| Navy | The Royal Navy |
| Type | Submarine |
| Class | U |
| Pennant | N 17 |
| Built by | Vickers Armstrong (Barrow-in-Furness, U.K.) |
| Ordered | 4 Sep 1939 |
| Laid down | 30 Oct 1939 |
| Launched | 19 Aug 1940 |
| Commissioned | 12 Dec 1940 |
| Lost | 6 May 1942 |
| Loss position | |
| History | HMS Urge (Lt.Cdr. Edward Philip Tomkinson, DSO and Bar, RN) left Malta on 27 April 1942. She failed to arrive at Alexandria on 6 May 1942 and was reported overdue on that day. On 29 April she attacked the Italian sailing vessel San Giusto off Ras Hilal: in the immediate area was a small convoy of 3 German MFPs, escorted by an Italian Cr.42 biplane. As the sub was engaged in the attack against the sailing vessel, she was dive-bombed and sunk by the plane. This is confirmed by witnesses on board the MFPs, any notion the TB Pegaso may have been involved is incorrect. |
Commands listed for HMS Urge (N 17)
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| Commander | From | To | |
| 1 | Lt. Edward Philip Tomkinson, RN | Dec 1940 ? | 6 May 1942 (+) |
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Noteable events involving Urge include:
Cari signori. mi permetto di precisare che all'affondamento del sommergibile URGE (28 aprile 1942) la torpediniera italiana PEGASO non ha partecipato assolutamente. Si tratta di un grave errore che, evidentemente, è sfuggito in uboat.net., e deve essere subito corretto. Probabilmente, il 14 aprile 1942, la PEGASO aveva dato il colpo di grazia all'UPHOLDER, forse già danneggiato due ore prima da aerei tedeschi (2 Bf. 110 della 8/ZG.26 e 2 Do.17 della 10/ZG.26), che avevano attaccato con le bombe un sommergibile in immersione, constatando subito dopo una macchia scura alla superficie del mare, evidentemente nafta. La ricostruzione dell'episodio dell'affondamento dell'URGE, ed anche quella della'ffondamento del'lUPHOLDER, da me pubblicata nel Bollettino d'Archivio dell'Ufficio Storico della Marina Militare (Roma), Dicembre 2001, p. 163-164, è stata inviata al Signor Brian Viglietti per la traduzione. Cordiali Saluti Francesco Mattesini
The above statement by Mr. Mattesini, naval historian accredited to the Italian Navy historical office, refers to the loss of Upholder and the translation can be found under that boat's heading.
18 Apr 1941
HMS Urge (Lt. E.P. Tomkinson, DSO, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian tanker Franco Martelli (10535 GRT) in the Bay of Biscay in position 46º31'N, 08º46'W. (see map)
20 May 1941
HMS Urge (Lt.Cdr. E.P. Tomkinson, DSO, RN) fires four torpedoes at the Italian merchant Capo Orso (3149 GRT) and the Italian tanker Superga (6154 GRT) off the east coast of Tunisia in position 35º44'N, 11º59'E. The torpedoes however miss their target.
(see map)
21 May 1941
HMS Urge (Lt.Cdr. E.P. Tomkinson, DSO, RN) fires four torpedoes at the Italian destroyer Alpino off the east coast of Tunisia in position 35º42'N, 12º24'E. The torpedoes however miss their target.
(see map)
9 Jun 1941
HMS Urge (Lt.Cdr. E.P. Tomkinson, DSO, RN) attacks the German merchant Ingo north-west of Lampedusa. The attack however fails.
29 Jun 1941
HMS Urge (Lt.Cdr. E.P. Tomkinson, DSO, RN) attacks the Italian heavy cruiser Bolzano with four torpedoes east of Sicily in position 37º55'N, 15º35'E. The torpedoes however miss their target.
At 0856 hours (time zone -2) two Italian heavy cruisers (these were Bolzano and Gorizia) escorted by four destroyers were sighted bearing 195º, distance six nautical miles, course 360º, speed 24 knots.
At 0914 hours four torpedoes were fired from 5000 yards at the leading cruiser. Two hits were heard and the British thought to have hit and sunk the cruiser. This was however not the case.
At 0921 hours the first of sixty-four depth charges was dropped but all depth charges were not close. At 1130 hours depth charging ceased. (see map)
2 Jul 1941
HMS Urge (Lt.Cdr. E.P. Tomkinson, DSO, RN) fires three torpedoes at ' what is identified as ' an armed merchant cruiser south of the Stait of Messina in position 37º48'N, 15º21'E. All torpedoes fired missed their target.
At 1355 hours (time zone -2) a merchant vessel of 4000-5000 tons escorted by an armed merchant cruiser of 9000 tons were sighted.
At 1410 hours four torpedoes were fired against the armed merchant cruiser from 3000 yards. 3 1/2 minutes later the British thought to hear one hit.
At 1419 hours two torpedoes were heard to explode on the shore. (see map)
26 Aug 1941
HMS Urge (Lt.Cdr. E.P. Tomkinson, DSO, RN) attacks the Italian tanker Pozarica (7751 GRT) with torpedoes off Marettimo Island, Italy. The enemy ship is not hit.
27 Aug 1941
HMS Urge (Lt.Cdr. E.P. Tomkinson, DSO, RN) torpedoes and damages the Italian passenger ship Aquitania (4971 GRT) 7 nautical miles bearing 13 from Punta Mignone.
29 Aug 1941
HMS Urge (Lt.Cdr. E.P. Tomkinson, DSO, RN) fires three torpedoes against the Italian troop transport Victoria (13098 GRT) off Capri Island, Italy. All three torpedoes missed their target.
22 Oct 1941
HMS Urge (Lt.Cdr. E.P. Tomkinson, DSO, RN) torpedoes and damages the Italian merchant Marigola (5996 GRT) off Kuriat, Tunisia in position 35º50'N, 11º06'E. The Marigolda was already grounded after being torpedoed by aircraft on 24 September 1941. (see map)
14 Dec 1941
HMS Urge (Lt.Cdr. E.P. Tomkinson, DSO and Bar, RN) torpedoes and damages the Italian battleship Vittorio Veneto about 10 nautical miles west-south-west of Capo dell'Armi in position 37º53N, 15º29'E. (see map)
1 Apr 1942
HMS Urge (Lt.Cdr. E.P. Tomkinson, DSO and Bar, RN) torpedoes and sinks the Italian light cruiser Giovanni delle Bande Nere (5200 tons) 11 nautical miles south-east of Stromboli, Italy.