Unity (N 66)
| Built By: | Vickers (Barrow) |
| Build Group: | U1 |
| Fate: | Sank after collision with the Norwegian Atle Jarl off the River Tyne entrance 29th April 1940. Lt. Low along with three ratings remained below shutting bulkhead doors while the remainder of the crew reached safety. Lt. Low was posthumously awarded the George Cross. All four who remained behind were lost. |
Unity
The Vickers Built Unity which served her short career in the hostile environment of the North Sea
Commanders
| 1939: | Lieutenant John Frederick Beaufoy Brown |
| 1940: | Lieutenant Francis John Brooks |
| 1940: | Lieutenant J N A Low |
1938-1939 - 6th Flotilla: HMS Titania, Blyth.
1939-1940 - 6th Flotilla: HMS Titania, Rothesay.
Was part of the submarine force which was in the Kattegat and off the coast of Norway during the German invasion of Norway.
Three launches in one day, Triumph, Ursula & Unity
Roll of Honour |
4
|
| Died: 29-04-1940 | |||||
| Hare, James Sneddon P/JX 145574 | |||||
| Leading Seaman | Died: 29-04-1940 | Aged: 25 | |||
| Low, John Niven Angus GC | |||||
| First Lieutenant | Died: 29-04-1940 | Aged: 29 | |||
| Awarded Empire Gallantry Medal for sacrificing their own lives so that others could escape. This was changed and presented as George Cross in 1940. |
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| Miller, Henry James GC P/J 55387 | |||||
| Able Seaman | Died: 29-04-1940 | Aged: 38 | |||
| Awarded Empire Gallantry Medal for sacrificing their own lives so that others could escape. This was changed and presented as George Cross in 1940. |
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| Shelton, Cecil P/KX 91083 | |||||
| Stoker 1st Class | Died: 29-04-1940 | Aged: 21 | |||
Events
| 19-02-1937 | Laid Down |
| 16-02-1938 | Launched |
| 05-10-1938 | Completed |
| 00-04-1940 | In the North Sea, the British submarine Unity attacked U-2, but missed |
| 29-04-1940 | At 1730 HMS Unity sailed from Blyth to patrol off Norway. The visibility was down to 300 yards as Unity moved out in the main channel, where the Norwegian ship Atle Jarl was proceeding on her way from Scotland to the Tyne A short while later visibility was down to 100 yards and neither vessel was aware of the other until the submarine spotted the ship at 50 yards and on a collision course. There was just time to shut the bulkhead doors and order the engines astern before the Atle Jarl smashed into the submarine. The order to abandon the submarine was given and Lt. Low along with three ratings remained below shutting bulkhead doors while the remainder of the crew reached safety. Unity sank only five minutes after the collision. All four who remained behind were lost. . Lt. Low was posthumously awarded the George Cross. |
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