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Grampus (N 56)

Built By: Chatham Dockyard (Medway)
Build Group: G2
Fate: HMS Grampus was reported missing on her first War Patrol. In the Mediterranean. The Submarine was 'lost with all hands' on 16th June 1940 off Syracuse having been detected and depth charged by Italian torpedo boats Circe, Clio and Polluce.

Grampus

Grampus

Grampus

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Commanders
1939: Lieutenant Commander   Charles Alexander Rowe
1940: Lieutenant Commander   Gilbert Hugh Nowell
1940: Lieutenant Commander   Charles Alexander Rowe

Based with the 4th Submarine Flotilla in the Far East on the outbreak of WW2 HMS Grampus completed three Far East War Patrols in the waters of the Dutch East Indies before being redeployed to the Mediterranean in June 1940.

Roll of Honour
59
Albrow, Ronald Ernest
P/J 105330
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 34
Leading Seaman
Atkin, George William
P/KX 84056
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 27
Leading Stoker
Baker, Walter Epsley
C/KX 87152
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 24
Stoker 1st Class
Barnard, Herbert Peter
C/JX 143884
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 21
Able Seaman
Bowler, Frederick Stanley
C/MX 48431
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 32
Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class
Brownlie, Thomas Hannah
P/KX 83880
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 25
Leading Stoker
Buckler, Leslie Edward
(Ex.M35606)
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 35
Warrant Engineer
Bull, Edward Bertie
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 31
Lieutenant
Burch, Bertram
P/J 103744
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 34
Able Seaman
Burton, Thomas Richard
C/JX 137770
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 23
Leading Seaman
Butcher, Frederick
C/KX 83578
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 24
Leading Stoker
Church, William
P/JX 139118
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 22
Leading Seaman
Clarke, Austin William
C/KX 88394
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 26
Leading Stoker
Collins, Ronald
D/JX 128722
Born: 2nd Feb, 1911.
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 29
From: Christchurch, Hampshire UK
Leading Seaman
At Birth Chrismas, Ronald, Served as Collins, Ronald
Cousins, Arthur Robert
P/JX 139935
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 22
Leading Seaman
Cryle, Alfred Main
P/MX 49809
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 28
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class
Cuthbert, Gordon
P/KX 85500
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 23
Leading Stoker
Denyer, Clement James
P/J 100915
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 36
Able Seaman
Dorrell, Kenneth John
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 24
Lieutenant
Edwards, Enoch Prince
D/KX 77440
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 37
Stoker Petty Officer
Frampton, Kenneth John
C/JX 133987
Born: 19th Dec, 1913.
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 26
From: Wandsworth, London UK
Petty Officer Telegraphist
Glanville, William George
D/JX 127473
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 29
Petty Officer
Groves, Roy Ronald
P/MX 51371
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 26
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class
Halliday, Ivan
P/JX 139155
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 22
Able Seaman
Harnden, Frederick William
P/JX 129944
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 29
Telegraphist
Hart, Albert
P/J 39728
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 40
Chief Petty Officer
Hedley, Walter
P/KX 79193
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 31
Stoker Petty Officer
Heselton, John
C/MX 49370
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 26
Leading Cook
Hodge, Robert Ellis
P/J 88095
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 38
Able Seaman
Long, Stephen Henry
D/JX 140251
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 22
Telegraphist
Marriott, Patrick Arthur
P/KX 88873
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 22
Stoker 1st Class
Marshall, William Agnew
D/MX 53015
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 26
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class
McConville, Paul Edward
D/KX 82056
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 26
Leading Stoker
Messenger, Frederick Philip
C/J 106163
Born: 13th May, 1907.
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 33
From: Christchurch, Hampshire UK
Petty Officer
At Birth Messenger, Edwin John, Served as Messenger, Frederick Philip
Nicholson, Eric George
D/JX 133798
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 26
Able Seaman
Noone, Edward
D/KX 84040
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 26
Stoker 1st Class
Northcott, Lewis Henry Jordan
D/K 64036
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 36
Stoker Petty Officer
Parker, Albert Edward
C/KX 82248
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 26
Leading Stoker
Pashley, Paul Wattam
C/MX 49883
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 31
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class
Paxton, Alexandria Adolphus
P/J 49226
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 40
Chief Petty Officer Telegraphist
Redding, Ronald Frederick John
C/JX 159219
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 21
Able Seaman
Richardson, Frederick
D/KX 88824
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 25
Stoker 1st Class
Roberts, George
C/JX 137785
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 21
Able Seaman
Robinson, William Thomas
P/J 112988
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 30
Petty Officer
Rowe, Charles Alexander
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 35
Lieutenant Commander
Commanding Officer
Scott, Charles
C/J 138217
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 23
Able Seaman
Smith, Nicoll Andrew
C/KX 89128
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 23
Stoker 1st Class
Stinchcombe, Colyn James
P/J 139021
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 23
Leading Seaman
Storey, Douglas
D/KX 89153
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 21
Stoker 1st Class
Swift, George Henry Joseph
D/J 132329
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 27
Telegraphist
Tamplin, Donald Walter Ewart
D/JX 141387
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 22
Able Seaman
Thompson, Thomas Edward
D/KX 89555
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 23
Stoker 1st Class
Wallis, Arthur Edward
P/M 35030
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 36
Chief Engine Room Artificer
Watkin, John Harold
P/MX 47574
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 31
Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class
Welbourn, Thomas Henry
P/KX 88373
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 26
Stoker 1st Class
Whittle, Joseph
C/KX 80481
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 28
Leading Stoker
Willcox, Edward George
D/JX 134546
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 25
Leading Seaman
Wilson, Charles Cornelius (RNR)
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Aged: 24
Sub Lieutenant
Yen, Miao Feng
S41-5 B
Died: 16th Jun, 1940.
Chinese Steward

Events

20-08-1934  Laid Down
25-02-1936  Launched
10-03-1937  Completed
10-06-1940  HMS Grampus departs Malta.
13-06-1940  HMS Grampus laid a minefield off Augusta, Sicily. She had left Malta on the 10th
13-06-1940  HMS Grampus attacks the Italian submarine Giovanni Bausan and the Italian torpedo boat Polluce with torpedoes. The attack however fails. Grampus also laid a minefield (50 mines) off Augusta, Sicily, Italy.
16-06-1940  Lost while minelaying off Augusta, Sicily

On the 10th June 1940 HMS Grampus sailed from Malta to lay mines off the port of Augusta. Three days later she reported this had been done successfully but nothing further was heard and she did not return from the patrol. It is believed that the Italian Navy sank her on the 16th June. At 1900 on the 16th the Torpedo Boat Circe spotted a periscope and launched a depth charge attack on the position, along with the Polluce. The ninth depth charge pattern destroyed Grampus, which gave up a mass of wreckage.

Ships Badge
Official
Admiralty Approved 24th May, 1933
Motto Grandis inter alios. (Great among others.)
Symbology The killer whale.
Design Notes A silver grampus embowed to the dexter on a green background.
G2 Specification
Length overall  289 ft
Beam  25 ft 6 inch
Draught  16 ft 10 inch
Displacement   1768 tons (surface)
  2053 tons (submerged)
Diving Depth  300 ft
No. of shafts  2
Speed  Surface 15 knots (design)
  Surface 16 knots (service)
  Submerged 8.75 knots (design)
  Submerged 8.9 knots (service)
Armament  6 x 21 inch bow tubes (12 torpedoes carried)
  1 x 4 inch gun
  50 x Mk XVI mines
Complement  55
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