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Untamed / Vitality (P 58)

Built By: Vickers (Tyne)
Build Group: U2
Fate: Sold on 13 February 1946 to be broken up for scrap at Troon.
Untamed
Untamed
Untamed / Vitality (P 58)
Untamed / Vitality (P 58)
Vitality
Vitality

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Commanders
1943: Lieutenant   Gordon Maurice Noll MID
1944: Lieutenant   Kenneth Steele Renshaw (RNR) DSC MID
1945: Lieutenant   William Thomas John Fox

Ex P58

Lost in an accident in the Clyde submarine exercise areas on 30/5/43. Salvaged renamed Vitality in 1943.

Roll of Honour
36
 
Acworth, Peter Carr Glyn  1Q/1923
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Sub Lieutenant Aged: 20
Arkwright, John Richard Stephen  P/JX 296512
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Able Seaman Aged: 36
Ball, George Herbert  C/KX83009
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Petty Officer Stoker Aged: 29
Bates, Jack  P/JX 248057
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Able Seaman Aged: 21
Beard, Robert Leonard Sidney Archibald  C/SSX20048
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Leading Seaman Aged: 25
Bothams, Peter  C/JX157949
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Able Seaman Aged: 20
Bowyer, Hugh Love  P/SSX33293
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Able Seaman Aged: 23
Challoner, Thomas  D/MX49479
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Chief Engine Room Artificer Aged: 32
Clayton, Peter Lambert  (RNR) 3Q/1923
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Sub Lieutenant Aged: 19
Cole, Herbert Ernest Douglas  D/KX136417
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 20
Cooper, Joseph Frederick  C/SSX30887
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Able Seaman Aged: 22
Danks, George Victor  P/MX 79014
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Aged: 25
Dow, James  D/JX197814
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Telegraphist Aged: 24
Duncan, John Priestly  1Q/1920
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Lieutenant Aged: 23
Flinn, Alfred Charles  P/SSX22083
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Able Seaman Aged: 23
Floyd, Gordon Douglas  C/JX153536
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Able Seaman Aged: 20
Gates, Norman Thomas  P/JX 155381
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Leading Seaman Aged: 21
Gibson, John Joseph Frederick  C/JX179395
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Able Seaman Aged: 24
Green, Henry Arthur William  C/JX203139
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Able Seaman Aged: 25
Hickson, William  D/JX207948
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Able Seaman Aged: 26
Higgins, Geoffrey Thomas Charles  (RNVR) 1Q/1922
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Sub Lieutenant Aged: 21
Male, Peter  P/JX 366078
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Ordinary Seaman Aged: 20
Miles, Frederick Arthir  P/KX 89365
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Leading Stoker Aged: 26
Mitchell, Leslie Clarence  P/JX 229043
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Telegraphist Aged: 20
Nichol, Henry  D/MX74180
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Engine Room Artificer 4th Class Aged: 28
Noll, Gordon Maurice  1918
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Lieutenant Aged: 25
Pendleton, Roy George  D/KX145468
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 20
Playfair, Peter  C/JX162409
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Leading Telegraphist Aged: 19
Read, Arthur George  P/JX 147778
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Leading Seaman Aged: 23
Smith, Leslie George  P/JX 140888
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Petty Officer Telegraphist Aged: 24
Spencer, Albert  D/KX133120
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 32
Tippett, Wilfred  D/JX151254
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Petty Officer Aged: 22
Walker, Robert Buchanan  P/KX 121962
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Stoker 1st Class Aged: 29
Welfoot, Clarence Charles  D/JX126328
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Petty Officer Aged: 32
Wheeler, Ronald  (RNVR) P/LDX 3427
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Able Seaman Aged: 22
Wishart, Robert William  C/KX114973
Died: 30th May, 1943.
Leading Stoker Aged: 22

Events

 09-10-1941   Laid Down
 08-12-1942   Launched
 02-05-1943   Completed
 30-05-1943   On 30th May 1943 HMS Untamed was exercising with ships of the 8th Escort Group off Cambeltown. At 0950 that morning Untamed dived and commenced the first run of the day. After three hours the submarine surfaced and prepared for the next run. Just after 1345 the submarine once again dived and the second exercise of the day began. This exercise involved the anti-submarine training yacht Shemara firing practice mortars against the submarine. The first two runs were successful with Untamed indicating her position after each with a white smoke candle.

At 1450 following the third run the submarine did not immediately indicate her position, The Shemara fired INDICATE POSITION charge, came to a stop and began tapping on the hull. The efforts of the Shemara were greeted by a yellow smoke candle. Shemara moved to a position by the marker and once again began tapping the hull. At this point a swirl of water was seen near the marker.

Shemara called a halt to the exercise and signalled the submarine to surface: there was no reply. A second surface signal was sent, again without result. At 1602 Shemara sent a signal for assistance to the Naval Officer in Command and continued to search for the submarine.

At 1716 the sound of the submarine blowing her tanks was heard. Using asdic the Shemara located the submarine. For the next ten minutes the sound of the submarine blowing her tanks and stopping and starting her engines could be heard.

At 1733 HMS Thrasher arrived to render assistance and tried to contact the Untamed. At 1745 all sound from the submarine ceased. Because of worsening weather conditions divers were not able to inspect the stricken submarine until 1115 on 1st June - 45 hours after she had dived. There was no reply to the divers tapping on the hull of the submarine and an inspection of the vessels hull showed no obvious damage.

Only when the Untamed had been salvaged did the cause of her loss become clear, the forward part of the submarine had been flooded through a sluice valve.
 05-07-1943   Untamed was salvaged on this day, she was refitted and named Vitality, returning to service in July 1944.
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