R-Class Patrol submarine ordered on 28th February 1929 from Vickers-Armstrong at Barrow with HM Submarines REGULUS and ROVER. This submarine was laid down on 19th June 1929 and launched with HMS REGULUS and ROVER on  11th June 1930. She was the 3rd RN warship to bear the name introduced in 1489 when a 100gun ship built at Chatham in 1488 was given this name after completion. It was last used for a 14 gun Brig purchased in 1816.and in 1821 used for Revenue service. Build was completed on 11th November 1930 and this submarine was then commissioned for service in the 4th Submarine Flotilla for service on the China Station where she was deployed until 1940. In December 1941 she was adopted by the civil community of Barnsley in the West Riding of Yorkshire after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign.

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

MEDITERRANEAN 1940-41 - FALKLAND ISLANDS 1982 (Awarded to an RFA.)

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge :On a Field Green. a dragon Red under a crown Gold

(Note : In a Pentagonal Frame, when granted for RFA after 1951.)

M o t t o

Serviendo Regno :  ‘I rule by serving.’

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

1 9 3 9

August                  Deployed at Hong Kong with 4th Submarine Flotilla supported by HM Depot Ship

                                MEDWAY. (Note: Other submarines in Flotilla included HM Submarines RAINBOW, 

                                REGULUS and ROVER of the Class.)

                                Took passage to take-up war Station.

September             Carried out first patrol for interception of enemy mercantiles, commerce raiders

                                and blockade runners.

                                (Note: Other submarines carried out patrol off ports in the Ditch East Indies.)

October                  Patrol deployment with Flotilla based at Hong Kong

to

December

1 9 4 0

January                  Flotilla duties for interception patrols in continuation.

to

March

April                       Nominated for transfer to 1st Submarine Flotilla with boats of 4th Submarine Flotilla.

                                Took passage to join Flotilla at Alexandria.

                                On passage.

May                        Joined 1st Flotilla at Alexandria for interception patrols in eastern Mediterranean with

                                Flotilla.

                                Carried out minelaying operation off North Africa.

                                Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to N41.

June                        Deployed for interception patrol with Flotilla in eastern Mediterranean

to

September

October                  Commanding Officer Lieut. Cdr Browne RN.

                                Sank two mercantiles totalling 6,088 tons during patrol off Durazzo.

November              Flotilla patrol duties in continuation

to

December

1 9 4 1

January

                15th        During patrol off Benghazi sank Italian mercantile CITTA DI MESSINA of 2,742 tons which

                                was escorted by Italian torpedo boat CENTAURO. Rescued 166 survivors.

February                Carried out attack convoy of three mercantiles escorted by three Italian destroyers.

                                Italian mercantile MENES of 5,609 tons which was damaged

                                (Note : This mercantile was later taken in tow by the destroyer SEATTA.

March                    Deployed in Adriatic for interception of shipping.

                                Commanding Officer W N R Lieutenant Knox.

April                       Nominated for special duty and entered Cattaro Bay to embark British Minister to

                                Yugoslavia after German invasion.

May                        Flotilla deployment for interception in continuation

                                (Note: Ships in 1st Flotilla at Alexandria included HM Submarines TRUANT, TRIUMPH,

                                TAKU, TETRARCH, TORBAY, ROVER, OSIRIS, OTIS, RORQUAL, CACHALOT,

                                PARTHIAN, PERSEUS, PANDORA and five Greek submarines.

June                        Flotilla interception duties in continuation including transport of stores to Malta.

July                         Deployed with Flotilla for interception patrols.

                                Took part with HMS PERSEUS in Diversionary operation by Mediterranean Fleet units

                                during passage of relief convoy to Malta from Gibraltar and both boats transmitted

                                wireless signals to simulate Fleet operations in eastern Mediterranean (Operation ME3)

                                (Note : As a result enemy decision to avoid engagement with Force H and remain in

                                harbour was not rescinded – See Naval Staff History – 2001.)

August                  Flotilla interception patrols in continuation

to

October

November              Deployed with HM Submarines OTUS, UNIQUE, ULTIMATUM, URSULA and URGE for

                                interception of convoys between Italian ports and North Africa on Tripoli without any

                                success.

December              Deployed for interception of convoys off Sicily and sinks mercantile ERICA off Trapani.

                                On release took passage to Gibraltar.

1 9 4 2

January                  Deployed at Gibraltar (Original text showed her refitting, possibly in Gibraltar, until April

                                or May, then resuming operational duties at Gibraltar including transporting stores to

                                Malta. The corrected refit location and dates are courtesy Thomas Heinrich, Associate

                                Professor of American Industrial History, New York, and the Malta trips can not be 

                                confirmed.)

February

                 10th       Started extended refit at Philadelphia Navy Yard in US.

September

                 18th      Completed refit

October                 Believed  resumed operational duties at Gibraltar.

to                           Commanding Officer promoted Lieut Cdr.

December  

1 9 4 3

January                  Mediterranean deployment in continuation

to

March

April

                11th        Sailed from Malta for interception patrol in southern Adriatic.

                18th        Carried out torpedo attack on mercantile BALTIC north of Monopoli.

                                (Note : Torpedo missed target and exploded on shore.)

                                Came under depth charge attack by Italian destroyer GABBIANO and sunk without

                                survivors.

                                (Note : BENEATH THE WAVES records loss may have been by mine but other reliable

                                sources state loss was due to this direct enemy attack.)

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

This name was re-introduced in 1966 when given to a Royal Fleet Auxiliary.