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Notable events involving Traveller include:

The history of HMS Traveller as compiled on this page is extracted from the patrol reports and logbooks of this submarine [only logs for August to October 1942 are available though] was created in June 2012. Corrections and details regarding information from the enemy's side (for instance the composition of convoys attacked) is kindly provided by Mr. Platon Alexiades, a naval researcher from Canada.

This page was last updated in September 2023.

10 Apr 1942
At 1740B/10, Traveller (Lt.Cdr. G.D.A. Gregory, DSO, RN) arrived at Holy Loch having successfully conducted acceptance trials in the Clyde area. She was then placed in full commission. (1)

12 Apr 1942
HMS Traveller (Lt.Cdr. G.D.A. Gregory, DSO, RN) conducted trials / exercises in the Clyde area. (1)

13 Apr 1942
During 13/14 April 1942, HMS Traveller (Lt.Cdr. G.D.A. Gregory, DSO, RN), conducted trials / exercises in the Clyde area. These included a deep dive trial. (2)

17 Apr 1942
HMS Traveller (Lt.Cdr. G.D.A. Gregory, DSO, RN) conducted exercises / trials in the Clyde area. (1)

18 Apr 1942
Around 0815B/18, HMS Traveller (Lt.Cdr. G.D.A. Gregory, DSO, RN) departed Holy Loch presumably for trials and exercises. Most likely these would include torpedo discharge trials at the Arrochar torpedo range.

She only returned to Holy Loch around 1515B/28. (1)

14 May 1942
After a work up period in the Clyde area HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) departed Holy Loch around 2125B/14, for Gibraltar. She makes the first part of the passage through the Irish sea together with HMS P 211 (Cdr. B. Bryant, DSC, RN) and HMS P 43 (Lt. A.C. Halliday, DSC and Bar, RN). They were escorted until off Bishops Rock by the British minesweeper/escort vessel HMS La Capricieuse (Lt.Cdr. G.W. Dobson, RNR). They all parted company around 2115B/16. (3)

24 May 1942
Around 1345B/24, HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) arrived at Gibraltar (4)

2 Jun 1942
HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) conducted exercises off Gibraltar together with HMS P 42 (Lt. A.C.G. Mars, RN) and P 43 (Lt. A.C. Halliday, RN). (5)

3 Jun 1942
Around 1900B/3, HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) departed Gibraltar for her 1st war patrol. This is a work-up patrol in the Alboran Sea.

[As no log is available for this period no map can be displayed.] (6)

4 Jun 1942
At 1210B/4, in position 35°32'N, 30°11'W, HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) a merchant vessel of around 800 tons. A dummy attack was made on this target which was Spanish. Course of this ship was 273° at 8 knots.

Shortly afterwards, at 1230B/4, another merchant vessel was sighted on a more or less apposite course. No practice attack was made on this ship which was of around the same size as the first ship sighted. (6)

6 Jun 1942
In position 35°26'N, 03°21'W, HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) a merchant vessel was sighted. Course of this ship was 220° at 10 knots. No time is given in the patrol report though.

Also about 10 fishing vessels were sighted close inshore during the day.

Shortly afterwards, at 1230B/4, another merchant vessel was sighted on a more or less apposite course. No practice attack was made on this ship which was of around the same size as the first ship sighted. (6)

10 Jun 1942
Around 0300/10, in position 35°21'N, 03°47'W, HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) made two dummy attacks, including one by the first lieutenant, on a large merchant vessel which was proceeding on course 080° at 8 knots. (6)

11 Jun 1942
HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) ended her 1st war patrol at Gibraltar. (6)

19 Jun 1942
Around 1830A/19, HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) departed Gibraltar for Alexandria where she is to join the First Submarine Flotilla. While on passage she was diverted to Haifa. (4)

7 Jul 1942
HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) arrived at Haifa from Gibraltar.

[We have been unable to find a passage report in the National Archives at Kew, London.] (7)

19 Jul 1942
Around 2000C/19, HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) departed Haifa for her 2nd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Adriatic. En-route to her patrol area she is to patrol along the North coast of Crete.

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

(8)

28 Jul 1942
While in transit through the Otranto Straits to her patrol area HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) is detected on the surface by an enemy patrol vessel or possibly a destroyer. Traveller dived and a few depth charges were dropped but these inflicted no damage. Position was 40°26'N, 18°46'E. This may have been the Italian torpedo boat Antonio Mosto proceeding from Corfu to Brindisi where she arrived at 0746B/28. [The report of the Antonio Mosto is missing in the Italian archives so it can't be conformed she dropped depth charges].

Later on the same day Traveller attacked the Italian merchant vessel Ezilda Croce (1230 GRT, built 1900), on passage from Bari to Valona, in the Otranto Strait. The torpedoes fired however miss their target. [On board the merchant ship, the lookout Santo LaTerra reported a torpedo track missing the ship ahead by 20 meters. An escorting aircraft dropped bombs on the submarine.]

0500C/28 - In position 40°26'N, 18°46'E sighted an enemy patrol vessel, perhaps a destroyer. Dived and started attack.

0510C/28 - The enemy dropped a depth charge followed by 4 more at 4 minute intervals. No damage was done but it appeared the enemy had sighted or heard Traveller. Lt. St. John took avoiding action and when he returned to periscope depth 10 minutes after the last depth charge was dropped there was nothing in sight. As it was getting light he remained down and continued the passage North.

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

1029C/28 - In position 40°35'N, 18°38'E sighted an eastbound merchant ship of 5000 tons. Started attack.

During the attack four torpedoes were fired from 4500 yards. No hits were obtained. Lt. St. John later noticed that the target was smaller than he thought, 1500 to 2000 tons. (8)

30 Jul 1942
At 0930C/30, in position 43°50'N, 14°55'E, the conning tower of an Italian submarine (probably Archimede class) was sighted steering 170°, bearing 260° at a range of 10,000 yards. HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) could not close the range sufficiently to attack. This was most probably the Italian submarine Topazio on passage from Fiume to Naples. (8)

31 Jul 1942
While operating in the Adriatic, HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN), fires six torpedoes at the Italian gunboat Cattaro (former Yugoslavian cruiser Dalmacija, ex German Niobe) in approximate position 44°36'N, 13°54'E. The torpedoes however missed their target. [Cattaro sighted two torpedo tracks, Italian records do not mention the presence of escort vessels but the Italian submarines Diaspro, Porfido and Delfino were exercising in the same area and were put on the alert. The brand new Italian torpedo boat Tifone was ordered to hunt the submarine.]

0914C/31 - Sighted a cruiser escorted by three destroyers steering a course of 170°. Started attack.

0942C/31 - Fired six torpedoes from outside the destroyer screen, range was 4000 yards. Two hits were claimed. One of the torpedoes had a gyro failure and ran overhead Traveller and then along the Port side. A counter attack followed in which eleven depth charges were dropped but these did no damage.

1025C/31 - Returned to periscope depth and saw the cruiser stopped in roughly the same position as when attacked. A destroyer was nearby. (8)

2 Aug 1942
At 0802C/2, while patrolling off the Yugoslavian coast south of Sebenik and west of Split (off the Drevnik Channel), HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN), sighted a small merchant vessel escorted by an auxiliary trawler and schooner. A practice attack was made on the merchant vessel. No real attack was made so as not to give away the submarines position in to hope bigger prey would come along.

At 0945C/2, a small merchant vessel was sighted. She was flying the swastika flag so was German and she was in ballast. Again no attack was made for the same reasons as given above. (8)

3 Aug 1942
HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) attacked the small German merchant vessel Pluto (1156 GRT, built 1905) with two torpedoes off Mulo Island. No hits were obtained.

The German ship sighted the two torpedo tracks and gave the alarm. The coastal battery at Scoglio Mulo fired three shells at the submarine.

0836C/3 - In position 220° Mulo Island 2.5 nautical miles (approximately 43°29'N, 15°52'E) sighted a 3000 tons merchant vessel steaming to the North-West. Unable to attack as she passed into the inner leads before torpedoes could be fired.

0845C/3 - Sighted a second 3000 tons merchant vessel also steaming to the North-West. Started attack in which two torpedoes were fired from 2600 yards. No hits were obtained. While completing this attack a tug towing a dredger and two lighters were seen. It was intended to surface and then attack with the deck gun but at 0945C/3, aircraft were seen patrolling the area so this idea abandoned. (8)

5 Aug 1942
HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) attacked the Italian submarine Porfido in the Adriatic Sea, about 25 nautical miles North-East of Pescara, Italy in position 42°48'N, 14°31'E. Two torpedoes were fired which missed astern. Traveller then surfaced for gun action. 15 rounds were fired before the target dived.

Porfido was on passage from Susak (near Fiume) to Cagliari. The Italian submarine dived as soon as Traveller opened fire and suffered no damage.

1045C/5 - In position 42°48'N, 14°31'E sighted a submarine (thought to be German). Started attack in which two torpedoes were fired from 2300 yards. Both missed astern.

1059C/5 - Surfaced for gun action. 15 Rounds were fired, with one possible hit, before the target dived.

1103C/5 - Dived (8)

7 Aug 1942
HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) attacked an Italian submarine in the Otranto Strait in position 39°52'N, 18°58'E. Three torpedoes were fired but no hits were obtained.

This was most likely Porfido again as she was in the general area but this time the attack was not observed by the Italians.

0637C/7 - In position 39°52'N, 18°58'E sighted an Italian submarine (thought to be a Foca-class mine laying submarine). Started attack in which three torpedoes were fired from around 3000 yards. Only one torpedo was heard to run. No hits were obtained. When first sighted again after Traveller returned to periscope depth the target was seen to have zigged 60° away. A gun action was now out of the question. (8)

14 Aug 1942
Around 0715C/14, HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) ended her 2nd war patrol at Beirut. (8)

29 Aug 1942
HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) conducted D/G trials at Beirut. (9)

30 Aug 1942
Around 1930C/30, HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) departed Beirut for her 3rd war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off the North-African coast in the Tobruk area. Later she was ordered to patrol North of Crete.

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

(8)

3 Sep 1942
At 0955 hours, HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) was off Tobruk, patrolling at periscope depth when she was bombed by an unseen aircraft. There was no damage. Position was approximately 32°20'N, 24°00'E. (8)

4 Sep 1942
At 0824C/4, in position 32°18'N, 23°32'E, HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) sighted a ship bearing 010°. Enemy course was 188° at a speed of 8 knots. At this time three enemy aircraft were in sight. Started attack but the attack was broken off at 1005C/4 when it was seen that the target was the Italian hospital ship Virgilio (11718 GRT, built 1928).

During the approach on this target, at 0900C/4, a warship was sighted which was identified as a Spica-class torpedo boat. this was most likely either Calliope, Castore or Lupo which were in the general area. Most likely it was the Calliope though, as she reported having been near the Virgilio. (8)

5 Sep 1942
HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) torpedoed and sank the Italian merchant Albachiara (1245 GRT, built 1904) about 30 nautical miles North-East of Derna, Libya in position 33°02'N, 23°13'E.

According to Italian sources, Albachiara was on passage from Benghazi to Tobruk escorted by the torpedo boat Generale Carlo Montanari. She sank in four minutes. The torpedo boat sighted the conning tower breaking surface and rushed to ram but the submarine disappeared quickly. Montanari dropped a smoke float to mark the spot and dropped seven depth charges, the first set at 25 meters, the second at 50 meters and the remainder at 75 meters. The torpedo boat had to wait to daybreak to pick up the 26 survivors, 10 were missing.

Later on the same day two torpedoes were fired against an escorted merchant vessel about 50 nautical miles North-West of Derna, Libya in position 33°17'N, 21°59'E. [The target has not yet been identified.]

0235C/5 - Fired four torpedoes against deeply laden merchant vessel of 5000 to 6000 tons from 1000 yards. Two hits were obtained. An escorting destroyer was also present at the scene and came in rushing towards Traveller which crash dived. Eleven depth charges were dropped in the counter attack but these did no damage. Shortly after diving breaking up noises were heard.

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

2140C/5 - In position 33°17'N, 21°59'E sighted a 3000 tons merchant vessel. She appeared to be in ballast and was escorted by two destroyers, thought to be of the Maestrale-class, one on either bow. Started an attack.

2147C/5 - Fired two torpedoes from 2000 yards and dived upon firing. No hits were obtained although some men in the submarine reported hearing a muffled thud. No counter attack followed. (8)

7 Sep 1942
At 2132C/7, in position 33°03'N, 21°20'E, HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) sighted a merchant vessel bearing 070° thought to be of about 2000 tons proceeding westwards on course 270° at a speed of 8 knots. She was escorted by what are thought to be three destroyers of the Maestrale-class. HMS Traveller was not in a favourable attack position and also a surface attack was out of the question in the light conditions with such a heavy escort. The enemy was therefore evaded.

The identification of this convoy was most likely not entirely correct as the convoy sighted was most probably the one made up of the transports Pertusola (Italian, 1493 GRT, built 1882) and Sportivo (Italian, 1598 GRT, built 1900) escorted by the Italian torpedo boats Generale Carlo Montanari and Castore on passage from Tobruk to Benghazi where they arrived at 1200B/8.

8 Sep 1942
At 0640C/8, the Asdic of HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN), which had dived at 0615C/8 for a days submerged patrol, picked up HE on bearing 010°. Five minutes later, in position 32°55'N, 23°18'E, the masts of a merchant vessel and escorting destroyer were sighted at a range of about 12000 yards. Commenced closing but while doing so the range could not be closed further then 3500 yards and then also on a broad track. During the approach it was seen that the merchant vessel was a big one of about 6000 to 8000 tons and that there were four escorts screening thought to be destroyers of the Maestrale-class. One ahead, one astern and the other two on either quarter. Three aircraft were seen patrolling overhead. Enemy course was 144° at 15 knots so as to be proceeding towards Tobruk. After having broken off the approach HMS Traveller proceeded southwards.

The transport sighted was the German Ankara (4768 GRT, built 1937) escorted by an Italian escort made up of the destroyers Lampo, Geniere and the torpedo boats Partenope and Orione proceeding to Tobruk. (8)

10 Sep 1942
Around 1700C/10, HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) left her patrol area off the Libyan coast for a new patrol area to the north of Crete. (8)

14 Sep 1942
At 2155C/14, HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN), was forced to dive in position 35°44'N, 25°09'E when ' what is thought to be a destroyer ', suddenly approached her from the south. She passed about 2000 yards under the stern of the submarine without stopping or slowing down and she was not seen again. HMS Traveller surfaced after one hour.

According to Italian sources, no destroyer or torpedo boat was operating in this area at that time. (8)

15 Sep 1942
At 0700C/15, when north-east of Suda Bay, HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN), sighted a large merchant vessel, a large tanker and what is thought to be a destroyer bearing 280°. They were proceeding south and entering Canea Bay and were soon lost from sight. HMS Traveller then proceeded to the southwest towards Cape Maleka.

Around 0750C/15, the convoy appeared again, rounded Cape Maleka close inshore and then entered Suda Bay. HMS Traveller was however still out of range so no attack could be made.

The convoy sighted was probably the one made up the transport Citta di Alessandria (Italian, 2498 GRT, built 1930) and the tanker Rondine (Italian, 6468 GRT, built 1924) escorted by destroyers Francesco Crispi and Giovanni da Verazzano proceeding to Crete from Piraeus (actually the Citta di Alessandria escorted by Da Verazzano proceeded to Suda while Rondine escorted by Crispi and later rejoined by Da Verazzano went on to Heraklion). (8)

17 Sep 1942
At 2205 hours, 2.5 miles south of Cape Archangelo (Rhodes), HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) picked up Lt. David Sutherland and Marine Duggan of the SBS (Special Boat Service, operation ANGLO), ten other members of the party failed to make the rendezvous and were captured. (8)

20 Sep 1942
Around 0625C/20, HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) ended her 3rd war patrol at Beirut. (8)

4 Oct 1942
Around 1830C/4, HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) departed Beirut for her 4th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol off Crete.

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

(6)

9 Oct 1942
HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) attacks the Italian tanker Proserpina (4870 GRT, former French Beauce, built 1926), that is escorted the Italian torpedo boats Castore and Ciclone, with four torpedoes west of Crete in position 35°45'N, 23°13'E. None of the torpedoes fired hit the target.

According to Italian sources the Castore sighted a torpedo track on the starboard side and dropped three patterns of depth charges. Ciclone (Senior Officer) ordered her to remain in the area until dusk to hunt the attacker.

1450C/9 - Sighted two aircraft bearing 160°. Given their movements it appeared they were escorting a convoy that was about to enter the Anti-Kythira Channel. Traveller went deep and proceeded to the South-East.

1521C/9 - Returned to periscope depth in position 35°45'N, 23°13E and sighted one tanker and two Grecale-class destroyers bearing 195° (Actually these were Spica-class torpedo boats as mentioned above). They were steering 327° towards Kythira. The size of the tanker was estimated at 6000 tons and she was in ballast. Started attack in which four torpedoes were fired from 2000 yards. Traveller went deep upon firing. Two explosions were heard that were thought to be hits (most likely these were bombs dropped by the escorting aircraft).

A counter attack followed in which 29 depth charges were dropped. Only minor damage was done to Traveller by this depth-charging. (6)

11 Oct 1942
HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) attacked the German auxiliary minelayer Bulgaria with two torpedoes to the West of Crete in position 35°31'N, 23°25'E. No hits are obtained.

Bulgaria was escorted by the auxiliary submarine chasers UJ 2102 and UJ 2107. Bulgaria turned hard to port and the first torpedo missed her 2-3 metres astern and the second five metres ahead.]

0820C/11 - In position 35°31'N, 23°25'E an armed yacht of about 700 tons appeared out of a heavy rain squall to the South-West. Started attack in which 2 torpedoes were fired from 1300 yards. Both missed as they were evaded by the enemy. Following this attack Traveller was attacked by an escorting aircraft that was not seen before the attack. Four bombs were dropped but these did no damage. The yacht retired towards Pondikonisi Island, Traveller retired at speed to the West. (6)

13 Oct 1942
At 1250C/13, in approximately 35°32'N, 23°28'E, HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) sighted a small drifter, which made a great deal of smoke. A patrolling aircraft prevented this ship from being attacked with the deck gun. (6)

15 Oct 1942
HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) attacks an Italian convoy to the West of Crete in position 35°09'N, 22°56'E.Four torpedoes were fired against the Italian merchant Anna Maria (1205 GRT, 1912). No hits were obtained.

The Anna Maria was escorted by the Italian torpedo boats Libra and Climene, the latter observed the four torpedo tracks. They were on passage from Tobruk to Piraeus.

2045C/15 - In position 35°09'N, 22°56'E encountered a merchant ship, estimated as being around 5000 tons. The ship was in ballast and escorted by two destroyers. The merchant vessel appeared to be of about 5000 tons. Started attack.

The range could not be closed any further so four torpedoes were fired from 3000 yards. No hits were obtained and no counter attack followed. (6)

23 Oct 1942
HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) departed her patrol area to proceed to Port Said where she was to be docked as this was not possible at Beirut. (6)

26 Oct 1942
HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) ended her 4th war patrol at Port Said. She is almost immediately put into dry-dock for the fitting of petrol tanks to enable her to transport petrol to Malta. (10)

31 Oct 1942
HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) left dock. (10)

13 Nov 1942
HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) departed Port Said with a cargo of much needed aviation spirit for Malta. (4)

23 Nov 1942
HMS Traveller (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) arrived at Malta. (4)

28 Nov 1942
HMS Traveller (Lt.Cdr. D. St.Clair-Ford, RN) sailed from Malta for her 5th war patrol. She was to pass through positions 35°16' N, 15°12' E and 39°34' N, 17°48' E to carry out a preliminary reconnaissance of Taranto for Special Operation Principal (projected attacks on Italian ports by Chariot human torpedoes).

Lt.Cdr. St.Clair-Ford had taken over from Lt. St.John as the latter had developed dysentery.

Captain S.10's signal timed 0955A/8 December ordered her to withdraw at once and report by at 0100A/9 when clear of the Gulf of Taranto. She never answered and she is believed to have been mined.

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