RN Subs

Thunderbolt (N 25)

Thunderbolt returns from patrol

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HMS Thunderbolt submarine (formerly HMS Thetis) entering Plymouth harbour

Operation Principle

HMS Thunderbolt was designated to take part in Operation Principle, a Chariot attack on Italian shipping in the Northern Sicilian port of Palermo. Operation Principle called for Thunderbolt to carry two Chariots and their crews for an attack to start on the night of 2nd/3rd January 1943. Of the two Chariots launched one (Chariot No. XXII) carried out a successful attack resulting in the sinking of the Italian Cruiser Ulpio Traiano and possible damage to three Submarine Chasers and a Merchant Vessel. The second Chariot, No. XXIII, suffered a battery explosion and went out of control in a rapid dive. The No. 1 Crew managed to reach the surface, but the No.2 Crew was lost.

Chariot

The Chariot Crews were as follows:

Chariot No XXII

1. Lt Richard Thomas Goodwin Greenland, DSO, RNVR, No. 1 Crewman

   Richard Greenland carried out a successful attack (with L/Sea Ferrier) resulting in the sinking of the Italian Cruiser Ulpio Traiano and was awarded the DSO, see London Gazette dated 14th Apr 1944

   For great gallantry in carrying out a daring attack at night, with "Human Torpedoes" on the strongly defended enemy base at Palermo. The operation was most hazardous. The defences of the harbour had to be penetrated and its whole length crossed without detection and the "Human Torpedoes" manoeuvred into position under the targets. An enemy cruiser was sunk and a transport much damaged.

   Richard Greenland was taken Prisoner of War.

2. L/Sig Alexander Mitchell Ferrier, CGM, KW C/JX 145141 No. 2 Crew

   Alexander Ferrier was awarded the Polish medal, Krzyz Waleccznych (Cross of Valour) see London Gazette dated 17th Oct 1941 'in recognition of his service in the Polish Ship ORP Grom'. Alexander Ferrier later volunteered for 'Special Service' and trained as a 'Charioteer'. He carried out a successful attack (with Lieutenant Greenland) on the Sicilian port of Palermo resulting in the sinking of the Italian Cruiser Ulpio Traiano and was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, see London Gazette dated 14th Apr 1944

   For great gallantry in carrying out a daring attack at night, with "Human Torpedoes" on the strongly defended enemy base at Palermo. The operation was most hazardous. The defences of the harbour had to be penetrated and its whole length crossed without detection and the "Human Torpedoes" manoeuvred into position under the targets. An enemy cruiser was sunk and a transport much damaged.

   L/Sea Ferrier was taken Prisoner of War

Chariot No. XV

1. Temp PO John Malcolm Miln, MiD C/JX 138726

   He was Mentioned in Dispatches, see London Gazette dated 14th Apr 1944

   For great gallantry in carrying out a daring attack at night, with "Human Torpedoes" on the strongly defended enemy base at Palermo. The operation was most hazardous. The defences of the harbour had to be penetrated and its whole length crossed without detection and the "Human Torpedoes" manoeuvred into position under the targets. An enemy cruiser was sunk and a transport much damaged

   PO Miln was taken Prisoner of War

2. AB Walter Robert Simpson D/JX 204223

   Walter Simpson was twenty-two years old, and he was the son of Walter and May Simpson of Blackburn, Lancashire. He died 3rd January 1943 his body was recovered, and he was buried in the Catania War Cemetery in Sicily.

Operation Welcome

HMS Thunderbolt was designated to take part in Operation Welcome a Chariot attack on shipping in the North African port of Tripoli. It was necessary to sink these ships before they could be used as 'Block Ships' by the retreating German forces.

Operation Welcome called for Thunderbolt to carry two Chariots (Chariots Nos. XII and XIII) and their crews for an attack to start on the night of 18th/19th January 1943. One of the Chariots, No. XII, suffered damaged to the hydroplanes on launch although the damage was not apparent until the No. 1 decided to dive on approach to harbour. Despite efforts the Chariot was not controllable, and the attack was abandoned.

The two Crew made their way ashore and, evading capture, eventually made their way to safety. The second Chariots crew (No. XIII) located their subsidiary target which was attacked. The Crew eventually made their way ashore. Here they were taken 'Prisoner of War' by the Italians. These two later escaped from their POW Camp and made their way to the Vatican City where they found refuge until the Italian surrender.

They were:

Chariot No. XII

1. Lt Geoffrey Larkin, RNVR No. 1 Crew
2. PO Conrad Berey, DSM P/MX 49845 No. 2 Crew

Chariot No. XIII

1. S/Lt H L H Stevens RNVR No. 1 Crewman
2. CERA Stanley Buxton TBA No. 2 Crewman

Adoption

By Dr Peter Schofield

Warship Week plaque presented to Frome Rural District Council by the Admiralty

Plaque presented by Frome to HMS Thunderbolt

An identical plaque was presented to Frome Urban District.

The presentation plaque was mounted on wood and hung in the Parish Church after the loss of HMS Thunderbolt. It is now in the foyer of Frome Memorial Theatre.

Related Pages

Events

Comments

Official

T 1 Specification

Further Reading

BUY Thetis Down

Tony Booth The Slow Death of a Submarine explores in minute detail a more rounded picture of what really happened before, during and after her tragic loss. In doing so Tony Booths book also takes a fresh look at culpability and explores some of the alleged conspiracy theories that surrounded her demise. The result is the first definitive account what happened to HMS Thetis and her men a fitting tribute, as the seventieth anniversary of her loss will be on 1 June 2009.

BUY Thetis

David Paul The true story of loss of His Majesty's Submarine Thetis is still shrouded in mystery. As a result of media coverage at the time, a number of conspiracy theories were spawned, some gaining more credence than others, in light of the inconclusive findings of the official reports. In Thetis: Submarine Disaster, David Paul, having studied the events surrounding the tragedy of HMS Thetis for many years, examines the issues which led to the disaster, and draws some conclusions.

BUY The Admiralty Regrets

C.E.T. Warren / James Benson The story of the Thetis Submarine Tragedy in 1939, is the definitive account of the whole sorry episode of the Birkenhead built vessel that cost 99 lives; still today the worst submarine disaster in British History.

BUY Only Four Escaped

James D Benson / Charles Esme Thornton W The hour-by-hour account of the bravery, bungling, helplessness and heroism of men trapped by the sea. On June 1, 1939, the Submarine Thetis sailed out of Liverpool Bay with 103 men on board for diving trials, but on the very first dive it failed to surface, the escape hatch jammed, and help was too slow in coming.

BUY HMS Thetis

David Roberts After an exhaustive two-year search for the truth about the events and aftermath of this terrible Submarine disaster in Liverpool Bay, June 1939, David Roberts has at last found some shocking hitherto unpublished details.

Have You Read?

Featured Film

During the occupation of World War II, the owner of a Dutch shipping port is ordered to attend an interview with the head of the Gestapo.

His yard has almost completed two submarines and the Nazis are anxious to have them finished and fully operational. They offer to reinstate him if he agrees, which he does.

But what the Nazis do not know is that he is planning to double cross them and take the ships to England, if he can. Starring Ralph Richardson, Googie Withers and Esmond Knight.

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