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Orpheus (N 46)

Built By: Beardmore (Clyde)
Build Group: O2
Fate: HMS Orpheus was declared overdue on 27th June 1940. The likely cause of her loss with all hands is that she was mined off Benghazi.

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Orpheus in HK drydock abt. 1933
Orpheus in HK drydock abt. 1933
Ship’s company 1935
Ship’s company 1935
Orpheus (N 46)
Orpheus (N 46)
Commanders
1933: Lieutenant Commander  George Cunningham Paton Menzies  
1938: Lieutenant Commander  Charles James Blake  
1940: Lieutenant Commander  J A S Wise  

1930-1931: Portsmouth.
1931-1939: China Station.
1939-1940 - 8th Flotilla: Lucia, Columbo.
1940-1942 - 1st Flotilla: Malta.

It should be noted that although some boats were attached to HMS Medway at Singapore, they often operated in a detached mode covering the China Station such as Hong Kong and even to the point of patrolling the Siberian Coast.

When on patrol, the daily fuel consumption for all overseas patrol classes, allowing 12 hours diving, 12 hours steaming at slow speed and eight hours charging, was given as 2.1 tons per day, except in Orpheus (the only vessel of the Odin Class to be fitted with a Vulcan clutch) where the consumption was 2.6 tons per day.

HMS Orpheus was based in the Far East with the 4th Submarine Flotilla at the outbreak of WWII. After completing five War Patrols in the Indian Ocean (one off Chagos, two off Chagos & the Maldives, one en-route to Madagascar from Colombo, Ceylon and a fifth one off Reunion) HMS Orpheus was also diverted to the Mediterranean in June 1940.

The Submarine went missing on her first Mediterranean War Patrol sometime after 2115 hours on 19th June 1940 when she sent her last signal. Orpheus was then en-route to Benghazi, Libya where she was to patrol until 1600 hours on 24th June 1940 and then return to Alexandria where she was due to arrive on 26th June 1940.

It has been claimed that HMS Orpheus was sunk on 19th June 1940 while on patrol about 25 nautical miles north of Tobruk, Libya in position 32º30'N, 24º00'E by the Italian destroyer Turbine but as this was before Orpheus sent her last signal this must be incorrect apart from the fact that Orpheus at that moment must still have been on passage to Benghazi. HMS Orpheus was declared overdue on 27th June 1940. The likely cause of her loss with all hands is that she was mined off Benghazi.

HMS Orpheus was the third submarine to be lost in the space of a week.

Roll of Honour
54
Died: 27-06-1940
Allen, Donovan Joseph  D/JX 135712
Able Seaman Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 24
Allen, Stanley Charles  D/JX 140566
Leading Seaman Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 23
Armstrong, Joseph Durly  P/MX 46926
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 28
Ayers, William Frank  P/J 104425
Able Seaman Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 35
Bevis, Percy Aubrey  P/JX 127388
Leading Telegraphist Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 30
Biddulph, Percy  D/JX 135822
Petty Officer Telegraphist Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 24
Burtenshaw, Claude Wilfrid  D/KX 83687
Stoker 1st Class Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 30
Butler, Leonard William  D/KX 80445
Leading Stoker Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 28
Critchell, William James George  P/J 108154
Leading Seaman Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 33
Cross, Eric Keith  (Ex.Mx46621)
Warrant Engineer Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 38
Dance, James William  D/MX 46010
Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 28
Davies, Cecil Thomas 
Lieutenant Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 29
Dolton, Leslie Harold  P/KX 79513
Leading Stoker Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 30
Ellison, James William  C/JX 134273
Leading Telegraphist Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 25
Evans, Joseph Durly  C/JX 125744
Leading Signalman Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 29
Fawkes, Philip Francis 
Lieutenant Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 23
Foreman, Charles Herbert Edwin  C/KX 87290
Leading Stoker Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 23
Forrester, William John  D/MX 51359
Leading Cook Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 25
Fox, Eric Sidney Stanley  C/JX 140025
Able Seaman Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 21
Gill, Robert Victor  P/MX 51228
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 26
Glanvill, Frank  D/JX 139363
Able Seaman Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 22
Hardaker, Gordon  C/J 113288
Chief Petty Officer Telegraphist Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 31
Hawkins, Albert Henry  D/KX 86050
Stoker 1st Class Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 23
Jones, William Charles  C/K 65765
Stoker Petty Officer Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 33
Kellaway, Leslie Reginald  D/JX 130873
Able Seaman Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 29
Kemp, William Henry  P/KX 80758
Leading Stoker Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 28
Kitson, James  C/MX 46150
Engine Room Artificer 1st Class Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 36
Lumby, Roy  P/KX 76361
Stoker 1st Class Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 32
Manuel, William John  C/J 112460
Petty Officer Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 31
Martin, George Gilbert  C/JX 152148
Petty Officer Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 24
McGrath, Michael  D/SSX 17773
Able Seaman Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 24
McLean, Arthur Wedmore  P/KX 80825
Leading Stoker Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 28
McLoughlin, Noel  D/KX 80968
Stoker 1st Class Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 27
McNally, James Edward  C.KX 88352
Leading Stoker Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 22
North, William  D/JX 136514
Leading Seaman Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 25
Pallister, Harry  P/KX 85505
Leading Stoker Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 28
Penfound, Leonard Charles Henry  D/M 38828
Chief Engine Room Artificer Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 30
Perry, Edwin George  P/JX 131807
Able Seaman Born: 27-12-1912 Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 27
Phelps, Richard Henry  P/KX 79196
Stoker Petty Officer Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 33
Pickthall, Thomas  D/KX 90145
Stoker 1st Class Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 23
Powell, William John  C/JX 128451
Able Seaman Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 30
Reeson, Frank  C/JX 129337
Leading Seaman Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 28
Roberts, Harold Maynard  D/M 38395
Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 31
Robertson, Frank Sheed  D/KX 85172
Leading Stoker Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 24
Salt, Bert Frederick  C/JX 139996
Leading Seaman Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 22
Scott, Thomas Norman  P/J 84952
Chief Petty Officer Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 37
Strawbridge, Reginald John James  D/J 107440
Telegraphist Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 33
Symonds, John Davey 
Sub Lieutenant Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 21
Tott, Frederick Reginald  P/J 101298
Petty Officer Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 34
Venning, Leslie Charles  D/KX 86974
Stoker 1st Class Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 23
Waddell, Robert  C/SSX 16268
Able Seaman Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 24
Watts, Ernest Henry  P/KX 82231
Leading Stoker Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 26
Wise, James Anthony Surtees 
Lieutenant Commander Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 32
Commanding Officer
Wood, Frank Herbert  D/JX 136989
Leading Seaman Died: 27-06-1940 Aged: 24

Events

14-04-1927 Laid Down
26-02-1929 Launched
23-09-1930 Completed
27-06-1940 Declared overdue. The likely cause of her loss with all hands is that she was mined off Benghazi.
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