H M Submarine Tetrarch

Hello, does anyone have any information about this submarine? I think one of the submariners was my father's younger brother. His name was Gerard Flint Sharples and he died eighteen years before I was born. My father died in 1978 and he never liked talking about him as he died at such a young age, about 23 I think. I have been able to find out his name is on panel 48 on the Plymouth war memorial, but other than that, I have drew a blank. Does anybody know how I can find out a little bit more about him please? Regards, Kathleen.

 

Hi Kathleen
I'm not a naval person but some info to start with:

http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-12SS-07T-HMS_Tetrarch.htm

http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3497.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Tetrarch_(N77)

Perhaps other members on here more naval inclined may have access to better details.

TD

 

H.M. SUBMARINE " TETRARCH'S " SUBMERGED ATTACK ON A CONVOY

On 28th September, 1941, H.M. Submarine " Tetrarch " was on patrol in the Ionian Sea. At 2315 a convoy consisting of two, or possibly three, ships, escorted by a destroyer on each bow, was sighted. Although the moon was still up, it was a cloudy and fairly dark night. " Tetrarch " was against a clear horizon, while the convoy had dark clouds behind it. Being dead ahead of the starboard wing destroyer and pointing towards her, the Commanding Officer considered that, when he turned in to attack, he was certain to be detected before he could reach a firing position. He had a good idea of the enemy's course and, having confirmed that the Higher Telegraphist Detector had picked up the target, he dived to 60 feet. At 2337, after turning on to a 090° track, he fired two torpedoes by hydrophone effect at an estimated range of 2,500 yards. One minute and forty-five seconds after firing the first torpedo, a loud explosion was heard but the result of the hit could not be observed owing to a counter-attack by the escort, which dropped ten depth charges between 2347 and 0045. Only one was at all close.



Source - The Anti-Submarine Warfare Division Of The Naval Staff

 

Tetrarch (Lieut.-Commander G. H. Greenway) who had completed a most successful last patrol on 3rd October, left Alexandria on 18th October for Malta, leaving there again on the 26th to refit in the United Kingdom. She was not heard of again and was reported overdue at Gibraltar on 2nd November. Claims by Italian anti-submarine craft to have sunk a submarine were made about this time but search of Axis records has failed to connect these claims with the loss of Tetrarch.

 

The wreck of a T Class submarine Group 1 (without stern Torpedo Tube n° 11) has been sonar-located off Tabarka ,Tunisia , 2015. The preliminary study indicates it matches the indications we have of HMS Tetrarch. The sonar image and the Study will be made available.on request ; JP MISSON missonjp@hotmail.com

 

A T Class Group 1 submarine has been sonar-located off Tabarka,Tunisia,2015. The sonar image shows it had no stern Torpedo Tube n° 11 , just like HMS TETRARCH .
The sonar image and other data on the wreck is available from missonjp@hotmail.com

 

This may have been posted previously - but hey its Sunday - HMS Tetrarch (N 77) of the Royal Navy - British Submarine of the T class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net

TD

 

Here is the sonar image of the wreck : a T Class Group 1 , with no stern Torpedo Tube n° 11 : the exact replica of HMS TETRARCH

 

Found in : Capogranitola Official Web Site
Said to be from "Royal Navy History"
The drawing shows the low , residual , after casing of the T Class Group 1 units that were not fitted with the TT n° 11.
The picture is of HMS Thistle , an exact copy of HMS Tetrarch : a GP 1 unit , without stern Torpedo Tube n° 11.

 

Here is the route that HMS TETRARCH would have followed from Malta to Gibraltar , hugging the coast to obtain Fixes from Landmarks (at periscope level) rather than exposing herself to be seen when surfaced for astronomical Fixes.
The red pin is where many wrecks have been found (the place is presumed to have been a naval minefield).There are seven
submarines there : six British , one Italian plus destroyer HMS Quentin and the German Schnellboot S.35.
The British and the Italian Defence Attachés in Tunis have been informed : the depth being 65 - 80 m the full investigation
is of the responsibility of the respective Naval Authorities and of the Tunisian Government.
The wrecks remain under British and Italian jurisdiction , the more so because all the submarines are the tomb of their entire Crew.