George Chesterman Philipps DSO, RN
| Birth details unknown |
| Ranks
Retired: 22 Oct 1947 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for George Chesterman Philipps, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Ursula (N 59) | Lt.Cdr. | Submarine | 8 Nov 1937 | 7 Apr 1940 |
| HMS Talbot (F 06) | A/Capt. | Submarine Depot Ship | 15 Dec 1942 | 7 Jan 1944 |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Submarine HMS Ursula (N 59)
9 Sep 1939
The British submarine HMS Ursula (Lt.Cdr. G.C. Philipps, RN) fired the first British submarine torpedoes of the war when attacking the German submarine U-35 about 23 nautical miles north of the island of Schiermonnikoog, Netherlands in position 53º52'N 06º05'E. The U-boat escaped only to be sunk roughly 2 months later.
14 Dec 1939
Ursula was on patrol off the Elbe estuary and through her periscope her Commanding Officer, Lt.Cdr. G.C. Phillips, RN, sighted the German light cruiser, escorted by six 'destroyers'. Though the waters of the Elbe estuary are shallow and to dive deep is a dangerous undertaking involving the risk of getting stuck on a sandbank, Phillips had either to take the risk or to miss his attack. His decision was instantaneous and he took the Ursula down to dive beneath the destroyer screen and get within range of the cruiser. They were anxious moments, but fortunately the depth of water was just enough. On coming up again to periscope depth, Phillips found himself within point-blank range of the cruiser. He fired a salvo of six torpedoes and the two resulting explosions were so close that the Ursula herself was badly shaken. A quick glance through the periscope showed no sign of the cruiser that had been attacked, but it did reveal four of her escorting destroyers closing in at high speed to attack. One small escort, F 9, had been hit and was sinking. Once again, risking the sandbanks, the Ursula went deep and by skillful manipulation of his boat, Phillips managed to evade the inevitable depth charges.
Of the cruiser, Leipzig, no further trace was ever seen, but when Phillips brought the Ursula back to look for evidence, two of the destroyers were still in the area and engaged, apparently, in a search for survivors. Phillips was awarded the DSO and promoted.
21 Mar 1940
HMS Ursula (Cdr. G.C. Phillips, DSO, RN) torpedoes and sinks the German merchant Heddernheim (4947 GRT) in the Skaggerak about 10 nautical miles east-north-east of Skagen, Denmark in position 57º48'N, 10º53'E.