HMS Grampus (N56)

📍 HMS Grampus Submarine Memorial

Location Map Coordinates 35.902231, 14.519625

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HMS Grampus (N56) was the lead vessel of the Royal Navy's Grampus-class minelaying submarines. Designed to lay offensive minefields deep inside enemy waters, she entered service shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War and became one of the first British submarines lost during the Mediterranean campaign. Today she is commemorated on Malta's Royal Navy Submarine Roll of Honour at the National War Museum, Fort St Elmo, Valletta.

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Construction and Design

Ordered under the Royal Navy's 1935 construction programme, HMS Grampus was built by Chatham Dockyard as the first submarine of a new class specifically designed for minelaying operations. Unlike conventional fleet submarines, the Grampus class could carry large numbers of naval mines while retaining torpedo armament for attacks against enemy vessels.

She was launched on 25 February 1936 and commissioned into the Royal Navy on 2 February 1939. With the outbreak of war later that year, HMS Grampus joined the Mediterranean Fleet, where she was tasked with laying minefields against Italian naval bases and shipping routes.

Technical Specifications

Name	HMS Grampus
Pennant Number	N56
Class	Grampus-class minelaying submarine
Builder	Chatham Dockyard
Launched	25 February 1936
Commissioned	2 February 1939
Length	293 ft 6 in (89.5 m)
Displacement	1,520 tons surfaced 2,062 tons submerged
Maximum Speed	15.5 knots surfaced
Crew	Approximately 59 officers and ratings
Primary Role	Minelaying submarine

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Mediterranean Service

Following Italy's declaration of war on 10 June 1940, HMS Grampus was among the first Royal Navy submarines sent to lay offensive minefields in the central Mediterranean. These operations aimed to restrict Italian naval movements and disrupt supply routes supporting the Axis war effort in North Africa.

Operating from Alexandria in Egypt, Grampus laid minefields in waters heavily patrolled by the Italian Navy and Regia Aeronautica. Her missions were exceptionally dangerous, requiring the submarine to remain submerged for long periods while working close to enemy coastlines.

The Final Patrol

On 16 June 1940 HMS Grampus departed Alexandria to lay a defensive minefield off the coast of Sicily. The mission formed part of the Royal Navy's early efforts to disrupt Italian naval movements following Italy's entry into the Second World War. Operating close to heavily defended enemy waters, Grampus successfully laid her mines before beginning the return voyage.

Unknown to the Royal Navy, Italian naval forces had become aware that a British submarine was operating in the area. On 19 June 1940 Grampus was detected south of Augusta, Sicily, by the Italian torpedo boats Circe, Clio, Calliope and Polluce.

The four vessels immediately launched a coordinated anti-submarine attack using depth charges. After several attacks, large quantities of oil, wreckage and air bubbles appeared on the surface. HMS Grampus failed to return to Alexandria and was officially declared lost with all hands.

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Loss of HMS Grampus

HMS Grampus was lost on 16 June 1940, only nine days after Italy entered the war. Her loss marked one of the Royal Navy's earliest submarine casualties in the Mediterranean campaign and demonstrated the increasing effectiveness of coordinated Italian anti-submarine operations.

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Roll of Honour – Crew Lost

When HMS Grampus was lost on 16 June 1940, all members of her ship's company perished. The following Roll of Honour records the officers and ratings who gave their lives while serving aboard the submarine.

Name	Rank / Rating
Rowe, C. A.	Lieutenant Commander (Commanding Officer)
Albrow, R. E.	Leading Seaman
Atkin, G. W.	Leading Stoker
Baker, W. E.	Stoker 1st Class
Barnard, H. P.	Able Seaman
Bowler, F. S.	Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class
Brownlie, T. H.	Leading Stoker
Buckler, L. E.	Warrant Engineer
Bull, E. B.	Lieutenant
Burch, B.	Able Seaman
Burton, T. R.	Leading Seaman
Butcher, F.	Leading Stoker
Church, W.	Leading Seaman
Clarke, A. W.	Leading Stoker
Collins, R.	Leading Seaman
Cousins, A. R.	Leading Seaman
Cryle, A. M.	Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class
Cuthbert, G.	Leading Stoker
Denyer, C. J.	Able Seaman
Dorrell, K. J.	Lieutenant
Edwards, E. P.	Stoker Petty Officer
Frampton, K. J.	Petty Officer Telegraphist
Glanville, W. G.	Petty Officer
Groves, R. R.	Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class
Halliday, I.	Able Seaman
Harnden, F. W.	Telegraphist
Hart, A.	Chief Petty Officer
Hedley, W.	Stoker Petty Officer
Heselton, J.	Leading Cook
Hodge, R. E.	Able Seaman
Long, S. H.	Telegraphist
McConville, P. E.	Leading Stoker
Marshall, W. A.	Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class
Messenger, F. P.	Petty Officer
Nicholson, E. G.	Able Seaman
Noone, E.	Stoker 1st Class
Northcott, L. H. J.	Stoker Petty Officer
Parker, A. E.	Leading Stoker
Pashley, P. W.	Engine Room Artificer 3rd Class
Paxton, A. A.	Chief Petty Officer
Redding, R. F. J.	Able Seaman
Richardson, F.	Stoker 1st Class
Roberts, G.	Able Seaman
Robinson, W. T.	Petty Officer
Scott, C.	Able Seaman
Smith, N. A.	Stoker 1st Class
Stinchcombe, C. J.	Leading Seaman
Storey, D.	Stoker 1st Class
Swift, G. H. J.	Telegraphist
Tamplin, D. W. E.	Able Seaman
Thompson, T. E.	Stoker 1st Class
Wallis, A. E.	Chief Engine Room Artificer
Watkin, J. H.	Engine Room Artificer 2nd Class
Welbourn, T. H.	Stoker 1st Class
Whittle, J.	Leading Stoker
Willcox, E. G.	Leading Seaman
Wilson, C. C.	Sub-Lieutenant, RNR

Source: Malta Defiant & Triumphant – Rolls of Honour 1940–1943, George Cross Island Association.

All fifty-nine members of the ship's company, including her Commanding Officer Lieutenant Commander Charles Alexander Rowe, RN, were lost.

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Commanding Officer

Name	Lieutenant Commander Charles Alexander Rowe, RN
Rank	Lieutenant Commander
Command	HMS Grampus (N56)
Fate	Lost with his submarine on 19 June 1940

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Connection with Malta

Although HMS Grampus operated primarily from Alexandria during her final patrol, she formed part of the Royal Navy submarine force that later became closely associated with Malta and the struggle for control of the Mediterranean. Her loss is commemorated on the Royal Navy Submarine Roll of Honour at the National War Museum, Fort St Elmo, Valletta.

The memorial honours submarines whose operations helped defend Malta and disrupt Axis supply routes to North Africa. These patrols were among the most hazardous undertaken by any branch of the Royal Navy during the Second World War.

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Timeline

1935	Ordered under the Royal Navy construction programme.
25 February 1936	Launched at Chatham Dockyard.
2 February 1939	Commissioned into the Royal Navy.
September 1939	Second World War begins.
10 June 1940	Italy enters the Second World War.
16 June 1940	Sailed from Alexandria to lay mines off Sicily.
19 June 1940	Attacked and sunk by Italian torpedo boats south of Augusta, Sicily.

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Did You Know?

• HMS Grampus was the lead vessel of the Grampus class of minelaying submarines.
• She was one of the first Royal Navy submarines lost in the Mediterranean during the Second World War.
• Her final mission was to lay a minefield off the coast of Sicily.
• The submarine was attacked by four Italian torpedo boats working together.
• All fifty-nine members of her crew were lost.
• HMS Grampus is commemorated on Malta's Royal Navy Submarine Roll of Honour at Fort St Elmo.

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Related Pages

• Royal Navy Submarine Roll of Honour
• HMS Cachalot (N83)
• HMS Olympus
• HMS Tigris
• HMS Upholder
• HMS Urge
• Malta Military Memorial Catalogue

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Sources

This page has been compiled using official Royal Navy records, published histories of British submarine operations in the Mediterranean, Commonwealth War Graves Commission records, contemporary naval accounts and the Royal Navy Submarine Roll of Honour displayed at the National War Museum, Fort St Elmo, Valletta.