 12 knots. No attack however developed and by 0540 hours Tantivy came to periscope depth. It was now light enough to see the destroyer, (Otori class) about 4 nautical miles to the eastward steering towards Langkawi
0750 hours - The destroyer was seen to make off towards Penang. Also the first aircraft of the day was sighted at this time. During the day at least one aircraft was in sight. Sometimes up to three were in sight at the same time
1815 hours - The mast of an escort vessel (most likely the Otori-class destroyer again) was sighted bearing 110 degrees, 5 to 6 nautical miles. She appeared to be heading slowly north. Tantivy was at this time about 3.5 nautical miles to the south-east of Observatory Island. Cdr. Rimington turned to the west to open up the range to the vessel before surfacing. She was very soon out of sight in the dusk
1908 hours - Surfaced
2030 hours - The after lookout sighted the destroyer closing us. She was then about 4 nautical miles away on the starboard quarter. Turned to the south-west, stern on to the destroyer and increased speed to 13 knots. The destroyer soon followed us and appeared to have increased speed
2116 hours - Distance was now about 3 nautical miles and decreasing so therewas no other choice then to dive. Just before diving a second vessel was sighted bearing 050 about 4 nautical miles away. On diving Tantivy turned to port to 090 degrees, hoping the destroyer's Commanding Officer was thinking the submarine would turn to seaward. The destroyer steamed on to the diving position and as she crossed fairly close astern she dropped a single depth charge. She ten reduced speed and to Cdr. Rimingtons disgust also turned to Port and steamed up Tantivy's Starboard side dropping two more depth charges about half a mile apart. The destroyer then turned to Port, crossed close ahead and then drew out to the North of Tantivy. Cdr. Rimington started to turn slowly 180 degrees to Starboard to 270 degrees. During this time nothing had been heard from the second vessel. The destroyer appeared to be at fault. As the destroyer drew clear, Cdr. Rimington took the risk to increase speed to get clear of the search area. At this moment the second vessel was heard to approach fast from the South-West (Port bow). She passed very close to port and then joined the destroyer. The game of cat and mouse continued during the whole night and Tantivy was unable to surface during the night so measures were taken to conserve battery power and inprove the air quality.
16 Aug 1944 HMS Tantivy (Cdr. M.G. Rimington, DSO, RN) ends her 5th war patrol at Trincomalee.
25 Aug 1944 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.H. May, RN) departs Trincomalee for passage to Fremantle, Australia.
1 Sep 1944 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.H. May, RN) is attacked with bombs by a Japanese aircraft in position 07º30'S, 101º56'E. Three bombs were dropped but these all failed to explode.
(All times are zone -6,5)
1016 hours - In position 07º30'S, 101º56'E dived for an aircraft overhead reported by a lookout. The aircraft was not picked up by radar. The aircraft was identified as a Betty flying at 1000 feet. While diving a stick of 3 bombs was observed landing about 1 cable on the starboard bow. Fortunately they all failed to explode
1101 hours - Surfaced
1313 hours - In position 07º44'S, 102º10'E dived for an unidentified aircraft at extreme range
1325 hours - Surfaced.
2 Sep 1944 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.H. May, RN) is ordered to divert for a short patrol in the Sunda Strait. The passage to Fremantle now became her 6th war patrol (5th in Far Eastern waters).
4 Sep 1944 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.H. May, RN) makes a torpedo attack on a Japanese merchant. Three torpedoes were fired but these all missed their target.
(All times are zone -8)
0632 hours - Dived south of Flat Cape
1100 hours - Established a patrol off Flat Cape
2212 hours - Radar reported a possible ship 7400 yards away. This was soon seen to be a submarine chaser that turned towards
2217 hours - Dived and turned away. H.E. was soon heard to fade away
2235 hours - Surfaced and found nothing in sight so set off at 13 knots towards the last bearing of the H.E. After 5 minutes an object was sighted and a few minutes later two small ones ahead. It was decided that this was a worth-wile target. It looked like they were coast crawling very close inshore along Flat Cape. Tantivy increased to full speed. Radar range was 7800 yards. When it came down to 6000 yards the course was estimated as 110 degrees, which was through the strait, passing close to Krakatoa, speed was 9 knots. The escorts were broad on each bow of the target so it was decided to fire from 4000 yards, the nearest escort would then be 3000 yards away
2314 hours - After slowing down, three torpedoes were fired, five torpedoes were intended but the target turned away after the third torpedo so the other two were not fired. The target turned away and Lt. May thought they had been spotted so he turned away and increased speed. In the meantime they started to reload the torpedo tubes that had been fired. However the target remained on her new course, aproximately 350 degrees, and also the escorts did nothing. So it was decided to follow them at slow speed. It now appeared they continued to coast crawl until they were north of Tabuan, then cross to the other side of Samanka Bay, coast crawl down again and so through the strait. Lt. May decided to cross to the west coast of Tabuan and then steer north up the coast and get a shot at them as they crossed north of the island. This was done but dispite that Tantivy ran at full power plus, they passed north of the island while the range was over 5000 yards. After been foiled again it was decided that rather then follow them round and been silhouetted against a very bright moon while thay were against the far shore, Tantivy would turn, go south of Tabuan and meet them on opposite course, thus getting between them and the shore. This was done but when they were sighted again at ......... (continues on 5 September 1944)
5 Sep 1944 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.H. May, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese merchant cargo ship Shiretoko Maru (1799 GRT, former Dutch Siberoet, built 1927) in Semangka Bay in position 05º44'S, 104º58'E.
(All times are zone -8)
(continuation of 4 September 1944) ……… 0238 hours it was seen that they were so close inshore that the attack would have to be from the seaward and as the moon would be behind Tantivy again the attack had to be submerged
0310 hours - After manouvering into position for attack and having dived, 7 torpedoes were fired from 1500 yards. One minute after firing a dull flash was observed followed by a fairly heavy explosion. The nearest escort, 700 yards away, turned towards so Lt. May took Tantivy deep. H.E. from the target ceased. The escort that turned towards counter-attacked for half an hour dropping 11 depth-charges in all but none were very close. The other escort did not participate in the counter-attack. Tantivy remained deep until daylight, then came to periscope depth and set course for Princess Island. Nothing further was sighted all day
1928 hours - Surfaced and patrolled south-west of the Princess Passage.
6 Sep 1944 At dawn HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.H. May, RN) departs the Sunda Strait area and resumes her passage to Fremantle, Australia.
13 Sep 1944 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.H. May, RN) ends her 6th war patrol at Fremantle, Australia.
9 Oct 1944 HMS Tantivy (Lt. H.S. May, RN) departs Fremantle for her 7th war patrol (6th in Far Eastern waters). Patrol area is the Macassar Straits and Flores Sea.
13 Oct 1944 HMS Tantivy (Lt. H.S. May, RN) tops off with fuel at Exmouth Gulf.
21 Oct 1944 While operating in Makassar Strait HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.H. May, RN) sinks (with gunfire) the small Japanese sailing vessels Chokyu Maru No.2 (136 GRT), Takasago Maru No.3 (82 GRT), Otori Maru (198 GRT) and six more that are unidentified.
(All times are zone -8)
0315 hours - Began approach to Bonthain Roads but the echo sounder became defective so the approach was abandoned
0500 hours - When it was getting light, it became evident that there was nothing of interest in the roadstead
0520 hours - Turned south and proceeded dived to patrol of Bulu Bulu
1330 hours - The sails of several large schooners were spotted. Tantivy closed
1400 hours - There were now 21 sails in sight and with HMS Sturdy's succes in mind (She reported 9 fully laden schooners sunk in the area next to Tantivy) decided to surface and engage
1416 hours - Surfaced and started closing in
1435 hours - Opened fire on the first one. All the others immediately struck sail and abandoned ship in their canoes. One survivor was picked up during the sinking of the schooners
1540 hours - In the vicinity of 05º41'S, 119º35'E eight schooners were sunk for an average of 21 rounds each. Radar now reported an aircraft closing
1543 hours - Dived to 80 feet. When Tantivy returned to persicope depth there was only one schooner in sight. Closed submerged
1739 hours - Surfaced and engaged the schooner
1753 hours - Schooner sunk and picked up 5 survivors
1815 hours - Set course for Sangean Island
2300 hours - Received a signal that aircraft had sighted troopships in position 04º02'S, 119º37'E
2336 hours - Altered course to the North-East intending to cover the South coast of Celebes from the Eastern edge of our area Westwards.
22 Oct 1944 While operating in Makassar Strait HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.H. May, RN) sinks the Japanese Communications Vessel No. 137 (approx. 200 GRT) in position 05º47'S, 119º42'E. Tantivy also sinks 6 small vessels that are unidentified with gunfire.
(All times are zone -8)
0540 hours - Sighted a coaster of about 150 tons stearing East close inshore. Closed
0620 hours - Opened fire
0627 hours - In position 05º37'N, 120º09'E the target was buring forward. Her stern was awash and she was probably beached
0656 hours - Sighted 4 topsail schooners steering South-West from Bonthain roads, closed. The schooners made off towards the shore. Increased speed to 14 knots
0715 hours - In position 05º36'S, 119º57'E slowed down and opeded fire
0716 hours - First schooner sunk with 4 rounds
0722 hours - Second schooner sunk with 2 rounds
0726 hours - Third schooner sunk with 3 rounds
0728 hours - Engaged and sank 2 out of 4 schooners anchored close inshore. These schooners were heavily laden and sank at once. The other 2 were empty and were left
0734 hours - Turned to seaward to go after the other remaining schooner of the original 4, which had separated from the others and was close inshore to the East when at 0742 hours the Starboard lookout reported an aircraft flying low over the trees at extreme range. Increased speed to 12 knots to get into deeper water. There was a long way to go
0749 hours - Dived in position 05º35'S, 119º57'E. Depth was only 6 fathoms. The aircraft was now only 8000 yards away
0751 hours - Two bombs were dropped close aboard. These were only small bombs and were followed by machine gun fire. Tantivy was then at 22 feet with nothing under the keel
0803 hours - Another bomb, and more machine gun fire followed. All were rather distant. Tantivy was now at 34 feet
0810 hours - Now at 45 feet made a 45 degree course change
0850 hours - Came to periscope depth to see if the aircraft was still about, he was so went to 60 feet and altered course again
1400 hours - Came to periscope depth. Sighted an armed coaster steering 265 degrees at 5 knots along the coast. Decided to sink this ship with a torpedo, from tube no.8. This torpedo had been leaking air for several days and was considered to be to unreliable to be fired in a salvo
1501 hours - In position 05º45'S, 119º44'E fired this torpedo from 3000 yards. The torpedo missed the target
1511 hours - Surfaced for gun action
1520 hours - Sighted an escort vessel on the port bow, 8 nautical miles away. Considered that there would be enough time to deal with the coaster before the escort got to near
1525 hours - Opened fire on the coaster at 3600 yards. The target fired back with possibly a 12 pounder gun and a machine gun
1532 hours - In position 05º44'S, 119º44'E, the target was seen to be burning furiously, listing to starboard and was probably beached. It was considered that the target was a total loss. Turned to seaward to reach deeper water
1534 hours - Dived. When the escort vessel came nearer nothing was dropped at all
1615 hours - An aircraft was seen to join the escort
1728 hours - Another escort vessel arrived but it remained close inshore
1730 hours - Lt. May was looking through the periscope at the second escort vessel when it was suddenly totaly obscured by a large explosion. When it reappeared it had settled considerably and it was considered that it was on the bottom as it was very close inshore. It is thought possible that by chance it set off the torpedo fired earlier as the positions checked (the torpedo was fitted with a magnetic exploder)
1820 hours - Surfaced and set course for Sangean Island.
23 Oct 1944 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.H. May, RN) sinks a Japanese sailing vessel with gunfire west of Sangean Island in position 08º15'S, 118º55'E.
(All times are zone -8)
Patrolled on the surface in the vicinity of Sangean Island during the forenoon. The visibility was very poor
1215 hours - In position 08º15'S, 118º55'E sank a small schooner with gunfire
1300 hours - Visibility much improved. Dived. Nothing in sight
2030 hours - Closed firm radar contact at 8000 yards and chased. This later turns out to be most likely a US submarine (possibly USS Muskallunge) so the chase was abandoned.
25 Oct 1944 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.H. May, RN) sinks the Japanese barge No. 136 and the Japanese motor sailing vessel Tachibana Maru No.47 with gunfire off Miro, Sumbawa, Netherlands East Indies in approximate position 08º08'S, 117º45'E.
(All times are zone -8)
0635 hours - Dived and inspected Batahai Strait and anchorage. Sighted one topsail schooner steering North-East from Salah Bay. As there was almost no wind, Lt. May decided to leave the schooner for the moment as he could not get far hoping that bigger pray might show up
1500 hours - Sighted a large coaster coast crawling northwards
1520 hours - Sighted another large coaster following the first one
1612 hours - Both coasters anchored two nautical miles apart off Kunanga village
1628 hours - In position 08º08'S, 117º46'E. Fired one torpedo at the nearest (and largest) coaster from 1000 yards. After 22 seconds and after running 400/500 yards the torpedo exploded prematurely
1629 hours - Surfaced for gun action. The target returned fire with machine guns but this soon ceased as the target bust into flames. Fire was checked and course was set to go after the second coaster that was getting under way. THe crew opened fire on Tantivy but started to abandon ship before fire was returned. This coaster was also sunk with gunfire. Tantivy now set off at 14 knots to go after the schooner seen earlier this day
1830 hours - In position 08º05'S, 117º53'E sank the schooner with 3 starshell and 1 H.E. round and two pans of Oerlikon
1835 hours - Set course for deeper water to the westward
1900 hours - Set course for Sangean Island
2000 hours - The coasters were still seen buring from a distance of 15 nautical miles.
26 Oct 1944 HMS Tantivy (Lt. H.S. May, RN) damages a coaster off Sangean Island in position 08º15'S, 119º10'E.
(All times are zone -8)
0608 hours - Sighted a coaster steering north-west from Banta Island, range 12000 yards. Closed at 14 knots. The coaster was seen to alter course to the west to pass through the channel between Sangean Island and Naru Point. Tantivy kept dead astern of the coaster with the rising sun behind them
0713 hours - It was decided to fire two torpedoes against the target. In position 08º16'S, 119º09'5"E fired tube 5. This torpedo immediately turned hard to starboard and passed close under the stern. Went to full speed to get out of the way as soon as possible. After 15 minutes turned our attention to the coaster again
0737 hours - In position 08º15'S, 119º10'E fired a torpedo from no.7 tube. This torpedo also malfuntioned and exploded 300 yards away. This also made the coaster decide that Tantivy was up to no good. He opened fire with a 12 pounder gun and two heavy machine guns. Fire was quite accurately. Tantivy made off at full speed but after about a minute turned towards now opening fire with her deck gun. 20 rounds were fired with four with (with two on the waterline) before ammunition ran out. The Oerlikon also jammed at the same moment. The coaster ran towards the shore and beached herself on Sangean Island. Her stern had settled down. The action had to be broken off until the Oerlikon was repaired as the coaster was still firing with their guns. The barrel of the Oerlikon had to be replaced
0847 hours - Dived for an aircraft. It was now decided to return to Fremantle as we were out of ammunition for the deck gun and the torpedoes proved to be unreliable. Set course for Lombok Strait
1712 hours - Surfaced and completed changing the barrel of the Oerlikon.
3 Nov 1944 HMS Tantivy (Lt. H.S. May, RN) ends her 7th war patrol at Fremantle.
24 Nov 1944 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.H. May, RN) departs Fremantle for her 8th war patrol (7th in Far Eastern waters). Tantivy is to patrol in the South China Sea to the east of Singapore.
28 Nov 1944 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.H. May, RN) arrives at Exmouth Bay to top up with fuel and load fresh provisions. Also minor defects were repaired. She departs early the next morning.
29 Nov 1944 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.H. May, RN) suffers a burned out motor for the fore hydroplanes.
30 Nov 1944 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.H. May, RN) suffers three cracked breech ends. There was only one spare carried, it was decided to keep it in reserve for the moment.
1 Dec 1944 One of the breech ends cracked began to leak so badly that it had to be replaced with the spare. Also a hole in the Port muffler tank was repaired.
2 Dec 1944 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.H. May, RN) has to abandon her Northbound passage of Lombok Strait.
(All times are zone -8)
2 December 1944 2000 hours - Started passage of Lombok Strait
2242 hours - In position 08º33'S, 115º47'4"E sighted one motor launch ahead, range was 3000 yards. Turned to the westwards to go round him. Just before reaching the shelter of a rain squall at 2250 hours a violent lightning flash disclosed two more motor launches right ahead, in the rain squall in position 08º31'7"S, 115º46'5"E well under 1000 yards away. Turned 180 degrees and increased to full speed to run around the original motor launch inshore to eastwards. Reduced to 14 knots after 10 minutes. After 3/4 of an hour, when near the North entance to the Straits, close to the eastern shore, with the original motor launch abaft the beam drawing aft, range 2000-3000 yards, the moon shone out at full brilliance. After a few minutes the motor launch increased speed and turned towards
2348 hours - Dived to 230 feet in position 08º26'1"S, 115º54'7"E and rigged for depth charging.
3 December 1944 0057 hours - A pattern of four depth charges was dropped right on top of us, they were to close for comfort. 10 more depth charges were dropped in the next minutes. These caused minor damage (and violent squealing from the rats behind the woodwork !!!). During the first pattern of depth charges something scraping down the the side was reported from aft and the port screw became extremely noisy. Oil fuel was now leaking into the boat through the spindle of number 5 Port Kingston Valve, and the vent to number 3 Port External. It seemed very likely that we were leaking oil fuel from the external tanks, which would also account for the accuracy of the depth charging so at 0130 hours turned South to run back trough the Straits
0330 hours - Surfaced in position 08º35'2"S, 115º50'9"E to get clear of the Straits by daylight
0402 hours - In position 08º38'8"S, 115º48'3"E sighted a motor launch 3000 yards away. Turned to Port to run around him
0414 hours - Turned back to original course but the wheel jammed. Both engines were stopped but we went in the direction of the motor launch
0422 hours - The range was about 2500 yards so dived in position 08º40'7"S, 115º50'2"E and rigged for depth charging. No attack followed however. As daybreak was at 0500 hours decided to remain dived until well clear of the Straits
0830 hours - Surfaced in position 09º04'8"S, 115º39'5"E to charge and make good defects. No fuel leaks were found
1400 hours - Dived in position 09º15'S, 114º56'5"E and went to 120 feet to repair stearing gear
1852 hours - Surfaced in position 09º13'3"S, 114º54'E and set course for Lombok Strait
2350 hours - Commenced passage of the Strait.
4 Dec 1944 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.H. May, RN) succesfully transits Lombok Strait Northbound.
(All times are zone -8)
0102 hours - In position 08º36'8"S, 115º41'5"E sighted two motor launches 3500 yards away. Turned away to run round them
0137 hours - Altered course back North again
0300 hours - Passage completed
1313 hours - In position 06º36'2"S, 116º30'E dived for 2 aircraft detected by radar, range 7000 yards. They were not seen. The radar set had just been switched on again after 10 minutes of cooling, which accounts for the short range
1400 hours - Came to 20 feet to sweep round with the radar before surfacing. Got a radar contact at 2000 yards, went to 80 feet
1445 hours - Surfaced in position 06º31'4"S, 116º30'E
1930 hours - Discovered 1/4 inch of salt water in the drain oil tank, as the separators could deal with this amount it was decided to carry on until the next morning, then dive and investigate.
5 Dec 1944 Traces of salt water were found found in both cramshaft cases. Also Tantivy spent the day submerged to make repairs to both main engines.
(All times are zone -8)
0340 hours - Found traces of salt water in both cramshaft cases, stopped both engines
0420 hours - In position 05º16'S, 114º34'E went ahead on both engines (320 revs) to carry out an attack on a darkened ship. This turned out to be a fishing prau
0555 hours - Dived in position 05º16'1"S, 114º31'E to make good defects on main engines
1720 hours - Surfaced in position 05º06'S, 114º11'E and proceeded.
6 Dec 1944 More engineering problems were found aboard HMS Tantivy. They were of such nature that it was decided to abandon the patrol and return to Fremantle.
(All times are zone -8)
0645 hours - Dived in position 04º32'S, 112º12'E to clean inlet boxes and examine breech ends. It was discovered that number 6 Starboard breech end was cracked so badly that it would have to be cut out. The situation was now as follows. The Starboard engine with only five cylinders could not propel by itself and could only give a Down Group standing charge of 200 amps per battery. One of these five cylinders had a cracked breech end, likely to go completely at any time, which would put the engine completely out of action. The Port engine was still going on all six cylinders but one of the cylinders had a cracked breech end also likely to go at any given time. The spare breech end had already been used. Thus Tantivy was left with vitually only one engine. As the patrol are was still over 800 nautical miles away. A signal was sent to base of the intentions
1025 hours - Surfaced in position 04º32'N, 112º12'E and set course for Lombok Strait.
16 Dec 1944 After even more mechanical problems on the return trip HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.H. May, RN) ends her 8th war patrol at Fremantle.
14 Jan 1945 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.S. May, RN) departs Fremantle for her 9th war patrol (8th in Far Eastern waters). Tantivy is ordered to patrol in the Sunda Straits and then to proceed to Ceylon. After this patrol she is to proceed to the UK for a much needed refit.
17 Jan 1945 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.S. May, RN) arrives at Exmouth Bay to top of with fuel. Also some repairs were made.
18 Jan 1945 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.S. May, RN) departs Exmouth Bay after topping of with fuel and some minor repairs. Nearly three hours after departure two breech ends cracked. Tantivy returned to Exmouth Bay to make repairs.
21 Jan 1945 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.S. May, RN) departs Exmouth Bay after the completion of repairs.
26 Jan 1945 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.S. May, RN) arrives in her patrol area, the Sunda Strait.
3 Feb 1945 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.H. May, RN) sinks a Japanese tug and two Japanese coasters in the Sunda Strait.
Tantivy also fires a torpedo into Panjang harbour to destroy a pier and ships alongside it. When getting clear of the area, Tantivy is grounded for more then two hours.
(All times are zone -8)
0645 hours - Dived in position 06º03'5"S, 105º41E
1245 hours - In position 05º57'5"S, 105º36'E sighted a coaster on the usual route from Zutphen Islands to Pajang harbour
1407 hours - In position 05º57'S, 105º35'E sighted an ocean going tug towing two coasters steaming south from Pajang, closed
1500 hours - Surfaced in position 05º51'S, 105º34'2"E and sunk all three with gunfire
1530 hours - Dived in position 05º51'S, 105º34'E and steered South, using plenty of periscope
1543 hours - Altered course to 320 degrees towards Pajang harbour keeping west of Tiga Islands
1727 hours - Surfaced in position 05º48'S, 105º27'5"E and proceeded at 13 knots towards Pajang
2005 hours - Grounded off Pajang Harbour but got off in a few minutes. Manouvered into place for a torpedo attack down the harbour entrance. One torpedo was fired at the pier at 2030 hours
2035 hours - Grounded hard
2225 hours - At last Tantivy was off, but not before fuel had to pumped overboard, 4 torpedoes from the bow tubes were fired and damaging the screws
2248 hours - Went ahead on both engines and cleared the area via Legundi Strait.
14 Feb 1945 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.S. May, RN) ends her 9th war patrol at Trincomalee.
2 Mar 1945 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.S. May, RN) departs Trincomalee bound for Aden. The ultimate destination is Chatham Dockyard where she is to refit.
12 Mar 1945 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.S. May, RN) arrives at Aden.
14 Mar 1945 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.S. May, RN) departs Aden bound for Suez.
19 Mar 1945 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.S. May, RN) arrives at Suez.
20 Mar 1945 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.S. May, RN) transits the Suez Canal and arrives at Port Said.
30 Mar 1945 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.S. May, RN) departs Port Said bound for Malta.
3 Apr 1945 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.S. May, RN) arrives at Malta.
5 Apr 1945 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.S. May, RN) departs Malta bound for Gibraltar.
9 Apr 1945 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.S. May, RN) arrives at Gibraltar.
10 Apr 1945 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.S. May, RN) departs Gibraltar bound for Plymouth.
16 Apr 1945 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.S. May, RN) arrives at Plymouth.
17 Apr 1945 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.S. May, RN) departs Plymouth bound for Portsmouth where she arrives on the same day.
19 Apr 1945 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.S. May, RN) departs Portsmouth bound for Sheerness.
20 Apr 1945 HMS Tantivy (Lt. P.S. May, RN) arrives at Sheerness.
_____________________________________________
Seventeen submarines were ordered under the 1941 Programme.
HMS Telemachus seen underway after completion on the 23rd of October 1944.
HMS Telemachus
HMS Telemachus was a British submarine of the third group of the T class. She was built as P321 by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow, and launched on 19 June 1943.
Service
Telemachus served in the Far East for much of her wartime career, arriving there to serve with the Eastern Fleet in July 1944 Her one notable action was her sinking of the Japanese submarine I-166.
She survived the war and continued in service with the Navy, finally being scrapped at Charlestown on 28 August 1961.
Noteable events involving Telemachus include:
17 Jul 1944 HMS Telemachus (Cdr. W.D.A. King, DSO, DSC, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese submarine I-166 (1635 tons, offsite link) in the Strait of Malacca in position 01º10'N, 103º45'E.
_____________________________________________
HMS Talent
HMS Talent (P322) was a Second World War British T class submarine, built by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow, and John Brown & Company, Clydebank.
Career
As HMS Talent
The submarine was laid down on the 13th of October 1942, and launched on 17 July 1943. She was not commissioned into the Royal Navy, instead being transferred to the Royal Netherlands Navy on 23 March 1943, and commissioned into service on 23 November 1943. She was renamed Zwaardvisch, Dutch for 'Swordfish'. She went on to lead a distinguished career.
As HNLMS Zwaardvisch
Zwaardvisch served for much of the war in the Pacific Far East, operating against the Japanese. She sank six sailing vessels, including the Kim Hup Soen and two Malaysian sailing vessels. She also sank the Japanese guardboat Koei Maru, the Japanese oceanographic research vessel Kaiyo Maru No.2 and the Japanese minelayer Itsukushima. She also damaged the Japanese minelayer Wakataka. On 6 October 1944, she sank the German submarine U-168.
She had a relatively quiet post war career, being renamed Zwaardvis in 1950. She was decommissioned on 11 December 1962, and was sold to be broken up for scrap on 12 July 1963.
_____________________________________________
HMS Terrapin seen underway on completion at Barrow on the 19th of January 1944.
HMS Terrapin
HMS Terrapin was a British submarine of the third group of the T class. She was built as P323 by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow and Bellis and Morcom Ltd, and launched on 31 August 1943. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name Terrapin, after the animal of that name.
Service
Apart from a brief period in home waters off the Scandinavian coast, Terrapin served in the Far East for much of her wartime career. She had a comparatively active career, since she was only commissioned on 22 January 1944. In March 1944 she attacked a German convoy off Egersund, Norway, torpedoing and damaging the German katapult ship Schwabenland, and the German tanker Wörth, (the former Dutch Omala). The Schwabenland was grounded to prevent her from sinking and the Wörth was towed to port.
Terrapin was then assigned to the Pacific Far East in mid 1944. She opened her career by bombarding Japanese installations at Gunung Sitoli (Nias Island), western Sumatra. She also sank a Japanese coaster with gunfire and damaged another. She went on to sink the Japanese auxiliary netlayer Kumano Maru, the Japanese minesweeper W 5, and ten Japanese sailing vessels, damaging another.
Terrapin often operated with her sister, HMS Trenchant, and together they sank the Japanese tanker Yaei Maru No.6, the Japanese auxiliary minesweeper Reisui Maru, the Japanese submarine chaser Ch 8, a fishing vessel and seven coasters. Terrapin herself sank another small craft with gunfire.
She was damaged on 19 May 1945 by depth charges from Japanese escort vessels while attacking an escorted tanker. She escaped and returned to Fremantle, Australia. She was declared a constructive total loss on return to harbour, and was scrapped in June 1946.
Noteable events involving Terrapin include:
24 Mar 1944 HMS Terrapin (Lt.Cdr. D.S.R. Martin, DSO and 2 bars, RN) attacks a German convoy off Egersund, Norway in position 58º09'N, 06º28'E and torpedoes and damages the German kataput ship Schwabenland (8186 GRT) and the German tanker Wörth (6256 GRT, former Dutch Omala). The Schwabenland is grounded to prevent her from sinking and the Wörth is towed to port.
5 Aug 1944 HMS Terrapin (Lt.Cdr. D.S.R. Martin, DSO and 2 bars, RN) bombards Japanese installations at Gunung Sitoli (Nias Island), western Sumatra. She also sinks a Japanese coaster with gunfire and damages another.
30 Oct 1944 HMS Terrapin (Lt. R.H.H. Brunner, RN) sinks three Japanese sailing vessels with gunfire in the Malacca Strait.
2 Nov 1944 HMS Terrapin (Lt. R.H.H. Brunner, RN) sinks the Japanese auxiliary netlayer Kumano Maru (872 GRT) in Strait of Malacca in position 01º30'N, 103º00'E.
4 Nov 1944 HMS Terrapin (Lt. R.H.H. Brunner, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Japanese minesweeper W 5 (620 tons, offsite link) in Malacca Strait in position 03º44'N, 99º50'E.
22 Dec 1944 HMS Trenchant (Lt.Cdr. A.R. Hezlet, DSC, RN) and HMS Terrapin (Lt. R.H.H. Brunner, RN) together sink the Japanese tanker Yaei Maru No.6 (834 GRT) with gunfire off the south side of the Japanese Fleet anchorage at Lingga Roads in position 01º04'S, 104º34'E.
25 Dec 1944 HMS Trenchant (Lt.Cdr. A.R. Hezlet, DSC, RN) and HMS Terrapin (Lt. R.H.H. Brunner, RN) sink the Japanese auxiliary minesweeper Reisui Maru (219 BRT). They also claim a fishing vessel and three coasters.
29 Dec 1944 HMS Terrapin (Lt. R.H.H. Brunner, RN) sinks a Japanese sailing vessel with gunfire in the Malacca Strait.
30 Dec 1944 HMS Terrapin (Lt. R.H.H. Brunner, RN) sinks two Japanese sailing vessels with gunfire in the Malacca Strait.
24 Feb 1945 While operating together HMS Terrapin (Lt. R.H.H. Brunner, RN) and HMS Trenchant (Cdr. A.R. Hezlet, DSO, DSC, RN) sink 4 coasters (totaling an estimated 800 tgr) with gunfire in the Strait of Malacca.
Terrapin herself sank another small craft with gunfire.
1 Mar 1945 HMS Terrapin (Lt. R.H.H. Brunner, RN) sinks two Japanese sailing vessels with gunfire in the Strait of Malacca.
2 Mar 1945 HMS Terrapin (Lt. R.H.H. Brunner, RN) sinks a Japanese sailing vessel with gunfire in the Strait of Malacca in position 03º28'N, 101º00'E.
4 Mar 1945 While operating together HMS Terrapin (Lt. R.H.H. Brunner) and HMS Trenchant (Cdr. A.R. Hezlet, DSO, DSC, RN) sink the Japanese submarine chaser Ch 8 with gunfire in the Strait of Malacca about 85 nautical miles south of Penang in position 04º04'N, 100º35'E.
17 May 1945 HMS Terrapin (Lt. R.H.H. Brunner, DSC, RN) sinks a Japanese sailing vessel and damages another with gunfire in the western part of the Java Sea.
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HMS Thorough seen underway in November 1946.
HMS Thorough
HMS Thorough was a British submarine of the third group of the T class. She was built as P324 by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow, and launched on 30 October 1943. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name Thorough.
Service
Thorough served in the Far East for much of her wartime career, where she sank twenty seven Japanese sailing vessels, seven coasters, a small Japanese vessel, a Japanese barge, a small Japanese gunboat, a Japanese trawler, and the Malaysian sailing vessel Palange. In August 1945, in company with HMS Taciturn, she attacked Japanese shipping and shore targets off northern Bali. Thorough sank a Japanese coaster and a sailing vessel with gunfire.
She survived the war and continued in service with the Navy, finally being scrapped at Dunston on Tyne on 29 June 1962.
HMS Thorough was also the first submarine to circumnavigate the globe
Noteable events involving HMS Thorough include:
27 Sep 1944 HMS Thorough (Lt.Cdr. J.G. Hopkins, RN) sinks a small Japanese vessel north of Sumatra.
13 Nov 1944 HMS Thorough (Lt.Cdr. J.G. Hopkins, RN) sinks a Japanese sailing vessel with gunfire in the Strait of Malacca.
14 Nov 1944 HMS Thorough (Lt.Cdr. J.G. Hopkins, RN) sinks two Japanese vessels and damages another with gunfire in the Strait of Malacca.
19 Nov 1944 HMS Thorough (Lt.Cdr. J.G. Hopkins, RN) lays mines in the Strait of Malacca.
22 Nov 1944 HMS Thorough (Lt.Cdr. J.G. Hopkins, RN) sinks a Japanese sailing vessel with gunfire in the Strait of Malacca
23 Dec 1944 HMS Thorough (Lt.Cdr. J.G. Hopkins, RN) lays mines in the Strait of Malacca.
29 Dec 1944 HMS Thorough (Lt.Cdr. J.G. Hopkins, RN) sinks two Japanese sailing vessels of the west coast of Siam.
1 Jan 1945 HMS Thorough (Lt.Cdr. J.G. Hopkins, RN) sinks a Japanese sailing vessel with gunfire of the west coast of Siam.
13 Feb 1945 HMS Thorough (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) sinks a Japanese sailing vessel with gunfire of the west coast of Siam.
14 Feb 1945 HMS Thorough (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) sinks a Japanese sailing vessel and a Japanese coaster with gunfire of the west coast of Siam.
15 Feb 1945 HMS Thorough (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) sinks a Japanese sailing vessel with gunfire of the west coast of Siam.
16 Feb 1945 HMS Thorough (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) sinks three Japanese sailing vessels with gunfire of the west coast of Siam.
18 Feb 1945 HMS Thorough (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) sinks five Japanese sailing vessels with gunfire of the west coast of Siam.
23 Feb 1945 HMS Thorough (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) sinks two Japanese sailing vessels, a coaster and a barge with gunfire of the west coast of Siam.
24 Feb 1945 HMS Thorough (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) sinks three Japanese sailing vessels with gunfire of the west coast of Siam.
28 Feb 1945 HMS Thorough (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) sinks two Japanese sailing vessels with gunfire of the west coast of Siam.
2 Apr 1945 HMS Thorough (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) sinks a small Japanese gunboat with gunfire off the Nicobar Islands.
10 Apr 1945 HMS Thorough (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) sinks a Japanese coaster with gunfire of the west coast of Sumatra, Netherlands East Indies.
3 Jun 1945 HMS Thorough (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) sinks two Japanese coasters with gunfire off Tenggol Island.
At 1615 hours (time zone -9) Thorough sighted two Japanese coasters about 5 nautical miles south of Pulo Peloh. One coaster was rather modern about 600 tons, the other one was an older type of about 300 tons.
At 1627 hours Thorough surfaced in position 2 nautical miles bearing 155 Tenjong Palor. The two targets were about 8000 yards away. At 5000 yards fire was opened with the 4" gun and both Japanese ships turned towards the beach. Fire was returned by the larger coaster with a 6-pounder gun. The enemy fired 12 rounds, all of which fell short, before hitting the beach. After hitting the beach the crew abandoned ship and fled into the jungle. The second ships crew did likewise.
The first vessel was destroyed in position 04º37'5N, 103º25'8E. In all 105 round were spent in destroying the first coaster.
The second vessel was beached and destroyed half a mile south of the first vessel. 30 rounds were used in the destruction of this vessel.
5 Jun 1945 HMS Thorough (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) sinks a Japanese sea-truck with gunfire off Tenggol Island.
At 1230 hours (time zone -9) a loaded north-bound Japanese sea-truck was spotted coast crawling. 10 minutes later fire was opened with the deck gun from 4000 yards. The crew quickly abandoned ship and started swimming towards Gadong Island. At 1300 hours the sea-truck sank bow first in position 04º43'N, 103º27'5E. In all 40 rounds were fired.
At 1310 hours Thorough retreated seawards to investigate a large junk spotted earlier sailing south-wards. At 1445 hours Thorough came alongside the junk. 7 Chinese crewman that had abandoned ship were persuaded to return, which they did. After inspection of the cargo the junk was allowed to proceed.
17 Jun 1945 HMS Thorough (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) sinks a Japanese trawler and a small schooner with gunfire off Surabaya, Java, Netherlands East Indies.
At 1644 hours (time zone -9) Thorough sighted the masts of an armed patrol trawler. At roughly the same time HMS Taciturn also reported a contact and that she intended to attack it. Lt. Chandler observed the trawlers movements for nearly 50 minutes when at 1733 hours HMS Taciturn transmitted her surfacing signal.
One minute later Thorough surfaced for a gun action against the armed trawler. The trawler was only 800 yards away steaming towards Thorough at full speed while being pursued by and under fire from HMS Taciturn that was about 4000 yards away. When Thorough surfaced and opened fire on the trawler, Taciturn hold her fire as her fall of shot was rather close to Thorough. Thorough fired 18 shells (with 17 !!! hits), that reduced the trawler to a wreck. At 1745 hours both submarines dived and left the trawler sinking in position 06º39'S, 112º45'5E.
At 1800 hours Thorough closed and circled the wreckage in an attempt to pick up a Japanese survivor as prisoner of war but Lt. Chandler was unable to surface as a Jake patrol plane was overhead. By 1840 hours five Jake's were seen patrolling overhead so Lt. Chandler was forced to go to 80ft.
At 1900 hours Thorough returned to periscope depth and found out that another trawler had arrived at the scene and was picking up survivors covered by the five aircraft. At 1910 hours Thorough closed for an attack on this 2nd trawler but was forced down by the aircraft of which there were now six in the vicinity. At 1920 hours Lt. Chandler was manouvering Thorough into position for a torpedo attack on the 2nd trawler when the trawler hastily left the area.
At 1930 hours Thorough retired to seaward. At 2037 hours Thorough surfaced in position 06º47'S, 112º48'E and proceeded with Taciturn to a position suitable to transfer 50 rounds of 4" ammunition to Taciturn. At 2135 hours, in position 06º25'S, 112º47'E a fishing sampam was sighted and it was intended to utilize this in the transfer of the ammunition when at 2150 hours two darkened vessels were sighted at 6000 yards.
At 2200 hours Thorough and Taciturn worked to get ahead of the two vessels, that were now identified as two southbound topsail schooners, it was decided that each submarine would investigate one of the schooners.
At 2230 hours Thorough opened fire with the 4" gun at the rigging of her schooner. After 5 rounds from 1000 yards the schooner hove to and lowered her sails. 5 minutes later Thorough closed to investigate. At 2247 hours Thorough was alongside the schooner and a boarding party commenced a search. The schooner of 113 tons had 18 crew on board all from Makassar. The schooner was carrying a load of coal for the Japanese so the papers were confiscated, the crew removed and it was decided to scuttle the schooner with a demolition charge.
At 2310 hours the schooner blew up in position 06º25'S, 112º48'E. Tactician in the meantime also demolished 'her' schooner and 5 minutes later the two submarines closed to transfer the ammunition by rubber dinghy. Transfer was completed at 0045 hours the following day. Thorough now left the patrol area to return to Australia through Lombok Strait.
At 0715 hours on the 18th, while in position 06º40'S, 113º45'E, Thorough transferred to crew of the sunken schooner to a fishing sampan with the exception of the master and one other that went with the submarine to Australia for interrogation. (see map)
1 Aug 1945 HMS Thorough (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) and HMS Taciturn (Lt.Cdr. E.T. Stanley, DSO, DSC, RN) attack Japanese shipping and shore targets off northern Bali. Thorough sinks a Japanese coaster and a sailing vessel with gunfire.
2 Aug 1945 HMS Thorough sinks a Japanese sailing vessel with gunfire off Bali.
4 Aug 1945 HMS Thorough (Lt. A.G. Chandler, DSC, RNR) sinks a Japanese coaster with gunfire off Bali.
12 Aug 1945 HMS Thorough (Lt. A.G. Chandler, DSC, RNR) sinks the Malaysian sailing vessel Palange (120 GRT) with gunfire off Bali.
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HMS Thule seen underway at Greenock on the 8th June 1944.
HMS Thule
HMS Thule was a British submarine of the third group of the T class. She was built as P325 at Devonport Dockyard, and launched on 22 October 1942. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name Thule, after Thule, the mythological name for a Northern island.
Service
Thule served in the Far East for much of her wartime career, where she sank thirteen junks, two lighters and five sampans with gunfire in the Strait of Malacca in a twelve day period between 17 December 1944 to 29 December 1944. She also attacked a submarine, probably the Japanese RO-113 and believed she had sunk it, but Thule's torpedoes exploded prematurely and the submarine escaped unharmed. She went on to sink a further five sailing vessels and three coasters, as well as laying a number of mines.
She survived the war and continued in service with the Navy, finally being scrapped at Inverkeithing on 14 September 1962. Her first commander, Alastair Mars, wrote HMS Thule Intercepts, about her operations from commissioning in Scotland to the end of the war in Australia.
Noteable events involving HMS Thule include:
16 Dec 1944 HMS Thule (A/Lt.Cdr. A.C.G. Mars, DSO, DSC, RN) lays 12 mines off Terutan Island.
17 Dec 1944 From 17 December 1944 to 29 December 1944 HMS Thule (A/Lt.Cdr. A.C.G. Mars, DSO, DSC, RN) sinks 13 junks, 2 lighters and 5 sampams with gunfire in the Strait of Malacca.
28 Dec 1944 HMS Thule (A/Lt.Cdr. A.C.G. Mars, DSO, DSC, RN) attacks a submarine off Penang. Lt.Cdr. Mars claims a kill but the torpedoes have exploded prematurely so the submarine escapes unharmed. The submarine attacked was most likely the Japanese RO-113.
28 Mar 1945 HMS Thule (A/Lt.Cdr. A.C.G. Mars, DSO, DSC, RN) sinks two Japanese sailing vessels with gunfire off the west coast of Siam.
1 Apr 1945 HMS Thule (A/Lt.Cdr. A.C.G. Mars, DSO, DSC, RN) sinks a Japanese sailing vessel with gunfire of the west coast of Siam.
3 Apr 1945 HMS Thule (A/Lt.Cdr. A.C.G. Mars, DSO, DSC, RN) sinks two Japanese sailing vessels with gunfire of the west coast of Siam
17 Jul 1945 HMS Thule (Lt.Cdr. A.C.G. Mars, DSO, DSC, RN) sinks a Japanese coaster with gunfire of the north coast of Java, Netherlands East Indies.
19 Jul 1945 HMS Thule (Lt.Cdr. A.C.G. Mars, DSO, DSC, RN) sinks a Japanese coaster with gunfire of the north coast of Java, Netherlands East Indies.
20 Jul 1945 HMS Thule (Lt.Cdr. A.C.G. Mars, DSO, DSC, RN) sinks a Japanese coaster with gunfire of the north coast of Java, Netherlands East Indies.
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HMS Tudor, T class submarine, underway leaving Holy Loch on the 22nd of January 1943.
HMS Tudor
HMS Tudor was a British submarine of the third group of the T class. She was built as P326 at Devonport Dockyard, and launched on 23 September 1942. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name Tudor, after the Tudor period or Tudor dynasty.
Service
Tudor served in the Far East for much of her wartime career, where she sank five Japanese sailing vessels, four Japanese coasters, and another Japanese vessel, as well as an unidentified sailing vessel north of Sumatra.
She survived the war and continued in service with the Navy, finally being sold to be broken up for scrap on 1 July 1963 and scrapped at Faslane.
Noteable events involving Tudor include:
22 Aug 1944 HMS Tudor (Lt. S.A. Porter, DSC, RN) sinks a sailing vessel with gunfire north of Sumatra.
24 Sep 1944 HMS Tudor (Lt. S.A. Porter, DSC, RN) lays mines off the west coast of Siam.
16 Nov 1944 HMS Tudor (Lt. S.A. Porter, DSC, RN) sinks a Japanese vessel with gunfire of the west coast of Sumatra.
22 Dec 1944 HMS Tudor (Lt. S.A. Porter, DSC, RN) sinks a Japanese sailing vessel with gunfire of the west coast of Burma.
24 Dec 1944 HMS Tudor (Lt. S.A. Porter, DSC, RN) sinks two Japanese sailing vessels with gunfire of the west coast of Burma.
25 Dec 1944 HMS Tudor (Lt. S.A. Porter, DSC, RN) sinks two Japanese sailing vessels with gunfire of the west coast of Burma.
27 Dec 1944 HMS Tudor (Lt. S.A. Porter, DSC, RN) sinks a Japanese sailing vessel with gunfire of the west coast of Burma.
29 Dec 1944 HMS Tudor (Lt. S.A. Porter, DSC, RN) sinks a Japanese sailing vessel with gunfire of the west coast of Burma.
23 Jul 1945 HMS Tudor (Lt. S.A. Porter, DSC, RN) sinks a Japanese coaster with gunfire in the Java Sea.
28 Jul 1945 HMS Tudor (Lt. S.A. Porter, DSC, RN) sinks two Japanese coasters with gunfire in the Java Sea.
29 Jul 1945 HMS Tudor (Lt. S.A. Porter, DSC, RN) sinks a Japanese coaster with gunfire in the Java Sea.
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HMS TIRELESS, underway in the Solent on the 29th of April 1945
HMS Tireless
HMS Tireless (P 327), a Taciturn- or T-class submarine, was the first ship of the Royal Navy to bear that name. She was authorized under the 1941 War Emergency Program and her keel was laid down on 30 October 1941 at Portsmouth Dockyard. She was launched on 19 March 1943 and was completed on 18 April 1945.
Commissioned towards the end of the Second World War, she had a relatively quiet career and survived it. She remained in service until August 1963 when she was put on the sale list. She was broken up during 1968.
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HMS TOKEN underway in October 1943
HMS Token
HMS Token was a British submarine of the third group of the T class. She was built as P328 at Portsmouth Dockyard, and launched on 19 March 1943. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name Token.
Commissioned into service after the end of the Second World War, she had a relatively peaceful career with the Navy, finally being scrapped at Cairn Ryan in March 1970.
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HMS TRADEWIND moored at a buoy in the Medway in October 1943
HMS Tradewind
HMS Tradewind was a British submarine of the third group of the T class. She was built as P329 at Chatham, and launched on 11 December 1942. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to be named Tradewind, after the Trade winds.
Service
She spent most of her wartime career operating against the Japanese in the Far East, attacking enemy shipping and laying mines. She sank nine Japanese sailing vessels, and two small unidentified Japanese vessels, a Japanese tug and the Japanese merchant tanker Takasago Maru. The Japanese merchant cargo vessel Kyokko Maru was sunk after hitting a mine laid by Tradewind.
Her most infamous sinking was of the Japanese army cargo ship Junyō Maru which was headed for Sumatra, on 18 September 1944. Unbeknown to the Commanding Officer of the submarine, the Japanese ship was carrying 4,200 Javanese slave labourers and 2,300 Allied prisoners of war from Batavia to Padang. 5,620 lives were lost in the sinking.
She survived the war and was modified in July 1945-September 1946 to become an acoustic trials submarine and used for tests. The modifications included the removal of external torpedo tubes and guns, the bridge was faired, the hull streamlined and some internal torpedo tubes blanked over. Measurements made using Tradewind were used to overhaul several of the T class boats to increase their ability to act stealthily against Soviet submarines and surface ships.
Tradewind was eventually scrapped at Charlestown on 14 December 1955
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HMS TRENCHANT secured to a buoy in the Medway on the 5th of February 1944
HMS Trenchant
HMS Trenchant (P331) was a British T class submarine of the Second World War.
On completion she was given over to the crew of HMS Thrasher whose submarine was due for a refit.
Service
Trenchant under her captain Commander Arthur Hezlet, DSO, DSC acted in the Far East mostly off South East Asia against Japanese shipping sinking a range of vessels both transports and warships, using her torpedoes, gun and also by ramming. She often operated in company with her sister, HMS Terrapin.
On 23 September 1944 she sank the German submarine U-859 in the Straits of Malacca, by torpedoes. 11 of the crew were taken aboard as prisoners of war.
On 27 October 1944, "Chariots" carried into action by Trenchant sank a Japanese Army cargo ship, the Sumatra Maru in Phuket harbour, Siam.
Her most significant action during the war was on 8 June 1945, when she sank the Japanese cruiser Ashigara at a range of 4,000 yards with five out of eight torpedoes fired. The action in the Bangka Straits earned her commander a second DSM and the US Legion of Merit, and the ship the battle honour "Malaya 1944-45". The Ashigara had been carrying some 1,600 Japanese Army troops and materiel.
Laid down: 9 May 1942
Launched: 24 March 1943
Commissioned: 26 February 1944
Fate: Sold to be broken up for scrap on 1 July 1963. Scrapped at Faslane
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HMS TIPTOE underway on the 3rd of June 1944
HMS Tiptoe
HMS Tiptoe (pennant number P332) was a British submarine of the third group of the T class. She was built by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow, and John Brown & Company, Clydebank, and launched on 25 February 1944.
She had the honour of being named by Winston Churchill, and so far has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to be named Tiptoe.
Service
World War II
Tiptoe served in the Far East for much of her wartime career. She sank two Japanese coasters, the Japanese merchant cargo ship Tobi Maru and the Japanese salvage vessel Tencho Maru, which had unsuccessfully been attacked by HMS Trump the previous day. She also damaged a Japanese coaster with gunfire. Together with Trump, Tiptoe also sank an unidentified Japanese oiler.
Post war
Tiptoe survived the war and continued in service with the Navy. Tiptoe was one of several all-welded T-Class submarines rebuilt for greater underwater performance. This "Slippery T" or "Super T" conversion involved the removal of the deck gun and the replacement of the conning tower with a streamlined "sail." Extra batteries were installed below the control room and additional electric motors were accommodated in a new 17 ft 6 in (5.3 m) hull section inserted aft of the control room.
She took part in escape trials in 1962, which were a series of trials conducted off Malta into escape from a submarine at extreme depths. Seven men attempted to escape from Tiptoe at a depth of 260 feet (79 m).
On 10 January 1964, Tiptoe ran aground in the Clyde, coincidentally and rather embarrassingly, directly in front of the house of the area's senior naval officer.
Tiptoe was also damaged in a collision with HMS Yarmouth on 13 July 1965. Tiptoe was at periscope depth 10 miles (16 km) SE of Portland Bill. She was repaired at the yards of Cammell Laird.
By the time she was decommissioned in 1969, Tiptoe was the last active T-class submarine in the Royal Navy. She was sold in 1971 and scrapped at Portsmouth in 1979. Portions of the hull survived as late as 1989. Her anchor was saved, and is at Blyth, commemorating Blyth's links with submarines.
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HMS TRUMP underway on the 5th of July 1944
HMS Trump
HMS Trump (pennant number P333) was a British submarine of the third group of the T class. She was built by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow, and launched on 25 March 1944. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name Trump.
Service
World War II
Trump commissioned in July 1944. After an initial patrol in the North Sea in mid-October she was sent to Perth in Western Australia. On arrival, she joined the 4th Submarine Flotilla, supported by the depot ship HMS Adamant. From Perth, Trump carried out four patrols before the end of the war.
During her Far East service, Trump sank the Japanese guardboat Shosei Maru No.15, a Japanese sailing vessel and two coasters. Together with her sister HMS Tiptoe, she sank an unidentified Japanese oiler.
Also with Tiptoe, Trump carried out the final torpedo attack of the war. The two submarines attacked an escorted convoy, northbound from Singapore, in water so shallow that both submarines were forced to bump along the bottom to avoid detection and Trump had to "clock" her bows up to give her torpedoes a chance of running.
Post war
Trump survived the war and continued in service with the Royal Navy. Trump was one of several all-welded T-Class submarines rebuilt for greater underwater performance. This "Slippery T" or "Super T" conversion involved the removal of the deck gun and the replacement of the conning tower with a streamlined "sail." Extra batteries were installed below the control room and additional electric motors were accommodated in a new 17 ft 6 in (5.3 m) hull section inserted aft of the control room.
In 1960, Trump, along with Taciturn and Tabard, rejoined the 4th Submarine Flotilla at Sydney, Australia. There, they operated with units of the Far East Fleet, the Royal Australian Navy, and the Royal New Zealand Navy. Trump underwent refits at Cockatoo Dockyard in 1962 and 1965. She returned to the United Kingdom in January 1969 and was paid off. Trump was scrapped at Newport from 1 August 1971.
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HMS Taciturn secured to a buoy in Plymouth Sound. Fitted with a schnorkel but no 20mm anti aircraft gun. Photographed on the 1st on November 1946.
HMS Taciturn
HMS Taciturn was a British submarine of the third group of the T class. She was built as P314 by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow and Bellis and Morcom Ltd., and launched on 7 June 1944. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name Taciturn. This due to the silence it possessed as it trekked under the surface of the water.
Service
Taciturn served in the Far East for much of her wartime career, where she sank a Japanese air warning picket hulk (this was the hulk of the salvaged former Dutch submarine K XVIII), the Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha 105, and a Japanese sailing vessel. On 1 August 1945, Taciturn, in company with HMS Thorough, attacked Japanese shipping and shore targets off northern Bali. Taciturn sank two Japanese sailing vessels with gunfire.
She survived the war and continued in service with the Navy, becoming the first ship of the class to undergo the 'Super T' conversion. She was finally scrapped at Briton Ferry, Wales on 8 August 1971.
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HMS Tapir
HMS Tapir (P335) was a Second World War British T class submarine, built by Vickers-Armstrong in Barrow-in-Furness. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name Tapir, after the animal.
Career
As HMS Tapir
The submarine was laid down on the 29th of March 1943, and launched on 21 August 1944. Commissioned into the Royal Navy on the 30th of December of that year, she led a distinguished career for such a late entry into the war, torpedoing the German submarine U-486 in the North Sea, to the north-west of Bergen, Norway at position 60°44′N 04°39′E / 60.733°N 4.65°E / 60.733; 4.65 on 1 April 1945, under the command of Lt J.C.Y. Roxbourgh, DSO, DSC, RN.
As HNLMS Zeehond
On 18 June 1948, she was deemed surplus to requirements, and was loaned to the Netherlands for a period of five years, being commissioned into the Royal Netherlands Navy as HNLMS Zeehond (P335) on 12 July 1948. She served under the command of Ltz I Baron J.H. Mackay from 12 July 1948, until 30 April 1949, when, together with O24 and Hr.Ms. Van Kinsbergen, she visited Curaçao. Gravity measurements were taken during the trip (the first Dutch ones following the war) and the Zeehond conducted a long snorkel trip on the way back. She was placed back under the command of Ltz Mackay until 28 November 1949, and had a rather quiet career under several commanders, until she was transferred back to the Royal Navy on 15 July 1953, finally being re-commissioned and re-named Tapir on 16 December of that year.
HMS Tapir was scrapped at Faslane in December 1966.
Exercises
June to July 1949: Zeehond participates in Exercise Victory.
November 1949: Zeehond and Dolfijn participate in a Royal Navy exercise.
13 September - 26 September 1952: Zeehond participates in the NATO exercise Mainbrace.
Commanders
29 March 1943 - 18 June 1948: (as HMS Tapir) Lt. J.C.Y. Roxbourgh, DSO, DSC, RN
12 July 1948 - 30 April 1949: (as Zeehond) Ltz. I Baron J.H. Mackay.
4 June - 28 November 1949: Ltz. I Baron J.H. Mackay.
28 November 1949 - 15 October 1950: Ltz. I C.E. Wolderling.
5 February - 27 February 1951: Ltz. I C.E. Wolderling.
27 February - 24 April 1951: Ltz. I R. van Wely.
24 April 1951 - 12 January 1953: Ltz. I C.E. Wolderling.
12 January - 1 June 1953: Ltz. I S. van Ravesteijn.
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HMS Tarn
HNLMS Tijgerhaai (P336)
Career
Name: HMS Tarn
Builder: Vickers Armstrong, Barrow
Laid down: 12 June 1943
Launched: 29 November 1944
Fate: Transferred to the Royal Netherlands Navy
Career
Name: HNLMS Tijgerhaai
Commissioned: 28 March 1945
Decommissioned: 11 November 1964
Fate: sold for scrapping 5 November 1965
General characteristics
Displacement: 1,290 tons surfaced
1,560 tons submerged
Length: 276 ft 6 in (84.3 m)
Beam: 25 ft 6 in (7.8 m)
Draught: 12 ft 9 in (3.9 m) forward
14 ft 7 in (4.4 m) aft
Propulsion: Two shafts
Twin diesel engines 2,500 hp (1.86 MW) each
Twin electric motors 1,450 hp (1.08 MW) each
Speed: 15.5 knots (28.7 km/h) surfaced
9 knots (20 km/h) submerged
Range: 4,500 nautical miles at 11 knots (8,330 km at 20 km/h) surfaced
Test depth: 300 ft (91 m) max
Complement: 61
Armament: 6 internal forward facing torpedo tubes
2 external forward facing torpedo tubes
2 external amidships rear facing torpedo tubes
1 external rear facing torpedo tubes
6 reload torpedoes
4 inch (100 mm) deck gun
3 anti aircraft machine guns
HNLMS Tijgerhaai (P336) was a Zwaardvisch-class submarine of the Royal Netherlands Navy during and after World War II. She was originally ordered as HMS Tarn (P326), a British T-class submarine, built by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow, but never saw service under that name. She would have been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name Tarn.
Career
The submarine was laid down on the 12th of June 1943, and launched on 29 November 1944. She was not commissioned into the Royal Navy , instead being transferred to the Royal Netherlands Navy and commissioned into service on 28 March 1945. She was renamed Tijgerhaai.
Tijgerhaai was commissioned as the war was drawing to a close and spent much of 1945 undergoing trials. She had a relatively quiet career, of note being the fact that she was tied up inboard of HMS Sidon when Sidon suffered a torpedo malfunction and sank. On 19 October 1955, she ran aground in Weymouth Bay, and had to be pulled off by tugs. She was decommissioned on 11 December 1964 and was sold to be broken up for scrap on 5 November 1965.
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HMS Talent seen underway in January 1947
HMS Talent
HMS Talent was a British submarine of the third group of the T class. She was built as P337 by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow, and launched on 29 July 1942. She was originally to have been named HMS Tasman, but was this was changed to Talent after the previous HMS Talent was transferred to the Royal Netherlands Navy.
Service
Talent saw little action, but still had an eventful career. On 15 December 1954 she was swept out of drydock at Chatham Dockyard when the dock gate lifted. Thick fog, night-fall and high tides hampered the search and rescue operations. She was not found until next day when it became clear that the accident had claimed four lives. She was reconstructed in 1955. She was then damaged in a collision while dived off the Isle of Wight on 8 May 1956. Talent was later used for a month-long publicity trip around the south and east coasts of England in October 1960, when she was visited by over 33,000 people.
She was refitted at Malta between late 1960 and early 1961, and was thereafter active in the Mediterranean. She returned to the UK in May 1962 and was decommissioned in 1966. She was finally scrapped at Troon, Scotland on 1 February 1970.
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HMS TEREDO underway, 1st of May 1946.
HMS Teredo
HMS Teredo was a British submarine of the third group of the T class. She was built as P338 at Vickers Armstrong, Barrow, and John Brown & Company, Clydebank, and launched on 27 April 1945. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name Teredo, possibly after the Shipworm of that name.
Commissioned after the end of the Second World War, Teredo had a relatively peaceful career, finally being scrapped at Briton Ferry, Wales on 5 June 1965.
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Fourteen submarines were ordered under the 1942 Programme, but only five were completed.
HMS Tabard underway in 1946.
HMS Tabard
HMS Tabard was a British submarine of the third group of the T class. She was built as P342 by Scotts, Greenock, and launched on 21 November 1945. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name Tabard, possibly after the item of clothing.
Tabard was commissioned after the end of the Second World War, and consequently had a relatively peaceful career. On 8 May 1963, Tabard was involved in a minor collision with Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Queenborough, following a week of anti-submarine training exercises. Tabard was at periscope depth when Queenborough passed above her, damaging the submarine's fin and the frigate's keel and port propellor. Both vessels were able to safely return to Sydney, where they docked at naval base HMAS Kuttabul for repairs.
Tabard was permanently moored as a static training submarine at the HMS Dolphin shore-establishment from 1969 until 1974, when she was replaced by HMS Alliance.
Tabard was the last T class boat in service with Royal Navy, albeit non-operationally, finally being sold to be broken up for scrap on 2 January 1974 and scrapped on 14 March 1974.
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HMS TOTEM underway in Plymouth Sound, 16th of December 1944.
HMS Totem
HMS Totem (pennant number P352) was a group three T class submarine of the Royal Navy which entered service in the last few months of World War II. To-date, she is the only ship of the Royal Navy to have been named Totem.
The Totem was sold to Israel in 1965 and commissioned into the Israeli Sea Corps in 1967 as INS Dakar. She sank whilst on passage from the United Kingdom to Israel in January 1968.
As HMS Totem
The submarine was presented with a totem pole by the Cowichan Tribes in 1945, which was stolen during the 1950s when the boat was visiting Halifax, Canada. The pole was fitted to the front of the bridge fin when the submarine was in harbour.
At the end of the war, all surviving Group 1 and Group 2 boats were scrapped, but the group 3 boats (which were of welded rather than riveted construction) were retained and fitted with snorkel masts.
In January 1948 it was formally acknowledged that the main operational function of the British submarine fleet would now be to intercept Soviet submarines slipping out of their bases in Northern Russia to attack British and Allied merchant vessels. The following April, the Assistant Chief of Naval Staff, Rear-Admiral Geoffrey Oliver circulated a paper in which he proposed that British submarines take a more offensive role by attacking Soviet submarines off the Northern Russian coast and mining the waters in the area. With the dramatically reduced surface fleet following the end of the Second World War, he commented that this was one of the few methods the Royal Navy had for "getting to the enemy on his home ground".
To accomplish this new role, Totem was one of eight boats which were extensively modified to become "Super T-Conversions", giving them higher speed and quieter operation underwater. Five further T-class submarines were given much less extensive streamling improvements.
The work on Totem was done between 1951 and May 1953 at Chatham Dockyard (which carried out all 8 Super T-Conversions), and involved inserting an additional 14 feet (4.3 m) long hull section to accommodate extra switchgear and an extra pair of electric motors and the batteries replaced. The hull was streamlined, which included the removal of the deck gun and the replacement of the bridge fin with a taller one enclosing the periscopes and masts. The radar and sonar were updated at the same time. After the submarine had returned to service, its top speed exceeded 18 knots (33 km/h), aided by the unofficial removal in the dockyard at Malta of the housing for the airguard radar aerial which added 3/4 knot to her top speed.
Her captain at the time, Commander John Coote, reported that the modifications made evading her hunters during exercises easy, since the submarine could cover a mile in four minutes at 18 knots (33 km/h), and following another ten minutes running silently at 12 knots (22 km/h) could be 3 miles (4.8 km) away from the escort.
INS Dakar
The submarine was purchased by Israel in 1965, along with two of her T-class sisters - HMS Truncheon and Turpin. She was commissioned into the Israeli Sea Corps on 10 November 1967 as Dakar under the command of Lieutenant Commander Ya'acov Ra'anan.
On 9 January 1968, Dakar departed from Portsmouth for Haifa. On the morning of 15 January Dakar put into Gibraltar, departing at midnight, and proceeded across the Mediterranean Sea underwater using her snort mast. Her last position report was at 0610 on 24 January, when she gave a location just east of Crete. There were three further routine messages which did not provide a position, the last being at 0002 on 25 January.
Despite an extensive search, no trace was found of the vessel. Her stern emergency marker buoy washed ashore on the coast of Khan Yunis, an Arab town southwest of Gaza almost a year later, on 9 February 1969.
The wreck was finally discovered on 24 May 1999 at a depth of 3,000 meters (9,800 ft). The precise cause of the accident is not known but as no emergency measures appear to have been carried out it is thought that the submarine dived suddenly and rapidly past her maximum depth and suffered a catastrophic hull rupture. The emergency buoy was released by the violence of the hull collapse, and washed ashore after drifting for a year.
On 11 October 2000, Dakar’s bridge and forward edge of her sail were raised, and are now a memorial display in the Naval Museum in Haifa.
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HMS TRUNCHEON secured to a buoy in Plymouth Sound on the 26th of May 1945
HMS Truncheon
HMS Truncheon (pennant number P353) was a group three T Class submarine of the Royal Navy which entered service in the last few months of World War II. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to be named Truncheon. She was sold to Israel in 1967 and commissioned into the Israeli Sea Corps in 1968 as INS Dolphin.
Career
As HMS Truncheon
At the end of the war, all surviving Group 1 and Group 2 boats were scrapped, but the group 3 boats (which were of welded rather than riveted construction) were retained and fitted with snort masts.
Truncheon was sold to the Israeli Navy in 1967, and renamed Dolphin.
As INS Dolphin
The submarine was purchased by Israel, along with two of her T-class sisters, in 1965, HMS Turpin and HMS Totem. She was commissioned into the Israeli Sea Corps in 1967.
She was eventually scrapped in 1977. By the time of her decommissioning, she was the only T class submarine in service in the world.
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HMS TURPIN moored at a buoy on the 29th of November 1944
HMS Turpin
HMS Turpin (pennant number P354) was a group three T Class submarine of the Royal Navy which entered service in the last few months of World War II. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to be named Turpin. She was sold to Israel in 1965 and commissioned into the Israeli Sea Corps in 1967 as INS Leviathan.
Career
As HMS Turpin
At the end of the war, all surviving Group 1 and Group 2 boats were scrapped, but the group 3 boats (which were of welded rather than riveted construction) were retained and fitted with snort masts.
Turpin was sold to the Israeli Navy in 1965, and renamed Leviathan, the Hebrew for whale.
As INS Leviathan
The submarine was purchased by Israel, along with two of her T-class sisters, in 1965, HMS Truncheon and HMS Totem. She was commissioned into the Israeli Sea Corps in 1967.
She was eventually scrapped in 1978.
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HMS THERMOPYLAE moored up on the 3rd of January 1946
HMS Thermopylae
HMS Thermopylae (P355) was a T-class submarine of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy laid down on 26 October 1943 at Chatham Dockyard, and launched on 27 June 1945. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name Thermopylae, after the Battle of Thermopylae.
Commissioned after the end of the Second World War, she had a relatively quiet career. She immediately joined the 3rd Flotilla based in the Holy Loch.
She remained in service until December 1968 when she was put on the sale list. She was broken up at Troon during 1971.
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The other nine were ordered but cancelled on October 29, 1945 following the end of hostilities:
HMS Thor
HMS Thor (P349) was a Royal Navy Group Three T-class submarine laid down at Portsmouth Dockyard on 5 April 1943 and launched on 18 April 1944.
However the war ended before she was completed and she was sold for scrapping to Rees Shipbreaking Co Ltd of Llanelli, Wales in July 1946. Her sister vessel Tiara was launched on the same day at Portsmouth dockyard and not completed either. She would have been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name Thor, after the mythological norse god of thunder.
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HMS Tiara
HMS Tiara (P351) was a Royal Navy Group Three T-class submarine laid down at Portsmouth Dockyard on 8 April 1943 and launched on 18 April 1944. However the war ended before she was completed and she arrived at Dover Industries for scrapping in June 1947 . Her sister vessel Thor was launched on the same day at Portsmouth dockyard and not completed either. She would have been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name Tiara.
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HMS Theban
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HMS Talent
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HMS Threat
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also four unnamed submarines (P345, P346, P347 and P348).
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Transfers to Royal Netherlands Navy
Tijgerhaai (ex-Tarn)
Zwaardvisch (ex-Talent)
Zeehond (ex-Tapir)
Dolfijn (ex-Taurus)
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T Class Submarine
Class overview
Name: T
Preceded by: Grampus class
Succeeded by: U class
Completed: 53
General characteristics
Type: Submarine
Displacement: 1,290 tons surfaced
1,560 tons submerged
Length: 276 ft 6 in (84.3 m)
Beam: 25 ft 6 in (7.8 m)
Draught: 12 ft 9 in (3.9 m) forward
14 ft 7 in (4.4 m) aft
Propulsion: Two shafts
Twin diesel engines 2,500 hp (1.86 MW) each
Twin electric motors 1,450 hp (1.08 MW) each
Speed: 15.5 knots (28.7 km/h) surfaced
9 knots (20 km/h) submerged
Range: 8000 nautical miles at 10 knots (12900 km at 18.3 km/h) surfaced with 131 tons of fuel.
Complement: 48
Armament:
6 internal forward facing torpedo tubes
4 external forward facing torpedo tubes
6 reload torpedoes
QF 4 inch (100 mm) deck gun
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