Submarine HMS Regulus: who dares take photos?

davidbfpo · Mar 13, 2025

I sometimes dip into the naval history clips on YouTube by Drachinifel, today it was 'Forgotten Theatres - The Indian Ocean, Naval Strategy and Setup (1921-1941)', though interesting it was a very short mention that got my attention. See:

I am aware that during the Cold War a number of navies did the same at a variety of targets. WW2 activities were unknown to me.

From the transcript with some amendments:

The submarine HMS Regulus had sailed right between Honshu and Shikoku two of the Japanese home islands and merrily on into Osaka Bay and conducted extensive photo reconnaissance of several Japanese ports before going on to find a Japanese Fleet exercise involving the newly commissioned Hiryu and tagging along for the entire exercise taking even more photographs something which the Imperial Japanese Navy was reportedly horrified to learn about when some of these photos and reports were discovered when they captured Singapore.
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Not just watching and photographing Japan either:

Prior to WWII HMS REGULUS was based with the 4th Submarine Flotilla at Hong Kong. After the outbreak of WWII she carried out four War Patrols from Hong Kong. The first was in the South China Sea, the second and third were in Japanese waters and the fourth was in Russian waters off Vladivostock.

(With maps and positions)

2-21/9/1939 2nd patrol

2-25/11/1939 3rd patrol

13/12/1939-4/1/1940 4th patrol off Vladivostok
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From: HMS REGULUS – The Submarine Family

Wiki has:

Before Second World War she was stationed with Submarine Flotilla #4 on the China station, based out of Hong Kong.

In October 1939 Regulus conducted intelligence-gathering operations in the mouth of the Bungo Strait, off the coast of Japan. It covertly observed Imperial Japanese Navy fleet exercises, including Japanese aircraft carrier Ryujo and a brand new Japanese aircraft carrier, likely Hiryu. It had also entered Shibushi Bay and Osaka Bay via the Kitan Strait, producing photographic intelligence.
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From: HMS Regulus (N88) - Wikipedia

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