Thomas Broadbent and Sons Ltd helped with designing and actually built the X20 Midget Submarine. The X20 was a very well safeguarded secret and had been developed from its predecessors over the last couple of years.
Following its completion, it was disguised as a large Motor Boat, with tarpaulin and framework put all around the Midget Submarine. It was then transported under armed escort to Hillside Railway Sidings, and taken north to the River Clyde where she was laid down.
X20 would play a significant role in the D-Day Landings, acting as a key navigational tool for the incoming ships. This was done with the Submarine lying off the Normandy Coast from the 4th of June up until the Landings on the 6th. The Submarine had to remain undetected, along with its compatriot, X23.
Saracen (P 247) |
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| Class: | 1935 - 1970: Improved S Class |
| Built By: | |
| Build Group: | S3 |
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Fate: Sunk after a depth charge attack on 14th August 1943 by the Italian Corvettes Minerva (Lieutenant Mario Baroglio) and Evterpe (Lieutenant Antonio March). Two members of the crew were lost in the sinking. The remainder of the crew were taken Prisoner of War |
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'Underwater, underhanded and damned un-English' they might have been but submarine development and deployment has long been an integral part of naval warfare.
For centuries man has been fascinated with the possibility of an underwater vessel, the ultimate method of improving the odds against a superior surface fleet. Being submerged beneath the sea was the obvious means by which a warship could be approached and attacked without detection - but the attempts to create the perfect sub was a long and often tragic affair.
This DVD tracks the evolution of underwater crafts from the early Turtle to a privileged look inside the salvaged U-Boat 534 and beyond. Aboard the famous U-Boat 534 we examine the living conditions and the true bravery shown by all her crew.
17 pages added or updated in the last 1 month
Please help to maintain this site by reporting any Errors, Broken Links, Information or Site Issues on this page using this button
If you find this site useful, please consider supporting my work with a small Donation.
Please Note: Donations made using this option go directly to the site owner and not to the Submariners Association.
Thankyou for your support.
Saracen (P 247) |
|
| Class: | 1935 - 1970: Improved S Class |
| Built By: | |
| Build Group: | S3 |
|
Fate: Sunk after a depth charge attack on 14th August 1943 by the Italian Corvettes Minerva (Lieutenant Mario Baroglio) and Evterpe (Lieutenant Antonio March). Two members of the crew were lost in the sinking. The remainder of the crew were taken Prisoner of War |
|
'Underwater, underhanded and damned un-English' they might have been but submarine development and deployment has long been an integral part of naval warfare.
For centuries man has been fascinated with the possibility of an underwater vessel, the ultimate method of improving the odds against a superior surface fleet. Being submerged beneath the sea was the obvious means by which a warship could be approached and attacked without detection - but the attempts to create the perfect sub was a long and often tragic affair.
This DVD tracks the evolution of underwater crafts from the early Turtle to a privileged look inside the salvaged U-Boat 534 and beyond. Aboard the famous U-Boat 534 we examine the living conditions and the true bravery shown by all her crew.
17 pages added or updated in the last 1 month
Please help to maintain this site by reporting any Errors, Broken Links, Information or Site Issues on this page using this button
If you find this site useful, please consider supporting my work with a small Donation.
Please Note: Donations made using this option go directly to the site owner and not to the Submariners Association.
Thankyou for your support.
Comments
Comment by: michael mellers on December 20th, 2019
Huddersfield local history library hold a copy of the X20 blueprints
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