HMS Trenchant (P331)

HMS "Trenchant" (P331) was a British T class submarine of the Second World War.

On completion she was given over to the crew of HMS "Thrasher" whose submarine was due for a refit.

ervice

"Trenchant" under her captain Commander Arthur Hezlet, DSO, DSC acted in the Far East mostly off South East Asia against Japanese shipping sinking a range of vessels both transports and warships, using her torpedoes, gun and also by ramming. She often operated in company with her sister, HMS "Terrapin".

On 23 September 1944 she sank the German submarine U-859 in the Straits of Malacca, by torpedoes. 17 of the crew were taken aboard as prisoners of war.

On 27 October 1944, "Chariots" carried into action by "Trenchant" sank a Japanese Army cargo ship, the "Sumatra Maru" in Phuket harbour, Siam.

Her most significant action during the war was when she sank the Japanese cruiser "Ashigara" at a range of 4,000 yards with five out of eight torpedoes fired. The action in the Bangka Straits earned her commander a second DSM and the US Legion of Merit, and the ship the battle honour "Malaya 1944-45". The "Ashigara" had been carrying some 1,600 Japanese Army troops and materiel.

References

* [http://home.cogeco.ca/~gchalcraft/sm/page23.html British submarines of World War Two]
* [http://home.cogeco.ca/~gchalcraft/sm/trenchant.html British submarines of World War Two]
* [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3525.html Uboat.net]

External links

*http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.2558