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Undaunted (N 55)

Built By: Vickers (Barrow)
Build Group: U1
Fate: She was lost during her first patrol off Tripoli, being the second U class boat to be lost.

Possibly sunk off Zuara, Libya by Italian TB Pegaso on 12th May 1941.
Undaunted
Undaunted

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Commanders
1940: Lieutenant   J F Livesay

Ex P34

940-1941: 9th Flotilla - Dundee
1941: 1st Flotilla - Portsmouth
1941: 10th Flotilla - Malta

Sailed for trials and work up at Holy Loch arriving 30th December 1940. On completion of work up she joined 9th Flotilla at Dundee.

She joined the First Flotilla at Portsmouth in March 1941.

Sailed Portsmouth to join Iron Ring boats on 3rd April 1941 and then onto Malta to join the 10th Flotilla.

Replaced Unique, Usk and Upholder in Home waters when they were dispatched to the Med, April 1941.

Joined other submarines forming the iron ring around Brest in the hope of intercepting the battlecruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhost.

All of these boats were recalled on 10th April 1941.

Roll of Honour
32
Died: 12-05-1941
Anthony, James Wilson 
Sub Lieutenant Died: 12-05-1941 Aged: 24
Armstrong, George Alfred  D/JX 143870
Leading Telegraphist Died: 12-05-1941 Aged: 22
Bate, Jack Coode  (RNR)
Sub Lieutenant Died: 12-05-1941 Aged: 21
Beatty, James Torney  P/JX 137493
Able Seaman Died: 12-05-1941 Aged: 25
Blandford, Ernest James Moorson  P/JX 134084
Petty Officer Died: 12-05-1941 Aged: 26
Brady, James Joseph  P/KX 82853
Stoker Petty Officer Died: 12-05-1941 Aged: 26
Bushell, Douglas  C/JX 201597
Ordinary Seaman Died: 12-05-1941 Aged: 23
Chapman, Frank Ronald  D/JX 151000
Leading Telegraphist Died: 12-05-1941 Aged: 26
D'Almaine, Harry Robert 
Lieutenant Died: 12-05-1941 Aged: 25
Furmenger, Victor Albert  C/SSX 20458
Able Seaman Died: 12-05-1941 Aged: 21
Harms, Alfred John  D/MX 45622
Chief Engine Room Artificer Died: 12-05-1941 Aged: 30
Hartshorn, George Arthur  C/JX 163772
Ordinary Telegraphist Died: 12-05-1941 Aged: 18
Hastie, James  D/K 55416
Stoker 1st Class Died: 12-05-1941 Aged: 40
Heal, Herbert Victor  P/K 58480
Stoker 1st Class Died: 12-05-1941 Aged: 33
CWGC has Heal, Hubert Victor.
Hillcoat, Thomas Muir  D/KX 98362
Stoker 1st Class Died: 12-05-1941 Aged: 19
Isaac, Donald Jack  P/M 37663
Engine Room Artificer 1st Class Died: 12-05-1941 Aged: 33
King, Charles William  DSM D/J 66612
Petty Officer Telegraphist Died: 12-05-1941 Aged: 40
Lewer, James Markwick  P/MX 50604
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class Died: 12-05-1941 Aged: 32
Livesey, James Lees 
Lieutenant Died: 12-05-1941 Aged: 29
Born Lees, James C. Served as Livesey, James Lees
Lockwood, William Francis  C/SSX 26885
Able Seaman Died: 12-05-1941 Aged: 20
Micklefield, Fred  D/KX 83358
Leading Stoker Died: 12-05-1941 Aged: 25
Morrison, George Edward  P/JX 133548
Able Seaman Died: 12-05-1941 Aged: 35
First Service number SSX12531
Mudd, Thomas Edgar  P/K 61605
Petty Officer Died: 12-05-1941 Aged: 35
Newton, Albert Edward  D/K 63309
Stoker 1st Class Born: 05-07-1902 Died: 12-05-1941 Aged: 38
from Taunton, Somerset  UK
1929-1941 D/KX 98432
Ralphson, Sidney  D/SSX 28845
Telegraphist Died: 12-05-1941 Aged: 23
from Prescot, Lancashire  UK
Reeves, John George  C/JX 126593
Petty Officer Died: 12-05-1941 Aged: 30
Roberts, Norman  C/SSX 17313
Leading Signalman Died: 12-05-1941 Aged: 23
Robinson, Leonard Guy  C/J 115104
Leading Seaman Died: 12-05-1941 Aged: 31
Rogers, Robert William Merrow  P/JX 164845
Leading Seaman Died: 12-05-1941 Aged: 43
Sumpton, Ronald Richard  (RNR) C/X 20887
Seaman Died: 12-05-1941 Aged: 24
Worrall, Hewlett Taberner  P/JX 142444
Able Seaman Died: 12-05-1941 Aged: 22
Young, Donald George William  P/J 101589
Able Seaman Died: 12-05-1941 Aged: 36

Events

 02-12-1939   Laid Down
 20-08-1940   Launched
 30-12-1940   Completed
 12-05-1941   HMS Undaunted sailed for her Mediterranean patrol from Malta on 1st May 1941. Ordered to patrol off Tripoli the submarine failed to return on her due date of 11th May and attempts to contact her failed.

It is believed that she fell victim to the Italian torpedo boat Pegaso who had sailed from Tripoli on the 12th. At 2030 that evening Pegaso signalled that she had attacked a submarine with depth charges and that a large patch of oil had been observed, indication of the submarines destruction.

Against this theory is the fact that by that date Undaunted should have been back in harbour but it is possible that a decision to remain at sea for a day had been taken or that Undaunted may have suffered mechanical problems preventing her return.

There is always the every present possibility that the submarine fell foul to a mine.
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