March 14th - On This Date - RN Submarine Service

1914	E7	Submarine HMS E7 completed
1933	Starfish	Submarine HMS Starfish launched
1941	Trusty	Submarine HMS Trusty launched
1942	Safari	Submarine HMS Safari completed
1945	Saga	Submarine HMS Saga launched
1945	Ace	Submarine HMS Ace launched
1942	HMS Ultimatum	HMS Ultimatum torpedoes and sinks the Italian submarine Ammiraglio Millo in the Ionian Sea off Punta Stilo, Calabria, Italy.
1943	HMS Turbulent	HMS Turbulent was lost, presumed mined IT is believed by a variety of sources that Turbulent was actually sunk whilst transiting a minefield. Her Captain Tubby Linton V.C. heard a message about a possible target that was not intended for him. He was on an interception course and forgot to check for any info on minefield disposition. (Source the Fighting Tenth) On 23rd February 1943 HMS Turbulent sailed from Algiers for a patrol in the Tyrrhenian Sea. On 1st March she attacked and sank the Italian steam ship Vincenz. On the 11th she is known to have attacked the mail ship Mafalda. The following morning the anti-submarine trawler Teti II sighted the periscope and conning tower of a submarine and attacked, it is believed, without success. Turbulent did not respond to any further messages and did not return when expected on 23rd March.
1943	HMS Thunderbolt	At 2210 on Friday 12th March the Italian merchant ship Esterel was torpedoed two miles north of Capo San Vito. Following the attack the torpedo boat Libra was ordered to seek out the submarine responsible - HMS Thunderbolt. The Libra made contact with the Thunderbolt that night and carried out seven depth charge attacks with no result. On Sunday 14th March the Italian corvette Cicogna obtained a contact and shortly after 0734 a periscope was sighted 2000 yards off the corvettes bow. At 0845 the periscope was again sighted, this time less than 10 feet away. Depth charges were launched at once and the corvette increased it speed and turned for another attack when an explosion lifted the submarines stern out of the sea at an angle of 90 degrees. The submarine sank through a discharge of air and oil. A further two depth charges were dropped resulting in air bubbles, oil and smoke appearing on the surface were the submarine had sunk. The Cicogna remained on station for an hour but no further contact was made.
1943	HMS Sibyl	HMS Sibyl torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Pegli 6 nautical miles off Cape Gallo, Sicily.
1943	HMS Unbending	HMS Unbending torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchants Citta di Bergamo and Cosenza off Cape Spartivento, Italy.
1945	HMS Scythian	HMS Scythian sinks three Japanese sailing vessels with gunfire of the Mergui Archipel, Burma.
1945	HMS Spirit	HMS Spirit sinks the Japanese coaster Ryuho Maru with gunfire off Massalambo Island in the Java Sea.

SAB