Tarpon (N 17)

Home → Boats → Submarines → T Class → Tarpon

Tarpon (N 17)

Built By:	Scotts (Clyde)
Build Group:	T 1
Fate:	HMS Tarpon left Portsmouth for Rosyth on 5th April 1940. She was diverted to patrol around Norway on 6th April 1940. Around 0600 hours on 10th April 1940 the Tarpon encountered the German 'Q-ship' Schiff 40 west of Jutland, Denmark. Tarpon attacked the German vessel with two torpedoes both of which missed. It is assumed that Tarpon was sunk with all hands by depth charges in a counter-attack by Schiff 40. Tarpon was reported overdue on 22nd April 1940. Tarpon was probably the first British submarine to be lost to depth charges in WW2.

Tarpon (N 17)

Upload An Image Of This Boat

Commanders

1938:	Commander	Robert Cecil Somers Garwood
1940:	Lieutenant Commander	Herbert James Caldwell

1940: Home Station.

Was part of the submarine force which was in the Kattegat and off the coast of Norway during the German invasion of Norway

In March 2016 the wreck of HMS Tarpon was discovered 40 metres beneath the waves off the coast of Denmark.

The divers found some of the hatches open, the glass in the periscope shattered and severe destruction below the tower where it appeared to have been hit by a depth charge. There was also evidence of a battle, with two of its torpedo tubes empty. German naval records suggest the Tarpon had fired twice at a German merchant ship before being sunk in a devastating counterattack.

The submarine was discovered in March by a Danish war museum owner, Gert Normann Andersen, and a UK marine archaeologist, Dr Innes McCartney.

McCartney, a veteran submarine finder, who was on board the explorer ship when divers filmed the wreck stated:.

No one even knew it was there, It looked very bad. They had depth charged it on several occasions. The damage was so severe behind the conning tower it would have flooded in seconds.

There was also a crater on the seabed, a rare phenomenon apparently created by one of the powerful depth charges.

The submarine stood almost upright on the seabed and had attracted shoals of cod as well as ocean debris including ropes and fishing nets, some of which had to be cleared before filming.

Roll of Honour


Alexander, Arthur George P/J 93213
Alexander, Arthur George P/J 93213		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 37

Allison, Francis C/KX 83188
Allison, Francis C/KX 83188		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 24

Andrew, Walter D/MX 51926
Andrew, Walter D/MX 51926		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class	Aged: 26

Banfield, Edgar D/J 77988
Banfield, Edgar D/J 77988		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Chief Petty Officer	Aged: 37

Barrett, George James C/KX 80350
Barrett, George James C/KX 80350		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Leading Stoker	Aged: 28

Beaumont, Alan Arthur P/JX 142308
Beaumont, Alan Arthur P/JX 142308		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 21

Brewer, Alfred Cornelius P/J 109329
Brewer, Alfred Cornelius P/J 109329		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Telegraphist	Aged: 32

Cadby, Cyril George D/JX 139976
Cadby, Cyril George D/JX 139976		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Leading Signalman	Aged: 22

Caldwell, Herbert James
Caldwell, Herbert James		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Lieutenant Commander	Aged: 34
	Commanding Officer

Cavaye, James P/M 38605
Cavaye, James P/M 38605		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Petty Officer Cook	Aged: 34

Chadwick, George James P/JX 135579
Chadwick, George James P/JX 135579		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Telegraphist	Aged: 24

Chilton, Stanley D/KX 86850
Chilton, Stanley D/KX 86850		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 23

Collins, Leslie Alban C/J 103082
Collins, Leslie Alban C/J 103082		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Chief Petty Officer	Aged: 34

Davidson, James Kennedy P/SSX 14483
Davidson, James Kennedy P/SSX 14483		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 24

Davies, Thomas Eirwyn D/KX 84743
Davies, Thomas Eirwyn D/KX 84743		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 24

Davies, Thomas Walter C/KX 80223
Davies, Thomas Walter C/KX 80223		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 30

Ede, William James Ewart P/J 114117
Ede, William James Ewart P/J 114117		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Petty Officer Telegraphist	Aged: 30

Endersby, Sidney Claude P/J 113098
Endersby, Sidney Claude P/J 113098		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Petty Officer	Aged: 30

Etheridge, George Davis P/M 34444
Etheridge, George Davis P/M 34444		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Chief Engine Room Artificer 1st Class	Aged: 36

Ferguson, John D/JX 164945
Ferguson, John D/JX 164945		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 41
	Ex.J35001

Fleming, William Henry C/JX 128503
Fleming, William Henry C/JX 128503		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Petty Officer	Aged: 28

Gathergood, Joseph Albert C/KX 98416
Gathergood, Joseph Albert C/KX 98416		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Leading Stoker	Aged: 43
	Ex.K24737

Globe, Sydney C/K 65252
Globe, Sydney C/K 65252		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 35

Goodall, Thomas C/JX 138369
Goodall, Thomas C/JX 138369		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 23

Gregory, Albert Edward C/JX 126436
Gregory, Albert Edward C/JX 126436		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Petty Officer	Aged: 29

Hammersley, Arthur Frank Cullimore D/MX 46764
Hammersley, Arthur Frank Cullimore D/MX 46764		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class	Aged: 32

Harrison, Thomas Carty D/J 107568
Harrison, Thomas Carty D/J 107568		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 32

Hart, George Albert C/J 113010
Hart, George Albert C/J 113010		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 32

Harvey, Leslie James D/JX 136108
Harvey, Leslie James D/JX 136108		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Leading Telegraphist	Aged: 24

Hills, Arthur Alfred D/J 108275
Hills, Arthur Alfred D/J 108275		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 33

Hoggett, Harry John Rosce P/M 27357
Hoggett, Harry John Rosce P/M 27357		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Chief Engine Room Artificer	Aged: 38

Holliday, William C/LX 21265
Holliday, William C/LX 21265		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Leading Steward	Aged: 28

Hubbard, Frank Philip David P/J 45401
Hubbard, Frank Philip David P/J 45401		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 39

Jope, William Birtwhistle D/KX 91430
Jope, William Birtwhistle D/KX 91430		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 20

Kellond, Reginald D/M 38362
Kellond, Reginald D/M 38362		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class	Aged: 31

Kettle, Lawrence Henry
Kettle, Lawrence Henry		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Lieutenant	Aged: 26

Leonard, William C/KX 83072
Leonard, William C/KX 83072		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Leading Stoker	Aged: 25

Luff, Ronald P/KX 83269
Luff, Ronald P/KX 83269		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 29

Paterson, James George Wallace P/M 39375
Paterson, James George Wallace P/M 39375		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Chief Engine Room Artificer	Aged: 30

Perkins, Leslie William C/JX 131917
Perkins, Leslie William C/JX 131917		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Leading Telegraphist	Aged: 28

Raggett, Archibald Fred P/K 57325
Raggett, Archibald Fred P/K 57325		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Chief Stoker	Aged: 39

Sherry, Rodney William
Sherry, Rodney William		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Warrant Engineer	Aged: 40
	Ex.M14953

Smith, John C/J 105724
Smith, John C/J 105724		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Leading Seaman	Aged: 33

Snell, Stanley Raymond D/KX 89519
Snell, Stanley Raymond D/KX 89519		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 24

Spurden, Ernest George Victor C/J 127480
Spurden, Ernest George Victor C/J 127480		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Leading Seaman	Aged: 30

Tatlock, James C/SSX 16071
Tatlock, James C/SSX 16071		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 23

Templeton, George Edward D/K 64242
Templeton, George Edward D/K 64242		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 34

Thomas, William Ninian Crichton D/KX 86588
Thomas, William Ninian Crichton D/KX 86588		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 23

Trott, Philip Michael John D/KX 81624
Trott, Philip Michael John D/KX 81624		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 26

Walker, Roderic John C/KX 83031
Walker, Roderic John C/KX 83031		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Leading Stoker	Aged: 25

Walsh, Harold P/KX 76676
Walsh, Harold P/KX 76676		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Stoker Petty Officer	Aged: 34

Weatherall, Hugh Derek Andre
Weatherall, Hugh Derek Andre		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Sub Lieutenant	Aged: 21

Wren, Charles Bate Limpright (RNR)
Wren, Charles Bate Limpright (RNR)		Died: 10th Apr, 1940.
	Lieutenant Commander	Aged: 31

Events

05-10-1937	Laid Down

07-10-1938	Launched

08-03-1940	Completed

10-04-1940	Lost. On 5th April 1940 HMS Tarpon left Portsmouth for Rosyth in company with HMS Severn. The following day they were ordered to Norway. On the 10th Tarpon was signaled to take up a new position. Unknown to the Admiralty the submarine had already been lost. Post War German records showed that Tarpon attacked the Q-ship Schiff 40 at 0724: the first torpedo missed as did a second. The Q-ship picked up the Tarpon on her sonar and her periscope was sighted, depth charges were dropped. The counter attack went on most of the morning until finally at 1252 a pattern of depth charges brought wreckage to the surface. The Schiff remained on the scene until 0500 the next morning secure in the knowledge that she had sunk the submarine.

Comments

Comment by: Hazel Parkes on January 15th, 2019

My grandmother Eliza Howarth ne Tatlock lost her son James Tatlock on the HMS Tarpon no c/ssx.16071 .She was notified on 29th may 1940 he was presumed dead as all hope had been given up. Its a comfort to read the informatio about his final resting place. Thankyou. Anne Parkes ( neice)

Add A Comment (click to open)

This form is for you to comment on, or add additional information to this page. Any questions will be deleted. If you wish to ask a question contact the Branch or the Webmaster using the Contact Us page or ask your question on our Facebook Page


Name		E-Mail	Your email will not be shown, but is required
Anti Spam:	Type the following code exactly as shown into the box below. VLqY
Note: All submissions are subject to approval prior to appearing on the page. As a SPAM prevention measure, any comments containing links to other sites will be automatically discarded.

Length overall	275 ft
Beam	26 ft 6 inch
Depth	14 ft 3 inch
Displacement	1327 tons (surface)
	1575 tons (submerged)
Diving Depth	300 ft
Speed	Surface 15.25 knots (design)
	Surface 15.25 knots (service)
	Submerged 9 knots (design)
	Submerged8.75 knots (service)
No. of shafts	2
Endurance	Surface: 7500 miles at 15.25 knots (design)
	(ii) Surface: 8000 miles at 10 knots (service)
	Submerged: 80 miles at 4 knots (design)
	Submerged: 80 miles at 4 knots (service)
Armament	(i) 8 21 inch bow tubes (2 external)
	2 x 21 inch amidship tubes
	(16 torpedoes carried)
	1 x 4 inch gun
	(ii) 0.303 inch machine-guns
Complement	(peacetime) 5 Officers and 51 Ratings
	(wartime) 6 Officers and 56 Ratings
Notes	(i) As an alternative load, Group 1 submarines could carry 18 mines
	(ii) These were later replaced by, or supplemented by one 20mm Oerlikon cannon

Class:	1942 - 1946: X Class
Built By:	Varley Marine (Hamble)
Build Group:	XP
Fate:
Scrapped 1945

RN Subs

Tarpon (N 17)

Commanders

Roll of Honour

Events

Comments

Boat Classes

Boats In Class

T 1 Specification

Featured Badge

X 3 (Piker)

Featured Film

Latest Updated Pages

Errors and Corrections

Every Little Bit Helps