Robert Atkinson DSC, RNR

Birth details unknown

Ranks

1 May 1939Lt.
???A/Lt.Cdr.
1 May 1947Lt.Cdr.


Retired: 8 Aug 1955

Decorations

4 Mar 1941DSC
19 Oct 1943Bar to DSC
11 Sep 19452nd Bar to DSC
22 Mar 1949RD

Warship Commands listed for Robert Atkinson, RNR


ShipRankTypeFromTo
HMS Anemone (K 48)Lt.Corvette25 Feb 194222 Jul 1942
HMS Pink (K 137)Lt.Corvette20 Oct 194226 Feb 1944
HMS Tintagel Castle (K 399)Lt.Corvette1 Feb 19449 Jun 1945
HMS Tay (K 232)A/Lt.Cdr.Frigate25 Jun 1945Oct 1945 ?

Career information

We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.

Events related to this officer

Corvette HMS Pink (K 137)


16 Dec 1942
HMS Pink (Lt. R. Atkinson, DSC, RNR) picks up 7 survivors from the Norwegian tanker Bello that was torpedoed and sunk in the North Atlantic in position 51º45'N, 23º50'W by the German submarine U-610.

5 May 1943
HMS Pink (Lt. R. Atkinson, DSC, RNR) was part of the escort of convoy ONS-5. On May 4th, she had been detached from the convoy to become the only escort of four stragglers. On May 5th, they were 80 miles behind the convoy, when at 1154 AM a positive ASDIC echo was heard (range 2,200 yards). Atkinson, in spite of being short of fuel, decided to attack. The ship run over the target, and dropped 10 depth charges. The second attack was a salvo of 24 HedgeHog projectiles from an estimated range of 250 yards. A thrid attack consisted in another salvo of 10 depth charges, set at 250 and 385 feet. A fourth followed, this time set at 350 and 550 feet. As three large bubbles were seen 500 feet astern, Pink fired again the HedgeHog, but the projectiles failed as they exploded in contact with the sea surface. Then she made the last attack, ten depth charges set at 350, 550 and 700 feet. Fifteen minutes later an explosion was heard, and Atkinson thought he han sunk the sub. He was credited by the Admiralty with a "Probably Sunk", but in fact the target, that turned out to be U-358, although very severely damaged, could escape and make to base. Meanwhile, another u-boat, U-584, sunk the American merchant West Madaket that was under Pink's protection, making realize the young Atkinson (27) that perhaps he had been too stubborn to chase the submarine and giving up earlier to resume the protection duty could have been a better choice.


Corvette HMS Tintagel Castle (K 399)


10 Apr 1945
The German submarine U-878 was sunk in the Bay of Biscay west of St Nazaire, France in position 47.35N, 10.33W, by depth charges from the British destroyer HMS Vanquisher (A/Lt.Cdr. F.M. Osborne, DSC, RANVR) and the British corvette HMS Tintagel Castle (A/Lt.Cdr. R. Atkinson, DSC, RN).

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