Medway (F25) 1928 - 1942
| Built By: | Vickers (Barrow) |
| Fate: | HMS Medway was sunk by 2/3 torpedoes from U372 on 30th June 1942 |
Medway
Medway
Medway was the first large submarine depot ship designed and built for the Royal Navy.
She sailed with six Submarines to replace the Titania and her L Class boats remaining on the China station where she supported the 4th Submarine Flotilla until April 1940, when she was sent to the Mediterranean based at Alexandria and operating the 1st Submarine flotilla.
On the 30th June 1942 she was torpedoed by U-372 off Alexandria whilst on passage to Haifa and Beirut. 30 of her crew were lost with a 3rd officer mentioned in dispatches. Fortunately 47 of her stock of 90 Torpedoes floated clear but much valuable equipment was lost with her.
The small depot ship Talbot moved from Malta to take her place at Beirut and changed her name to Medway II
Roll of Honour |
7
|
| Vine, Charles Oliver Mansfield (RNR) | |||
| Died: 12th Feb, 1942. | |||
| Lieutenant | Aged: 27 | ||
| from Emsworth | |||
| Charles Vine was the son of Charles John and Nellie Olive Vine | |||
| Bradbury, Frederick William D/KX 138547 | |||
| Died: 30th Jun, 1942. | |||
| Stoker 2nd Class | |||
| Coates, Kenneth Gordon J94731 | |||
| Died: 30th Jun, 1942. | |||
| Leading Seaman | |||
| Eden, Walter D/KX 134890 | |||
| Died: 30th Jun, 1942. | |||
| Stoker 2nd Class | |||
| Quaife, Thomas J93794 | |||
| Died: 30th Jun, 1942. | |||
| Chief Petty Officer | |||
| Sutcliffe, Rennie C/JX 207986 | |||
| Died: 30th Jun, 1942. | |||
| Able Seaman | |||
| Tarbuck, Albert J31444 | |||
| Died: 30th Jun, 1942. | |||
| Able Seaman | |||
Events
| 19-07-1928 | Launched at Vickers Armstrongs, Barrow |
| 06-07-1929 | Commissioned at Devonport |
| 03-05-1940 | Arrivied in Alexandria to serve as the base ship for the 1st Submarine Flotilla. |
| 30-06-1942 | Submarine Depot Ship HMS Medway was torpedoed and sunk off Alexandria by U-372 |
Comments
Comment by: Michael Barker on September 16th, 2025
My Uncle was Charles Oliver Mansfield Vine 2nd Lieutenant who I believe served on the submarine Thrasher. I believe he died on the attack on the depot ship but have no detailed information. I would like to know more
Comment by: Keith Pengelley on September 30th, 2020
My Grandfather W H Pengelley (J43432) served on board and survived. I am currently writing an account of his life. I remember him very well and spent much time listening to his account of the sinking, he warned the officers about the portholes above the water line being open as the ship would flood very quickly if torpedoed, he was ignored. He was last man off the ship as he went to free his canary and suffered barnacle cuts and abrasions that scarred him.
He was also at the sharp end of the 2nd Battle of Narvik and was one of the shore party that went ashore and lost a friend sat next to him to enemy fire.
He was a proud Guernseyman and served 1915 - 1946
Keith Pengelley, Guernsey
Comment by: Robert Broderick on April 12th, 2019
S/M Dave Davis served on HMS Medway in 1942 and survived the sinking on the 30th June. Dave was a member of the Sittingbourne Branch RNA . Dave recentley crossed the bar aged 97yrs of age. Wondered if any other servivor is still around.
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