|
Modified T
Class Submarines and fourth of this Class ordered from HM Dockyard,
Chatham with HM Submarine TRADEWIND on 25th August 1941 and laid
down on
9th May 1942. This submarine was launched on 24th
March 1943 as P331 but was renamed TRENCHANT later 1943 before build
completion on 26th February 1944 Work-up was carried out in the
Clyde after the ship had been commissioned for service. This boat
had a minelaying capability.
B a t t l
e H o n o u r
s
MALAYA
1944-45
H e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge : Per saltire Red and barry wavy of six
White and Blue
a sword erect, Proper, pommel and hilt
Gold.
S u m m a r
y o f W a r S e r v i c
e
1 9 4 4
February
Carried out contractor’s sea trials in Nore area.
Commissioned for service with 4th Submarine Flotilla.
26th Carried out
Acceptance Trials
Commanding Officer Lieutenant Commander AR Hezlet RN.
March
On completion took passage to Clyde to work-up for operational
service with
7th Submarine Flotilla in Clyde area.
April
Deployed with Flotilla in Clyde area
May
Took passage to Ceylon to join Flotilla
June
On passage to join Flotilla
Commanding Officer promoted to Commander
July
Joined Flotilla at Trincomalee for interception patrols and Fleet
duties in Indian Ocean.
August
Deployed for patrol with Flotilla based at Trincomalee
5th Carried
out unsuccessful attack on coaster in Indian Ocean
9th
Intercepted same vessel and a minelayer.
Sank both ships and captured 14 survivors.
September
Sailed for interception patrol in Malacca Strait
(Note : It was known that German U-Boats were being used to carry
cargo to and from
Penang
and one of the priorities for submarines deployed in this area was
to intercept
this
traffic.)
12th Landed SOE party for
covert operations in North Sumatra.
19th Sank two junks by
surface gunfire.
23rd Carried out attack on
U589 off Penang and sank submarine with a three torpedo
salvo.
Rescued ten of the eighteen survivors. Remainder were saves by a
Japanese submarine.
Carried out minelay which later caused sinking of two mercantiles
totalling 2,814 tons.
October
20th Deployed for patrol
in Malacca Strait. and to carry out special operation at Phuket
Island.
(Note :Submarine was carrying two CHARIOT manned torpedoes with
crews
27th Launched two CHARIOTS
to attack mercantiles in harbour at Phuket..
Mercantile SUMATRA MARU of 984 tons was sunk and another VOLPI was
damaged.
November
Patrol deployment in continuation
December
Deployed with HM Submarine TERRAPIN for joint interception patrol in
Malacca Strait
21st Two ships of
1,053 tons, three coasters, five junks and two landing craft were
sunk with
to
three other small craft damaged.
23rd
1 9 4 5
January
Malacca Strain interception patrol in continuation
Carried out bombardment of Pulo Padang
Returned to Fremantle
February
Carried out interception deployment during which five coasters,
three barges and a junk
were sunk.
March
4th In a joint
operation with HMS TERRAPIN sank Japanese Submarine Chaser TOKUMI
TEI
(Ch-8) by surface gun action.
April
Flotilla deployment in continuation
Passage to Fremantle
May
4th Sailed for
first patrol from Fremantle.
19th Examined anchorages
on south coast of Sumbawa with
finding any targets.
to
23rd
25th Attacked coaster west
of Sourabaya but missed.
Engaged and sank auxiliary minesweeper Wa105 in surface gun
action.
June
Deployed HM Submarine STYGIAN to carry out joint operation to
intercept Japanese
cruiser ASHIGARA known to be on passage to Singapore.
8th Carried
out attack on Japanese cruiser ASHIGARA and sank her in position 14
miles SW
of Muntok Is.in Banka Strait with five torpedoes
(For details see THE FORGOTTEN FLEET by J Winton. and WAR WITH JAPAN
(HMSO).)
July
Sank four small craft in Malacca
Strait.
August
East Indies Fleet duties in continuation.
Commanding Officer, Lieut J C Ogle.
P o s t W a r N o t e
s
HMS TRENCHANT
sailed for return to UK after VJ Day and arrived at Portsmouth in
November 1945 to Pay-off. After being
reduced to Reserve status she was laid-up in Gosport until
recommissioned in 1949 for service in
the 3rd Submarine
Flotilla based at Rosyth. Transferred to the Mediterranean in 1951
she served with the 1st Flotilla based in Malta until 1959 when she
was again placed in Reserve at Chat ham until placed on the Disposal
List in 1962. This submarine was sold to BISCO the next year for
demolition by Metal Industries at Faslane in the Clyde where she
arrived in tow on 23rd July 1963. |
