Operation Source - September 1943
In September 1943 six in Number X-Craft, each manned by a Passage Crew of three were towed by six Submarines , each of which carried an X-Craft Operational Crew of four, in addition to their normal crew. The X-Craft were to attack German Capital Ships in the Kaa Fjord in Norway.
The Operational Crew were to relieve the Passage crews when the Submarines and X-Craft reached the area of the Kaa Fjord. In all (apart from the Towing Submarine Crew) forty-two X- Craft personnel took part in Operation Source, eighteen Passage Crew Members and twenty-four Operational Crew Members.
The X-Craft were:
HM Submarine X-5
X5
This submarine participated in the attack on the German Battleship Tirptiz in Kaa Fjord, Northern Norway on Wednesday 22nd September 1943. Submarine X-5 left Port Bannantyne on 18th September 1943 and was towed to the operational area by HMS Thrasher (Lieutenant A. R. Hezlet, RN).
The Operational Crew took over from the Passage Crew for the approach to the target and the attack. Lieutenant Henty-Creer (the CO) is believed to have made his way into the area around the Tirptiz but was not seen again.
The Passage Crew returned home in HMS Thrasher.
Submarine X-5 was lost with its Operational Crew who were all awarded Mentions in Dispatches
- Lieutenant Henty Henty-Creer, RNVR
- Sub Lieutenant Tom John Nelson, RNVR
- Acting Sub Lieutenant Alastair David Malcolm, RNVR
- ERA 4th Class Ralph James Mortiboys O/N P/MX79142
Submarine X-6
X6
This submarine participated in the attack on the German Battleship Tirptiz in Kaa Fjord, Northern Norway on Wednesday 22nd September 1943. Submarine X-6 was towed to the operational area by HMS Truculent (Lieutenant Commander R L Alexander, RN).
The Operational Crew took over from the Passage Crew for the approach to the target and the attack. The Passage Crew returned home in HMS Truculent. The attack was successful. All four of the Operational Crew survived, were rescued by the Germans, and become Prisoners of War but Submarine X-6 was sunk.
Lieutenant Cameron (the CO) was awarded the Victoria Cross, Sub Lieutenants Lorimer and Kendall were each awarded the DSO and ERA Goddard the CGM.
Submarine X-7
This submarine participated in the attack on the German Battleship Tirptiz in Kaa Fjord, Northern Norway on Wednesday 22nd September 1943. Submarine X-7 was towed to the Operational Area by HMS Stubborn (Lieutenant Arthur Anthony Duff RN).
The Operational Crew took over from the Passage Crew for the approach to the target and the attack. The attack was successful, and the Tirptiz was badly damaged but not sunk. Two of the Operational Crew survived and were rescued by the Germans and become Prisoners of War but the other two of the crew were lost and Submarine X6 was sunk.
Lieutenant Place (the CO) was awarded the Victoria Cross, Sub Lieutenant Aitken was awarded the DSO. Lieutenant Whittam and ERA Whitley (who were both lost) were posthumously Mentioned in Dispatches.
Tirpitz in Norway
Submarine X-8
On 17th September 1943, whilst on passage to Norway for an attack on the German Pocket Battleship Lutzow, Submarine X-8 which was being towed by HMS Sea Nymph (Lieutenant J P H Oakley, DSC, Royal Navy), lost its trim and became out of control.
The Commanding Officer of X-8 traced the problem to a flooded Starboard 'Side Charge' and decided to jettison the charge. This exploded about a thousand yards astern of X-8 (although the charge was set to 'Safe') but caused no damage to the submarine.
The Port ‘Side Charge’ then began to flood and was also jettisoned. This exploded some three miles astern of X-8, but this time damage was incurred. A decision was taken to scuttle X-8, which was of no further use in the Tirptiz attack.
Both the Passage and Operational Crews returned home in HMS Sea Nymph
Submarine X-9
Overnight 15th/16th September 1943 Submarine X-9 was being towed by Submarine HMS Syrtis (Lieutenant M H Jup , DSC, Royal Navy) en-route to attack the German Pocket Battleship Scharnhorst.
On being ordered to surface on the morning of 16th September X-9 failed to surface and was presumed lost on tow. ERA Vernon Coles, of the Operational Crew, reported that he thought the towing rope probably parted at about 0600 and that the consequent increase in shaft revolutions in Syrtis (although noted by the ERA of the Watch) was not reported to the Control Room.
As a result, Syrtis did not start a search for X-9 for several more hours. X-9 was never seen again, and the Passage Crew were all lost.
The Operational Crew returned home in HMS Syrtis.
The lost Passage Crew Members were:
- Sub Lieutenant Edward Kearon, RNVR
- Able Seaman Harry Albert Harte O/N C/JX 207081
- Stoker 1st Class George Henry Hollett O/N D/KX 151674
Submarine X-10
Submarine X-10 was intended (with Submarine X-9) to participate in an attack on the German Pocket Battleship Scharnhorst in Kaa Fjord in Northern Norway. The submarine was towed to the Operational area by HMS Sceptre (Lieutenant I S McIntosh RN).
The Passage Crew were then relieved by the Operational Crew for closing to the attack area and for the attack. The approach to the attack area was affected by a number of defects to the submarine systems, which eventually led to the abandonment of the attack.
Lieutenant Hudspeth and his crew managed to exit the area and to achieve a rendezvous with Submarine HMS Stubborn (Lieutenant A A Duff, RN) and hand X-10 over to the Passage Crew for the tow back home.
Owing to poor weather the Passage Crew were recovered to HMS Stubborn and X-10 was ordered to be scuttled.
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