Themes

Article Highlights

• Introduction

• The Tenth Submarine Flotilla

• The success of HMS Upholder

The success of HMS Upholder

HMS Upholder patrolled in the Mediterranean, commanded by Lieutenant Commander Wanklyn, during May 1941.

Crew of HMS Upholder, including Lt Commander Wanklyn on conning tower, WW2 (RNSM)

An enemy troopship convoy was spotted off the coast of Sicily on 24th May, together with a strong escort of destroyers. Upholder's periscope was little use in the rapidly fading light and her listening gear was also unserviceable. A surface attack would have been suicidal and so Wanklyn decided to move in and make a close attack.

He manoeuvred the boat into position ready for firing, aware that he could not see any of the escorts. Wanklyn's quick reactions prevented damage to Upholder when a destroyer suddenly appeared out of the gloom at high speed. As soon as it passed, he took aim and fired torpedoes at one of the large troopships. At close range, he could not miss and the fatally damaged ship began to sink. The troopship was the 17 800 ton liner ‘SS Conte Rosso'. She was sailing with 4000 troops aboard, of whom some 2300 died. The other destroyers attempted to revenge this loss and over the next 20 minutes a total of 37 depth charges exploded around the submarine. Unable to trace the whereabouts of the destroyers, Wanklyn used his skill and judgment to break clear and returned the boat safely to base. Lt Cdr Wanklyn later received the Victoria Cross for this action.

Unfortunately, Upholder was lost whilst on patrol off Sicily in April 1942. This was a major loss, not only in the Mediterranean theatre, but also to the Royal Navy. During just 15 months with the Tenth Submarine Flotilla, Upholder had sunk or damaged no fewer than 22 enemy ships of which most were supply ships. In an unprecedented wartime announcement, the Admiralty gave full credit to the whole crew for their arduous and dangerous duty.