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Submarine HMS H 33 (N 33)

28 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted post-refit trials off Sheerness. (1)

1 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed Sheerness for Rothesay. She was escorted by HMS Garth (Lt.Cdr. E.H. Dyke, RN) until near Dungeness. Thence unescorted until she made rendez-vous near the Lizard at 1930/5 with HMS White Bear (Cdr.(Retd.) C.C. Flemming, RN) for onward passage under escort to Rothesay. (2)

7 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Rothesay. (2)

9 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted torpedo firing trials / exercises in the Clyde area. (2)

10 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (2)

11 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed Rothesay for Londonderry. She was escorted by HMS Northern Gem (Skr.Lt. W.J.V. Mullender, DSC, RNR). (2)

12 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Londonderry. (2)

14 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (2)

15 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (2)

16 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (2)

17 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (2)

18 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (2)

22 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (2)

23 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (2)

24 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (2)

25 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (2)

26 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (2)

27 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (2)

30 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (2)

1 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

2 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

3 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

4 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

5 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

6 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

7 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

10 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

11 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

12 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

13 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

15 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

16 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

17 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

19 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

20 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

21 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

22 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

23 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

24 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

30 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

31 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (3)

1 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (4)

5 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (4)

6 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (4)

7 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (4)

8 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle. (4)

11 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed Londonderry for Rothesay. She was escorted by HrMs Z 5 (Lt. J.J. Steensma, RNN). (4)

12 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Rothesay. (4)

20 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) shifted from Rothesay to Campbeltown. (4)

21 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (4)

23 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (4)

24 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (4)

25 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (4)

26 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (4)

28 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (4)

29 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (4)

30 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (4)

1 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (5)

2 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (5)

3 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (5)

4 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (5)

5 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (5)

7 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (5)

8 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (5)

9 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (5)

10 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. (5)

11 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Campbeltown. Upon completion of these exercises Lt. Bromage took over command from Lt. Pitt. (5)

Submarine HMS P 612 (P 612)

6 Jan 1942
Murat Reis (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed her builders yard at Barrow for the Clyde area where she was to undergo a work-up programme. During this passage she was escorted by HMS Cutty Sark (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN). (6)

7 Jan 1942
Murat Reis (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Rothesay where she was commissioned as HMS P 612 and began a work-up period. (6)

26 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 612 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed the Clyde area for Gibraltar. Passage south through the Irish Sea was made together with her 'sister' HMS P 611 (Lt. P.S. Skelton, RN). Both submarines were en-route to be delivered to the Turkish Navy. They were to proceed to Alexandria first. They made the passage fully commissioned as British warships.

During the passage south through the Irish Sea they were escorted by the Norwegian torpedo boat HNoMS Draug.

[No log or passage report is available for this period so no map can be displayed.] (6)

4 Apr 1942
HMS P 612 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Gibraltar. (6)

15 Apr 1942
HMS P 612 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed Gibraltar for Alexandria.

For the daily positions of HMS P 612 during this passage see the map below.

(7)

1 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 612 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Alexandria. (7)

20 May 1942
HMS P 612 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed Alexandria for Iskanderun, Turkey.

[No log or passage report is available for this period so no map can be displayed]. (8)

25 May 1942
HMS P 612 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Iskanderun, Turkey where she was decommissioned and handed over to the Turkish Navy. (8)

Submarine HMS Taku (N 38)

12 Oct 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed from Beirut for Port Said. (9)

14 Oct 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Port Said where she is docked.

Before entering Port Said A/S exercises were carried out with the British destroyer HMS Javelin (Lt.Cdr. W.F.N. Gregory-Smith, DSO, DSC, RN) and the Greek destroyer Vasilissa Olga. (9)

19 Oct 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) is undocked. (9)

20 Oct 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted exercises off Port Said. (9)

21 Oct 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed from 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.

(10)

24 Oct 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) damaged a caique with gunfire west of Kos, Greece in position 220° Kandeliusa Light 7 nautical miles.

(All times are zone -3)
1046 hours - Sighted masts of a caique bearing 120°, 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° Kandeliusa Light 7 nautical miles.

The sailing vessel in question was the Italian Tutti Santi of 30 tons registered in Calino (Dodecanese, also known as Kalymnos). She was most likely the former Greek sailing vessel Panagia. (10)

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 38°48'N, 25°46'E sighted tanker and escort (This was the Italian destroyer Quintino Sella) bearing 285°, 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 off in pursuit. (10)

26 Oct 1942 (position 38.04, 25.27)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) torpedoed and sank the Italian tanker Arca (2238 GRT) south-west of Chios, Greece in position 38°04'N, 25°27'E.

(All times are zone -3)
0740 hours - In position 38°04'N, 25°27'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 put 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. (10)

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 sank 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°. 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. (10)

31 Oct 1942 (position 37.30, 24.03)
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 37°30'N, 24°03'E. All torpedoes fired missed their target.

(All times are zone -3)
0940 hours - Smoke sighted bearing 335° 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 indented 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. (10)

8 Nov 1942 (position 36.40, 24.47)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) attacked what is though to be an auxliary patrol vessel south of Milos in approximate position 36°40'N, 24°47'E.

The target has currently (May 2018) not been identified.

(All times are zone -3)
1115 hours - Sighted a ship rounding the right hand edge of Polino. Started attack. Observation was very difficult as waves were continually washin over the periscope. Range was 3000 yards. The target was thought to be some sort of armed merchant cruiser of about 2000 tons, two aircraft were patrolling overhead.

1132 hours - Fired one torpedo but due to an error in the attack setup made by Lt. Pitt it missed. Also there was a large splash when the torpedo was fired.

12 Nov 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) ended her 19th war patrol at Port Said. (10)

13 Nov 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) is docked in the floating dock at Port Said to have external petroleum tanks fitted. (11)

17 Nov 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) is undocked. (11)

24 Nov 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed from Port Said for Beirut. (11)

26 Nov 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Beirut. (11)

8 Dec 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted exercises off Beirut. (12)

9 Dec 1942
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed from Beirut for her 20th war patrol. She was 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.

(13)

14 Dec 1942 (position 37.52, 24.06)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) torpedoed and sank the Italian tanker Delfin (5322 GRT, built 1918) in the Aegean Sea about 5 nautical miles north of Macrosini island, Greece in position 37°52'N, 24°06'E.

(All times are zone -3)
1115 hours - Sighted an aircraft patrolling to the South.

1140 hours - In position 37°50'N, 24°07'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 transmissions 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. (13)

20 Dec 1942
At 2340 hours HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) lands three Greek agents 200 yards from Nisia Rocks (near position 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). (13)

22 Dec 1942 (position 40.13, 23.19)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) heavily damaged 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. (13)

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. (13)

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 "Target Corinth Canal 1940-1944" by Platon Alexiades (this book will be published in 2015). (13)

27 Dec 1942 (position 37.32, 24.14)
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 37°32'N, 24°14'E. All torpedoes fired missed their target.

(All times are zone -3)
0450 hours - In position 37°32'N, 24°14'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 pursue 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) (13)

1 Jan 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) ended her 20th war patrol at Beirut. (13)

16 Jan 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted exercises off Beirut. (14)

17 Jan 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed from 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.

(14)

24 Jan 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Malta. (14)

6 Feb 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed from Malta for Algiers. (15)

11 Feb 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Algiers. (15)

12 Feb 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed from Algiers for Gibraltar. (15)

15 Feb 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Gibraltar. (15)

17 Feb 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed from 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.

(13)

2 Mar 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) ended her 21th war patrol at Plymouth. (13)

3 Mar 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed from Plymouth for Portsmouth. Due to the bad weather the passage is abandoned and Taku and her escort put into Dartmouth. (16)

4 Mar 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed from Dartmouth to continue her passage to Portsmouth where she arrived later this day. (16)

22 Mar 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted exercises off Portsmouth. (16)

24 Mar 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted exercises off Portsmouth. (16)

25 Mar 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted exercises off Portsmouth. (16)

30 Mar 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted exercises off Portsmouth. (16)

2 Apr 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted exercises off Portsmouth. (17)

4 Apr 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) proceeded from Portsmouth to Portland. She made the passage together with HMS Ursula (Lt. A.R. Profit, DSC, RN) and HMS Sickle (Lt. J.R. Drummond, RN). They were escorted by HMS Kingston Turquoise (Ch.Skr. H.E. Dodd, RNR). En-route serveral exercises were carried out. (17)

5 Apr 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed Portland together with HMS Sickle (Lt. J.R. Drummond, DSC, RN) and HMS Ursula (Lt. A.R. Profit, DSC, RN). They were escorted by HMS Kingston Turquoise (Ch.Skr. H.E. Dodd, RNR).

After a few hours they were ordered to return to Portland due to suspected enemy mining of Lyme Bay. (17)

6 Apr 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) shifted from Portland to Plymouth. She made the passage together with HMS Sickle (Lt. J.R. Drummond, DSC, RN) and HMS Ursula (Lt. A.R. Profit, DSC, RN). They were escorted by HMS Kingston Turquoise (Ch.Skr. H.E. Dodd, RNR). (17)

8 Apr 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted exercises off Plymouth. (17)

9 Apr 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted exercises off Plymouth. (17)

10 Apr 1943
During 10 April and 11 April 1943, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN), conducted exercises off Plymouth. These included night exercises. (17)

12 Apr 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted exercises off Plymouth. (17)

13 Apr 1943
During 13 April and 14 April 1943, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN), conducted exercises off Plymouth. These included night exercises. (17)

16 Apr 1943
During 16 April and 17 April 1943, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN), conducted exercises off Plymouth. These included night exercises. (17)

18 Apr 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted exercises off Plymouth. (17)

19 Apr 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted exercises off Plymouth. (17)

21 Apr 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted exercises off Plymouth. (17)

22 Apr 1943
During 22 April and 23 April 1943, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN), conducted exercises off Plymouth. These included night exercises. (17)

25 Apr 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted exercises off Plymouth. (17)

13 May 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed Plymouth for Holy Loch. She made the passage together with HMS H 32 (Lt. T.G. Ridgeway, RN) that was to proceed to Rothesay. They were escorted by HMS Damsay (T/Lt. A.M. Sullivan, RNVR). (18)

16 May 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Holy Loch. (18)

18 May 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) shifted from Holy Loch to Troon where she was to refit. (18)

1 Oct 1943
With her refit completed, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN), shifted from Troon to Holy Loch to begin period of trials and training. En-route to Holy Loch full power trials were carried out. (19)

4 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted independent exercises in the Clyde area. (19)

5 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted independent exercises in the Clyde area. (19)

6 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted independent exercises in the Clyde area. These were followed by full power trials and submerged runs over the measured mile. (19)

7 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted STU trials off the Fairlie dummy minefield. (19)

9 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises in the Clyde area. (19)

11 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted torpedo firing trials in the Clyde area. (19)

13 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. These included gunnery exercises on a target towed by HMS Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.D. O'Driscoll, RNR). (19)

14 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted radar exercises in the Clyde area with HMS Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.D. O'Driscoll, RNR). Taku proceeded to Campbeltown upon completion of these exercises. (19)

15 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) shifted from Campbeltown to Rothesay. (19)

16 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area with HMS Stratagem (T/Lt. R.L. Willoughby, RNR) and HMS White Bear (Cdr.(Retd.) A.L. Sanders, RN). Also gunnery exercises were carried out on a target towed by HMS Jan van Gelder (Lt. P.D. O'Driscoll, RNR). (19)

18 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted attack exercises for the C.O.Q.C. (Commanding Officers Qualifying Course) in the Clyde area with HMS Breda (Capt.(Retd.) A.E. Johnston, RN) as target. (19)

19 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted attack exercises for the C.O.Q.C. (Commanding Officers Qualifying Course) in the Clyde area with HMS Breda (Capt.(Retd.) A.E. Johnston, RN) as target. (19)

20 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted attack exercises for the C.O.Q.C. (Commanding Officers Qualifying Course) in the Clyde area with HMS Breda (Capt.(Retd.) A.E. Johnston, RN) as target. (19)

21 Oct 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area with HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.R.B. Newton, RN) and vice versa. (19)

22 Oct 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area with HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.R.B. Newton, RN) and vice versa. (19)

25 Oct 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) is docked at Holy Loch in AFD 7. (19)

26 Oct 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) is undocked from AFD 7. (19)

27 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area with HMS Cutty Sark (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN), HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. J.G. Hopkins, RN) and HMS Unswerving (Lt. M.D. Tattersall, RNVR). (19)

28 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
On completion of yesterday's exercises, HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN), proceeded to Larne. (19)

29 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted attack exercises off Larne on HMS Philante (Capt. A.J. Baker-Cresswell, DSO, RN) which was escorted by six US destroyers. (19)

30 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with HMS Hotspur (Cdr. A.M. McKillop, RN). (19)

31 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted attack exercises off Larne on a convoy. (19)

3 Nov 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with aircraft. (20)

4 Nov 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with HMS Calder (Lt.Cdr. A.D. White, RD, RNR). (20)

6 Nov 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted attack exercises off Larne with HMS Sceptre (Lt. I.S. McIntosh, MBE, DSC, RN). (20)

9 Nov 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) shifted from Larne to Holy Loch. She was escorted for most of the way by a Motor Launch. (20)

11 Nov 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area with HMS White Bear (Cdr.(Retd.) A.L. Sanders, RN) as target. (20)

12 Nov 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area with HMS White Bear (Cdr.(Retd.) A.L. Sanders, RN) as target. (20)

13 Nov 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area with HMS Unswerving (T/Lt. M.D. Tattersall, RNVR). (20)

15 Nov 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed Holy Loch for Scapa Flow. She was escorted by HMS Cutty Sark (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN). (20)

17 Nov 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow where she was to participate in A/S exercises. (20)

18 Nov 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Scapa Flow together with HMS Celia (T/Lt. L.B. Merrick, RNR) and HMS Switha (T/Lt. V.S. Jeffery, RNVR). (20)

19 Nov 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Scapa Flow together with HMS Kempenfelt (Lt.Cdr. J.B. Marjoribanks, RN) and HMS Halcyon (T/A/Lt.Cdr. L.J. Martin, RNVR). (20)

20 Nov 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Scapa Flow together with HMS Tenacious (Lt.Cdr. D.F. Townsend, RN) and HMS Musketeer (Cdr. R.L. Fisher, OBE, RN). (20)

21 Nov 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) conducted attack exercises off Scapa Flow together with HMS Thrasher (Lt. H.R.B. Newton, RN). (21)

22 Nov 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Scapa Flow together with HMS Tenacious (Lt.Cdr. D.F. Townsend, RN), HMS Termagant (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Scatchard, DSC, RN) and HMS Tuscan (Lt.Cdr. C.H.de B. Newby, RN). (20)

26 Nov 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Scapa Flow together with HMS Virago (Lt.Cdr. A.J.R. White, RN). (20)

27 Nov 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Scapa Flow together with HMS Tuscan (Lt.Cdr. C.H.de B. Newby, RN) and HMS Virago (Lt.Cdr. A.J.R. White, RN). (20)

29 Nov 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Scapa Flow together with HMS Milne (Capt. I.M.R. Campbell, DSO, RN), HMIS Cauvery (A/Cdr. A.W. Beeton, RIN) and HMS Kempenfelt (Lt.Cdr. J.B. Marjoribanks, RN). (20)

30 Nov 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Scapa Flow together with HMS Bellona (Capt. C.F.W. Norris, RN), HMS Meteor (Lt.Cdr. D.J.B. Jewitt, RN), HMIS Cauvery (A/Cdr. A.W. Beeton, RIN) and HMS Tuscan (Lt.Cdr. C.H.de B. Newby, RN). (20)

1 Dec 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Holy Loch. She was escorted by HMS Sardonyx (T/A/Lt.Cdr. E. Playne, RNVR). (22)

2 Dec 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Holy Loch. (22)

18 Dec 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed Holy Loch for Lerwick. She was escorted by HMS Cutty Sark (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN). (22)

21 Dec 1943
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Lerwick. Almost the whole crew, including the Commanding Officer had the flu so her patrol was cancelled. (22)

2 Jan 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed from Lerwick for her 22th war patrol. She is to make a anti-U-boat patrol in the Norwegian Sea.

For HMS Taku's daily positions during this patrol see the map below.

(13)

15 Jan 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) ended her 22th war patrol at Lerwick. (13)

16 Jan 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed Lerwick for passage to Holy Loch. She made the passage together with HMS Unswerving (T/Lt. M.D. Tattersall, RNVR). Around 0930/17 they made rendez-vous off Scapa Flow with HrMs Zwaardvisch (Lt.Cdr. H.A.W. Goossens, RNN) and their escort HMS La Capricieuse (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) C.M. Norman, RN). (22)

18 Jan 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Holy Loch. (22)

29 Jan 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN), HMS Trusty (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) and HMS Tradewind (Lt.Cdr. S.L.C. Maydon, DSO and Bar, RN) departed from Holy Loch for Lerwick. They are escorted by the armed yacht HMS Cutty Sark (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN). (22)

31 Jan 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Lerwick. (22)

2 Feb 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed from 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.

(13)

7 Feb 1944 (position 59.07, 5.37)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) torpedoed and sank the German merchant Rheinhausen (6298 GRT, built 1912) in position 59°07'N, 05°37'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. (13)

12 Feb 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) torpedoed and heavily damaged the German merchant Harm Fritzen (4818 GRT, built 1915) off the 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 explosion 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)

13 Feb 1944 (position 59.08, 5.24)
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) torpedoed and sank the German merchant Hans Bornhofen (2130 GRT, built 1905) in the Boknafjorden, 8 nautical miles south of Skudeneshavn, Norway in position 59°08'N, 05°24'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. (13)

18 Feb 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) ended her 23th war patrol at Lerwick. (13)

19 Feb 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed Lerwick for Holy Loch together with HMS Tradewind (Lt.Cdr. S.L.C. Maydon, DSO and Bar, RN) They are escorted by the armed yacht HMS Cutty Sark (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN). (23)

21 Feb 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Holy Loch. (23)

23 Feb 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) is docked at Holy Loch in AFD 7. (23)

24 Feb 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) is undocked from AFD 7. (23)

28 Feb 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) shifted from Holy Loch to Ardrossan where she was docked. (23)

8 Mar 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) is undocked. (24)

9 Mar 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) shifted from Ardrossan to Holy Loch. (24)

11 Mar 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) is docked at Holy Loch in AFD 7. She was undocked later the same day. (24)

13 Mar 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed Holy Loch for Lerwick. She was escorted by HMS Milford (Lt.Cdr. G.G. Slade, RN). (24)

15 Mar 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Lerwick. (24)

16 Mar 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed from Lerwick for her 24th war patrol. She was 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.

(13)

24 Mar 1944 (position 64.33, 10.37)
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 64°33'N 10°37'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° 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. (13)

30 Mar 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) ended her 24th war patrol at Lerwick. (13)

10 Apr 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed from 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.

(13)

13 Apr 1944 (position 57.34, 7.42)
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 57°30'N, 07°20'E to pass under the Skagerrak mine barrier at 220 feet.

0754 hours - In position 57°34'N, 07°42'E a very loud explosion occurred overhead. Quite some damage was done and Lt. Pitt eventually decided to abandon patrol and proceed back to Lerwick. (13)

16 Apr 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) ended her 25th war patrol prematurely at Lerwick. (13)

20 Apr 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) departed Lerwick for Holy Loch. She was escorted by HMS Cutty Sark (A/Cdr. E.A. Stocker, DSC, RN). The next day, off Scapa Flow, they were joined by the Dutch submarine HrMs O 15 (Lt. J.B.M.J. Maas, RNN) and the British submarine HMS Visigoth (Lt. J.R.H. Haddow, DSC, RN). (25)

23 Apr 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Holy Loch. (25)

26 Apr 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) is docked at Holy Loch in AFD 7 to inspect the damage. She was undocked later the same day. (25)

2 May 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) and HMS Voracious (Lt. F.D.G. Challis, DSC, RN) departed Holy Loch for Blyth and Scapa Flow respectively. They were escorted by HMS Sardonyx (T/A/Lt.Cdr. E. Playne, RNVR).

At 1540/3 Taku parted company with Voracious and Sardonyx and continued her passage to Blyth but now escorted by HMS Godetia (T/Lt. M.A.F. Larose, RNR) while Voracious and Sardonyx proceeded to Scapa Flow. (26)

5 May 1944
HMS Taku (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN) arrived at Blyth. (26)

Submarine HMS Trident (N 52)

27 Jul 1944
With her refit completed, HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN), shifted from Troon to Holy Loch. (27)

28 Jul 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) returned to Troon. (27)

30 Jul 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) shifted from Troon to Holy Loch to continue her trail and training programme. (27)

4 Aug 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (28)

5 Aug 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (28)

6 Aug 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. These included RD/F exercises with HMS Vitality (Lt. K.S. Renshaw, DSC, RNR) and HMS Shikari (Lt. E.H.U. Cautley, RNVR). (28)

7 Aug 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted RD/F exercises with aircraft and HMS Shikari (Lt. E.H.U. Cautley, RNVR). (28)

8 Aug 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted D/F trials in the Clyde area. (28)

9 Aug 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted D/G trials off Helensborough. (28)

11 Aug 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted noise trials at Loch Goil. (28)

13 Aug 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted torpedo firing exercises in Loch Long. (28)

15 Aug 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted practice attacks in the Clyde area during which HMS Bridgewater (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN) served as target.

These exercises also included night attacks during the night of 15/16 August 1944. (28)

20 Aug 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) is docked at Holy Loch for a propeller change and for some minor repairs. She is undocked later the same day. (28)

21 Aug 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted full power trials. These were followed by attack exercises during with HMS Sardonyx (A/Lt.Cdr. T.A. Easton, RNVR) served as target. (28)

22 Aug 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) shifted from Holy Loch to Larne. (28)

23 Aug 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with an Escort Group. These also included convoy attack exercises. (28)

28 Aug 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with HMS Wild Goose (A/Cdr. D.E.G. Wemyss, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN). (28)

28 Aug 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with HMS Wild Goose (A/Cdr. D.E.G. Wemyss, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN). (28)

29 Aug 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted exercises off Larne with aircraft and HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. M.F.R. Ainslie, DSO, DSC, RN). (28)

2 Sep 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with an Escort Group and HMS Aylmer (Lt. A.D.P. Campbell, RN). (29)

3 Sep 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with an Escort Group. (29)

4 Sep 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with HMS Buttercup (T/Lt. W.A.M.J. Libert, RNR) and HNoMS Rose (Lt. P. Scott-Hansen, RNorN). (29)

5 Sep 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with an Escort Group. These also included night exercises. (29)

6 Sep 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) shifted from Larne to Holy Loch. (29)

9 Sep 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted practice attacks in the Clyde area during which HMS Bridgewater (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN) and HMS Shikari (Lt. E.H.U. Cautley, RNVR) served as targets.

In the evening night exercises were carried out with HMS Bridgewater. (29)

18 Sep 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) is docked in AFD 7 at Holy Loch. (29)

21 Sep 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) is undocked. (29)

28 Sep 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted noise trials at Loch Goil. (29)

30 Sep 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (29)

1 Oct 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (30)

6 Oct 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) conducted speed trials on the Arran measured mile. (30)

15 Oct 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN), HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. M.F.R. Ainslie, DSO, DSC, RN) and HMS Sea Scout (Lt. J.W. Kelly, RN) departed Rothesay for Gibraltar. They make the passage in convoy OS-92 / KMS-66. (30)

26 Oct 1944
HMS Trident (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) arrived at Gibraltar. (30)

16 Nov 1944
HMS Trident (A/Lt.Cdr. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) departed from Malta bound for Port Said. (31)

20 Nov 1944
HMS Trident (A/Lt.Cdr. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) arrived at Port Said. She transits the Suez Canal and arrived at Suez later on this day. (31)

21 Nov 1944
HMS Trident (A/Lt.Cdr. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) departed from Suez bound for Aden. (31)

26 Nov 1944
HMS Trident (A/Lt.Cdr. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) arrived at Aden. (31)

28 Nov 1944
HMS Trident (A/Lt.Cdr. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) departed from Aden bound for Trincomalee. (31)

10 Dec 1944
HMS Trident (A/Lt.Cdr. A.J.W. Pitt, DSO, RN) arrived 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. (32)

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