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Stratagem (P234)

Built By: Cammell Laird (Mersey)
Build Group: S3
Fate: HMS Stratagem sailed from Trincomalee on 10th November 1944 with orders to patrol in the vicinity of Malacca where it was believed the Japanese were loading ships with bauxite ore.

On the afternoon of the 18th Stratagem attacked and sank the tanker Nichinan Maru.

On 22nd November a Japanese aircraft spotted the submarine and directed a destroyer to where it had dived. Just after midday the destroyer attacked, the first depth charge causing the submarine's bow to strike the bottom.

The submarine was plunged into darkness and the forward part began to flood. Attempts to shut the watertight door to the forward compartment failed and the crew were forced to make their escape.

Ten crew managed to escape, of which eight were taken Prisoner of War. Only three of these (who were taken to Japan) survived captivity. The other five were executed in Singapore by the Japanese.
Stratagem (P234)
Stratagem (P234)
Stratagem
Stratagem

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Roll of Honour
50
Died: 22-11-1944
Anstee, Reginald George  C/JX 145021
Able Seaman Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 24
Baker, Stanley William  P/JX 418354
Able Seaman Born: 02-11-1924 Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 20
Benz, Brian 
Lieutenant Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 21
Bishop, James Wilford  C/KX 93231
Leading Stoker Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 24
Booth, Farquhar  C/KX 171814
Stoker 1st Class Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 21
Brandon, Edmond  C/KX 92546
Leading Stoker Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 25
Brodie, Thomas Irvine  P/KX 140777
Stoker 1st Class Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 21
Bryson, Frederick  D/JX 422347
Able Seaman Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 19
Cliff, Douglas  D/JX 361448
Telegraphist Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 20
Dickerson, Sidney Joseph  C/KX 166027
Stoker 1st Class Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 20
Dracup, Derek George Rendel  P/KX 156066
Stoker 1st Class Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 21
Faulkner, Brian  P/JX 501087
Able Seaman Born: 26-04-1925 Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 19
RN DoB 26/04/1924
Frankham, John Henry  P/KX 91545
Leading Stoker Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 26
Gibbons, Dennis Frederick  P/MX 117062
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 24
Graham, Ronald  P/JX 271174
Telegraphist Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 23
Gregson, Thomas William  D/JX 303291
Leading Seaman Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 22
Hall, Ronald  P/MX 56030
Electrical Artificer 3rd Class Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 26
Handy, William  P/SSX 16409
Able Seaman Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 30
Hayes, John  C/JX 221692
Able Seaman Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 22
Howard, George Henry  D/JX 134553
Petty Officer Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 29
Lee, George  P/JX 145964
Petty Officer Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 24
McAlinden, Francis John  D/JX 154467
Leading Seaman Born: 01-12-1921 Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 22
McCauley, Thomas  P/K 65360
Stoker Petty Officer Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 38
McKay, William  P/MX 58555
Chief Engine Room Artificer Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 28
Mitchell, Brian Hugh  P/JX 338818
Able Seaman Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 20
Moorhouse, Thomas  C/JX 159150
Leading Seaman Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 22
Patrick, David  C/MX 119629
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 21
Pearce, Leonard Walter  P/JX 144239
Petty Officer Telegraphist Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 24
Pelly, Clifford Raymond  DSC
Lieutenant Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 25
Pickard, Harry  P/JX 137672
Petty Officer Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 28
Prentice, Cyril Ernest  (RNVR)
Sub Lieutenant Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 24
Preston, Basil Henry  P/KX 154564
Leading Stoker Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 21
Rayner, Frederick Somerton  (Ex.M34531)
Warrant Engineer Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 41
Richardson, John  P/JX 146168
Able Seaman Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 25
Snell, Norman Ernest  P/MX 55037
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 23
Stanway, Frederick William  D/JX 368447
Able Seaman Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 21
Thomas, Harold Powys  D/JX 176017
Leading Signalman Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 25
Thompson, Leslie William  C/JX 392378
Able Seaman Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 21
Thorpe, Alfred George  C/KX 143697
Stoker 1st Class Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 20
Watson, James  P/KX 110375
Stoker 1st Class Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 23
Weatherhead, Robert Gilbert  MID D/MX 65040
Leading Cook Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 26
Welshman, Maurice Waites  DSM C/JX 149286
Chief Petty Officer Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 30
Williams, Robert Gordon  P/MX 503451
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 23
Winterbottom, Francis William Leslie 
Lieutenant Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 23
Woolley, John Edward  P/JX 258173
Leading Telegraphist Died: 22-11-1944 Aged: 24
Died: 31-12-1944
Howlett, Reginald Charles  D/KX 164938
Stoker 1st Class Died: 31-12-1944 Aged: 20
Executed as POW
Phillips, Francis John James  D/JX 420937
Able Seaman Died: 31-12-1944 Aged: 19
Executed as POW
Ritchens, Stanley Herbert  D/JX 148278
Able Seaman Died: 31-12-1944 Aged: 24
Executed as POW
Webb, Peter Jack  P/JX 382419
Able Seaman Died: 31-12-1944 Aged: 21
Executed as POW
Westwood, Arthur Leonard  P/JX 220335
Able Seaman Died: 31-12-1944 Aged: 24
Executed as POW

Events

15-04-1942 Laid Down
21-06-1943 Launched
09-10-1943 Completed
07-08-1944 HMS Stratagem fires torpedoes against the German submarine U-181 in the Strait of Malacca near Penang. However all torpedoes missed their target.
19-11-1944 HMS Stratagem torpedoes and sinks the the Japanese tanker Nichinan Maru in the Malacca Strait.
22-11-1944 Sunk in Malacca Straits

HMS Stratagem sailed from Trincomalee on 10th November 1944 with orders to patrol in the vicinity of Malacca where it was believed the Japanese were loading ships with bauxite ore. On the afternoon of the 18th Stratagem attacked and sank the tanker Nichinan Maru. On 22nd November a Japanese aircraft spotted the submarine and directed a destroyer to where it had dived. Just after midday the destroyer attacked, the first depth charge causing the submarine's bow to strike the bottom. The submarine was plunged into darkness and the forward part began to flood. Attempts to shut the watertight door to the forward compartment failed and the crew were forced to make their escape.
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Comments

Comment by: John Edward Howlett on June 10, 2019

My Uncle Reg was on board, it seems he survived the sinking but was executed the execution was registered on 31/12/44. If anyone has any information on this submarine or my Uncle Reginald Charles Howlett D/KX 16493 anything would be very much appreciated

Comment by: Sophie on May 28, 2018

I too knew one of the 3 who survived captivity and he didnt like to talk about it either. The horror that they endured is unthinkable! Its a shame you havent been able to find much information.

Comment by: Stephen Baren on December 3, 2017

I think my father will be the last survivor of HMS Stratagem. Aged 91 still living in Harrogate North Yorkshire. He joined the war aged seventeen and recalls surviving the sinking aged eighteen. He wont talk about his captivity and still hates the Japanese. I cant find his name in any of the reports, but know from a few pictures and papers he was on the sub when it went down.

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