Arthur John Wright Pitt DSO, RN
| Birth details unknown |
| Ranks
Retired: 8 Sep 1949 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for Arthur John Wright Pitt, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS H 33 (N 33) | Lt. | Submarine | 5 Jul 1941 | 10 Dec 1941 |
| HMS Taku (N 38) | Lt. | Submarine | 11 Oct 1942 | 6 May 1944 |
| HMS Trident (N 52) | Lt. | Submarine | ca mid 44 | 20 Jan 1945 |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Submarine HMS Taku (N 38)
12 Oct 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departs Beirut for Port Said.
14 Oct 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrives at Port Said where she is docked.
19 Oct 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) is undocked.
21 Oct 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departs Port Said for her 19th war patrol. She is to patrol in the Aegean.
For HMS Taku's daily positions during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Taku 19th war patrolclick here for bigger map
24 Oct 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) damages a Greek caique with gunfire west of Kos, Greece in position 220 degrees Kandeliusa Light 7 nautical miles.
(All times are zone -3) 1046 hours - Sighted masts of a caique bearing 120 degrees, distance about 4 nautical miles through the periscope. Altered course to investigate.
1129 hours - Range was now 2500 yards. Saw that the caique was about 50 tons. Decided to attack with the gun.
1137 hours - Surfaced on the starboard quarter of the caique crossing his stern at 1600 yards. The third shot brought down her foresail. As the smoke from the gun was clouding the caique ceased fire and shifted to her port bow and reopened fire. It was then observed that the crew had not abandoned ship. Ceased fire to allow them to do so but the crew did not do so. They were ordered to abandon ship which they started to do except for 'Granpa'. Meanwhile they held up the mangled remains of one of the crew. Lt. Pitt considered that in name of humanity to let them go.
1152 hours - Dived in position 220 degrees Kandeliusa Light 7 nautical miles.
25 Oct 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) attacks the Italian tanker Arca (2238 GRT, built 1885) off Chios, Greece. The torpedoes fired however missed their target.
(All times are zone -3) 2304 hours - In position 38º48'N, 25º46'E sighted tanker and escort (This was the Italian destroyer Quintino Sella) bearing 285 degrees, 8 nautical miles. Closed at speed to attack.
2328 hours - Fired four torpedoes from 4000 yards. Dived. No hits were obtained.
2331 hours - First two of eleven depth charges were dropped. These were not close.
0015 hours (26th) - Came to periscope depth, northing in sight. Surfaced and set of in pursuit.
26 Oct 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian tanker Arca (2238 GRT) south-west of Chios, Greece in position 38º04'N, 25º27'E.
(All times are zone -3)
0740 hours - In position 38º04'N, 25º27'E sighted escort vessel (This was the Italian destroyer Quintino Sella) through the periscope.
0750 hours - Sighted the tanker well inshore of the escort and difficult to distinguish against the land.
0804 hours - Fired four torpedoes from 4000 yards. Went to 70 feet. 3min28sec after firing the first torpedo heard one explosion. Followed by two more explosions thought to be depth charges.
0814 hours - Came to periscope depth and saw that the tanker had been hit forward and that the foremast had fallen. She was down by the bows. Her boats were away and the escort vessel had gone off to the South. Started to get in position to pud a 2nd torpedo into the target if needed.
0839 hours - While at 50 feet heard breaking up noises and on return to periscope depth it was noted that she indeed had sunk.
0846 hours - An aircraft arrived at the scene so went to 70 feet. Set course to the East to clear the area.
27 Oct 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) chases the small Greek merchant ship Sifnos (315 GRT, built 1891) and fires at it with the deck gun, the ship however manages to escape. Following this chase Taku sinks the Greek Caique Lora (121 GRT) with gunfire off the Gulf of Kassandra, Greece.
(All times are zone -3)
1645 hours - Sighted a small merchant vessel of about 200 tons coming out of the Gulf of Kassandra course 110 degrees. Decided to attack with the gun but had to wait until he rounded Cape Drepano.
1727 hours - Surfaced when the target rounded the Cape and opened fire from 6000 yards. A chase followed and the small merchant was very well handled. In the end she managed to escape without being hit. About a mile to starboard a caique had lowered it sails and no doubt by staying very still hoped to be forgotten in the general excitement. Attention was now paid to this vessel. The caique was quickly sunk with gunfire.
Dived to 80 feet and cleared the area.
31 Oct 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) fires three torpedoes against the Italian tanker Cerere (1267 GRT, built 1915) about 10 nautical miles south of Cape Sounio, Greece in position 37º30'N, 24º03'E. All torpedoes fired missed their target.
(All times are zone -3)
0940 hours - Smoke sighted bearing 335 degrees and soon after saw two aircraft on the same bearing.
1011 hours - Masts appearing above the horizon. The convoy we had been warned about turned out to be one 5000 ton MV, one 3500 ton MV and one 1500 ton MV. They were escorted by a destroyer and two other escort vessels. Astern of the convoy was a hospital ship. Manouvered into attack position
1056 hours - Fired three torpedoes from 6500 yards. It was intended to fire four torpedoes but Taku lost trim and went deep. At 5min13sec after firing the first torpedo a loud explosion was heard which was correct for a running range of 6500 yards. Five depth charges were dropped, all distant but HE was heard fairly close so Lt. Pitt ordered Taku to 150 feet.
1155 hours - Came to periscope depth and could see no trace of the target.
1205 hours - Sighted the convoy again mines the largest MV and the hospital ship. They were hull down and Lt. Pitt decided to ran in for 10 minutes at full speed for another shot. During these 10 minutes the crew managed to reload one of the torpedo tubes.
1237 hours - Fired two torpedoes (three was intented but there was a miscommunication). Four minutes after firing three depth charges were heard followed by five patters of two depth charges. The third pattern was rather close and shook Taku but no damage was done. HE was kept astern as Taku crept away slowly.
According to Italian sources this convoy was made up of the following ships: Italian Galiola (1357 GRT, built 1917) and tanker Cerere (1267 GRT, built 1915) with German merchant Ardena (1092 GRT, built 1915) escorted by the Italian torpedo boats Lira, Calatafimi and Solferino.
12 Nov 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) ends her 19th war patrol at Port Said.
13 Nov 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) is docked.
17 Nov 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) is undocked.
24 Nov 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departs Port Said for Beirut.
26 Nov 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrives at Beirut.
9 Dec 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departs Beirut for her 20th war patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the Aegean. She is also to perform a special operation.
For HMS Taku's daily positions during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Taku 20th war patrolclick here for bigger map
14 Dec 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian tanker Delfin (5322 GRT, built 1918) in the Aegean Sea about 5 nautical miles north of Macrosini island, Greece in position 37º52'N, 24º06'E.
(All times are zone -3) 1115 hours - Sighted an aircraft patrolling to the South.
1140 hours - In position 37º50'N, 24º07'E sighted smoke of two ships to the South. Commenced attack.
The convoy turned out to be a 5000 ton MV that was escorted by steam yacht of about 300 tons. This yacht was about 700 yards ahead of the MV. Two aircraft were escorting the convoy.
1226 hours - Fired two torpedoes from 750 yards. 33 seconds after firing a loud torpedo explosion was heard. The HE of the ship continued for about 15sec. but then it stopped and was followed by breaking up noises. A minute and a half after firing a depth charge was dropped.
1242 hours - Asdic transmissiones were heard.
1245 hours - The escort dropped the first of eleven depth charges in a line with three second intervals. These depth charges were unpleasantly close. Taku was shaken considerably but only light damage was done. Five more depth charges were dropped but these were not as close as the first eleven.
1337 hours - Another eleven depth charges were dropped. These were as close as the first eleven dropped at 1245 hours. After these one other depth charge was dropped. This was the last one. Taku now managed to slip away although it took the rest of the day.
German sources however mentions that Delfin was not escorted and that the auxiliary submarine chaser UJ-2102 was sent to the area to hunt the submarine after Delfin was sunk.
20 Dec 1942
At 2340 hours HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) lands three Greek agents 200 yards from Nisia Rocks (near psotion 38°40'N, 23°54'E). One was captured and talked because the Germans learned the identity of the
submarine (Abwehr files make reference to it).
22 Dec 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) heavily damages the Greek caique (in German service) Niki (150 GRT) with gunfire in the Potidea Channel in position 40°13'N, 23°19'E.
(All times are zone -3)
1200 hours - A two-masted caique of about 150 tons was seen leaving the canal. Closed to attack.
1257 hours - Surfaced 1800 yards on the port quarter and opened direct fire. The second shot hit and the occupants jumped overboard (these included German soldiers). 21 rounds were fired for 15 hits. The caique was now on fire.
1303 hours - Dived and withdrew to the South-West.
According to German sources Niki was damaged and abandoned, of the 10 German soldiers on board 2 were killed and the other 8 wounded. The wreck was later found drifting and was towed to Salonica.
23 Dec 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) bombards the harbour of Kymi, Greece. 26 rounds were fired. A warehouse and several ships were hit.
Italian sources give the following: Agios Nikolaos / Volos 150 was sunk, Evangelistria / Piraeus 860 was heavily damaged, the Agios Nicolaus / Syros 552 was slightly damaged. One Italian soldier was wounded.
26 Dec 1942
At 0602 hours (zone -3) HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) carried out a special reconnaissance of Cape Skyli, this was actually for Operation 'Locksmith' (blocking the Corinth Canal).
More information on the attempts to block the Corinth Canal will be found in the book "Operation Locksmith and the attempts to block the Corinth Canal 1940-1944" by Mr. Platon Alexiades. (This book is in progress and not published yet)
27 Dec 1942
While on patrol of the Zea Channel, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) fires five torpedoes against a 1500 ton ship in position 37º32'N, 24º14'E. All torpedoes fired missed their target.
(All times are zone -3) 0450 hours - In position 37º32'N, 24º14'E sighted a small MV. Started attack and closed at speed on the motors.
0512 hours - Three torpedoes out of a salvo of four were fired. Before firing the fourth torpedo Lt. Pitt realised that the ship was much closer then he thought. Now the fourth torpedo was fired but this one also missed as had the first three.
0515 hours - Fired the stern torpedo but this one also missed, passing close to the targets port side.
0518 hours - proceeded on both engines to pursui the ship and gun her. The ship was seen to be of 1500 tons, 2 masts and one funnel with the bridge in front of it and having two holds.
0530 hours - The ship opened fire with her stern gun. As there was only half an hour to go before Taku had to submerge for the day and it was impossible to overtake the ship before that the action had to be broken off.
According to Italian sources this was the Italian merchant Bucintoro (1326 GRT, built 1909)
1 Jan 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) ends her 20th war patrol at Beirut.
17 Jan 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departs Beirut for Malta. Taku is to return to the U.K. for refit and repairs to the engines that continued to give problems during the last two war patrols.
HMS Taku passage Beirut - Gibraltarclick here for bigger map
24 Jan 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrives at Malta.
6 Feb 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departs Malta for Algiers.
11 Feb 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrives at Algiers.
12 Feb 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departs Algiers for Gibraltar.
15 Feb 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrives at Gibraltar.
17 Feb 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departs Gibraltar bound for the U.K. Enroute she is to patrol for a few days in the Bay of Biscay making this her 21th war patrol.
For HMS Taku's daily positions during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Taku 21st war patrolclick here for bigger map
2 Mar 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) ends her 21th war patrol at Plymouth.
3 Mar 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departs Plymouth for Portsmouth. Due to the bad weather the passage is abandoned and Taku and her escort put into Dartmouth.
4 Mar 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departs Dartmouth to continue her passage to Portsmouth where she arrives later this day.
18 May 1943
Because there is no dockyard capacity available for refit Taku is used for training and excersises out of Portsmouth and Plymouth. On 18 May 1943 HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) finally arrives at Troon, Scotland to begin her refit.
1 Oct 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) ends her refit at Troon. She departs for Holy Loch, where she arrives later this day, to begin a period of trials and excersises.
2 Jan 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departs Lerwick for her 22th war patrol. She is to make a anti-uboat patrol in the Norwegian Sea.
For HMS Taku's daily positions during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Taku 22st war patrolclick here for bigger map
15 Jan 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) ends her 22th war patrol at Lerwick.
2 Feb 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departs Lerwick for her 23th war patrol. She is to patrol off Norway near Stavanger.
For HMS Taku's daily positions during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Taku 23th war patrolclick here for bigger map
7 Feb 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) torpedoes and sinks the German merchant Rheinhausen (6298 GRT, built 1912) in position 59º07'N, 05º37'E.
(All times are zone -1)
1010 hours - Sighted a Northbound convoy. Went to full submerged speed for 8 minutes to get into a firing position.
1024 hours - Fired four torpedoes from 3500 yards and went to 80 feet. 40 Seconds after firing the first torpedo an explosion was heard, most likely a premature. 2 Minutes and 24 seconds after firing the first torpedo another explosion was heard. 15 Depth charges were dropped by the escort but these were not close and Taku was never detected.
1124 hours - Came to periscope depth. Two trawlers and one aircraft were seen about two mile away. The target was seen to be stopped and on fire and with her boats away. Ten minutes later it was seen that the bow rose high out of the water. Five minutes later she had sunk and breaking up noises were heard. It was now seen that the convoy was made up of a 6000 ton ship (that was sunk), a 4000 ton ship, four 3000 tonners. Two escorts were seen but there were probably more. Taku reloaded and withdraw to the seaward.
According to German sources the Rheinhausen was carrying 9000 tons of coal, the other vessels in convoy were the German merchants Isle Fritzen (5099 GRT, built 1922) and Wachtel (992 GRT, built 1924), the Norwegian merchants Maurita (1569 GRT, built 1925), Roald Jarl (1404 GRT, built 1913) and the Swedish merchant Vega (1073 GRT, built 1913). They were escorted by NS-22, NS-09, NS-24 and V-5110. The whole crew of the Rheinhausen (including two wounded) was saved by NS-22.
12 Feb 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) torpedoes and heavily damages the German merchant Harm Fritzen (4818 GRT, built 1915) off the Bømmelfjord (Now called Bømlafjord). The ship was run aground to prevent it from sinking. The ship was later salvaged.
(All times are zone -1)
1125 hours - Sighted a merchant of about 3000 tons and one escort Northbound in the direction of Haugesund. The escort was astern.
1154 hours - Fired four torpedoes from 1200 yards and went to 80 feet. 1min2sec After firing the first torpedo heard and exlosion followed very shortly by loud and pronounced breaking up noises. Three depth charges were dropped but these were not close and Taku was not detected.
13 Feb 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) torpedoes and sinks the German merchant Hans Bornhofen (2130 GRT, built 1905) in the Boknafjorden, 8 nautical miles south of Skudeneshavn, Norway in position 59º08'N, 05º24'E.
(All times are zone -1)
1624 hours - Sighted a Southbound convoy of two 3000 ton merchants, two 1500 ton merchants and four escorts coming down Karm Sund towards Stavanger. Started attack.
1703 hours - Fired four torpedoes at the leading 3000 ton merchant ship from 1500 yards and went to 80 feet. About 70-75 seconds after firing the first torpedo three explosions were heard. Taku meanwhile retired to the seaward.
1737 hours - Came to periscope depth. Three trawlers and one aircraft were seen close by. Went deep again.
According to German sources this convoy was made up of the German merchants Hans Bornhofen (2130 GRT, built 1905) and Uhlenhorst (3741 GRT, built 1909) and the small Danish merchant Gottfred Hansen (394 GRT, built 1931). They were escorted by NS-21 and V-5108.
18 Feb 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) ends her 23th war patrol at Lerwick.
16 Mar 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departs Lerwick for her 24th war patrol. She is ordered to patrol off Norway in the Trondheim area. She is to intercept the German battleship Tirpitz that is possibly leaving Norway for repairs in Germany. Taku was part of 'Operstion Foremost'in which a whole lot of Allied submarines were placed along the coast of Norway to intercept the Tirpitz if she came South. As of 2300 hours on the 20th she is also to attack enemy shipping as Tirpitz was not going to Germany after all.
For HMS Taku's daily positions during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Taku 24th war patrolclick here for bigger map
24 Mar 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) fires 5 torpedoes against a tanker in a German convoy about 25 nautical miles west of Namsos, Norway in position 64º33'N 10º37'E. The German merchant Moshill (2959 GRT, former Norwegian) was missed in this attack.
(All times are zone -1)
0630 hours - Sighted 2 aircraft circling bearing 190 degrees and very distant. Obviously escorting a convoy. Started attack.
0826 hours - Finally saw the target, a large tanker of about 10000 tons.
0833 hours - Fired the first of six torpedoes from 3500 yards and went to 80 feet.
0836 hours - One torpedo hit was heard. Also a depth charge exploded very close by causing minor damage through which Taku ended up at 280 feet. This depth charge was most likely dropped by one of the escorting aircraft. No more depth charges were dropped after this single one.
1000 hours - No HE was heard so came to periscope depth. Nothing in sight except a few fishing vessel. Withdrew to the Westward and reloaded the torpedo tubes.
According to German sources Moshill was escorted by the minesweeper M-132.
30 Mar 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) ends her 24th war patrol at Lerwick.
10 Apr 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departs Lerwick for her 25th war patrol. She is to patrol in the Skagerrak.
For HMS Taku's daily positions during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Taku 25th war patrolclick here for bigger map
13 Apr 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) is damaged when a mine explodes overhead. The patrol has to be abandoned.
(All times are zone -1)
0248 hours - Dived in position 57º30'N, 07º20'E to pass under the Skagerrak mine barrier at 220 feet.
0754 hours - In position 57º34'N, 07º42'E a very loud explosion occured overhead. Quite some damage was done and Lt. Pitt eventually decided to abandon patrol and proceed back to Lerwick.
16 Apr 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) ends her 25th war patrol prematurely at Lerwick. The damaged Taku is assigned to training duties after repairs/refit.
Submarine HMS Trident (N 52)
11 Oct 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) departs Holy Loch bound for Gibraltar. She is to proceed to the far east.
28 Oct 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) departs Gibraltar bound for Malta.
3 Nov 1944
HMS Trident (A/Lt.Cdr. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) arrives at Malta.
16 Nov 1944
HMS Trident (A/Lt.Cdr. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) departs Malta bound for Port Said.
20 Nov 1944
HMS Trident (A/Lt.Cdr. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) arrives at Port Said. She transits the Suez Canal and arrives at Suez later on this day.
21 Nov 1944
HMS Trident (A/Lt.Cdr. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) departs Suez bound for Aden.
26 Nov 1944
HMS Trident (A/Lt.Cdr. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) arrives at Aden.
28 Nov 1944
HMS Trident (A/Lt.Cdr. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) departs Aden bound for Trincomalee.
10 Dec 1944
HMS Trident (A/Lt.Cdr. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) arrives at Trincomalee. Trident arrived at Trincomalee with serious engine defects that took five months to correct and drove the repair staff of the submarine flotilla crazy.