HMS Traveller (N48) was a Royal Navy T-class submarine built by Scotts Shipbuilding of Greenock, Scotland. She was laid down on 17 January 1940, launched on 27 August 1941, and commissioned on 10 April 1942.
Key facts:
- Class: T-class submarine
- Pennant number: N48
- Builder: Scotts Shipbuilding & Engineering Co., Greenock
- Service: Primarily operated in the Mediterranean during World War II.
- Notable success: Sank the Italian merchant vessel Albachiara.
- Loss: Departed Malta on 28 November 1942 for a patrol in the Gulf of Taranto and reconnaissance work connected with a planned Chariot human torpedo operation. She failed to return and was reported overdue on 12 December 1942. She is generally believed to have been lost after striking an Italian mine on or about 4 December 1942, with the loss of all hands.
Patrol 1: Alboran Sea Work-up Patrol
3 to 11 June 1942
Base: Gibraltar
Traveller's first patrol was primarily a training and work-up operation in the Alboran Sea after arriving at Gibraltar from the UK. During the patrol she conducted a series of dummy attacks against neutral merchant vessels to train her crew in tracking and attack procedures. No torpedoes were fired in action and no enemy contacts were engaged. She returned to Gibraltar on 11 June 1942.
Patrol 2: Adriatic Sea Patrol
19 July to 14 August 1942
Base: Haifa
Ordered into the Adriatic, Traveller carried out offensive patrols against Axis shipping and warships.
Major events
28 July 1942
- Detected by an enemy patrol craft in the Otranto Strait and depth-charged without damage.
- Fired four torpedoes at Italian merchant ship Ezilda Croce. All missed.
30 July 1942
- Sighted an Italian submarine, probably Topazio, but could not gain attack position.
31 July 1942
- Fired six torpedoes at the Italian gunboat/light cruiser Cattaro (formerly Yugoslav cruiser Dalmacija).
- Claimed hits, but all torpedoes missed.
- Counterattacked with depth charges but escaped undamaged.
3 August 1942
- Attacked German merchant vessel Pluto with two torpedoes.
- No hits obtained.
5 August 1942
- Attacked Italian submarine Porfido with two torpedoes.
- Missed, then surfaced and opened fire with her 4-inch deck gun before the submarine submerged.
7 August 1942
- Attacked another Italian submarine, likely Porfido again.
- Fired three torpedoes; no hits.
The patrol produced numerous sightings and attacks but no confirmed sinkings. [
Patrol 3: Libyan Coast and Crete
Mid-August to 20 September 1942
Bases: Alexandria/Beirut
This was Traveller's most successful patrol.
Major events
5 September 1942
- Torpedoed and sank the Italian merchant ship Albachiara (1,245 GRT) northeast of Derna.
- This was Traveller's only confirmed sinking of the war.
5 September 1942 (later)
- Fired two torpedoes at an escorted merchant vessel.
- No hits recorded.
7 to 8 September 1942
- Took part in interception operations against major Axis convoys bound for Libya.
- Sighted but could not gain a firing position against the German transport Ankara and its escort.
15 September 1942
- Observed Axis convoy traffic entering Suda Bay, Crete, but remained out of range.
17 September 1942
- Conducted a Special Boat Service extraction during Operation Anglo.
- Successfully recovered SBS officer Lieutenant David Sutherland and Marine Duggan near Rhodes after a raid on Axis airfields.
20 September 1942
- Arrived at Beirut, ending the patrol.
Patrol 4: Western Crete
4 to 26 October 1942
Base: Beirut
Traveller returned to the waters west of Crete to attack Axis supply traffic.
Major events
9 October 1942
- Attacked Italian tanker Proserpina with four torpedoes.
- Missed.
- Suffered a heavy depth-charge counterattack but escaped with only minor damage.
11 October 1942
- Fired two torpedoes at German auxiliary minelayer Bulgaria.
- Both missed.
15 October 1942
- Fired four torpedoes at Italian merchant vessel Anna Maria.
- No hits.
26 October 1942
- Returned to Port Said for docking and modification.
- Fitted with petrol tanks for transport missions to Malta.
Malta Supply Mission
13 to 23 November 1942
Traveller carried a cargo of urgently needed aviation fuel from Port Said to Malta, arriving safely on 23 November.
Patrol 5: Taranto Reconnaissance and Loss
28 November to December 1942
Command had passed to Lt. Cdr. Drummond St. Clair-Ford because Lt. Michael Beauchamp St. John was ill with dysentery.
Mission
- Sail from Malta into the Gulf of Taranto.
- Conduct reconnaissance of Taranto harbour.
- Support planning for Operation Principal (a Chariot human torpedo attack on Italian naval facilities).
Loss
- Ordered on 8 December 1942 to withdraw and report clear of the Gulf of Taranto.
- No signal was ever received.
- Reported overdue on 12 December 1942.
- Generally believed to have struck an Italian mine around 4 December 1942. All 61 crew members were lost.
