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Submarine HMS Rover (N 62)

31 Aug 1939
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) departed Singapore for a patrol in the Sunda Strait. When the war with Germany started this became her 1st war patrol.

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

(1)

19 Sep 1939
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) ended her 1st war patrol at Singapore. (2)

26 Sep 1939
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore together with HMS Westcott (Lt.Cdr. W.F.R. Segrave, RN). (2)

3 Oct 1939
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore together with HMS Tenedos (Lt.Cdr. J.O'B. Milner-Barry, RN). (3)

10 Oct 1939
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) departed Singapore for her 2nd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Lombok Strait.

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

(3)

24 Oct 1939
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) ended her 2nd war patrol at Singapore. (3)

27 Oct 1939
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) was docked at Singapore. (3)

2 Nov 1939
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) was undocked. (4)

14 Nov 1939
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore together with HMS Tenedos (Lt.Cdr. J.O'B. Milner-Barry, RN). (4)

22 Nov 1939
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore. (4)

23 Nov 1939
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) departed Singapore for her 3rd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off Sabang, Netherlands East Indies.

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

(4)

4 Dec 1939
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) ended her 3rd war patrol at Singapore. (5)

12 Dec 1939
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore together with HMS Tenedos (Lt.Cdr. J.O'B. Milner-Barry, RN). (5)

13 Dec 1939
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore together with HMS Tenedos (Lt.Cdr. J.O'B. Milner-Barry, RN). (5)

14 Dec 1939
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore together with HMS Tenedos (Lt.Cdr. J.O'B. Milner-Barry, RN) and HMS Stronghold (Lt.Cdr. R. Alexander, RN). (5)

20 Dec 1939
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore together with HMS Tenedos (Lt.Cdr. J.O'B. Milner-Barry, RN) and HMS Stronghold (Lt.Cdr. R. Alexander, RN). (5)

21 Dec 1939
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore together with HMS Stronghold (Lt.Cdr. R. Alexander, RN). (5)

22 Dec 1939
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore together with HMS Tenedos (Lt.Cdr. J.O'B. Milner-Barry, RN). (5)

30 Dec 1939
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) was docked at Singapore. (5)

20 Jan 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) was undocked. (6)

24 Jan 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) conducted exercises in the Malacca Strait together with HMS Tenedos (Lt.Cdr. J.O'B. Milner-Barry, RN). (6)

25 Jan 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) conducted exercises in the Malacca Strait together with HMS Tenedos (Lt.Cdr. J.O'B. Milner-Barry, RN). (6)

26 Jan 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) conducted exercises in the Malacca Strait together with HMS Tenedos (Lt.Cdr. J.O'B. Milner-Barry, RN). (6)

29 Jan 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) conducted exercises in the Malacca Strait together with HMS Tenedos (Lt.Cdr. J.O'B. Milner-Barry, RN). (6)

1 Feb 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore together with HMS Stronghold (Lt.Cdr. R. Alexander, RN). (7)

7 Feb 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) departed Singapore for her 4th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off Batavia, Java, Netherlands East Indies.

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

(7)

27 Feb 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) ended her 4th war patrol at Singapore. (7)

2 Mar 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) departed Singapore for Hong Kong.

For the daily positions of HMS Rover during the passage from Singapore to Hong Kong see the map below.

(8)

7 Mar 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) arrived at Hong Kong. (8)

26 Mar 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) conducted exercises off Hong Kong together with HMS Thracian (Lt.Cdr. H.G.D. de Chair, RN) and HMS Thanet (Lt.Cdr. J. Mowlam, RN). (8)

27 Mar 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) and HMS Phoenix (Lt.Cdr. C.A. Rowe, RN) conducted exercises off Hong Kong together with HMS Thracian (Lt.Cdr. H.G.D. de Chair, RN). (8)

2 Apr 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) departed Hong Kong for Singapore.

For the daily positions of HMS Rover during the passage from Hong Kong to Singapore see the map below.

(9)

6 Apr 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) arrived at Singapore. (9)

15 Apr 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) commenced refit at Singapore. (9)

23 Apr 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) was docked at Singapore. (9)

6 Jul 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) was undocked. (10)

22 Jul 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) completed her refit at Singapore. (10)

1 Aug 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) conducted trials of Singapore. (11)

20 Aug 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) conducted trials of Singapore. (11)

21 Aug 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore together with HMS Tenedos (Lt.Cdr. J.O'B. Milner-Barry, RN). (11)

22 Aug 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) conducted exercises off Singapore together with HMS Tenedos (Lt.Cdr. J.O'B. Milner-Barry, RN).

Upon completion of these exercises Rover set course for Aden. Rover was to proceed to Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Fleet based there.

For the daily positions of HMS Rover during the passage from Singapore to Alexandria see the map below.

(11)

7 Sep 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) arrived at Aden. (12)

9 Sep 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) departed Aden for Port Said.

Before proceeding a dummy attack was carried out on HMS Kimberley (Lt.Cdr. J.S.M. Richardson, RN) and an A/S exercise was carried out with HMAS Parramatta (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Walker, MVO, RAN). (12)

13 Sep 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Port Sudan with HMIS Indus (Cdr. E.G.G. Hunt, RIN). (12)

16 Sep 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) passed the Suez Canal northbound and arrived at Port Said. (12)

17 Sep 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) departed Port Said for Alexandria. (12)

19 Sep 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) arrived at Alexandria. (12)

30 Sep 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) departed Alexandria for her 5th war patrol (1st in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to patrol south of the Strait of Messina.

Before proceeding on patrol exercises were carried out with HMAS Vampire (Capt. H.M.L. Waller, DSO, RAN) and HMS Decoy (Cdr. E.G. McGregor, DSO, RN).

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

(13)

10 Oct 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) was ordered to patrol off the Gulf of Taranto. (13)

16 Oct 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) was ordered to return to Alexandria. (13)

17 Oct 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 1830 hours, about 20 miles west of Argostoli, HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) stopped the Vichy French merchant Cap Falcon (1727 GRT, built 1924) towing the pontoon Caxine. She had sailed from Piraeus for Marseille via Bizerta and was released upon examination.

22 Oct 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) ended her 5th war patrol (1st in the Mediterranean) at Alexandria. (13)

4 Nov 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) departed Alexandria for her 6th war patrol (2nd in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to patrol off Benghazi, Libya.

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

(13)

12 Nov 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) developed an oil leak. Course was set towards Malta to effect repairs there. (13)

13 Nov 1940
On board HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) the crew was able to repair and stop the oil leak. Course was set to return to Benghazi. (13)

15 Nov 1940
Early in the morning HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) arrived back in her patrol area. (13)

17 Nov 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) departed her patrol area to return to Alexandria. (13)

22 Nov 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) ended her 6th war patrol (2nd in the Mediterranean) at Alexandria. (13)

27 Nov 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) was docked at Alexandria. (14)

2 Dec 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) was undocked. (15)

5 Dec 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)

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

(15)

5 Dec 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) departed Alexandria for her 7th war patrol (3rd in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to patrol off Benghazi, Libya.

Before proceeding on patrol attack and A/S exercises were carried out with HMS Hyperion (Cdr. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO, RN) and HMS Ilex (Lt.Cdr. P.L. Saumarez, DSC and Bar, RN). (13)

18 Dec 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) departed her patrol area to return to Alexandria. (13)

22 Dec 1940
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) ended her 7th war patrol (3rd in the Mediterranean) at Alexandria. (13)

5 Jan 1941
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) departed Alexandria for her 8th war patrol (4th in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to patrol between Tobruk and Benghazi.

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

(16)

7 Jan 1941 (position 32.13, 23.40)
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) attacks the Italian merchant Edda (6107 GRT, built 1924) with four torpedoes about 15 nautical miles west-north-west of Tobruk, Libya in position 32°13'N, 23°40'E. All torpedoes missed their target and Rover was depth charged by the escort of the convoy, the Italian torpedo boats Clio and Castore. The other ship in the convoy was Assiria (2705 GRT, built 1928). Shortly after firing the torpedoes a heavy explosion shook Rover and caused some damage to her. It looks like that one of the torpedoes prematured or hit the bottom. It was first thought that one of the enemy destroyers had fired a torpedo / torpedoes at Rover.

Following the depth charge attack on Rover, Supermarina attributed Clio the loss of the Free French submarine Narval. In fact, Narval was no where near Tobruk and had been mined off Tunisia.

(All times are zone -2)
2208 hours - Sighted two large ships on the port bow steering to the westward. Started a surface attack. Shortly afterwards two destroyers were seen to be escorting these ships.

2222 hours - Fired 4 torpedoes at the leading merchant vessel (of about 7000 tons), a full salvo of 6 was intended but shortly before firing the 5th torpedo Rover was heavily shaken by a torpedo explosion, see below.

Shortly before firing Rover was detected by the destroyers which both turned towards. 40 seconds after firing the first torpedo a heavy explosion was felt which shook Rover considerably causing damage to her battery. It was thought the closest enemy destroyer had fired torpedoes at Rover when she detected the submarine. Three smaller explosions were heard while Rover was diving, these are thought to be torpedo hits but as Rover was diving the result could not be observed. The destroyers then dropped 10 depth charges in the next half hour but these caused no further damage to Rover. The Asdic dome was however damaged when Rover hit the bottom at 2229 hours. (16)

9 Jan 1941 (position 32.19, 23.31)
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) attacked the Italian schooner Celestina (379 GRT, built 1922) with gunfire to the east-north-east of Tobruk, Libya. Three rounds were fired before another schooner followed by an E-boat was seen approaching. Lt.Cdr. Marsham suspected a trap and broke off the action.

Celestina had sailed at 1830/9 from Tobruk for Derna and then onwards to Benghazi. The E-boat sighted by Rover was most likely either MAS 544 or MAS 549 which sailed at about the same time from Tobruk and were also proceeding to Derna. Celestina resumed her passage and eventually reached Benghazi without further incident.

(All times are zone -2)
2215 hours - In position 32°19'N, 23°31'E sighted two ships to the eastward. Closed the second one and identified it as a large schooner of about 400 tons. She had three masts. Decided to attack it as it was almost certain that Rover would be ordered to Malta to effect repairs to her damaged battery.

Opened fire with the deck gun. Three rounds were fired. The first two passed through the rigging. The third round hit forward. Fire was then checked to give the schooners crew a chance to escape. A boat was indeed lowered with three Italians in it. It was now that HE was picked up to the north-east and a schooner was seen that was followed by an E-boat. Rover now dived and the attack was broken off. Looked like Rover had been lured into a trap. No depth charges were dropped however. (16)

10 Jan 1941
More cracked battery cells were discovered on board HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN). It was decided to proceed to Malta for repairs. (16)

14 Jan 1941
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) ended her 8th war patrol (4th in the Mediterranean) at Malta. (16)

19 Jan 1941
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) sustained slight damage to her bridge during an air attack on Malta. (17)

31 Jan 1941
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) was docked at Malta. (17)

2 Feb 1941
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) was undocked. (18)

4 Feb 1941
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) departed Malta for her 9th war patrol (5th in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to patrol off the Calabrian coast.

Shortly after departure engine trouble was experienced. Rover returned to harbour for repairs. After a few hours of repairs she departed again early the next moring to resume her patrol.

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

(16)

8 Feb 1941 (position 37.47, 15.56)
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) attacked the Italian merchant vessel Marigola (5996 GRT, built 1906) with three torpedoes to the south-west of Cape Spartivento, Calabria, Italy. No hits were obtained. Marigola was en-route from Naples to Bari and then on to Trieste. The Italians reported having sighted four (!) torpedo tracks.

(All times are zone -2)
1120 hours - Sighted an eastbound merchant ship. Started attack. The target was later identified as of about 5000 tons.

1204 hours - In position 37°47'N, 15°56'E fired three torpedoes from 5000 yards. No hits were obtained, the torpedoes most likely passed ahead of the target. The target was seen to turn towards the land and to increase to full speed. (16)

10 Feb 1941 (position 38.27, 16.42)
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) attacked the Italian submarine Salpa to the east of Punta Stilo, Calabria, Italy with five torpedoes. No hits were obtained. Salpa was en-route from Messina to Taranto. Two torpedo tracks were observed by the Italians and Salpa took evasive action.

(All times are zone -2)
1752 hours - Sighted a surfaced submarine eastbound. Range was 8000 yards. Started attack.

1817 hours - In position 38°27'N, 16°42'E fired five torpedoes from 1500 yards. It was intended to fire a full salvo of six torpedoes but no.3 tube misfired both electrically and by hand. No hits were obtained. If no.3 tube had not misfired this torpedo most likely would have hit the target. (16)

11 Feb 1941
Just before 0730 hours, HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) heard a very sharp explosion and then observed a destroyer at 8,000 yards moving slowly. In fact, the explosion was most probably a 160-kg bomb dropped by a CANT seaplane of 142^Squadriglia (Sottotenente di Vascello Tenti). In fact, closing on the submarine was a German convoy: Arta, (2452 GRT, built 1922), Maritza (2910 GRT, built 1936) and Heraklea (1927 GRT, built 1922) escorted by the destroyer Baleno which had sailed from Taranto for Naples. Following the attack on the submarine Salpa, Supermarina had ordered the destroyers Alfredo Oriani and Giosuè Carducci to reinforce the escort and they had joined up after midnight. Oriani had taken over as escort leader and ordered Baleno to zigzag ahead and the latter was probably the destroyer observed by Rover. The submarine dived to 90 feet and heard two destroyers passing over her but was not molested. The convoy continued undisturbed and the destroyers observed nothing. The submarine chaser Albatros coming from Messina was guided to the scene by the seaplane but without success.

14 Feb 1941 (position 38.50, 17.09)
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) torpedoed and damaged the Italian tanker Cesco (6161 GRT, built 1917) south-east of Capo Rizzuto in position 38°50'N, 17°09'E.

The tanker ran ashore, of her crew of twenty-five, one was missing and two were wounded. The tug Salvatore Primo (763 GRT, built 1903) was sent to her assistance and was later joined by the tug Titano (788 GRT, built 1913) and she was finally towed to Taranto on 17 February. In the meantime, the torpedo boat Pleiadi sailed to hunt the submarine but made no contact.

(All times are zone -2)
1252 hours - Sighted an eastbound tanker. Started attack.

1323 hours - in position 38°50'N, 17°09'E fired three torpedoes from 1500 yards. One hit was obtained just before the funnel. When last seen the tanker was in a sinking condition with a heavy list and her stern awash. Rover then retired to seaward to evade the search of the area that would most likely now follow. (16)

19 Feb 1941
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) ended her 9th war patrol (5th in the Mediterranean) at Alexandria. (16)

8 Mar 1941
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) departed Alexandria for Port Said. (19)

9 Mar 1941
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) arrived at Port Said. (19)

10 Mar 1941
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) was docked at Port Said. (19)

14 Mar 1941
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) was undocked. (19)

15 Mar 1941
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) shifted from Port Said to Ismalia. (19)

18 Mar 1941
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) departed Ismalia for Alexandria. (19)

19 Mar 1941
HMS Rover (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, RN) arrived at Alexandria where Lt.Cdr. Greenway took over command from Lt.Cdr. Marsham. (19)

Submarine HMS Porpoise (N 14)

12 Jan 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted exercises off Portsmouth. (20)

13 Jan 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted exercises off Portsmouth. (20)

14 Jan 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted exercises off Portsmouth. (20)

27 Jan 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted exercises off Portsmouth. (20)

28 Jan 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted exercises off Portsmouth. (20)

30 Jan 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) shifted from Portsmouth to Yarmouth. (20)

31 Jan 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted exercises off Yarmouth and then proceeded to Plymouth. (20)

3 Feb 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) departed Plymouth for Holy Loch. She was escorted by HMS La Capricieuse (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) C.M. Norman, RN).

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

(21)

5 Feb 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) arrived at Holy Loch to begin a period of trials and training. (21)

8 Feb 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (21)

9 Feb 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (21)

10 Feb 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (21)

12 Feb 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted S.T.U. (mine detection) trials off Fairlie. (21)

15 Feb 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) proceeded to Holy Loch on completion of last night's exercises. (21)

17 Feb 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted radar exercises off Campbeltown with HMS La Capricieuse (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) C.M. Norman, RN). (21)

18 Feb 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area with HMS Cutty Sark (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN). (21)

19 Feb 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area with HMS Cutty Sark (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN) and HMS La Capricieuse (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) C.M. Norman, RN). (21)

23 Feb 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area including a practice attack on HMS Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.D. O'Driscoll, RNR). (21)

24 Feb 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (21)

25 Feb 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area during which HMS Bridgewater (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN) and HMS Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.D. O'Driscoll, RNR) served as the targets. (21)

27 Feb 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) proceeded to Holy Loch on completion of last night's exercises. (21)

28 Feb 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (21)

1 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area during which HMS Bridgewater (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN) served as the target. (22)

3 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted noise trials in Loch Goil. (22)

4 Mar 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. Upon completion of these exercises HMS Porpoise proceeded to Campbeltown. (22)

5 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Spaniel and HMS Boarhound (A/Ch.Skr. A. Keable, RNR). (22)

6 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS La Cordeliere (Lt.Cdr. A.J.G. Barff, RNR) and HMS Borage (Lt. W.S. MacDonald, DSC, RNVR). (22)

7 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Radiant (T/Lt. C.S.R. Shapland, RNVR) and HMS Bedlington (Skr. A.W. Peak, RNR). (22)

8 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Radiant (T/Lt. C.S.R. Shapland, RNVR) and HMS L' Atlantique (Skr. H. Crighton, RNR). (22)

9 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Shemara (Cdr.(Retd.) H. Buckle, RN) and HMS Bedlington (Skr. A.W. Peak, RNR). (22)

10 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Spaniel, HMS Borage (Lt. W.S. MacDonald, DSC, RNVR) and HMS Shemara (Cdr.(Retd.) H. Buckle, RN). (22)

12 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Spaniel and HMS Boarhound (A/Ch.Skr. A. Keable, RNR). (22)

13 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Spaniel and HMS Borage (Lt. W.S. MacDonald, DSC, RNVR). (22)

14 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Boarhound (A/Ch.Skr. A. Keable, RNR) and HMS Bedlington (Skr. A.W. Peak, RNR). (22)

15 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Spaniel and HMS Shemara (Cdr.(Retd.) H. Buckle, RN).

These were followed by night attack exercises in the Clyde area during which HMS Cutty Sark (A/Cdr. E.A. Stocker, DSC, RN) served as the target. (22)

16 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) proceeded to Larne on completion of last night's exercises. (22)

17 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with aircraft. (22)

22 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with Escort Group B 6. (22)

23 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with an Escort Group. (22)

24 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with HMS Keppel (Cdr. I.J. Tyson, DSC, RD, RNR), HMS Boadicea (Lt.Cdr. F.W. Hawkins, RN), HMS Whitehall (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Cowell, DSC, RN) and Escort Groups 6 and 23. (22)

25 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with Escort Group's 6 and 23. (22)

27 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with HMS Icarus (Lt.Cdr. R. Dyer, RN), HMCS Gatineau (Lt.Cdr. H.V.W. Groos, RCN) and Escort Group C 2. (22)

28 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with Escort Group C 2. (22)

29 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) shifted from Larne to Holy Loch. (22)

30 Mar 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) was docked in AFD 20 at Kames Bay. (22)

9 Apr 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) was undocked at Kames Bay and returned to Holy Loch. She was fitted to carry out ‘Sleeping beauties’ the one-man submersible canoes for a projected raid on Singapore. (23)

14 Apr 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted noise trials at Loch Goil. (23)

17 Apr 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) departed Holy Loch for Gibraltar. She was to proceed to the Far East to join the 4th Submarine Flotilla based at Trincomalee. Passage south through the Irish Sea was made together with HMS Telemachus (Cdr. W.D.A. King, DSO, DSC, RN). They were escorted by HMS Flint Castle (T/Lt. N. Harrison, RNVR).

For the daily positions of HMS Porpoise during the passage to the Far East see the map below.

(24)

29 Apr 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) arrived at Gibraltar. (24)

5 May 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted exercises off Gibraltar. (25)

6 May 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN), HMS Telemachus (Cdr. W.D.A. King, DSO, DSC, RN) and HMS Clyde (Lt. R.S. Brookes, DSO, DSC, RN) departed Gibraltar for Malta. They made the passage in convoy KMS 49.

11 May 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) arrived at Malta. (25)

16 May 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) departed Malta for Suez. (25)

21 May 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) passed the Suez Canal southbound and arrived at Suez. (25)

22 May 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) departed Suez for Aden. (25)

28 May 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) arrived at Aden. (25)

29 May 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) departed Aden for Colombo. This was later changed to Trincomalee. (25)

12 Jun 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) arrived at Trincomalee where she joined the 4th Submarine Flotilla. (26)

15 Jun 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) was docked in AFD 26 at Trincomalee. (26)

18 Jun 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) was undocked. (26)

22 Jun 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) laid a dummy minefield off Trincomalee. (26)

1 Jul 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) departed Trincomalee for her 20th war patrol (1st in the Far East). She was ordered to lay mines in the Malacca Strait.

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

(27)

6 Jul 1944 (position 5.06, 98.46)
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) sank a Japanese sailing vessel with gunfire in the Strait of Malacca. Also on this day she lays 30 mines (minefield ML 014) near position 03°55’N, 98°42’E off the mouth of the Deli River, Sumatra, Netherlands East Indies.

(All times are zone -6.5)
0535 hours - Sighted something ahead so Porpoise dived.

0700 hours - The object was identified as a small junk.

0742 hours - Surfaced and fired three rounds of 4" to stop the junk. Porpoise closed the junk, took the crew of four off and then sank the junk with gunfire in position 05°06'N, 98°46'E. The junk had no cargo on board when it was sunk.

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

Between 1816 - 1836 hours Porpoise laid 30 mines off the mouth of the Deli river. (27)

8 Jul 1944
Between 0040 hours and 0206 hours (time zone -6.5), HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN), laid 26 more mines of the mouth of the Deli River seven were laid in a line 170° from 03°54.7'N, 98°42.9'E and nineteen in a line 120° from 03°54.7'N, 98°43.2'E. This minefield sank the Japanese auxiliary submarine chaser Cha-8 (100 tons) [and Cha-9 ?] on 9 September, the freighter Bukun Maru aka Takekun Maru (ex Dutch Anastasia, 3029 GRT, built 1930) on 10 September and the Special Minelayer No.1 or Ma 1 (500 or 215 tons ?) on 27 March 1945. (27)

13 Jul 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) ended her 20th war patrol (1st in the Far East) at Trincomalee. (27)

24 Jul 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) was docked in AFD 26 at Trincomalee. (28)

25 Jul 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) was undocked. (28)

26 Jul 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted exercises off Trincomalee. (28)

27 Jul 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) departed Trincomalee for Fremantle, Australia where she was to join the 8th Submarine Flotilla.

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

(28)

10 Aug 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) arrived at Fremantle. (29)

4 Sep 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted exercises off Fremantle. (30)

9 Sep 1944 (position 3.54, 98.42)
The Japanese auxiliary submarine chasers Cha 8 and Cha 9 both sank about 7 nautical miles north of Belawan, Sumatra, Netherlands East Indies in position 03°54'N, 98°42'E after hitting mines laid by the British submarine HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) on 6 - 8 July 1944.

10 Sep 1944 (position 3.54, 98.42)
The Japanese army tanker Bukun Maru aka Takekun Maru (3029 GRT, built 1930) sank about seven nautical miles north of Belawan, Sumatra, Netherlands East Indies in position 03°54'N, 98°42'E after hitting three mines laid by the British submarine HMS Porpoise (HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) on 8 July 1944. Her cargo of aviation spirit caught fire and there were no survivors from a crew of 44 and 29 passengers.

11 Sep 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) departed Fremantle for her 21th war patrol (2nd in the Far East and 1st in the south-west Pacific area). She was to conduct Special Operation Rimau (ex Hornbill) which consisted of launching fifteen one-man submersible canoes known as ‘Sleeping Beauties’ against the naval base of Singapore. The submarine carried a total of ninety-six passengers and crew members.

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

(27)

17 Sep 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During the night of 17/18 September 1944, HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN), passed Lombok Strait northbound.

23 Sep 1944
At 2305 hours HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) launched a folbot manned by Lt.Cdr. Donald Davidson, RNVR, and Corporal Clair Stewart to reconnoitre the island of Merapas which was to be used as an advance base.

24 Sep 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 2000 hours HMS Porpoise (Lt. Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) was back off the island of Merapas and made contact with Davidson who confirmed the island would be suitable for their enterprise and at 2105 hours two assault boats loaded with stores left the submarine to land them on the island and were recovered at 0030 hours. Lt. Walter Carey was left behind to hide and guard the stores.

28 Sep 1944
At 1359 hours HMS Porpoise (Lt. Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) captured the Malay junk Mustika of about 40 tons which was to be used for the operation. A boarding party of seven took her on a westerly course and at 1920 hours the submarine surfaced alongside in position 00°09’S, 108°37’E. The nine members of the Malay crew and the boarding party were taken on board the submarine which now took the junk in tow. Only a rating remained on board to cut the towing cable if the submarine had to dive in a hurry.

During 29-30 September 1944, HMS Porpoise transferred the Sleeping Beauties to the Mustika and sailed away. Of the twenty-three men ear-marked for Operation Rimau, none survived the war. All were either killed or executed by the Japanese. The results of the operation are unknown, there are unconfirmed rumours that three ships were sunk.

4 Oct 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During 4 October September 1944, HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN), passed Lombok Strait southbound. She made the passage during daylight hours, submerged.

11 Oct 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) ended her 21th war patrol (2nd in the Far East and 1st in the south-west Pacific area) at Fremantle. (27)

19 Oct 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) was docked in USS ARD 10 at Fremantle. (31)

22 Oct 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) was undocked. (31)

28 Oct 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted post repair trials off Fremantle. (31)

30 Oct 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) departed Fremantle for Colombo, this was later changed to Trincomalee.

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

(31)

12 Nov 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) arrived at Trincomalee where she rejoined the 4th Submarine Flotilla. (32)

20 Nov 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted exercises off Trincomalee together with HMS Stygian (Lt. G.S.C. Clarabut, DSO, RN) and HMS Pathfinder (Lt.Cdr. T.F. Hallifax, RN). (32)

21 Nov 1944
HMS Porpoise (Lt.Cdr. H.A.L. Marsham, OBE, RN) conducted exercises off Trincomalee. Upon completion of the exercises A/Lt.Cdr. Turner took over command. (32)

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