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Talk:HMS Tempest (N86)

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Removed from article under WP:RS, but possibly for future reference: Benea (talk) 14:59, 22 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

On the 12th. a free passage ship was sighted, the 'Lucania' which 'Tempest' correctly identified and allowed it to pass.

- HM submarine 'UNA' (patroling in company with 'Tempest') failed the recognition test and decided to sink it. The resultant explosion sent 'Tempest' to periscope depth where the 'Lucania' was seen to be on fire and sinking. That evening, the 12th, 'Tempest' received a signal saying that the Italians were warning their shipping of 'enemy' submarines in her (Tempest) vicinity and that it's patrol had been compromised.

- On the 13th. at 3 am, 'Tempest' was sighted on the surface (charging her batteries) by the Partenope class torpedo boat (Italian destroyer) 'Circe'. 'Tempest' immediately crashdived as 'Circe' came at her to ram. As 'Tempest' was settling down to a long night, 'Circe' began depth charging the area.

- 'Tempest' zig-zagged below the surface, trying to dodge the onslaught of depth charges whilst the interior of 'Tempest' became a complete shambles, down to emergency lighting, depth guages smashed, starboard forward hydroplane out of action, switchboard off it's mounting, gyro compass out of action, explosions in the electrical system and the attack went on until about 10am.

- Then at 1030am it all started again when suddenly, the control room floorboards buckled upwards and a green vapour oozed into the boat. Number three batery exploded and chlorine gas filled the boat. (Caused by sea water & battery acis mixing).

- The captain immediately ordered, 'Surface - Abandon ship' and the crew were ordered to put on their DSEA sets. 'Tempest' struggled to the surface with difficulty and hatches were opened. Water poured into the boat, washing some of the crew off the ladders. One of the first to reach the surface through the gun tower hatch jumped onto the gun and swung it towards the 'Circe' as he called for ammunition. Seeing this, 'Circe' in defence, opened fire with all the armament she could muster killing many of the crew as they scrambled over the saddle tanks into the very cold and rough Mediterranean. Of the crew of 62, only 23 survived.

- The surviving crew members were eventually picked up by the destroyer after about two and a half hours in the sea. Despite explosive charges being set in the fore-ends of the boat, the 'Tempest' refused to die and the Italians later attempted to board the abandoned vessel but were unable to because of the rough seas. Unable to board Tempest due to the bad weather, the Italian destroyer opened fire, scoring more than a dozen direct hits, but failing to sink the Tempest. Finally the Italians attempted to take the submarine in tow. Two members of the destroyer’s crew boarded the submarine and prepared the tow. As Circe manoeuvred to take up the tow, Tempest suddenly started to sink, forcing the 2 Italians on board to jump into the sea. In position 39 deg. 11'N 17 deg. 47'E (Just off Cape Colonne, S Italy) HMS Tempest slipped beneath the waves stern-first, with the bows disappearing vertically.