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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.
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)

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