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Submarine HMS H 31 (N 31)

23 Sep 1939
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Kelly (Capt. L.F.A.V.N. Mountbatten, GCVO, RN) and HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN).

In the evening more night gunnery exercises were carried out. (1)

25 Sep 1939
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Kingston (Lt.Cdr. P. Somerville, RN) and HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN). (1)

27 Sep 1939
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Kingston (Lt.Cdr. P. Somerville, RN)

[The log of H 31 gives HMS Jaguar as the destroyer the exercises were carried out with but this can't be correct as she was no longer working up at Portland. The only destroyer there on that day was HMS Kingston.] (1)

28 Sep 1939
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Kingston (Lt.Cdr. P. Somerville, RN). (1)

3 Oct 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) departed Portland for the Devonport Dockyard at Plymouth. (2)

4 Oct 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) arrived at the Devonport Dockyard for a battery change. (2)

14 Oct 1939
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) shifted from Plymouth to Portland. She was escorted by HMS Maid Marion (Capt.(Retd.) D.I. McGillewie, RN). (2)

16 Oct 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted diving trials off Portsmouth as trim had to be adjusted for the heavier batteries installed. (2)

18 Oct 1939
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Kandahar (Cdr. W.G.A. Robson, RN) and MA/SB's. (2)

19 Oct 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with trawlers. (2)

21 Oct 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with trawlers. (2)

22 Oct 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with trawlers. (2)

28 Oct 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with trawlers. (2)

29 Oct 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with trawlers. (2)

4 Nov 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with trawlers. (3)

10 Nov 1939
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Guillemot (Lt.Cdr. H.M. Darell-Brown, RN) and MA/SB's. (3)

11 Nov 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with trawlers. (3)

13 Nov 1939
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Guillemot (Lt.Cdr. H.M. Darell-Brown, RN) and trawlers. (3)

14 Nov 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with trawlers. (3)

22 Nov 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with MA/SB's. (3)

28 Nov 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with trawlers. (3)

29 Nov 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with trawlers. (3)

5 Dec 1939
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Cutty Sark (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN) and HMS Scott (Cdr. E.H.B. Baker, RN). (4)

6 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with trawlers. (4)

7 Dec 1939
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Puffin (Lt.Cdr. Hon. J.M.G. Waldegrave, RN) and HMS Conqueror (Capt.(Retd.) E.T.R. Chambers, RN). (4)

9 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with trawlers. (4)

13 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with trawlers. (4)

14 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with trawlers. (4)

15 Dec 1939
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Vega (Cdr. C.I. Horton, RN) and HMS Whitshed (Cdr. E.R. Conder, RN). (4)

16 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with trawlers. (4)

17 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with trawlers. (4)

20 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with trawlers. (4)

21 Dec 1939
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS St. Modwen (Capt.(Retd.) E.A.B. Stanley, DSO, RN). (4)

22 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with trawlers. (4)

27 Dec 1939
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS St. Modwen (Capt.(Retd.) E.A.B. Stanley, DSO, RN). (4)

28 Dec 1939
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Kelvin (Lt.Cdr. J.L. Machin, RN). (4)

9 Jan 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with trawlers. (5)

13 Jan 1940
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Vanquisher (Lt.Cdr. C.B. Alers-Hankey, RN). (5)

15 Jan 1940
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Shemara (Capt.(Retd.) H.N.M. Hardy, DSO, RN). (5)

16 Jan 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with MA/SB's. (5)

17 Jan 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with trawlers. (5)

21 Jan 1940
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Westminster (Lt.Cdr. A.A.C. Ouvry, RN). (5)

22 Jan 1940
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Conqueror (Capt.(Retd.) E.T.R. Chambers, RN). (5)

23 Jan 1940
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Shemara (Capt.(Retd.) H.N.M. Hardy, DSO, RN). (5)

24 Jan 1940
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Shemara (Capt.(Retd.) H.N.M. Hardy, DSO, RN). (5)

25 Jan 1940
HMS H 31 (Lt. M.D. Wanklyn, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with trawlers. (5)

Submarine HMS H 49 (N 49)

30 Jan 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 49 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted post-refit trials off Sheerness. (6)

2 Feb 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 49 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) departed Sheerness for Portsmouth. She took passage in convoy OA 84. (7)

3 Feb 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 49 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) arrived at Portsmouth. (8)

7 Feb 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 49 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) shifted from Portsmouth to Portland where she was to participate in A/S exercises. [As there are no logs available of HMS H49 from Februaury to MAy 1940 no details regarding these A/S exercises can be given.] (8)

Submarine HMS Usk (i) (N 65)

10 Oct 1940
Usk (Lt.Cdr. P.R. Ward, RN) departed her builders yard at Barrow for the Clyde area. She was escorted by the Brisitsh ASW trawler HMS Lady Madeleine (T/Lt. P.H. Potter, RNR). (9)

11 Oct 1940
Usk (Lt.Cdr. P.R. Ward, RN) arrived in the Clyde area for a period of trials and training.

En-route from Barrow acceptance trials had been carried out and she was then placed in full commission at Holy Loch.

[As no logs are available for HMS Usk no details for the trial and work-up period can be given.] (10)

28 Oct 1940
HMS Usk (Lt.Cdr. P.R. Ward, RN) departed Holy Loch for Barrow. (10)

29 Oct 1940
HMS Usk (Lt.Cdr. P.R. Ward, RN) arrived at Barrow from Holy Loch. She was then taken in hand for some post work-up repairs by her builders yard. (10)

4 Nov 1940
HMS Usk (Lt.Cdr. P.R. Ward, RN) departed Barrow for Portsmouth. She was escorted by HMS Troubadour (Cdr.(ret) D.H. Milward, DSC, RNR). (10)

6 Nov 1940
While on passage from Barrow to Portsmouth HMS Usk (Lt.Cdr. P.R. Ward, RN) is ordered (Vice Admiral Submarines signal timed 1021A/6) to patrol 20 nautical miles west of Ushant, France making this her 1st war patrol. It was thought that the German pocket battleship Admiral Scheer might be making for a port in Western France. (11)

8 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At midnight during the night of 8/9 November 1940, HMS Usk (Lt.Cdr. P.R. Ward, RN) left patrol to proceed to Portsmouth as ordered in the Vice Admiral Submarines signal timed 1036A/7.

11 Nov 1940
HMS Usk (Lt.Cdr. P.R. Ward, RN) ended her 1st war patrol at Portsmouth. The patrol had been uneventful except for the bad weather encountered. (11)

21 Nov 1940
Around 1445A/21, HMS Usk (Lt.Cdr. P.R. Ward, RN) departed Portsmouth for her 2nd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the English Channel near Le Havre / Fecamp.

She was escorted out until 1715A/21, by the A/S trawler HMS Kingston Amber (Skr. J. Flett, RNR), (11)

25 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
While patrolling off Fecamp, at 1515A/25, HMS Usk (Lt.Cdr. P.R. Ward, RN) sighted what is thought to be an R-boat (motor minesweeper) patrolling. (12)

27 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 1600A/27, while patrolling off Cap d'Antifer, HMS Usk (Lt.Cdr. P.R. Ward, RN), sighted approximately 20 small craft, steam and sail, mostly fishing vessels. They were eastbound and rounding Cap d'Antifer. All were under 150 tons. They were escorted by three armed trawlers. No attack was made on these small targets. (12)

28 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 1430A/28, while patrolling off Le Havre, HMS Usk (Lt.Cdr. P.R. Ward, RN) sighted what is thought to be a former French 'old type' submarine chaser proceeding towards Le Havre from the direction of Barfleur. No attack was made.

At 1710A/28, what is thought to be an R-boat (motor minesweeper) patrolling in position 270° - Cap d'Antifer - 8 nautical miles. Again no attack was made. (12)

30 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 0100A/30, HMS Usk (Lt.Cdr. P.R. Ward, RN) left patrol to return to Portsmouth where she arrived later the same day. She was escorted in by HMS Cape Palliser (T/Lt. D.C. Hayes, RNVR). (13)

11 Dec 1940
Around 1445A/11, HMS Usk (Lt.Cdr. P.R. Ward, RN), together with HMS Unique (Lt. A.F. Collett, RN), departed Portsmouth for Gibraltar. Both were to join the Mediterranean Fleet.

They parted company from each other, and their trawler escort [so far unidentified], around 1745A/11 (10)

14 Dec 1940
HMS Usk (Lt.Cdr. P.R. Ward, RN) was ordered to patrol in the Bay of Biscay to intercept U-boats on their way to the Gironde making this her 3rd war patrol.

In a signal timed 0304A/14, the Vice Admiral Submarines ordered HMS Usk to proceed to position 45°21'N, 01°56'W. This was later amended to position 45°05'N, 02°32'W in the Vice Admiral Submarines signal timed 1047A/14.

The other two U-class submarines also on passage from the U.K. to Gibraltar, HMS Unique (Lt. A.F. Collett, RN) and HMS Upholder (Lt. M.D. Wanklyn, RN were also ordered to patrol in the Bay of Biscay. (14)

17 Dec 1940
HMS Usk (Lt.Cdr. P.R. Ward, RN) was ordered to leave patrol and continue her passage to Gibraltar. (15)

23 Dec 1940
Around 0900A/23, HMS Unique (Lt. A.F. Collett, RN), HMS Upholder (Lt. M.D. Wanklyn, RN) and HMS Usk (Lt.Cdr. P.R. Ward, RN) made rendezvous with HMS Haarlem (T/Lt. L.B. Merrick, RNR). They then set course for Gibraltar.

They all arrived at Gibraltar around 1530A/23. (16)

1 Jan 1941
HMS Usk (Lt.Cdr. P.R. Ward, RN) departed from Gibraltar for her 4th war patrol. She is to take up a patrol position with HMS Triumph (Lt.Cdr. W.J.W. Woods, RN) and HMS Upholder (Lt. M.D. Wanklyn, RN) to the west of Gibraltar off Cape Spartel.

This was most likely to intercept Vichy-French warships that might sortie from Casablanca to operate against Allied shipping as a reprisal for actions against Vichy-French convoys.

HMS Usk is to patrol in position 000° - Cape Spartel - 5 nautical miles. (17)

2 Jan 1941
HMS Usk (Lt.Cdr. P.R. Ward, RN) was recalled to Gibraltar where she arrived later the same day. (18)

7 Jan 1941
HMS Usk (Lt.Cdr. P.R. Ward, RN) departed Gibraltar for Malta. En-route she was to patrol between positions 38°12'N, 07°46'E and 38°20'N, 09°20'E to cover the passage of the EXCESS convoy. (10)

17 Jan 1941
HMS Usk (Lt.Cdr. P.R. Ward, RN) arrived at Malta. Usk had suffered engine damage (amongst other defects) during the passage from the U.K. to Malta. This was possibly due to sabotage at her builders yard at Barrow.

She was taken in hand for repairs before she could be deployed operationally. (10)

3 Feb 1941
Around 1830A/3, HMS Usk (Lt.Cdr. P.R. Ward, RN) departed Malta for her 5th war patrol (1st in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to patrol off Tripoli, Libya. (11)

9 Feb 1941
HMS Usk (Lt.Cdr. P.R. Ward, RN) attacked an enemy convoy with two torpedoes near Tripoli, Libya. The patrol report of Usk does not mention the attack position and there is no log available.

This appears to have been two of the liners of the Esperia convoy which had just sailed from Tripoli for Naples. This convoy consisted of the troop transports Esperia (Italian, 11398 GRT, built 1920), Marco Polo (Italian, 12567 GRT, built 1912), Conte Rosso (Italian, 12567 GRT, built 1912) and the transport Calitea (Italian, 4013 GRT, built 1933) escorted by the Italian destroyers Luca Tarigo, Lanzerotto Malocello, Freccia and Saetta.

1936 hours - Surfaced and saw two large merchant vessels to the south-west steering north. Range was 3500 to 4000 yards. Started attack.

1941 hours - Fired two torpedoes at the leading ship but they however did not run straight and missed. Usk then dived. No counter attack followed. (11)

12 Feb 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 1845A/12, HMS Usk (Lt.Cdr. P.R. Ward, RN) left patrol to return to Malta in accordance with instruction in Capt. S 1's signal timed 1903A/10. (11)

14 Feb 1941
Around 0700A/14, HMS Usk (Lt.Cdr. P.R. Ward, RN) ended her 5th war patrol (1st in the Mediterranean) at Malta.

During the patrol several defects came to light including problems with the battery. HMS Usk was then taken in hand for repairs at the Malta Dockyard. During these repairs she was near missed by a bomb during an air raid sustaining damage. [date not known to us.] (11)

Destroyer HMS Vanoc (H 33)

16 Mar 1944 (position 35.55, -5.41)
German U-boat U-392 was sunk in the Straits of Gibraltar, in position 35°55'N, 05°41'W, by depth charges from the British frigate HMS Affleck (A/Cdr. C. Gwinner, DSO, DSC, RN (retired)), the British destroyer HMS Vanoc (Lt.Cdr. P.R. Ward, RN) and depth charges from 3 US Catalina aircraft (VP 63).

21 Jan 1945
HMS Vanoc was heavily damaged when she rammed and sank the British minesweeping trawler HMS Computator off Normandy, France. (19)

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