HMS Triad was a T-class submarine of the Royal Navy, built by Vickers Armstrong at Barrow-in-Furness. She was launched on 5 May 1939 and commissioned on 16 September 1939.
Early War Service
At the outbreak of the Second World War, Triad served with the 2nd Submarine Flotilla and conducted patrols in the North Sea and off Norway. During the German invasion of Norway, she sank the German transport Ionia near the entrance to the Oslo Fjord on 11 April 1940.
Later in 1940, she was transferred to the Mediterranean and operated from Malta with the 1st Submarine Flotilla.
Final Patrol and Loss
On 9/10 October 1940, HMS Triad departed Malta for a patrol in the Gulf of Taranto, with orders to proceed to Alexandria afterward. She never arrived and was declared overdue later that month.
For many years her loss was attributed to mines or aircraft attack. Post-war examination of Italian records showed that she was almost certainly sunk on 15 October 1940 after a rare submarine-versus-submarine surface action with the Italian submarine Enrico Toti, commanded by Bandino Bandini.
During the engagement:
- Both submarines sighted each other on the surface near 38°16′N, 17°37′E, southwest of Calabria.
- Triad fired a torpedo, which missed.
- The submarines exchanged gunfire at close range.
- As Triad attempted to dive, Enrico Toti fired a torpedo and scored hits with her deck gun. Triad sank with all hands.
Commanding Officer
At the time of her loss, Triad was commanded by Lieutenant Commander George Stevenson Salt RN. He was the father of Admiral Sir Sam Salt, a future senior Royal Navy officer.
Historical Significance
HMS Triad is generally regarded as the only British submarine sunk by an Italian submarine during the Second World War.
