uboat.net

  Front page - Fighting the U-boats - Allied Warships

Follow us on Twitter
@uboatnet

Notable events involving Osiris include:

The history of HMS Osiris as compiled on this page is extracted from the patrol reports and logbooks of this submarine.

We also thank Mr. Platon Alexiades, a naval researcher from Canada for his contribution for details from the 'Italian side' and Mr. Marco Ghiglino and Mr. Francesco de Domenico, both from Italy.

This page was last updated in June 2020.

27 Aug 1939
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. R. Sheridan-Patterson, RN) departed Portsmouth for Malta where she was to join the Mediterranean Fleet.

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

(1)

31 Aug 1939
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. R. Sheridan-Patterson, RN) arrived at Gibraltar from Portsmouth. She departed for Malta later the same day. (1)

4 Sep 1939
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. R. Sheridan-Patterson, RN) arrived at Malta. (2)

13 Sep 1939
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. R. Sheridan-Patterson, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. (2)

14 Sep 1939
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. R. Sheridan-Patterson, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. (2)

19 Sep 1939
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. R. Sheridan-Patterson, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. (2)

21 Sep 1939
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. R. Sheridan-Patterson, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. (2)

26 Sep 1939
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. R. Sheridan-Patterson, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. (2)

27 Sep 1939
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. R. Sheridan-Patterson, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. (2)

28 Sep 1939
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. R. Sheridan-Patterson, RN) departed Malta for Alexandria.

For the daily positions of HMS Osiris during this passage see the map below. No position van be displayed for 1 October 1939 as there is no log available for this month.

(2)

30 Sep 1939
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. R. Sheridan-Patterson, RN) arrived at Alexandria. As there is no log available for October 1939 the exact movements of HMS Osiris are unknown to us. She was stationed at Alexandria for the whole of October. (2)

1 Nov 1939
HMS Otway (Cdr. H.R. Conway, RN) conducted exercises off Alexandria together with HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. R. Sheridan-Patterson, RN). (3)

2 Nov 1939
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. R. Sheridan-Patterson, RN) conducted exercises off Alexandria. (4)

8 Nov 1939
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. R. Sheridan-Patterson, RN) departed Alexandria for Malta.

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

(4)

13 Nov 1939
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. R. Sheridan-Patterson, RN) arrived at Malta. (4)

14 Nov 1939
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. R. Sheridan-Patterson, RN) is docked at Malta for a refit. (4)

12 Dec 1939
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. R. Sheridan-Patterson, RN) was undocked. (5)

1 Feb 1940
HMAS Waterhen (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Swain, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Malta. This must have been with either HMS Oswald (?) or HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. R. Sheridan-Patterson, RN) as these were the only two submarines at Malta. (6)

5 Feb 1940
HMAS Stuart (Cdr. H.M.L. Waller, RAN) and HMAS Waterhen (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Swain, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Malta. This must have been with either HMS Oswald (?) or HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. R. Sheridan-Patterson, RN) as these were the only two submarines at Malta.

On completion of the A/S exercises, HMAS Stuart conducted gunnery exercises while HMAS Waterhen set course to proceed to Marseilles. (7)

8 Mar 1940
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. R. Sheridan-Patterson, RN) departed Malta for Alexandria. (8)

13 Mar 1940
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. R. Sheridan-Patterson, RN) arrived at Alexandria. Her exact movements while based at Alexandria during March / April 1940 are for the moment unknown to us. (8)

14 Apr 1940
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. R. Sheridan-Patterson, RN) departed Alexandria for Malta.

No log is available for this period so no map can be displayed. (8)

17 Apr 1940
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. R. Sheridan-Patterson, RN) arrived at Malta. (8)

3 May 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN) and HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. (9)

9 May 1940
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) departed Malta for Alexandria.

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

(10)

13 May 1940
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) arrived at Alexandria. (10)

15 May 1940
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) conducted exercises off Alexandria. (10)

16 May 1940
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) conducted exercises off Alexandria. (10)

22 May 1940
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) conducted exercises off Alexandria. (10)

24 May 1940
HMS Oswald (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Fraser, RN) and HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) conducted exercises off Alexandria. (9)

27 May 1940
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) conducted exercises off Alexandria. (10)

29 May 1940
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) conducted exercises off Alexandria. (10)

31 May 1940
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) departed Alexandria for her 1st war patrol. Her exact movements are currently unknown to us but she most likely patrolled in the Aegean.

No log is available for this period so no map can be displayed. (10)

21 Jun 1940
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) ended her 1st war patrol at Alexandria. (8)

29 Jun 1940
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) departed Alexandria for her 2nd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Aegean.

No log is available for this period so no map can be displayed. (8)

23 Jul 1940
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) ended her 2nd war patrol at Alexandria. (8)

2 Aug 1940
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) departed Alexandria for her 3rd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the southern Adriatic.

No log is available for this period so no map can be displayed. (8)

15 Aug 1940
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) sank the Italian merchant Morea (1968 GRT, built 1918) about 50 nautical miles west of Durazzo, Albania. The Morea twice evaded torpedoes fired so she was sunk with gunfire. No further details regarding this attack are currently known to us as there is neither log nor patrol report available for this patrol.

According to Italian sources the auxiliary motor sailing vessel Caron and the sailing vessels Pagano and Azio were sailed from Durazzo to pick up the survivors. The Italian destroyer Carlo Mirabello was sailed from Brindisi to her assistance and picked up the 24 survivors, there were no casualties. Italian traffic to Albania was temporarily suspended. The torpedo boats Pallade, Polluce, Francesco Stocco and Cassiopea carried out an A/S sweep without result.

24 Aug 1940
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) ended her 3rd war patrol at Malta. At Malta she was docked for repairs but the exact dates are for the moment not known to us. (8)

9 Sep 1940
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) departed Malta for her 4th war patrol. Again she was ordered to patrol in the southern Adriatic.

No log, nor full patrol report is available for this period so no map can be displayed. (8)

13 Sep 1940
At 0905 hours, having arrived in her patrol area only shortly before that time, HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN), fired four torpedoes at an Italian convoy of three ships escorted by a destroyer. No hits were obtained.

According to Italian data this was most likely the convoy made up of the merchant vessels Calitea (4013 GRT, built 1933) and Quirinale (3891 GRT, built 1907) escorted by the naval auxiliary Capitano A. Cecchi (2321 GRT, built 1934) and the torpedo boat Pallade. They had sailed from Bari at 0100/13 for Durazzo where they arrived at 1150/13. (11)

14 Sep 1940
At 0334 hours, HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN), fired one torpedo at an Italian convoy of four ships. The torpedo missed.

According to Italian data this convoy was most likely the convoy made up of the merchant vessels Calitea (4013 GRT, built 1933), Maria (6338 GRT, built 1926) and Leonardo Palomba (1110 GRT, 1899) escorted by the destroyer Carlo Mirabello. They had all sailed from Durazzo for Bari at 0030/14 except the slower Palomba which sailed at 2100/13 and was then overtaken.

Later the same day one transport and a destroyer were sighted but these passed well out of range.

According to the same Italian date these were probably the merchant vessel Quirinale and the torpedo boat Pallade (3891 GRT, built 1907) which were now on their way back to Italy. They had sailed from Durazzo at 0930/14 for Bari. Pallade reported sighting a submarine but only after she reached port. (11)

18 Sep 1940
At 0530 hours, HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN), sighted a large transport and an escorting destroyer. Due to the darkness no attack could be made.

According to Italian data these ships were possibly the merchant Alga (1851 GRT, built 1917) escorted by the torpedo-boat Monzambano. They had sailed from Valona at 2100/17 and arrived at Bari at 1730/18.

Later the same day, at 0930 hours, a convoy of four ships escorted by a destroyer was seen but they passed out of torpedo range.

These were probably the merchant vessels Catalani (2429 GRT, built 1928), Viminale (8657 GRT, built 1925) and Assiria (2705 GRT, built 1928) escorted by the auxiliary Capitano A. Cecchi (2321 GRT, built 1934) and the torpedo-boat Pallade which had sailed at 0530/18 from Bari for Durazzo.

The Italians reported two submarine sightings, on 18 September 1940, because of the time factor one of them was certainly bogus. The other may have been HMS Osiris:

Sighting no.1 - 1130 hours/18: a CANT Z.501 of 141^ Squadriglia (Flying Captain Germano Miani) sighted bubbles of air which could have been a submerging submarine and attacked it with two 160-kg A/S bombs from a height of 500 metres and reported an oil patch 15-metre wide. Position was approximately 260° - Durazzo - 18 miles. The torpedo boat Pallade sailed from Durazzo at 0140/19 to locate the submarine but returned at 0608/19 without sighting anything. Another CANT Z.501 (T.V. Silvestri) of the same squadron took off at 0845/19 to search the area and reported a large oil patch but carried no attack.

Sighting no.2 – 1138 hours/18: the destroyer Antonio Pigafetta on A/S sweep with her sister ships Giovanni da Verrazzano, Alvise da Mosto and Nicolò Zeno sighted a submarine in position 40°50'N, 18°25'E. There is no information if the submarine was attacked. They had sailed from Brindisi at 0950/18 and returned at 1830-1905/18. (11)

19 Sep 1940
At 1050 hours, HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN), sighted a transport and an escorting destroyer. They were however not within torpedo range.

These were possibly the despatch vessel Piero Foscari (3423 GRT, built 1928) escorted by the torpedo boat Angelo Bassini which sailed at 0215/19 from Brindisi for Durazzo.

Then at 1132 hours, two transports and an escorting destroyer were sighted. An attack was commenced but had to be broken off when the destroyer was seen to alter course and close Osiris at high speed. Osiris went deep but no depth charges were dropped.

These were most probably the transports Viminale (8657 GRT, built 1925) and Catalani (2429 GRT, built 1928) escorted by the torpedo boat Pallade on passage from Durazzo to Bari. Pallade reported sighting a submarine at 1115-1145 hours in position 41°15'N, 18°38'E and there is little doubt this was HMS Osiris. The destroyers Carlo Mirabello and Augusto Riboty, the torpedo boats Castelfidardo and Polluce were sent to hunt the submarine but sighted nothing. (11)

20 Sep 1940
At 0530 hours, HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN), sighted what was thought to be a cruiser at high speed. No attack was possible.

Possibly this was the auxiliary Barletta (1975 GRT, built 1931) escorting a convoy made up of the transports Calitea (4013 GRT, built 1933) and Quirinale (3891 GRT, built 1907) together with the torpedo-boats Partenope and Monzambano which sailed from Bari at 0050/20 for Durazzo where they arrived at 1900/20. An Italian fishing vessel also reported sighting a submarine at 0820 hours between Mola Di Bari and S. Spirito.

Then at 1105 hours a transport vessel was sighted but again no attack was possible.

Possibly this was the transport Delfino (???? GRT, built ????) escorted by the auxiliary Brindisi (1977 GRT, built 1931), they arrived at Bari at 1230/20.

At 1430 hours a dispatch vessel was sighted. No attack was started.

This was possibly Filippo Grimani (3431 GRT, built 1928) returning from Durazzo to Brindisi escorted by the torpedo-boat Angelo Bassini. Ten minutes before (at 1420 hours) the San Gerolamo battery (Bari) reported sighting a submarine.

Then at 1745 hours a ship was sighted that was thought to be the aircraft tender Giuseppe Miraglia. Again no attack was possible.

This vessel is so far unidentified, the ship it was thought to be was docked at Taranto at that time accoring to Italian data.

Also on this day, at 0820 hours a CANT Z.501 of 141 ^Squadriglia (observer T.V. Roberto Consiglio) attacked a submarine with a single 160-kg bomb in position 41°08'N, 19°00'E (near Durazzo). The bomb exploded about 50 metres ahead of the submarine. The aircraft circled the area until 1325 hours without further observation. The torpedo boat Partenope which was escorting the transport Casaregis (6485 GRT, built 1924) observed the aircraft and closed to investigate the oil patch near position 41°18'N, 18°18'E but estimated it was not from a submarine. Seems likely this attack was bogus (?).

(11)

22 Sep 1940
At 1830 hours, HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN), torpedoed and sank the Italian torpedo boat Palestro (889 tons, built 1921) about 40 nautical miles west of Durazzo, Albania in position 41°19'N, 18°34'E.

Palestro was escorting three empty freighters; Oreste (2679 GRT, built 1896), Premuda (4427 GRT, built 1907) and Carlotta (750 GRT, built 1914) on passage from Durazzo to Bari. One torpedo hit the torpedo-boat, breaking her in two, she sank in four minutes. Three officers, including her Commanding Officer, and 69 ratings were lost, 43 survivors were picked up by the freighter Carlotta. The torpedo-boat Giacomo Medici was sent to escort the convoy while the torpedo-boats Solferino and Angelo Bassini and the MAS-boats MAS 535 and MAS 539 sailed from Brindisi to hunt the submarine as well as four CANT Z.501 of 141^ Squadriglia. Premuda and Oreste reported an underwater shock and their hulls were later examined by divers but nothing unusual was found.

[No further details regarding this attack are currently known to us as there is neither log nor full patrol report of HMS Orisis available for this patrol.]

23 Sep 1940
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) passed through the Staits of Otranto and then patrolled in the entrance of the Straits during 23 and 24 September 1940.

During 23/24 September 1940 one attack on a submarine was recorded by the Italians;
At 1800/23: the 13^ Squadriglia MAS boats [MAS 534, MAS 535 and MAS 539] attacked a submarine with nine depth charges 19 miles from Pedagne (Brindisi).

This attacks / contact appears to be non-sub. (11)

25 Sep 1940
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) departed her patrol area for Alexandria.

Italian records give one A/S attack on this day;
At 1745 hours: a CANT Z.501 of 141^ Squadriglia (observer T.V. Toller) dropped a single 160-kg A/S bomb on a submarine. It missed by 60-70 metres ahead of the submarine. This was 6 miles east of Trani or ca. 41°17'N, 16°32'E.

This attack / contact must be non-sub. (11)

1 Oct 1940
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) ended her 4th war patrol at Alexandria. (8)

12 Oct 1940
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) departed Alexandria for her 5th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off Cape Colonne, Italy.

No log is available for this period so no map can be displayed. (8)

17 Oct 1940
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) is ordered to patrol off Benghazi, Libya.

3 Nov 1940
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) ended her 5th war patrol at Alexandria. (8)

16 Nov 1940
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) departed Alexandria for her 6th war patrol. No further details are known to us at the moment.

No log is available for this period so no map can be displayed. (8)

7 Dec 1940
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) ended her 6th war patrol at Alexandria. (8)

22 Dec 1940
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) departed Alexandria for Malta. Osiris was to proceed to the U.K. to refit.

No log is available for this period so no map can be displayed. (8)

29 Dec 1940
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) arrived at Malta. (8)

31 Dec 1940
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) departed Malta for Gibraltar.

For the daily position of HMS Osiris during this passage see the map below.

(8)

9 Jan 1941
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) arrived at Gibraltar. (12)

14 Jan 1941
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) departed Gibraltar for Portsmouth.

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

(13)

21 Jan 1941
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) arrived at Portsmouth. (13)

23 Jan 1941
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) departed Portsmouth for the Chatham Dockyard. (12)

24 Jan 1941
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) damaged her Asdic dome when she hit a submerged object. Her A/S Cabinet was flooded and she was unable to dive. She put into Dover to inspect the damage. She continued her passage to the Chatham Dockyard early the next day escorted by the MS trawler HMS John Cattling (Skr. G.R. Burwood, RNR). (12)

25 Jan 1941
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) arrived at the Chatham Dockyard where she was to refit. (12)

23 May 1941
With her refit completed, HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. T.T. Euman, RN), shifted from Chatham to Sheerness. (14)

24 May 1941
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. T.T. Euman, RN) departed Sheerness for Holy Loch. For the fist days Osiris took passage in east coast convoys. On the 27th the brand new corvette HMS Lavender (Lt.Cdr. J. Whayman, RNR) joined her to escort her towards the Clyde area. (14)

29 May 1941
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. T.T. Euman, RN) arrived at Holy Loch for a training period. (14)

14 Jun 1941
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. T.T. Euman, RN) departed Holy Loch for Gibraltar. Passage south through the Irish Sea was made together with HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Cowell, DSC, RN). The submarines were escorted by HMS La Capricieuse (Lt.Cdr. G.W. Dobson, RNR).

No log is available for this period so no map can be displayed. (8)

21 Jun 1941
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. T.T. Euman, RN) arrived at Gibraltar. (8)

25 Jun 1941
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. T.T. Euman, RN) departed Gibraltar for Malta.

No log is available for this period so no map can be displayed. (8)

3 Jul 1941
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. T.T. Euman, RN) arrived at Malta. (8)

9 Jul 1941
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. T.T. Euman, RN) departed Malta for her 7th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off the west coast of Greece.

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

(15)

14 Jul 1941
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. T.T. Euman, RN) damaged the Italian merchant Capo d'Orso (3149 GRT, built 1916) with gunfire off Argostolion, Kefalonia Island, Greece.

0240 hours - The officer of the watch sighted, what he thought, at first, to be a convoy of four ships bearing 175 degrees, range 2.5 nautical miles. Closed to investigate. Soon afterwards the contact was seen to be a 9000 tons merchant vessel in ballast. Started attack.

0324 hours - In position 38°28'N, 19°55'E fired four torpedoes from 1500 yards. No hits were obtained. The second torpedo broke surface and turned a circle to starboard and passed about 40 yards down the submarines starboard side.

0344 hours - Opened fire with the 4" gun from a range of 2000 yards. Several hits were obtained before return fire from the enemy forced Osiris to break off the action.

0345 hours - Dived. (15)

15 Jul 1941
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. T.T. Euman, RN) attacked a laden merchant vessel south of Argostoli, Greece with a total of four torpedoes. No hits were obtained. The target was the Italian Città di Savona (2500 GRT, built 1930) which was en-route from Patras to Argostoli.

1809 hours - Sighted a laden merchant vessel of about 4000 tons four nautical miles away against the land by Cape Skinari. Started attack.

1841 hours - In position 37°59'N, 20°34'E fired three torpedoes from 5500 yards. No hits were obtained.

1856 hours - Fired one torpedo from 6500 yards. It missed. (15)

23 Jul 1941
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. T.T. Euman, RN) ended her 7th war patrol at Alexandria. Lt.Cdr. Euman was criticised for failing to sink two unescorted merchant vessels due to failed attack setups. (15)

7 Aug 1941
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. T.T. Euman, RN) departed Alexandria for her 1st storage trip to Malta.

For the daily positions of HMS Osiris during this storage trip see the map below.

(16)

14 Aug 1941
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. T.T. Euman, RN) sighted an enemy submarine east of Malta in position 35°36'N, 15°39'E. Osiris was not in a position to start an attack and continued her supply mission to Malta, her main object. The submarine encountered was the Italian Dagabur.

(All times are zone -2)
0245 hours - Dived for a submarine bearing green 80°, distance half a mile. Enemy course was approximately 270°, speed unknown. The officer of the watch dived before waring the Commanding Officer as he considered Osiris not in a favourable condition in which he was right. It was however unfortunate that the enemy had not been sighted earlier on this bright moonlight night.

No H.E. could be heard after diving so it was decided to keep to the main object of this mission, bring much needed supplies to Malta. An enemy report was broadcasted.

The enemy submarine encountered was according to Italian sources the Dagabur which had sailed the previous day from Augusta for a patrol south-east of Malta. The Italian submarine sighted HMS Osiris at 0140 hours (apparently one hour behind) in position 35°52'N, 15°32'E. Like Osiris, Dagabur was not able to start an attack. (15)

15 Aug 1941
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. T.T. Euman, RN) arrived at Malta. (16)

19 Aug 1941
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. T.T. Euman, RN) is docked at Malta. (16)

24 Aug 1941
HMS Osiris (Lt.Cdr. T.T. Euman, RN) is undocked. (16)

5 Sep 1941
HMS Osiris (Lt. C.P. Norman, RN) departed Malta for her 8th war patrol. She was ordered to make a short patrol off Ras el Hilal and Ras Aamer.

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

(17)

12 Sep 1941
HMS Osiris (Lt. C.P. Norman, RN) ended her 8th war patrol at Alexandria. (17)

20 Sep 1941
HMS Osiris (Lt. R.S. Brookes, DSC, RN) departed Alexandria for her 9th war patrol. She was to conduct a special operation.

Before proceeding on patrol A/S exercises were carried out with Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine RN) and HMS Havock (Lt. G.R.G. Watkins, DSC, RN). (17)

20 Sep 1941

For the daily positions during the 9th war patrol of HMS Osiris see the map below.

25 Sep 1941
HMS Osiris (Lt. R.S. Brookes, DSC, RN) closed the pick-up position (near Skoutari, Greece) where about 40 English soldiers, led by Captain Lawrence, were to be picked up. They however did not show up at the rendez-vous. (17)

30 Sep 1941
HMS Osiris (Lt. R.S. Brookes, DSC, RN) ended her 9th war patrol at Alexandria. HMS Osiris had developed serious engine defects and would require major repairs before she would be fit for further patrols. (17)

10 Dec 1941
HMS Osiris (Lt. R.S. Brookes, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Alexandria. (18)

17 Dec 1941
HMS Osiris (Lt. R.S. Brookes, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Alexandria. (18)

18 Dec 1941
HMS Osiris (Lt. R.S. Brookes, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Alexandria. (18)

20 Dec 1941
HMS Osiris (Lt. R.S. Brookes, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Alexandria.

These included A/S exercises with the destroyers HMS Griffin (Capt. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Hasty (?), HMS Kimberley (Cdr. J.S.M. Richardson, DSO, RN) and HMAS Nizam (Lt.Cdr. M.J. Clark, RAN).

The exercises had to be broken off when HMS Griffin obtained contact on a submarine which was not HMS Osiris.

HMS Osiris then immediately returned to harbour.

The destroyers conducted a short A/S hunt and then also returned to harbour. (18)

21 Dec 1941
HMS Osiris (Lt. R.S. Brookes, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Alexandria. (18)

22 Dec 1941
HMS Osiris (Lt. R.S. Brookes, DSC, RN) departed Alexandria for her 10th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol north of Crete.

For the daily positions of HMS Osiris during this patrol see the map below. No positions are known for all days during this patrol therefore the map is incomplete.

(18)

28 Dec 1941
On surfacing after dark, HMS Osiris (Lt. R.S. Brookes, DSC, RN) had an electrical malfuncion which resulted in her navigation lights buring brilliantly. The enemy must have noticed this as A/S forces began a hunt in the area. Osiris therefore shifted her patrol area to Candia. (18)

30 Dec 1941
Late in the morning, HMS Osiris (Lt. R.S. Brookes, DSC, RN), was depth charged by what is thought to be an enemy destroyer / torpedo boat off Suda Bay. Lt. Brookes thought Osiris might have been detected by loops near Suda Bay. (18)

2 Jan 1942
Late in the evening, HMS Osiris (Lt. R.S. Brookes, DSC, RN), suffered from a major engine defect. The starboard thrust block ran hot. (19)

3 Jan 1942
Af few hours after the starboard thrust block ran hot on board HMS Osiris (Lt. R.S. Brookes, DSC, RN), the port thrust block also ran hot. Osiris was then helpless for four hours in a heavy sea, eleven miles from an enemy lee shore. This was the beginning of a long series of defects. (19)

4 Jan 1942
At 0650 hours, Lt. R.S. Brookes, DSC, RN decided to abandon the patrol due to the many serious defects. HMS Osiris then set course towards Alexandria. (19)

6 Jan 1942
At 2255 hours, HMS Osiris (Lt. R.S. Brookes, DSC, RN), suffered another major engine defect when her starboard main engine seized solid. By now both main moters were out of action due to flooding. Only the port main engine was now left for propulsion. (19)

7 Jan 1942
HMS Osiris (Lt. R.S. Brookes, DSC, RN) ended her 10th war patrol at Alexandria. Again she needed major repairs which would take a long time.

Shortly before arriving at Alexandria the sole means of propulsion left to HMS Osiris also had a major malfuntion. Osiris was now towed into the harbour. (19)

11 Apr 1942
HMS Osiris (Lt. R.S. Brookes, DSC, RN) departed Alexandria under tow by the tug HMS Brigand for Port Said. (8)

12 Apr 1942
HMS Osiris (Lt. R.S. Brookes, DSC, RN) arrived at Port Said. (8)

27 Mar 1943
After a long period of repairs, HMS Osiris (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR), conducted trials of Port Said.

In early 1942 it had even been intended to scrap HMS Osiris but the engineering staff of the 1st Submarine Flotilla were not ready to give up. When they got some time to spare they worked on getting HMS Osiris in fighting condition again. (20)

29 Mar 1943
HMS Osiris (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) departed Port Said for Beirut. (20)

31 Mar 1943
HMS Osiris (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) arrived at Beirut. (20)

4 Apr 1943
HMS Osiris (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) conducted exercises off Beirut. (21)

5 Apr 1943
HMS Osiris (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) conducted exercises off Beirut. (21)

6 Apr 1943
HMS Osiris (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) conducted exercises off Beirut. (21)

9 Apr 1943
HMS Osiris (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) conducted exercises off Beirut. (21)

22 Jun 1943
HMS Osiris (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) conducted exercises off Beirut. (22)

23 Jun 1943
HMS Osiris (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) departed Beirut for her 11th war patrol. She was ordered to make a short patrol in the Aegean.

For the daily and attack position of HMS Osiris during this patrol see the map below.

(13)

27 Jun 1943
HMS Osiris (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) sank the Italian sailing vessel RODI 1054 / Vittorina (10.84 GRT) with gunfire north of Crete in position 36°12'N, 26°45'E. She was carrying sulphur from Rhodes to Heraklion.

(All times are zone -3)
1341 hours - Sighted a small 50 tons caique flying the Greek ensign. Closed submerged.

1414 hours - Surfaced. The caique was now close inshore. Opened fire with the 4" gun from 4000 yards.

1432 hours - The caique was sunk and a large number of full drums of oil and wooden cases and crates floated off.

1437 hours - Dived in position 36°12'N, 26°45'E. (13)

28 Jun 1943
HMS Osiris (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) damaged the Italian sailing vessel RODI 1690 / Palermo about 5 nautical miles south-west of Piskopi (approximately 36°19'N, 27°26'E). Palermo was slightly damaged and had one killed and one wounded. She escaped and took refuge in Piskopi harbour. An Italian aircraft forced the submarine to submerge.

This may have been the small schooner Palermo (31 GRT) that was requisitioned in Croatia although it is doubtful she would go as far as the Dodecanese. [It is possible that the identity is also completely wrong and the name Palermo the product of an error in interpreting the vessel code (usually a 3-letter code). In the report from Admiral Riccardi (C-in-C Italian Navy) to the Comando Supremo he mentions that Palermo (840 GRT, sic) was attacked and this is obviously an error as this was a small schooner.]

(All times are zone -3)
0430 hours - In position 180°, Kinduno Point (Piskopi), 4 nautical miles, sighted a 25 tons caique about 2 nautical miles to the south-east. Gave chase and closed. Opened fire from a range of 600 yards. Scored several hits. The crew then abandoned ship in a small boat.

0444 hours - Dived for an approaching aircraft.

0515 hours - Came to periscope depth. Saw the caique being sailed under foresail only and in a damaged condition towards Kinduna Point. (13)

1 Jul 1943
At 1830 hours (zone -3), HMS Osiris (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR), stopped the schooner Monsalla of Tripoli (Syria) in position 34°27'N, 32°13'E (south-west of Cyprus). It was abandoned by her crew but they were allowed to get back on board and resume their voyage.

1.5 hours later, at 2000 hours, Osiris stopped a second (unindentified) schooner similar to Monsalla in position 34°29'N, 33°58'E. Again the crew abandoned the vessel before being allowed back on board and resume their trip. Submarine and schooner slightly collided but without visible damage. (13)

2 Jul 1943
HMS Osiris (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) ended her 11th war patrol at Beirut. (13)

19 Jul 1943
HMS Osiris (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) conducted exercises off Beirut. (23)

20 Jul 1943
HMS Osiris (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) departed Beirut for Port Said. This was the first leg of the trip towards Kilindini.

For the daily positions during the passage Beirut - Kilindini see the map below.

(13)

23 Jul 1943
HMS Osiris (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) arrived at Port Said where she was immediately docked. (13)

28 Jul 1943
HMS Osiris (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) is undocked. (13)

30 Jul 1943
HMS Osiris (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) transited the Suez Canal southbound and arrived at Suez. (13)

31 Jul 1943
HMS Osiris (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) departed Suez for Aden. (13)

5 Aug 1943
HMS Osiris (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) arrived at Aden. (13)

10 Aug 1943
HMS Osiris (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) participated in A/S exercises off Aden. (13)

11 Aug 1943
HMS Osiris (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) departed Aden for Kilindini. After a few hours a major engine defect forced Osiris to return to Aden. (13)

15 Aug 1943
HMS Osiris (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) departed Aden for Kilindini. (13)

25 Aug 1943
HMS Osiris (Lt. A.G. Chandler, RNR) arrived at Kilindini. From this port she participated in A/S exercises until she was decomissioned on 7 March 1945. (13)

9 Sep 1943
HMS Osiris was in Kilindini harbour when she collided with HMS Adamant (A/Capt.(Retd.) C.A. Laffitte, RN) and sustained some damage. The bow buoyancy and No.1 ballast were damaged but repairable without docking, gun mountings damaged beyond repairs, 9.5 inch periscope bent and unserviceable. Adamant's stern moorings were carried away. (24)

30 Sep 1943
HMS Newcastle (Capt. P.B.R.W. William-Powlett, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral W.G. Tennant, CB, MVO, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Kilindini. These were followed by A/S exercises with HMS Osiris (T/Lt. M.H. Atkinson, RNR). (25)

1 Oct 1943
In the morning HMS Suffolk (Capt. R. Shelley, CBE, RN) and HMS Kenya (Capt. C.L. Robertson, RN) conducted an RIX (range and inclination) exercise off Kilindini.

In the afternoon, HMS Kenya conducted exercises with the submarine HMS Osiris (T/Lt. M.H. Atkinson, RNR). These were followed by gunnery exercxises.

HMS Suffolk conducted exercises with aircraft in the afternoon as well as gunnery exercises. (26)

1 Oct 1943
Around 1430C/1, HMAS Quiberon (Cdr. G.S. Stewart, RAN), HMS Quality (Lt.Cdr. G.L. Farnfield, DSO, RN) arrived at Kilindini from escort duty.

Before entering harbour A/S exercises were carried out with HMS Osiris (T/Lt. M.H. Atkinson, RNR). (27)

3 Oct 1943
HMAS Quiberon (Cdr. G.S. Stewart, RAN) conducted A/S exercises off Kilindini with HMS Osiris (T/Lt. M.H. Atkinson, RNR). Upon completion of the exercises HMAS Quiberon joined the escort of convoy KR 3. (27)

8 Oct 1943
During 8/9 October 1943, the light cruisers HMS Newcastle (Capt. P.B.R.W. William-Powlett, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral W.G. Tennant, CB, MVO, RN), HMS Danae (Capt. J.R.S. Haines, RN) and the destroyers HMS Rotherham (Capt. F.S.W. de Winton, RN), HMS Quality (Lt.Cdr. G.L. Farnfield, DSO, RN) and HMAS Quiberon (Cdr. G.S. Stewart, RAN) conducted exercises off Kilindini / Mombasa. These included night exercises.

HMS Quality and HMAS Quiberon joined upon returining from escort duties.

In the morning of the 9th the destroyers conducted A/S with the submarine HMS Osiris (T/Lt. M.H. Atkinson, RNR). (28)

24 Nov 1943
From 24 to 26 November 1943, HMS Ramillies (Capt. G.B. Middleton, CBE, RN), HMS Newcastle (Capt. P.B.R.W. William-Powlett, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.D. Read, CB, RN), HMS Kenya (Capt. C.L. Robertson, RN), HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN), HMS Roebuck (Cdr. J.T. Lean, DSO, RN) and HMS Quadrant (Lt.Cdr. W.H. Farrington, RN) conducted exercises off Kilindini. On the 24th HMAS Napier (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Green, DSC, RAN, with Commodore S.H.T. Arliss, DSO, RN on board) also joined for the remainder of the exercises.

On 25 November 1943 the submarine HMS Osiris (T/Lt. M.H. Atkinson, RNR) also came out to participate in the exercises.

On completion of the exercises on the 26th, HMS Ramilles, HMS Kenya and HMS Frobisher returned to Kilindini while HMS Newcastle proceeded to Manza Bay, Tanzania. (29)

16 Dec 1943
The battleship HMS Ramillies (Capt. G.B. Middleton, CBE, RN), heavy cruiser HMS Sussex (A/Capt. M. Everard, RN), light cruiser HMS Emerald (Capt. F.J. Wylie, RN) and the destroyers HMAS Napier (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Green, DSC, RAN) and HMAS Nizam (Cdr. C.H. Brooks, RAN) returned to Kilindini after a few days of exercises.

Upon returning to harbour HMS Emerald and the destroyers carried out A/S exercises with HMS Osiris (T/Lt. M.H. Atkinson, RNR). (30)

21 Dec 1943
During 21/22 December 1943, HMS Sussex (A/Capt. M. Everard, RN) conducted exercises off Kilindini together with HMAS Norman (Cdr. H.J. Buchanan DSO, RAN), HMAS Nizam (Cdr. C.H. Brooks, RAN) and HMAS Quickmatch (Lt.Cdr. R. Rhoades, DSC, RAN).

These included night exercises.

On 22 December the destroyers also carried out A/S exercises with HMS Osiris (T/Lt. M.H. Atkinson, RNR).

HMAS Norman (Cdr. H.J. Buchanan DSO, RAN) only returned to harbour the following morning as she remained out on patrol as a possible enemy submarine was thought to be in the area (a torpedo track had been reported but this later turned out to be false). (31)

17 Feb 1944
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) conducted exercises off Kilindini / Mombasa. These included A/S exercises with HMS Osiris (T/Lt. M.H. Atkinson, RNR). (32)