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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.

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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
Died: 23-02-1942
Atkinson, Leonard  D/JX 238569
Able Seaman Died: 23-02-1942 Aged: 24
Beckett, Stanley Walter  P/J 112814
Petty Officer Telegraphist Died: 23-02-1942 Aged: 33
Benfield, George Edward  P/JX 128783
Petty Officer Died: 23-02-1942 Aged: 31
Brightman, Leonard  C/J 97384
Able Seaman Born: 22-12-1904 Died: 23-02-1942 Aged: 37
Brown, Leonard James  C/KX 96835
Stoker 1st Class Died: 23-02-1942 Aged: 20
Butler, Samuel  D/JX 188247
Able Seaman Died: 23-02-1942 Aged: 22
Durnell, Clarence William  D/MX 75078
Engine Room Artificer 5th Class Died: 23-02-1942 Aged: 20
Edwell, Ernest Robert  C/J 101500
Leading Seaman Died: 23-02-1942 Aged: 36
Eustace, David Airy 
Lieutenant Died: 23-02-1942 Aged: 21
Ferguson, Arthur James  P/JX 153630
Telegraphist Died: 23-02-1942 Aged: 20
Gover, Richard Eustace  C/JX 190485
Able Seaman Died: 23-02-1942 Aged: 20
Gray, Alan Moir 
Sub Lieutenant Died: 23-02-1942 Aged: 20
Guest, George  D/KX 90669
Leading Stoker Died: 23-02-1942 Aged: 27
Hallsworth, Arthur Sidney  D/JX 186407
Able Seaman Died: 23-02-1942 Aged: 20
Hemingway, Rowland John  DSC
Lieutenant Died: 23-02-1942 Aged: 28
Jackson, William  D/SKX 1233
Stoker 2nd Class Died: 23-02-1942 Aged: 19
Kerr, Walter Thomas  P/KX 81825
Stoker Petty Officer Died: 23-02-1942 Aged: 31
Lawler, Peter John Alfred  C/JX 221120
Able Seaman Died: 23-02-1942 Aged: 27
Marrable, Donald Leonard  C/MX 50282
Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class Died: 23-02-1942 Aged: 30
Mercer, Cornelius Abraham George  D/KX 148281
Leading Telegraphist Died: 23-02-1942 Aged: 21
Merkel, Phillip Thomas  P/JX 130551
Petty Officer Died: 23-02-1942 Aged: 29
Pidgeon, Stephen Arthur 
Lieutenant Born: 29-07-1913 Died: 23-02-1942 Aged: 28
from Melbourne   Australia
Porteous, Kenneth  C/KX 92187
Stoker 1st Class Died: 23-02-1942 Aged: 24
Robinson, Alfred Henry  C/JX 133890
Leading Telegraphist Died: 23-02-1942 Aged: 27
Ronald, George Henry  C/SSX 26013
Able Seaman Died: 23-02-1942 Aged: 22
Salter, Charles Henry  P/JX 145845
Able Seaman Died: 23-02-1942 Aged: 21
Schroeder, John Charles  C/M 35645
Chief Engine Room Artificer Died: 23-02-1942 Aged: 37
Scouse, Eric Oscar  P/JX 139585
Able Seaman Died: 23-02-1942 Aged: 25
Shipley, Philip  C/KX 111361
Stoker 1st Class Died: 23-02-1942 Aged: 20
Turnbull, Frederick  C/SSX 20030
Able Seaman Died: 23-02-1942 Aged: 24
Wallace, John  C/KX 75404
Leading Stoker Died: 23-02-1942 Aged: 34
Weaver, James Thomas  D/SSX 29182
Signalman Died: 23-02-1942 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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