uboat.net

  Front page - Fighting the U-boats - Allied Warships

Follow us on Twitter
@uboatnet

Notable events involving Union include:

The history of HMS Union as compiled on this page is extracted from Union's patrol reports and logbooks. 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 March 2018.

18 Feb 1941
Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) is wiped at Barrow in Furness. (1)

21 Feb 1941
Around 0800A/21, Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) departed her builders yard at Barrow for Holy Loch. She was escorted by HMS Hugh Walpole (T/Lt. J. Mackenzie, RNR). (2)

22 Feb 1941
Around 1445A/22, Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) arrived at Holy Loch from Barrow 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. (1)

24 Feb 1941
HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) conducted independent exercises in lower Loch Long. (1)

25 Feb 1941
HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) conducted independent exercises in lower Loch Long. (1)

26 Feb 1941
HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) conducted independent exercises in lower Loch Long. (1)

27 Feb 1941
HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) conducted speed trials in lower Loch Long. These were followed by independent exercises. (1)

28 Feb 1941
HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) conducted independent exercises in lower Loch Long.

[As no log for March is available, details for this month will be missing.] (1)

17 Mar 1941
Around 1930A/17, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) departed Holy Loch for Portsmouth. She made the passage through the Irish Sea together with HMS Tigris (Lt.Cdr. H.F. Bone, RN). They were escorted during the passage South by FFS La Moqueuse.

The submarines parted company with the escort around 2100A/19 when off Land's End. HMS Tigris proceeding on patrol and HMS Union proceeded towards Portsmouth unescorted. (3)

20 Mar 1941
At 2340A/20, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) received the Flag Officer Submarines signal timed 2211A/20, ordering her to patrol in the Bay of Biscay south-west of Brest near position 47°40'N, 06°10'W. The passage to Portsmouth now became her 1st war patrol. She was to proceed to her patrol position through position 49°00'N, 06°00'W. Object of the patrol was to intercept the German battlecruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau most likely proceeding to a French Atlantic port. [They arrived at Brest on 22 March.]

[As no log is available for March 1941 no map can be displayed.] (3)

22 Mar 1941
Around 1800A/22, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) arrived in her patrol area.

At 1927A/22, the signal timed 1809A/22 from the Flag Officer Submarines was received ordering HMS Union to patrol in position 46°27'N, 04°12'W. (4)

23 Mar 1941
Between 0030A/23 and 0600A/23, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) sighted eight fishing vessels between 47°23'N and 46°40'N and about 5 miles west of the 100 fathom line.

At 1730A/23, in position 46°27'N, 04°12'W, a trawler was sighted proceeding on a course of 300°. Range was 6 nautical miles. (4)

24 Mar 1941
At 1805A/24, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) received the Flag Officer Submarines signal timed 1709A/24 to patrol within 20 miles from position 46°22'N, 03°12'W. (4)

26 Mar 1941
At 1805A/26, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) received the Flag Officer Submarines signal timed 2201A/26 to patrol in position ' 53 ', which is to the west-south-west of Brest. (5)

28 Mar 1941
At 0153A/30, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) received the Flag Officer Submarines signal timed 0031A/28 with orders to leave patrol and proceed to Porsmouth. (4)

1 Apr 1941
Around 1015A/1, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) ended her 1st war patrol at Portsmouth. (4)

10 Apr 1941
HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) conducted independent exercises off Portsmouth. (6)

13 Apr 1941
Around 1735A/13, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) departed Portsmouth for Gibraltar. She is to proceed to Malta to join the 10th Submarine Flotilla that is based there.

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

(6)

22 Apr 1941
Around 1045A/22, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) arrived at Gibraltar from Portsmouth. The passage had been uneventful. (6)

26 Apr 1941
Around 2100A/26, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) departed Gibraltar for Malta.

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

(6)

4 May 1941
Around 0645B/4, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) arrived at Malta from Gibraltar. The passage had been uneventful. (7)

12 May 1941
In the evening, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. (7)

14 May 1941
HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) is taken in hand for some repairs to her battery at the Malta Dockyard. The repairs were completed on the 19th. (7)

21 May 1941
Around 1930A/21, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) departed Malta for her 2nd war patrol (1st in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to patrol between the east coast of Tunisia and Lampedusa.

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

(8)

23 May 1941
At 2300B/23, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) set course to comply with a signal from the Senior Officer Submarines Malta timed 1605B/23 to sink a derelict ship, with the funnel aft, reported by aircraft, in position 195° - Pantelleria - 18 nautical miles. This ' ship ' was however not found. (9)

25 May 1941
At 2128B/25, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) surfaced after a day of submerged patrol and then set course to patrol in area ' L ' in accordance with the orders given in the Senior Officer Submarines Malta's signal timed 1521B/25. (9)

26 May 1941
At 0040B/26, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) received the Senior Officer Submarines Malta's signal timed 2240B/26 ordering her not to proceed to area ' L ' as this area was now well compromised by the recent successes of HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) in this area.

HMS Union was now ordered to proceed to the East of Malta to area ' O '. (8)

27 May 1941
At 2255B/27, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) received the Senior Officer Submarines Malta's signal timed 2145B/27 ordering her to proceed to position 33°48'N, 11°44'E (east of Djerba) where two merchant ships had been successfully attacked by RAF Blenheim aircraft and were thought to be burning but still afloat. The search for these vessels proved to be fruitless and was abandoned at 0650B/29 after which HMS Union set course to return to area ' O '.

This must have referred to the damaged Italian transports Marco Foscarini (Marco Foscarini) and Sebastiano Venier (6311 GRT, built 1940). The Sebastiano Venier was only lightly damaged but the Marco Foscarini had to be beached in the outer harbour at Tripoli.

These ships had been part of a convoy together with transports Andrea Gritti (Italian, 6338 GRT, built 1939), Ankara (German, 4768 GRT, built 1937), Barbarigo (Italian, 5293 GRT, built 1930) and Rialto (Italian, 6099 GRT, built 1927) escorted by the Italian destroyers Ugolino Vivaldi (S.O.), Antonio Da Noli and the torpedo boats Cigno, Pegaso and Procione.

This convoy had departed Naples for Tripoli around 0230B/26. Distant cover was provided by the light cruiser Luigi Cadorna and the destroyers Grecale and Maestrale. Durch brit. Luftangriff von Malta aus werden Sebastiano Venier (6310 BRT) leicht und Marco Foscarini (6342 BRT) schwer beschädigt; letztere wird bei Tripolis am 28.5. aufgesetzt. (8)

1 Jun 1941
At 0624B/1, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) left patrol to return to Malta. (8)

2 Jun 1941
Around 0900B/2, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) ended her 2nd war patrol (1st in the Mediterranean) at Malta. (8)

4 Jun 1941
HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) is docked in No.2 graving dock at the Malta Dockyard. (10)

7 Jun 1941
HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) is undocked. (10)

15 Jun 1941
Around 1815B/15, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) departed Malta for her 3rd war patrol (2nd in the Mediterranean).

She was escorted out by HMS Abingdon (Lt. G.A. Simmers, RNR) on which also a practice attack was made. They parted company around 1930B/15.

HMS Union then set course to area ' Z ' which was bounded by lines joining the following positions;
A) 36°45'N, 12°20'E, B) 36°26'N, 11°39'E and C) 36°04'N, 12°44'E. This was mostly to the south-east of Pantelleria. (8)

15 Jun 1941
For the daily and attack positions of HMS Union during her 3rd war patrol see the map below.

17 Jun 1941
At 2153B/17, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) surfaced after a day of submerged patrol and set course to proceed to area ' Y '.

This area was bounded by lines joining the following positions;
A) 36°45'N, 11°53'E,
B) 36°26'N, 11°39'E and
C) 36°04'N, 12°44'E.

This was due to the fact that HMS Utmost (Lt.Cdr. R.D. Cayley, RN) would be passing through area ' Z '. (8)

18 Jun 1941
At 1200B/18, in position 35°07'N, 11°59'E, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) sighted two RD-class minesweepers proceeding in line ahead. They were proceeding on course 340° at 12 knots. HE was not picked up until the range was about one nautical mile and then only faintly and varying in strenght. (8)

19 Jun 1941
At 0535B/19, in position 36°08'N, 11°49'E, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) sighted a merchant vessel of about 4000 tons bearing 310° at a range of 6 to 7 nautical miles. Enemy course was 074° at 9 knots.

At 0600B/19, HMS Union went deep for a burst of speed and on raising the periscope at 0613B/19, the merchant vessel could not be sighted. It was considered that the merchant vessel, which was in ballast, had altered course to the northward.

At 1335B/19, in position 36°10'N, 11°53'E, two RD-type minesweepers were sighted proceeding in line ahead on course 345°. A small 200 tons schooner was proceeding about a mile astern. (8)

20 Jun 1941
At 1020B/20, in position 36°18'N, 11°52'E, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) was passed by a trawler, a small coaster and two merchant vessels of about 800 to 1000 tons. They were proceeding on course 170° at 6 knots. The two merchant vessels were not laden.

Also in a signal timed 1205B/20, the Vice-Admiral, Malta informed HMS Union that a convoy of three merchant vessels escorted by a destroyer and three torpedo boats had been sighted in position 180° - Lampedusa - 17 nautical miles. Enemy course was 350° at 10 knots. This must have referred to the convoy made up of the transports Caffaro (Italian, 6476 GRT, built 1924) with the damaged torpedo boat Palluce in tow, Nirvo (Italian, 5270 GRT, built 1919) and the tanker Pozarica (Italian, 7799 GRT, built 1940). They were escorted by the Italian torpedo boats Cigno, Calliope and Generale Achille Papa. This convoy had departed Tripoli around 0630B/19 and was bound for Naples. (11)

21 Jun 1941
At 1645B/21, in approximate position 36°08'N, 11°57'E, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) sighted smoke bearing 253° at a range of about 10 nautical miles. HMS Union altered course to close the track.

At 1717B/21, the smoke was now bearing 233° but no ship was sighed.

At 1730B/21, still nothing was in sight and the origin of the smoke was never sighted. (8)

22 Jun 1941
HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) torpedoed and sank the Italian merchant vessel Pietro Querini (1004 GRT, built 1906) about 30 nautical miles South of Pantelleria Island in position 36°09'N, 11°58'E.

The other ships in company with Pietro Querini were the salvage vessel Rostro (333 GRT, built 1917) and the schooner Ettoire Fieramosca which subsequently proceeded to Lampedusa to shelter there. This convoy had departed Pantelleria for Tripoli around 0200B/22.

0450B/22 - Picked up HE drawing aft down the starboard side.

0455B/22 - The HE stopped. Came to periscope depth and sighted a trawler bearing 355° about a mile away. Position was 36°08'N, 11°59'E. The trawler appeared to be stopped pointing at HMS Union which then went to 70 feet.

0525B/22 - Returned to periscope depth. The trawler was bearing 015° at a range of 3 nautical miles. Enemy course was 010°. No HE was picked up when she was steaming away.

0545B/22 - Lost sight of the trawler to the northward.

In a signal timed 0907B/22, the Senior Officer Submarines Malta informed HMS Union that an enemy convoy of 6 transports and 3 destroyers had been sighted in position 000° - Lampedusa - 15 nautical miles. The convoy was proceeding on course 020° a at 7 knots. [This must have referred to the convoy made up The convoy attacked was made up of the transports Amsterdam (German, 8673 GRT, built 1921), Col di Lana (Italian, 5891 GRT, built 1926), Ernesto (Italian,7399 GRT, built 1914), Giulia (Italian, 5921 GRT, built 1926), Tembien (Italian,5584 GRT, built 1914) and Wachtfels (German, 8467 GRT, built 1928). They were en-route from Tripoli (departed around 1500B/21) to Naples and were escorted by the destroyer Lanzerotto Malocello and the torpedo-boats Procione, Orsa and Pegaso.

1400B/22 - Sighted smoke bearing 013°. Lt. Galloway closes.

1425B/22 - Sighted a convoy of one trawler, one schooner and one merchant of about 2800 tons. Closed to attack.

1507B/22 - Fired three torpedoes from 1200 yards. The second torpedo was a hit.

1525B/22 - The first depth charge was dropped.

1543B/22 - Returned to periscope depth and observed the trawler and schooner coming directly towards Union so went to 70 feet. Depth charges were dropped but these did no damage. While at periscope depth the merchant was observed to be sinking.

1625B/22 - Returned to periscope depth but found nothing in sight.

2030B/22 - In position 36°08'N, 12°04'E, sighted a trawler bearing 210° at a range of 4 to 5 nautical miles. Enemy course was 050°.

2239B/22 - Altered course to 250° to intercept a damaged merchant vessel in tow of another merchant vessel in accordance with the Senior Officer Submarines Malta's signal timed 2132B/22. By 0600B/23 nothing had been sighted and the search was abandoned. (8)

24 Jun 1941
In a signal timed 2021B/24, the Senior Officer Submarines Malta, ordered HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) to remain on patrol in case an important Italian convoy from Naples to Tripoli (via Messina) would pass to the west of Sicily.

The convoy referred to was made up of the troop transports Esperia (Italian, 11398 GRT, built 1920), Marco Polo (Italian, 12567 GRT, built 1912), Oceania (Italian, 19507 GRT, built 1933) and Neptunia (Italian, 19475 GRT, built 1932). They were escorted by the desroyers Aviere, Geniere, Gioberti and Antonio Da Noli. Distant cover was provided by the heavy cruisers Trieste, Gorizia and the destroyers Corazziere, Carabiniere and Ascari.

The convoy proceeded via Messina but was attacked from the air and proceeded to Taranto arriving the around 1700B/26. It continued its passage around 1700B/27.

25 Jun 1941
At 2345B/25, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) received the Senior Officer Submarines Malta's signal timed 2057B/25 ordering her to leave patrol and return to Malta.

Around 0200B/25, HMS Union left area ' Z ' to return to Malta. (8)

27 Jun 1941
Around 0740B/27, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) ended her 3rd war patrol (2nd in the Mediterranean) at Malta. (8)

28 Jun 1941
Around 2120B/28, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) departed Malta for her 4th war patrol (3rd in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to patrol South of Cape Spartivento.

She was sent on patrol after being in harbour for only 36 hours. This was to patrol off the Strait of Messina as it was thought that the Vichy French might sent reinforcements to Syria.

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

(8)

30 Jun 1941
At 1700B/30, in position 37°35'N, 16°10'5"E, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) sighted a merchant vessel of around 7000 tons bearing 170° proceeding on a course of 098°, speed 10 knots. Range was about 8000 yards. The enemy ships was escorted by a destroyer and a Cant Z.501 flying boat was patrolling overhead. An attack was not possible given the range. (8)

1 Jul 1941
At 2100B/1, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) left patrol to return to Malta in compliance with the Senior Officer Malta's signal timed 1120B/1. (8)

3 Jul 1941
Around 0730B/3, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) ended her 4th war patrol (3rd in the Mediterranean) at Malta. (8)

14 Jul 1941
Around 0100B/14, HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) departed Malta for her 5th war patrol (4th in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to proceed to position 36°40'N, 12°00'E (south of Pantelleria) and be there by noon on the 15th. From there she would be directed to intercept a northbound convoy. (12)

15 Jul 1941
A convoy made up of the transports Andrea Gritti (6338 GRT, built 1939), Ankara (German, 4768 GRT, built 1937), Barbarigo (5293 GRT, built 1930), Rialto (6099 GRT, built 1927) and Sebastiano Venier (6311 GRT, built 1940) and escorted by Italian destroyers Lanzerotto Malocello, Fuciliere and Alpino and the Italian torpedo boats Procione, Pegaso and Orsa was en-route from Tripoli to Naples.

This convoy was attacked by HMS P 33 (Lt. R.D. Whiteway-Wilkinson, DSC, RN) and HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) was also deployed to attack it.

HMS P 33 sank the Barbarigo and was subsequently counter attack during which she was damaged mainly by going to deep. HMS P 33 then had to abandon her patrol to return to Malta to effect repairs.

According to Lt. Whiteway-Wilkinson he had no indication that HMS Union also attacked the convoy. Maybee she was too far off or the convoy took drastic avoiding action following the attack by HMS P 33. We shall never know as HMS Union did not return from patrol.

During her patrol, HMS P 33 was to conduct a special operation during which two members of the French Mounier network were to be picked up in position 180 - Hammamet lighthouse - 3 nautical miles. This task was now passed on to HMS Union for which she was given details for the operation. HMS Union was to reconnoitre the area during daytime on the 17th and then make rendezvous at 1700B/17. It is not known if HMS Union showed up at this rendezvous as the two members did no go to sea as they were being monitored by the French police and they had to postpone the operation.

20 Jul 1941
HMS Union (Lt. R.M. Galloway, RN) was possibly sunk by the Italian torpedo boat Circe during an attack on the damaged German transport Menes (5609 GRT, built 1926).

Around 1115B/20, a torpedo had been spotted which missed he target. Circe then counter attack bringing oil to the surface claiming to have at least damaged the attacker.

Menes was in tow of the Italian tug Calliope and the German tug Max Berendt and had departed Tripoli on the 17th bound for Trapani. They were escorted by the Circe.

[The Menes had been torpedoed and damaged by HMS Regent (Lt.Cdr. H.C. Browne, RN) on 21 February 1941.