HMS Tigris (N63) was a Royal Navy T-class submarine that saw extensive service in the Atlantic, Arctic and Mediterranean during the Second World War. She was built at Chatham Dockyard, launched on 31 October 1939, and commissioned on 20 June 1940.
Wartime Service
Under Commander Howard Francis Bone, Tigris operated in the Bay of Biscay and North Atlantic, sinking several French and German vessels, including the German tanker Thorn. She also attacked enemy submarines and shipping off the French coast.
In July 1941, she achieved a notable success by torpedoing and sinking the Italian submarine Michele Bianchi in the Bay of Biscay.
Later that year she was deployed to Arctic waters, operating from the Soviet base at Polyarny. During these patrols she sank Norwegian merchant vessels being used by the Germans, including Haakon Jarl and Richard With. The sinking of Richard With resulted in significant civilian casualties and remained controversial after the war.
Mediterranean Operations
In late 1942, Tigris transferred to the Mediterranean under Lieutenant Commander George Robson Colvin. There she sank the Italian submarine Porfido on 6 December 1942 and the Italian merchant ship Città di Genova in January 1943.
Loss
Tigris departed Malta on 18 February 1943 for a patrol south-west of Naples and never returned. Modern research indicates she was most likely destroyed on 27 February 1943 by the German submarine chaser UJ-2210 near the island of Capri after a series of depth-charge attacks. The submarine and all hands were lost.
Quick Facts
- Class: T-class submarine
- Pennant number: N63
- Launched: 31 October 1939
- Commissioned: 20 June 1940
- Main theatres: Atlantic, Arctic, Mediterranean
- Notable success: Sinking Italian submarine Michele Bianchi
- Lost: Probably depth-charged near Capri, 27 February 1943
Interestingly, HMS Tigris and HMS Turbulent were both highly successful T-class submarines that disappeared within weeks of each other in early 1943 while operating in the Mediterranean.
