Trooper (N 91)

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Trooper (N 91)

Built By:	Scotts (Clyde)
Build Group:	T 2
Fate:	HMS Trooper sailed from the Base at Beirut on 28th September 1943 for a patrol off the west of the Dodocanese Islands. The Submarine failed to arrive back as expected on 17th October and was assumed to have been sunk by a mine on 10th Oct 1943. There were no survivors.

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Commanders

1942:	Lieutenant	John Somerton Wraith	DSO DSC
1943:	Lieutenant	Reginald Peter Webb
1943:	Lieutenant	Guy Stewart Chetwode Clarabut	DSO MID

Operation Principle

HMS Trooper 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 Trooper to carry three Chariots and their crews for an attack to start on the night of 2nd/3rd January 1943.

Of the three Chariots launched one had to abandon its attack and returned to sea from Palermo to be rescued by Submarine P46, later HMS Unruffled (Lieutenant J S Stevens DSO, Royal Navy in Command).

A second Chariot (No. XVI) made a successful attack resulting in damage to the 8,500-ton Merchant Vessel Viminale.

The third Chariot was unsuccessful in its attempts to attack shipping and was thwarted by the illness (and subsequent loss) of its No. 1 Crewman and rough weather. Of the six Crewmen two returned safely, three were taken Prisoner of War and one died.

Chariot

The Chariot Crews were as follows:

Chariot No. XIV

S/Lt Rodney George Dove, DSO, RNVR No. 1 Crew
L/Sea James Michael Freel, CGM, D/JX 149484 No. 2 Crew

James Michael Freel CGM

James Freel was born in Duke Street, Hindpool in Barrow in Furness, Lancashire on 13th Dec 1919. He was the son of Mr Freel and Mrs. Theresa Freel. There were nine children in the family and included James Freel, sisters Teresa, Patricia (born 1915), Mona and Loretto (born 1931) and a brother Frank Freel (born 1925). James Freel attended the St. Mary's Roman Catholic Primary School in Barrow. After leaving School he joined the Royal Navy in 1936. He was drafted to the 33,900-ton Battleship HMS Rodney.

HMS Rodney was damaged in and was sent to the United States for repairs. Following his time in HMS Rodney he volunteered for 'Special Service' in 1942 and trained as a 'Charioteer'. He was drafted to Submarine P311 on 22nd Nov 1943 but was transferred to Submarine HMS Trooper.

On the night of 2nd/3rd Jan 1943 he was the No. 2 Crewman on Chariot No. XVI which was launched from Submarine HMS Trooper for an attack on Italian shipping in the port of Palermo. For a successful attack on the 8,500-ton Italian Troop Ship Viminale James Freel 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'.

After the successful attack on the Viminale James Freel was arrested by the Italian police and was later held in a Prisoner of War Camp near Rome. He successfully escaped from captivity in September 1943 and after nearly two years living with Italian partisans, he made his way across to the American lines in Italy in December 1943 and returned home safely. He was later awarded a Mention in Dispatches, see London Gazette dated 29th Jun 1945,

'for courage, determination and devotion to duty'.

He was presented with a gold watch by the Apostleship of the Sea. After the War James Freel worked in ships supplying the British Antarctic bases and later worked in Perth in Western Australia. He later moved to Sydney in New South Wales with a Cement Piling Company where he died in 1965. He was buried in the Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney.

In 2005 his sister, Loreto Dwyer, arranged for him to be exhumed and cremated in Australia and returned home with his ashes. After a Memorial Mass in St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church in Duke Street, Barrow in Furness on 3rd December 2005 his ashes were interred in the same grave in the Thorncliffe Cemetery in Barrow as his mother, Mrs Theresa Freel, a former Mayor of Barrow in Furness.

NOTE: James Freel's & Memorabilia were later 'gifted' to the Barrow Submariners and are currently on display at the Dock Museum in Barrow

Chariot No. XXII

During the attempted attack on shipping at the Italian port of Palermo a problem arose with the diving equipment of his No. 2 crewman (L/Sea Carter). Sub Lieutenant Stevens dropped him off at a buoy whilst he attempted to complete his mission, but he was unsuccessful. He returned to the buoy, collected L/Sea Carter, and then returned to see where the team was successfully recovered by Submarine P46.

S/Lt H L H Stevens, RNVR No. 1 Crew
L/Sea Carter TBA No. 2 Crew

Chariot No. TBA

Lt Harold Faulkner Cook, RNVR No. 1 Crew
Twenty-four-year-old Harold Cook was lost during Operation Principle. He died on 2nd January 1943. He was the son of Herbert and Edith Millicent Cook of Leigh on Sea, Essex.
AB Harold Victor Worthy, MiD* P/JX 147264 No. 2 Crew
AB Worthy was taken Prisoner of War. He was later awarded a Mention in Dispatches

'For great gallantry in carrying out a daring attack at night, with "Human Torpedoes" on the strongly defended enemy base at Palerm . 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'. He was awarded a second Mention in Dispatches â€“ see London Gazette dated 29th Jun 1945 'for courage, determination and devotion to duty'

Royal Navy experts have confirmed the wreck of a World War 2 submarine found in the Mediterranean as HMS Trooper.

Greek diver and researcher Kostas Thoktaridis and his team found Trooper after many attempts and countless hours of meticulous research, eventually discovering the wreck lying at a depth of more than 800ft between the islands of Ikaria and Donousa in the Icarian Sea, part of the Aegean Sea in the approaches to Athens.

The wreck of HMS Trooper

The loss of Trooper and her 64 crew in October 1943 was not in vain. Their dangerous mission to deliver three agents, the last people to get out of the submarine alive, proved fruitful, with valuable military information gathered and money and a radio delivered to the Greek underground.

The Royal Navy's Wreck Advisory Group analysed video footage to confirm the wreck, which was found in early October 2024.

The dive teams reported that it is likely the submarine was sunk by a German EMF-type mine, instantly breaking the boat into three pieces. The bow and stern lie on the seabed in close proximity, while the submarine's conning tower has broken off and is located much further away.

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Chariots

No history of submarine warfare in World War Two could be complete without a mention of the

Roll of Honour


Adam, Peter Milne D/KX 85676
Adam, Peter Milne D/KX 85676		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Stoker Petty Officer	Aged: 32

Anderson, Alexander William
Anderson, Alexander William		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Sub Lieutenant	Aged: 21

Bengough, Ivor Donald D/KX 85248
Bengough, Ivor Donald D/KX 85248		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Stoker Petty Officer	Aged: 27

Brotherton, Alan D/KX 144514
Brotherton, Alan D/KX 144514		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 20

Carling, Thomas Matthew C/JX 141406
Carling, Thomas Matthew C/JX 141406		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 24

Carroll, Leonard D/KX 120498
Carroll, Leonard D/KX 120498		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 21

Charnock, Frank D/JX 212858
Charnock, Frank D/JX 212858		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Leading Seaman	Aged: 23

Chivers, Ronald Stephen D/SSX 13575
Chivers, Ronald Stephen D/SSX 13575		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 28

Colville, John C/JX 132724
Colville, John C/JX 132724		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 30

Cope, Henry Charles P/JX 157340
Cope, Henry Charles P/JX 157340		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Signalman	Aged: 21

Cornelius, John C/MX 77556
Cornelius, John C/MX 77556		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Engine Room Artificer 4th Class	Aged: 28

Crossland, Frank C/JX 247837
Crossland, Frank C/JX 247837		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Telegraphist	Aged: 27

Curry, Thomas Arkless C/KX 92887
Curry, Thomas Arkless C/KX 92887		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Leading Stoker	Aged: 25

Davies, Glanville Yorwerth P/KX 126725
Davies, Glanville Yorwerth P/KX 126725		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 22

Farnell, John Belton (RNVR) C/LD/X 3601
Farnell, John Belton (RNVR) C/LD/X 3601		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 23

Fenn, William Charles England DSM P/MX 51201
Fenn, William Charles England DSM P/MX 51201		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Chief Engine Room Artificer	Aged: 30

Fisher, Francis Edward P/J 40813
Fisher, Francis Edward P/J 40813		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 44

Fleming, Samuel C/SSX 27113
Fleming, Samuel C/SSX 27113		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 22

Forster, Michael D/MX 75371
Forster, Michael D/MX 75371		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Engine Room Artificer 4th Class	Aged: 23

Fry, William Victor DSM P/MX 49222
Fry, William Victor DSM P/MX 49222		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class	Aged: 27

Furnell, Ernest Clifford C/JX 136210
Furnell, Ernest Clifford C/JX 136210		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 35

Gilbert, James Bishop P/SSX 14641
Gilbert, James Bishop P/SSX 14641		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Petty Officer	Aged: 29

Grant, Leslie Alexander Stuart DSC
Grant, Leslie Alexander Stuart DSC		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Lieutenant	Aged: 23

Greatwood, Kenneth Neil P/SSX31640
Greatwood, Kenneth Neil P/SSX31640		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 21

Hind, George William P/JX 362387
Hind, George William P/JX 362387		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 21

Horton, Harold Graham C/KX 93672
Horton, Harold Graham C/KX 93672		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Leading Stoker	Aged: 23

Jones, Richard D/JX 217239
Jones, Richard D/JX 217239		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 23

Lancaster, Owen Felton DSC
Lancaster, Owen Felton DSC		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Engineer Lieutenant	Aged: 33

Lawson, Clement Colborne C/KX 133827
Lawson, Clement Colborne C/KX 133827		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Leading Stoker	Aged: 21

Legg, Alfred Frank P/KX 78715
Legg, Alfred Frank P/KX 78715		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Leading Stoker	Aged: 35

Lloyd, Henry Roberts P/JX 353169
Lloyd, Henry Roberts P/JX 353169		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 20

Mather, James D/MX 75747
Mather, James D/MX 75747		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Engine Room Artificer 4th Class	Aged: 41

Meek, Frank Henry D/KX 130584
Meek, Frank Henry D/KX 130584		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 20

Mercer, Stanley D/LX 23181		Born: 28th Feb, 1915.
Mercer, Stanley D/LX 23181		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Steward	Aged: 28

Mills, Ronald William C/KX 11697
Mills, Ronald William C/KX 11697		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Leading Stoker	Aged: 22

Mott, Henry Arthur MID C/KX 136890
Mott, Henry Arthur MID C/KX 136890		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Leading Stoker	Aged: 20

Peters, Maurice C/MX 76497
Peters, Maurice C/MX 76497		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Engine Room Artificer 4th Class	Aged: 29

Ribbans, Stuart Ernest P/SSX 31787
Ribbans, Stuart Ernest P/SSX 31787		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Petty Officer Telegraphist	Aged: 21

Robinson, Ronald Norman DSM P/KX 88052
Robinson, Ronald Norman DSM P/KX 88052		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Leading Stoker	Aged: 25

Ruston, Benjamin Thomas DSM* P/J 114584
Ruston, Benjamin Thomas DSM* P/J 114584		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Leading Seaman	Aged: 33

Ryder, John Stuart (RANVR)
Ryder, John Stuart (RANVR)		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Sub Lieutenant	Aged: 22

Sainsbury, George William D/KX 134416
Sainsbury, George William D/KX 134416		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 22

Seddon, Denis D/KX 134176
Seddon, Denis D/KX 134176		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 21

Shoebridge, Septimus Hyde P/JX 153936
Shoebridge, Septimus Hyde P/JX 153936		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Leading Telegraphist	Aged: 21

Skinner, Horace C/MX 54947
Skinner, Horace C/MX 54947		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Leading Cook	Aged: 25

Sleep, Ralph Bassett DSM D/JX 137048
Sleep, Ralph Bassett DSM D/JX 137048		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Petty Officer	Aged: 26

Smethurst, Frank D/JX 212892
Smethurst, Frank D/JX 212892		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 25

Stillwell, Cecil James D/SMX 90
Stillwell, Cecil James D/SMX 90		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Leading Cook	Aged: 21

Stobbie, James P/JX 156516
Stobbie, James P/JX 156516		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Telegraphist	Aged: 22

Stott, Edgar D/MX 90221
Stott, Edgar D/MX 90221		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Engine Room Artificer 4th Class	Aged: 23

Sumner, Henry Graham (RNVR)
Sumner, Henry Graham (RNVR)		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Sub Lieutenant	Aged: 21

Tame, David William Lewis D/KX 136041
Tame, David William Lewis D/KX 136041		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 21

Taylor, Raymond Edward D/KX 134309
Taylor, Raymond Edward D/KX 134309		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 21

Thompson, Leonard D/JX 152099
Thompson, Leonard D/JX 152099		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Leading Telegraphist	Aged: 22

Tripp, Frederick Wilfred P/JX138428
Tripp, Frederick Wilfred P/JX138428		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 26

Walker, Douglas Bland P/JX 237396
Walker, Douglas Bland P/JX 237396		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 21

Ward, Frederick Alfred Charles Green C/SSX 17762
Ward, Frederick Alfred Charles Green C/SSX 17762		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 25

Watson, James Alexander DSM** P/JX 131355
Watson, James Alexander DSM** P/JX 131355		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Petty Officer	Aged: 31

Whatley, Emrys D/SSX 33731
Whatley, Emrys D/SSX 33731		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 22

Whiting, Jack Bernard C/KX 88177
Whiting, Jack Bernard C/KX 88177		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Stoker Petty Officer	Aged: 25

Whittle, William Bartholomew MID D/JX 215012
Whittle, William Bartholomew MID D/JX 215012		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 28

Williams, Leonard C/SSX 29544
Williams, Leonard C/SSX 29544		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Leading Seaman	Aged: 23

Wraith, John Somerton DSO*
Wraith, John Somerton DSO*		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Lieutenant	Aged: 30

Yeoman, Robert Ainslie P/SSX 18970
Yeoman, Robert Ainslie P/SSX 18970		Died: 10th Oct, 1943.
	Petty Officer	Aged: 25

Events

26-03-1940	Laid Down

05-03-1942	Launched

29-08-1942	Completed

10-03-1943	HMS Trooper torpedoes and sinks the Italian tanker Rosario 4 nautical miles off Punta Milazzo.

15-03-1943	HMS Trooper fires 4 torpedoes against the Italian merchant Belluno about 30 nautical miles south of Isola di Capri, Italy. All torpedoes missed.

17-03-1943	HMS Trooper torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Forli south of Naples, Italy.

29-07-1943	Italian submarine Pietro Micca was torpedoed and sunk at the entrance to Adriatic, in the Strait of Otranto by the British HMS Trooper

05-09-1943	HMS Trooper sinks a sailing vessel with gunfire off Skiathos, Greece. Trooper also damages two other enemy vessels with gunfire.

10-10-1943	HMS Trooper sailed from the Base at Beirut on 28th September 1943 for a patrol off the west of the Dodocanese Islands. The Submarine failed to arrive back as expected on 17th October and was assumed to have been sunk by a mine on 10th Oct 1943. There were no survivors.

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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)
	Submerged 8.75 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 x 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	56
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:	1943 - 1977: Amphion Class
Built By:	Chatham Dockyard (Medway)
Build Group:	Amphion
Fate:
Scrapped in 1972 at the yard of J Cashmore of Newport

RN Subs

Trooper (N 91)

Commanders

Operation Principle

The Chariot Crews were as follows:

Chariot No. XIV

Chariot No. XXII

Chariot No. TBA

Royal Navy experts have confirmed the wreck of a World War 2 submarine found in the Mediterranean as HMS Trooper.

Related Pages

Roll of Honour

Events

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Boats In Class

T 2 Specification

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