October 15th - On This Date - RN Submarine Service

1913                HMS E6 completed

1914                HMS E15 completed

1913                HMS V2 laid down

1931                HMS X2 laid down

1940                HMS Uredd laid down

1943                HMS Vigorous launched

1943                HMS Vivid launched

1918                HMS J6 was lying on the surface outside Blythe. The Q-ship Cymric was also in the area and had already encountered two British submarines that day. At 1600 a third submarine was spotted closing to have what the Cymric thought was a good look before attacking. The Cymric at once went to action stations believing the submarine to be the German U-boat U6. As shells poured into the submarine the signalman attempting to hoist a recognition signal was killed. J6 attempted to lose the Q-ship by entering a fog bank Cymric followed and found the submarine settling in the water. It was only when survivors were picked up that the mistake became clear.

1940                HMS Triad - In October 1940 HMS Triad was patrolling the coast of Libya before proceeding to Alexandria. By 20th October the submarine was overdue. It was initially believed that Italian aircraft had bombed Triad off Calabria, but it was later discovered that she had been attacked and sunk by the Italian submarine Enrico Toti on 15th.

1940                HMS L 27 attacks a German convoy in the English Channel off Cape Barfleur, France. All torpedoes miss.

1941                HMS Torbay bombards the port of Apollonia

1943                U-616 - In the Mediterranean U-616 encountered the British HMS Untiring, which fired three torpedoes without success

1943                HMS Torbay torpedoes and sinks the small Italian merchant Tarquinia off Kalymnos, Greece and a Greek fishing vessel with gunfire east of Leros, Greece.

Following these sinkings Torbay had an encounter with the German Q-ship GA 45. Torbay's periscope was sighted first by GA 45 which dropped 5 depth-charges very close. Later Torbay surfaced intending to dispose of GA 45 with her gun but the German vessel was very alert and opened an accurate fire as soon as the submarine surfaced and forced her to break off the action. She did not drop any further depth-charges which led Torbay to conclude that she was out of depth-charges. The submarine was not damaged during this encounter.

1944                HMS Sturdy sinks three Japanese sailing vessels with gunfire in the Gulf of Boni, Celebes, Netherlands East Indies.

Source - Submarine Association Barrow