Geoffrey Mainwaring Sladen DSO, DSC, RN
| Birth details unknown |
| Ranks
Retired: 7 Jul 1955 Decorations
|
Warship Commands listed for Geoffrey Mainwaring Sladen, RN
| Ship | Rank | Type | From | To |
| HMS Oswald (N 58) | Lt.Cdr. | Submarine | 2 Aug 1939 | Feb 1940 |
| HMS Trident (N 52) | Lt.Cdr. | Submarine | 18 Apr 1940 | 20 Mar 1942 |
| HMS Titania (F 32) | Cdr. | Submarine Depot Ship | 12 Jun 1942 | early 1943 |
| HMS Sheffield (24) | Cdr. | Light cruiser | 5 Aug 1944 | Nov 1944 |
| HMS Musketeer (G 86) | Cdr. | Destroyer | 20 Feb 1945 | Aug 1945 |
Career information
We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.
Events related to this officer
Submarine HMS Trident (N 52)
22 Apr 1940
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) departs Rosyth for her 8th war patrol. She is to patrol off the South and later of the South-West coast of Norway.
For the daily and attack positions of HMS Trident during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Trident 8th war patrolclick here for bigger map
25 Apr 1940
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) fires four torpedoes (2x2) against the German merchant Palime (2863 GRT, built 1937) or Pelikan (3464 GRT, built 1935) about 30 nautical miles south-west of Lindesnes, Norway in position 57º30'N, 06º10'E. All torpedoes fired missed their target.
0545 hours - Sighted a Southbound merchant ship in ballast.
0600 hours - Fired 2 torpedoes but these missed. Fired another two torpedoes but these also missed. Shortly after firing sighted two destroyers, turned to attack. Lost contact soon after sighting the destroyers.
2 May 1940
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) attacks and damages the German merchant Clare Hugo Stinnes 1 (5295 GRT, built 1935) with torpedoes and gunfire off the Björn fjord, Norway.
0926 hours - Sighted a German merchant ship. Started attack. Fired two torpedoes from 2500 yards. Both missed, most likely they ran under. Surfaced and fired a practice round and signalled the ship to stop. The ship however did not stop. Range was now 4500 yards and as the ship could not be overtaken before it entered the next fjord she was taken under fire with the deck gun. 70 Rounds were fired and the ship beached itself on Skorpa Island. A torpedo was fired with the intention for a hit amidships but the torpedo exploded on the rocks. Lt.Cdr. Sladen considered the ship to be a total loss and decided to clear the area as soon as possible.
The ship however was not a total loss and was salvaged.
4 May 1940
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) ends her 8th war patrol at Rosyth.
18 May 1940
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) departs Rosyth for her 9th war patrol. She is to patrol off the South coast of Norway.
For the daily positions of HMS Trident during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Trident 9th war patrolclick here for bigger map
4 Jun 1940
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) ends her 9th war patrol at Rosyth.
18 Jun 1940
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) departs Rosyth for her 10th war patrol. She is to patrol off the West coast of Norway.
For the daily positions of HMS Trident during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Trident 10th war patrolclick here for bigger map
24 Jun 1940
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) fires four torpedoes at the German oiler Dithmarschen (10816 GRT, built 1938) North-West of Trondheim, Norway in position 64º21'N, 09º12'E. The torpedoes however missed their target.
0310 hours - Sighted a seaplane to the Westward. This was thought to be a patrol but soon turned out to be an air escort.
0323 hours - Sighted a tanker escorted by two destroyers (These were the Z/14 Friedrich Ihn and Z/20 Karl Galster)
0332 hours - Fired four torpedoes at the tanker. Due to an error in communicating the spread all torpedoes missed their target. The attack was not observed dispite the nearest destroyer passing within 600 yards.
3 Jul 1940
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) ends her 10th war patrol at Rosyth.
17 Jul 1940
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) departs Rosyth for her 11th war patrol. She is to patrol off the West coast of Norway.
For the daily positions of HMS Trident during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Trident 11th war patrolclick here for bigger map
2 Aug 1940
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) ends her 11th war patrol at Rosyth.
23 Aug 1940
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) departs Rosyth bound for Scapa Flow.
24 Aug 1940
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) arrives at Scapa Flow.
25 Aug 1940
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) departs Scapa Flow for her 12th war patrol. She is to patrol off the West coast of Scotland on an anti-uboat patrol.
For the daily positions of HMS Trident during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Trident 12th war patrolclick here for bigger map
7 Sep 1940
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) ends her 12th war patrol at Rothesay.
9 Sep 1940
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) moves from Rothesay to Holy Loch.
10 Sep 1940
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) moves from Holy Loch to Ardrossan.
11 Sep 1940
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) is docked at Ardrossan for a short refit.
25 Sep 1940
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) is undocked.
26 Sep 1940
With her refit completed HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) moves from Ardrossan to Holy Loch.
29 Sep 1940
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) departs Holy Loch for her 13th war patrol. She is to patrol in the Bay of Biscay off Lorient.
For the daily and attack positions of HMS Trident during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Trident 13th war patrolclick here for bigger map
8 Oct 1940
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) attacks the German submarine U-31 with torpedoes in the Bay of Biscay about 15 nautical miles south of Lorient, France in position 47º28'N, 03º25'W. All torpedoes fired missed their target. U-31 is also taken under fire with the deck gun, one hit was claimed (but this was not the case).
0530 hours - The port look-out sighted a u-boat. Went to full ahead expecting Trident to be sighted as well. Trident was brought to a firing course.
0531 hours - Fired five torpedoes from 1500 yards (later it was leart that no.4 tube misfired, so actually only four torpedoes were fired) but these all missed.
0535 hours - Fired two torpedoes from 500 yards. Both missed.
0537 hours - Fired one torpedo but this one also missed. No.4 tube was now also fired but as Trident was turning this torpedo also missed.
0538 hours - Fire was opened with the deck gun. The second round was seen to hit the target at the base of the conning tower. The target was seen to be diving.
0538 hours - Dived. Listened for HE but nothing was heard.
0800 hours - On the scene of the attack echo contact was obtained on what was thought to be the wreck of the submarine.
Lt.Cdr. Sladen claimed the submarine sunk.
16 Oct 1940
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) ends her 13th war patrol at Holy Loch.
3 Nov 1940
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) departs Holy Loch for her 14th war patrol. She is to patrol in the Bay of Biscay.
For the daily positions of HMS Trident during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Trident 14th war patrolclick here for bigger map
21 Nov 1940
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, RN) ends her 14th war patrol at Holy Loch.
17 Dec 1940
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) departs Holy Loch for her 15th war patrol. She is to patrol off Punta Delgada in the Azores as a German invasion of the Azores is feared.
For the daily and attack positions of HMS Trident during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Trident 15th war patrolclick here for bigger map
27 Dec 1940
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) fires, in all, five torpedoes against a darkened ship that entered Punta Delgada, Azores. All five torpedoes missed their target. (The target later proved to be the Panamanian Bonita (4856 GRT, built 1918)
0337 hours - Sighted a darkened ship approaching from the Westward. From sparks coming out of its funnel it appeared to be making its best speed. Prepared to attack as the vessel made for the harbour. When abreast of the harbour entrance the vessel slowed down and continued to the Eastward. Returning later to stop in a position 155 degrees Delgada Lighthouse 2 nautical miles.
0748 hours - Closed the vessel to question her. At intervals between 0815 and 0850 hours she was signalled, in plain language, "what ship" and "sent boat with ship's papers". The vessel tried to keep astern of Trident at all times and at 0845 hours made for the harbour entrance. A warning shot was now fired across her bows that stopped her temporarily. A signal was now sent "Abandon ship i will sink you in five minutes. This resulted in the ship getting underway again. A second shot was now fired across her bows but to no effect. After firing this shot the gun malfuntioned as it failed to run out.
0900 hours - Fired no.5 and 6 tubes from 1000 yards. Both torpedoes missed.
0907 hours - Fired no.3 and 4 tubes from 900 yards. The torpedoes failed to discharge and no.1 and 2 tubes were fired instaid. Both torpedoes again missed the target and were later seen to explode on Delgada Point.
0911 hours - Fired no. 7 tube from 700 yards. It was seen to explode on the breakwater so this one also missed the target. Shortly after firing this torpedo a torpedo exploded close by on the bottom. This was the torpedo from no.3 tube that broke free.
0932 hours - Retired to the seaward.
16 Jan 1941
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) ends her 15th war patrol at Holy Loch.
20 Jan 1941
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) is docked at Troon for a refit.
18 Apr 1941
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) ends her refit at Troon. She arrives at Holy Loch the next day.
28 Apr 1941
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) departs Holy Loch for her 16th war patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the Bay of Biscay.
For the daily positions of HMS Trident during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Trident 16th war patrolclick here for bigger map
19 May 1941
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) ends her 16th war patrol at Holy Loch.
1 Jun 1941
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) departs Holy Loch for her 17th war patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the Bay of Biscay.
This was a blank patrol and as there is no log available for this period no map could be made.
20 Jun 1941
HMS Trident (Lt.Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) ends her 17th war patrol at Holy Loch.
11 Jul 1941
HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) departs Holy Loch for her 18th war patrol. She is ordered to patrol off Brest. It is believed that the German battlecruiser Scharnhorst is ready to depart that port.
This was a blank patrol and as there is no log available for this period no map could be made.
24 Jul 1941
HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) ends her 18th war patrol at Holy Loch.
1 Aug 1941
HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) departs Holy Loch bound for Polyarnoe, Russia.
For the daily positions of HMS Trident during this passage see the map below.
HMS Trident passage Holy Loch - Polyarnoeclick here for bigger map
10 Aug 1941
HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) arrives at Polyarnoe, Russia.
16 Aug 1941
HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) departs Polyarnoe, Russia for her 19th war patrol. She is to patrol off Northern Norway.
For the daily and attack positions of HMS Trident during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Trident 19th war patrolclick here for bigger map
19 Aug 1941
HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) damages the German merchant Levante (4769 GRT, built 1939) with gunfire east of Havoysund, Norway in position 71º01'N, 24º24'E.
(All times are zone -3)
1046 hours - Sighted a merchant vessel coming down Bret Sund from the Eastward. Commenced attack.
1103 hours - In position 71º01'N, 24º24'E fired two torpedoes from 650 yards at a 2500 tons merchant vessel. The attack drill did not went as it should have resulting in the torpedoes to miss the target.
1106 hours - Surfaced for gun action. The enemy immediately altered course. 21 rounds were fired for at least 5 hits before the enemy went out of sight. The enemy could not be followed as fire was now opened by shore batteries, the ship was making good speed and Trident would have the enter the fjord to deep with the danger of not being able to reach open water if she was counter-attacked. The attack was therefore broken off.
According to German sources 6 Norwegians were killed and one German was wounded.
21 Aug 1941
HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) attacks the German minelayer Bremse in Lopphavett with four torpedoes in position 70º12'N, 21º05'E. No hits were obtained.
Later Trident attacks the small Norwegian tanker Tripp (369 GRT, built 1939) with two torpedoes in position 70º09'N, 21º01'E. No hits were obtained.
(All times are zone -3)
0900 hours - Sighted a vessel bearing 050 degrees. This vessel was subsequently identified as the German Bremse. Started attack.
0924 hours - In position 70º12'N, 21º05'E fired four torpedoes from 1500 yards. All missed their target or ran under.
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1247 hours - Started an attacked on the small Norwegian tanker Tripp.
1255 hours - In position 70º09'N, 21º01'E fired two torpedoes from 1500 yards. Both torpedoes missed (most likely astern)
1325 hours - Set course to seaward.
22 Aug 1941
HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) torpedoes and sinks the German merchant Ostpreußen (3030 GRT, built 1920) in the Kvaenangenfjord, Norway in position 70º12'N, 21º05'E.
(All times are zone -3)
1527 hours - Sighted a convoy of 4 ships escorted by 2 trawlers. The convoy appeared to be in 2 lines. The German Ostpreußen was leading ship of the nearer line and had one of the trawlers ahead of her and what is thought to be a Norwegian merchant astern.
1600 hours - Fired five torpedoes from 600 yards against the Ostpreußen resulting in three hits.
1604 hours - Saw the trawlers closing. During the next 1,5 hours 9 depth charges were dropped but none were close.
1730 hours - Sound from the trawlers had disappeared so went to persicope depth.
1800 hours - Proceeded to seaward while still submerged.
The convoy was made up of the German Ostpreußen, Barcelona (3101 GRT, built 1921), Barmbeck (2446 GRT, built 1929) and Sivas (3831 GRT, built 1928). They were escorted by the German armed trawlers Franke (former HMS Larwood) and Nordkap.
30 Aug 1941
HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) torpedoes and sinks the German merchants Donau II (2931 GRT, built 1939) and Bahia Laura (8561 GRT, built 1918) in Lopphavet, Norway in position 70º35'N, 21º45'E.
(All times are zone -3)
1740 hours - Sighted the leading ships of a convoy to the West of Silden heading North. The convoy was soon seen to be made up of four ships in line ahead. They were escorted by two large destroyers and three trawlers and one He 115 aircraft overhead. Quite a strong escort so it was most likely a very valuable convoy. Commenced attack. The second ship was selected as the main target but as Lt.Cdr. Sladen had only two torpedoes left he decided to aim them individually at the second and third ship. During the setup for the attack the targets were shifted to the first and second ships. Also one of the destroyer passed very close by but Trident was not detected.
1814 hours - Fired the last two torpedoes against the selected ships from 700 yards. Both torpedoes were hits. The first hit after 48 seconds on a 1500 tons ship, the second after 50 seconds on a 3000 tons ships. Immediately after firing course was altered to seaward and speed was increased. During the next 2 hours and 15 minutes 56 depth charges were dropped. The first 45 of these were unpleasantly close.
2030 hours - Came to periscope depth. The only ships in sight were the full escort of the two destroyers and three trawlers, one merchant that appeared undamaged and one merchant stopped badly listed and with a large column of smoke rising from her. By her appearance this was the second ship fired at. As the aircraft was seen still searching Trident was taken to 70 feet and continued to seaward.
This convoy was made up besides the two ships given above and the German merchants August Bolten (3665 GRT, built 1937) and Cornouaille (3303 GRT, built 1928). They were escorted by the German destroyers Z 10 / Hans Lody and Z 20 / Karl Galster and the German armed trawlers UJ 1708, Gote and Franke. The armed trawlers UJ 1706 and UJ 1707 made an AS sweep ahead of the convoy.
3 Sep 1941
While returning to base at Polyarnoe, Russia, HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) is fired upon but missed by the German submarine U-566. The u-boat was spotted by Trident in position 69º59'N, 35º00'E but could not be attacked with torpedoes as there were none left aboard. It was not observed on board Trident that she was fired upon.
About six hours later Trident arrived at Polyarnoe ending her 19th war patrol.
16 Sep 1941
HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) departs Polyarnoe, Russia for her 20th war patrol. She is to patrol off Northern Norway.
For the daily and attack positions of HMS Trident during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Trident 20th war patrolclick here for bigger map
23 Sep 1941
HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) attacks the German merchant Christian Sinding (3076 GRT, built 1941) with three torpedoes in position 70º20'N, 21º17'E. All torpedoes missed their target.
(All times are zone -3)
1640 - Sighted what is thought to be a Wolf-class torpedo boat following a merchant vessel sighted earlier. The merchant vessel was of about 1000 tons and heavily camouflaged.
1655 hours - Fired three torpedoes from 5000 yards. No hits were obtained. Two of the torpedoes were heard to explode on the shore.
Trident proceeded to the seaward after the attack.
The composition of the convoy was the German merchant Christian Sinding (3076 GRT, built 1941), the German minesweeper tender Weser escorted by the R-boat (small minesweeper) R-154.
27 Sep 1941
HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) torpedoes and damages the German armed trawler UJ 1201 (the other vessel was UJ 1211) in position 70º49'N, 23º58'E. This ship was heavily damaged with 20 dead amongst her crew. The bow broke off and the stern was towed to Hammerfest. Later it was towed to Rostock, Germany for repairs that were only completed in April 1944.
(All times are zone -3)
0014 hours - H.E. reported bearing 268 degrees. Closed the shipping route.
0040 hours - Sighted what are thought to be merchant ships proceeding together.
0046 hours - Fired 6 torpedoes from 4000 yards.
0049 hours - The leading ship, thought to be of 1000 tons was hit by a torpedo.
0052 hours - Closed to gun the target but a ship was seen to turn towards and was now seen to be a trawler. As range was now under 2000 yards Trident dived. The trawler now hunted Trident and 6 depth charges were dropped very close causing minor damage.
0252 hours - After it was quiet for an hour Trident surfaced. A trawler was seen laying stopped about 5000 yards astern. A boat load of survivors was seen close by. The ship was still afloat but Cdr. Sladen was under the impression that it was sinking. Trident proceeded to the seaward as Cdr. Sladen did not want to dive again until he was in open water because both the gyro and magnetic compass were damaged in the depth charge attack.
30 Sep 1941
HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) fires three torpedoes against the German hospital ship Birka (1000 GRT, built 1937) in the Breidsundet about 4 nautical miles north-west of Havøysund, Norway in position 71º03'N, 24º34'E. All three torpedoes missed their target but only just missed the escorting R-boat R-154.
(All times are zone -3)
0945 hours - Sighted a merchant vessel of about 4000 tons rounding Gavloden Point Westwards. It was escorted by two R-boats.
1001 hours - Fired three torpedoes from 7000 yards. No hits were obtained. One of the R-boats dropped two depth charges a long way off. Trident now retired seawards to return to base.
This convoy was made up of the vessels mentioned above. German sources only mention the R-154 as escort.
3 Oct 1941
HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) ends her 20th war patrol at Polyarnoe, Russia.
30 Oct 1941
HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) departs Polyarnoe, Russia for her 21st war patrol. She is to patrol off Northern Norway. Trident has only 12 torpedoes on board. No external torpedoes were carried as there were problems with the supply of torpedoes to Northern Russia.
For the attack positions of HMS Trident during this patrol see the map below. No log is available so daily positions are not displayed on the map.
HMS Trident 21st war patrolclick here for bigger map
3 Nov 1941
During the second of two attacks on the same convoy HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) torpedoes and sinks the German auxiliary submarine chaser UJ 1213 / Rau IV (354 GRT, built 1937) in the Porsangerfjord in position 70º58'N, 26º08'E. The German merchant Altkirch (4713 GRT, built 1928) is missed in the first attack on this convoy.
(All times are zone -3)
In position 70º56'N, 26º10'E sighted a widely dispersed eastbound convoy with an escort of four trawlers. One ship, of 2000 tons, was close by, the rest was further away. The actual number of ships was impossible to distinguish as the ships were against the land and the periscope was continually being washed over.
0924 hours - Fired three torpedoes from 2500 yards at the closest merchant ship.
0929 hours - One torpedo was heard to hit. When the periscope was put up it was noted that the convoy was in confusion, ships were steering anywhere, but the ship fired at seemed unharmed. Shortly afterwards a few depth charges were dropped at random.
0938 hours - Further study of the situation was interfered with as one ship (of 2000 tons) was seen to be going to pass close by. At first it was thought to be the initial target but this was later seen to be not the case.
0947 hours - Fired two torpedoes from 1000 yards. 50 Seconds later an explosion was heard thought to be a torpedo hitting giving a running range of 780 yards. This explosion was quite different from the three other explosions heard shortly afterwards and to previous ones. Through the periscope the vessel appeared to be intact. During one look Cdr. Sladen thought she was settling by the stern but she was seen to be still afloat 10 minutes later. Trident now retired from the area.
According to German sources this convoy was made up of the following ships; German merchants Altkirch (4713 GRT, built 1928) and the Norwegian merchants (both in German control) Fjeld (2960 GRT, built 1916), Kløveren (428 GRT, built 1938). They were escorted by the German armed trawlers Rabe, Nordkap, Nordwind, UJ 1213 and UJ 1403.
4 Nov 1941
HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) attacks a convoy off the Porsangerfjord in position 71º05N, 26º51E. Four torpedoes were fired but no hits were obtained.
(All times are zone -3)
0945 hours - In position 71º05'N, 26º55'E sighted a convoy of three 3000/4000 tons merchant ships escorted by three M-class minesweepers. Started attack.
0951 hours - Trident had now penetrated the screen of the convoy.
1000 hours - One of the minesweepers turned towards and appeared to be in contact. Cdr. Sladen broke off the attack and altered course at full speed. The minesweeper dropped 20 depth charges in the next four minutes that shook Trident considerably. Trident retired from the scene.
1221 hours - In position 71º05N, 26º51E sighted masts bearing 202 degrees.
1245 hours - Saw that this was yesterday's convoy, four merchant ships and a number of trawlers. Also noted that it was headed by the ship we thought we had sunk yesterday. We must have hit something else (Cdr. Sladen was correct in this).
1312 hours - Fired four torpedoes at a 2500 tons ship from 6000 yards. No hits were obtained. Trident altered course to the seaward after the attack.
The first attack, the one that was spoiled, was against a convoy made up of the German merchants (4117 GRT, built 1927 and Graciella (no details found) and the Danish merchants (in German service) Schillighorn (2864 GRT, built 1918) and Utlandshorn (2642 GRT, built 1928). They were escorted by the German minesweepers M 15, M 17, M 22, M 29 and M 30.
The second attack was against the same convoy attacked the previous day, this time escorted by 'only' Rabe, Nordkap and Nordwind.
7 Nov 1941
HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) fires three torpedoes against the German minesweeper depot ship MRS 3 / Bali north of the Laksefjorden in position 71º06'N, 26º57'E. The torpedoes missed their target.
(All times are zone -3)
0240 hours - Sighted one merchant ship escorted by two trawlers approaching from the Westward.
0321 hours - Fired three torpedoes from 6500 yards.
0327 hours - The target was seen to alter course away and shortly afterwards an explosion was heard. Possibly she turned away to beach herself.
According to German sources this convoy was made up of the R-boat tender MRS 3 / Bali escorted by the armed trawlers UJ 1205 and UJ 1706. The target was not hit but missed.
9 Nov 1941
HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) ends her 21th war patrol at Polyarnoe, Russia.
15 Nov 1941
HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) departs Polyarnoe, Russia for her 22st war patrol and subsequent return passage to the U.K. En-route she is ordered to a patrol position North-West of the Lofoten.
This was a blank patrol and as there is no log available for this period no map could be made.
30 Nov 1941
HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) ends her 22th war patrol at Blyth. Trident is docked and taken in hand for a short refit.
20 Jan 1942
After a short refit HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSC, RN) departs Blyth for her 23th war patrol. She is ordered to patrol to the North of Trondheim.
For the daily positions of HMS Trident during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Trident 23th war patrolclick here for bigger map
5 Feb 1942
HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSO, DSC, RN) ends her 23th war patrol at Lerwick.
19 Feb 1942
HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSO, DSC, RN) departs Lerwick for her 24th war patrol. She is to patrol off Norway in the Trondheim area.
For the daily and attack positions of HMS Trident during this patrol see the map below.
HMS Trident 24th war patrolclick here for bigger map
23 Feb 1942
HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSO, DSC, RN) fires three torpedoes (7 was intended but only three were fired due to a failure in drill) against the German heavy cruisers Prinz Eugen and Admiral Scheer west of Kristiansund, Norway in position 63º12'N, 07º00'E. Prinz Eugen is hit in the stern with one torpedo but Admiral Scheer is missed.
0551 hours - Sighted dim shape bearing 252 degrees.
Soon it was seen that there were two large vessels escorted by three destroyers, one ahead and one on either beam. Before firing torpedoes it was seen that the leading ship was a pocket battleship and the other one was a cruiser. Decided to fire a salvo of seven torpedoes. The six internal bow torpedo tubes and no.8 external.
0602 hours - In position 63º12'N, 07º00'E fired the first torpedo from 2000 yards and after firing the third gave the order to dive as not to be spotted by the nearest destroyer. As Cdr. Sladen shut the hatch the first explosion was heard. A second explosion was heard half a minute later. On getting below Cdr. Sladen saw that the 'stop fire' light was burning and that the rating who works the order instrument had put on 'stop' on the order 'dive'. This was not noted by any officer as they were all busy with taking the boat below. By the time it was noticed by Cdr. Sladen only three torpedoes of the intended seven were fired and it would have been a waste of four torpedoes to fire the remainder of the salvo.
0607 hours - The HE of one of the vessels was heard to slow down and then cease.
0609 hours - HE of one of the destroyers came nearer but soon faded out.
0640 hours - After nothing was heard for a while Trident surfaced and an enemy report was passed.
The Admiral Scheer and Prinz Eugen were at the time of the attack escorted by only two destroyers. These were Z 7 / Hermann Schoemann and Z 25. The Z 4 / Richard Beitzen, Z 5 / Paul Jacobi and Z 14 / Friedrich Ihn had lost contact with the other ships in bad visibility.
19 Mar 1942
HMS Trident (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSO, DSC, RN) ends her 24th war patrol at Holy Loch.