| Navy | The Royal Navy |
| Type | Submarine |
| Class | T |
| Pennant | P 339 |
| Built by | Vickers Armstrong (Barrow-in-Furness, U.K.) |
| Ordered | |
| Laid down | 30 Sep, 1941 |
| Launched | 27 Jun, 1942 |
| Commissioned | 3 Nov, 1942 |
| End service | |
| Loss position | |
| History | Loaned to the Royal Netherlands Navy on 4 June 1948 and commissioned into the Royal Netherlands Navy as Dolfijn (offsite link) the same day. Decommissioned and returned to the Royal Navy on 7 December 1953. Recommissioned into the Royal Navy as HMS Taurus on 8 December 1953. Scrapped at Dunston-on-Tyne in April 1960.
Commanding Officers: A/Lt.Cdr. Peter Edward Newstead, DSC, RN |
| Noteable events involving Taurus include: 2 Mar, 1943 6 Mar, 1943 10 Mar, 1943 13 Mar, 1943 13 Apr, 1943 14 Apr, 1943 15 Apr, 1943 27 May, 1943 3 Jun, 1943 The first target (a laden caique of about 60 tons) was spotted at 1220 hours (no time zone given in the patrol report but this was most likely -3). At 1248 hours Taurus surfaced and engaged with the gun. 31 rounds were expended before the tarket sank in position 38º28'5N, 24º17'E. While the above action was in progress a second vessel was sighted. This ship was identified as a schooner of about 120 tons sailing northwards. As soon as the first target was sunk Taurus submerged again (at 1257 hours) and an attack on the second target was commenced. At 1352 hours Lt.Cdr. Wingfield surfaced about 2000 yards on the beam of the target. 17 rounds were expended before the target sank in position 38º28N, 24º14'E. After the attacks Taurus proceeded northwards. (see map) 5 Jun, 1943 At 1830 hours (no time zone given in the patrol report but this was most likely -3) two southbound caiques, of 50 tons each, were sighted and an attack commenced. At 1912 hours Taurus surfaced and and opened fire at 3000 yards. 6 rounds were fired at one of the caiques which then commenced to settle. The crew abandoned ship instantly. Fire was now shifted to the other caique that was about a mile away. 6 rounds were fired, with no hits, before an aircraft was seen approaching from the east. Taurus dived immediately. With the aircraft gone Taurus surfaced at 1937 hours and re-started the attack on the caique that had not been hit. At 1943 hours this caique was sunk in position 39º25'N, 23º15'E. Fire was now shifted to the first caique attacked and this one burst into flames before sinking at 1948 hours a mile north of the other one. (see map) 6 Jun, 1943 At 1526 hours (no time zone given in the patrol report but this was most likely -3) Taurus surfaced and sank a 50 tons caique with gunfire. Soon after the first rounds were fired the caiques crew hoisted a white flag, so Lt.Cdr. Wingfield allowed the to abandon their ship with a dinghy. At 1830 hours, just as Lt.Cdr. Wingfield wanted to surface to sink another caique, an aircraft was sighted that continued to patrol the area. This attack eventually had to be abandoned. (see map) 11 Jun, 1943 At 1600 hours (no time zone given in the patrol report but this was most likely -3) Taurus sighted a medium sized caique of 40 tons to the north-west near Piscopi Island. Taurus surfaced and chased the target and opened fire with the deck gun at 2000 yards. The target sank at 1730 hours in position 36º26'N, 27º32'E. Another caique was sighted inshore so Taurus closed to sink this one as well. 7 rounds were enough to sink this caique of 25 tons in position 36º26'N, 27º27'E. This 2nd caique was flying the Italian flag. (see map) 15 Jun, 1943 8 Jul, 1943 Taurus also torpedoes and damages the Greek merchant Konstantinos Louloudis (4697 GRT) off Skyros, Greece. 9 Jul, 1943 12 Jul, 1943 13 Nov, 1943 6 Feb, 1944 18 Apr, 1944 22 Apr, 1944 27 Apr, 1944 12 May, 1944 |