The Submarine Heritage Centre - X Craft

Sponsorship Comments

This painting was commissioned by Bill Butters a member of the 12th Submarine Flotilla Association in recognition of the men who served in the “X” and “XE” midget submarines during WWII.

X Craft Technical Facts:

A series of six midget submarines X5 to X10.

- Builder: Vickers-Armstrong.
- Yard Number: 883.
- Dimensions: Length: 51.3 feet, Breadth: 5.8 feet, Draught: 5.9 feet.
- Displacement: Surface: 27 tons, Submerged: 30 tons.
- Propulsion: Surface: single 42bhp Gardner diesel, as used in London buses. Submerged: Single 30bhp. Keith Gardner Electric Motor. Single shaft.
- Speed: Surface: 6.5 knots. Submerged: 5.5 knots.
- Range: Surface: 1,860 nautical miles @ 4.5 knots. Submerged: 80 nautical miles @ 5.5 knots.
- Armament: Time fused side cargoes of 4,480 pounds of H.E. Part and Starboard. Limpet mines.

All six X craft were ordered on the same day, 12th May 1942, X5 was laid down in September 1942 and the last, X10 was delivered in January 1943.



Historical Facts:

The best known exploit of the Royal Navy's Midget Submarines (X craft) if only from the film “Above us the Waves” was the raid on Altenford and Kaaford, in an attempt to sink or at least disable the German heavy units Tirpitz, Lutzow and Scharnhorst. The operation was designated “Operation Source”.

Operation Source

X5. Towing submarine Thrasher ( Lt. A.R.Hezlett. DSC RN).
Lt. D. Heuty-Creer R.N.V.R. – Commanding Officer.
S/Lt. T.J.Nelson. R.N.V.R.
Midshipman. D.J.Malcolm. R.N.V.R.
ERA4 J.J.Martiboys.

22.09.1943 – Sunk in Altenford, Norway whilst attacking Tirpitz.

X6 Towing submarine Truculent ( Lt. R.L. Alexander DSO RN).
Lt. D. Cameron R.N.R. – Commanding Officer.
S/Lt. J.J.Lorimer. R.N.V.R.
S/Lt. R.H.Kendall. R.N.V.R.
ERA4 F.Goodard

22.091943. Scuttled after carrying out successful attack on Tirpitz.

X7 Towing submarine Stubborn (Lt.A.A.Duff RN)
Lt B.G.Place. DSC R.N. Commanding Officer
S/Lt .L.B. Whittam. R.N.V.R.
S/Lt. R. Aitken. R.N.V.R.
ERA4 M.Whitley.

22.091943. Scuttled after carrying out successful attack on Tirpitz.

X8. Towing submarine Seanymph (Lt. J.P.Oakley. DSC R.N.).
Lt. B.M. MacFarlane R.A.N. – Commanding Officer.
Lt. W.J.Marsden. R.A.N.V.R.
S/Lt. Hindmarch. R.N.V.R.
ERA4 J.B.Murray.

17.09.43. Scuttled of the coast of Norway, due to leaking side cargoes. Intended target was Scharnhorst in Altenfjord.

X9 Towing submarine Syrtis (Lt. M.H.Jupp. DSC RN)
Lt. T.L.Martin R.N. – Commanding Officer.
S/Lt. J.Brooks R.N.
Lt.M.Shean. R.A.N.V.R.
ERA4 V.Coles.

16.03.1943. Foundered after tow parted in the North Sea. Lost with all hands. Intended target Lutzow.

X10. Towing submarine Sceptre (Lt. I.McIntosh RN).
Lt.K.Hudspeth R.A.N.V.R. – Commanding Officer.
S/Lt. B.E.Enzer. R.N.V.R.
Midshipman G.G. Harding. R.N.V.R.
ERA4 L.Tilley.

29.09.1943. Scuttled of Norwegian coast, after mechanical problems. Intended target Scharnhorst.

Decorations Awarded

Lieutenants Cameron and Place – Victoria Cross.
Lieutenant Lorrimer - Distinguished Service Order.
Lietenant Kendall - Distinguished Service Order.
S/Lt Aitken – Distinguished Service Order.
S/Lt Hudspeth - Distinguished Service Cross.
E.R.A. Goddard - Conspicuous Gallantry Medal.


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