Patrick James Cowell DSC, RN
| Birth details unknown |
 | Ranks
Retired: 7 Jan 1961 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for Patrick James Cowell, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS L 27 (N 27) | Lt. | Submarine | 24 Jul 1939 | |
| HMS Swordfish (N 61) | Lt. | Submarine | 10 Feb 1940 | 14 Oct 1940 |
| HMS Thrasher (N 37) | Lt. | Submarine | 21 Jan 1941 | 12 Oct 1941 |
| HMS Whitehall (D 94) | Lt.Cdr. | Destroyer | 1 Nov 1943 | ??? |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Submarine HMS Swordfish (N 61)
20 Apr 1940
HMS Swordfish (Lt. P.J. Cowell, RN) fires 6 torpedoes against the German merchant Santos (5943 GRT) about 17 nautical miles south-south-east of Larvik, Norway in position 58º48'N, 10º19'E. All torpedoes fired however missed their target.
28 Jul 1940
HMS Swordfish (Lt. P.J. Cowell, RN) comes across the Norwegian yacht Maski in the North Sea in position 55º33'N, 01º31'E. The four Norwegians aboard the yacht were trying to flee to the United Kingdom. After the Norwegians were taken aboard the Maski was sunk with gunfire.
1 Oct 1940
HMS Swordfish (Lt. P.J. Cowell, RN) attacks the German torpedo boats Falke and Kondor with torpedoes in the English Channel about 12 nautical miles north-east of Cherbourg, France in position 49º48'N, 01º24'W. All torpedoes fired missed their target.
Submarine HMS Thrasher (N 37)
14 Jun 1941
After a very short work-up period of only one month HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Cowell, DSC, RN) departs Holy Loch bound for Gibraltar.
20 Jun 1941
HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Cowell, DSC, RN) arrives at Gibraltar.
22 Jun 1941
HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Cowell, DSC, RN) departs Gibraltar for her 1st war patrol. She is to carry stores to Malta end then to proceed to Alexandria, patrolling along the Southern Italian coast and the West coast of Greece en-route.
23 Jun 1941
HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Cowell, DSC, RN) sights a French merchant in ballast of about 3000 tons North of Oran in position 36º34'N, 00º37'W. Thrasher is ordered not to attack French ships during the trip to Malta so Lt.Cdr. Cowell dives so that Thrasher would not compromise her position.
29 Jun 1941
HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Cowell, DSC, RN) arrives at Malta, she unloads the stores and then left for patrol later the same day.
1 Jul 1941
HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Cowell, DSC, RN) sights a convoy of three merchant vessels to the south-east of Capo Spartivento in position 37º45'N, 16º21'E. Unfortunately they are too far away to be attacked.
All times are zone -2)
0400 hours - Dived in position 37º45'N, 16º21'E
1205 hours - In position 37º45'N, 16º21'E sighted 3 merchant ships in ballast, range 11000 yards, bearing 270, course 210. They were too far away to be attacked
2130 hours - Left patrol area to proceed to Alexandria as ordered by signal.
3 Jul 1941
HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Cowell, DSC, RN) sights what is thought to be a trawler near Cape Dukato, Lefkada Island, Greece in position 38.04'N, 20.22'E. Contact is however soon lost.
(All times are zone -3)
0535 hours - Dived
1842 hours - Sighted mast and funnel in position 38.04'N, 20.22'E. Most likely a trawler. Bearing 280, range 10000 yards, steering 350 at high speed. Tried to close but lost contact at 1856 hours
2150 hours - Surfaced.
9 Jul 1941
HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Cowell, DSC, RN) ends her 1st war patrol at Alexandria.
22 Jul 1941
HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Cowell, DSC, RN) departs Alexandria for her 2nd war patrol. She is ordered to land a person on Crete and then evacuate stranded troops. After this she is to patrol in the Aegean.
28 Jul 1941
HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Cowell, DSC, RN) picks up 78 men from Crete. With so many on board the patrol in the Aegean had to be abandoned and Thrasher set course to return to Alexandria.
(All times are zone -3)
27 July 1941
0030 hours - Attempted to land Lt.Cdr. Pool, RNR by folbot but the weather was still not suitable. Abandoned the attempt
0245 hours - The wind dropped so now a succesful landing was made. Withdrew to the seaward to return next night
2330 hours - While three nautical miles off Limni Bay received a signal that 46 men would be ready to be evacuated by 0100/28. Proceeded inshore.
28 July 1941
0210 hours - Operation completed, picked up 62 British soldiers, 5 Naval ratings and 11 Greeks, set course for Alexandria as it was impossible to continue the patrol with so many men aboard
0512 hours - Dived
2058 hours - Surfaced in position 34º22'N, 25º02'E
31 Jul 1941
HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Cowell, DSC, RN) ends her 2nd war patrol at Alexandria.
6 Aug 1941
HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Cowell, DSC, RN) departs Alexandria for her 3rd war patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the Aegean.
12 Aug 1941
HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Cowell, DSC, RN) twice tries to attack enemy convoys near the Zea Channel. Both attacks had to be broken off.
(All times are zone -3)
0252 hours - Dived
Intended to patrol through the Zea Channel
1130 hours - Sighted 2 M.A.S. vessels off Angarlestro Point
1150 hours - In position 37º38'N, 23º58'E sighted a destroyer of the Folgore class off Gaidaro Island. At this time the M.A.S. vessels were closing. The destroyer was followed by a two-funneled, camouflaged transport of 8000 tons. A trawler was also at the scene
1210 hours - The convoy altered course up the Mandri Channel
1220 hours - Broke off the attack due to the long range
1225 hours - Sighted another convoy coming out of the Thermia Channel, position 37º30'N, 24º11'E. Started attack. The convoy wase made up of two large merchants (one of 10000 and one of 5000tons) escorted by a Folgore class destroyer and a Spica class torpedo boat, an armed merchant cruiser of 10000 tons and two aircraft. Later the two M.A.S. boats of the convoy sighted earlier joined this convoy
1300 hours - One of the destroyers turned straight towards and increased speed. The destroyer went straight overhead and then returned
1312 hours - Returned to periscope depth
1320 hours - The target turned away. Followed the merchants for 20 minutes hoping that they would turn back but the did not so at 1340 hours the attack had to be broken off
2117 hours - Surfaced
15 Aug 1941
HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Cowell, DSC, RN) fires four torpedoes against the German transport Ankara (4768 GRT, built 1937) off Cape Sunion, Greece in position 37º36'N, 24º03'E. All torpedoes however miss their target.
(All times are zone -3)
0307 hours - Dived and patrolled off the Western junction of the Thermia and Zea Channels
1105 hours - Sighted a Fiat bi-plane (convoy air escort) over the Zea Channel. Turned to the East expecting a convoy from the Zea Channel
1120 hours - Sighted smoke in the Mandri Channel, turned towards. Sighted a destroyer of the Folgore class and a merchant ship that was thought to be the Bulgarian ship Bulgaria. Started attack
1158 hours - In position 37º36'N, 24º03'E fired four torpedoes and withdrew to the South-East. Intermittent depth-charging was heard until 1246 hours
1300 hours - The destroyer was no longer heard
2133 hours - Surfaced and proceeded through the Siphano Channel towards the Naxos Channel.
18 Aug 1941
HMS Thrasher investigates harbours on the Greek islands of Samos and Leros. Nothing of interest was sighted.
(All times are zone -3)
0520 hours - Investigated Samos. Nothing was seen in the harbours of Port Vathi and Kalovasi
2100 hours - Surfaced and proceeded through the Ikaria Passage to investigate Port Laki on Leros.
20 Aug 1941
HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Cowell, DSC, RN) sinks the Greek sailing vessel San Stefano with gunfire off Cape Malea, Greece.
(All times are zone -3)
0525 hours - Dived / Patrolled in the Elaphonisos Channel. Sighted a large number of small sailing vessels and when of Cape Sta Maria sighted two caiques coming from the Westward. Decided to follow the 2nd caique
1600 hours - Sighted a schooner coming from the Westward, position 36º26'5"N, 23º00'E
2015 hours - The schooner entered Lephki Bay. Followed him into the bay and then surfaced at 2050 hours and sank the schooner (about 250 tons) with gunfire at 2055 hours.
27 Aug 1941
HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Cowell, DSC, RN) ends her 3rd war patrol at Alexandria.
10 Sep 1941
HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Cowell, DSC, RN) departs Alexandria for her 4th war patrol. She is to patrol in the Gulf of Sirte.
11 Sep 1941
On board HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Cowell, DSC, RN) the bi-focal periscope begins to leak. Lt.Cdr. Cowell decides to return to Alexandria for repairs.
12 Sep 1941
After replacing the bi-focal periscope, HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Cowell, DSC, RN) departs Alexandria to resume her 4th war patrol.
23 Sep 1941
HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Cowell, DSC, RN) attacks an enemy convoy in position 32º01'N, 19º21'E. Three torpedoes were fired but these all missed. Thrasher was depth charged but she escapes undamaged.
(All times are zone -3)
0026 hours - In position 255 degrees Benghazi lighthouse 30 nautical miles. Proceeded on course 285 degrees to intercept the convoy
0120 hours - In position 32º01'N, 19º21'E sighted darkened ships bearing 335 degrees. Altered course and closed at speed. The ships were seen to be in line ahead, speed 9 knots, course 105 degrees and 6 cables apart. Selected the largest ship as target, leading the line
0132 hours - Altered course, The second and third ships most likely sighted Thrasher as they altered towards (2nd ship) and away (3rd ship)
0134 hours - Commenced firing three torpedoes against the leading ship. As the torpedoes were fired Lt.Cdr. Cowell realised it was not a merchant ship but something else. The first torpedo passed just ahead, the second ran under and the third ran off 35 degrees to port on the surface. After firing Lt.Cdr. Cowell turned to port to fire at one of the other ships, but it was then discovered that Thrasher was much closer then first thought. The target was now identified as a destroyer that turned towards
0135 hours - Dived
0136 hours - Heard destroyer speeding up
0137 hours - Heard one explosion, maybee the third torpedo hitting the third ship in line
0139 hours - Two depth charges exploded fairly close
0140 hours - The destroyer was heard to pass overhead
0141 - Depth charges exploded, the destroyer was heard to circle round
0200 hours - the destroyer was heard leaving the scene
0229 hours - Surfaced. The convoy was made up of a Partenope class torpedo boat and two small (500 tons) merchant ships
0513 hours - Dived
1949 hours - Surfaced
2131 hours - Set course for Benghazi.
25 Sep 1941
HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Cowell, DSC, RN) attacks an enemy convoy in position 32º27'N, 19º41'E. Five torpedoes were fired but these all missed their target. Thrasher escapes without being depth charged.
(All times are zone -3)
0030 hours - In position 32º17'N, 19º44'E sighted two ships on the starboard bow. Altered course towards but identified them as escort vessels proceeding on a course of 320 degrees, probably going to meet the convoy
0042 hours - Retired at speed to the westward and then proceeded to the north to intercept the convoy
0132 hours - In position 32º27'N, 19º41'E sighted smoke bearing 280 degrees. Altered course towards and identified four ships. Two were merchant vessels, one of 1500 tons leading and one of 2000 tons about 1,5 nautical miles astern. Each was being circled by a destroyer. Passed down the port side of the convoy and turned in at 0150 hours
0200 hours - One destroyer came out from astern of the nearest merchant vessel (which had been selected as target) and came strait towards so at 0202 hours fired four torpedoes
0205 hours - Turned to port and fired one more torpedo. All torpedoes fired missed
0206 - Dived as the destroyer still came towards
0228 hours - Surfaced and gave chase
0304 hours - Sighted two vessels coming towards. They were identified as escort vessels
0311 hours - The escorts were closing rapidly so dived
0321 hours - The two escorts were joined by a third one
0330 hours - The escorts were heard retiring
0345 hours - Lost contact
0350 hours - Surfaced
0528 hours - Dived and proceeded southwards
1933 hours - Surfaced in position 31º24'N, 19º49'E and set course for the western half of our patrol area.
1 Oct 1941
HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Cowell, DSC, RN) ends her 4th war patrol at Malta.