The XE-class submarines were a series of twelve
midget submarine
A midget submarine (also called a mini submarine) is any submarine under 150 tons, typically operated by a crew of one or two but sometimes up to six or nine, with little or no on-board living accommodation. They normally work with mother ships, ...
s that were built for the
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against Fr ...
during 1944; four more to a slightly different design were built 1954-5 as the
''Stickleback'' class. They were an improved version of the used in the attack on the
German
German(s) may refer to:
* Germany (of or related to)
**Germania (historical use)
* Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language
** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law
**Ge ...
battleship
A battleship is a large armour, armored warship with a main artillery battery, battery consisting of large caliber guns. It dominated naval warfare in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The term ''battleship'' came into use in the late 1 ...
.
They carried a crew of four, typically a
lieutenant
A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations.
The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often ...
in command, with a
sub-lieutenant
Sub-lieutenant is usually a junior officer rank, used in armies, navies and air forces.
In most armies, sub-lieutenant is the lowest officer rank. However, in Brazil, it is the highest non-commissioned rank, and in Spain, it is the second hig ...
as deputy, an
engine room artificer in charge of the mechanical side and a
seaman
Seaman may refer to:
* Sailor, a member of a marine watercraft's crew
* Seaman (rank), a military rank in some navies
* Seaman (name) (including a list of people with the name)
* ''Seaman'' (video game), a 1999 simulation video game for the Seg ...
or leading-seaman. At least one of them was qualified as a
diver.
In addition to the two
side charges (each of which contained two tons of
amatol
Amatol is a highly explosive material made from a mixture of TNT and ammonium nitrate. The British name originates from the words ammonium and toluene (the precursor of TNT). Similar mixtures (one part dinitronaphthalene and seven parts ammoniu ...
explosive), they carried around six
limpet mine
A limpet mine is a type of naval mine attached to a target by magnets. It is so named because of its superficial similarity to the shape of the limpet, a type of sea snail that clings tightly to rocks or other hard surfaces.
A swimmer or diver ...
s which were attached to the target by the diver.
They and their depot ship arrived at
Labuan
Labuan (), officially the Federal Territory of Labuan ( ms, Wilayah Persekutuan Labuan), is a Federal Territory of Malaysia. Its territory includes and six smaller islands, off the coast of the state of Sabah in East Malaysia. Labuan's capita ...
in July 1945. Four of them managed to take part in operations before the war ended.
Operations ''Sabre'' and ''Foil''
These operations, carried out in July 1945, were intended to cut the undersea telephone cables connecting
Singapore
Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, bor ...
,
Saigon
, population_density_km2 = 4,292
, population_density_metro_km2 = 697.2
, population_demonym = Saigonese
, blank_name = GRP (Nominal)
, blank_info = 2019
, blank1_name = – Total
, blank1_ ...
,
Hong Kong
Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a List of cities in China, city and Special administrative regions of China, special ...
and
Tokyo
Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.46 ...
. The intention was to oblige the Japanese to use radio and render themselves open to message interception.
Operation Sabre
Operation Sabre was a Royal Navy military operation in World War II. It involved cutting the Japanese submarine communications cable linking Saigon and Singapore. operating from an X-Craft midget submarine in the Saigon River delta on 31 July 194 ...
was directed at the Hong Kong to Saigon telephone cable, and carried out by ''XE4'', which was towed to within of the
Mekong Delta by the submarine
HMS ''Spearhead'', where she looked for the two telephone cables by using a towed
grapnel
A grappling hook or grapnel is a device that typically has multiple hooks (known as ''claws'' or ''flukes'') attached to a rope; it is thrown, dropped, sunk, projected, or fastened directly by hand to where at least one hook may catch and hol ...
. She eventually snagged the first cable, and managed to haul it about off the seabed. ''XE4's'' diver, Sub-Lieutenant K.M. Briggs, used the net/cable cutter to sever it. The second cable was soon found as well, and was severed by the second diver, Sub-Lieutenant A. Bergius. Two divers were carried due to the operating rule that a diver should not spend more than 20 minutes in depths over and no more than 10 minutes over . ''XE4'' and ''Spearhead'' returned to Labuan on 3 August 1945.
Operation Foil was directed at the Hong Kong to Singapore telephone cable and carried out by ''XE5'' against the Hong Kong end of the cable, after being towed into position by the submarine
HMS ''Selene''. Operating close inshore near to
Lamma Island
Lamma Island, also known as Y Island or Pok Liu Chau or simply Pok Liu, is the third largest island in Hong Kong. Administratively, it is part of the Islands District.
Name
Lamma Island was named Lamma only because of a chart reading error by ...
, working conditions were poor, ''XE5's'' divers having to work in thick mud under the constant threat of
oxygen poisoning
Oxygen toxicity is a condition resulting from the harmful effects of breathing molecular oxygen () at increased partial pressures. Severe cases can result in cell damage and death, with effects most often seen in the central nervous system, lung ...
. Despite repeated attempts it was not completely certain that the cable had in fact been severed, and it was not until after the Japanese surrender that it was confirmed that ''XE5'' had succeeded in doing so. ''XE5'' and ''Selene'' returned to Subic Bay on 6 August 1945.
Operation Struggle
In August 1945, HMS ''XE1'' and ''XE3'' executed a joint attack on Japanese warships within
Singapore
Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, bor ...
harbour. ''XE3'' was tasked with mining the
heavy cruiser
The heavy cruiser was a type of cruiser, a naval warship designed for long range and high speed, armed generally with naval guns of roughly 203 mm (8 inches) in caliber, whose design parameters were dictated by the Washington Naval T ...
''Takao'' while ''XE1'' was to attack the heavy cruiser
''Myōkō''.
The approach of ''XE3'' along the
Straits of Johor
The Johore Strait (also known as the Tebrau Strait, Straits of Johor, Selat Johor, Selat Tebrau, and Tebrau Reach) is an international strait in Southeast Asia, between Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia.
Geography
The strait separates the Ma ...
and through the various harbour defences took 11 hours plus a further two hours to locate the camouflaged target. Despite several opportunities for Japanese defenders to spot the vessel, ''XE3'' successfully reached the ''Takao'', fixed limpet mines and dropped its two, 2-ton side charges. The withdrawal was successfully made and ''XE3'' returned to
HMS ''Stygian'', her towing submarine. Meanwhile, ''XE1'' was delayed by Japanese patrol craft, and her captain, realizing that he could not reach ''Myōkō'' (which was two miles further into the harbour than ''Takao'') before the mines already laid by ''XE3'' would explode, also elected to drop his own charges under ''Takao''. ''XE1'' also successfully returned to her towing submarine,
HMS ''Spark''.
The ''Takao'', already damaged and not seaworthy, was severely damaged and never sailed again. ''XE3''s commander,
Lieutenant
A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations.
The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often ...
Ian Edward Fraser RNR
The Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) is one of the two volunteer reserve forces of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom. Together with the Royal Marines Reserve, they form the Maritime Reserve. The present RNR was formed by merging the original Ro ...
, and diver
Leading Seaman
Leading seaman is a junior non-commissioned rank or rate in navies, particularly those of the Commonwealth. When it is used by NATO nations, leading seaman has the rank code of OR-4. It is often equivalent to the army and air force rank of c ...
James Joseph Magennis were awarded the
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...
(VC) for their part in the attack; whilst
Sub-Lieutenant William James Lanyon Smith
William James Lanyon Smith (1 December 1922 – 2 December 2018) was a New Zealand naval officer. He served in the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve during World War II and was second-in-command of a midget submarine during an attack i ...
,
RNZNVR, who was at the controls of ''XE3'', received the
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, as well as formerly of other parts of the Commonwealth, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, ty ...
(DSO);
Engine Room Artificer Third Class Charles Alfred Reed, who was at the wheel, received the
Conspicuous Gallantry Medal
The Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (CGM) was, until 1993, a British military decoration for gallantry in action for petty officers and seamen of the Royal Navy, including Warrant Officers and other ranks of the Royal Marines. It was formerly awa ...
(CGM). ''XE1s C/O, Lieutenant
John Elliott Smart
Lieutenant Commander John Elliott Smart (1 March 1916 – 3 February 2008) was an officer in the Royal Navy, who commanded one of the midget submarines that attacked the German cruiser ''Lützow'' and the Japanese cruiser ''Takao'' during the S ...
RNVR
The Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) is one of the two volunteer reserve forces of the Royal Navy in the United Kingdom. Together with the Royal Marines Reserve, they form the Maritime Reserve. The present RNR was formed by merging the original Ro ...
received the DSO, and Sub-Lieutenant Harold Edwin Harper, RNVR received the
Distinguished Service Cross The Distinguished Service Cross (D.S.C.) is a military decoration for courage. Different versions exist for different countries.
*Distinguished Service Cross (Australia)
The Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) is a military decoration awarded to ...
(DSC); and ERA Fourth Class Henry James Fishleigh and
Leading Seaman
Leading seaman is a junior non-commissioned rank or rate in navies, particularly those of the Commonwealth. When it is used by NATO nations, leading seaman has the rank code of OR-4. It is often equivalent to the army and air force rank of c ...
Walter Henry Arthur Pomeroy received the
Distinguished Service Medal Distinguished Service Medal (DSM) is a high award of a nation.
Examples include:
*Distinguished Service Medal (Australia) (established 1991), awarded to personnel of the Australian Defence Force for distinguished leadership in action
* Distinguishe ...
. ERA Fourth Class Albert Nairn, Acting Leading Stoker Jack Gordan Robinson, and
Able Seaman
An able seaman (AB) is a seaman and member of the deck department of a merchant ship with more than two years' experience at sea and considered "well acquainted with his duty". An AB may work as a watchstander, a day worker, or a combination o ...
Ernest Raymond Dee were
Mentioned in Despatches for their part in bringing the two midget submarines from harbour to the point where the crews that took part in the attack took over.
List of XE Craft
![Submarine XE8 Expunger bow](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/90/Submarine_XE8_Expunger_bow.JPG)
;First group
* ''XE1'' — built by
Thomas Broadbent and Sons, used in Operation Struggle, scrapped 1945
* ''XE2'' — built by Thomas Broadbent and Sons, scrapped 1945
* ''XE3'' — built by Thomas Broadbent and Sons, used in Operation Struggle, scrapped 1945
* ''XE4'' "Exciter" — built by Thomas Broadbent and Sons, used in Operation Sabre, scrapped 1945
* ''XE5'' — built by Thomas Broadbent and Sons, used in Operation Foil, scrapped 1945
* ''XE6'' — built by Thomas Broadbent and Sons, scrapped 1945
* ''XE7'' — built by Thomas Broadbent and Sons, scrapped 1952
* ''XE8'' "Expunger" — built by Broadbent, sunk as target 1952, recovered 1973 and preserved at
Chatham Historic Dockyard
The Historic Dockyard Chatham is a maritime museum on part of the site of the former royal/naval dockyard at Chatham in Kent, South East England.
Chatham Dockyard covered 400 acres (1.6 km²) and was one of the Royal Navy's main facilit ...
, on loan from the
Imperial War Museum
* ''XE9'' — built by Markham, scrapped 1952
* ''XE10'' — built by Markham, cancelled incomplete 1945
;Second group
* ''XE11'' — built by Marshall, collided with boom defence vessel in
Loch Striven
Loch Striven ( gd, Loch Sroigheann) is a sea loch extending off the Firth of Clyde, and forms part of the Cowal peninsula coast, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.
Loch Striven extends off of the Firth of Clyde just north of the Isle of Bute, where ...
after drifting out of her exercise area and lost 6 March 1945. Three crew were killed in the accident but two managed to escape.
The boat was later salvaged.
* ''XE12'' — built by Marshall, cannibalised for spares 1952
;Third group
![Submarine XE8 Expunger stern](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/Submarine_XE8_Expunger_stern.JPG)
:with minor improvements, built 1954-5. See
* ''X51 Stickleback'' - to
Swedish Navy as ''Spiggen''. Now on display at Scottish Submarine Heritage Centre,
Helensburgh
Helensburgh (; gd, Baile Eilidh) is an affluent coastal town on the north side of the Firth of Clyde in Scotland, situated at the mouth of the Gareloch. Historically in Dunbartonshire, it became part of Argyll and Bute following local gove ...
.
* ''X52 Shrimp''
* ''X53 Sprat'' - to
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
* ''X54 Minnow''
In popular culture
Author
Douglas Reeman
Douglas Edward Reeman (15 October 1924 – 23 January 2017), who also used the pseudonym Alexander Kent, was a British author who wrote many historical novels about the Royal Navy, mainly set during either World War II or the Napoleonic Wars. He ...
featured XE craft in two of his novels, the 1961 ''Dive in the Sun'' and ''Surface with Daring'' published in 1976.
References
Bibliography
* ''Submarines in Colour'' by
Bill Gunston
Bill Gunston (1 March 1927 – 1 June 2013) was a British aviation and military author. He flew with Britain's Royal Air Force from 1945 to 1948, and after pilot training became a flying instructor. He spent most of his adult life doing resear ...
- Blandford Colour Series - Blandford - 1976 -
* ''Submarines - The History and Evolution of Underwater Fighting Vessels'' by Anthony Preston - Octopus Books - 1974 -
* ''The Sea Devils: Operation Struggle and the Last Great Raid of World War Two'' by
Mark Felton - Icon Books - 2015 -
{{WWII British ships
Submarine classes
Midget submarines