Hi Platon, Many thanks for your interesting comments and observations. I had also thought that the most likely explanation for these unnamed arrivals were submarines already in port slipping out and back having been on exercise off Lerwick so it’s reassuring to have a second opinion. As you obvious...

Hi John, The search in my database drew a blank for the period 14-16 March 1942. I do not claim it is perfect as corrections are being made on a daily basis! I checked British, French, Dutch, Norwegian and Soviet submarines, A few observations: Two submarines were at Lerwick at that time: HMS Tuna: ...

I may be able to help as far as submarines stopping at Lerwick if you can provide the dates for these 4 entries.

Platon

Dear Francesco,

Many thanks for the added details. There is a fragment of one of the torpedoes fired by Delfino at the Piraeus Naval Museum.

All the best,

Platon

Hello Fabrizio,

After firing a single torpedo at the light cruiser Helle, Delfino also fired a single torpedo at the passenger ships Elsi (1,433 GRT, 1891) and Esperos (1,461 GRT, 1918). but missed.

Best regards,

Platon

The Barletta wreck previously reported to have been HMS Regent has been examined by Italian divers led by Fabio Bisciotti on Sunday 28th June. It has now been identified as the Italian submarine Giovanni Bausan which was converted as the oil depot G.R.S.251 and used as a target by the Allied Air For...

Hi Jordi, I have not seen the HMS Hotspur report. It is not included in the Vigorous file but the HMS Hasty proceedings is there and it appears that she was sunk probably around 0600 hours. At 0530 hours, Lt. Cdr Austen made a signal of distress and shortly after HMS Hotspur arrived and managed to t...

Hello Darius,

Leading Stoker Stanley JONES who I mentioned before is actually listed in ADM 358/3967.

Best regards,

Platon

Dear Andrzej, It is possible that Jones was erroneously believed to have been aboard and later removed from the list of passengers. In any case he did not testify at the board of inquiry which seems to confirm that he was not present. Because of the confusing situation at Malta in those days when th...

Hi Jordi,

There were 98 on board, only 9 survived (a document shows a tenth survivor Leading Stoker Stanley JONES but this possibly is an error).

All the best,

Platon

Hi Jordi and Darius, The mines mentioned in Darius postings were laid by the Italian submarine Pietro Micca in the early hours of 12 June. Pietro Micca heard distant explosions at 1923 (2023 local time) on 13 June 1940 which appears to have been related to the attack by HMAS Voyager which started de...

Hi Jordi, This A/S attack is not well documented. The only mention of it is the Cunningham's diary. The HMS Liverpool log does not mention it except for flying off a seaplane for A/S patrol presumably to hunt this submarine. HMS Nubian attacked a contact with depth charges and some time later HMS Il...

Hi Urs,

If you can remember the questions, please let me know again.

All the best,

Platon

Hi Urs,

What is the 0,5%?

All the best,

Platon

Hi Urs, Regarding your interest in S-boats operations, the same individual who claimed to have found HMS Tetrarch also claimed to have found S 35 a few miles from Tabarka. I wonder what is your view on this story? My views are that this is also a hoax as S 35 was lost north of Ras El Doukara (or Ras...