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Sterlet (N 22)

Built By: Chatham Dockyard (Medway)
Build Group: S2
Fate: HMS Sterlet (Lt. Cdr. G R S Haward, RN) is believed to have been sunk on 18th April 1940 in the Skaggerak south of Larvik in Norway in position 58°55'N, 10°10'E after an attack by the German antisubmarine trawlers UJ-125, UJ-126 and UJ-128

Although it is possible that she might have survived the attack and was mined while returning to base.
Sterlet (N 22)
Sterlet (N 22)
Sterlet (N 22)
Sterlet (N 22)
Sterlet (N 22)
Sterlet (N 22)

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Commanders
1939: Lieutenant Commander   Gerard Henry Stacpoole Haward

1933-1934: Portsmouth
1934-1936: Portland
1936-1939: Home Fleet
1939-1940: Dundee, Rosyth, Blyth

Roll of Honour
41
Died: 18-04-1840
Akien, Nicholas  D/KX 88098
Stoker 1st Class Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 22
Andrews, George William Alexander  P/JX 138738
Able Seaman Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 22
Benson, James  D/JX 138867
Telegraphist Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 22
Bessell, Henry Thomas  D/JX 136593
Leading Seaman Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 24
Brightman, Alfred Arthur  P/J 114357
Petty Officer Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 30
Bryson, Robert McAusland  C/JX 14141
Leading Telegraphist Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 22
Campbell, Kenneth  C/JX 130771
Able Seaman Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 29
Chilton, George  P/SSX 17860
Able Seaman Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 24
Crone, John Smyth  (RNVR)
Surgeon Lieutenant Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 24
Dixon, Frank Eric Patrick  C/J 108928
Leading Telegraphist Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 32
Dunn, Harry  C/JX 129256
Petty Officer Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 28
Ellwood, Richard  C/J 75422
Able Seaman Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 38
Evans, William Edward Haslewood  P/MX 50815
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 26
Fox, George (Ex.Jx131014)  D/KX 87377
Stoker 1st Class Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 29
Franklin, Harry Charles John  P/J 112094
Petty Officer Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 31
Gray, Walter Robertson  D/KX 86093
Leading Stoker Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 24
Haward, Gerard Henry Stacpoole 
Lieutenant Commander Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 30
Commanding Officer
Hughes, Frank  P/JX 134680
Signalman Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 25
Jacques, Horace Samuel  D/J 112956
Petty Officer Telegraphist Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 30
Jones, Harley Frederick  D/SSX 18833
Able Seaman Born: 01-01-1920 Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 79
from Kidderminster
The second child of parents Wilfred and Agnes Jones (nee Millington).
Kay, Friend  KX 76700
Leading Stoker Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 33
Lake, Edward Charles  D/J 103460
Petty Officer Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 35
Lancaster, Harry  C/JX 142953
Able Seaman Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 22
Langridge, Alfred Oliver  C/K 63748
Stoker Petty Officer Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 41
Lloyd, John Augustus  P/KX 86075
Leading Stoker Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 24
Martin, Gerard John  P/KX 87882
Stoker 1st Class Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 22
Mercer, Norman Wilfred  C/MX 47755
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 26
Nicholson, George Bray  P/KX 87843
Leading Stoker Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 23
Nuttall, John Henry  D/MX 47689
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 26
Paige, Jack Collings  (RNR)
Lieutenant Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 27
Pickard, James Bevan  P/M 26962
Engine Room Artificer 1st Class Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 38
Popham, William Henry  P/JX 137164
Leading Seaman Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 23
Sarfas, Albert Stanley  (Ex.M18455)
Commissioned Engineer Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 39
Sargant, Walter Charles Reginald  C/K 59967
Leading Stoker Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 35
Sherrick, John  P/J 102187
Able Seaman Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 36
Thomsett, Henry George  P/JX 134346
Leading Signalman Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 25
Toombs, Roy  C/MX 47640
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 26
Wardle, Gilbert 
Sub Lieutenant Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 22
Wheeler, Francis Eric Thomas  P/KX 58360
Stoker 1st Class Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 38
Wood, Robert  C/KX 76274
Leading Stoker Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 32
Wright, Gordon James 
Lieutenant Died: 18-04-1840 Aged: 26

Events

 00-00-0000   Sterlets 4th patrol ended when she docked at Lowestoft where she underwent re-ballasting. On completion of her re-ballasting she was directed back to Harwich.
 19-09-1930   Completed her 1st war-patrol without incident
 14-07-1936   Laid Down
 22-09-1937   Launched
 06-04-1938   Completed
 03-09-1939   HMS Sterlet departed Dundee for her 1st war-patrol off south-west Norway.
 02-10-1939   Departed for 2nd war patrol off Stadlandet in Norway
 18-10-1939   Returned from 2nd war patrol off Stadlandet in Norway to Rosyth
 01-11-1939   Sterlet set-off on her 3rd war-patrol, having been ordered to patrol west of Denmark.
 16-11-1939   Sterlet returned from her 3rd war-patrol west of Denmark.
 20-11-1939   Arrived at Newcastle-on-Tyne where she started her re-fit at the Swan Hunter shipyard. The work was scheduled to take around a fortnight.
 28-02-1940   Sterlet departed Harwich for their 4th war-patrol in the North Sea to the north of the Netherlands
 14-03-1940   Sterlet left Harwich for a 5th war-patrol, being ordered to patrol in the North Sea.
 15-03-1940   Ordered to return to Harwich, docking on the 16th of March
 19-03-1940   HMS Sterlet sailed from Harwich for her 6th war-patrol. She was once again ordered to patrol in the North Sea.
 31-03-1940   HMS Sterlet ended her 6th war-patrol, returning to dock at Harwich.
 01-04-1940   HMS Sterlet departed Harwich for her 7th war-patrol; this time off the West coast of Denmark and around the entrance to the Skagerrak
 12-04-1940   Made an unsuccessful attack on an enemy convoy to the west of ‘The Skaw' (the English name for Skaggen Odde, a sandy peninsula at the northernmost tip of Jutland).
 15-04-1940   HMS Sterlet torpedoes and sinks the German gunnery training ship Brummer in the Skagerrak south of Larvik, Norway
 18-04-1940   HMS Sterlet was sunk

She attacked another enemy convoy made up of the German transporter's Moltkefels, Neidenfels and Hanau, escorted by the German minesweeper M 75 and several German auxiliaries.

The German submarine-chasers UJ 125, UJ 126 and UJ 128 were patrolling nearby when HMS Sterlet carried out this attack, leading them to launch a submarine-hunt which many believe, resulted in the sinking of HMS Sterlet.

There is however, a possibility that HMS Sterlet escaped the counterattack of the German anti-submarine trawlers, but later hit a mine on her way back to base.

Either way, she never returned from war-patrol No. 7; she was lost with all hands.
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