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.
|