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Usurper (P 56)

Built By: Vickers (Tyne)
Build Group: U2
Fate: On 24th September 1943 HMS Usurper left Algiers for a patrol off La Spezia, Italy. On 3rd October. Lieutenant Mott was ordered to move north to an area in the Gulf of Genoa in an area later identified as containing Italian Minefield QB192.

HMS Usurper was patrolling in the Gulf of Genoa when the German anti-submarine vessel UJ-2208 reported that she had been unsuccessfully attacked. In the counterattack which followed UJ-2208 reported sinking a Submarine.

It is possible that HMS Usurper was sunk in this attack but, she might also have been lost in a minefield. HMS Usurper did not respond to any signals and failed to arrive back at Algiers on 12th October 1942 and was reported lost with all hands

Usurper (P 56)

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Roll of Honour
46
Abraham, Cedric Ernest William
C/JX 215054
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 26
Able Seaman
Allan, Wilfred
D/JX 563155
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 18
Ordinary Seaman
Anderson, John David Shanks
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 19
Sub Lieutenant
Appleby, Thomas William
P/JX 155434
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 21
Leading Telegraphist
Baker, George William
P/JX 358368
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 19
Able Seaman
Ballantyne, James Ross
D/KX 86977
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 27
Stoker Petty Officer
Bethell, William John
D/JX 286982
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 22
Able Seaman
Bird, William Henry
P/MX 48306
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 36
Chief Engine Room Artificer
Carson, Edward Henry Sidney
D/JX 158782
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 20
Telegraphist
Charman, John
P/JX 142727
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 25
Chief Petty Officer
Collins, Michael Higgins
P/SSX 22995
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 23
Leading Seaman
Cooper, Sidney George
C/JX 142915
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 24
Leading Seaman
Davies, Mervyn Ebenezer DSM
P/JX 143196
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 24
Petty Officer Telegraphist
Davies, Thomas Barrie
P/JX 358192
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 19
Able Seaman
Eldridge, Hubert Arthur
C/JX180661
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 19
Telegraphist
Flynn, James Reginald
P/KX 95906
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 23
Leading Stoker
Frost, Patrick Anthony Stirling
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 21
Sub Lieutenant
Fylan, James Reginald
P/KX 82494
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 28
Stoker Petty Officer
Griffiths, William John
D/JX 269375
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 22
Telegraphist
Harman, William Parker
P/MX 93368
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 22
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class
Hilton, Joshua Herbert
D/KX 133098
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 21
Stoker 1st Class
Jackson, Leonard Philips
P/J 112129
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 34
Able Seaman
Johnstone, William Plunkett Dunning
C/JX 151079
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 22
Petty Officer
Jordan, Sidney Lloyd
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 23
Lieutenant
Knowles, Maurice Henry
D/KX 159978
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 20
Stoker 2nd Class
Little, Arthur
D/MX 74203
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 22
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class
Meaker, Eric Knowles
P/JX 149714
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 22
Able Seaman
Mott, David Roger Oakley DSC
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 23
Lieutenant
Pike, Robert Francis
D/JX 366699
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 19
Ordinary Seaman
Quayle, William Horsley
P/KX 146834
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 35
Stoker 1st Class
Rayner, Bertie William Fearnley DSM
C/JX 130051
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 32
Petty Officer
Render, Oswald
D/JX 287917
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 22
Able Seaman
Roberts, James William
C/KX 140723
Born: 6th May, 1926.
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 17
Stoker 1st Class
RN DoB 06/05/1924
Rodwell, Richard Herbert
P/JX 235070
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 22
Able Seaman
Searle, Frederick William
C/SSX 32296
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 23
Able Seaman
Smallwood, Thomas Jack
C/SSX 32523
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 23
Leading Seaman
Smedley, Frank
D/JX 237791
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 21
Able Seaman
Sutton, Thomas Henry
P/KX 88994
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 28
Stoker Petty Officer
Taaffe, Geoffrey
C/KX 152295
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 19
Stoker 1st Class
Taylor, Clifford
P/JX 168050
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 24
Able Seaman
Taylor, Victor
P/JX 273528
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 22
Able Seaman
Upex, Francis Arthur Edwin
P/JX 148084
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 23
Leading Signalman
White, George
P/JX 263859
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 32
Able Seaman
Whitfield, Leslie George Herbert
D/KX 144682
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 20
Stoker 1st Class
Wisdom, Robert Edward
D/JX 293581
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 20
Able Seaman
Worth, John Harold
Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
Aged: 25
Lieutenant

Events

19-08-1941  Laid Down
24-09-1942  Launched
02-02-1943  Completed
28-04-1943  HMS Usurper makes a torpedo attack on the German submarine U-467 in the Norwegian Sea. The target was not hit.
27-07-1943  HMS Usurper sinks the French Chateau Yquem
12-10-1943  On 24th September 1943 HMS Usurper left Algiers for a patrol off La Spezia, Italy. On 3rd October. Lieutenant Mott was ordered to move north to an area in the Gulf of Genoa in an area later identified as containing Italian Minefield QB192.

HMS Usurper was patrolling in the Gulf of Genoa when the German anti-submarine vessel UJ-2208 reported that she had been unsuccessfully attacked. In the counterattack which followed UJ-2208 reported sinking a Submarine.

It is possible that HMS Usurper was sunk in this attack but, she might also have been lost in a minefield. HMS Usurper did not respond to any signals and failed to arrive back at Algiers on 12th October 1942 and was reported lost with all hands

Adoption

Officially adopted by Stroud and Nailsworth District
Warship Week from 21 Mar 1942 to 28 Mar 1942
The submarine's plaque is held at the RN Submarine Museum.
Submarine Adoptions
U2 Specification
Length overall  195 ft 6 inch
Beam  15 ft 9 inch
Depth  15 ft 10 inch
Displacement   648 tons (surface)
  735 tons (submerged)
Diving Depth  200 ft
Speed  11.5 knots (surface)
  9 knots (submerged)
No. of shafts  2
Endurance  Surface: 4050 miles at 10 knots (design)
  Submerged: 23 miles at 8 knots or 170 miles at 2.5 knots (design)
Armament  4 x 21 inch bow tubes (8 torpedoes carried)
  1 x 3 inch gun
  3 x 0.303 inch machine-guns
Complement  4 Officers, 29 Others.
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