Voltelin James Howard Van der Byl DSC, RN

Born  4 May 1907


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Ranks

1 Sep 1927 A/S.Lt.
1 Apr 1928 S.Lt.
1 Nov 1929 Lt.
1 Nov 1937 Lt.Cdr.
30 Jun 1942 Cdr.
31 Dec 1948 Capt.

Retired: 31 Jan 1958


Decorations

28 Jun 1940 DSC

Warship Commands listed for Voltelin James Howard Van der Byl, RN


ShipRankTypeFromTo
HMS Taku (N 38)Lt.Cdr.Submarine24 Feb 19408 Oct 1940

Career information

We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.

Events related to this officer

Submarine HMS Taku (N 38)


7 Mar 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, RN) conducted exercises off Portsmouth. (1)

9 Mar 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, RN) conducted exercises off Portsmouth. (1)

11 Mar 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, RN) conducted exercises off Portsmouth. (1)

12 Mar 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, RN) is docked at the Portsmouth Dockyard in No.9 Dry Dock. (1)

30 Mar 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, RN) is undocked from No.9 Dry Dock at the Portsmouth Dockyard. (1)

2 Apr 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, RN) departed Portsmouth for a trial period at Loch Long on the west coast of Scotland. She was escorted by HMS Malcolm (Capt. T.E. Halsey, RN) until 0730/3 when HMS Foxhound (Lt.Cdr. G.H. Peters, DSC, RN) took over the escort. (2)

5 Apr 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, RN) arrived at Loch Long. (2)

8 Apr 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, RN) conducted torpedo discharge trials at Loch Long. (2)

9 Apr 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, RN) conducted torpedo discharge trials at Loch Long. (2)

10 Apr 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, RN) conducted torpedo discharge trials at Loch Long. (2)

11 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
For the daily and attack positions of HMS Taku during her 1st war patrol see the map below.

(2)

11 Apr 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, RN) departed from the Clyde area for her 1st war patrol. She is to patrol off Central Norway. She was escorted until 2145/12 by HMS Notts County (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.K. Pollock, RN). (3)

17 Apr 1940
While searching for 5 German destroyers reported to be in her area HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, RN) fires 4 torpedoes against the British destroyer HMS Ashanti (Cdr. W.G. Davis, RN). Luckily all torpedoes fired missed their target.

(All times are zone 0) Taku had received information that 5 German destroyers had been sighted off Stavanger at 1900 hours the previous day. They were steering Northwards at 25 knots. It was estimated that these would pass close to Taku's position between 0330 - 0400 hours this day.

0335 hours - Sighted a ship bearing 240° steering 060° at high speed, distance was about 4 miles. Turned towards and commenced a surface attack. The ships silhouette was very similar to that of a German destroyer. In view of the previous report there was no doubt that this was an enemy destroyer.

0342 hours - Fired 4 torpedoes from 3000 yards. One torpedo was seen to break surface. Taku dived immediately after firing. It was now rapidly getting lighter and immediately after firing the first salvo the destroyer changed course. Taku manoeuvred into position to fire a second salvo. The destroyer now turned directly towards and while doing so it was observed to have a tripod mast and twin gun mountings and it was identified as friendly. Taku went deep and the order was given to fire a yellow smoke candle and to transmit identity letter on S.S/T. When at 60 feet a pattern of depth charges exploded about 100 yards on the starboard bow. Taku now surfaced and established her identity by lamp. The destroyer was HMS Ashanti. Only minor damage was caused by the depth charges. (3)

20 Apr 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, RN) ended her 1st war patrol at Rosyth. (3)

1 May 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, RN) conducted exercises off Rosyth. (4)

2 May 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, RN) departed from Rosyth for her 2nd war patrol. She is to patrol of Southern Norway.

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

(3)

8 May 1940 (position 56.45, 6.12)
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, RN) attacked a German convoy with ten torpedoes and torpedoed and damaged the German torpedo boat Mowe (900 tons) east of Denmark in position 56°45'N, 06°12'E. After the attack Taku was depth charged and hunted for over 6 hours.

The convoy attacked was made up of the German transports Palime (2863 GRT, built 1937) and Pelikan (3264 GRT, built 1935) escorted by torpedo boats Mowe and Kondor.

Mowe was damaged in the stern and towed to Wilhelmshaven by Kondor. Mowe was under repair for almost three years until April 1943.

(All times are zone 0)
1715 hours - Sighted two camouflaged merchant ships about 8000 tons each escorted by two torpedo boats and two aircraft. Bearing 175°, range 8000 yards. All ships were zig-zagging independently. Commenced attack. It was intended to fire five torpedoes at each of the merchant ships from outside the screen.

1736 hours - Fired at the leading transport from 2000 yards. After the last torpedo was fired Taku went to 100 feet. One minute after firing three distinct explosions were heard. These were followed by an avalanche of depth charges. Taku meanwhile lost trim and bottomed at 150 feet. All motors were stopped. Taku was now hunted and depth charged until late in the evening.

2350 hours - Left bottom after the hunters HE had ceased.

0150 hours (9th) - Surfaced. Nothing in sight except some fishing vessels to the South and East. Proceeded to the North-West while charging. (3)

15 May 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, RN) ended her 2nd war patrol at Rosyth. (3)

16 May 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, RN) is docked in a floating dock at Rosyth. (4)

18 May 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, RN) is undocked. (4)

23 May 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, RN) conducted exercises off Rosyth. (4)

27 May 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, RN) departed from Rosyth for her 3rd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the North Sea.

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

(3)

12 Jun 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, RN) ended her 3rd war patrol at Rosyth. (3)

20 Jun 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, RN) is docked in a floating dock at Rosyth. (5)

21 Jun 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, RN) is undocked. (5)

28 Jun 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, DSC, RN) departed from Rosyth for her 4th war patrol. She is to patrol of central Norway.

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

(3)

12 Jul 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, DSC, RN) ended her 4th war patrol at Rosyth. (3)

25 Jul 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, RN) conducted exercises off Rosyth. (6)

27 Jul 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, DSC, RN) departed from Rosyth for her 5th war patrol. She is to patrol off Norway.

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

(3)

10 Aug 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, DSC, RN) ended her 5th war patrol at Rosyth. (3)

22 Aug 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, RN) conducted exercises off Rosyth. (7)

28 Aug 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, DSC, RN) departed Rosyth for Rothesay. She made the passage together with HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. J.G. Hopkins, RN). (7)

31 Aug 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, DSC, RN) arrived at Rothesay. (7)

2 Sep 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, DSC, RN) departed from Rothesay for her 6th war patrol. She is to patrol in the Bay of Biscay off the Gironde estuary.

Passage south through the Irish Sea was made together with HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. J.G. Hopkins, RN). They were escorted by HMS Rosemary (Lt.(Retd.) H.V. Wheeler, RN).

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

(3)

20 Sep 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, DSC, RN) ended her 6th war patrol at Falmouth. She departed later the same day for Holy Loch. Passage north through the Irish Sea was made together with HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. J.G. Hopkins, RN). They were escorted by HMS Rosemary (Lt.(Retd.) H.V. Wheeler, RN). (8)

22 Sep 1940
HMS Taku (Lt.Cdr. V.J.H. Van der Byl, DSC, RN) arrived at Holy Loch. (8)

Sources

  1. ADM 173/16571
  2. ADM 173/16572
  3. ADM 199/1846
  4. ADM 173/16573
  5. ADM 173/16574
  6. ADM 173/16575
  7. ADM 173/16576
  8. ADM 173/16577

ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.


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