HMS Truant (N68)

HMS ''Truant'' (N68) was a T-class submarine of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow and launched on 5 May 1939.

Career

''Truant'' had a relatively active career serving in the main naval theatres of war – Home waters, the Mediterranean, and the Pacific Far East.

Home waters

''Truant''s first major victory came when she torpedoed and damaged the German light cruiser off Kristiansand, Norway, which disabled both engines and power stations. ' had to be scuttled with two torpedoes by the German torpedo boat ''Greif''. ''Truant'' later attacked the British merchant , unaware that it had been recently captured from the Germans, but her torpedoes missed. She also intercepted the German merchant ''Tropic Sea''. ''Tropic Sea'' had formerly been in Norwegian service, but had been captured by the German armed merchant cruiser in the South Pacific. As well as 8,000 tons of wheat, she had on board the captain and 22 survivors of the British SS ''Haxby'', which had been sunk by the raider, as well as her own Norwegian crew. ''Tropic Sea'' was scuttled by the German prize crew in the Bay of Biscay. ''Truant'' embarked the captain and survivors of ''Haxby'', and the master of ''Tropic Sea'' and his wife. The majority of the Norwegians were rescued by British flying boats.

''Truant'' had a narrow escape when she was attacked by the , who had mistaken her for an enemy submarine. ''Clyde''s torpedoes missed.

Mediterranean

Assigned to the Mediterranean in mid 1940, ''Truant'' went on to sink a number of enemy ships, including the Italian merchant vessels ''Providenza'', ''Sebastiano Bianchi'' and ''Multedo'', the Italian tankers ''Bonzo'' and ''Meteor'', the Italian auxiliary submarine chaser ''Vanna'', the Italian passenger/cargo ship ''Bengasi'' and the German merchantman ''Virginia S.'' ''Truant'' also damaged the small Italian tanker ''Prometeo'' and the , which was later declared a total loss. She also unsuccessfully attacked the Italian merchant vessels ''Utilitas'', ''Silvia Tripcovich'', ''Bainsizza'' and ''Arborea'', the small Italian tanker ''Labor'' and the German merchantman ''Bellona''.

Far East

''Truant'' was assigned to operate in the Far East, against Japanese shipping in 1942. She was present for the beginning of the Battle of Badung Strait and spotted the Japanese covering force, launching an attack at the light cruiser ''Nagara'' but scored no hits, although the crew said to have heard two impact noises from dud torpedoes hitting the target. She sunk the Japanese merchant ships ''Yae Maru'' and ''Shunsei Maru'' in the Malacca Strait. She almost sunk a large liner, but held off as poorly displayed hospital markings were spotted (possibly the ''Hikawa Maru''). A few days after she engaged in a gun battle with the Japanese army cargo ship ''Tamon Maru No.1'', which sank shortly after. This was her final patrol as she started to experience engine trouble.

Back to home waters

By this point ''Truant'' was in need of various repairs and refits, and was sent back to the UK, taking part in several exercises en route. Starting in December 1942 her refit was not finished until May 1943. After this she took part in training exercises, with one sortie to hunt for ''Tirpitz''. She was ordered back to the Far East, but on the way her engine troubles flared up again and she returned home. She did not sortie again, instead being used as a trials ship for 1945, including snorkel tests.

Post war

''Truant'' survived the war and was sold to be broken up for scrap on 19 December 1945. She was wrecked in December 1946 whilst en route to the shipbreakers.

References

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External links

IWM Interview with Rear-Admiral Christopher Haynes Hutchinson, DSO, OBE, who commanded HMS ''Truant'' during the Norwegian campaign

{{DEFAULTSORT:Truant (N68)
British T-class submarines of the Royal Navy
Ships built in Barrow-in-Furness
1939 ships
World War II submarines of the United Kingdom