| Built By: | Vickers (Barrow) |
| Build Group: | T 1 |
| Fate: | After leaving Alexandria on 17th October 1941 en-route home to the UK via Malta and Gibraltar, the Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Greenway, was requested to carry out a short patrol off Cavioli Island after leaving Malta and before proceeding to Gibraltar. Her last recorded position was established with Submarine HMS P34 as being 37 Degrees 28 Minutes North, 12 Degrees 35 Minutes East in the Sicilian Channel on 27th October 1941. No more was heard from the submarine she was presumed to have been lost in a minefield either in the Sicilian Channel or off the Island of Cavioli on 27th October 1941. |
| 1939: | Lieutenant Commander | Ronald George Mills | DSO DSC |
| 1940: | Lieutenant Commander | Richard Micaiah Towgood Peacock | |
| 1941: | Lieutenant Commander | George Henry Greenway |
1940: Home Station.
1940-1941: Mediterranean
Tetrarch was configured as a minelayer based on a design which was implemented in Vickers build of 2 Russian submarines.
Involved in the Norwegian campaign of 1940.
Submitted by Jean-Pierre Misson - 19/01/2019
Several wrecks in a limited perimeter, off Tabarka Tunisia, have been sonar-located and identified as "Submarine" from their sonar image alone. Out of a total of five British submarines, three have been identified as being A renewed analysis of the images has allowed the identification of Mine Wells on the Starboard Ballast Tank of this wreck (only the well nearest to the muzzle of Torpedo Tube 9 is clearly visible). The distortion on image 3 is due to the need to adjust the range and pivot of the picture so as to see the Mine Well and its Shutter (both being physically "near-flat" on the ballast tank).
Out of all the The astounding result of this identification is that the minefield that caused so many foundering's must have been laid earlier than the date when HMS Tetrarch was lost in late 1941. Therefore, the earlier assumption that the minefield might have been planted by the German 3S Flotilla, is to be totally dismissed. This minefield was installed by the Italian Navy because the 3S Flotilla started laying mines off the Tunisian coast in late 1942, at the earliest.
So far, no record has been found about an Italian minefield planted off Tabarka in late 1941 but this can be explained by the fact that many Italian records did not survive the war. The the overall sonar picture of the forward section of the submarine clearly shows that a portion of the prow is missing as a result of hitting a mine.
This document might be further elaborated, later. At this point in time it is sufficient to say that we now know where the Crew of HMS Tetrarch is resting. There were no survivors, Tabarka Wreck 2F is their tomb.
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Roll of Honour
62
Anderson, James
P/KX 92952
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 22
Stoker 1st Class
Bancroft, Arthur
D/J 98441
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 37
Leading Seaman
Bell, William George MID*
C/KX 83886
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 26
Leading Stoker
Brown, Fred
D/JX 126889
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 31
Petty Officer
Brown, Hugh McDowell (RNVR) DSM
P/CD/X 1885
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 26
Able Seaman
Campion, James Owen Parker
C/KX 98186
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 22
Stoker 1st Class
Chapman, Henry Coles
C/L 14546
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 35
Leading Steward
Cornish-Bowden, Edward John MID
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 23
Lieutenant
Davies, Harold
D/SSX 28076
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 21
Able Seaman
Davies, William Joseph
P/SMX 21
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 25
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class
Deeley, Stanley
P/K 66174
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 36
Stoker 1st Class
Elliott, John DSM
P/M 37034
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 35
Chief Engine Room Artificer
Evans, Eric Richard
P/JX 167384
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 22
Able Seaman
Evans, Wilfred Edgar (RNR) MID
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 21
Sub Lieutenant
Greenway, George Henry MID
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 32
Lieutenant Commander
Commanding Officer
Hall, George Albert
P/JX 140549
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 24
Able Seaman
Heard, Harry
C/MX 57453
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 22
Leading Cook
Hearnden, William Henry MID
C/JX 142635
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 38
Petty Officer
Hepworth, Ernest
D/KX 84655
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 25
Leading Stoker
Hornsby, Edwin
C/JX 133738
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 28
Petty Officer Telegraphist
Houston, Robert Bell
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Sub Lieutenant
Jacobs, Arthur Roy
P/KX 90693
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 27
Stoker 1st Class
Jennings, Thomas Cyril
P/KX 90714
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 22
Stoker 1st Class
Jones, Llewelyn Wyn
D/JX 198346
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 24
Ordinary Seaman
Kennett, Douglas Frank
P/JX 149114
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 20
Able Seaman
Kerry, Douglas James
C/JX 155603
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 20
Telegraphist
Lickiss, Geoffrey Lucas MID
D/JX 134641
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 26
Leading Telegraphist
Livingstone, Gordon Ross MID
D/JX135448
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 26
Petty Officer Telegraphist
Lucas, Henry George
P/KX 92569
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 24
Leading Stoker
Martin, Sidney John
D/JX 138482
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 25
Telegraphist
McBride, James Nelson MID
D/JX 137696
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 25
Petty Officer
Meyrick, Kenneth Walter McKenzie MID
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Lieutenant
From HMS/m Talisman
Molesworth, Charles Albert
D/JX 135674
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 26
Able Seaman
Morrison, Kenneth
P/SSX 24391
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 21
Able Seaman
Murdoch, Andrew
P/KX 92902
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 22
Stoker 1st Class
Newman, William James
D/M 37676
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 34
Engine Room Artificer 1st Class
Norris, Walter Thomas MID
C/MX 52906
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 26
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class
Northover, McKenna Tom MID
P/JX 132658
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 28
Yeoman of Signals
Parsons, William
D/MX 60248
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 25
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class
Pearson, William
D/K 55802
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 40
Stoker Petty Officer
Pepper, William Edward
C/JX 145671
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 21
Leading Seaman
Phillips, Peter Royston MID
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 27
Engineer Lieutenant
Quested, Harry Alfred
C/KX 86887
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 24
Leading Seaman
Richards, Brinley
D/SSX 13791
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 28
Able Seaman
Richards, Thomas Glyndwr
D/K 65509
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 35
Stoker 1st Class
Rowland, Jacob MID
D/SSX 14877
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 27
Able Seaman
Scott, William
D/KX 77897
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 34
Stoker Petty Officer
Sharples, Gerard Flint
D/JX 152776
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 20
Able Seaman
Shinn, Victor Thomas
P/MX 49544
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 24
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class
Simmons, John Frederick
P/JX 93419
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 21
Stoker 1st Class
Smith, Frank William
C/JX 199511
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 23
Able Seaman
Spencer, Kenneth H (RNZN)
NZ 1345
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 22
Able Seaman
Stavert, Douglas Riddell
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 23
Lieutenant
From HMS/m Unique
Stone, Cyril Percy
C/LX 23652
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 25
Stoker 2nd Class
CWGC has C/SKX 971
Tavolier, Leonard Enrico
P/JX 183394
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 22
Able Seaman
Taylor, Robert
P/KX 84702
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 25
Stoker 1st Class
Walmsley, Charles Henry (RNR) MID
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 27
Lieutenant
From HMS/m Upright
Weetman, Arthur James MID
D/KX 83549
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 26
Leading Stoker
Whitehead, Charles Christopher Cyril
C/JX137530
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 24
Leading Seaman
Willcocks, Richard Burke
C/JX 199879
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 20
Ordinary Seaman
Wilson, Colin
C/MX 76812
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 28
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class
Winter, Ronald Heriot
P/KX 91395
Died: 27th Nov, 1941.
Aged: 22
Leading Stoker
Events
24-08-1938
Laid Down
24-08-1938
Launched
04-07-1939
Completed
13-04-1940
Tetrarch's first patrol was carried out in C9 - the Lillesand sector. The boat made what was thought to be an unsuccessful attack on a transport and as a result was depth-charged for 43 hours. Surfaced for 3 minutes in the middle of enemy vessels and fired torpedoes at A/S trawler
23-04-1940
18:30 Sighted a Southbound enemy convoy bearing 270, distance about 5 nautical miles. The convoy was made up of a large merchant vessel and three escorts. They are described as destroyers in the patrol report but they were not destroyers. The vessels were Ahrensburg on passage from Larvik to Fredrikshaven according to Rowher, escorted by T153, T155, F5, F8 and the minesweepers R33, R37 and R40
18:33 Tetrarch fired two torpedoes, range 4,000 yards, flat calm. Went deep and retired at high speed.
1837: Returned to periscope depth. Three escorting destroyers were seen approaching down the torpedo tracks a high speed. One of the destroyers was only 1500 yards away. Tetrarch went to 300 feet at full speed. Trim lost. Mills temporarily lost control and the boat dived to 400'
At 20:00 hours A/S trawlers joined in the hunt for Tetrarch
22:22 Surfaced, sighted two trawlers 1,000 yards away bearing down fast. Two torpedoes were fired. One one torpedo hit the UB boat. German sources indicate just three survivors.
Tetrarch was kept down at night and was therefore unable to charge batteries. Tetrarch eventually surfaced at 2130 hours on 24 April 1940 and set course back to Rosyth
20-05-1940
HMS Tetrarch captures the Danish fishing vessel Emmanuel and sinks the Danish fishing vessel Terieven with scuttling charges in the North Sea west of Denmark.
16-06-1940
HMS Tetrarch torpedoes and sinks the German tanker Samland south-west of Lista, Norway.
04-11-1940
HMS Tetrarch torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Snia Amba off Benghazi, Libya.
12-04-1941
HMS Tetrarch torpedoes and sinks the Italian tanker Persiano about 30 nautical miles north-west of Tripoli, Libya.
18-05-1941
HMS Tetrarch torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Giovinezza off Bengasi, Libya.
22-07-1941
HMS Tetrarch claims to have damaged a sailing vessel with gunfire in the Aegean off Karlovassi.
25-07-1941
HMS Tetrarch attacks the Greek tanker Olympos off Gaidero Island, Greece. The vessel is not hit.
27-07-1941
HMS Tetrarch sinks the Italian sailing vessel Nicita with gunfire 5 nautical miles south of Kos, Greece.
23-08-1941
HMS Tetrarch sinks the Italian sailing vessels V 72/Fratelli Garre and V 113/Francesco Garre with gunfire in the Gulf of Syrte.
26-09-1941
HMS Tetrarch torpedoes sinks the Italian merchant Citta di Bastia in the Aegean Sea about 18 nautical miles south of Milos Island, Greece.
27-09-1941
HMS Tetrarch sinks the Greek sailing vessel Panagiotis Kramottos with gunfire south-west of Milos Island, Greece.
28-09-1941
HMS Tetrarch torpedoes and damages the German merchant Yalova in the Aegean Sea south of Agios Giorgios Island.
27-11-1941
HMS Tetrarch left Malta on 26th October 1941 bound for Gibraltar. The route she was to take meant her passing through a known minefield. On Monday 27th she communicated with P34 who was in the same area. This was the last contact with the submarine. It is believed that she struck a mine on 27th.
Official
T 1 Specification
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
Featured Badge
Tiptoe (P 332)
Class:
1935 - 1970: T Class
Built By:
Vickers (Barrow)
Build Group:
T 3
Fate: She was laid up at Portsmouth in 1972 after being taken out of commission September 1970 at Dolphin. Broken up in 1979. Featured Book
Lieutenant Godfrey Place was in command of submarine X7 in September 1943 and travelled over 1000 miles, negotiating minefields and antisubmarine nets to accurately place four tons of high explosive under the hull of the Tirpitz.
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Errors and Corrections
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| 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: | 1935 - 1970: T Class |
| Built By: | Vickers (Barrow) |
| Build Group: | T 3 |
| Fate: | |
| She was laid up at Portsmouth in 1972 after being taken out of commission September 1970 at Dolphin. Broken up in 1979. | |
11 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. Or you can make a big one if you like :)
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: Sev on May 8th, 2025
Hi, my grandmother's little brother was lost on HMS Tetrach. Wilfred Evans, gone but never forgotten.
Comment by: Platon Alexiades on May 12th, 2022
Unfortunately, the above claim of a submarine graveyard at Tabarka is groundless. This has already been exposed as a hoax. None of these submarines ever operated in the Tabarka area.
HMS Tetrarch route was along the southwest coast of Sicily (where she was to cross two Italian minefields) and hence to patrol off Cavoli Island (Sardinia) before proceeding to Gibraltar. Tabarka was only a fishing village at the time and held no interest to the belligerents.
Comment by: ken carroll on October 5th, 2021
Thank you. My uncle McKenna Tom Northover went down with HMS Tetrarch. I have the various regrets from the King , "mentioned in dispatches" etc that my Aunt gave me before she died. A sad part of history, he was 28 years old.
Comment by: Patrick Pepper on May 7th, 2019
Good evening. I would like to say a big thank you for the information you have given here. I am researching my family and my uncle was leading seaman C/JX 145671 William Edward Pepper, lost on Tetrarch. I have read some conflicting reports that the wreck off Tabarka cannot be Tetrarch.
Thank you again Patrick Pepper
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