HMS TROOPER N91 1941-1942
British submarine of World War II found in great depth in the Icarian Sea
**Historical Background of the Era**:
The surrender of Italy on September 8, 1943, unleashed chaos in the Aegean Sea as the Germans were determined to take control of the Dodecanese from the Italians and were unwilling to allow the presence of Allied forces on the Aegean islands. In late September, the British learned about the gathering of German landing craft in the ports of Piraeus and Crete, loaded with troops and supplies, clearly destined for the Dodecanese.
**The Eighth Patrol**:
HMS TROOPER, under the command of Lieutenant John S. Wraith, departed from Beirut for its eighth offensive patrol on September 26, heading for the Aegean Sea. At the same time, the German minelayer DRACHE was laying mines in the Icarian Sea.
**The Last Special Mission**:
In addition to its offensive patrol, the submarine’s commander was tasked with transporting three agents and valuable cargo to be landed on the island of Kalamos in Evia. On the night of September 30, 1943, at 23:00, TROOPER reached the designated area and gradually landed Major Georgios Diamantopoulos of the Greek intelligence service, attached to the British SOE for a special mission. He was to operate alone to complete Operation Eruption. Also landed from the British submarine were Sacred Squadron Lieutenant Emmanouil Veis and a radio operator codenamed “Thomas,” carrying 400 kilograms of supplies. The landing was successfully completed by 03:00 on October 1, 1943. These were the last people to disembark from the submarine alive.
**The Greek Agent**:
Major G. Diamantopoulos (alias Toby) was not a random choice. A graduate of the National Technical University of Athens (mechanical engineer), he spoke German, English, Italian, and French, and was trained in secret warfare. An experienced soldier, he was a former Artillery Squadron Commander in the Albanian war, distinguished in the Middle East, and commander of the III artillery squadron in the Western Desert.
**Operation Eruption: The Dangerous Mission in Athens**:
Using code signals and under utmost secrecy, Diamantopoulos managed to infiltrate occupied Athens and made contact with prominent figures such as: Fotiadis, Spyropoulos, Kalkandis, Mikroulis, Rankintzis, Aronis, Karamanolis, Kifonidis, Panagopoulos, Doxiadis, Ioannidis, Evert, Georgakis, Archbishop Damaskinos, Panagakos, Vendetis, Spiliotopoulos, Grivas, Tabakopoulos, and Kyrou. He gathered information about the German military situation in Greece. He also delivered 900 gold sovereigns and a radio to organizations in Athens to support the secret war. The second part of Diamantopoulos’s mission was to gather information on the case of Ioannis Tsigantes. The British had specific written questions for people in occupied Athens to discover the truth about Tsigantes’s murder.
**The Last Journey of HMS TROOPER**:
On October 5, 1943, the British had information about a new German landing operation, likely targeting Leros. TROOPER was ordered to patrol between Naxos and Ikaria. After that, TROOPER disappeared, and when it did not return to Beirut by October 17 as scheduled, it was presumed lost.
**Tracking Through Archives**:
The historical search for TROOPER began in 1998 in England, with the first underwater search conducted in 2000. Since then, 14 unsuccessful missions were carried out in the Dodecanese. The search focused on the minefields of Leros and later on Kalymnos and Kos. Ten underwater minefields were investigated without finding TROOPER.
**Seligman’s Theory**:
On the morning of October 14, 1943, an event occurred that misled the entire search regarding TROOPER’s sinking. The caique LS8, part of the Levant Schooner Flotilla (LSF), encountered a British “T” class submarine that surfaced next to it in the bay of Alinda on Leros. The caique’s captain and flotilla commander, Lieutenant Adrian Seligman, described the post-war encounter in his book “War in the Islands,” believing the submarine was HMS TROOPER, recognizing the strong, rough voice of Lieutenant Wraith. This information was accepted as it matched the orders sent to TROOPER by the Commander of the 1st Submarine Squadron (S.1). Post-war, this theory was reinforced when the mine-laying in the area became known. The search resumed with a new scenario and a change in the search area.
**Debunking the Theory**:
However, researchers Spyros Vougidis and Thoktardis, studying war diaries and British submarine reports, discovered that the incident in Leros described by Seligman was reported by the commander of HMS TORBAY, not TROOPER. It was TORBAY, a submarine of the same type, that Seligman saw!
Another puzzling element in the research
Another puzzling element in the research was that TROOPER gave no signs of life after being spotted from the air on October 4, 1943. No one saw it, and it did not undertake any attacks, even though it was in an area where enemy units were known to pass through. In contrast to TROOPER, the submarines UNRULY, UNRIVALED, UNSPARING, and TORBAY, which operated in Greece during those days, had regular interactions with the enemy, either through detection or through their attacks. Only TROOPER remained silent and unseen for so many days in an area with intense and continuous enemy air presence and dense maritime traffic. This confirmed the new theory that TROOPER had not ultimately reached Leros.
The research in Greek, German, and British archives
The research proceeded with the study of all German minefields set up by the Germans in the Aegean. It was discovered that the minelayer DRACHE on September 26, 1943, laid five minefields with 287 mines north of Donousa, on the day when submarine TROOPER departed from Beirut for its last mission. This was the area in which the submarine’s captain was ordered to patrol between October 6 and 9, 1943, before the assigned move to Leros.
The correctness of this theory remained to be proven in practice by the results of the field investigations. The 15th and final mission started in 2023, this time not in the Dodecanese but in the heart of the Aegean, in the Icarian Sea. The Icarian Sea is one of the most challenging seas with strong winds, waves, and powerful underwater currents. However, the continuous and persistent research paid off.
The wreck of HMS TROOPER was located in international waters north of Donousa, at a depth of 253 meters, on one of the five German minefields laid by DRACHE on September 26, 1943.
The initial detection of the exact location of the wreck was achieved using CHIRP technology dual-beam sonar. In the final phase, identification was done using an unmanned underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) of the Super Achille type.
The findings
Eighty-one years after its loss, the first images of HMS TROOPER from 253 meters (830 feet) deep in the Icarian Sea are awe-inspiring.
The submarine entered one of the five minefields that the German minelayer DRACHE had laid a few days before. HMS TROOPER sank, probably in the early hours of October 7, 1943, taking down with it the 64 officers and sailors aboard.
The 84-meter-long TROOPER is broken into three distinct sections: the bow, the middle section, and the stern, which confirms a very violent sinking. The submarine’s sinking was due to the explosion of a German EMF mine containing 350 kilograms of hexanite (a mixture of ammonium nitrate and trinitrotoluene, known as Hexanite). The explosion resulted in the immediate and rapid sinking of the submarine, breaking it into three pieces. The bow sank first, followed by the stern, and lastly, the middle section, which remained on the surface for a few minutes.
The bow and stern lie on the seabed close to each other, while the conning tower of the submarine has detached and is located quite a distance away. The scene is eerie.
Bow section
The bow has settled on the seabed with a forward tilt of 5 degrees. The cap of torpedo tube number 7 is open, and the torpedo is missing. The caps of the other torpedo tubes are closed.
The bow section is 29 meters long. The break occurred at frame 55, where the crew quarters were located. On the lower right side, there is a longitudinal rupture 4 meters long and a deformation of the plates inward from the blast wave of the explosion caused by the mine. The forward diving planes are folded, an indication that, combined with the lowered periscopes, the engine room telegraph on the bridge in the “FULL AHEAD” position, and the open hatch on the conning tower, led us to conclude that the submarine was sailing on the surface at the time of the explosion.
Conning tower
The conning tower shows a rightward tilt of 7 degrees. The attack and patrol periscopes are lowered, as well as the radar antenna. The hatch of the conning tower is open, and the controls are set to “HALF AHEAD.” The internal door leading to the engine room is open. The section of the conning tower has broken at frame 98, where the watertight door of the engine room is located. The image of the accommodations area, which has been completely swept away by the explosion, is shocking. The hatches leading to the deck gun are closed, and the entire gun is missing from its base.
Stern section
The stern section has sustained the least damage and is the largest, with a length of 32.5 meters. It shows a significant rightward tilt of 43 degrees. The Direction Finder (DF) antenna on the deck is in excellent condition. The depth and steering planes are in the neutral position. The cap of external torpedo tube number 10 is open, and the torpedo protrudes by 2.2 meters. External torpedo tube number 9 is closed.
The identification of the wreck was based on the submarine’s shipbuilding plans.
Throughout the investigation, no intervention or disturbance of the wreck was made, as it is the watery grave of the 64 men of the TROOPER’s crew. Among them was the volunteer Australian officer, Lieutenant John Stuart Ryder, aged 22.
Statements
**Spyros Vougidis, Navy Officer and Researcher:**
“We concluded this novel version of the submarine’s sinking after persistent and detailed analysis of the movements of all involved parties and utilizing a large volume of archival material.”
**George Malcolmson – Former Archivist of the Royal Navy Submarine Museum:**
“I am deeply moved to learn that the distinguished Greek researcher Kostas Thoctarides and his team have solved an 81-year-old mystery and discovered the location of the wreck of the British submarine HMS Trooper. Knowing the location of the final resting place of our submarine’s men will help bring closure to the surviving relatives and descendants and serves as a timely reminder of this special category of men who made the ultimate sacrifice. ‘Resurgam.'”
**Captain Richard Wraith CBE RN – Son of the HMS TROOPER’s Commander:**
“I have known for many years the painstaking effort of the research team to locate the submarine’s wreck, and now I am very pleased and excited that their efforts have been rewarded. I hope that the family members of those lost with my father will be able to use the definitive position of the TROOPER as a reference point that will contribute to the rest of the memory of their loved ones.”
Identity of the submarine HMS TROOPER
– **Length:** 273.5 feet (83.36 meters)
– **Beam:** 26.6 feet (8.10 meters)
– **Displacement:** 1327 tons (surface), 1090 tons (standard), 1571 tons (submerged)
– **Speed:** 15½ knots (surface), 9 knots (submerged)
– **Range:** 8000 nautical miles at 10 knots (surface), 80 nautical miles at 4 knots (submerged)
– **Maximum depth:** 300 feet (91.4 meters)
– **Armament:** 11 torpedo tubes (6 internal at the bow and 5 external), 1 4-inch deck gun
Contributors
Agapi Oceanis Thoctarides, Rena Giatropoulou, Nikos Anestis, Spyros Vougidis, Christos Vasilakopoulos, Pyros Kyrkos, Alexandros Kyrkis, Ntalaris Vasilis, Giorgos Marangoudakis, Dimitris Vogiatzis, Konstantinos Vlassis.
Acknowledgements
– Naval History Service, Directorate of Naval Archives, Directorate of Army History, Municipality of Leros.
Special Thanks
Captain Richard S. Wraith CBE Royal Navy, George Malcolmson Former Archivist Royal Navy Submarine Museum, Captain W. Benbow, Naval and Air Attaché of the British Embassy in Athens, The National Archives UK, RN Submarine Museum Gosport, Neil Campbell, David Renwick Grand, John Eade, Jan Erik, David Wilkins, Platon Alexiades, Jean Louis Roba, Brian Corijn, Vaggelis Kanakis, Fragiskos Lgkonis, Giorgos Mamais, Ilektra Mamais, Nikos Koumarianos, Anne Berta.
Dedicated to the memory of Manolis Hisyhos, Byron Tezapsidis, and Peter Schenk.
Primary Sources and Archives
– **ADM 1/14399**: TROOPER WAR PATROLS IN MED
– **ADM 1/14501**: TROOPER ACTIONS WITH THE ENEMY awards to personnel for services.
– **ADM 173/17655**: Log Books HMS TROOPER
– **ADM 173/17656**: Log Books HMS TROOPER
– **ADM 173/17657**: Log Books HMS TROOPER
– **ADM 173/18278**: Log Books HMS TROOPER
– **ADM 173/18279**: Log Books HMS TROOPER
– **ADM 173/18280**: Log Books HMS TROOPER
– **ADM 173/18281**: Log Books HMS TROOPER
– **ADM 173/18402**: Log Book HMS UNRULY Oct. 43
– **ADM 199/1818**: Submarine Patrol Reports.
– **ADM 199/1821**: Submarine Patrol Reports.
– **ADM 199/1824**: Submarine Patrol Reports.
– **ADM 199/1845**: Submarine Patrol Reports.
– **ADM 199/1868**: Submarine Patrol Reports.
– **ADM 199/1044**: Naval Ops Aegean Sep.-Nov. 1943
– **ADM 199/1923**: Mediterranean Submarines Ops 1943
– **ADM 199/556**: HMS Torbay Submarine Patrol Reports
– **ADM 199/778**: Ships losses Med 1943
– **ADM 199/922**: Leros Archive Report Oct 1943
– **ADM 199/1044**: Aegean ops Sep-Nov 1943
– **ADM 199/1845**: ADMIRAL SUBMARINES BASE REPORTS – SUBMARINE PATROLS REPORTS
– **ADM 199/1925**: Admiral Submarines: attacks on Allied submarines, submarine losses.
– **ADM 223/47**: Situation in Aegean during Oct. 1943
– **ADM 234/364**: Aegean Ops 7 Sep. to 28 Nov. 1943
– **ADM 223/589**: Operation LEOPARD German operations in Greece.
– **ADM 232/107**: MINESWEEPING OPERATIONS
– **ADM 234/364**: Aegean operations 7 Sept 28 Nov 1943
– **ADM 358/1855**: HMS Trooper Submarine Patrol Reports
– **ADM 358/4275**: HMS TROOPER Submarine Patrol Reports
– **HS5/527**: SOE GREECE MISSION ERUPTION
– **HS 5/435**: HMS TROOPER
– **HS 5/527**: HMS TROOPER
– **HS 5/527**: TROOPER Missions ERUPTION, BREVITY, MIDAS, BIZARRE, DRUNKARD, PAN and BARBARITY
– **HS8/806**: Diamantopoulos Personal file
– **WO 208/3354**: Escapers Reports
– **WO 208/3355**: Escapers Reports AIO Greeks. Interrogation Report 1696/212 Diamantopoulos.
– **WAR DIARY**: ADMIRALTY BOARD Oct. 1943
– **WAR DIARY**: German Naval Staff Operations Division VOLUME 50
– **Kriegstagebuch des Admiral Aegaeis**: 1.10.43-15.10.43
– **ΒΕΗ Archive**
– **Diamantopoulos Archive**
– **ROBA ARCHIVES**: Personal com
– **Diamantopoulos, K. Georgios**, Reports of Secret Missions, Athens, October 1969, Folder – Archive “MIDAS”.
– **DEPATHA**: Folder MIDAS 614.
– **Neil Campbell**: Personal com.
– **Submarine Museum UK**: File HMS Trooper
– **GERMAN ARCHIVES T-1022 R-2570 MGK Süd-1943-44**
– **Kostas Thoctarides Archive**: Folder HMS TROOPER.
– **OEBN – SEA MINES UDT NAVY SEALS US NAVY**
Bibliography
– **S.W. Roskill**: THE WAR AT SEA 1939-1945 Volume II, N&M PRESS 2004
– **S.W. Roskill**: THE WAR AT SEA 1939-1945 Volume III/1, N&M PRESS 2004
– **A. Seligman**: WAR IN THE ISLANDS, SUTTON 1997
– **P.C. Smith**: WAR IN THE AEGEAN, STACKPOLE BOOKS 2008
– **D.R. Grant**: The Brief Life of HMS TROOPER, Periscope Publishing 2006
– **P. Kemp**: The T-class submarine. ARMS AND ARMOUR, 1990
– **A. Mars**: BRITISH SUBMARINES AT WAR 1939-1945, KIMBER 1971
– **A. Cunningham**: A SAILOR’S ODYSSEY, Hutchinson 1951
– **A. Rogers**: ΤΟ ΟΛΙΣΘΗΜΑ ΤΟΥ ΤΣΟΡΤΣΙΛ, ΙΩΛΚΟΣ 2005
– **O. Churchill**: Β’ ΠΑΓΚΟΣΜΙΟΣ ΠΟΛΕΜΟΣ ΤΟΜΟΣ Β, ΓΚΟΒΟΣΤΗ 2010
– **P. Schenk**: ΠΟΛΕΜΟΣ ΣΤΟ ΑΙΓΑΙΟ 1941-1945, EUROBOOKS 2008
– **OP 1673a**: German-underwater-ordnance
HMS TROOPER N91 the history
Deepest gratitude to Mr. Kostas Thoktaridis for his help and the photographic material.
Search
Latest Posts
What are you interested in?
