| Built By: | Cammell Laird (Mersey) |
| Build Group: | T 1 |
| Fate: | HMS Thunderbolt was 'lost with all hands' in the Mediterranean off Cap San Vito, Sicily on 14th Mar 1943. HMS Thunderbolt was detected, in the early hours of 14th Mar, by the Italian Destroyer Cicogna (Lieutenant Augusto Migliorini). Following a three and a half hour pursuit the Cicogna made a depth charge attack at 0845. This brought the stern of Thunderbolt to the surface before the submarine finally sank. |
HMS Thunderbolt submarine (formerly HMS Thetis) entering Plymouth harbour
HMS Thunderbolt was designated to take part in Operation Principle, a Chariot attack on Italian shipping in the Northern Sicilian port of Palermo. Operation Principle called for Thunderbolt to carry two Chariots and their crews for an attack to start on the night of 2nd/3rd January 1943. Of the two Chariots launched one (Chariot No. XXII) carried out a successful attack resulting in the sinking of the Italian Cruiser Ulpio Traiano and possible damage to three Submarine Chasers and a Merchant Vessel. The second Chariot, No. XXIII, suffered a battery explosion and went out of control in a rapid dive. The No. 1 Crew managed to reach the surface, but the No.2 Crew was lost.
Richard Greenland carried out a successful attack (with L/Sea Ferrier) resulting in the sinking of the Italian Cruiser Ulpio Traiano and was awarded the DSO, see London Gazette dated 14th Apr 1944
For great gallantry in carrying out a daring attack at night, with "Human Torpedoes" on the strongly defended enemy base at Palermo. The operation was most hazardous. The defences of the harbour had to be penetrated and its whole length crossed without detection and the "Human Torpedoes" manoeuvred into position under the targets. An enemy cruiser was sunk and a transport much damaged.
Richard Greenland was taken Prisoner of War.
Alexander Ferrier was awarded the Polish medal, Krzyz Waleccznych (Cross of Valour) see London Gazette dated 17th Oct 1941 'in recognition of his service in the Polish Ship ORP Grom'. Alexander Ferrier later volunteered for 'Special Service' and trained as a 'Charioteer'. He carried out a successful attack (with Lieutenant Greenland) on the Sicilian port of Palermo resulting in the sinking of the Italian Cruiser Ulpio Traiano and was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, see London Gazette dated 14th Apr 1944
For great gallantry in carrying out a daring attack at night, with "Human Torpedoes" on the strongly defended enemy base at Palermo. The operation was most hazardous. The defences of the harbour had to be penetrated and its whole length crossed without detection and the "Human Torpedoes" manoeuvred into position under the targets. An enemy cruiser was sunk and a transport much damaged.
L/Sea Ferrier was taken Prisoner of War
He was Mentioned in Dispatches, see London Gazette dated 14th Apr 1944
For great gallantry in carrying out a daring attack at night, with "Human Torpedoes" on the strongly defended enemy base at Palermo. The operation was most hazardous. The defences of the harbour had to be penetrated and its whole length crossed without detection and the "Human Torpedoes" manoeuvred into position under the targets. An enemy cruiser was sunk and a transport much damaged
PO Miln was taken Prisoner of War
Walter Simpson was twenty-two years old, and he was the son of Walter and May Simpson of Blackburn, Lancashire. He died 3rd January 1943 his body was recovered, and he was buried in the Catania War Cemetery in Sicily.
HMS Thunderbolt was designated to take part in Operation Welcome a Chariot attack on shipping in the North African port of Tripoli. It was necessary to sink these ships before they could be used as 'Block Ships' by the retreating German forces.
Operation Welcome called for Thunderbolt to carry two Chariots (Chariots Nos. XII and XIII) and their crews for an attack to start on the night of 18th/19th January 1943. One of the Chariots, No. XII, suffered damaged to the hydroplanes on launch although the damage was not apparent until the No. 1 decided to dive on approach to harbour. Despite efforts the Chariot was not controllable, and the attack was abandoned.
The two Crew made their way ashore and, evading capture, eventually made their way to safety. The second Chariots crew (No. XIII) located their subsidiary target which was attacked. The Crew eventually made their way ashore. Here they were taken 'Prisoner of War' by the Italians. These two later escaped from their POW Camp and made their way to the Vatican City where they found refuge until the Italian surrender.
They were:
On Thursday 1st June 1939 the brand new submarine HMS Thetis (Lieutenant Commander Guy H Bolus) sailed from the Birkenhead Yard of Cammell Laird into Liverpool Bay to carry out diving trials. In addition to the normal crew of fifty five Officers and Ratings there were a large number of passengers both uniformed personnel and civilians on board for Trials purposes. This took the total number of personnel onboard the Submarine up to one hundred and one. During the dive difficulties were encountered with the trim of the submarine.
Roll of Honour |
63
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| McKee, Joseph |
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| Stoker 1st Class | ||||||
| Died in an incident at the end of the repair work after the recovery of HMS Thetis, and nine days before the submarine was due to join the 2nd Submarine Flotilla based on HMS Forth at the Holy Loch for a Work The full circumstances of his death are not established.' |
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| Bird, Ernest William |
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| Petty Officer Cook | ||||||
| Blane, Thomas Tonar |
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| Leading Telegraphist | ||||||
| Boulton, Thomas Aldous DSM |
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| Stoker Petty Officer | ||||||
| Bradley, William Michael McKinlay |
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| Able Seaman | ||||||
| Brister, David |
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| Able Seaman | ||||||
| Cale, James Alfred DSM |
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| Petty Officer | ||||||
| Cannon, Martin |
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| Stoker 1st Class | ||||||
| Cook, Stanley |
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| Engine Room Artificer 4th Class | ||||||
| Cooper, Samuel |
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| Leading Stoker | ||||||
| Crane, Charles Henry Arthur |
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| Petty Officer | ||||||
| Crouch, Cecil Bernard DSO** |
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| Lieutenant Commander | ||||||
| Curry, Thomas MID |
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| Petty Officer | ||||||
| Curtis, George William DSM* |
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| Chief Engine Room Artificer | ||||||
| Daly, Michael Alphonsus |
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| Stoker 1st Class | ||||||
| Doughty, William George |
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| Stoker 1st Class | ||||||
| Downham, Albert Edward |
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| Engine Room Artificer 4th Class | ||||||
| Edgar, John |
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| Lieutenant | ||||||
| Elliott, Charles Stanley |
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| Petty Officer | ||||||
| Freeman, Stanlet Reginald |
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| Petty Officer Telegraphist | ||||||
| Galloway, William Thomas MID* |
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| Able Seaman | ||||||
| Gilroy, Stanley |
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| Able Seaman | ||||||
| Golding, William Henry |
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| Stoker 1st Class | ||||||
| Harris, Victor Randolph MID |
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| Able Seaman | ||||||
| Heathcote, Eric |
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| Leading Seaman | ||||||
| Hines, Victor White |
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| Leading Stoker | ||||||
| Horlick, Gerald Peter |
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| Lieutenant | ||||||
| Hughes, John Kenneth |
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| Able Seaman | ||||||
| Hussey-Yeo, Leslie David DSM |
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| Able Seaman | ||||||
| Japp, Alexander William |
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| Telegraphist | ||||||
| Johnson, Sidney Leslie |
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| Able Seaman | ||||||
| Keenan, Ronald W |
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| Able Seaman | ||||||
| Kelsey, Raymond |
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| Able Seaman | ||||||
| King, Reginald Stanley |
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| Leading Signalman | ||||||
| Lee, James Augustus |
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| Petty Officer | ||||||
| Lowe, Fred MID |
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| Stoker Petty Officer | ||||||
| Lynch, Roderick DSM |
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| Chief Engine Room Artificer | ||||||
| Macleod, Daniel Archibald |
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| Stoker 1st Class | ||||||
| Maw, Edmund Philip (RNVR) |
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| Lieutenant | ||||||
| McGow, Edward |
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| Stoker 1st Class | ||||||
| McNally, Daniel |
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| Stoker 1st Class | ||||||
| Mitchell, Richard Edwin |
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| Able Seaman | ||||||
| Moore, Leonard Jack DSM |
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| Able Seaman | ||||||
| Murray, George Nicholas |
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| Leading Telegraphist | ||||||
| Newcombe, James Edward |
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| Able Seaman | ||||||
| Newman, Frederick Charles |
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| Stoker 1st Class | ||||||
| Newton, Richard |
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| Leading Stoker | ||||||
| Norwood, Ronald John |
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| Stoker 1st Class | ||||||
| Preece, Douglas John MID |
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| Able Seaman | ||||||
| Prince, Frederick Walter |
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| Stoker 1st Class | ||||||
| Rice, Samuel |
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| Able Seaman | ||||||
| Ringham, Fred |
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| Chief Petty Officer | ||||||
| Saunders, Frank |
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| Able Seaman | ||||||
| Spice, Ronald Wilfred |
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| Engine Room Artificer | ||||||
| Stanley, Clifford |
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| Stoker 1st Class | ||||||
| Trayler, William Joseph |
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| Ordinary Seaman | ||||||
| Walters, Harold Percy DSM* |
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| Chief Petty Officer | ||||||
| Webb, Reginald Peter |
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| Lieutenant | ||||||
| Whitbread, Henry James Webb DSM* |
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| Petty Officer | ||||||
| White, Donald Harvey |
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| Able Seaman | ||||||
| Wilson, Horace Dent |
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| Able Seaman | ||||||
| Woodcock, Dudley Abel Montague |
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| Warrant Engineer | ||||||
| York, Thomas |
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| Petty Officer Steward | ||||||
| 21-12-1936 | Laid Down |
| 29-06-1938 | Launched |
| 01-11-1940 | Completed |
| 15-12-1940 | At 1017 hours the Italian submarine Capitano Tarantini was torpedoed and sunk south-west of the Gironde Estuary near Bordeaux, France. |
| 15-06-1941 | HMS Thunderbolt fires torpedoes at the German submarine U-557 in the North Atlantic. The torpedoes miss. |
| 07-09-1941 | HMS Thunderbolt torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Sirena about 50 miles west of Benghasi, Libya. |
| 10-09-1941 | HMS Thunderbolt sinks the Italian auxiliary patrol vessel V 224/Svan I with gunfire in the Gulf of Syrte off Marsa el Auegia. |
| 11-09-1941 | HMS Thunderbolt torpedoes and sinks the German merchant Livorno about 35 nautical miles west-south-west of Benghazi, Libya. |
| 14-09-1941 | HMS Thunderbolt fires three torpedoes against the German merchant Tinos about 30 nautical miles north-west of Benghazi, Libya. All torpedoes missed. |
| 10-10-1941 | HMS Thunderbolt sinks the Italian sailing vessel Citta di Simi with gunfire some 12 miles north-east of Cape Sidero, Crete. |
| 25-11-1941 | HMS Thunderbolt sinks the German sailing vessel L VII with gunfire off Kythera, Greece. |
| 02-01-1942 | HMS Thunderbolt torpedoes and damages the Italian merchant Anna Capano off Argostoli, Keffalonia Island, Greece. |
| 04-01-1942 | HMS Thunderbolt sinks the Italian auxiliary minesweeper R 195/Nuovo San Pietro with gunfire west off Keffalonia Island, Greece. |
| 30-01-1942 | HMS Thunderbolt fires four torpedoes against the Italian torpedo boat Solferino in the Ionian Sea. |
| 01-02-1942 | HMS Thunderbolt torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Absirtea about 6 nautical miles off Cape Dukato, Greece. |
| 03-02-1942 | HMS Thunderbolt damages the Italian auxiliary submarine chaser AS 80/Lanciotto Piero with gunfire off Gheregambe. |
| 06-03-1942 | HMS Thunderbolt attacks the German submarine U-431 south-west of Crete. The German submarine escapes unharmed. |
| 13-02-1943 | HMS Thunderbolt sinks the Italian auxiliary minesweeper No.112/Mafalda with gunfire off Isola Lungha. |
| 18-02-1943 | HMS Thunderbolt damages the Italian auxiliary patrol vessel F 95/San Giorgio with gunfire north-west of Pola. |
| 20-02-1943 | HMS Thunderbolt sinks an Italian sailing vessel with gunfire off Bari. |
| 12-03-1943 | Torpedoed the Italian merchant ship Esterel two miles north of Capo San Vito. |
| 14-03-1943 | At 2210 on Friday 12th March the Italian merchant ship Esterel was torpedoed two miles north of Capo San Vito. Following the attack the torpedo boat Libra was ordered to seek out the submarine responsible - HMS Thunderbolt. The Libra made contact with the Thunderbolt that night and carried out seven depth charge attacks with no result. On Sunday 14th March the Italian corvette Cicogna obtained a contact and shortly after 0734 a periscope was sighted 2000 yards off the corvettes bow. At 0845 the periscope was again sighted, this time less than 10 feet away. Depth charges were launched at once and the corvette increased it speed and turned for another attack when an explosion lifted the submarines stern out of the sea at an angle of 90 degrees. The submarine sank through a discharge of air and oil. A further two depth charges were dropped resulting in air bubbles, oil and smoke appearing on the surface were the submarine had sunk. The Cicogna remained on station for an hour but no further contact was made. |
| 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 |
Further Reading |
|
| Thetis Down |
Tony Booth The Slow Death of a Submarine explores in minute detail a more rounded picture of what really happened before, during and after her tragic loss. In doing so Tony Booths book also takes a fresh look at culpability and explores some of the alleged conspiracy theories that surrounded her demise. |
| Thetis |
David Paul The true story of loss of His Majesty's Submarine Thetis is still shrouded in mystery. As a result of media coverage at the time, a number of conspiracy theories were spawned, some gaining more credence than others, in light of the inconclusive findings of the official reports. In Thetis: Submarine Disaster, |
| The Admiralty Regrets |
C.E.T. Warren / James Benson The story of the Thetis Submarine Tragedy in 1939, is the definitive account of the whole sorry episode of the Birkenhead built vessel that cost 99 lives; still today the worst submarine disaster in British History. |
| Only Four Escaped |
James D Benson / Charles Esme Thornton W The hour-by-hour account of the bravery, bungling, helplessness and heroism of men trapped by the sea. |
| HMS Thetis |
David Roberts After an exhaustive two-year search for the truth about the events and aftermath of this terrible Submarine disaster in Liverpool Bay, June 1939, David Roberts has at last found some shocking hitherto unpublished details. |
Egmont 1863 - 1923 |
|
| Class: | Depot Ships |
| Built By: | |
| Build Group: | Achilles |
|
Fate: Sold for scrap on 26 January 1923 to the Granton Shipbreaking Co. |
|
Before Harrison Ford assumed the mantle of playing Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan hero in Patriot Games, Alec Baldwin took a swing at the character in this John McTiernan film and hit one to the fence. If less instantly sympathetic than Ford, Baldwin is in some respects more interesting and nuanced as Ryan, and drawing comparisons between both actors' performances can make for some interesting post-movie discussion.
That aside, The Hunt for Red October stands alone as a uniquely exciting adventure with a fantastic co-star: Sean Connery as a Russian nuclear submarine captain attempting to defect to the West on his ship. Ryan must figure out his true motives for approaching the US.
McTiernan (Predator, Die Hard) made an exceptionally handsome movie here with action sequences that really do take one's breath away.
13 pages added or updated in the last Array month
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Thankyou for your support.
| 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 |
Further Reading |
|
| Thetis Down |
|
Tony Booth The Slow Death of a Submarine explores in minute detail a more rounded picture of what really happened before, during and after her tragic loss. In doing so Tony Booths book also takes a fresh look at culpability and explores some of the alleged conspiracy theories that surrounded her demise. |
| Thetis |
|
David Paul The true story of loss of His Majesty's Submarine Thetis is still shrouded in mystery. As a result of media coverage at the time, a number of conspiracy theories were spawned, some gaining more credence than others, in light of the inconclusive findings of the official reports. In Thetis: Submarine Disaster, |
| The Admiralty Regrets |
|
C.E.T. Warren / James Benson The story of the Thetis Submarine Tragedy in 1939, is the definitive account of the whole sorry episode of the Birkenhead built vessel that cost 99 lives; still today the worst submarine disaster in British History. |
| Only Four Escaped |
|
James D Benson / Charles Esme Thornton W The hour-by-hour account of the bravery, bungling, helplessness and heroism of men trapped by the sea. |
| HMS Thetis |
|
David Roberts After an exhaustive two-year search for the truth about the events and aftermath of this terrible Submarine disaster in Liverpool Bay, June 1939, David Roberts has at last found some shocking hitherto unpublished details. |
Egmont 1863 - 1923 |
|
| Class: | Depot Ships |
| Built By: | |
| Build Group: | Achilles |
|
Fate: Sold for scrap on 26 January 1923 to the Granton Shipbreaking Co. |
|
Before Harrison Ford assumed the mantle of playing Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan hero in Patriot Games, Alec Baldwin took a swing at the character in this John McTiernan film and hit one to the fence. If less instantly sympathetic than Ford, Baldwin is in some respects more interesting and nuanced as Ryan, and drawing comparisons between both actors' performances can make for some interesting post-movie discussion.
That aside, The Hunt for Red October stands alone as a uniquely exciting adventure with a fantastic co-star: Sean Connery as a Russian nuclear submarine captain attempting to defect to the West on his ship. Ryan must figure out his true motives for approaching the US.
McTiernan (Predator, Die Hard) made an exceptionally handsome movie here with action sequences that really do take one's breath away.
13 pages added or updated in the last Array 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: Alix Griffiths on December 13th, 2020
My Grandfather told me that he was amongst several Allied soldiers who escaped from Crete and were taken by boat to the Thunderbolt after the island fell. They were taken to Alexandria by the submarine. He called it the Thetis/Thunderbolt.
Comment by: Andrew Barnes,formerly Cook on November 5th, 2019
Please note Stanley Cook was an Electrical Artificer
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