P 38
| Built By: | Vickers (Barrow) |
| Build Group: | U2 |
| Fate: | On 23rd February 1942 Submarine P38 was detected off the Tunisian coast by the Italian Torpedo Boat Circe which made a depth charge attack which blew the submarine to the surface. There was then a gunfire attack by the Italian Destroyer Antoniotto Usodimare after which P38 submerged again. Further depth charge attacks were made by both Antoniotto Usodimare and Emmanuel Pessagno which, again, brought Submarine P38 to the surface before sinking for the last time. Submarine P38 was lost with all hands. |
Commanders
| 1941: | Lieutenant | Rowland John Hemingway | DSC |
1942: 10th Flotilla. Malta
February 1942, Patrol off Ras el Hamra in company with P34, P39 and Una.
Roll of Honour |
32
|
| Atkinson, Leonard D/JX 238569 | |||
| Died: 23rd Feb, 1942. | |||
| Able Seaman | Aged: 24 | ||
| Beckett, Stanley Walter P/J 112814 | |||
| Died: 23rd Feb, 1942. | |||
| Petty Officer Telegraphist | Aged: 33 | ||
| Benfield, George Edward P/JX 128783 | |||
| Died: 23rd Feb, 1942. | |||
| Petty Officer | Aged: 31 | ||
| Brightman, Leonard C/J 97384 | Born: 22nd Dec, 1904. | ||
| Died: 23rd Feb, 1942. | |||
| Able Seaman | Aged: 37 | ||
| Brown, Leonard James C/KX 96835 | |||
| Died: 23rd Feb, 1942. | |||
| Stoker 1st Class | Aged: 20 | ||
| Butler, Samuel D/JX 188247 | |||
| Died: 23rd Feb, 1942. | |||
| Able Seaman | Aged: 22 | ||
| Durnell, Clarence William D/MX 75078 | |||
| Died: 23rd Feb, 1942. | |||
| Engine Room Artificer 5th Class | Aged: 20 | ||
| Edwell, Ernest Robert C/J 101500 | |||
| Died: 23rd Feb, 1942. | |||
| Leading Seaman | Aged: 36 | ||
| Eustace, David Airy | |||
| Died: 23rd Feb, 1942. | |||
| Lieutenant | Aged: 21 | ||
| Ferguson, Arthur James P/JX 153630 | |||
| Died: 23rd Feb, 1942. | |||
| Telegraphist | Aged: 20 | ||
| Gover, Richard Eustace C/JX 190485 | |||
| Died: 23rd Feb, 1942. | |||
| Able Seaman | Aged: 20 | ||
| Gray, Alan Moir | |||
| Died: 23rd Feb, 1942. | |||
| Sub Lieutenant | Aged: 20 | ||
| Guest, George D/KX 90669 | |||
| Died: 23rd Feb, 1942. | |||
| Leading Stoker | Aged: 27 | ||
| Hallsworth, Arthur Sidney D/JX 186407 | |||
| Died: 23rd Feb, 1942. | |||
| Able Seaman | Aged: 20 | ||
| Hemingway, Rowland John DSC | |||
| Died: 23rd Feb, 1942. | |||
| Lieutenant | Aged: 28 | ||
| Jackson, William D/SKX 1233 | |||
| Died: 23rd Feb, 1942. | |||
| Stoker 2nd Class | Aged: 19 | ||
| Kerr, Walter Thomas P/KX 81825 | |||
| Died: 23rd Feb, 1942. | |||
| Stoker Petty Officer | Aged: 31 | ||
| Lawler, Peter John Alfred C/JX 221120 | |||
| Died: 23rd Feb, 1942. | |||
| Able Seaman | Aged: 27 | ||
| Marrable, Donald Leonard C/MX 50282 | |||
| Died: 23rd Feb, 1942. | |||
| Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class | Aged: 30 | ||
| Mercer, Cornelius Abraham George D/KX 148281 | |||
| Died: 23rd Feb, 1942. | |||
| Leading Telegraphist | Aged: 21 | ||
| Merkel, Phillip Thomas P/JX 130551 | |||
| Died: 23rd Feb, 1942. | |||
| Petty Officer | Aged: 29 | ||
| Pidgeon, Stephen Arthur | Born: 29th Jul, 1913. | ||
| Died: 23rd Feb, 1942. | |||
| Lieutenant | Aged: 28 | ||
| from Melbourne Australia | |||
| Porteous, Kenneth C/KX 92187 | |||
| Died: 23rd Feb, 1942. | |||
| Stoker 1st Class | Aged: 24 | ||
| Robinson, Alfred Henry C/JX 133890 | |||
| Died: 23rd Feb, 1942. | |||
| Leading Telegraphist | Aged: 27 | ||
| Ronald, George Henry C/SSX 26013 | |||
| Died: 23rd Feb, 1942. | |||
| Able Seaman | Aged: 22 | ||
| Salter, Charles Henry P/JX 145845 | |||
| Died: 23rd Feb, 1942. | |||
| Able Seaman | Aged: 21 | ||
| Schroeder, John Charles C/M 35645 | |||
| Died: 23rd Feb, 1942. | |||
| Chief Engine Room Artificer | Aged: 37 | ||
| Scouse, Eric Oscar P/JX 139585 | |||
| Died: 23rd Feb, 1942. | |||
| Able Seaman | Aged: 25 | ||
| Shipley, Philip C/KX 111361 | |||
| Died: 23rd Feb, 1942. | |||
| Stoker 1st Class | Aged: 20 | ||
| Turnbull, Frederick C/SSX 20030 | |||
| Died: 23rd Feb, 1942. | |||
| Able Seaman | Aged: 24 | ||
| Wallace, John C/KX 75404 | |||
| Died: 23rd Feb, 1942. | |||
| Leading Stoker | Aged: 34 | ||
| Weaver, James Thomas D/SSX 29182 | |||
| Died: 23rd Feb, 1942. | |||
| Signalman | Aged: 20 | ||
Events
| 02-09-1940 | Laid Down |
| 09-07-1941 | Launched |
| 17-10-1941 | Completed |
| 15-02-1942 | HMS P38 torpedoes and sinks Italian merchant Ariosto off Tunisia. 138 Allied POW's are lost |
| 23-02-1942 | HMS P38 left Malta on 16th February 1942 to intercept a convoy off Tripoli. By the 23rd she was in position as the convoy hove into view. Amongst the convoy was the Italian destroyer Circe. At 0800 the Circe reported contact with a submarine and the warships turned to attack. A periscope was sighted but was quickly replaced by bubbles as the submarine dived realising it had been spotted. At 1050 after a flurry of attacks HMS P38 rose stern first out of the water, her propellers turning wildly, before crashing back beneath the waves. A large patch of oil appeared on the surface as well as debris - clear evidence of the submarines destruction. |
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