Description
Object description
British officer served aboard submarine HMS Snapper, 3rd Submarine Flotilla in North Sea, 9/1939-6/1940; served aboard submarine HMS Sealion, 3rd Submarine Flotilla in North Sea and North Atlantic, 6/1940-6/1941; commanded submarine HMS H33, 7th Submarine Flotilla in GB coastal waters and North Atlantic, 12/1941-3/1942; commanded submarine HMS Sahib, 2nd Submarine Flotilla in Arctic and 10th Submarine Flotilla in Mediterranean, 3/1942-4/1943
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of operations as navigation officer aboard submarine HMS Snapper, 3rd Submarine Flotilla in North Sea, 10/1939-6/1940: return to Harwich, GB from 1st Submarine Flotilla in Alexandria, Egypt, 10/1939; conduct of patrols in North Sea, 10/1939-3/1940; work as navigation officer; sinking of German tanker MV Moonsund by gunfire off Norway, 12/4/1940; question of picking up survivors; attitude towards Germans; night action against convoy off Norway, 15/4/1940. Aspects of operations as first lieutenant aboard submarine HMS Sealion, 3rd Submarine Flotilla in North Sea and North Atlantic, 6/1940-6/1941: damage to submarine after ramming by German vessel off Norwegian coast, 6/8/1940; problems of operating at high latitudes; clandestine work in Bay of Biscay; firing on and missing German submarine U-74 in Bay of Biscay, 30/5/1941; opinion of captain Commander Ben Bryant; effect on crew morale of offensive work; effects of bad weather; threat of mines; degree to which submarines can be seen on the surface.
REEL 2 Continues: landing agents on coast of France. Aspects of operations commanding submarine HMS H 33, 7th Submarine Flotilla in GB coastal waters and North Atlantic, 12/1941-3/1942: taking command of submarine after commanding officers' course; patrols in Bay of Biscay; explanation of terms 'lost in the box' and 'periscope eye'. Recollections of operations commanding submarine HMS Sahib 2nd Submarine Flotilla in Arctic and 10th Submarine Flotilla in Mediterranean, 3/1942-4/1943: standing by construction of submarine; forming screen during Convoy PQ 17 in Arctic, 6/1942; transfer to Mediterranean, 8/1942; attack on harbour at Buggerru, Sardinia, Italy, 14/9/1942; sinking of Italian ship SS Scillin carrying Allied prisoners of war off Cape Milazzo, Sicily, Italy, 14/11/1942; depth charging of submarine west of Sicily, Italy, 18/12/1942; bombardment of seaplane station at Finale, Italy, 20/1/1943; attack on Italian schooner carrying salt cargo, 2/1943.
REEL 3 Continues: attack on merchant vessels in harbour at Milazzo, Sicily, Italy, 27/3/1943; attack on Italian armoured tug Valente off Cape Vaticano, Italy, 23/4/1943; under depth charge attack by Italian convoy escort ships that forced submarine to surface off Cape Milazzo, Sicily, Italy, 24/4/1943; capture of crew by Italians, 24/4/1943; qualities needed by submarine commanders; his technique of command.