Walter Neville Ronald Knox DSC, RN
| Birth details unknown | |||
| Died | 18 Apr 1943 | HMS Regent | |
| Ranks
Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for Walter Neville Ronald Knox, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS H 44 (N 44) | Lt. | Submarine | 9 Mar 1941 | 8 Jun 1941 |
| HMS Regent (N 41) | Lt. | Submarine | 20 Jul 1941 | 18 Apr 1943 (+) |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Submarine HMS H 44 (N 44)
17 Mar 1941
HMS H 44 (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) is at Campbeltown to participate in A/S exercises off that port. [The date she arrived at Campbeltown is currently not known to us but this must have been in the middle of the month]. (1)
22 Mar 1941
HMS H 44 (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) shifted from Campbeltown for Rothesay.
She departed Rothesay for Falmouth later the same day. However she had to put into Campbeltown with engine defects. (2)
24 Mar 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
After engine repairs, HMS H 44 (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN), departed Campbeltown for Falmouth. She is escorted by HMS Bedlington (Skr. J.H.D. Dansie, RNR). (2)
26 Mar 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 44 (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) arrived at Falmouth. (2)
29 Mar 1941
HMS H 44 (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) departed Falmouth for her 10th war patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the Bay of Biscay.
[No log is available for this period and also the patrol report does not give positions, therefore no map can be displayed.] (3)
13 Apr 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 44 (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) ended her 10th war patrol at Falmouth. (3)
15 Apr 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 44 (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) departed Falmouth for Rothesay. She was escorted by HMS Breda (Capt.(Retd.) A. E. Johnston, RN). (2)
17 Apr 1941
HMS H 44 (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) arrived at Rothesay. (4)
23 Apr 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 44 (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) shifted from Rothesay to Campbeltown. (1)
2 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 44 (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (5)
4 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 44 (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (5)
5 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 44 (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (5)
6 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 44 (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (5)
7 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 44 (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (5)
8 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 44 (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (5)
9 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 44 (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Mistral (Lt.Cdr. G.D. Anderson, RN). (5)
11 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 44 (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (5)
12 May 1941
HMS H 44 (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS St. Modwen (Cdr.(Retd.) W.A. Ford, RN) and HMS Boarhound (Skr. S.G. Jinks, RNR). (5)
13 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 44 (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS St. Modwen (Cdr.(Retd.) W.A. Ford, RN) and HMS La Cordeliere. (5)
14 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 44 (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Shemara (Cdr.(Retd.) H. Buckle, RN) and HMS Tuscarora (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) N.T.B. Holt, RN). (5)
15 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 44 (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Shemara (Cdr.(Retd.) H. Buckle, RN) and HMS Tuscarora (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) N.T.B. Holt, RN). (5)
16 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 44 (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Shemara (Cdr.(Retd.) H. Buckle, RN) and HMS Tuscarora (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) N.T.B. Holt, RN).
Upon completion of these exercises HMS H 44 proceeded to Rothesay. (5)
21 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 44 (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. These included two practice attacks on HMS Oberon (Lt.Cdr. E.F. Pizey, DSC, RN). (5)
24 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 44 (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) departed Rothesay for Holy HMS Goodwin (Lt.Cdr. J. Stretch, RNR). (5)
25 May 1941
HMS H 44 (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) arrived at Holyhead.
She departed for her 11th war patrol later the same day. She was ordered to patrol in the Bay of Biscay to the west of Brest, France to intercept and attack the German battleship Bismarck in case she was proceeding towards that port. During passage south through the Irish Sea HMS H 44 was escorted by HMS PC 74 (A/Cdr.(Retd.) C.E.H. White, RN) until 2310/26. (3)
25 May 1941
For the daily positions of HMS H 44 during her 11th war patrol see the map below.
(5)
28 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
After having been recalled following the sinking of the German battleship Bismarck, HMS H 44 (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN), made rendes-vous at 1200 hours with HMS Cutty Sark (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN) for onward passage to Holyhead. (3)
29 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 44 (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) ended her 11th war patrol at Holyhead. (3)
31 May 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 44 (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) departed Holyhead for Londonderry. (5)
1 Jun 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 44 (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) arrived at Londonderry. (6)
3 Jun 1941
HMS H 44 (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Lincoln (Lt. R.J. Hanson, RN) and HMS Sabre (Lt. P.W. Gretton, DSC, RN). (6)
Submarine HMS Regent (N 41)
20 Jul 1941
Around 1900C/20, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) departed Alexandria for her 13th war patrol (10th in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to perform operation ME 2 together with HMS Persues (Lt.Cdr. P.J.H. Bartlett, RN). The submarine were to carry out a W/T diversion when off the South-West coast of Crete.
Upon completion of this operation HMS Regent was to patrol in the Gulf of Sirte.
For the daily and attack positions of HMS Regent during this patrol see the map below.
(7)
1 Aug 1941 (position 31.35, 19.56)
HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) sank the Italian auxiliary minesweeper B 23 / Igea (160 GRT) with gunfire about 33 nautical miles south of Bengasi in position 31°35'N, 19°56'E.
1215C/1 - Sighted a schooner coasting. Closed her as far as possible while dived. When the range had closed to 5000 yards, surfaced and chased her on the surface. The crew then stopped their diesel engine and abandoned ship hurriedly. Regent then proceeded alongside and sent a boarding party on board.
No important papers could be found. The cargo was stores, ammunition and petrol. Took off the boarding party and stand clear. Then sank the schooner with gunfire. Three hours later, when Regent was 20 nautical miles away, she was still blazing furiously. (7)
6 Aug 1941
Around dusk, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN), surfaced and bombarded the landing pier at Appolonia, Libya. While turning to run out to sea again HMS Regent bumped and grounded on a sandbank. All tanks were then blown but HMS Regent remained on the sandbank. As the tide was tilting Regent higher and higher drastic action had to be taken and Lt. Knox decided to let go the drop keel. This had the desired effect and HMS Regent came off. (7)
10 Aug 1941
Around 1300C/10, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) ended her 13th war patrol (10th in the Mediterranean) at Alexandria. (7)
17 Aug 1941
On board HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) the air vessel of one of the reload torpedoes exploded causing some damage to HMS Regent, other reload torpedoes and cargo she had embarked for her upcoming passage to Malta. (8)
20 Aug 1941
HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) was docked in the Gabbari Graving Dock at Alexandria. (8)
23 Aug 1941
HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) was undocked. (8)
27 Aug 1941
Around 1800C/27, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) departed Alexandria for Malta.
For the daily positions of HMS Regent during the passage Alexandria - Malta see the map below.
(8)
3 Sep 1941
Around 0900B/3, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) arrived at Malta from Alexandria. (9)
5 Sep 1941
HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) was docked in No.1 Dock at Malta. (9)
30 Sep 1941
HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) was undocked. (9)
4 Oct 1941
Around 1500B/3, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) departed Malta for her 14th war patrol (11th in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to patrol in the Gulf of Sirte.
No log is available for this period, therefore no map can be displayed. (7)
10 Oct 1941
At 0250B/10, while charing well to the westward of Benghazi, Libya, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN), was dive bombed by an enemy aircraft. She immediately dived but fortunately sustained no damage.
At 0415B/10, the Italian submarine Onice which was on an anti-submarine patrol in the area, sighted a submarine surfacing. She fired three rounds and a torpedo from 2200 yards. All missed. On board HMS Regent they thought the attacker was a destroyer and they immediately dived again. (7)
17 Oct 1941
In the early moring hours, while still near Benghazi, Libya, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN), sighted an enemy convoy made up of two small merchant vessels escorted by a destroyer. While trying to attack a flash of lightning lit up the area including Regent which immediately dived. (7)
21 Oct 1941
HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) attacked a group of three Italian destroyers (Antonio da Noli, Emanuelle Pessagno and Nicolo Zeno) with six torpedoes about 15 nautical miles north of Benghazi, Libya. No hits were obtained. Lt. Knox thought he attacked a group of four destroyer but actually only three were present. The Italian destroyers were on a troop transport run from Augusta to Benghazi transporting about 800 soldiers to North Africa.
1420B/21 - Sighted a ship but immediately went deep for an aircraft coming towards. Position was near the swept channel towards Benghazi.
1430B/21 - Returned to periscope depth. Sighted four destroyers at a range of 2000 yards. Started attack in which six torpedoes were fired at the middle pair of destroyers which presented an unbroken target. All missed as the speed was underestimated. Four depth charges were dropped fairly close astern but they caused no damage. (7)
25 Oct 1941
Around 1330B/25, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) ended her 14th war patrol (11th in the Mediterranean) at Alexandria. (7)
7 Nov 1941
HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) departed Alexandria for Malta.
Regent was to proceed to the U.S.A. for a much needed refit.
No log is available for this period, therefore no map can be displayed. (7)
13 Nov 1941
Around 0730B/13, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) arrived at Malta. (7)
30 Nov 1941
Around 1730B/30, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) departed Malta for Gibraltar.
No log is available for this period, therefore no map can be displayed. (7)
1 Dec 1941 (position 37.52, 11.52)
HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) attacked the Italian merchant Erice (2350 GRT, built 1919) with two torpedoes about 10 nautical miles south-east of Marettimo island, Italy in position 37°52'N, 11°52'E. The torpedoes missed and HMS Regent surfaced to engage the target with gunfire. Erice was heavily damaged.
1950B/1 - An object was sighted 10° on the port bow. Closed to investigate but visibility was not good.
The target was finally identified as a medium seized merchant vessel and two old Mk. II torpedoes were fired from 800 yards which both missed.
The target was then engaged with the 4" gun from 1000 yards. The first round already hit. After 13 rounds the vessel had stopped, was on fire and it appeared that the crew was abandoning ship so stopped firing.
About half an hour later the merchant got underway again so Regent closed again and re-opened fire from 2200 yards. This time several fires broke out. When last seen the target was burning and sinking by the stern. (7)
6 Dec 1941
Around 1745A/6, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) arrived at Gibraltar from Malta. (7)
10 Dec 1941
Around 0930A/10, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) departed Gibraltar for Portsmouth. She was escorted until 1900A/10 by HMS Coltsfoot (T/Lt. the Hon. W.K. Rous, RNVR)
No log is available for this period, therefore no map can be displayed. (7)
17 Dec 1941
Around 0930A/17, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) arrived at Plymouth. (7)
19 Dec 1941
Around 1700A/19, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) departed Plymouth for Portsmouth. (7)
20 Dec 1941
Around 1800A/20, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) arrived at Portsmouth. (7)
16 Jan 1942
Around 1445A/16, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) departed Portsmouth for passage to Philadelphia, U.S.A. She had first conducted D/G trials before departure.
For the daily positions of HMS Regent during the passage from the U.K. to the U.S.A. see the map below.
(7)
19 Jan 1942
On making a trim dive HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) lost depth control due to defects. Another trim dive was made and again depth control was lost. (7)
20 Jan 1942
HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) developed engine defects. (7)
24 Jan 1942
HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) had developed even more defects. Lt. Knox decided to proceed to Ponta Delgada, Azores to effect repairs. (7)
27 Jan 1942
Around 1430N/27, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) arrived at Ponta Delgada, Azores for repairs. (7)
1 Feb 1942
Around 2115O/1, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) departed Ponta Delgada for Philadelphia. (7)
2 Feb 1942
At 0351O/2, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) was attacked by HMS Clyde (Cdr. D.C. Ingram, DSC, RN). HMS Regent failed to identify herself and when she was finally recognised on board HMS Clyde she was warned that two torpedoes were on their way towards her and she was able to evade them. Cdr. Ingram was unaware of the presence of HMS Regent and took her for a Uboat. Lt. Knox was aware that HMS Clyde was in the area and was hold to blame for failing to identify HMS Regent properly to the challenge from HMS Clyde.
At 0630 hours, HMS Clyde re-joined the RFA tanker Dingledale and her two escorting corvettes HMS Geranium (T/Lt. A. Foxall, RNR) and HMS Vetch (T/A/Lt.Cdr. H.J. Beverley, DSC, RNR). (7)
15 Feb 1942
Around 1615Q/15, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) anchored in Cape Henlopen Bay to await passage towards Philadelphia. (7)
16 Feb 1942
Around 0940Q/16, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) departed Cape Henlopen Bay for Philadelphia under tow. Passage up river was however soon postponed due to thick fog. (7)
17 Feb 1942
Around 1515Q/17, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) arrived at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. (7)
5 Aug 1942
HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) conducted trials off Cape May. Upon completion of these trials she returned to Philadelphia. (10)
12 Aug 1942
Around 0600Q/12, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) departed Philadelphia for New London. (10)
15 Aug 1942
Around 1510Q/15, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) arrived at New London for a period of trials and training. (10)
17 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) conducted trials and exercises off New London. (10)
21 Aug 1942
HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) was put on the marine railway at New London. (11)
28 Aug 1942
HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) was put back in the water at New London. (11)
29 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) conducted torpedo firing trials off New London. (10)
1 Sep 1942
Around 1330Q/1, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) departed New London for Philadelphia. She was escorted by USS SC-672 (Lt. J.C. Crocker, USNR). (12)
2 Sep 1942
In the afternoon, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) arrived at Philadelphia for repairs. (12)
4 Sep 1942
HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) is put on the marine railway at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. (12)
15 Sep 1942
HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) is put back in the water. (12)
20 Sep 1942
Around 1010Q/20, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) departed Philadelphia for Bermuda.
For the daily positions of HMS Regent during the passage from Philadelphia to Bermuda see the map below.
(12)
24 Sep 1942
Around 0930P/24, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) arrived at Bermuda from Philadelphia. (12)
25 Sep 1942
HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) is docked in the floating dock at Bermuda because of defects. (12)
8 Oct 1942
HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) was undocked. (13)
12 Oct 1942
HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Bermuda. (13)
17 Oct 1942
HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Bermuda. (13)
23 Oct 1942
HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Bermuda. (13)
31 Oct 1942
Around 1100Q/31, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) departed Bermuda to return to the Philadelphia Navy Yard for more repairs.
For the daily positions of HMS Regent during the passage Bermuda - Philadelphia see the map below.
(13)
3 Nov 1942
Around 1620Q/3, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) arrived at Philadelphia. (14)
30 Nov 1942
Around 0830Q/30, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) departed Philadelphia for Bermuda.
No log is available for this period, therefore no map can be displayed. (14)
3 Dec 1942
HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) arrived at Bermuda for a period of trials and training. No log is available so her exact movements are unknown. (15)
21 Jan 1943
HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) departed Bermuda for Gibraltar.
No log is available for this period, therefore no map can be displayed. (15)
4 Feb 1943
HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) arrived at Gibraltar. (15)
25 Feb 1943
Around 1400A/25, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) departed Gibraltar for her 15th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off Vigo, Spain.
For the daily positions of HMS Regent during this patrol see the map below.
(7)
27 Feb 1943
Early in the morning HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) lost overboard an Able Seaman in heavy weather. A search was started but he could not be found. (7)
8 Mar 1943
Around 1145A/8, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) ended her 15th war patrol at Gibraltar. (7)
12 Mar 1943
HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) departed Gibraltar for Algiers.
No log is available for this period, therefore no map can be displayed. (16)
15 Mar 1943
HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) arrived at Algiers. (16)
27 Mar 1943
HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) departed Algiers for Malta.
No log is available for this period, therefore no map can be displayed. (17)
31 Mar 1943
HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) arrived at Malta. (17)
9 Apr 1943
HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) departed Malta for her 16th war patrol (12th in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to patrol in the Adriatic. (17)
10 Apr 1943
While en-route to her patrol area in the Adriatic, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN), developed defects. Course was set to return to Malta to effect repairs. (17)
11 Apr 1943
HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) arrived at Malta for repairs. (17)
12 Apr 1943
After repairs, HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN), departed Malta to resume her 16th war patrol. (17)
14 Apr 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) was informed by Captain S.10's signal of 1743/14 that an aircraft had reported a 6000-ton tanker and one 2000-ton merchant vessel at 1550B/14, course 180° at 3 knots, 090° - Punta Stilo - 2 miles. These were probably the tanker Tirso (1086 GRT, built 1937) and the freighter Apollo (3177 GRT, built 1905) escorted by the torpedo boat Antonio Mosto. They had sailed from Taranto at 1900 hours on the 13th for Messina. At 2100 hours on the 14th, Apollo ran aground in position 023° - Cape Spartivento (Calabria) - 11.5 miles at 2100/14, the corvette Gabbiano had sailed from Messina at 2209 hours on the 14th to protect her but was recalled a at 0040 hours. There is no indication that HMS Regent attacked this convoy. (18)
15 Apr 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 1614 hours, a submarine was reported shelling the coast by Marina Messina in position 033° - Cape Spartivento (Calabria) – 24 miles (near Siderno). It was about a mile from the coast. An Italian armoured train (probably train 152/3/T from Crotone) replied with two rounds and a burst of machine gun to drive it away. This was probably HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN), it meant that she was probably late on her timetable and that defects may have delayed her. (18)
16 Apr 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 0300 hours, the corvette Gabbiano sailed again from Messina to conduct an antisubmarine sweep. At 1330 hours, a sonar contact was obtained and attacked in position 210° - Punta Stilo -10 miles (about 38°18'N, 16°28'E), also reported as 4 miles east of Roccella Ionica (about 38°19'N, 16°30'E). By evening she had exhausted all her depth charges but at 0205 hours on the 17th, Marina Messina informed her that there was a known wreck in this vicinity and ordered her to stop the attacks. Could this have been HMS Regent? Probably not, it must be assumed that by then she had resumed her passage to the Adriatic. Eight days later, Gabbiano was more fortunate and sank the submarine HMS Sahib. (18)
17 Apr 1943
At 1930 hours, an aircraft of Marina Taranto reported a submarine in 150° - Punta Alice - 8 miles (about 39°17'N, 17°14'E). This report was probably bogus as no Axis or Allied submarine operated in this vicinity at this time. It is unlikely this was HMS Regent (Lt. W.N.R. Knox, DSC, RN) as at this time she was hardly from this position to reach the area off Monopoli where she was apparently reported the next afternoon. (18)
18 Apr 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 1315 hours, a convoy consisting of the Roumanian transport Balcic (3600 GRT, built 1940) [erroneously identified as Balzac in some reports] and the Italian Motia (2336 GRT, built 1918) escorted by the auxiliary Morosini (carrying mines) sailed from Bari for Patras. At 1545 hours, the convoy was in position 45° - Monopoli – 5 miles (or approximately 41°01'N, 17°18'E), when it reported missed by torpedoes. At the same time two Italian fishing vessels observed a torpedo, probably fired from the same salvo exploding on the coast near Torre Encina (Monopoli). Parts from a torpedo, including the motor and two propellers, were found the next day. Immediately, Maritime traffic in the area was suspended and the freighter Anna Capano (1345 GRT, built 1938) which had just sailed from Bari at 1600 hours returned to port. The A/S motorboats Salerno (A.S. 72) and Feroldi (A.S. 68) from 9° Gruppo Antisom sailed from Brindisi to hunt the submarine. (18)
Sources
- ADM 199/1906
- ADM 199/400
- ADM 199/1829
- ADM 199/2556
- ADM 173/16781
- ADM 173/16782
- ADM 199/1833
- ADM 173/16931
- ADM 173/16932
- ADM 173/17541
- War diary submarine base New London
- ADM 173/17542
- ADM 173/17543
- ADM 173/17544
- ADM 199/2568
- ADM 199/1919
- ADM 199/1917
- Platon Alexiades
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
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