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Submarine HMS H 33 (N 33)

28 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted post-refit trials off Sheerness. (1)

1 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed Sheerness for Rothesay. She was escorted by HMS Garth (Lt.Cdr. E.H. Dyke, RN) until near Dungeness. Thence unescorted until she made rendez-vous near the Lizard at 1930/5 with HMS White Bear (Cdr.(Retd.) C.C. Flemming, RN) for onward passage under escort to Rothesay. (2)

7 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Rothesay. (2)

9 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted torpedo firing trials / exercises in the Clyde area. (2)

10 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (2)

11 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed Rothesay for Londonderry. She was escorted by HMS Northern Gem (Skr.Lt. W.J.V. Mullender, DSC, RNR). (2)

12 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Londonderry. (2)

14 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (2)

15 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (2)

16 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (2)

17 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (2)

18 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (2)

22 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (2)

23 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (2)

24 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (2)

25 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (2)

26 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (2)

27 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (2)

30 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (2)

1 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

2 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

3 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

4 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

5 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

6 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

7 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

10 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

11 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

12 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

13 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

15 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

16 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

17 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

19 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

20 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

21 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

22 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

23 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

24 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

30 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

31 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

1 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (4)

5 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (4)

6 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (4)

7 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (4)

8 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (4)

11 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed Londonderry for Rothesay. She was escorted by HrMs Z 5 (Lt. J.J. Steensma, RNN). (4)

12 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Rothesay. (4)

20 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) shifted from Rothesay to Campbeltown. (4)

21 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (4)

23 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (4)

24 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (4)

25 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (4)

26 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (4)

28 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (4)

29 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (4)

30 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (4)

1 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (5)

2 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (5)

3 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (5)

4 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (5)

5 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (5)

7 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (5)

8 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (5)

9 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (5)

10 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (5)

11 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. Upon completion of these exercises Lt. Bromage took over command from Lt. Pitt. (5)

Submarine HMS P 612 (P 612)

6 Jan 1942
Murat Reis (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed her builders yard at Barrow for the Clyde area where she was to undergo a work-up programme. During this passage she was escorted by HMS Cutty Sark (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN). (6)

7 Jan 1942
Murat Reis (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Rothesay where she was commissioned as HMS P 612 and began a work-up period. (6)

26 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 612 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed the Clyde area for Gibraltar. Passage south through the Irish Sea was made together with her 'sister' HMS P 611 (Lt. P.S. Skelton, RN). Both submarines were en-route to be delivered to the Turkish Navy. They were to proceed to Alexandria first. They made the passage fully commissioned as British warships.

During the passage south through the Irish Sea they were escorted by the Norwegian torpedo boat HNoMS Draug.

[No log or passage report is available for this period so no map can be displayed.] (6)

4 Apr 1942
HMS P 612 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Gibraltar. (6)

15 Apr 1942
HMS P 612 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed Gibraltar for Alexandria.

For the daily positions of HMS P 612 during this passage see the map below.

(7)

1 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 612 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Alexandria. (7)

20 May 1942
HMS P 612 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed Alexandria for Iskanderun, Turkey.

[No log or passage report is available for this period so no map can be displayed]. (8)

25 May 1942
HMS P 612 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Iskanderun, Turkey where she was decommissioned and handed over to the Turkish Navy. (8)

Submarine HMS Taku (N 38)

12 Oct 1942
Around 1830C/12, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed from Beirut for Port Said. (9)

13 Oct 1942
In the second half of the morning and early afternoon, while off Haifa, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN), conducted A/S and attack exercises with HMS Pakenham (Capt. E.B.K. Stevens, DSO, DSC, RN) and HMS Petard (Lt.Cdr. M. Thornton, DSC, RN). (10)

14 Oct 1942
Around 1330C/14, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Port Said where she is immediately docked.

Before entering Port Said A/S exercises were carried out with the destroyers HMS Javelin (Lt.Cdr. W.F.N. Gregory-Smith, DSO, DSC, RN) and Vasilissa Olga. (9)

19 Oct 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) is undocked. (9)

20 Oct 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted exercises off Port Said. These included A/S and attack exercises with, most likely, the destroyers HMS Pakenham (Capt. E.B.K. Stevens, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Javelin (Lt.Cdr. W.F.N. Gregory-Smith, DSO, DSC, RN) and Vasilissa Olga. (9)

21 Oct 1942
Around 1800C/21, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed from Port Said for her 19th war patrol. She is to patrol in the Aegean.

On departure exercises were carried out with HMS Exmoor (Lt.Cdr. L.StG. Rich, RN) and aircraft. (11)

21 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
For the daily and attack positions of HMS Taku during her 19th war patrol see the map below.

24 Oct 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) damaged a caique with gunfire west of Kos, Greece in position 220° - Kandeliusa Light - 7 nautical miles.

This was the Italian (with a Greek crew) Tutti Santi of 30 tons registered in Calino (Dodecanese, also known as Kalymnos). She was most likely the former Greek sailing vessel Panagia.

0300C/24 - Passed northbound through the Scarpanto Strait.

0640C/24 - Dived in position 36°23'N, 27°00'E.

1046C/24 - Sighted masts of a caique bearing 120°, distance about 4 nautical miles through the periscope. Altered course to investigate.

1129C/24 - Range was now 2500 yards. Saw that the caique was about 50 tons. Decided to attack with the gun.

1137C/24 - Surfaced on the starboard quarter of the caique crossing his stern at 1600 yards. The third shot brought down her foresail. As the smoke from the gun was clouding the caique ceased fire and shifted to her port bow and reopened fire. It was then observed that the crew had not abandoned ship. Ceased fire to allow them to do so but the crew did not do so. They were ordered to abandon ship which they started to do except for 'Granpa'. Meanwhile they held up the mangled remains of one of the crew. Lt. Pitt considered that in name of humanity to let them go.

115C/24 - Dived in position 220° Kandeliusa Light 7 nautical miles. (11)

25 Oct 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) attacked the tanker Arca (Italian (former Norwegian Haugar), 2238 GRT, built 1885) off Chios, Greece. The torpedoes fired however missed their target.

Arca was escorted by the Italian destroyer Quintino Sella and en-route from the Dardanelles (departed around 1000B/25) to Leros.

2304C/25 - In position 38°48'N, 25°46'E sighted tanker and escort bearing 285°, 8 nautical miles. Closed at speed to attack.

2328C/25- Fired four torpedoes from 4000 yards. Dived. No hits were obtained.

2331C/25 - First two of eleven depth charges were dropped. These were not close.

0015C/26 - Came to periscope depth, nothing in sight. Surfaced and set off in pursuit. (12)

26 Oct 1942 (position 38.04, 25.27)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) torpedoed and sank the tanker Arca (former Norwegian Haugar), 2238 GRT, built 1885) south-west of Chios, Greece in position 38°04'N, 25°27'E.

The Arca escorted by the Italian destroyer Quintino Sella sailed from Mudros at 0620B/25. At 2225B/25, 6 miles north of Psara, Sella was 800-1000 metres ahead of Arca when she observed a surfaced submarine about 600-800 metres to port. The tanker was proceeding at 7 knots course 155°, Sella was on steering 120° at 9 knots, both were zigzagging. Sella opened fire with her machine guns and gave the alarm but did not have time to use her 120 mm guns as they could not be depressed in time before the submarine submerged at about 100-150 metres and before she could ram her. Two torpedo wakes were seen. She dropped four depth charges and returned for a second run, dropping another four. She then released single depth charges (in all seventeen were dropped) and then resumed course at 2300B. It was not believed that the submarine had been damaged. The entire crew of the Acra, 3 Germans and 22 Italians, survived and landed in the ship boats on Chios.

0740C/26 - In position 38°04'N, 25°27'E sighted the escort vessel (Quintino Sella) through the periscope.

0750C/26 - Sighted the tanker well inshore of the escort and difficult to distinguish against the land.

0804C/26 - Fired four torpedoes from 4000 yards. Went to 70 feet. 3 minutes and 28 seconds after firing the first torpedo heard one explosion. Followed by two more explosions thought to be depth charges.

0814C/26 - Came to periscope depth and saw that the tanker had been hit forward and that the foremast had fallen. She was down by the bows. Her boats were away and the escort vessel had gone off to the South. Started to get in position to put a 2nd torpedo into the target if needed.

0839C/26 - While at 50 feet heard breaking up noises and on return to periscope depth it was noted that she indeed had sunk.

0846C/26 - An aircraft arrived at the scene so went to 70 feet. Set course to the east to clear the area.

1932C/26 - Surfaced in position 38°07'N, 25°34'E and set course to patrol on the Dardanelles - Thessaloniki route. (11)

27 Oct 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) chases the small Greek merchant ship Sifnos (315 GRT, built 1891) and fires at it with the deck gun, the ship however manages to escape due to bad visibilty. Following this chase Taku sank the Greek caique Lora (121 GRT) with gunfire off the Gulf of Kassandra, Greece. The Lora was on passage from Chalkis to Lemnos. The entire crew was rescued and taken to Porto Koufo.

In a signal timed 1855C/27, Capt. S 1, instructed HMS Taku to amend the southerly limit of her patrol area to 37°50'N. Sh was also instructed that enemy tanker traffic from the Dardanelles to Piraeus was to be the main target. Lt. Pitt decided to patrol off the Doro Channel tomorrow.

1645C/27 - Sighted a small merchant vessel of about 200 tons coming out of the Gulf of Kassandra course 110°. Decided to attack with the gun but had to wait until he rounded Cape Drepano.

1727C/27 - Surfaced when the target rounded the Cape and opened fire from 6000 yards. A chase followed and the small merchant was very well handled. In the end she managed to escape without being hit. About a mile to starboard a caique had lowered it sails and no doubt by staying very still hoped to be forgotten in the general excitement. Attention was now paid to this vessel. The caique was quickly sunk with gunfire.

Dived to 80 feet and cleared the area. (12)

28 Oct 1942
At 1600C/28, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) sighted smoke from a ship hull down to the south of the Doro Channel. Also two caiques were seen of Cape Doro. Also a fishing vessel was sighted. (11)

29 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 1459C/28, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) sighted an eastbound transport and two escorting destroyers against the background of the land on the far side of the Doro Channel from Taku's position. Many aircraft had been sighted in the afternoon and it was a pity the ship had not been seen earlier.

It appeared they were making for the inside of Psara Island and then most likely up to the Dardanelles. Lt. Pitt estimated that if he surfaced before 1700C/29 he could catch them off Cape Sigri, Mytileni if they were not making more then 12 knots.

At 1530C/29, HMS Taku went to 80 feet to clear the land.

At 1608C/29, HMS Taku surfaced in position 099° - Cape Doro - 11 nautical miles. She then set course on 033° and proceeded at 14 knots towards Cape Sigri.

At 1624C/29, an aircraft was seen approaching on the starboard bow. HMS Taku dived. No bombs were dropped but the submarine must have been seen. The plan to cut the convoy off near Cape Sigri now had to be abandoned and course was set to return to the Doro Channel.

The ships sighted were the tanker Ossag (German, 2793 GRT, built 1922) which was en-route from Piraeus to the Dardanelles escorted by the German destroyer Hermes and the Italian destroyer Euro. HMS Taku was indeed sighted by the aircraft. (12)

30 Oct 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) patrolled off the Doro Channel the entire day. Only two caiques and a small yacht were seen.

HMS Taku surfaced at 1955C/30 and set course to patrol to the south of Euboea Island. (11)

31 Oct 1942 (position 37.30, 24.03)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) fired three torpedoes at the tanker Cerere (Italian, 1267 GRT, built 1915) about 10 nautical miles south of Cape Sounio, Greece in position 37°30'N, 24°03'E. All torpedoes fired missed their target.

Cerere was in convoy with the transports Ardena (German, 1092 GRT, built 1915) and Galiola (Italian, 1357 GRT, built 1917) and Santa Fe (German, 4627 GRT, built 1921). They were escorted by the Italian torpedo boats Lira, Calatafimi and Solferino. They were en-route from Piraeus, which they had departed around 0545-0620B/31, to Suda Bay, where they arrived aroound 0645-0807B/1 except Santa Fe escorted by Calatafimi and Solferino who were detached to Heraklion where they arrived at 1000B/1.

0455C/31 - Received Capt. S 1's signal timed 0313C/31 which stated that a convoy was expected to leave Piraeus. Lt. Pitt decided to proceed to a position to the north of St. Giorgio Island.

0645C/31 - Dived 1.5 nautical miles short of position 37°30'N, 24°03'E.

0700C/31 - Received Capt S 1's signal timed 0529C/31, which stated that the convoy had left Piraeus.

0940C/31 - Sighted smoke bearing 335° and soon after saw two aircraft on the same bearing.

1011C/31 - Masts appearing above the horizon. The convoy we had been warned about turned out to be one 5000 ton MV, one 3500 ton MV and one 1500 ton MV. They were escorted by a destroyer and two other escort vessels. Astern of the convoy was a hospital ship. Manouvered into attack position

1056C/31 - Fired three torpedoes from 6500 yards. It was intended to fire four torpedoes but Taku lost trim and went deep. At 5min13sec after firing the first torpedo a loud explosion was heard which was correct for a running range of 6500 yards. Five depth charges were dropped, all distant but HE was heard fairly close so Lt. Pitt ordered Taku to 150 feet.

1155C/31 - Came to periscope depth and could see no trace of the target.

1205C/31 - Sighted the convoy again mines the largest MV and the hospital ship. They were hull down and Lt. Pitt decided to ran in for 10 minutes at full speed for another shot. During these 10 minutes the crew managed to reload one of the torpedo tubes.

1237C/31 - Fired two torpedoes (three was indented but there was a miscommunication). Four minutes after firing three depth charges were heard followed by five patters of two depth charges. The third pattern was rather close and shook Taku but no damage was done. HE was kept astern as Taku crept away slowly. (11)

1 Nov 1942
At 0550B/1, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) dived in position 36°46'N, 23°59'E so as to patrol to the west of Milos as ordered in Capt. S 1's signal timed 0903C/31.

At 1303B/1, Capt. S 1's signal timed 1009B/1 was received which gave HMS Taku freedom of action in the Aegean.

At 1608B/1, three masts of a ship were seen which were thought to belong to a large caique. An attack was started at 1650C/1 on this ship which was now seen to be of about 2000 tons with one funnel. The attack was however soon broken off when it was seen to be a hospital ship which subsequently entered Port Milos. This was the German hospital ship Graz (former Greek training sailing ship Ares, 2200 tons, built 1927). She had sailed from Piraeus at 0630B/1 for Suda via Milos and eventually for Mersa Matruh.

At 1855B/1, HMS Taku surfaced in position 36°46'N, 24°20'E and then set course to patrol to the south-west of Crete within 35 nautical miles of Elafonissos Island as ordered in Capt. S 1's signal timed 1537B/1. HMS Taku was to remain south of 35°30'N until further orders. (11)

2 Nov 1942
In a signal timed 1140B/2, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) is ordered by Capt. S 1 to be in position 36°02'N, 25°01'E by dawn on the 4th. On entering the Aegean only southbound tankers and transports of over 5000 tons may be attacked. After dawn on the 4th nothing was to be attacked. Further signals would be made.

These order were cancelled in Capt S 1's signal timed 2002B/2. HMS Taku was to patrol in her present area keeping east of 22°30'E. (13)

5 Nov 1942
At 0658B/5, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) which is patrolling off the Elafonisos Channel now, received a signal from Capt. S 1, timed 0433B/5, stating that the Elafonisos Channel might be fruitful during the next 24 hours. This was very suitable as HMS Taku was already there.

At 2115B/5, while in position 36°24'N, 22°50'E, a transport and an escorting destroyer was sighted bearing 100° approaching the Elafonisos Channel. HMS Taku turned stern on.

At 2122B/5, the ships rounded Cape Spathi. They were difficult to make out against the land. The enemy was now proceeding on a course of 200° at 14 knots. Range was 4 nautical miles.

At 2134B/5, the transport and destroyer were seen to turn right round making much smoke as a screen. The transport turned back and disappeared again behind Cape Spathi. It was now thought that a second destroyer was present and they now left the transport and proceeded to the south. A little cat and mouse game with the destroyers now followed but it appears HMS Taku was not sighted. HMS Taku searched during the night for the transport but it was not seen again.

[We have been unable to identify the convoy / ships sighted.] (14)

6 Nov 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 1810B/6, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN), which had been patrolling in the Kythira / Anti-Kythira area during the day, was instructed by Capt. S 1, in his signal timed 1633B/6, to patrol on the Pireaus - Suda Bay convoy route as his current position seem to have been compromised. Course was set accordingly. (13)

7 Nov 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 0456B/7, while to the west of Milos, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) encountered what are thought to be two enemy patrol vessels. They were evaded by going deep.

During the day HMS Taku patrolled to the west of Folegandros Island. (11)

8 Nov 1942 (position 36.40, 24.47)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) attacked what is thought to be an auxliary patrol vessel south of Milos in approximate position 36°40'N, 24°47'E.

The target was probably the Italian auxiliary minelayer Barletta (1975 GRT, built 1931) who sailed from Piraeus at 0215B/8 and arrived at Heraklion at 1650B/8.

In a signal timed 1920B/8, Capt. S 1, ordered HMS Taku to patrol the northernmost approaches to Candia by dawn the following morning.

In a signal timed 2358B/8, Capt. S 1, ordered HMS Taku to patrol 3 nautical miles to the south-west of Christiana Island by noon on the 9th and if she was unable to comply then patrol from Candia to the northward towards Christiana Island

1115B/8 - Sighted a ship rounding the right hand edge of Polino. Started attack. Observation was very difficult as waves were continually washing over the periscope. Range was 3000 yards. The target was thought to be some sort of armed merchant cruiser of about 2000 tons, two aircraft were patrolling overhead.

1132B/8 - Fired one torpedo but due to an error in the attack setup made by Lt. Pitt it missed. Also there was a large splash when the torpedo was fired.

9 Nov 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
In a signal timed 1452B/9, Capt. S 1, informed HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) that she had freedom of action in the Aegean but that she was to arrive at the end of the Port Said searched channel at 0600B/12. She was allowed to run on the surface on the 11th.

Lt. Pitt therefore decided to close Candia and then patrol eastwards along the northern side of Crete. (13)

12 Nov 1942
Around 0830B/12, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) ended her 19th war patrol at Port Said. (11)

13 Nov 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) is docked in the floating dock at Port Said to have external fuel tanks fitted. (15)

17 Nov 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) is undocked. (15)

24 Nov 1942
Around 1700B/24, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed from Port Said for Beirut. (15)

26 Nov 1942
Around 1145B/26, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Beirut. Before entering harbour A/S exercises were carried out with two motor launches.

The crew then left the boat and she is shut off for fumigation. The boat is opened up again at 1700B/27 and ventilated. At 1700B/28 the crew was allowed to board her again. (15)

8 Dec 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted engine trials and exercises off Beirut. The exercises included a practice attack on HMS Cordela (T/Skr. J. Enevoldsen, RNR) and A/S exercises with three motor launches. (16)

9 Dec 1942
At 1700B/9, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed from Beirut for her 20th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Aegean. She is also to perform a special operation.

For the daily and attack positions of HMS Taku during this patrol see the map below.

(17)

14 Dec 1942 (position 37.52, 24.06)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) torpedoed and sank the tanker Delfin (Italian, 5322 GRT, built 1918) in the Aegean Sea about 5 nautical miles north of Macrosini island, Greece in position 37°52'N, 24°06'E.

She was escorted by the German auxiliary submarine chaser UJ-2102. They had departed Piraeus around 0600B/14 for Cavaliani. The German auxiliary submarine chaser UJ-2101 was also sent to the area following the attack to assist in the hunt for the submarine.

Air bubbles and oil came to the surface during the hunt for the enemy submarine and it was though the attacker had been sunk.

The whole crew of the Delfin was picked up. 41 men, including 7 wounded.

1115B/14 - Sighted an aircraft patrolling to the south.

1140B/14 - In position 37°50'N, 24°07'E sighted smoke of two ships to the South. Commenced attack.

The convoy turned out to be a 5000 ton motor vessel that was escorted by steam yacht of about 300 tons. This yacht was about 700 yards ahead of the motor vessel. Two aircraft were escorting the convoy.

1226B/14 - Fired two torpedoes from 750 yards. 33 seconds after firing a loud torpedo explosion was heard. The HE of the ship continued for about 15sec. but then it stopped and was followed by breaking up noises. A minute and a half after firing a depth charge was dropped.

1242B/14 - Asdic transmissions were heard.

1245B/14 - The escort dropped the first of eleven depth charges in a line with three second intervals. These depth charges were unpleasantly close. Taku was shaken considerably but only light damage was done. Five more depth charges were dropped but these were not as close as the first eleven.

1337B/14 - Another eleven depth charges were dropped. These were as close as the first eleven dropped at 1245 hours. After these only one other depth charge was dropped. This was the last one. Taku now managed to slip away although it took the remainder of the day. (18)

15 Dec 1942
In a signal timed 0037B/15, Capt. S 1, informed HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) that important enemy units were ready to leave Piraeus for Leros.

Lt. Pitt decided to proceed to the west of Leros to try to intercept them there.

This signal referred to the (troop) transports Ardena (German, 1092 GRT, built 1915), Argentina (Italian, 5085 GRT, built 1907) and Donizetti (Italian, 2428 GRT, built 1928) escorted by the Italian destroyer Turbine and the Italian torpedo boats Libra and Castore. They departed Piraeus at 0130-0250B/16/16 for Rhodos (not Leros) where they arrived at 0650-0754B/17. Convoy sailed from Piraeus at 0130-0250B/16 and arrived at Rhodes at 0650-0754B/17. (19)

16 Dec 1942
At 0605B/16, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) dived for a day of submerged patrol to the west of Leros in position 37°08'N, 26°40'E.

At 0915B/16, two columns of smoke were seen bearing 270°. This developed into a motor vessel of about 1500 tons with two masts and one funnel abaft the bridge. She was escorted by a patrol vessel who was stationed about half a mile away on her starboard beam. They were approaching on a course of 090°. The motor vessel was in ballast and very dirty looking. Lt. Pitt decided that this could not be the important ships he was warned about so he did not attack to await the, hopefully, bigger game that may show up. The ships were seen to enter Port Lakki.

At 1600B/16, a small tug was seen proceeding close inshore proceeding southwards.

At 1645B/16, HMS Taku altered course to 270° to withdraw to charge during the night proceeding along the reverse track of the motor vessel and the escort sighted earlier in the day.

At 1835B/16, HMS Taku surfaced in position 37°07'N, 26°41'E. She then patrolled within three nautical miles from position 37°07'N, 26°36'E during the night but nothing was seen. (17)

17 Dec 1942
At 0603B/17, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) dived for another day of submerged patrol to the west of Leros in position 37°07'N, 26°41'E.

At 0725B/17, a small craft was seen approaching on a course of 090°. It was later identified as a MAS boat (motor torpedo boat). It stopped about 2.5 nautical miles away.

At 0730B/17, smoke of a small vessel was seen close inshore south of Port Lakki proceeding northwards.

At 0735B/17, another MAS boat was seen approaching from the south. She was not seen until she was abeam, going very fast and about 1000 yards away. Two torpedoes were seen on her deck and she was identified as being from the MAS 501-507-class. She was flying the Italian ensign at the stern and on a small mast aft a red-white-red vertically striped pennant. Both MAS boats were painted black and one had red numbers painted on the bow. The new arrival joined up with the first and they remained stopped for about 15 minutes after which they made off to the north-west.

At 1145B/17, both MAS boats returned from the same direction and stopped about 3 nautical miles away. They were seen to have lines over the side.

At 1215B/17, both MAS boats were seen to proceed southwards. It was now seen that the fist MAS boats which had been seen in the morning was of the MAS 53-class.

At 1225B/17, both MAS boats stopped about 5 nautical miles away bearing 225°.

At 1235B/17, both MAS boats got underway again and were soon lost from sight.

At 1300B/17, sighted a two-masted, grey camouflaged coaster with a tall funnel, but apparently unarmed, passing close inshore steaming south. She had her bridge in front of the funnel and another bridge-like structure aft of it. She was of about 250 tons. At 1315B/17 she was seen to enter Port Lakki.

At 1430B/17, an ML type vessel, painted grey, was sighted close inshore proceeding north. She then altered round 210° and crossed the bow of HMS Taku about 1500 yards ahead, and proceeded to join up with the two MAS boats which could now just be sighted about 6 nautical miles away.

At 1610B/17, the funnel and two masts of small vessel, hull down close under the land of Kalimno Island were sighted. It was proceeding to the south.

At 1640B/17, the grey motor launch was sighted close inshore proceeding north. Ten minutes later she altered round and closed fast stopping about 1500 yards away.

At 1700B/17, the ML was joined by one of the MAS boats. HMS Taku changed course to increase the range as fast as possible.

At 1720B/17, they both got underway with one proceeding to the starboard side of HMS Taku and the other one to the port side. HMS Taku went to 150 feet. Noises were reduced to a minimum.

At 1729B/17, two depth charges were dropped rather close. HMS Taku was shaken but no damage was sustained.

At 1741B/17, one of the two was coming in again and two more depth charges were dropped but again no damage was sustained.

The enemy could not be shaken off and were apparently maintaining contact with the submarine with the intention to torpedo her on surfacing. Lt. Pitt therefore decided to proceed towards Patmos Island to shake off the enemy there in the coastal water noises.

At 2300B/17, HMS Taku was within a mile from the island. One MAS boat could be seen waiting off the south-west corner of the island. The second vessel could not be seen. HMS Taku now made slowly off to the east passing within a cable of Prasonisi Island.

At 2345B/17, it looked like that the enemy had lost contact so HMS Taku now turned to the south-south-west as had originally been intended early in the evening.

At 0315B/18, HMS Taku surfaced in position 37°09'N, 26°32'E.

Italian records from Leros give the following movements;
The small transport Camogli (Italian, 360 GRT, built 1905) sailed from Leros for exercises at 1415B/17 and returned at 1705B/17.
MAS 540 sailed from Leros at 1138B/17 for hydrophone watch and returned at 0610B/18.
M/S 12 sailed from Leros at 1521B/17 for hydrophone watch and returned at 1321B/18.
MAS 521 sailed from Leros for exercises at 2215B/16 and returned at 1540B/17.
Most probably one of the MAS boats sighted by HMS Taku.
MAS 520, MAS 528 and MAS 545 were also at Leros at the time but do not appear to have sortied on that day.
[It appears that German and Italian times were one hour behind that kept by Taku on this patrol.] (17)

20 Dec 1942
At 2340B/20, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) landed three Greek agents (Operation Saturn) about 200 yards from Nisia Rocks (near position 38°40'N, 23°54'E). Earlier in the day, around dawn, periscope reconnaissance had been carried out of the area.

On completion of the operation HMS Taku set course to patrol to the south of Skiathos.

The Greek agents were captured and revealed the identity of the submarine. [Abwehr files make reference to it]. The Germans had been under the impression that the submarine they had depth charged on the 14th had been sunk but now became aware that it had been HMS Taku and thus had not been sunk. (17)

22 Dec 1942 (position 40.10, 23.10)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) heavily damaged the Greek caique (in German service) Niki (150 GRT) with gunfire in the Potidea Channel in approximate position 40°10'N, 23°10'E.

According to German sources Niki was damaged and abandoned, of the 10 German soldiers on board 2 were killed and the other 8 wounded. The wreck was later found drifting and was towed to Salonica.

1200B/22 - A two-masted caique of about 150 tons was seen leaving the canal. Closed to attack.

1257B/22 - Surfaced 1800 yards on the port quarter and opened direct fire. The second shot hit and the occupants jumped overboard (these included German soldiers). 21 rounds were fired for 15 hits. The caique was now on fire.

1303B/22 - Dived and withdrew to the South-West. (17)

23 Dec 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) bombarded the harbour of Kymi, Greece. Twenty-six rounds were fired. A warehouse and several ships (caiques) were hit.

Italian sources give the following: Volos 150 / Agios Nikolaos was sunk, Piraeus 860 / Evangelistria was heavily damaged, the Syros 552 / Agios Nicolaus was slightly damaged. One Italian soldier was wounded.

HMS Taku then left the northern Aegean to patrol on the Pireaus - Crete route which was also suggested in Capt. S 1's signal timed 1835B/23. (17)

26 Dec 1942
At 0602B/25, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) commenced to carry out a periscope reconnaissance of the Cape Skyli area. This was for Operation 'Locksmith' (an attempt to block the Corinth Canal).

[More information on the attempts to block the Corinth Canal can be found in the book "Target Corinth Canal 1940-1944" by Platon Alexiades which had been published in 2015.] (17)

27 Dec 1942 (position 37.32, 24.14)
Now patrolling in the Zea Channel, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) fired a total of five torpedoes at the transport Bucintoro (Italian, 1326 GRT, built 1909) in position 37°32'N, 24°14'E. All torpedoes fired missed their target.

0450B/27 - In position 37°32'N, 24°14'E sighted a small transport. Started attack and closed at speed on the motors.

0512B/27 - Three torpedoes out of a salvo of four were fired. Before firing the fourth torpedo Lt. Pitt realised that the ship was much closer than he thought. Now the fourth torpedo was fired but this one also missed as had the first three.

0515B/27 - Fired the stern torpedo but this one also missed, passing close to the targets port side.

0518B/27 - Proceeded on both engines to pursue the ship and gun her. The ship was seen to be of 1500 tons, 2 masts and one funnel with the bridge in front of it and having two holds.

0530B/27 - The ship opened fire with her stern gun. As there was only half an hour to go before Taku had to submerge for the day and it was impossible to overtake the ship before that the action had to be broken off. (17)

29 Dec 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
After having patrolled in the Kaso Strait, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) left patrol at 1819B/29 to return to Beirut. (17)

1 Jan 1943
Around 0645B/1, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) ended her 20th war patrol at Beirut. (17)

14 Jan 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted D/G trials at Beirut. (20)

16 Jan 1943
In the morning, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted exercises off Beirut. (20)

17 Jan 1943
Around 1700B/17, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed from Beirut for Malta. Taku is to return to the U.K. for refit and repairs to the engines that continued to give problems during the last two war patrols and repairs were beyond the capacity of the repair staff of the Mediterranean Station.

(20)

24 Jan 1943
Around 1130A/24, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Malta.

During her stay at Malta she disembarked her torpedo outfit and embarked four Mk. II (destroyer) torpedoes. These were the only torpedoes on board now. (20)

6 Feb 1943
Around 1400A/6, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed from Malta for Algiers. (21)

11 Feb 1943
Around 1030A/11, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Algiers. (21)

12 Feb 1943
Around 1715A/12, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed from Algiers for Gibraltar. (21)

15 Feb 1943
Around 1035A/15, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Gibraltar from Algiers. (21)

17 Feb 1943
Around 1400A/17, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed from Gibraltar bound for the U.K. En-route she is to patrol for a few days in the Bay of Biscay making this her 21th war patrol.

For the daily positions of HMS Taku during this patrol see the map below.

(17)

2 Mar 1943
Around 1805A/2, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) ended her 21th war patrol at Plymouth.

She was escorted in by HMS Ellesmere (T/Lt. A.C. Munro, RNVR) which had joined her around 1110A/2. (17)

3 Mar 1943
Around 0640A/3, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed from Plymouth for Portsmouth. Due to the bad weather the passage is abandoned and HMS Taku and her escort, HMS Unst (T/Lt. J.R. Smith, RNR), put into Dartmouth. (22)

4 Mar 1943
Around 0430A/4, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed from Dartmouth to continue her passage to Portsmouth where she arrived around 1615A/4.

She was escorted by HMS Unst (T/Lt. J.R. Smith, RNR). (22)

22 Mar 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted D/G trials and exercises off Portsmouth. (22)

24 Mar 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portsmouth with a French Chasseur and HMS Kingston Topaz (Skr. A. Flett, RNR). (22)

25 Mar 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portsmouth with a French Chasseur and HMS Lord Wakefield (Skr.Lt. H.L. Lang, DSC, RD, RNR) (22)

30 Mar 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted D/G trials off Portsmouth. (22)

2 Apr 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portsmouth with a French Chasseur, HMS Kingston Turquoise (Ch.Skr. H.E. Dodd, RNR), HMS Acacia (T/Lt. J.B. Corke, RNVR) and HMS Deodar (T/Lt. S.A. Jarvis, RNR). (23)

4 Apr 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) proceeded from Portsmouth to Portland. She made the passage together with HMS Ursula (Lt. A.R. Profit, DSC, RN) and HMS Sickle (Lt. J.R. Drummond, RN). They were escorted by HMS Kingston Turquoise (Ch.Skr. H.E. Dodd, RNR). En-route serveral exercises were carried out. (23)

5 Apr 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed Portland together with HMS Sickle (Lt. J.R. Drummond, DSC, RN) and HMS Ursula (Lt. A.R. Profit, DSC, RN). They were escorted by HMS Kingston Turquoise (Ch.Skr. H.E. Dodd, RNR).

After a few hours they were ordered to return to Portland due to suspected enemy mining of Lyme Bay. (23)

6 Apr 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) shifted from Portland to Plymouth. She made the passage together with HMS Sickle (Lt. J.R. Drummond, DSC, RN) and HMS Ursula (Lt. A.R. Profit, DSC, RN). They were escorted by HMS Kingston Turquoise (Ch.Skr. H.E. Dodd, RNR). (23)

8 Apr 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Plymouth with HMS Pearl (T/Lt. G.K. Hill, RNVR) and HMS Ulva (Skr. E.R. Harris, RNR) and later with HMS Ambrose Pare (Skr. J.W. Morris, RNR) and HMS Lincolnshire (A/Skr.Lt. S.L. Larner, RNR). Also a practice attack was made on HMS Lincolnshire. (23)

9 Apr 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted exercises off Plymouth with RAF aircraft. HMS Lincolnshire (A/Skr.Lt. S.L. Larner, RNR) remained near her as escort during these exercises. (23)

10 Apr 1943
During 10 April and 11 April 1943, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN), conducted exercises off Plymouth. These included night exercises with RAF aircraft. (23)

12 Apr 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Plymouth with HMS Ambrose Pare (Skr. J.W. Morris, RNR), HMS Cape Comorin (T/Lt. N.L. Brown, RNVR), HMS Limbourne (Cdr. C.B. Alers-Hankey, DSC, RN) and HMS Melbreak (Lt. G.E.C.G. Baines, RN). Also a practice attack was made on HMS Melbreak. (23)

13 Apr 1943
During 13 April and 14 April 1943, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN), conducted exercises off Plymouth. These included night exercises with RAF aircraft. HMS Ambrose Pare (Skr. J.W. Morris, RNR) remained in the area as escort. (23)

16 Apr 1943
During 16 April and 17 April 1943, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN), conducted exercises off Plymouth. These included night exercises with RAF aircraft. HMS Ambrose Pare (Skr. J.W. Morris, RNR) remained in the area as escort. (23)

18 Apr 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Plymouth.

First with HMS Limbourne (Cdr. C.B. Alers-Hankey, DSC, RN) and HMS Wensleydale (Lt. J.A. McClure, DSC, RN). Then with HMS Matchless (Lt.Cdr. J. Mowlam, DSO, RN) and HMS Meteor (Lt.Cdr. D.J.B. Jewitt, RN). And finally with ORP Piorun (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) T. Gorazdowski) and ORP Krakowiak (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) J.A. Tchorznicki). (23)

19 Apr 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Plymouth.

First with HMS Limbourne (Cdr. C.B. Alers-Hankey, DSC, RN) and HMS Tanatside (Lt.Cdr. F.D. Brown, RN). Then with HMS Wensleydale (Lt. J.A. McClure, DSC, RN). Later with HMS Gweal (/A/Lt.Cdr. W.T. Hodson, DSC and Bar, RNVR) and HMS Lincolnshire (A/Skr.Lt. S.L. Larner, RNR) and finally with HMS Susannah Jane (T/Lt. H.U. Thompson, RNVR), HMS Black Arrow (T/Lt. A.K. Rothnie, RNVR) and HMS Romaro (T/S.Lt. J.S.C. Dealy, RNVR). (23)

21 Apr 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Plymouth.

First with HMS Cape Comorin (T/Lt. N.L. Brown, RNVR) and then with HMS Limbourne (Cdr. C.B. Alers-Hankey, DSC, RN) and HMS Tanatside (Lt.Cdr. F.D. Brown, RN). (23)

22 Apr 1943
During 22 April and 23 April 1943, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN), conducted exercises off Plymouth. These included night exercises with RAF aircraft. HMS Ambrose Pare (Skr. J.W. Morris, RNR) remained in the area as escort. (23)

25 Apr 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Plymouth.

First with HMS Ulva (Skr. E.R. Harris, RNR) and HMS Cornelian (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S. Gorrell, RNR) and then with ORP Krakowiak (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) J.A. Tchorznicki) and HMS Goathland (Lt.Cdr. E.N. Pumphrey, RN, DSO and 2 Bars, DSC, RN). (23)

13 May 1943
Around 1530B/13, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed Plymouth for Holy Loch. She made the passage together with HMS H 32 (Lt. T.G. Ridgeway, RN) that was to proceed to Rothesay. They were escorted by HMS Damsay (T/Lt. A.M. Sullivan, RNVR). (24)

16 May 1943
Around 1945B/16, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Holy Loch. (24)

18 May 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) proceeded from Holy Loch to Troon where she was to refit. (24)

1 Oct 1943
With her refit completed, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN), proceeded from Troon to Holy Loch to begin period of trials and training. En-route to Holy Loch full power trials were carried out. (25)

4 Oct 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted independent exercises in the Clyde area. (25)

5 Oct 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted independent exercises in the Clyde area. (25)

6 Oct 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted independent exercises in the Clyde area. These were followed by full power trials and submerged runs over the measured mile. (25)

7 Oct 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted STU trials off the Fairlie dummy minefield. (25)

9 Oct 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises in the Clyde area. (25)

11 Oct 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted torpedo firing trials in Loch Long. (25)

13 Oct 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. These included attack exercises during which HMS White Bear (Cdr.(Retd.) A.L. Sanders, RN) acted as target and also gunnery exercises on a target towed by HMS Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.D. O'Driscoll, RNR). (25)

14 Oct 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted radar exercises in the Clyde area with HMS Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.D. O'Driscoll, RNR). Taku proceeded to Campbeltown upon completion of these exercises. (25)

15 Oct 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) proceeded from Campbeltown to Rothesay. (25)

16 Oct 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area with HMS Stratagem (T/Lt. R.L. Willoughby, RNR) and HMS White Bear (Cdr.(Retd.) A.L. Sanders, RN). Also gunnery exercises were carried out on a target towed by HMS Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.D. O'Driscoll, RNR). (25)

18 Oct 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted attack exercises for the C.O.Q.C. (Commanding Officers Qualifying Course) in the Clyde area during which HMS Breda (Capt.(Retd.) A.E. Johnston, RN) acted as target. (25)

19 Oct 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted attack exercises for the C.O.Q.C. (Commanding Officers Qualifying Course) in the Clyde area during which HMS Breda (Capt.(Retd.) A.E. Johnston, RN) acted as target. (25)

20 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted attack exercises for the C.O.Q.C. (Commanding Officers Qualifying Course) in the Clyde area with HMS Breda (Capt.(Retd.) A.E. Johnston, RN) as target. (25)

21 Oct 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area with HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.R.B. Newton, RN) and vice versa. (25)

22 Oct 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area with HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.R.B. Newton, RN) and vice versa. (25)

25 Oct 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) is docked at Holy Loch in AFD 7. (25)

26 Oct 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) is undocked. (25)

27 Oct 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN), HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. J.G. Hopkins, RN) and HMS Unswerving (Lt. M.D. Tattersall, RNVR) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area during which HMS Cutty Sark (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN) acted as target. (25)

28 Oct 1943
On completion of yesterday's exercises, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN), proceeded to Larne. (25)

29 Oct 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) and HMS Viking (Lt. R. Bannar-Martin, DSC, RN) conducted attack exercises off Larne on HMS Philante (Capt. A.J. Baker-Cresswell, DSO, RN) which was escorted by the destroyer escorts USS Charles Lawrence (Lt. F. Kernan, Jr., USNR, with COMTASKGR 21.6 / COMCORTDIV 6, T/Capt. H.T. Read, USN on board), USS Daniel T. Griffin (Lt. F. Denfeld, USNR), USS Donnell (Lt.Cdr. F.C. Billing, USNR), USS Sims (Lt J.A. Moffett, 2nd, USNR), USS Hopping (Lt. L.F. Loutrel, Jr., USNR) and USS Reeves (Lt.Cdr. M.S. Clark, USNR). (25)

30 Oct 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with HMCS Brandon (T/Lt. H.E. McArthur, RCNVR) and HMCS Woodstock (T/Lt. C.E. Wright, RCNVR) and later with HMS Hotspur (Cdr. A.M. McKillop, RN). (25)

31 Oct 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted attack exercises off Larne on a convoy. (25)

3 Nov 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with aircraft. (26)

4 Nov 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with HMS Calder (Lt.Cdr. A.D. White, RD, RNR). Also a practice atttack was made on the frigate. (26)

6 Nov 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) and HMS Sceptre (Lt. I.S. McIntosh, MBE, DSC, RN) conducted attack exercises on each other off Larne. (26)

9 Nov 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Larne. Later she proceeded from Larne to Holy Loch. She was escorted for most of the way by HMS ML 225 (T/Lt. D. Kaye, RNVR). (26)

15 Nov 1943
Around 1700A/15, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed Holy Loch for Scapa Flow. She was escorted by HMS Cutty Sark (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN). (26)

17 Nov 1943
Around 0930A/17, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow where she was to participate in A/S exercises. (26)

18 Nov 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Scapa Flow together with HMS Celia (T/Lt. L.B. Merrick, RNR) and HMS Switha (T/Lt. V.S. Jeffery, RNVR). (26)

19 Nov 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Scapa Flow together with HMS Kempenfelt (Lt.Cdr. J.B. Marjoribanks, RN) and HMS Halcyon (T/A/Lt.Cdr. L.J. Martin, RNVR). (26)

20 Nov 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Scapa Flow together with HMS Tenacious (Lt.Cdr. D.F. Townsend, RN) and HMS Musketeer (Cdr. R.L. Fisher, OBE, RN). (26)

21 Nov 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted attack exercises off Scapa Flow together with HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.R.B. Newton, RN). (27)

22 Nov 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Scapa Flow together with HMS Tenacious (Lt.Cdr. D.F. Townsend, RN), HMS Termagant (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Scatchard, DSC, RN) and HMS Tuscan (Lt.Cdr. C.H.de B. Newby, RN). (26)

26 Nov 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Scapa Flow together with HMS Virago (Lt.Cdr. A.J.R. White, RN). (26)

27 Nov 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Scapa Flow together with HMS Tuscan (Lt.Cdr. C.H.de B. Newby, RN) and HMS Virago (Lt.Cdr. A.J.R. White, RN). (26)

29 Nov 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Scapa Flow together with HMS Milne (Capt. I.M.R. Campbell, DSO, RN), HMIS Cauvery (A/Cdr. A.W. Beeton, RIN) and later with HMS Kempenfelt (Lt.Cdr. J.B. Marjoribanks, RN) and HMS Tuscan (Lt.Cdr. C.H.de B. Newby, RN). (26)

30 Nov 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Scapa Flow together with HMS Bellona (Capt. C.F.W. Norris, RN), HMS Meteor (Lt.Cdr. D.J.B. Jewitt, RN), HMIS Cauvery (A/Cdr. A.W. Beeton, RIN) and HMS Tuscan (Lt.Cdr. C.H.de B. Newby, RN). (26)

1 Dec 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Holy Loch. She was escorted by HMS Sardonyx (T/A/Lt.Cdr. E. Playne, RNVR).

[No logs of HMS Taku are available for the months of December 1943 and January 1944 therefore some details for these months will be missing.] (28)

2 Dec 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Holy Loch. (28)

18 Dec 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed Holy Loch for Lerwick. She was escorted by HMS Cutty Sark (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN). (28)

21 Dec 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Lerwick. Almost the whole crew, including the Commanding Officer had the flu so her departure for patrol was cancelled. (28)

2 Jan 1944
Around 0900A/2, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed from Lerwick for her 22th war patrol. She is to make a anti-U-boat patrol in the Norwegian Sea.

For the daily positions of HMS Taku during this patrol see the map below.

(17)

13 Jan 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 1830A/13, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) surfaced in position 64°20'N, 00°06'W after a day of submerged patrol. She then left patrol to return to Lerwick as ordered in Capt. S 9's signal timed 1505A/10. (17)

15 Jan 1944
Around 1100A/15, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) ended her 22th war patrol at Lerwick. (17)

16 Jan 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed Lerwick for passage to Holy Loch. She made the passage together with HMS Unswerving (T/Lt. M.D. Tattersall, RNVR). Around 0930/17 they made rendez-vous off Scapa Flow with HrMs Zwaardvisch (Lt.Cdr. H.A.W. Goossens, RNN) escorted by HMS La Capricieuse (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) C.M. Norman, RN). (28)

18 Jan 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Holy Loch. (28)

29 Jan 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN), HMS Trusty (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) and HMS Tradewind (Lt.Cdr. S.L.C. Maydon, DSO and Bar, RN) departed from Holy Loch for Lerwick. They are escorted by the armed yacht HMS Cutty Sark (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN). (28)

31 Jan 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Lerwick. (28)

2 Feb 1944
Around 0900A/2, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed from Lerwick for her 23th war patrol. She is to patrol off Norway near Stavanger.

For the daily and attack positions of HMS Taku during this patrol see the map below.

(17)

4 Feb 1944
At 1600A/4, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) sighted a southbound convoy leaving the Karmsund. It was thought to be made up of three transports, one of 2500 tons, one of 1000 tons and one of 400 tons. They were escorted by two trawlers. Their speed was about 7 knots. These were most probably the convoy made up of the transports Petropolis (German, 4849 GRT, built 1911), Hubert Schroder (German, 1378 GRT, built 1918) and Ulv (Norwegian, 938 GRT, built 1921) escorted by the auxiliary patrol vessels V 5106 and V 5110 on passage from Bergen (departed 0430B/4) to Stavanger

Lt. Pitt did not attack as larger, northbound ships had been reported to him in the Flag Officers Submarines signal timed 1344A/4 which had just been received.

At 1700A/4, a 500 tons motor vessel was seen proceeding from the Boknafjord to Stavanger. (29)

5 Feb 1944
While patrolling off the Boknafjord, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) sighted a lot of local traffic, mostly smaller ships proceeding to and from the direction of Stavanger during the entire day.

At 0900A/5, an armed trawler was seen to proceed from Stavanger to the Karm Sund. This was most likely the auxiliary patrol vessel V 5106 which had departed Stavanger around 0730B/5 for Haugesund.

At 1100A/5, another armed trawler was seen to proceed from Stavanger to the Karm Sund. [We have been unable to identify this vessel.]

At 1200A/5, two armed trawlers were seen to be patrolling to the seawards of Taku. [We have been unable to identify these vessels.]

At 2005A/5, HMS Taku grounded but she got off without apparent damage 15 minutes later. (17)

6 Feb 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
While patrolling off the Boknafjord, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) again sighed a lot of local traffic, mostly smaller ships proceeding to and from the direction of Stavanger during the entire day. At 0930A/6, an armed trawler was seen patrolling to the south. (17)

7 Feb 1944 (position 59.07, 5.37)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) torpedoed and sank the transport Rheinhausen (German, 6298 GRT, built 1912) in position 59°07'N, 05°27'E.

The Rheinhausen was carrying 9000 tons of coal, the other vessels in convoy were the transports Isle Fritzen (German, 5099 GRT, built 1922), Maurita (Norwegian, 1569 GRT, built 1925), Roald Jarl (Norwegian, 1404 GRT, built 1913), Vega (Swedish, 1073 GRT, built 1913) and Wachtel (German, 992 GRT, built 1924). They were escorted by the auxiliary patrol vessels NS-22, NS-09, NS-24 and V-5110. The whole crew of the Rheinhausen (including two wounded) was saved by NS-22. The convoy was on passage from Stavanger (left around 0900B/7) to Bergen.

1010A/7 - Sighted a northbound convoy. Went to full submerged speed for 8 minutes to get into a firing position.

1024A/7 - Fired four torpedoes from 3500 yards and went to 80 feet. 40 Seconds after firing the first torpedo an explosion was heard, most likely a premature. 2 Minutes and 24 seconds after firing the first torpedo another explosion was heard. 15 Depth charges were dropped by the escort but these were not close and Taku was never detected.

1124A/7 - Came to periscope depth. Two trawlers and one aircraft were seen about two mile away. The target was seen to be stopped and on fire and with her boats away. Ten minutes later it was seen that the bow rose high out of the water. Five minutes later she had sunk and breaking up noises were heard. It was now seen that the convoy was made up of a 6000 ton ship (that was sunk), a 4000 ton ship, four 3000 tonners. Two escorts were seen but there were probably more. Taku reloaded and withdraw to the seaward where she also remained on the 8th February. (30)

11 Feb 1944
At 1100A/11, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN), which is now patrolling further to the north, sighted a convoy of two transports of about 1000 tons and a smaller 300 tons vessel northbound proceeding from Haugesund towards the Bomlafjorden. An attack was started but it had to be broken off around 1130A/11.

The two biggest ships seen were probably the transports Pinguin (German, 1212 GRT, built 1907) and Triton (German, 1620 GRT, built 1921) which arrived at Bergen around 1745B/11. (29)

12 Feb 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) torpedoed and heavily damaged the transport Harm Fritzen (German, 4818 GRT, built 1915) off the Bomlafjord in position 59°34'N, 05°14'E. The ship was run aground to prevent it from sinking. The ship was later salvaged.

Harm Fritzen was escorted by the German auxiliary patrol vessel NS 09.

1125A/12 - Sighted a merchant of about 3000 tons and one escort. They were northbound proceeding on a course of 030° at 6 knots. The escort was astern of the transport.

1154A/12 - Fired four torpedoes from 1200 yards and went to 80 feet. 1 minute and 2 seconds after firing the first torpedo heard and explosion followed very shortly by loud and pronounced breaking up noises. Three depth charges were dropped but these were not close and Taku was not detected.

Following this successful attack HMS Taku left the area and returned to the area off Stavanger. (29)

13 Feb 1944 (position 59.08, 5.24)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) torpedoed and sank the transport Hans Bornhofen (German, 2130 GRT, built 1905) in the Boknafjorden, 8 nautical miles south of Skudeneshavn, Norway in position 59°08'N, 05°24'E.

Besides the Hans Bornhofen this convoy was made up of the transports Uhlenhorst (German, 3741 GRT, built 1909) and Godfred Hansen (Danish, 394 GRT, built 1931). They were escorted by NS-21 and V-5108. The convoy had left Bergen around 0440A/13.

1624A/13 - Sighted a southbound convoy of two 3000 ton merchants, two 1500 ton merchants and four escorts coming down Karm Sund towards Stavanger. Started attack.

1703A/13 - Fired four torpedoes at the leading 3000 ton merchant ship from 1500 yards and went to 80 feet. About 70-75 seconds after firing the first torpedo three explosions were heard. Taku meanwhile retired to the seaward.

1737A/13 - Came to periscope depth. Three trawlers and one aircraft were seen close by. Went deep again. (17)

16 Feb 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 1945A/16, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) surfaced in approximate position 60°01'N, 04°12'E. She then left patrol in accordance with Capt. S 9's signal timed 1747A/13. (31)

18 Feb 1944
Around 1100A/18, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) ended her 23th war patrol at Lerwick. (17)

19 Feb 1944
Around 0700A/19, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed Lerwick for Holy Loch together with HMS Tradewind (Lt.Cdr. S.L.C. Maydon, DSO and Bar, RN). They are escorted by the armed yacht HMS Cutty Sark (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN). (32)

21 Feb 1944
Around 1230A/21, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Holy Loch. (32)

23 Feb 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) is docked at Holy Loch in AFD 7. (32)

24 Feb 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) is undocked. (32)

28 Feb 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) proceeded from Holy Loch to Ardrossan where she was docked. (32)

8 Mar 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) is undocked. (33)

9 Mar 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) proceeded from Ardrossan to Holy Loch. (33)

11 Mar 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) is docked at Holy Loch in AFD 7. She was undocked later the same day. (33)

13 Mar 1944
Around 1445A/13, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed Holy Loch for Lerwick. She was escorted by HMS Milford (Lt.Cdr. G.G. Slade, RN). (33)

15 Mar 1944
Around 1030A/15, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Lerwick. (33)

16 Mar 1944
Around 0230A/16, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed from Lerwick for her 24th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off Norway in the Trondheim area. She is to intercept the German battleship Tirpitz that is possibly going to leave Norway for repairs in Germany. Taku was part of 'Operstion Foremost'in which a whole lot of Allied submarines were placed along the coast of Norway to intercept the Tirpitz if she came south. She was not allowed to attack enemy merchant shipping.

For the daily and attack positions of HMS Taku during this patrol see the map below.

(17)

21 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 0010A/21, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) received the Flag Officer Submarine's signal timed 2300A/20, ordering all submarines on patrol off Norway to also start attacking enemy shipping.

HMS Taku was ordered to patrol in the Kya area, between latitudes 64°10'N and 65°00'N. (17)

24 Mar 1944 (position 64.33, 10.37)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) fires five torpedoes at the tanker Hydra (German (former Danish), 10128 GRT, built 1942) in a German convoy about 25 nautical miles west of Namsos, Norway in position 64°33'N 10°37'E. The German transport Moshill (German (former Norwegian), 2959 GRT, built 1940) was also in this convoy. Four torpedo tracks had been observed to pass between the two ships. The air cover had also sighted the torpedo tracks and attacked the submarine with depth charges. Five explosions were heard by the Germans when the torpedoes hit the shore.

This convoy had departed Trondheim around 0115B/24 for Bodo where it arrived around 0100B/25. The convoy was escorted by the minesweeper M 132. At 0815B/24, near the Buholmrasa Lighthouse the minesweeper M 36 joined the convoy which was around the time of the attack. Some auxiliary patrol vessels (trawlers) were also in the area but were not part of the actual escort.

0630A/24 - Sighted 2 aircraft circling bearing 190° and very distant. Obviously escorting a convoy. Started attack.

0826A/24 - Finally saw the target, a large tanker of about 10000 tons.

0833A/24 - Fired the first of six torpedoes from 3500 yards and went to 80 feet.

0836A/24 - One torpedo hit was heard. Also a depth charge exploded very close by causing minor damage through which Taku ended up at 280 feet. This depth charge was most likely dropped by one of the escorting aircraft. No more depth charges were dropped after this single one.

1000A/24 - No HE was heard so came to periscope depth. Nothing in sight except a few fishing vessel. Withdrew to the Westward and reloaded the torpedo tubes. (34)

28 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 0349A/28, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) left patrol to return to Lerwick as ordered in Capt. S 9's signal timed 0939A/27. (17)

30 Mar 1944
Around 1115A/30, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) ended her 24th war patrol at Lerwick. (17)

8 Apr 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted exercises off Lerwick during which practice attacks were made on HNoMS Nordkapp. (35)

10 Apr 1944
Around 0800B/10, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed from Lerwick for her 25th war patrol. She is to patrol in the Skagerrak.

For the daily positions of HMS Taku during this patrol see the map below.

(17)

13 Apr 1944 (position 57.34, 7.42)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) is damaged when a mine explodes overhead. The patrol has to be abandoned.

0248B/13 - Dived in position 57°30'N, 07°20'E to pass under the Skagerrak mine barrier at 220 feet.

0754B/13 - In position 57°34'N, 07°42'E a very loud explosion occurred overhead. Quite some damage was done and Lt. Pitt eventually decided to abandon patrol and proceed back to Lerwick. (17)

16 Apr 1944
Around 1040B/16, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) ended her 25th war patrol prematurely at Lerwick. (17)

20 Apr 1944
Around 0700B/20, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed Lerwick for Holy Loch. She was escorted by HMS Cutty Sark (A/Cdr. E.A. Stocker, DSC, RN). The next day, off Scapa Flow, they were joined by the Dutch submarine HrMs O 15 (Lt. J.B.M.J. Maas, RNN) and the British submarine HMS Visigoth (Lt. J.R.H. Haddow, DSC, RN). (35)

23 Apr 1944
Around 1230B/23, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Holy Loch. (35)

26 Apr 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) is docked at Holy Loch in AFD 7 to inspect the damage. She was undocked later the same day. (35)

2 May 1944
Around 2030B/2, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) and HMS Voracious (Lt. F.D.G. Challis, DSC, RN) departed Holy Loch for Blyth and Scapa Flow respectively. They were escorted by HMS Sardonyx (T/A/Lt.Cdr. E. Playne, RNVR).

At 1540B/3 Taku parted company with Voracious and Sardonyx and continued her passage to Blyth but now escorted by HMS Godetia (T/Lt. M.A.F. Larose, RNR) while Voracious and Sardonyx proceeded to Scapa Flow. (36)

5 May 1944
Around 0815B/5, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Blyth. (36)

Submarine HMS Trident (N 52)

22 Jul 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted post refit trials near Troon. These included full power trials. (37)

27 Jul 1944
With her refit now completed, HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN), proceeded from Troon to Holy Loch. (37)

28 Jul 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) returned to Troon from Holy Loch. (37)

30 Jul 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) proceeded from Troon to Holy Loch to continue her post refit trail and training programme. (37)

4 Aug 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (38)

5 Aug 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (38)

6 Aug 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. These included RD/F exercises with HMS Vitality (Lt. K.S. Renshaw, DSC, RNR) and HMS Shikari (Lt. E.H.U. Cautley, RNVR). (38)

7 Aug 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted RD/F exercises with aircraft and HMS Shikari (Lt. E.H.U. Cautley, RNVR). (38)

8 Aug 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted D/F trials in the Clyde area. (38)

9 Aug 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted D/G trials off Helensborough. (38)

11 Aug 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted noise trials at Loch Goil. (38)

13 Aug 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted torpedo firing exercises in Loch Long. (38)

15 Aug 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted practice attacks in the Clyde area during which HMS Bridgewater (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN) served as target.

These exercises also included night attacks during the night of 15/16 August 1944. (38)

20 Aug 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) is docked at Holy Loch for a propeller change and for some minor repairs. She is undocked later the same day. (38)

21 Aug 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted full power trials. These were followed by attack exercises during with HMS Sardonyx (A/Lt.Cdr. T.A. Easton, RNVR) served as target. (38)

22 Aug 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) proceeded from Holy Loch to Larne. (38)

23 Aug 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with an Escort Group. These also included convoy attack exercises.

[This was most likely with ships from Escort Group C 2, which were at Larne at this time. The ships in question were the frigate HMCS St. Catharines (T/Lt.Cdr. A.F. Pickard, RCNR) and the corvettes HMCS Chilliwack (T/Lt. D.R. Watson, MBE, RCNR), HMCS Kamloops (T/A/Lt.Cdr. D.M. Stewart, RCNR), HMCS Morden (T/Lt. K.B. Culley, RCNVR) and HMCS Owen Sound (T/Skr.Lt. J.M. Watson, RCNR).] (39)

28 Aug 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with HMS Wild Goose (A/Cdr. D.E.G. Wemyss, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN). (38)

30 Aug 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted exercises off Larne with aircraft and HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. M.F.R. Ainslie, DSO, DSC, RN). (38)

2 Sep 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with an Escort Group which included HMS Aylmer (Lt. A.D.P. Campbell, RN). the other ships of this group (5th Escort Group) were most likely HMS Bligh (A/Lt.Cdr. J.W. Cooper, RNR), HMS Keats (T/A/Lt.Cdr. N.F. Israel, RNR) and HMS Kempthorne (Lt.Cdr. A. Brown, RD, RNR). (40)

3 Sep 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with an Escort Group. (40)

4 Sep 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with HMS Buttercup (T/Lt. W.A.M.J. Libert, RNR) and HNoMS Rose (Lt. P. Scott-Hansen, RNorN). (40)

5 Sep 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with an Escort Group. These also included night exercises. (40)

6 Sep 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) proceeded from Larne to Holy Loch. (40)

9 Sep 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted practice attacks in the Clyde area during which HMS Bridgewater (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN) and HMS Shikari (Lt. E.H.U. Cautley, RNVR) served as targets.

In the evening night exercises were carried out with HMS Bridgewater. (40)

18 Sep 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) is docked in AFD 7 at Holy Loch. (40)

21 Sep 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) is undocked. (40)

27 Sep 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted compass adjustment trials at Holy Loch. (40)

28 Sep 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted noise trials at Loch Goil. (40)

30 Sep 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (40)

1 Oct 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (41)

6 Oct 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted speed trials on the Arran measured mile. (41)

15 Oct 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN), HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. M.F.R. Ainslie, DSO, DSC, RN) and HMS Sea Scout (Lt. J.W. Kelly, RN) departed Rothesay for Gibraltar. They make the passage in convoy OS 92 / KMS 66. They were escorted to the rendezvous position with the convoy by HMS Bridgewater (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN).

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Combined convoy OS 92 / KMS 66 ' for 15 October 1944.] (41)

26 Oct 1944
Around 1420A/26, HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) arrived at Gibraltar. (41)

8 Nov 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Trident (A/Lt.Cdr. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) is docked in No.1 graving dock at the Malta Dockyard. (42)

14 Nov 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Trident (A/Lt.Cdr. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) is undocked. She then conducted engine trials off Malta. (42)

15 Nov 1944
Around 1800A/16, HMS Trident (A/Lt.Cdr. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) departed from Malta bound for Port Said. (42)

19 Nov 1944
Around 1300B/19, HMS Trident (A/Lt.Cdr. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) arrived at Port Said from Malta. (42)

21 Nov 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Trident (A/Lt.Cdr. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) transited the Suez Canal southbound and then set course for Aden. (42)

26 Nov 1944
Around 1430B/26, HMS Trident (A/Lt.Cdr. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) arrived at Aden. (42)

28 Nov 1944
Around 0800C/28, HMS Trident (A/Lt.Cdr. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) departed from Aden bound for Trincomalee. (42)

10 Dec 1944
Around 1830FG/10, HMS Trident (A/Lt.Cdr. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) arrived at Trincomalee.

Earlier that day, around 1000FG/10, she had made rendezvous with HMS Strongbow (Lt. J.A.R. Troup, DSC, RN) which was returning from patrol. They were joined by the destroyer HMS Roebuck (Cdr. J.T. Lean, DSO, RN) which then escorted them to Trincomalee. HMS Trident arrived at Trincomalee with serious engine defects that took five months to correct and drove the repair staff of the submarine flotilla crazy. (43)

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