uboat.net

  Front page - Fighting the U-boats - Allied Warships

W3C
04 July, 2009
Server time: 21:05

Noteable events involving Thrasher include:

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. (see map)

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.

28 Oct 1941
HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) sinks the Italian schooner Esperia (384 BRT, built 1925) with gunfire north-east of Benghazi, Libya in position 32º20'N, 20º10'E.

(All times are zone -2)
0556 hours - Dived in position 32º27'N, 20º08'E
0930 hours - While Thrasher was in position 32º19'N, 20º10'E sighted and commenced an attack on a three masted schooner of about 800 tons
0941 hours - Fired one torpedo that missed. The torpedo must have passed very close as the crew started to abandon ship
1010 hours - Surfaced and sank the schooner with 9 rounds of gunfire in position 32º20'N, 20º10'E
1016 hours - Dived
1036 hours - The schooner was observed to sink. Later a Crotone class minelayer and a Spica class torpedo boat were seen searching the area
1900 hours - Surfaced in position 32º24'5"N, 20º08'E and proceeded to intercept a convoy that was signalled. (see map)

25 Nov 1941
HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Attilio Deffenu (3510 GRT, built 1929) about 20 nautical miles east of Brindisi, Puglia, Italy in position 40º37'N, 18º27'E.

(All times are zone -2)
0643 hours - Dived in position 40º28'5"N, 18º31'5"E and proceeded north-west along the coast towards Brindisi
1551 hours - In position 40º32'5"N, 18º18'E sighted two ships bearing 155 degrees. Turned towards and commenced attack. The convoy proved to be three ships in line ahead about 1/2 mile apart. The first ship was estimated at 6000 tons, the second at 4000 tons and the 3rd at 2000 tons. Decided to fire at the leading and 2nd ship
1653 hours - In position 40º31'5"N, 18º13'E fired four torpedoes at the leading ship and turned to fire at the second ship. Before a salvo could be fired at the second ship the first ship was hit by one torpedo resulting in that the convoy scattered immediately. Thrasher continued to close in the hope of getting a further shot
1704 hours - Fired one torpedo at the second ship which appeared to be stopped at a range of 1000 yards. The torpedo missed and the ship got under way
1708 hours - A cloud of smoke was seen coming towards from Brindisi and approaching fast. Thrasher went deep and retired to the seaward. When last seen the ship hit was down by the bows, listing to starboard and the crew had abandoned ship
1720 to 1800 hours - Intermittent depth charging while Thrasher continued to retire to the North-East reloading the torpedo tubes
1845 hours - Lost contact with the ship that was hunting
2105 hours - Heard two distant explosions
2113 hours - Surfaced in position 40º39'N, 18º25'E and decided to carry out the first of the two special operations (patrol report does not mention the nature of the special operations) (see map)

10 Jan 1942
HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Fedora (5016 GRT, built 1909) about 35 nautical miles north-east of Cape Dukato, Greece in position 38º59'N, 19º52'E.

(All times are zone -2)
0106 hours - In position 39º14'N, 19º41'E sighted a distant dark object bearing 310 degrees, turned towards and closed
0115 hours - The object was identified as a medium seized merchant ship that was coming strait towards. The ship was accompanied by one smalled vessel. The enemy's course was 130 degrees
0120 hours - Dived to attack from periscope depth. The weather on the surface was to rough for a surface attack. But the ships passed before an attack could be mounted
0154 hours - Surfaced and gave chase
0355 hours - Attacked on the surface and fired the first of four torpedoes at the largest vessel. The second and third torpedo of this salvo hit the target
0358 hours - Dived in position 38º59'N, 19º51'5"E
0400 hours - Heard loud breaking up noises
0401 hours - The first of about 20 depth charges was dropped. Depth charging continued for another two hours but none was close
1845 hours - Surfaced. (see map)

16 Feb 1942
HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) makes a torpedo attack on the German merchant Arkadia (1756 GRT, built 1927) off Suda Bay, Crete, Greece. All torpedoes fired however missed their target.

(All times are zone -2)
0413 hours - Sighted three darkened ships bearing 255 degrees, distance 5 nautical miles. Altered course towards. Thrasher is however unable to get into an attack position
0520 hours - Proceeded towards Suda Bay
0730 hours - Dived in position 060 degrees, Cape Drepano distance 11,5 nautical miles
0855 hours - A small 1000 ton merchant ship escorted by a minesweeper or motor launch was sighted bearing 200 degrees, distance 5 nautical miles. Their course was 120 and they had just left Suda Bay. Closed at speed to within 6000 yards. Could not get closed and at the range Lt. MacKenzie did not considered it worth firing torpedoes so the attack was abandoned
0945 hours - Sighted one small patrol vessel in the entrance to Suda Bay
1020 hours - Saw one motor launch approaching from Suda Bay. It passed 2 nautical miles astern and disappeared at about 12 knots in a north-easterly direction
1050 hours - Saw one M.A.S. boat leaving Suda Bay at high speed
1055 hours - The M.A.S. boat stopped about 3000 yards away bearing 240 degrees. Thrasher went deep and retired to the Eastward
1150 hours - Sighted a large two-masted schooner entering Suda Bay
1155 hours - Sighted one merchant vessel bearing 060 degrees. Altered course and started an attack. The merchant ship was about 3000 tons and was deeply laden. Five escorts were seen, one ahead, one on each beam and one on each quarter. Three of the escorts were transmitting on Asdics. Also one or two aircraft were circling overhead
1234 hours - Fired the first of a salvo of four torpedoes from 2000 yards. A few seconds after firing the first torpedo a muffled explosion shook the submarine considerably, probably a bomb dropped by an aircraft. Less then a minute later machine gun bullets were heard striking the water. Almost three minutes after firing the first torpedo a loud distant explosion was hear followed ten seconds later by another. This might have been the torpedoes exploding or depth charges. Thrasher dived to 270 feet and retired to the Northward
1245 hours - The first of a total of 33 depth charges was dropped. Most were too close for comfort. Minor damage was caused
1430 hours - While at periscope depth three A/S vessels were seen to be still hunting. Aircraft were also seen. Thrasher went deep again and continued to retire while reloading the torpedo tubes
1545 hours - Came to periscope depth again. Nothing in sight
1906 hours - Surfaced.

29 Mar 1942
HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) departs Alexandria for her 9th war patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the Gulf of Sirte.

30 Mar 1942
HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) is attacked by a friendly aircraft in position 32º20'N, 28º12'E. Two bombs are dropped but no damage is caused.

(All times are zone -2)
0350 hours - In position 32º20'N, 28º12'E dived to 80 feet on being attacked by a Sunderland aircraft, two bombs were dropped but these were not close enough to cause any damage
0452 hours - Surfaced
0507 hours - Sighted an aircraft, dived
1928 hours - Surfaced. (see map)

9 Apr 1942
HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Gala (1029 GRT, built 1897) about 20 nautical miles west-south-west of Bengasi, Libya in position 31º49'N, 19º42'E.

(All times are zone -3)
7 April 1942
0529 hours - Dived and set course for Ras Zorug anchorage
1050 hours - Altered course to the eastward as no shipping was spotted at the Ras Zorug anchorage
1325 hours - In position 32º22'N, 15º23'E sighted one Spica class torpedo boat and two small merchant ships bearing 275 degrees distant 8 nautical miles. Turned towards but was unable to close further then 8000 yards. Decided to intercept them the following night
2053 hours - Surfaced and set off in pursuit of the convoy.

8 April 1942
0927 hours - Dived but the convoy was not sighted during the day
2050 hours - Surfaced.

9 April 1942
0451 hours - In position 31º52'N, 19º33'E sighted three darkened ships. Increased speed and altered course as to get ahead of them
0604 hours - Dived to complete the attack from periscope depth. The ships were soon identified as being the same as sighted 2 days before
0635 hours - In position 31º49'N, 19º42'E fired the first torpedo of a salvo of three from 2000 yards at the leading merchant ships that was of about 1500 tons
0637 hours - One torpedo hit the leading ship just forward of the bridge. Also fired the first torpedo of a salvo of three against the second merchant (2500 tons). The first torpedo broke surface upon firing. No hits were obtained
0640 hours - Went to 80 feet and retired to the south-west. No counter attack followed
0700 hours - Came to periscope depth. Northing was seen of the merchant that was hit. The second was seen to make off towards Benghazi at full speed and the torpedo boat was picking up survivors in the position of the attack
0735 hours - The destroyer was now searching the area and was joined by a trawler or patrol vessel. Also a seaplane was circling overhead so went to 80 feet, continued to retire to the south-west and reloaded the torpedo tubes
2105 hours - Surfaced. (see map)

13 Apr 1942
HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) torpedoes and sinks the German army cargo ship Atlas (2297 GRT, built 1927) south-west of Bengasi, Libya in position 31º26'N, 18º56'E. She also sinks the Italian lighter Pilo 210 (30 GRT) with gunfire in the same area.

(All times are zone -3)
12 April 1942
0700 hours - Dived
0924 hours - Sighted one Spica class torpedo boat and three merchant ships bearing 210 degrees, distance 7 to 8 nautical miles, course 090. Altered course to close
0950 hours - The convoy altered course, range could not be closed further then 10000 yards so broke off the attack
1307 hours - Surfaced and set off to get ahead of the convoy for a night attack. The ships were most likely the same as sighted on 5 April now with a 2000 ton tanker with them. They were now also fully laden
1316 hours - Dived for an aircraft
1335 hours - Surfaced and continued the chase
1656 hours - Sighted masts and funnels bearing 105 degrees. These were soon identified as the convoy. Altered course to get ahead of them
1740 hours - Lost sight of the convoy
1900 hours - Contact had not been regained so it seemed likely that they had altered course to the northward in the meantime
1925 hours - Sighted the upperworks of a destroyer coming strait towards, bearing 045. Forced to alter right away and retired on a course of 225 degrees
1940 hours - The destroyer altered course to the westward, not having sighted Thrasher at all. Altered course to get round him and to set of in pursuit of the main convoy
1950 hours - The destroyer, now about 8 nautical miles to the northward was seen to be escorting a small westbound merchant ship. This looked like the same ship that was missed on 9 April. This ship was now most likely returning in ballast to Tripoli.

13 April 1942
0700 hours - Dived
0855 hours - In position 31º48'N, 19º17'E sighted masts and funnels bearing 270 degrees. These were soon identified as being yesterday's convoy
0930 hours - The convoy was seen to have one fighter aircraft as escort and also three small patrol vessels were present
1012 hours - In position 31º26'N, 18º56'E fired the first of three torpedoes against the leading merchant ship from 1800 yards. Obtained two hits and the ship was seen to sink in five minutes. Breaking up noises and explosions were heard for another hour
1015 hours - The first of a total of 19 depth charges was dropped. These were dropped by the patrol vessels. The torpedo boat took no part in the counter attack. None of the depth charges were close. Thrasher went to 80 feet and retired to the southward
1115 hours - Came to periscope depth, sighted one patrol vessel, one lighter (most likely part of the deck cargo of the sunken ship) and a lot of wreckage in the position of the attack
1120 hours - The patrol vessel left the area to go after the convoy
1302 hours - Surfaced to sink the lighter by gunfire as it appeared undamaged
1322 hours - Sank the lighter with 15 rounds of gunfire of which 5 were hits
1330 hours - Proceeded on the surfaced towards position 33º09'N, 14º37'E as ordered by Captain S.10. (see map)

19 Apr 1942
HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) attacks the German barge F 184 with gunfire west of Derna, Libya in position 32º53'N, 22º23'E. Return fire forced Thrasher to break off the attack.

(All times are zone -3)
0633 hours - Dived / 1408 hours - In position 32º53'N, 22º23'E sighted one eastbound motor lighter bearing 220 degrees, distant 2 nautical miles
1416 hours - Surfaced and engaged with the deck gun from 2000 yards. Fired 37 rounds for only one possible hit
1422 hours - Machine gun fire from the target and heavier gunfire from shore forced Lt. Mackenzie to break off the action and dive
2107 hours - Surfaced and proceeded towards Alexandria. (see map)

22 Apr 1942
HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) ends her 9th war patrol at Alexandria

6 May 1942
HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) departs Alexandria for her 10th war patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the southern Adriatic.

19 May 1942
HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Penelope (1160 GRT) about 5 nautical miles north-west of Monopoli, Italy in position 41º01'N, 17º16'E.

(All times are zone -3)
0532 hours - Dived in position 41º09'N, 17º08'E and closed the coast 10 nautical miles north-west of Monopoli
0830 hours - In position 41º02'N, 17º17'E sighted masts and funnel of one heavily laden merchant ship of about 3500 tons approaching from the direction of Bari. Commenced attack
0852:30 hours - In position 41º00'6"N, 17º15'6"E fired the first of three torpedoes from 800 yards
0853 hours - Two torpedoes hit the target, the third missed astern and exploded when hitting the shore
0900 hours - Proceeded to the north-west towards Bari, reloading the torpedo tubes in the meantime
1300 hours - In position 41º07'N, 17º07'E sighted one Abba class torpedo boat and one auxiliary schooner approaching from the direction of Bari, apparently carrying out an A/S sweep. They remained within 2000 yards, proceeding at slow speed, until 1400 hours when the torpedo boat proceeded to the south-east and the schooner retired towards Bari
1630 hours - In position 41º11'N, 17º03'E sighted one small armed tug steaming out of Bari on a course of 070 degrees. When in position 9 nautical miles 070 degrees from Bari it slowed down and started circling about. Altered course to close its position. The tug was probably waiting to pilot a ship into Bari. If this ship appeared so much the better, it not Lt. Mackenzie intended to surface and sink the tug with gunfire as soon as it shows signs of returning to Bari
1920 hours - In position 41º15'N, 16º59'E sighted one very effectively camouflaged torpedo boat the Giuseppe Missori approaching from the eastward, course 250 degrees, speed 15 knots. The tug joined up with the torpedo boat and they both proceeded into Bari
2226 hours - Surfaced in position 41º15'N, 17º03'2"E. (see map)

28 May 1942
HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) ends her 10th war patrol at Alexandria.

23 Jun 1942
HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Sant Antonio (1480 GRT, former Yugoslavian Anton, built 1919) in the Gulf of Sirte in position 31º53'N, 16º35'E.

At 2245 hours (time zone -3) on the 22nd Thrasher sighted the convoy (2 merchants, 1 torpedo boat) again she had already chased and attacked some hours before. At 0050 hours (23rd) she was in position six nautical miles right ahead of the convoy. She dived to make a submerged attack.

At 0133 hours three torpedoes were fired at the larger (2500 tons) of the two merchants. One hit was obtained. A slight and ineffective counter attack was carried out by the escorting torpedo boat. The merchant that was hit was heard to break up.

Note: the torpedo boat was the Italian Perseo. (see map)

29 Jun 1942
HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian sloop Diana (1568 tons) north of Tobruk, Libya in position 33º30'N, 23º30'E.

At 1125 hours (time zone -3) masts were sighted in position 33º21'N, 23º20'E, bearing 360º distance eight nautical miles away. The ship appeared to be coming steight towards. Five minutes later it could be seen that the vessel was a small auxiliary travelling at high speed. This ship must be carrying a very important cargo.

At 1144 hours six torpedoes were fired from 600 yards. No less then four hits were obtained and the ship sank quickly. There was an immediate counter attack by motor torpedo boats (these had not been seen previously). 17 depth charges were dropped. At 1240 hours Thrasher returned to periscope depth. At the place of the attack a few rafts were seen as well as two motor torpedo boats. (see map)

26 Jul 1942
HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO, RN) is bombed in error by a British Swordfish aircraft off Port Said, Egypt. She is under repair for about a month due to the damage sustained.

4 Sep 1942
HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Padenna (1589 GRT) about 40 nautical miles north of Tobruk, Libya in position 32º44'N, 24º11'E. (see map)

12 Oct 1942
HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO, RN) sinks a Greek sailing vessel with gunfire in the Aegean Sea, about 15 nautical miles east of Cape Drepano, Sithonia peninsula, Greece in position 39º56'N, 24º17'E. (see map)

13 Oct 1942
HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO, RN) sinks a sailing vessel with gunfire in the Aegean Sea about 10 nautical miles south-west of Cape Pinnes, Athos peninsula, Greece in position 40º01'N, 24º10'E. (see map)

19 Oct 1942
HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO, RN) sinks the Italian tug Roma (130 GRT) with gunfire off Stampalia, Greece in position 36º43'N, 26º41'E. (see map)

20 Oct 1942
HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.S. Mackenzie, DSO, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian merchant Lero (1980 GRT) between Symi and Rhodos Islands, Greece in position 36º26'N, 27º54'E. (see map)

22 Jan 1945
HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. M.F.R. Ainslie, DSO, DSC, RN) sinks four Japanese sailing vessels with gunfire of the west coast of Siam.

27 Jan 1945
HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. M.F.R. Ainslie, DSO, DSC, RN) sinks three Japanese sailing vessels with gunfire of the west coast of Siam.

28 Jan 1945
HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. M.F.R. Ainslie, DSO, DSC, RN) sinks three Japanese sailing vessels with gunfire of the west coast of Siam.

16 Mar 1945
HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. M.F.R. Ainslie, DSO, DSC, RN) sinks a Japanese sailing vessel with gunfire of the west coast of Burma.

18 Mar 1945
HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. M.F.R. Ainslie, DSO, DSC, RN) sinks a Japanese sailing vessel with gunfire of the west coast of Burma.

19 Mar 1945
HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. M.F.R. Ainslie, DSO, DSC, RN) sinks three Japanese sailing vessels with gunfire of the west coast of Siam.

22 Jun 1945
HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. M.F.R. Ainslie, DSO, DSC, RN) sinks three sailing vessels with gunfire off the west coast of Siam.

At 0650 hours (time zone -6.5) the sails of a junk were sighted south of Pulau Adang. It was a small vessel, only about 10 tons, and loaded with a cargo of rice. The crew was taken on board and the junk was sunk with gunfire.

At 0952 hours, a warning shot was fired against a junk of about 60 tons from 3000 yards. After the crew abandoned ship this junk was sunk with 14 rounds of gunfire.

At 1345 hours another junk was sighted. At 1440 hours the crew of six was seen to abandon ship. The junk, of about 30 tons, was then sunk with three rounds of gunfire. At 1459 hours HMS Thrasher made a crash dive as a Japanese 'Jake' aircraft dived down from the cloud cover. Thrasher bottomed at 40 feet. A small bomb exploded close by but did no damage.

25 Jul 1945
HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. M.F.R. Ainslie, DSO, DSC, RN) sinks a Japanese sailing vessel with gunfire north of the Strait of Malacca.

27 Jul 1945
HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. M.F.R. Ainslie, DSO, DSC, RN) sinks four Japanese coasters and a Japanese sailing vessel with gunfire in the northern part of the Strait of Malacca.

Books dealing with this subject include: Discharged Dead, Hart, Sydney, 1956 ... see more Naval books