Desmond Nevill Cooper Tufnell DSC, RN

Born  15 Nov 1892
Died  24 Apr 1965(72)

Ranks

15 Sep 1913S.Lt.
15 Feb 1915Lt.
15 Feb 1923Lt.Cdr.
31 Dec 1928Cdr.
31 Dec 1936Capt.


Retired: 31 Mar 1946

Decorations

22 Jun 1916DSC

Warship Commands listed for Desmond Nevill Cooper Tufnell, RN


ShipRankTypeFromTo
HMS Ramillies (07)Capt.Battleship23 Sep 19414 Aug 1942
HMS Royal Sovereign (05)Capt.BattleshipAug 1942Jan 1943

Career information

We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.

Events related to this officer

Battleship HMS Ramillies (07)


30 May 1942
While Ramillies (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN) was anchored in Diego Suarez harbour (Madagascar), two midget submarines were lauched at nightfall from Japanese submarines I-16 (offsite link) and I-20 (offsite link). One, from I-20, managed to get through and enter the harbour, finding Ramillies and the British tanker British Loyalty (6,993 tons.). Armed with only two torpedoes, the Japanese commander chose to target both vessels, each with a torpedo. He achieved both hits, sinking the tanker and probably saving the battleship from sinking. Severely damaged, she nevertheless could be towed to Durban, where she undertook temporary repairs from June to August. Later she returned home to Plymouth where full repairs were completed from September 1942 to June 1943.

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