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Trooper (N 91)

Built By: Scotts (Clyde)
Build Group: T 2
Fate: HMS Trooper sailed from the Base at Beirut on 28th September 1943 for a patrol off the west of the Dodocanese Islands.

The Submarine failed to arrive back as expected on 17th October and was assumed to have been sunk by a mine on 10th Oct 1943. There were no survivors.

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Operation Principle

HMS Trooper 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 Trooper to carry three Chariots and their crews for an attack to start on the night of 2nd/3rd January 1943.

Of the three Chariots launched one had to abandon its attack and returned to sea from Palermo to be rescued by Submarine P46, later HMS Unruffled (Lieutenant J S Stevens DSO, Royal Navy in Command).

A second Chariot (No. XVI) made a successful attack resulting in damage to the 8,500-ton Merchant Vessel Viminale.

The third Chariot was unsuccessful in its attempts to attack shipping and was thwarted by the illness (and subsequent loss) of its No. 1 Crewman and rough weather. Of the six Crewmen two returned safely, three were taken Prisoner of War and one died.

Chariot
Chariot

The Chariot Crews were as follows:

Chariot No. XIV
  1. S/Lt Rodney George Dove, DSO, RNVR No. 1 Crew
  2. L/Sea James Michael Freel, CGM, D/JX 149484 No. 2 Crew
James Michael Freel CGM
James Michael Freel CGM

James Freel was born in Duke Street, Hindpool in Barrow in Furness, Lancashire on 13th Dec 1919. He was the son of Mr Freel and Mrs. Theresa Freel. There were nine children in the family and included James Freel, sisters Teresa, Patricia (born 1915), Mona and Loretto (born 1931) and a brother Frank Freel (born 1925). James Freel attended the St. Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School in Barrow. After leaving School he joined the Royal Navy in 1936. He was drafted to the 33,900-ton Battleship HMS Rodney.

HMS Rodney was damaged in and was sent to the United States for repairs. Following his time in HMS Rodney he volunteered for 'Special Service' in 1942 and trained as a 'Charioteer'. He was drafted to Submarine P311 on 22nd Nov 1943 but was transferred to Submarine HMS Trooper.

On the night of 2nd/3rd Jan 1943 he was the No. 2 Crewman on Chariot No. XVI which was launched from Submarine HMS Trooper for an attack on Italian shipping in the port of Palermo. For a successful attack on the 8,500-ton Italian Troop Ship Viminale James Freel 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'.

After the successful attack on the Viminale James Freel was arrested by the Italian police and was later held in a Prisoner of War Camp near Rome. He successfully escaped from captivity in September 1943 and after nearly two years living with Italian partisans, he made his way across to the American lines in Italy in December 1943 and returned home safely. He was later awarded a Mention in Dispatches, see London Gazette dated 29th Jun 1945,

'for courage, determination and devotion to duty'.

He was presented with a gold watch by the Apostleship of the Sea. After the War James Freel worked in ships supplying the British Antarctic bases and later worked in Perth in Western Australia. He later moved to Sydney in New South Wales with a Cement Piling Company where he died in 1965. He was buried in the Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney.

In 2005 his sister, Loreto Dwyer, arranged for him to be exhumed and cremated in Australia and returned home with his ashes. After a Memorial Mass in St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Duke Street, Barrow in Furness on 3rd December 2005 his ashes were interred in the same grave in the Thorncliffe Cemetery in Barrow as his mother, Mrs Theresa Freel, a former Mayor of Barrow in Furness.

NOTE: James Freel's & Memorabilia were later 'gifted' to the Barrow Submariners and are currently on display at the Dock Museum in Barrow

Chariot No. XXII

During the attempted attack on shipping at the Italian port of Palermo a problem arose with the diving equipment of his No. 2 crewman (L/Sea Carter). Sub Lieutenant Stevens dropped him off at a buoy whilst he attempted to complete his mission, but he was unsuccessful. He returned to the buoy, collected L/Sea Carter, and then returned to see where the team was successfully recovered by Submarine P46.

  1. S/Lt H L H Stevens, RNVR No. 1 Crew
  2. L/Sea Carter TBA No. 2 Crew
Chariot No. TBA
  1. Lt Harold Faulkner Cook, RNVR No. 1 Crew

    Twenty-four-year-old Harold Cook was lost during Operation Principle. He died on 2nd January 1943. He was the son of Herbert and Edith Millicent Cook of Leigh on Sea, Essex.

  2. AB Harold Victor Worthy, MiD* P/JX 147264 No. 2 Crew

    AB Worthy was taken Prisoner of War. He was later awarded a Mention in Dispatches

  3. 'For great gallantry in carrying out a daring attack at night, with "Human Torpedoes" on the strongly defended enemy base at Palerm . 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'. He was awarded a second Mention in Dispatches – see London Gazette dated 29th Jun 1945 'for courage, determination and devotion to duty'

    Royal Navy experts have confirmed the wreck of a World War 2 submarine found in the Mediterranean as HMS Trooper.

    Greek diver and researcher Kostas Thoktaridis and his team found Trooper after many attempts and countless hours of meticulous research, eventually discovering the wreck lying at a depth of more than 800ft between the islands of Ikaria and Donousa in the Icarian Sea, part of the Aegean Sea in the approaches to Athens.

    The wreck of HMS Trooper
    The wreck of HMS Trooper

    The loss of Trooper and her 64 crew in October 1943 was not in vain. Their dangerous mission to deliver three agents, the last people to get out of the submarine alive, proved fruitful, with valuable military information gathered and money and a radio delivered to the Greek underground.

    The Royal Navy's Wreck Advisory Group analysed video footage to confirm the wreck, which was found in early October 2024.

    The dive teams reported that it is likely the submarine was sunk by a German EMF-type mine, instantly breaking the boat into three pieces. The bow and stern lie on the seabed in close proximity, while the submarine's conning tower has broken off and is located much further away.

    Related Pages
    Chariots

    No history of submarine warfare in World War Two could be complete without a mention of the

    Roll of Honour

    64
    Died: 10-10-1943
    Adam, Peter Milne  D/KX 85676
    Stoker Petty Officer Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 32
    Anderson, Alexander William 
    Sub Lieutenant Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 21
    Bengough, Ivor Donald  D/KX 85248
    Stoker Petty Officer Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 27
    Brotherton, Alan  D/KX 144514
    Stoker 1st Class Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 20
    Carling, Thomas Matthew  C/JX 141406
    Able Seaman Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 24
    Carroll, Leonard  D/KX 120498
    Stoker 1st Class Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 21
    Charnock, Frank  D/JX 212858
    Leading Seaman Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 23
    Chivers, Ronald Stephen  D/SSX 13575
    Able Seaman Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 28
    Colville, John  C/JX 132724
    Able Seaman Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 30
    Cope, Henry Charles  P/JX 157340
    Signalman Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 21
    Cornelius, John  C/MX 77556
    Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 28
    Crossland, Frank  C/JX 247837
    Telegraphist Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 27
    Curry, Thomas Arkless  C/KX 92887
    Leading Stoker Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 25
    Davies, Glanville Yorwerth  P/KX 126725
    Stoker 1st Class Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 22
    Farnell, John Belton  (RNVR) C/LD/X 3601
    Able Seaman Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 23
    Fenn, William Charles England  DSM P/MX 51201
    Chief Engine Room Artificer Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 30
    Fisher, Francis Edward  P/J 40813
    Able Seaman Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 44
    Fleming, Samuel  C/SSX 27113
    Able Seaman Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 22
    Forster, Michael  D/MX 75371
    Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 23
    Fry, William Victor  DSM P/MX 49222
    Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 27
    Furnell, Ernest Clifford  C/JX 136210
    Able Seaman Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 35
    Gilbert, James Bishop  P/SSX 14641
    Petty Officer Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 29
    Grant, Leslie Alexander Stuart  DSC
    Lieutenant Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 23
    Greatwood, Kenneth Neil  P/SSX31640
    Able Seaman Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 21
    Hind, George William  P/JX 362387
    Able Seaman Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 21
    Horton, Harold Graham  C/KX 93672
    Leading Stoker Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 23
    Jones, Richard  D/JX 217239
    Able Seaman Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 23
    Lancaster, Owen Felton  DSC
    Engineer Lieutenant Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 33
    Lawson, Clement Colborne  C/KX 133827
    Leading Stoker Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 21
    Legg, Alfred Frank  P/KX 78715
    Leading Stoker Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 35
    Lloyd, Henry Roberts  P/JX 353169
    Able Seaman Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 20
    Mather, James  D/MX 75747
    Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 41
    Meek, Frank Henry  D/KX 130584
    Stoker 1st Class Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 20
    Mercer, Stanley  D/LX 23181
    Steward Born: 28-02-1915 Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 28
    Mills, Ronald William  C/KX 11697
    Leading Stoker Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 22
    Mott, Henry Arthur  MID C/KX 136890
    Leading Stoker Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 20
    Peters, Maurice  C/MX 76497
    Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 29
    Ribbans, Stuart Ernest  P/SSX 31787
    Petty Officer Telegraphist Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 21
    Robinson, Ronald Norman  DSM P/KX 88052
    Leading Stoker Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 25
    Ruston, Benjamin Thomas  DSM* P/J 114584
    Leading Seaman Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 33
    Ryder, John Stuart  (RANVR)
    Sub Lieutenant Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 22
    Sainsbury, George William  D/KX 134416
    Stoker 1st Class Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 22
    Seddon, Denis  D/KX 134176
    Stoker 1st Class Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 21
    Shoebridge, Septimus Hyde  P/JX 153936
    Leading Telegraphist Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 21
    Skinner, Horace  C/MX 54947
    Leading Cook Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 25
    Sleep, Ralph Bassett  DSM D/JX 137048
    Petty Officer Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 26
    Smethurst, Frank  D/JX 212892
    Able Seaman Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 25
    Stillwell, Cecil James  D/SMX 90
    Leading Cook Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 21
    Stobbie, James  P/JX 156516
    Telegraphist Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 22
    Stott, Edgar  D/MX 90221
    Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 23
    Sumner, Henry Graham  (RNVR)
    Sub Lieutenant Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 21
    Tame, David William Lewis  D/KX 136041
    Stoker 1st Class Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 21
    Taylor, Raymond Edward  D/KX 134309
    Stoker 1st Class Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 21
    Thompson, Leonard  D/JX 152099
    Leading Telegraphist Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 22
    Tripp, Frederick Wilfred  P/JX138428
    Able Seaman Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 26
    Walker, Douglas Bland  P/JX 237396
    Able Seaman Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 21
    Ward, Frederick Alfred Charles Green  C/SSX 17762
    Able Seaman Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 25
    Watson, James Alexander  DSM** P/JX 131355
    Petty Officer Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 31
    Whatley, Emrys  D/SSX 33731
    Able Seaman Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 22
    Whiting, Jack Bernard  C/KX 88177
    Stoker Petty Officer Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 25
    Whittle, William Bartholomew  MID D/JX 215012
    Able Seaman Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 28
    Williams, Leonard  C/SSX 29544
    Leading Seaman Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 23
    Wraith, John Somerton  DSO*
    Lieutenant Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 30
    Yeoman, Robert Ainslie  P/SSX 18970
    Petty Officer Died: 10-10-1943 Aged: 25

    Events

    26-03-1940 Laid Down
    05-03-1942 Launched
    29-08-1942 Completed
    10-03-1943 HMS Trooper torpedoes and sinks the Italian tanker Rosario 4 nautical miles off Punta Milazzo.
    15-03-1943 HMS Trooper fires 4 torpedoes against the Italian merchant Belluno about 30 nautical miles south of Isola di Capri, Italy. All torpedoes missed.
    17-03-1943 HMS Trooper torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Forli south of Naples, Italy.
    29-07-1943 Italian submarine Pietro Micca was torpedoed and sunk at the entrance to Adriatic, in the Strait of Otranto by the British HMS Trooper
    05-09-1943 HMS Trooper sinks a sailing vessel with gunfire off Skiathos, Greece. Trooper also damages two other enemy vessels with gunfire.
    10-10-1943 HMS Trooper sailed from the Base at Beirut on 28th September 1943 for a patrol off the west of the Dodocanese Islands.

    The Submarine failed to arrive back as expected on 17th October and was assumed to have been sunk by a mine on 10th Oct 1943. There were no survivors.
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