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Tetrarch (N 77)

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.
Tetrarch Sketch
Tetrarch Sketch

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Commanders
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.

Tetrarch Found

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 . These are Tabarka Wrecks 2F, 4M'a, 4M'b. Wreck 2F (previously believed to be HMS Tigris) has been conclusively identified as being HMS Tetrarch.

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 units that are candidates to being found off Tabarka only HMS Tetrarch had the additional capability of Mine Laying. Thus, it can now be said that HMS Tetrarch has been conclusively identified off Tabarka, in Position: 37°04'32"N, 8°52'34"E. Depth: circa 70-75m

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.

Roll of Honour
62
Died: 27-11-1941
Anderson, James  P/KX 92952
Stoker 1st Class Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 22
Bancroft, Arthur  D/J 98441
Leading Seaman Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 37
Bell, William George  MID* C/KX 83886
Leading Stoker Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 26
Brown, Fred  D/JX 126889
Petty Officer Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 31
Brown, Hugh McDowell  (RNVR) DSM P/CD/X 1885
Able Seaman Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 26
Campion, James Owen Parker  C/KX 98186
Stoker 1st Class Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 22
Chapman, Henry Coles  C/L 14546
Leading Steward Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 35
Cornish-Bowden, Edward John  MID
Lieutenant Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 23
Davies, Harold  D/SSX 28076
Able Seaman Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 21
Davies, William Joseph  P/SMX 21
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 25
Deeley, Stanley  P/K 66174
Stoker 1st Class Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 36
Elliott, John  DSM P/M 37034
Chief Engine Room Artificer Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 35
Evans, Eric Richard  P/JX 167384
Able Seaman Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 22
Evans, Wilfred Edgar  (RNR) MID
Sub Lieutenant Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 21
Greenway, George Henry  MID
Lieutenant Commander Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 32
Commanding Officer
Hall, George Albert  P/JX 140549
Able Seaman Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 24
Heard, Harry  C/MX 57453
Leading Cook (S) Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 22
Hearnden, William Henry  MID C/JX 142635
Petty Officer Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 38
Hepworth, Ernest  D/KX 84655
Leading Stoker Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 25
Hornsby, Edwin  C/JX 133738
Petty Officer Telegraphist Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 28
Houston, Robert Bell 
Sub Lieutenant Died: 27-11-1941
Jacobs, Arthur Roy  P/KX 90693
Stoker 1st Class Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 27
Jennings, Thomas Cyril  P/KX 90714
Stoker 1st Class Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 22
Jones, Llewelyn Wyn  D/JX 198346
Ordinary Seaman Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 24
Kennett, Douglas Frank  P/JX 149114
Able Seaman Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 20
Kerry, Douglas James  C/JX 155603
Telegraphist Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 20
Lickiss, Geoffrey Lucas  MID D/JX 134641
Leading Telegraphist Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 26
Livingstone, Gordon Ross  MID D/JX135448
Petty Officer Telegraphist Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 26
Lucas, Henry George  P/KX 92569
Leading Stoker Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 24
Martin, Sidney John  D/JX 138482
Telegraphist Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 25
McBride, James Nelson  MID D/JX 137696
Petty Officer Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 25
Meyrick, Kenneth Walter McKenzie  MID
Lieutenant Died: 27-11-1941
From HMS/m Talisman
Molesworth, Charles Albert  D/JX 135674
Able Seaman Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 26
Morrison, Kenneth  P/SSX 24391
Able Seaman Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 21
Murdoch, Andrew  P/KX 92902
Stoker 1st Class Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 22
Newman, William James  D/M 37676
Engine Room Artificer 1st Class Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 34
Norris, Walter Thomas  MID C/MX 52906
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 26
Northover, McKenna Tom  MID P/JX 132658
Yeoman of Signals Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 28
Parsons, William  D/MX 60248
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 25
Pearson, William  D/K 55802
Stoker Petty Officer Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 40
Pepper, William Edward  C/JX 145671
Leading Seaman Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 21
Phillips, Peter Royston  MID
Engineer Lieutenant Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 27
Quested, Harry Alfred  C/KX 86887
Leading Seaman Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 24
Richards, Brinley  D/SSX 13791
Able Seaman Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 28
Richards, Thomas Glyndwr  D/K 65509
Stoker 1st Class Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 35
Rowland, Jacob  MID D/SSX 14877
Able Seaman Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 27
Scott, William  D/KX 77897
Stoker Petty Officer Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 34
Sharples, Gerard Flint  D/JX 152776
Able Seaman Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 20
Shinn, Victor Thomas  P/MX 49544
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 24
Simmons, John Frederick  P/JX 93419
Stoker 1st Class Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 21
Smith, Frank William  C/JX 199511
Able Seaman Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 23
Spencer, Kenneth H  (RNZN) NZ 1345
Able Seaman Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 22
Stavert, Douglas Riddell 
Lieutenant Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 23
From HMS/m Unique
Stone, Cyril Percy  C/LX 23652
Stoker 2nd Class Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 25
CWGC has C/SKX 971
Tavolier, Leonard Enrico  P/JX 183394
Able Seaman Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 22
Taylor, Robert  P/KX 84702
Stoker 1st Class Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 25
Walmsley, Charles Henry  (RNR) MID
Lieutenant Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 27
From HMS/m Upright
Weetman, Arthur James  MID D/KX 83549
Leading Stoker Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 26
Whitehead, Charles Christopher Cyril  C/JX137530
Leading Seaman Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 24
Willcocks, Richard Burke  C/JX 199879
Ordinary Seaman Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 20
Wilson, Colin  C/MX 76812
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 28
Winter, Ronald Heriot  P/KX 91395
Leading Stoker Died: 27-11-1941 Aged: 22

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.
Comments

Comment by: Platon Alexiades on May 12, 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 5, 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 7, 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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