HMS P48 was a Royal Navy U-class submarine built by Vickers-Armstrong at Barrow-in-Furness. She was launched on 15 April 1942 and commissioned on 18 June 1942 under the command of Lieutenant Michael Elliot Faber, RN.
Service History
After completing trials and training in the Clyde, P48 carried out an initial patrol in the Norwegian Sea before being sent to the Mediterranean. She sailed via Gibraltar and joined the 10th Submarine Flotilla at Malta, which was heavily engaged against Axis supply routes to North Africa.
P48 participated in operations supporting Operation Torch, the Allied landings in North Africa in November 1942. Her patrols were aimed at intercepting enemy warships and merchant vessels supplying Axis forces in Tunisia.
Although she conducted several patrols and attacks, she achieved no confirmed sinkings during her short operational career.
Loss
P48 departed Malta on 23 December 1942 for a patrol in the Gulf of Tunis. She failed to return and was declared overdue on 5 January 1943.
Post-war analysis suggests that on 25 December 1942 she attacked an Italian convoy heading for Tunis and was detected by the Italian torpedo boat Ardente (possibly assisted by Ardito). Following several depth-charge attacks northwest of Zembra Island, P48 was believed sunk with all hands.
The estimated loss position was approximately 37°15'N, 10°30'E in the Gulf of Tunis.
Crew and Legacy
P48 carried a complement of 31 officers and ratings.
An interesting postscript is that one of the crew lost was related to musician Thomas Dolby. Dolby later commemorated the submarine and her crew in his 1982 song "One of Our Submarines."
Quick Facts
- Class: U-class submarine
- Pennant: P48
- Builder: Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow
- Commissioned: 18 June 1942
- Commanding Officer: Lt. Michael Elliot Faber
- Operational area: Norwegian Sea and Mediterranean
- Lost: 25 December 1942, Gulf of Tunis
- Probable cause: Depth-charge attack by Italian torpedo boat Ardente
- Crew lost: 31
P48's loss came during the critical struggle to cut Axis supply lines to Tunisia, one of the Royal Navy submarine service's most dangerous campaigns of the war.
