The Submarine Heritage Centre - HM Midget Submarine XE3

Sponsorship Comments

This painting was the second painting to be commissioned for the Barrow Submarine Heritage Collection. The Chairman of the Barrow Branch of the Submariners Association Ken Collins, stated: "it is only fitting that the second painting in the collection should honour the men that accomplished so much during operation struggle in July 1945. We were also fortunate and honoured to have the Submarine Services last remaining VC, Lt. Commander Ian Fraser RNR (Retired), VC DSO to sign the painting.

XE3 Technical Facts:

- Builder: Vickers Armstrong Limited - Barrow-in-Furness
- Ordered: January 17th 1944
- Completed: December 15th 1944
- Displacement: Surfaced: 30.3 tons, Dived: 33.6 tons.
- Dimensions (in feet and inches): Length 53'1'' x 5'9'' x 5'9'' draught.
- Propulsion: Surfaced: Single Gardner Engine 42hp Dived : Single Keith/Metro - Vickers electric Motor.
- Speed: Surfaced: 6.5 knots, Dived: 6knots
- Armaments: 2 tons explosive side cargo port and starboard or limpet mines in Containers port and starboard.
- Complement: 4.
- Other boats of the class built at Barrow: XE1, 2,4,5 and 6.

Historical Facts:

Decorations Awarded:
Ian Fraser RNR - Victoria Cross.
Leading Seaman James Magennis - Victoria Cross.
Engine Room Artificer C.Reed - Conspicuous Gallantry Medal.
Sub Lieutenant J.L. Smith RNZNVR - Distinguished Service Order.
XE3 towing submarine HMS/M STYGIAN (Lieutenant G.C.Clarabut DSO, DSC RN).

The mission, to sink the Japanese Heavy Cruiser TAKAO lying in the Jahore Straits, Singapore. Slipped by STYGIAN at the Horsburgh Light, XE3 then navigated 40 miles of Japanese water, mainly on the surface, but diving on sighting enemy vessels, reaching the target at 09.00.Once the boat manoeuvred under TAKAO, Leading Seaman Magennis exited the boat, not without difficulty; to place his limpet mines on the extremely foul bottom of the ship. On completion, the side cargo was laid and the boat manoeuvred, with great difficulty from beneath the cruiser. It then became obvious that the limpet mine container had not released. Leading Seaman Magennis once again exited the boat, and with the aid of a crow bar, sledgehammer and chisel freed the container.XE3 then withdrew to Horsburgh Light at 03.30 on the 1st August 1945.It was an epic operation in which the crew were without sleep for fifty-two hours, and coxswain, ERA Reed had been at the wheel without relief for over thirty hours.

TAKAO in fact did not sink, due to the shallowness of the water, but was so badly damaged as to be of no further operational use.For their endeavours the four man crew of XE3 were awarded the decoration detailed above.

XE3 was broken up at Cockatoo Island, Sydney in 1946

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