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Tempest (N 86)

Built By: Cammell Laird (Mersey)
Build Group: T 2
Fate: Scuttled in position 39º11' North 17º47' East in the Gulf of Taranto on 13th February, 1942

The boat was detected and there followed a seven-hour depth charge attack by the Italian Torpedo Boat Circe (Capitano di Corvetta Stephanino Palmas). Following an epic struggle the submarine was forced to the surface in heavy seas.

The Italians botched the rescue, and of the crew of sixty-three there were twenty-four survivors (twenty-three out of sixty-two, according to the Coxswain). The remainder were lost
Tempest (N 86)
Tempest (N 86)

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Commanders
1941: Lieutenant Commander   William Alexander Keith Napier Cavaye
Related Pages
Read

RN Submarines scuttled or captured in WWII

Descriptions of the events in WWII that led to the loss of Royal Navy Submarines in actions where the submarines were sunk, usually by scuttling, with the captains and crew taken prisoner. Included are two variations - in one case the submarine was captured and in another the captain was killed in action.

Roll of Honour
39
 
Baines, Edward Lewis  P/JX 143981
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Leading Telegraphist Aged: 21
Burns, John  D/JX 140126
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Petty Officer Aged: 25
Burns, John Hugh Paul  D/JX 167231
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Able Seaman Aged: 21
Cameron, Donald  C/MX 73098
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Aged: 34
Buried in Bari
Cavaye, William Alexander Keith Napier 
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Lieutenant Commander Aged: 35
Collett, Albert Harry  P/KX 88439
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 29
Cope, Thomas Smith  C/KX 114379
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 22
Cronin, Alfred john  C/JX 266184
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Able Seaman Aged: 31
Davies, George William  D/KX 132023
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Stoker 2nd Class Aged: 19
Drew, Frederick  P/JX 154013
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Signalman Aged: 20
Eales, Robert Charles  D/JX 203162
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Able Seaman Aged: 20
Fiddes, Ernest Herbert Alfred  MID D/KX 82259
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Stoker Petty Officer Aged: 27
Frain, Christopher  P/SSX 23655
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Leading Seaman Aged: 22
Gomer, Ronald Charles  D/MX 49082
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Petty Officer Cook Aged: 28
Hardy, George Frederick  C/KX 93965
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 22
Jackson, Peter George William  P/JX 157500
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Telegraphist Aged: 19
Jury, Archie Edward  D/KX 79574
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Leading Stoker Aged: 32
Kelly, Daniel  D/KX 93894
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 29
Lavender, Fred  C/KX 82135
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 28
Loose, Douglas Edwin Alfred  P/MX 78277
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Aged: 22
Lowin, Ernest Thomas Joseph  C/SSX 20128
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Leading Seaman Aged: 23
Meek, Joseph Anthony  C/JX 152623
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Able Seaman Aged: 24
Morrison, John  D/KX 80906
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 30
Neel-Wall, Michael Neel 
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Lieutenant Aged: 21
Parsons, George Emmanuel Henry  C/MX 54986
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Leading Cook Aged: 23
Pritchard, Hugh  C/SSX 33930
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Able Seaman Aged: 19
Rear, Frederick  C/KX 93380
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 22
Sanders, John Alfred  D/JX 138319
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Petty Officer Telegraphist Aged: 24
Shipley, Edward  P/LX 21906
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Leading Steward Aged: 26
Spowart, Albert  P/K 60766
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Chief Stoker Aged: 40
Stevens, Frederick Arthur  C/M 37007
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Chief Engine Room Artificer Aged: 35
Waddell, Christopher McTaggart  C/KX 91739
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Leading Stoker Aged: 26
Wainwright, Reginald John  P/KX 85580
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Stoker Petty Officer Aged: 25
Waters, Christopher Paul  D/JX 206092
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Able Seaman Aged: 22
Waugh, Andrew  P/SSX 21188
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Able Seaman Aged: 22
Whitfield, Harry Cromwell  C/SSX 17514
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Able Seaman Aged: 24
Williams, David Isaac  D/JX 137378
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Able Seaman Aged: 25
Winter, John Leslie  D/JX 198481
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Able Seaman Aged: 20
Worth, Alan George  D/JX 153135
Died: 13th Feb, 1942.
Able Seaman Aged: 20

Events

 06-01-1940   Laid Down
 10-06-1941   Launched
 06-12-1941   Completed
 13-02-1942   Lost

HMS Tempest sailed from Malta on the night of 10th Feb 1942 to patrol the Gulf of Taranto. On the evening of the 11th, Tempest was signalled that the Italians were aware of a submarine in her vicinity and that it should be assumed that her patrol had been compromised.

At 03:02 on the 13th, the Italian destroyer Circe sighted the submarine on the surface. Tempest had also seen the destroyer and began to dive. Circe moved in to attack , and at 03:32 began depth charging the area.

At 07:16 Circe still in contact with the Tempest began a second attack, resulting in oil being seen on the surface. The submarine had been crippled.

At 09:45 Tempest returned to the surface to be met with gunfire from the Circe. The order was given to abandon the submarine, the crew being picked up by the destroyer. The Italians attempted to board the abandoned vessel but were held back by rough seas.

By 13:00 the submarine had settled in the water and the demolition charges set by the crew had failed. With boarding of the submarine impossible due to bad weather, the Italian destroyer opened fire and, although more than a dozen direct hits were recorded the submarine refused to sink.

Finally the Italians attempted to take the submarine in tow. Two members of the destroyers crew boarded her and prepared the tow. As Circe Manoeuvered to take up the tow, Tempest suddenly started to sink, forcing those on board to jump into the sea. HMS Tempest slipped beneath the waves stern first with the bows disappearing vertically.
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