John David Luce DSO, OBE, RN
| Born | 23 Jan 1906 |
| Ranks
Retired: 15 Mar 1966 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for John David Luce, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Rainbow (N 16) | Lt.Cdr. | Submarine | 22 Mar 1939 | 22 Apr 1940 |
| HMS Cachalot (N 83) | Lt.Cdr. | Submarine | 15 Jun 1940 | 21 Feb 1941 |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Submarine HMS Rainbow (N 16)
3 Sep 1939
When war broke out with Germany HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) was based at Hong Kong. (1)
4 Sep 1939
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) departed Hong Kong for her 1st war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Pacific to the East of Luzon Strait.
For the daily positions of HMS Rainbow during this patrol see the map below.
(1)
15 Sep 1939
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) ended her 1st war patrol at Hong Kong. (1)
19 Sep 1939
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Hong Kong with HMS Bideford (Cdr. R.F. Elkins, RN). (1)
28 Sep 1939
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) carried out practice attacks off Hongkong on HMS Thanet (Lt.Cdr. J. Mowlam, RN). (1)
4 Oct 1939
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) conducted exercises off Hong Kong. (2)
11 Oct 1939
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) departed Hong Kong for her 2nd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol to the south of Honshu, Japan.
For the daily positions of HMS Rainbow during this patrol see the map below.
(2)
31 Oct 1939
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) ended her 2nd war patrol at Hong Kong. (2)
6 Nov 1939
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) was docked at Hong Kong. (3)
7 Nov 1939
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) was undocked. (3)
9 Nov 1939
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) carried out practice attacks off Hongkong on HMS Thanet (Lt.Cdr. J. Mowlam, RN). (3)
10 Nov 1939
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) carried out practice attacks off Hongkong on HMS Thracian (Lt.Cdr. H.G.D. de Chair, RN). (3)
15 Nov 1939
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) departed Hong Kong for her 3rd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol to the south of Honshu, Japan.
For the daily positions of HMS Rainbow during this patrol see the map below.
(3)
9 Dec 1939
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) ended her 3rd war patrol at Hong Kong. (4)
23 Dec 1939
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) conducted engine trials and exercises off Hong Kong. (4)
27 Dec 1939
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) carried out practice attacks off Hongkong on HMS Thracian (Lt.Cdr. H.G.D. de Chair, RN). (4)
29 Dec 1939
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) conducted exercises off Hong Kong. (4)
2 Jan 1940
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) carried out practice attacks off Hongkong on HMS Scout (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Holmes, RN). (5)
3 Jan 1940
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) carried out practice attacks off Hongkong on HMS Scout (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Holmes, RN). (5)
4 Jan 1940
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) carried A/S exercises off Hongkong with HMS Scout (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Holmes, RN). (5)
5 Jan 1940
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) carried out practice attacks off Hongkong on HMS Pandora (Lt.Cdr. J.W. Linton, RN) and HMS Thracian (Lt.Cdr. H.G.D. de Chair, RN). (5)
7 Jan 1940
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) departed Hong Kong for her 4th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off Vladivostock, Russia.
For the daily positions of HMS Rainbow during this patrol see the map below.
(5)
25 Jan 1940
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) ended her 4th war patrol at Hong Kong. (5)
7 Feb 1940
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) carried out exercises off Hongkong. (6)
8 Feb 1940
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) carried out exercises off Hongkong with HMS Thanet (Lt.Cdr. J. Mowlam, RN). (6)
13 Feb 1940
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) carried out exercises off Hongkong. (6)
15 Feb 1940
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) carried out exercises off Hongkong with HMS Pandora (Lt.Cdr. J.W. Linton, RN) and HMS Regulus (Cdr. J.M. Money, RN). (6)
21 Feb 1940
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) carried out exercises off Hongkong with HMS Thanet (Lt.Cdr. J. Mowlam, RN). (6)
23 Feb 1940
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) was docked at Hong Kong. (6)
8 Mar 1940
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) was undocked. (7)
13 Mar 1940
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) departed Hong Kong for Singapore.
For the daily positions of HMS Rainbow during this passage see the map below.
(7)
18 Mar 1940
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) arrived at Singapore. (7)
25 Mar 1940
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) departed Singapore for her 5th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Sunda Stait.
For the daily positions of HMS Rainbow during this patrol see the map below.
(7)
31 Mar 1940
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) proceeded to a new patrol area off Cilacap, Java, Netherlands East Indies. (7)
20 Apr 1940
HMS Rainbow (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) ended her 5th war patrol at Singapore. (8)
Submarine HMS Cachalot (N 83)
24 Jul 1940
HMS Cachalot (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) departed Plymouth for Rothesay. (9)
26 Jul 1940
HMS Cachalot (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) arrived at Rothesay for a period of training. (9)
15 Aug 1940
HMS Cachalot (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) departed Rothesay for her 4th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Bay of Biscay and to lay a minefield off the Gironde.
During her passage south through the Irish Sea Cachalot was escorted by HMS Manor (T/Lt. Alfred Rosling, RNVR) until 2200/17.
As no log for this period is available no map can be displayed. (10)
19 Aug 1940
HMS Cachalot (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) laid minefield FD 24 (50 mines) south of Penmarch, France.
(All times are zone -1) 1111 hours - Laid the first mine.
1228 hours - Laid the last mine. The mines were laid in 5 groups of 10 mines within an area of 1.5 miles radius from position 47°40'3"N, 04°23'W. (10)
20 Aug 1940 (position 47.06, -4.51)
The German U-boat U-51 was torpedoed and sunk in the Bay of Biscay in position 47°06'N, 04°51'W, by a torpedo from the British submarine HMS Cachalot (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN).
(All times are zone -1) 0111 hours - Sighted a small object about 25° on the starboard bow about 4 nautical miles away. Brought all tubes to the ready. The object was soon identified as a submarine.
1117 hours - Fired 6 torpedoes from 1500 yards and dived. One hit was obtained.
1218 hours - Surfaced and proceeded to the place where the submarine had been attacked. A large patch of diesel fuel was seen and smelled in the area. It is thought the submarine had been sunk. (10)
2 Sep 1940
HMS Cachalot (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) ended her 4th war patrol at Falmouth. After a few hours she departed for Rothesay escorted by HMS Notts County (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.K. Pollock, RN). (10)
4 Sep 1940
HMS Cachalot (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) arrived at Rothesay. (9)
16 Sep 1940
HMS Cachalot (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) departed Rothesay for her 5th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Bay of Biscay and to lay a minefield of 50 mines there.
Passage south through the Irish Sea was made together with HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, RN) and HMS Utmost (Lt. J.H. Eaden, DSC, RN). They were escorted by HMS Cutty Sark (Cdr.(retired) R.H. Mack, RN).
As no log for this period is available no map can be displayed. (10)
23 Sep 1940 (position 47.52, -4.19)
The German auxiliary minesweeper M 1604 / Österreich (494 GRT) sank after hitting a mine probably laid by HMS Cachalot (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) off Penmarch, France in position 47°52'N, 04°19'W [this position is inland and obviously incorrect]. The mine was one of field FD 27 (50 mines) laid shortly before by HMS Cachalot.
(All times are zone -1) 1412 hours - Laid the first mine.
1526 hours - Laid the last mine. The mines were scattered in a circle of a radius of 1.5 nautical miles centered from position 47°48'N, 04°33'W.
1537 hours - Heard three fairly loud explosions.
1553 hours - Came to periscope depth. Sighted four A/S trawlers apparently hunting. Kept on retiring to the West. (10)
24 Sep 1940 (position 46.58, -5.56)
HMS Cachalot (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) attacks a submarine with torpedoes in the Bay of Biscay in position 46°58'N, 05°56'W. The target is not hit. The target was almost certainly U-48 (KL Heinrich Bleichrodt) which arrived at Lorient the following day [the U-boat was reported on course 090 degrees]. She was a few miles from Cachalot but did not observe the attack.
(All times are zone -1) 1930 hours - Sighted the conning tower of a submarine bearing 170°. Altered course to close.
1943 hours - In position 46°58'N, 05°56'W fired 6 torpedoes from long range, 7500 yards. Five minutes after firing two explosions were heard.
1945 hours - Two torpedoes were heard to pass very close. One to each side. It was thought that the U-boat had fired on Cachalot but later it was thought that two torpedoes had malfunctioned and turned back towards Cachalot.
2110 hours - Surfaced and proceeded to the area of the attack. There was a distinct smell of diesel fuel over a wide area. It was thought the target had been sunk but this was not the case. (10)
25 Sep 1940
HMS Cachalot (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) arrived at Falmouth. She departed later the same day for Holy Loch escorted by HMS Cutty Sark (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN). (10)
27 Sep 1940
HMS Cachalot (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) ended her 5th war patrol at Holy Loch. (10)
18 Oct 1940
HMS Cachalot (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) departed Holy Loch for her 6th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Bay of Biscay.
Passage south through the Irish Sea was made together with HMS Taku (Lt. J.F.B. Brown, RN). They were escorted by the armed yacht HMS La Surprise (Capt.(ret) E.Stubbs, RN).
For the daily positions of HMS Cachalot during this patrol see the map below. As no log is available for November 1940 the positions at the end of this patrol can’t be shown on the map
(10)
6 Nov 1940
HMS Cachalot (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, RN) ended her 6th war patrol at Holy Loch. (10)
1 Dec 1940
HMS Cachalot (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, DSO, RN) was docked at Holy Loch. (11)
2 Dec 1940
HMS Cachalot (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, DSO, RN) was undocked. (11)
3 Dec 1940
HMS Cachalot (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, DSO, RN) departed Holy Loch for her 7th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off Punta Delgada in the Azores as a German invasion of the Azores is feared.
Passage south through the Irish Sea was made together with HMS Thunderbolt (Lt. C.B. Crouch, RN) and HMS Tribune (Lt. E.F. Balston, DSO, RN). They were escorted by HMS Cutty Sark (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN) until 0630/6.
For the daily positions of HMS Cachalot during this patrol see the map below.
? (10)
30 Dec 1940
Around 0900 hours HMS Cachalot (Lt.Cdr. J.D. Luce, DSO, RN) made rendez-vous near Round Island with HMS La Surprise (Capt.(ret) E.Stubbs, RN) which was to escort her north through the Irish Sea towards Holy Loch. (10)
31 Dec 1940
HMS Cachalot (Cdr. J.D. Luce, DSO, RN) ended her 7th war patrol at Holy Loch. Nothing of interest had been sighted. (10)
22 Jan 1941
HMS Cachalot (Cdr. J.D. Luce, DSO, RN) departed Holy Loch for her 8th war patrol. She was ordered to lay a minefield off Bud, Norway.
She was escorted north by HMS La Capricieuse (Lt.Cdr. S.A. Jones, RNR) until 1400/23 when HMS Wastwater (T/Lt. A.C. Munro, RNVR) took over the escort until 0900/24.
As no log for this period is available no map can be displayed. (10)
26 Jan 1941
HMS Cachalot (Cdr. J.D. Luce, DSO, RN) laid minefield FD 28 (50 mines) off Bud, Norway.
(All times are zone -1) 1557 hours - Laid the first mine.
1630 hours - Laid the last mine. The mines had been laid in a group of 30 and one of 20 mines. They were laid within 2.5 nautical miles from position 32°57'30"N, 06°52'40"E.
Flooders were set for 1 March. The Norwegian Huldra (2112 GRT, built 1928) is believed to have sunk after detonating one of its mines (see 1 March 1941 entry). (10)
28 Jan 1941
At 1300 hours HMS Cachalot (Cdr. J.D. Luce, DSO, RN) made rendez-vous off Yell Sound, Shetland Islands with her escort HMS Wastwater (T/Lt. A.C. Munro, RNVR). They then proceeded towards Holy Loch. At 0900/29 HMS Cutty Sark (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN) took over the escort. (10)
30 Jan 1941
HMS Cachalot (Cdr. J.D. Luce, DSO, RN) ended her 8th war patrol at Holy Loch. (10)
5 Feb 1941
HMS Cachalot (Cdr. J.D. Luce, DSO, RN) departed Holy Loch for her 9th war patrol. She was ordered to lay a minefield off Norway. The position was to be signalled later.
She was escorted north by HMS Cutty Sark (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN) until 1200/7 when HMS Stella Pegasi (T/Lt. E. Steedman, RNR) took over the escort until 0200/8.
As no log for this period is available no map can be displayed. (10)
8 Feb 1941
Late in the evening HMS Cachalot (Cdr. J.D. Luce, DSO, RN) received a signal ordering her to patrol off Fro Havet. (10)
13 Feb 1941
HMS Cachalot (Cdr. J.D. Luce, DSO, RN) received a signal ordering her to lay a minefield in the Vest Fjord. (10)
15 Feb 1941
HMS Cachalot (Cdr. J.D. Luce, DSO, RN) laid minefield FD 30 (50 mines) in the Vest Fjord, Norway.
(All times are zone -1) 0908 hours - Laid the first of 20 mines in position 67°55'15"N, 14°42'50"E. A line was laid in direction 092°. The mines were spaced 100 feet apart.
0915 hours - Completed laying the first field.
0936 hours - Laid the first of 30 mines in position 67°54'42"N, 14°43'15"E. A line was laid in direction 225°. The mines were spaced 100 feet apart.
0947 hours - Completed laying the second field.
The minefield was located on 4 March 1941 and does not appear to have yielded any result. (10)
19 Feb 1941
HMS Cachalot (Cdr. J.D. Luce, DSO, RN) made rendez-vous with HMS Thirlmere (T/S.Lt. R.C.R. Mortimore, RNVR) off the Shetland Islands. They then proceeded towards Holy Loch. (10)
20 Feb 1941
Off Cape Wrath HMS Cutty Sark (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN) took over the escort of HMS Cachalot (Cdr. J.D. Luce, DSO, RN) from HMS Thirlmere (T/S.Lt. R.C.R. Mortimore, RNVR). (10)
21 Feb 1941
HMS Cachalot (Cdr. J.D. Luce, DSO, RN) ended her 9th war patrol at Holy Loch. (10)
Sources
- ADM 173/15961
- ADM 173/15962
- ADM 173/15963
- ADM 173/15964
- ADM 173/16453
- ADM 173/16454
- ADM 173/16455
- ADM 173/16456
- ADM 199/2549
- ADM 199/1827
- ADM 173/16264
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
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