14 June 1940

[Jordi Comas]

Hi all,

On 14/6/40 light cruiser Liverpool sighted an italian submarine near her while the Mediterranean Fleet was returning to Alexandria after a swept in the Central Mediterranean. Two destroyers were sent to hunt her, one of them was Nubian.

Do you know the identity of the submarine and the other destroyer?

Thank you very much
Jordi

[Platon Alexiades]

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 Ilex also obtained a contact but without result. It is possible that HMS Ilex was the second submarine sent to hunt but I am not absolutely sure.

In any case these contacts were all bogus as there were no Italian submarines in the area. An example of "early war nervousness". Many bogus contacts were reported in the first days of the war by all belligerents.

Best regards,

Platon

[Jordi Comas]

Thank you Platon!

Regards

[Darius]

From AWM 78, War Diary HMAS VOYAGER,

12th, June, 1940:
[...]
1715 Proceeded to sea [from Alexandria] to carry out A/S sweep off Alexandria.

13th, June, 1940:
1725 Assisted minesweeper sinking enemy mines. Sank 3 mines by gunfire.
1910 In contact with enemy submarine. Fired two patterns depth charges.
2000 Submarine surfaced. Opened fire. Submarine disappeared. Fired two patterns depth charges submarine destroyed. Resumed A/S search.

14th, June, 1940:
0100 In contact with enemy submarine. Fired last pattern depth charges.
0150 Lost contact.
0200 Contact regained.
0250 Directing ship for HMAS STUART.
0400 Resumed A/S search.
1131 Secured in Alexandria Harbour.
1510 Proceeded to sea to carry out A/S sweep.
1729 Formed screen on Battle Fleet.
1800 HMS NUBIAN in contact. Proceeded to assist.
1835 Contact non-sub - proceeded into Alexandria.
2057 Secured in Alexandria Harbour.

Regards

Darius

[Darius]

From AWM 78, War Diary HMAS STUART,

12th, 13th, 14th June 1940
Patrol off Alexandria. Detecting and plotting mines. Claimed probably successful attack on U Boat off Alexandria a.m. 14th.

There is also data on the 10th Destroyer Flotilla with may "claims".

Regards

Darius

[Jordi Comas]

Thank you Darius!

Regards

[Platon Alexiades]

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 depth charging a contact in 31°33' N, 29°50' E. at 1953/13 June. The attack by HMAS Voyager at 0130/14 June was in 327° - Ras El Tin (Alexandria) - 24 miles, Voyager had no more depth-charges after that and directed HMAS Stuart who arrived on the scene at 0250 and proceeded with more depth charging and observed an oil patch. However, Pietro Micca did not hear anything and was well away at this point. No other Italian submarine operated in this area so these attacks were all bogus. You will find more details on these in ADM199/446.

Best regards,

Platon