HMS Pandora (N42) was a Royal Navy Parthian-class submarine commissioned in 1930. Originally intended to be named Python, she was renamed Pandora before launch. She served on the China Station during the 1930s and later fought in the Mediterranean during the Second World War.
Construction
- Ordered: 7 February 1928
- Built by: Vickers-Armstrongs, Barrow-in-Furness
- Laid down: 9 July 1928
- Launched: 22 August 1929
- Commissioned: 30 June 1930
Pre-War Service
After commissioning, Pandora sailed to the Far East and served from Hong Kong on the China Station between 1931 and 1940, helping to protect British interests in East Asia.
Second World War
At the outbreak of war, Pandora was transferred to the Mediterranean. She carried out patrols against Italian shipping and naval forces and took part in operations around North Africa and Malta.
One of her most controversial actions occurred on 4 July 1940, when she torpedoed and sank the French aviso Rigault de Genouilly off Algeria during the period following France's armistice with Germany.
HMS Pandora also:
- Conducted offensive patrols against Axis shipping.
- Carried supplies to besieged Malta.
- Operated from Alexandria and later Malta as part of Britain's submarine campaign in the Mediterranean.
Loss at Malta
On 1 April 1942, during a heavy Axis air raid on Malta, Pandora was alongside at Valletta's dockyard/Grand Harbour unloading stores when she was struck by bombs. The submarine sank rapidly.
- 25 crew members were killed.
- The wreck was later raised in 1943, but she was not returned to service.
- She was eventually scrapped after the war.
