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Affray (P 421)

Built By: Cammell Laird (Mersey)
Build Group: Amphion
Fate: Lost on 16th April 1951 through flooding caused by fractured snorkel in Hurd Deep, off Alderney

Affray

HMS Affray as she was completed with Oerlikon 'bandstand' seen aft of the fin. Snort has yet to be fitted. The guard rails & stanchions are interesting - the authors failing memory recalls that the stanchions were left in place while at sea to provide identification during the Summer Wars where the fleet was divided into two opposing sides.

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The relatives and the author are not the only ones who would like this mystery solved and I am sure so would the many who served at the time or later, on the sister ships of the Affray, but I don't want to know at the cost of bringing indignity to the remains of these men have no doubt that others with better technical qualifications and easy access to the archives would be able to more comprehensively review the loss of the Affray , but this is simply a commentary by a former submariner of the time on a recently published book about the loss

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Disaster Beneath the Waves

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Roll of Honour
75
Allen, Osborn Harold
Born: 15th Oct, 1926.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 24
Engineer Lieutenant
Alston, James Hilton
Born: 11th Feb, 1920.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 31
Engineer Lieutenant
Andrews, Trever John (Royal Marine)
X 3263 (Ch)
Born: 15th Feb, 1925.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 26
Sergeant
SBS Commandos on passage to beach drop off
Ashley, George Thomas Eric
P/KX 134325
Born: 27th Dec, 1922.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 28
Leading Stoker
Barlow, James Berytram
D/LX 763226
Born: 23rd Apr, 1928.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 22
Leading Steward
Bartrup, Denis Graham
P/MX 769278
Born: 24th Feb, 1927.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 24
Electrical Mechanician 1st Class
Beddoes, David Benjamin
C/SLX 868218
Born: 8th Jul, 1931.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 19
Steward
Bennington, David Russell
D/MX 58857
Born: 10th Jun, 1923.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 27
Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class
Bilton, William (Civilian)
Born: 30th Jun, 1915.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 35
Senior Commissioning Engineer
Blackburn, John DSC*
Born: 13th Sep, 1922.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 28
Lieutenant
Commanding Officer
Bridges, Oliver Alfred Maynard
D/SKX 832096
Born: 26th May, 1929.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 21
Stoker Mechanic
Burberry, Alfred Henry
C/JX 157156
Born: 5th May, 1922.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 28
Chief Petty Officer Stoker
Cardno, Robert John
C/KX 769554
Born: 26th Oct, 1927.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 23
Stoker Mechanic
Cole-Adams, Michael Christopher
Born: 18th Feb, 1927.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 24
Engineer Lieutenant
Cook, George David
D/JX 163572
Born: 1st Mar, 1924.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 27
Leading Seaman
Cooper, John Harold
D/JX 371976
Born: 9th Mar, 1927.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 24
Petty Officer
Curry, Roy
D/SKX 790241
Born: 15th Oct, 1928.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 22
Stoker Mechanic
Denny, Frederick Charles
MX 745978
Born: 26th Jun, 1921.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 29
Chief Petty Officer Electrician
Drury, Frederick
D/SKX 854592
Born: 14th Jan, 1930.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 21
Stoker Mechanic
Foster, Derrick James John
Born: 3rd Aug, 1925.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 25
Lieutenant
Frew, Anthony Arthur
Born: 5th Aug, 1929.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 21
Sub Lieutenant
Garwood, Alan Robert
Born: 6th Mar, 1930.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 21
Sub Lieutenant
Gittins, Harold
D/SSX 661493
Born: 11th Jul, 1930.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 20
Telegraphist
Gostling, Bernard Paul
C/KX 832123
Born: 24th Jun, 1929.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 21
Stoker Mechanic
Green, Walter John
C/KX 162120
Born: 19th Apr, 1924.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 26
Leading Stoker
Greenwood, Jeffrey Langdon
Born: 29th Oct, 1928.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 22
Lieutenant
Harkness, William Ronald MID
P/SSX 15914
Born: 10th Aug, 1915.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 35
Petty Officer
Also as J/X 801036
Harris, Leonard Edwin Stanley
C/KX 841775
Born: 25th Sep, 1929.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 21
Stoker Mechanic
Hiles, Roy Gerald Graham
P/SKX 846398
Born: 30th Mar, 1930.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 21
Stoker Mechanic
Hodges, John Edwin Albert
P/SKX 850727
Born: 23rd Sep, 1930.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 20
Stoker Mechanic
Hooper, Alfred Herbert George (Royal Marine)
X 6485 (Po)
Born: 25th Jul, 1929.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 21
Marine
SBS Commando on passage to beach drop off.
Horwell, Eric
D/SMX 834344
Born: 18th Nov, 1929.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 21
Electrical Mechanician 1st Class
Howard-Johnston, Richard Geoffrey
Born: 23rd Sep, 1929.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 21
Sub Lieutenant
Irven, Alan Harold
C/JX 292902
Born: 13th Jan, 1926.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 25
Telegraphist
Jarvis, Dennis William (Royal Marine)
X 4883 (Ch)
Born: 31st Oct, 1929.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 21
Marine
SBS Commando on passage to beach drop off.
Kirkwood, William James
Born: 12th Feb, 1925.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 26
Lieutenant
Lansberry, Russell Cruddas
Born: 1st Mar, 1924.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 27
Lieutenant
Larter, Gordon Richard
P/SKX 852151
Born: 9th Nov, 1930.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 20
Stoker Mechanic
Leakey, George William
C/JX 785105
Born: 3rd Nov, 1928.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 22
Able Seaman
Lees, Norman Charles Edwin
P/MX 93541
Born: 21st Sep, 1925.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 25
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class
Lewis, William David DSM*
D/KX 842311
Born: 15th Oct, 1922.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 28
Stoker Mechanic
Linton, William Francis
Born: 17th Feb, 1930.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 21
Sub Lieutenant
Longstaff, William Anthony Comben
Born: 18th Dec, 1929.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 21
Sub Lieutenant
Mackenzie, Colin Ian
Born: 5th Jun, 1929.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 21
Sub Lieutenant
Mackenzie-Edwards, Roderick Petvin
Born: 31st Mar, 1930.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 21
Sub Lieutenant
McKenzie, John Labourne DSM*
P/MX 57125
Born: 14th Dec, 1912.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 38
Chief Engine Room Artificer
Also as P/MX 75125
Miller, James
D/SKX 803506
Born: 3rd Sep, 1928.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 22
Leading Stoker
Nickalls, Hugh Antony Hylton
Born: 24th Jul, 1929.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 21
Sub Lieutenant
North, Richard Frank
Born: 23rd Jun, 1929.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 21
Sub Lieutenant
Pane, Peter Ronald
C/JX 819786
Born: 19th Oct, 1931.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 19
Able Seaman
Parker, George
D/MX 66713
Born: 20th Jun, 1913.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 37
Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class
Pearson, Dennis Harry
P/JX 371671
Born: 17th Aug, 1927.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 23
Petty Officer
Preston, Robin Jocelyn
Born: 3rd Dec, 1929.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 21
Sub Lieutenant
Ramplin, Alan
P/SKX 871876
Born: 23rd Apr, 1930.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 20
Stoker Mechanic
Rewcastle, Antony Giles Candon
Born: 21st Mar, 1929.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 22
Sub Lieutenant
Rutter, Jack
D/SMX 770424
Born: 4th Mar, 1929.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 22
Radio Electrical Mechanician
Shaw, Frederick Miguel
Born: 25th May, 1926.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 24
Engineer Lieutenant
Shergold, Edward Norman (Royal Marine)
X 5874 (Po)
Born: 12th Apr, 1928.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 23
Corporal
SBS Commando on passage to beach drop off.
Smith, Francis Robert
C/MX 58198
Born: 16th Jul, 1920.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 30
Cook
Smith, John Douglas
C/KX 835006
Born: 9th Sep, 1926.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 24
Stoker Mechanic
Smith, Ronald Benjamin Brinkley
C/JX 157783
Born: 14th Oct, 1922.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 28
Leading Seaman
Stewart, Aanthony John
P/JX 712811
Born: 11th May, 1928.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 22
Able Seaman
Strachan, John Gordon
Born: 11th Aug, 1929.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 21
Sub Lieutenant
Taylor, Maurice George Edwin C.
P/MX 715933
Born: 30th Jul, 1925.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 25
Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class
Temple, Norman
C/KX 527942
Born: 2nd Jun, 1925.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 25
Stoker Mechanic
Thirkettle, John George
C/KX 100698
Born: 6th Jul, 1921.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 29
Petty Officer Stoker
Treleaven, John Monckton
Born: 11th Oct, 1927.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 23
Engineer Lieutenant
Trimby, Victor George
P/MX 816151
Born: 6th Nov, 1928.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 22
Leading Stoker
Tugman, Robin Terry
Born: 15th Dec, 1928.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 22
Sub Lieutenant
Vincent, Roy
C/SLX 771525
Born: 28th Apr, 1929.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 21
Steward
Welch, Albert George
Born: 19th May, 1927.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 23
Engineer Lieutenant
Whitbread, Reginald Arthur
P/KX 82925
Born: 2nd Oct, 1913.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 37
Chief Petty Officer Stoker
Wood, Herbert James
C/MX 745821
Born: 29th Apr, 1924.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 26
Leading Electrical Mechanician
Woods, Frederick George MID
P/JX 136971
Born: 2nd Jun, 1916.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 34
Petty Officer Telegraphist
Worsfold, Benjamin James
P/JX 371780
Born: 29th Jul, 1926.
Died: 16th Apr, 1951.
Aged: 24
Leading Telegraphist

Events

16-01-1944  Laid Down
12-04-1945  Launched
02-05-1946  Completed
16-04-1951  HMS Affray left Portsmouth to take part in Exercise Training Spring with a training class of young officers aboard, her orders being to make a daily report between 9am and 10am each morning and to land a party of Royal Marines on any suitable beach in the patrol area during the night.

On the morning of the 17th Affray failed to report her position as required and rescue vessels were immediately put on alert as repeated attempts to call up the submarine failed. It was known that she had intended to dive 30 miles south of the Isle of Wight, so the search was concentrated off the island but the exact position of Affray was unknown. A number of vessels involved in the search reported faint Asdic signals and the submarine Ambush decoded a message stating, WE ARE TRAPPED ON THE BOTTOM but the Affray still could not be found.

On the evening of the 19th the Admiralty regretfully called off the search. While the search for survivors was now fruitless the search for the Affray was to continue.

In the middle of June, after nine weeks of searching, an underwater camera focused on the submarine's nameplate. Her final position proved to be 37 miles from her known diving position. She was lying on an even keel on the edge of a series of underwater chasms known as Hurd’s Deep in the English Channel. Divers could find no evidence of collision damage but noted that her radar aerial and periscope were raised, indicating that she must have been submerged when she foundered. Both hydroplanes were in the rise position indicating that attempts to raise the submarine must have been in operation before being finally defeated by the incoming water.

A reason for the disaster was however soon found when the snort mast was examined. A clean break was discovered 3 feet above the deck leading to the conclusion that metal fatigue had caused the loss, allowing water into the boat through a 10-inch hole. This was confirmed by tests carried out on the recovered mast at Portsmouth, all assertions as to a collision being quashed. Exactly what caused the snorkel to shear at the time it did will in all likelihood never be known.

Official
Amphion Specification
Length overall  280 ft 6in
Beam  22 ft
Depth  16ft
Displacement   1385 tons (surface)
  1620 tons (submerged)
Diving Depth  350 ft
Speed  Surface 18.5 knots (design)
  Submarged 8 knots (design)
No. of shafts  2
Armament  6 x 21 inch bow tubes (2 external)
  4 x 21 inch stern tubes (2 external)
  20 torpedoes carried
  1 x 4 inch gun
  1 x 20mm Qerlikon cannon
  3 x 0.303in machine-guns
Endurance  Surface: 10 500 miles at 11 knots (design)
  Submerged: 16 miles at 8 knots or 90 miles at 3 knots
Complement  6 Officers and 55 Ratings.
  6 Officers and 58 Ratings after modernisation.
Comments

Comment by: richard lacey on November 30th, 2025

Not sure that a raised periscope and radar indicate a dived situation, as on my sub, they were always raised on the surface; otherwise, they could not be used

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