Allied Warships

HMS Graph (P 715)

Submarine of the Type VIIC class

NavyThe Royal Navy
TypeSubmarine
ClassType VIIC 
PennantP 715 
Built byBlohm & Voss (Hamburg, Germany) 
Ordered 
Laid down21 May 1940 
Launched20 Mar 1941 
Commissioned5 Oct 1941 
End service21 Jun 1943 
History

Commissioned as German U-570 on 15 May 1941.

The German submarine U-570 was captured by Britain on 27 August 1941 in the North Atlantic south of Iceland, in position 62.15N, 18.35W, after being damaged by a British Hudson aircraft (269 Sqn RAF/S). She was towed to Thorlakshafn, Iceland and salvaged.

She was commissioned into the Royal Navy as HMS Graph on 5 October 1941. HMS Graph was decommissioned from active service on 21 June 1943 when she was paid off into dockyard control at the Chatham Dockyard. The submarine was lost on 20 March 1944 when she ran aground on the west coast of Islay, Scotland while en-route to be scrapped. Wreck broken up in 1961.

 
Former nameU-570

Commands listed for HMS Graph (P 715)

Please note that we're still working on this section
and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.

CommanderFromTo
1Lt. George Robson Colvin, RN31 Aug 194110 Oct 1941
2Lt. Edward Dudley Norman, DSO, DSC, RN10 Oct 19411 Jun 1942
3Lt. Peter Barnsley Marriott, RN1 Jun 19422 Apr 1943
4Lt. David Swanston, DSC, RN3 Apr 194321 Jun 1943

You can help improve our commands section
Click here to Submit events/comments/updates for this vessel.
Please use this if you spot mistakes or want to improve this ships page.

Notable events involving Graph include:


The history of HMS Graph as compiled on this page is extracted from the patrol reports and logbooks of this submarine. Unfortunately there are only logs available for the following months for which full details can be given;
1942;
March, August, October, November and December.
1943;
January to June.

This page was last updated in December 2019.

29 Sep 1941
U 570 (Lt. G.R. Colvin, RN) departed Hvalfjörður, Iceland for Barrow. She made the passage under her own power escorted by HMS Saladin (Lt.Cdr. L.J. Dover, RN). (1)

3 Oct 1941
U 570 (Lt. G.R. Colvin, RN) arrived at Barrow where she was to undergo repairs before a full series of trials could commence. (1)

18 Feb 1942
With her repairs completed HMS Graph (Lt.Cdr. E.D. Norman, DSC, RN) departed from Barrow for Holy Loch to begin a full series of trials on the Scottish west coast. She made the passage together with HMS P 43 (Lt. A.C. Halliday, RN). They were escorted by HMS Cutty Sark (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN). (2)

18 Feb 1942
HMS P 43 (Lt. A.C. Halliday, RN) departed Barrow for Holy Loch. She made the passage together with HMS Graph (Lt.Cdr. E.D. Norman, DSC, RN). They were escorted by HMS Cutty Sark (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN). (3)

24 Feb 1942
HrMs O 10 (Lt. Baron D.T. Mackay, RNN), HMS H 43 (Lt. R.B. Lakin, DSC, RN) and HMS Graph (Lt. E.D. Norman, DSO, DSC, RN) departed Rothesay / Holy Loch for Londonderry. They were escorted by HMS Northern Pride (T/Lt. A.R. Cornish, RNR). (4)

1 Mar 1942
HMS Graph (Lt.Cdr. E.D. Norman, DSC, RN) departed Londonderry for Holy Loch. She was escorted by HMS Hartland (Lt.Cdr. G.P. Billot, RNR). (5)

2 Mar 1942
HMS Graph (Lt.Cdr. E.D. Norman, DSC, RN) arrived at Holy Loch. (6)

3 Mar 1942
HMS Graph (Lt.Cdr. E.D. Norman, DSC, RN) conducted gunnery trials in the Clyde area. (6)

4 Mar 1942
HMS Graph (Lt.Cdr. E.D. Norman, DSC, RN) conducted special trials in the Clyde area with HMS Kingfisher (Cdr.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, RN). (6)

5 Mar 1942
HMS Graph (Lt.Cdr. E.D. Norman, DSC, RN) conducted special trials in the Clyde area with HMS Kingfisher (Cdr.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, RN) and HMS ML 199. (6)

7 Mar 1942
HMS Graph (Lt.Cdr. E.D. Norman, DSC, RN) conducted special trials and exercises in the Clyde area with HMS Kingfisher (Cdr.(Retd.) W.V.H. Harris, DSC, RN) and HMS St. Modwen (Lt.Cdr. F.J. Webster, RNR). (6)

8 Mar 1942
HMS Graph (Lt.Cdr. E.D. Norman, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (6)

9 Mar 1942
HMS Graph (Lt.Cdr. E.D. Norman, DSC, RN) conducted noise trials in Loch Goil. (6)

12 Mar 1942
HMS Graph (Lt.Cdr. E.D. Norman, DSC, RN) returned to Holy Loch from Loch Goil. (6)

13 Mar 1942
HMS Graph (Lt.Cdr. E.D. Norman, DSC, RN) conducted trials in the Clyde area. (6)

14 Mar 1942
HMS Graph (Lt.Cdr. E.D. Norman, DSC, RN) conducted trials in the Clyde area. (6)

22 Mar 1942
HMS Graph (Lt.Cdr. E.D. Norman, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (6)

23 Mar 1942
HMS Graph (Lt.Cdr. E.D. Norman, DSC, RN) conducted D/G trials off Helensburgh. (6)

24 Mar 1942
HMS Graph (Lt.Cdr. E.D. Norman, DSC, RN) conducted special trials in the Clyde area with HNoMS Draug. (6)

25 Mar 1942
HMS Graph (Lt.Cdr. E.D. Norman, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (6)

26 Mar 1942
HMS Graph (Lt.Cdr. E.D. Norman, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area followed by special trials with aircraft. (6)

29 Mar 1942
HMS Graph (Lt.Cdr. E.D. Norman, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises in the Clyde area with HMS Boarhound (Skr. S.G. Jinks, RNR). (6)

30 Mar 1942
HMS Graph (Lt.Cdr. E.D. Norman, DSC, RN) shifted from Holy Loch to Govan where she was immediately docked in No.3 graving dock. (6)

25 Apr 1942
After her fist series of trials HMS Graph (Lt.Cdr. E.D. Norman, DSC, RN) departed from Holy Loch for Portsmouth. She was escorted by HMS La Capricieuse (Lt.Cdr. G.W. Dobson, RNR). (7)

27 Apr 1942
HMS Graph (Lt.Cdr. E.D. Norman, DSC, RN) arrived at Portsmouth. (2)

29 Apr 1942
HMS Graph (Lt.Cdr. E.D. Norman, DSC, RN) departed from Portsmouth for Sheerness. She is to proceed to Chatham dockyard for refit and alterations. (2)

1 May 1942
HMS Graph (Lt.Cdr. E.D. Norman, DSC, RN) arrived at Sheerness. She later makes the short trip to Chatham Dockyard. (2)

14 Aug 1942
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) ended a refit at Chatham Dockyard. She proceeded to Sheerness. (8)

16 Aug 1942
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) departed from Sheerness for Portsmouth. She is escorted by HMS Vesper (Lt. D.H.R. Bromley, RN). (8)

17 Aug 1942
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) arrived at Portsmouth. (8)

18 Aug 1942
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) departed from Portsmouth for Holy Loch.

At 0955 hours/19 she made rendez-vous with the Free French submarine FFS Rubis and their escort through the Irish Sea, the torpedo boat Z 5 (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S.T. Wenlock, RNR). (8)

21 Aug 1942
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) arrived at Holy Loch for a period of training before she will be deployed on patrols. (8)

25 Aug 1942
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) conducted D/F and full power trials in the Clyde area. (8)

26 Aug 1942
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) conducted D/F trials in the Clyde area. (8)

27 Aug 1942
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) conducted D/F trials in the Clyde area. (8)

28 Aug 1942
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) shifted from Holy Loch to Campbeltown. (8)

29 Aug 1942
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) conducted D/F trials off Campbeltown. (8)

30 Aug 1942
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) conducted D/F trials off Campbeltown. (8)

31 Aug 1942
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) conducted D/F trials off Campbeltown. (8)

1 Oct 1942
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area. (9)

3 Oct 1942
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area. (9)

7 Oct 1942
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (9)

8 Oct 1942
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area with HMS Z 5 (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S.T. Wenlock, RNR) serving as the target.

Upon completion of these HMS Graph departed from Holy Loch for her 1st war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Bay of Biscay. Passage south through the Irish Sea was made together with HMS Ursula (Lt. R.B. Lakin, DSC, RN), HMS Unique (Lt. R.E. Boddington, RN) and HMS Sealion (Lt. D. Lambert, DSC, RN). Escort was provided by HMS La Capricieuse (Lt.Cdr. G.W. Dobson, RNR). (10)

8 Oct 1942

For the daily and attack positions of HMS Graph during her 1st wa patrol see the map below.

21 Oct 1942
While on patrol in the Bay of Biscay, HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) attacks but misses German U-boat U-333 with four torpedoes about 50 nautical miles north-north-east of Cape Ortegal, Spain in position 44°31'N, 07°25'W.

(All times are zone -1)
1540 hours - HE was reported bearing 290°.

1620 hours - Sighted a four-engined aircraft overhead. It was identified as being most likely a German Focke-Wulf aircraft. Meanwhile the HE had ceased. Up to this moment the HE had been thought to be that of a trawler but it was now considered that it could be a submarine that had dived upon the approach of the aircraft.

1645 hours - Strong HE was now picked up again bearing 300°. Graph was maneuvered onto a firing course.

1652 hours - The conning tower of the enemy was seen for the first time. Started attack.

1658 hours - Fired four torpedoes. Two explosions were heard after about five and a half minutes. These were followed by breaking up noises. (no explanation can be given for the 'breaking up noises' that were heard).

The KTB (Kriegs Tage Buch, logbook) of U-333 gives the following;
(All times are zone -2)
1654 hours - Sighted aircraft, could not be identified but it was quite big. Dived.

1737 hours - Surfaced.

1755 hours - Sighted torpedo tracks to Starboard. Looked like one torpedo ran on the surface. Turned hard to Port. Four tracks were seen, all missed astern. Four end of run detonations were heard. Sent report to B.d.U. and cleared the area zig-zagging. (10)

29 Oct 1942
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) ended her 1st war patrol at Holy Loch. Passage north through the Irish Sea had been made togerher with HMS Sealion (Lt. D. Lambert, DSC, RN). The submarines had been escorted by HMS Cutty Sark (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN). They had made rendez-vous on the 27th. (10)

14 Nov 1942
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) is docked in AFD 7 at Kames Bay, Cumbrae Island. (11)

15 Nov 1942
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) left dock and returns to Holy Loch. (11)

19 Nov 1942
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) departed from Holy Loch for her 2nd war patrol. She is to patrol in the Bay of Biscay. During the passage south through the Irish Sea she was escorted by HMS La Capricieuse (Lt.Cdr. G.W. Dobson, RNR). (10)

19 Nov 1942

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

(10)

29 Nov 1942
The Italian blockade breaker Cortellazzo had departed Bordeaux bound for Japan on 29 November 1942. The next day the ship was spotted by a Sunderland flying boat. The British submarines HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN), HMS Clyde (Lt. R.S. Brookes, DSC, RN), and HMS Sealion (Lt. D. Lambert, DSC, RN), were ordered to intercept but failed to do so. (12)

6 Dec 1942
HMS Sealion (Lt. D. Lambert, DSC, RN) and HrMs Dolfijn (Lt.Cdr. H.M.L.F.E. van Oostrom Soede, RNN) departed Falmouth for Holy Loch. At sea they made rendez-vous with HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN). They were escorted by HMS White Bear (Cdr.(Retd.) C.C. Flemming, RN). (13)

8 Dec 1942
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) ended her 2nd war patrol at Holy Loch. (10)

19 Dec 1942
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) conducted noise trials in Loch Goil. (14)

21 Dec 1942
The British submarines HMS Sealion (Lt. D. Lambert, DSC, RN), HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN), HMS P 216 (Lt. D.S.R. Martin, RN), HMS P 312 (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Favell, RN) and the Dutch submarine HrMs O 14 (Lt.Cdr. H.A.W. Goossens, RNN) departed Holy Loch for Lerwick. They were escorted by the British ASW trawler HMS Lord Austin (T/Lt. E.L. Wathen, RNR). (14)

23 Dec 1942
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) arrived at Lerwick. (14)

24 Dec 1942
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) departed from Lerwick for her 3rd war patrol. She is to patrol off Northern Norway to provide cover for convoy JW-51 to Northern Russia.

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

(10)

1 Jan 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) makes a torpedo attack on two 'destroyers' off the Altafjord. All torpedoes fired missed their intended targets.

(All times are zone -1)
0106 hours - In position 70°51'N, 21°56'E sighted a darkened vessel probably a cruiser. Distance was 12000 to 15000 yards. Altered course to attack. The ship was however lost after about 20 minutes.

------------------------------------------------

0431 hours - In position 70°48'N, 21°20'E sighted a destroyer bearing 240°. Range was about 7000 - 8000 yards. The enemy appeared to be steering from left to right. A second destroyer was sighted almost immediately behind the first. Their courses appeared to be very erratic and their speeds were very low. They were thought to be carrying out an A/S search. Turned towards to attack.

0440 hours - Fired four torpedoes at the destroyers. Two heavy explosions were heard 7 and 7 1/2 minutes after firing. Two more, much smaller, explosions were heard 9 minutes after firing. Graph retired on the surface after firing. The results were not observed.

The ships sighted by HMS Graph were the German auxiliary A/S trawlers UJ 1103 and UJ 1109 that were on an A/S patrol. The log of UJ 1103 / Gustav Körner reported one strong underwater explosion was heard and after minute one more. The ship was shaken, but not damaged. Time was 0450 hours. (10)

13 Jan 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) ended her 3rd war patrol at Lerwick. (10)

14 Jan 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) departed from Lerwick bound for Holy Loch. She was escorted by HMS Qualicum (T/Lt. F.S. Tolliday, RNR). (15)

16 Jan 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) arrived at Holy Loch. She is used for training duties from now on. (15)

7 Feb 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) conducted main motor trials in Loch Goil followed by D/G trials in Gare Loch. (16)

8 Feb 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) conducted noise trials in Loch Goil. (16)

9 Feb 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) conducted noise trials in Loch Goil. (16)

10 Feb 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) conducted noise trials in Loch Goil. Upon completion HMS Graph proceeded to Holy Loch. (16)

20 Feb 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (16)

25 Feb 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) conducted speed trials in the Clyde area. (16)

25 Feb 1943
HMS Usurper (Lt. D.R.O. Mott, DSC, RN) was conducting exercises on Inmarnock Water when she was ordered to search in the Clyde area for her missing sister ship HMS Vandal (Lt. J.S. Bridger, RN).

The following submarines / ships were also ordered to search for HMS Vandal (which was not found until 1994); HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, DSO, RN), HMS L 27 (Lt. W.N. Eade, RNR), HMS Severn (Lt.Cdr. A.N.G. Campbell, RN), HMS Stubborn (Lt. A.A. Duff, RN), HMS Whitehall (Cdr. C.L.de H. Bell, RD, RNR), HMS Breda (Capt.(Retd.) A.E. Johnston, RN), HMS Kingfisher (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) G.H. Gandy, RN), HMS La Capricieuse (Lt.Cdr. G.W. Dobson, RNR), HMS Cygnet (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) F.B. Proudfoot, RN), HMS Tedworth (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) G.H. Warren, RN) and HrMs Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.L.M. van Geen, RNN). (17)

2 Mar 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) conducted sound trials in Loch Long. (18)

6 Mar 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) departed Holy Loch for Londonderry. (18)

7 Mar 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) arrived at Londonderry. (18)

7 Mar 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) arrived at Londonderry. (18)

8 Mar 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (18)

9 Mar 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (18)

10 Mar 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (18)

11 Mar 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (18)

12 Mar 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (18)

20 Mar 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) departed Londonderry for Holy Loch. (18)

21 Mar 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN) arrived at Holy Loch. (18)

3 Apr 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. D. Swanston, DSC and Bar, RN) shifted from Holy Loch to Arrochar where se conducted torpedo firing trials at the torpedo range. (19)

4 Apr 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. D. Swanston, DSC and Bar, RN) conducted torpedo firing trials at the torpedo range off Arrochar. (19)

5 Apr 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. D. Swanston, DSC and Bar, RN) conducted torpedo firing trials at the torpedo range off Arrochar. Upon completion of these HMS Graph proceeded to Holy Loch. (19)

9 May 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. D. Swanston, DSC and Bar, RN) departed from Holy Loch for Barrow. (20)

10 May 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. D. Swanston, DSC and Bar, RN) arrived at Barrow. (20)

19 May 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. D. Swanston, DSC and Bar, RN) departed from Barrow for Holy Loch. (20)

20 May 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. D. Swanston, DSC and Bar, RN) arrived at Holy Loch. (20)

26 May 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. D. Swanston, DSC and Bar, RN) shifted from Holy Loch to Rothesay. (20)

27 May 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. D. Swanston, DSC and Bar, RN) conducted special trials in the Clyde area with HMS Saltburn (T/A/Lt.Cdr. F.D. Parker, RNR). (20)

28 May 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. D. Swanston, DSC and Bar, RN) conducted special trials in the Clyde area. (20)

29 May 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. D. Swanston, DSC and Bar, RN) conducted special trials in the Clyde area. (20)

30 May 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. D. Swanston, DSC and Bar, RN) conducted special trials in the Clyde area with HMS Saltburn (T/A/Lt.Cdr. F.D. Parker, RNR). (20)

31 May 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. D. Swanston, DSC and Bar, RN) conducted special trials in the Clyde area with HMS Saltburn (T/A/Lt.Cdr. F.D. Parker, RNR). (20)

1 Jun 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. D. Swanston, DSC and Bar, RN) conducted special trials in the Clyde area. Upon completion of these HMS Graph proceeded to Holy Loch. (21)

5 Jun 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. D. Swanston, DSC and Bar, RN) departed from Holy Loch for Dundee. She was escorted by HMS Loch Monteith (T/Lt. K.W. Richardson, RNR). (2)

8 Jun 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. D. Swanston, DSC and Bar, RN) arrived at Dundee. (2)

10 Jun 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. D. Swanston, DSC and Bar, RN) departed from Dundee bound for Chatham. She was escorted by HMS Castlenau (T/Skr. T. Baxter, RNR). (2)

12 Jun 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. D. Swanston, DSC and Bar, RN) arrived at Sheerness. (2)

13 Jun 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. D. Swanston, DSC and Bar, RN) departs Sheerness ad arrived at Chatham shortly afterwards. (2)

21 Jun 1943
HMS Graph (Lt. D. Swanston, DSC and Bar, RN) is put into dockyard control at the Chatham Dockyard. (2)

Media links


Fatal Decisions

Blandford, Edmund


The Führer Led But We Overtook Him

Durham, Phil


His Majesty's U-boat

Reeman, Douglas

Sources

  1. ADM 199/400
  2. ADM 199/2555
  3. ADM 173/17388
  4. File 2.12.03.6378 (Dutch Archives, The Hague, Netherlands)
  5. ADM 173/17191 + ADM 199/424
  6. ADM 173/17191
  7. ADM 199/424
  8. ADM 173/17193
  9. ADM 173/17194
  10. ADM 199/1827
  11. ADM 173/17195
  12. ADM 199/1835
  13. ADM 173/17560
  14. ADM 173/17196
  15. ADM 173/17748
  16. ADM 173/17749
  17. ADM 173/18388
  18. ADM 173/17750
  19. ADM 173/17751
  20. ADM 173/17752
  21. ADM 173/17753

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


Return to the Allied Warships section



As an Amazon Associate uboat.net earns a commission from qualifying purchases.