Usurper (P 56)

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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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Commanders

1942:

Lieutenant

David Roger Oakeley Mott

DSC

Roll of Honour


Abraham, Cedric Ernest William C/JX 215054
Abraham, Cedric Ernest William C/JX 215054		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 26

Allan, Wilfred D/JX 563155
Allan, Wilfred D/JX 563155		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Ordinary Seaman	Aged: 18

Anderson, John David Shanks
Anderson, John David Shanks		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Sub Lieutenant	Aged: 19

Appleby, Thomas William P/JX 155434
Appleby, Thomas William P/JX 155434		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Leading Telegraphist	Aged: 21

Baker, George William P/JX 358368
Baker, George William P/JX 358368		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 19

Ballantyne, James Ross D/KX 86977
Ballantyne, James Ross D/KX 86977		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Stoker Petty Officer	Aged: 27

Bethell, William John D/JX 286982
Bethell, William John D/JX 286982		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 22

Bird, William Henry P/MX 48306
Bird, William Henry P/MX 48306		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Chief Engine Room Artificer	Aged: 36

Carson, Edward Henry Sidney D/JX 158782
Carson, Edward Henry Sidney D/JX 158782		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Telegraphist	Aged: 20

Charman, John P/JX 142727
Charman, John P/JX 142727		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Chief Petty Officer	Aged: 25

Collins, Michael Higgins P/SSX 22995
Collins, Michael Higgins P/SSX 22995		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Leading Seaman	Aged: 23

Cooper, Sidney George C/JX 142915
Cooper, Sidney George C/JX 142915		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Leading Seaman	Aged: 24

Davies, Mervyn Ebenezer DSM P/JX 143196
Davies, Mervyn Ebenezer DSM P/JX 143196		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Petty Officer Telegraphist	Aged: 24

Davies, Thomas Barrie P/JX 358192
Davies, Thomas Barrie P/JX 358192		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 19

Eldridge, Hubert Arthur C/JX180661
Eldridge, Hubert Arthur C/JX180661		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Telegraphist	Aged: 19

Flynn, James Reginald P/KX 95906
Flynn, James Reginald P/KX 95906		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Leading Stoker	Aged: 23

Frost, Patrick Anthony Stirling
Frost, Patrick Anthony Stirling		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Sub Lieutenant	Aged: 21

Fylan, James Reginald P/KX 82494
Fylan, James Reginald P/KX 82494		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Stoker Petty Officer	Aged: 28

Griffiths, William John D/JX 269375
Griffiths, William John D/JX 269375		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Telegraphist	Aged: 22

Harman, William Parker P/MX 93368
Harman, William Parker P/MX 93368		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Engine Room Artificer 4th Class	Aged: 22

Hilton, Joshua Herbert D/KX 133098
Hilton, Joshua Herbert D/KX 133098		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 21

Jackson, Leonard Philips P/J 112129
Jackson, Leonard Philips P/J 112129		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 34

Johnstone, William Plunkett Dunning C/JX 151079
Johnstone, William Plunkett Dunning C/JX 151079		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Petty Officer	Aged: 22

Jordan, Sidney Lloyd
Jordan, Sidney Lloyd		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Lieutenant	Aged: 23

Knowles, Maurice Henry D/KX 159978
Knowles, Maurice Henry D/KX 159978		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Stoker 2nd Class	Aged: 20

Little, Arthur D/MX 74203
Little, Arthur D/MX 74203		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Engine Room Artificer 4th Class	Aged: 22

Meaker, Eric Knowles P/JX 149714
Meaker, Eric Knowles P/JX 149714		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 22

Mott, David Roger Oakley DSC
Mott, David Roger Oakley DSC		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Lieutenant	Aged: 23

Pike, Robert Francis D/JX 366699
Pike, Robert Francis D/JX 366699		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Ordinary Seaman	Aged: 19

Quayle, William Horsley P/KX 146834
Quayle, William Horsley P/KX 146834		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 35

Rayner, Bertie William Fearnley DSM C/JX 130051
Rayner, Bertie William Fearnley DSM C/JX 130051		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Petty Officer	Aged: 32

Render, Oswald D/JX 287917
Render, Oswald D/JX 287917		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 22

Roberts, James William C/KX 140723		Born: 6th May, 1926.
Roberts, James William C/KX 140723		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 17
	RN DoB 06/05/1924

Rodwell, Richard Herbert P/JX 235070
Rodwell, Richard Herbert P/JX 235070		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 22

Searle, Frederick William C/SSX 32296
Searle, Frederick William C/SSX 32296		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 23

Smallwood, Thomas Jack C/SSX 32523
Smallwood, Thomas Jack C/SSX 32523		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Leading Seaman	Aged: 23

Smedley, Frank D/JX 237791
Smedley, Frank D/JX 237791		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 21

Sutton, Thomas Henry P/KX 88994
Sutton, Thomas Henry P/KX 88994		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Stoker Petty Officer	Aged: 28

Taaffe, Geoffrey C/KX 152295
Taaffe, Geoffrey C/KX 152295		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 19

Taylor, Clifford P/JX 168050
Taylor, Clifford P/JX 168050		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 24

Taylor, Victor P/JX 273528
Taylor, Victor P/JX 273528		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 22

Upex, Francis Arthur Edwin P/JX 148084
Upex, Francis Arthur Edwin P/JX 148084		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Leading Signalman	Aged: 23

White, George P/JX 263859
White, George P/JX 263859		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 32

Whitfield, Leslie George Herbert D/KX 144682
Whitfield, Leslie George Herbert D/KX 144682		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Stoker 1st Class	Aged: 20

Wisdom, Robert Edward D/JX 293581
Wisdom, Robert Edward D/JX 293581		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Able Seaman	Aged: 20

Worth, John Harold
Worth, John Harold		Died: 12th Oct, 1943.
	Lieutenant	Aged: 25

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

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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.

Class:	1902 - 1920: A Class
Built By:	Vickers (Barrow)
Build Group:	A2
Fate:
A10 sank whilst alongside the Depot Ship HMS Pactolus at Adrosssan on 17th March 1917. The Submarine was not in commission at the time having been paid off into Reserve in May 1916. There was a report that a party of school boys had been shown round the Submarine earlier in the day! There were no casualties. Submarine A10 was later raised and was sold for scrap on 1st April 1919 to the Ardrossan Dockyard Company.

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Usurper (P 56)

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