| Navy | The Royal Navy |
| Type | Submarine |
| Class | T |
| Pennant | N 53 |
| Built by | Vickers Armstrong (Barrow-in-Furness, U.K.) |
| Ordered | 8 Dec 1937 |
| Laid down | 24 Mar 1938 |
| Launched | 5 May 1939 |
| Commissioned | 16 Sep 1939 |
| Lost | 15 Oct 1940 |
| Loss position | 38.16N, 17.37E (See a map) |
| History | On 9 October 1940 Triad (Lt.Cdr. George Stevenson Salt, RN) sailed from Malta to operate in the Gulf of Taranto, with orders to reach Alexandria on completion of her patrol and was never heard from again. Long believed to have been lost in a minefield, new evidence points to Triad having been the boat engaged and sunk on the night of 15 October by the Italian submarine Enrico Toti in position 38º16'N, 17º37'E. Analysis of Triad's movements and Toti's action At 0100 hrs of 15 October, the Italian submarine Enrico Toti (Lt.Cdr Bandino Bandini) sighted a large submarine 1,000 metres to port: both boats maneuvered into attack position but the British opened fire first, scoring 2 hits, one on the CT, the other on the bow. She also fired a torpedo which Bandini avoided by turning, then closed the enemy at best speed, firing with everything available. Soon, mg fire compelled the British gunners to abandon the exposed deck. As the British started to dive, Toti fired a torpedo & also scored 2 shell hits. The boat rose vertically then disappeared without survivors. The entire action had lasted less than 30 minutes According to Toti's log, the action took place in position 38º16'N, 17º37'E, locating it 5 nm inside Triad's area and 5 nm outside the western limit of Rainbow. Since Rainbow had been ordered to leave the area on 13 October, she would have been gone 26-30 hrs before the action described above. Even at the modest speed of 6 kn, Rainbow would have been 200 nm away from the spot at the time of the action. It is therefore postulated that the only boat in Toti's vicinity was Triad, and she was the Italian boat's victim. See Rainbow's entry for an examination of her movements and likely cause of loss. |
Commands listed for HMS Triad (N 53)
Please note that we're still working on this section.
| Commander | From | To | |
| 1 | Lt.Cdr. Ronald McClellan Powning Jonas, RN | 2 Apr 1939 | 27 Feb 1940 |
| 2 | Lt.Cdr. Eric Roland John Oddie, RN | 27 Feb 1940 | 15 Aug 1940 |
| 3 | Lt.Cdr. George Stevenson Salt, RN | 15 Aug 1940 | 15 Oct 1940 (+) |
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Noteable events involving Triad include:
The page for this submarine is currently (February 2012 and onwards) being updated.
16 Sep 1939
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN) departs her builders yard at Barrow for Portsmouth. She is escorted by HMS Shikari (Cdr. J.H. Lewis, RN).
18 Sep 1939
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN) arrives at Portsmouth to begin a period of trials and training.
29 Sep 1939
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN) departs Portsmouth for Portland, where she is to conduct torpedo trials. She arrives at Portland later the same day.
5 Oct 1939
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN) departs Portland for Portsmouth where she arrived after a few hours.
8 Oct 1939
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN) departs Portsmouth for Dundee.
10 Oct 1939
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN) arrives at Dundee.
14 Oct 1939
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN) departs Dundee for Rosyth where she arrived after a few hours.
At 1705 hours Triad departed Rosyth for her 1st war patrol. She is to patrol off the South coast of Norway.
5 Nov 1939
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN) ends her 1st war patrol at Rosyth.
18 Nov 1939
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN) departs Rosyth for her 2nd war patrol. She is ordered to patrol off the South coast of Norway.
27 Nov 1939
At 0015 hours, in very heavy weather and rough seas, HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN), while in position 58º45'N, 05º23'E, developes problems with her after hydroplanes. The result of these problems is that she was not under control. Repairs could not be made and after a few hours a signal was made to base requisting a tow and escort.
At 1100 hours three Hudson aircraft arrived on the scene and patrolled overhead.
At 1500 hours the destroyers HMS Inglefield (Capt. P. Todd, RN) and HMS Maori (Cdr. G.N. Brewer, RN) arrived on the scene.
At 1615 hours Triad was taken in tow by HMS Inglefied, however at 1800 hours the tow parted and efforts to resume towing failed.
28 Nov 1939
0900 hours - Triad was taken in tow by HMS Inglefield (Capt. P. Todd, RN) at a speed of 4 knots.
1140 hours - The Admiralty ordered the ships to proceed into Norwegian waters. Triad was to effect repairs in neutral waters.
28 Nov 1939
Several attempts to connect a towline from HMS Inglefield (Capt. P. Todd, RN) to HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN) were made but all failed due to the very heavy weater and rough seas.
At 0900 hours Triad was ordered to proceed astern up wind. A speed of two knots could be maintained.
At 0940 hours - Three Hudson aircraft arrived to provide cover.
29 Nov 1939
0545 hours - HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN), towed by HMS Inglefield (Capt. P. Todd, RN) and escorted by HMS Maori (Cdr. G.N. Brewer, RN) arrived in Norwegian waters.
Around 0730 hours all ships anchored in Mastra Fjord. After talks with Norwegian officals permission was granted that Triad could make repairs to her after hydroplanes.
1636 hours - Triad was taken in tow by a tug to Stavanger where she arrived at 2011 hours.
1 Dec 1939
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN) is put on the slip, stern first, at Stavanger, Norway. As the slipway could not accomodate ships over 1000 tons, Triad is only partially out of the water.
2 Dec 1939
At 1422 hours HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN) is put back in the water. She departs for Rosyth immediately.
4 Dec 1939
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN) ends her 2nd war patrol at Rosyth.
5 Dec 1939
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN) is docked at Rosyth for repairs.
12 Dec 1939
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN) is undocked.
13 Dec 1939
Upon completion of the repairs to her aft hydroplanes HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN) departs Rosyth for her 3rd war patrol. This is a short patrol in the North Sea.
15 Dec 1939
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN) ends her 3rd war patrol at Rosyth.
16 Dec 1939
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN) departs Rosyth for convoy escort duties. She is part of the escort of convoy ON-5 from Methyl to Norway. Other ships of the escort force were HMS Afridi (Capt. G.H. Creswell, DSC, RN), HMS Nubian (Cdr. R.W. Ravenhill, RN) and HMS Maori (Cdr. G.N. Brewer, RN).
HMS Mohawk (Cdr. J.W.M. Eaton, RN) joined at sea on 18 December.
19 Dec 1939
Convoy ON-5 arrived in Norwegian waters. As convoy HN-5 was delayed for 48 hours the destroyers proceeded to Sollom Voe, Shetland Islands, to refuel. In the meantime Triad would conduct a patrol off the Frøysjøen Fjord.
21 Dec 1939
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN) joins convoy HN-5 from Norway to Methil. Escort was provided by HMS Afridi (Capt. G.H. Creswell, DSC, RN), HMS Nubian (Cdr. R.W. Ravenhill, RN), HMS Maori (Cdr. G.N. Brewer, RN) and HMS Mohawk (Cdr. J.W.M. Eaton, RN). HMS Escapade (Cdr. H.R. Graham, RN) later joined at sea.
24 Dec 1939
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN) arrives at Rosyth.
14 Jan 1940
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN) departs Rosyth for her 4th war patrol. She is ordered to patrol off the South coast of Norway and in the Skagerrak / Kattegat.
28 Jan 1940
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN) ends her 4th war patrol at Rosyth.
11 Feb 1940
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN) departs Rosyth for her 5th war patrol. She is ordered to patrol off the South coast of Norway.
26 Feb 1940
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, RN) ends her 5th war patrol at Rosyth.
28 Feb 1940
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) is docked at Rosyth.
2 Mar 1940
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) is undocked.
13 Mar 1940
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) departs Rosyth for her 6th war patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the North Sea and Skagerrak.
27 Mar 1940
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) ends her 6th war patrol at Rosyth.
8 Apr 1940
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) departs Rosyth for her 7th war patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the Skagerrak.
11 Apr 1940
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) torpedoes and sinks the German troop transport Ionia (3102 GRT, built 1922) in the Skagerrak south of the Oslofjord, Norway in position 58º30'N, 10º35'E.
0630 hours - Commenced attack on 4000 tons merchant vessel in position 58.55'N, 10.32E'. The second torpedo fired hit the target.
Triad was hunted by A/S trawlers during the whole day. (see map)
14 Apr 1940
While patrolling off the Oslo Fjord, an area that was heavily patrolled by German A/S vessels and aircraft, HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) attacks a convoy of two merchant vessel escorted by a destroyer and later a destroyer with torpedoes. Both attacks however failed to produce hits on the targets.
1748 hours - In position 58º49'N, 10º45'E fired two torpedoes against two merchant vessels escorted by a destroyer. Range was very long, 12000 yards. No hits were obtained.
2130 hours - Surfaced.
2204 hours - Sighted a destroyer in position 58º44'N, 10º19'E. Fired two torpedoes. Range was 2 nautical miles. No hits were obtained.
2205 hours - Dived. Another ship, possibly a cruiser passed overhead.
15 Apr 1940
While charging the batteries on the surface HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) is detected by an enemy surface vessel. Triad dived and was depth charged.
2312 hours - In position 58º43'N, 09º50'E two flares were fired into the air about one nautical mile away. Triad dived and was subsequently depth charged. Eight charges were dropped, all were fairly close.
0047 hours (16th) - Surfaced.
These events had most likely something to do with the sinking of the German gunnery training ship Brummer that was torpedoed and sunk by HMS Sterlet around that time. Brummer was escorted by the Torpedo boats Falke, Jaguar and the sloop F 5.
19 Apr 1940
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) fires four torpedoes against 'what was thought to be' the German depot ship Tsingtau in the Skagerrak south of the Oslofjord in position 58º18'N, 10º49'E. All torpedoes fired however missed their target.
0445 hours - Sighted ' what was thought to be the German depot ship Tsingtau escorted by four A/S trawlers. Started attack.
0459 hours - In position 58º18'N, 10º49'E fired four torpedoes from 9000 yards. All missed. (see map)
20 Apr 1940
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) attacks a German convoy with six torpedoes. One or two hits were claimed.
0930 hours - Sighted a convoy of three ships escorted by four destroyers and one MTB.
1008 hours - Near position 58º14'N, 10º50'E fired six torpedoes from 2700 yards. Triad went deep upon firing. One or two hits were claimed.
1020 hours - Depth charging started. They were quite close causing some minor damage. Triad retired to the South ot slow speed. HE slowly faded away.
Triad had now expanded all torpedoes.
23 Apr 1940
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) ends her 7th war patrol at Rosyth.
6 May 1940
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) departs Rosyth for her 8th war patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the North Sea to the North-West of the Dutch coast.
9 May 1940
At 0047 hours HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) sighted a submarine on the surface in position 53º22'N, 03º36'E. This was thought to be the French submarine Calypso (Lieutenant de Vaisseau (= Lt.) J.M. Petit).
In fact it was the German submarine U-7 that also reported sighting a submarine at 0145 hours (zone +1 = German time) in position 53º21N, 03º45'E. (see map)
18 May 1940
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) ends her 8th war patrol at Rosyth.
29 May 1940
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) departs Rosyth for her 9th war patrol. She is ordered to patrol in the North Sea to the North-West of the Dutch coast.
12 Jun 1940
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) ends her 9th war patrol at Rosyth.
15 Jun 1940
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) is docked at Rosyth.
19 Jun 1940
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) is undocked.
27 Jun 1940
HMS Triad (Lt.Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, RN) departs Rosyth for her 10th war patrol. She is ordered to patrol off the West coast of Norway, near Trondheim.
13 Jul 1940
HMS Triad (Cdr. E.R.J. Oddie, DSO, RN) ends her 10th war patrol at Rosyth.
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