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Author Topic: submarines during WWII  (Read 237 times)
kathboon
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Census information Crown Copyright, from www.nationalarchives.gov.uk
submarines during WWII
« on: Monday 26 October 09 20:41 UTC (UK) »
My father was a submariner based at Portsmouth during the war.  His submarine blew up whilst docked and he was badly injured.  Any idea where I might get some information on this?  He also told us that a memorial had been erected for the men who died.  Any idea where this may be?
Kath
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gortonboy
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Re: submarines during WWII
« Reply #1 on: Monday 26 October 09 20:49 UTC (UK) »
hi,,do u have his name and d.o.b.. and the submarines name.?
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Ann E
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Re: submarines during WWII
« Reply #2 on: Tuesday 27 October 09 00:39 UTC (UK) »
This might help
Commonwealth War Graves Commission < http://www.cwgc.org/debt_of_honour.asp?menuid=14>

The Portsmouth War Memorial
 <  http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Hampshire/Portsmouth.html >   

Ann E
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kathboon
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Re: submarines during WWII
« Reply #3 on: Tuesday 27 October 09 14:48 UTC (UK) »
Hi, thanks for getting back to me quickly.  My father didn't actually die when the submarine blew up, although he was actually standing on the batteries when they did.  When they got him to hospital they gave him 9 hours to live, but he actually died in 1974.  Both his legs were badly broken and he came out the navy an inch shorter than when he went in.
His name was Frank Heywood and his dob was 26/07/21.  Unfortunately I don't know the name of the sub, but a friend of mine who is still in subs says that there was a derelict sub grounded for years and was only actually scrapped a couple of years ago.
Kath
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ainslie
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Re: submarines during WWII
« Reply #4 on: Tuesday 27 October 09 15:09 UTC (UK) »
There is a Royal Navy submarine museum called HMS Dolphin at Gosport, which you find by Googling.  They should be able to help.
A
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Raymond M
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Re: submarines during WWII
« Reply #5 on: Tuesday 27 October 09 16:04 UTC (UK) »
Hi Kath, if it was in Pompey Dockyard where the battery explosion took place then it was HMS P556 in 1944. It sat on the mud for years in the upper reaches of Portsmouth harbour and we the local kids believed it was a captured U-boat!

Apparently it was also nicknamed the 'Reluctant Dragon' as they had problems getting it to dive!

I show the Wikipedia link below and also a link to a photo - you may have to scroll down to locate it.

If you have your father's naval record then the details of P556 and his hospitalization would be on it. If you don't have it you can obtain a copy.

As Ainslie says you should contact The Submarine Museum at Gosport who hold the handwritten records of all 'old' submariners and would tell you of your father's service. They would also hold details of the official enquiry of the explosion on P556.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_P556

http://home.cogeco.ca/~gchalcraft/sm/page7.html

regards  Ray
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kathboon
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Re: submarines during WWII
« Reply #6 on: Thursday 29 October 09 14:13 UTC (UK) »
Hi Ray and Ainsley
Thanks for that information.  I have contacted the Museum and asked them for information.  I am now awaiting their reply.
Regards, Kath
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Buzancy18
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Re: submarines during WWII
« Reply #7 on: Thursday 29 October 09 17:47 UTC (UK) »
Lenton and Colledge Warships of WW2,

P556 was an S class submarine of 1,062 tons, 211 feet x 20.75feet x 16 feet, 2 shaft deisel/electric motors BHP 1200/1500,14/11 knots. Armed with 1 x 4 inch gun, 4 x 21 inch torpedoes in fixed bow  Complement 42.  It was one of the original Lend - Lease Subs being ex USN S29. Built at Bethlehem USAand launched on 9th September 1922. Was commisioned into the RN in 1942. beached Portsmouth 24th January 1949. Most of this class were used for training. Some of the others were expended as targets!

Buzancy18
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kathboon
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Re: submarines during WWII
« Reply #8 on: Thursday 29 October 09 18:45 UTC (UK) »
Thanks everyone for your help.  I have now received a reply from the Museum giving me exact details of my father.
Kath
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Heywood - Lancashire
Broadfield - Staffs & Lancashire
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Johnson - Wallsend, Blyth
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