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Universal (P 57)

Built By: Vickers (Tyne)
Build Group: U2
Fate: Scrapped in June 1946 at Milford Haven.
Universal (P 57)
Universal (P 57)

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Commanders
1942: Lieutenant   Cecil Gordon
1944: Lieutenant   Samuel Stanley Brooks DSC MID
1945: Lieutenant   Robin William Garson
1945: Lieutenant   Arlingham Jerome D Arcy Burdett DSC
1945: Lieutenant   Bruce Collins MID
1945: Acting Lieutenant   Derek John Palmer (RNVR)

Events

 05-09-1941   Laid Down
 10-10-1942   Launched
 08-03-1943   Completed
 06-09-1943   HMS Universal sinks the Italian auxiliary patrol vessels V 130/Ugo and V 134/Tre Sorelle with gunfire west of La Spezia, Italy.
 18-12-1943   HMS Universal torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant La Foce south of Chiavari, Genova, Italy.
 27-02-1944   HMS Universal torpedoes and damages the Italian tanker (in German control) Cesteriano off Cape Camarat, southern France.
 23-05-1944   HMS Universal torpedoes and sinks the German auxiliary gunboat SG 15 off Genua, Italy.
 17-06-1944   HMS Universal torpedoes and sinks the German merchant Canosa off Cassis, southern France.
 21-06-1944   HMS Universal sinks the German Guardboat FMa 06 south of Marseille, southern France.
 22-06-1944   HMS Universal torpedoes and sinks the German merchants President Dal Piaz and Canosa off Cassis, southern France.
 14-07-1944   HMS Universal damages the Spanish sailing vessel Sevellina off Port Vendres, southern France.
 04-08-1944   HMS Universal torpedoes and sinks the German auxilary minesweeper Petrel of the coast southern France.
 08-08-1944   While on patrol off H'res, southern France, HMS Universal torpedoes and damages against an enemy auxiliary minesweeper.
Official
Official
Unofficial
Unofficial
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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Thunderbolt (N 25)

Class: 1935 - 1970: T Class
Built By: Cammell Laird (Mersey)
Build Group: T 1
Fate:
HMS Thunderbolt was 'lost with all hands' in the Mediterranean off Cap San Vito, Sicily on 14th Mar 1943.

HMS Thunderbolt was detected, in the early hours of 14th Mar, by the Italian Destroyer Cicogna (Lieutenant Augusto Migliorini).

Following a three and a half hour pursuit the Cicogna made a depth charge attack at 0845. This brought the stern of Thunderbolt to the surface before the submarine finally sank.
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In the last days of WWII, Germany, desperate for any last gasp to defeat the allied powers, looked to their last remaining weapons and soldiers. The German Navy and the last remaining U-Boats, were brought together for one last mission, to attack the United States Homeland,

Operation Seawolf. Captain Hans Kessler, a grizzled submarine commander from both World Wars, is called into service to make the mission a success and help turn the tide of the war.
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