HMS P.48

📍 HMS P.48 Submarine Memorial

Location Map Coordinates 35.902231, 14.519625

Google Map Link

HMS P.48 was a Royal Navy U-class (Third Group) submarine that served with the famous 10th Submarine Flotilla operating from Malta during the Second World War. Commissioned in June 1942, she carried out a series of offensive patrols against Axis shipping supplying the German and Italian armies in North Africa before being lost with all hands on Christmas Day 1942.

Although she served for only six months, HMS P.48 became one of the many submarines whose aggressive operations from Malta contributed significantly to the disruption of Axis supply convoys crossing the Mediterranean. Her loss was a reminder of the dangerous anti-submarine measures employed by Axis escorts during the Tunisian campaign.

Ship Details

Service History

Following her commissioning in June 1942, HMS P.48 completed trials and work-up before joining the Mediterranean Fleet. She was assigned to the Royal Navy's 10th Submarine Flotilla at Malta, whose submarines were tasked with intercepting Axis merchant shipping carrying troops, fuel, ammunition and supplies to Tunisia.

During the latter half of 1942, the strategic importance of Malta had been restored following the success of Operation Pedestal. With the island once again capable of supporting offensive naval operations, submarines such as HMS P.48 resumed aggressive patrols against enemy convoys travelling between Italy, Sicily and North Africa.

Loss of HMS P.48

HMS P.48 departed Malta on 23 December 1942 for a patrol in the Gulf of Tunis under the command of Lieutenant Michael Elliot Faber, RN. Her orders were to intercept Axis convoys attempting to reinforce the Tunisian bridgehead during the final stages of the North African campaign.

On the morning of 25 December 1942, while attacking an Italian convoy northwest of Zembra Island, P.48 was detected by an escorting aircraft. The Italian torpedo boat Ardente immediately gained sonar contact and carried out a series of depth-charge attacks, assisted by the escort Ardito. Following the attack, a large oil slick was observed and the submarine was presumed destroyed. HMS P.48 failed to return to Malta and was officially declared overdue on 5 January 1943. She was lost with all hands.

Roll of Honour – Crew Lost

HMS P.48 was lost with all hands on 25 December 1942 during an attack on an Axis convoy off the Tunisian coast. The submarine was destroyed following a sustained depth-charge attack by Italian escort vessels. The complete ship's company of thirty-four officers and men is commemorated below, reproduced from Malta Defiant & Triumphant – Rolls of Honour 1940–1943.

Legacy

HMS P.48 was one of the many Royal Navy submarines that operated from Malta during the critical campaign to disrupt Axis supply lines to North Africa. Although her operational career lasted only six months, her patrols formed part of the sustained submarine offensive that severely restricted the movement of enemy shipping across the central Mediterranean.

Her loss on Christmas Day 1942 came during the final stages of the North African campaign, when Allied submarines were maintaining relentless pressure on Axis convoys attempting to reinforce Tunisia. The sacrifice of her crew is commemorated on the Malta Submarine Memorial at Fort St Elmo, where HMS P.48 remains one of the submarines honoured for her service from Malta.

Photograph

A wartime photograph of HMS P.48 will be added here when available.

Related Pages

• Malta Submarine Roll of Honour
• HMS P.32
• HMS P.33
• HMS P.36
• HMS P.38
• HMS P.39
• HMS Tigris

Sources

• Malta Defiant & Triumphant – Rolls of Honour 1940–1943.
• Royal Navy submarine service records.
• Imperial War Museums.
• Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
• uboat.net – Allied Warships – HMS P.48.