Index

12th Submarine Flotilla 21, 37

14th Submarine Flotilla 54–7

26th Destroyer Flotilla 112–13

air induction trunk 220 see also schnorkel

Akieda, Saburo 238

Amoy 86

Anthedon, USS 126

Ashigara 113

atomic bomb 73, 138–40, 283

Australia 77–8

Banks, Audrey 49

Banks, William 21, 227

after the war 284, 288

Bonaventure 32, 35–7

Varbel 21–3, 48–9, 53–4

XE-craft command appointments 39–40

Baughman, Commodore 65

Beaufoy-Brown, John 15, 25, 51, 54

Benzedrine 180–1, 182

Bergen 19, 151, 168

Bergius, Adam ‘Jock’

accident 43–5

after the war 284

assignment to Operation Sabre 110

Australia 92

cable cutting 196, 209–10, 213, 216

cable search 170, 181, 185–7, 194, 205–7

crew assignment 50

quote 191

rest after mission 250

and secondary mission 235–6

stingray 99

Bonaventure, HMS 25–6, 32–7, 39, 43

Caribbean 59–65

in cyclone 123–6

journey to Far East 65–73, 82, 110

return of heroes to 283

to Brunei 135–6

Briggs, Ken

after the war 284

assignment to Operation Sabre 110

cable cutting 196, 210

cable search 170, 181, 185–7, 193–5

crew assignment 50

‘crossing of line’ 69–70

rest after mission 250

and secondary mission 235–6

British Loyalty (tanker) 238

British Pacific Fleet 68, 79, 81

Britnell, Willie 142, 151, 284–5

Brooks, ‘Joe’ 50

cable-cutting plans 95–8, 181–2

Cameron, Donald 143

Cap St Jacques 180, 181, 185–7, 217

Capital, Operation 38

Carey, David

and cable-cutting exercises 89, 100–3

death 103, 105–7

initial training 5–8

Varbel 15–24

Varbel II 25–9, 52

X-20 33–7

XE-3 48

Carroll, Able Seaman 64

Chadwick, Warrant Officer 8–10

Changi 172, 187–8

Char, USS 112

Chernikeeff Log 154, 174

Chiang Kai-shek 146

China 146

Churchill, Winston 37–8, 77, 78–9, 137–8

Claiborne, Captain 84, 93, 94–5

Clarabut, Guy 133–4, 140–1, 148–9, 156, 270, 272–3, 274, 275

after the war 285

Clark, J.W. 136

Clarke, Bruce ‘Nobby’ 110, 279, 280–2, 290

Clarke, John 43

Clements, Ken 55

Coles, Vernon ‘Ginger’

after the war 285

and air cleaning 220

assignment to Operation Sabre 110

background 47–8

cable search 182, 185–6, 206

in cyclone 123–5

rest after mission 250

survival exercise 99

Cougal, USS 135

counter-mining device 212

Creasy, George 79

Crooms, H. 120

‘crossing of the line’ ceremony 69–70

Cunningham, Andrew 68, 100

cyclone 123–6

Daniel, Charles 79, 93

Davies, G.S.P. 79, 82–7, 90–1, 93–5, 108

Davis, Robert 8–9

Dening, Beadon

after the war 285

approach to secondary target 224

approach to target 195

assignment to Operation Foil 110

and parted tow line emergency 162–4

subsidiary operation plan 167–8

Dolphin, HMS 7–8, 11–12, 28–9, 186

Dracula, Operation 38, 49

DSEA 8–10

Enzer, Bruce 40, 106–7

execution xvii–xviii

Faulkner, HMS 47

Fell, William ‘Tiny’

after the war 286, 288

appointment 55–7

in Australia 77–80, 92–4, 108

background 55

and cable-cutting plans 95–8

Caribbean 63, 65

in cyclone 123, 126

demonstration for Lockwood 121–3

farewell to crews 136–7

Hong Kong attack plan 80, 142

journey to Far East 65–71, 75–7

Lockwood message to 279

mission assignments by 109–17

naval regulation enforcement 246

and news of missions 273, 275–6

Philippines trips 82–8, 90–1, 108–9

quote 133

and survival exercise 98–9

and targets for XE-4 270

Fife, James ‘Jimmy’ 78, 80, 82, 85–8, 90, 95

after the war 286

approval of plans 108–9, 110

on Bonaventure 120–1, 135

farewell to crews 137

and news of missions 275–6

Fisher, Ron 97

Fishleigh, Henry

after the war 290

approach to secondary target 231

attack on secondary target 244

crew assignment 50

escape from secondary target 264

mission departure 137

pyrotechnics observed 274

Foil, Operation 108, 110

behind schedule 195, 222–3

starting point 121

see also XE-5

Force 136 146

Force Z xvi, 128, 171, 248

Fraser, Bruce 68, 78–81, 86, 92–5, 100, 108–9

Fraser, Ian ‘Tich’

after the war 286–7

approach to target 165–6, 168–9, 171–5, 177–8, 180–1, 182–4, 187–9, 191–3

arrival at target 198–203, 205

attack on target 214–16, 221–2, 224–30

background 5–6

and cable-cutting exercises 89, 100–3

capture fears 130–1, 143–5, 166

and Carey death 105–6, 107, 116

Caribbean 62–3

collision with target 1–5, 207–9

contact with Stygian 272–3

diving options to free XE-3 245–7

and end of war 283

escape from target 234, 253–4, 255–9, 261–2, 263, 264–6, 267–8, 269–70, 271, 272

initial training 5–13

limpet carrier problem 229–30

mission assignment 111–15

mission departure 136–7

mission start 147–51, 152–6

pyrotechnics observed 273–4, 278

quotes 219, 255

return home 283

target practice 119–20

trapped 236–9, 240–1, 245–50

Varbel 15–24, 48–9, 52–3

Varbel II 25–9

Victoria Cross 283

X-20 32–7

XE-3 command 39–42

Fraser, Melba 4–5, 6, 46, 48–9, 166, 283, 287

Fukudome, Shigeru 112

Funafuti 70–1

Geneva Convention 127, 145

Germany, surrender 99

Graham, Derek 65, 80, 89, 92, 108–9, 275

Greenwood, Clifford

approach to secondary target 224

assignment to Operation Foil 110

in cyclone 125

and parted tow line emergency 163–4

H.44, HMS 5–6

Haguro (heavy cruiser) 112–13

‘Handie-Talkie’ (HT) 270, 271, 273

hard-hat diving 24

Harper, Harold

after the war 290

approach to secondary target 231–2

attack on secondary target 243–5

and change of plan 212–13

crew assignment 50

escape from secondary target 252, 259, 264

mission departure 137

mission start 154

pyrotechnics observed 274

Hazelwood Island 98–9

‘heart of oak’ 186

Henty-Creer, Henty 51, 143

Hervey Bay 102–3

Higgins, Stoker 64

Hiroshima 283

Hisada, Major xvii

Hitler, Adolf 38, 49, 56

Hong Kong, attack plan 80, 142, 167–8

Horsburgh Lighthouse 149, 156

Horton, Max 17, 25, 55–6

human torpedoes 16–17, 56

I-20 submarine 238

Indianapolis, USS 136

Ingleton, Reginald xv–xvii

Ishiguro, Teijo 82

Ishisaka, Takeo 289

Isuzu (cruiser) 112

Japanese POWs 75–6

Jarvis, Dennis 110, 281–2, 290

Jaywick, Operation xvi, 171

Kagayama, Hokao 290

Kamikaze (destroyer) 112–13, 200

Kelly, Bernard ‘Ben’

after the war 287

and air cleaning 220

cable cutting 195–6, 210, 216

cable search 170–1, 181, 185–6, 193, 206–7

crew assignment 50

in cyclone 124–5

mission start 159

assignment to Operation Sabre 110

rest after mission 250

and simulated attack on Bonaventure 122–3

survival exercise 99

Kempeitai xv, xvi, xvii, 144–5

Kent, Derrick 133

King, Ernest J. 67, 78–9

‘L’ pill 130

Lamma Island 110, 151, 167, 279, 282

Lindsay, Commander 136

Lingga 72

‘Little Boy’ 136, 140

Lockwood, Charles A. 121–3, 126, 279

Lützow (battlecruiser) 20, 233

Lyon, Ivan xvi, 120, 128, 143, 171, 248

MacArthur, Douglas 61, 67, 73, 179

Madagascar 238

Magennis, James ‘Mick’

after the war 287–8

approach to target 177–8, 180–1, 183, 188–9, 191–3

arrival at target 198–202, 205

attack on target 214–16, 221–2, 224–30, 233

cable-cutting exercise 100–1

collision with target 1–2

escape from target 234, 254, 256, 265–6, 267, 272

exhaustion 245, 247

initial training 12–13

limpet mine carrier release 246–50, 251–4

mission briefing 115

mission departure 137

mission start 150, 153

pyrotechnics observed 274

quotes 205, 267

shark encounter 59–60

and Tirpitz operation 142

Varbel II 52–4

Victoria Cross 283

XE-3 crew 42, 48

Maidstone, HMS 85, 90, 108–10, 121, 283

in cyclone 123–4

Malayan People’s Anti-Japanese Army 146

Mandalay 38

maps 292–3

Maughan, ERA 48, 50

minefields 155

mines, design problem 226–7

Morrison, Bill 63

Mountbatten, Louis 38, 49, 56, 67–9, 76–9, 138, 277

and Singapore liberation 78, 81–2, 94, 99–100, 139

Munday, Edgar 141, 152, 290

Myoko, IJNS 111–15

after the war 290

location 2, 172

navigation 154–5

Nelson, Horatio 186

Newton, Hugo 134, 164–5

Nimitz, Chester W. 66–72, 79, 239

Ogden, Frank 141, 150–1, 152–3, 290

Otsuka, Major General xvii

Outram Road Jail xvii

Panama Canal 65

Pearl Harbor 32, 66–9, 197

Philippines, liberation 73

Phipps, Peter 70–1

Place, Basil 143

Pomeroy, Walter

after the war 290

approach to secondary target 231

arrival at secondary target 240

attack on secondary target 244

boom gate escape role 211, 256, 260–1

crew assignment 50

escape from secondary target 256, 259–61, 264

mission departure 137

pyrotechnics observed 274

stood down 212

Port HHZ 34, 37

Potsdam Declaration 137–8, 139

Potter, G.C. 112–15, 127–31, 145–6, 161, 208–9

quote 119

Power, Manley 112

Ramillies, HMS 238

Rangoon 38, 49, 78

Reed, Charlie

after the war 290

approach to target 169, 173–4, 177–8, 180–1, 183–4, 191–3

arrival at target 198–202

attack on target 215, 224–5

collision with target 3

crew assignment 50

diving consideration 245–6

escape from target 254, 262, 266, 267–8, 272

mission briefing 117

mission departure 137

mission start 148, 153

pyrotechnics observed 274

trapped 240–1, 245–50

Renouf, A.J. 107

Rimau, Operation xv, 120, 143

Roberts, P.Q. 54–5

Roosevelt, F.D. 49, 73, 79

Rothesay 15, 17

Royal Naval Reserve (RNR) 5

S-class submarines 133

Sabre, Operation 108, 110

plan 181–2

principal objectives achieved 216

starting point 121

success 280

see also XE-4

Sahib, HMS 5–6

Saigon 179, 217, 235, 270, 280

schnorkel 33, 156, 158, 220–1, 234–5

Sea Nymph, HMS 20

Selene, HMS 134, 142, 151, 162–5, 167

rendezvous with 282

Sembawang 115, 189, 216, 266

Shadwell, Lance 85–7

Shean, Mary 47, 57–8

Shean, Max

after the war 288

air cleaning 219–21, 234–5

assignment to Operation Sabre 110

background 10–11, 20

cable cutting 195–6, 209–10, 213, 216

and cable-cutting plans 97–8, 181–2

cable search 170–1, 178–80, 181–2, 185–7, 193–5, 205–7

in cyclone 124–5

on deaths of colleagues 107

departure for Far East 57–8

journey to Far East 66, 73, 77

mission departure 136–7

mission plan 142

mission start 151, 157–9

Norway 19

overboard 147, 157–9

quotes 31, 177, 231

rest after mission 250, 270

secondary mission 217, 235–6, 280

and simulated attack on Bonaventure 122–3

survival exercise 98–9

Varbel 19–20

Varbel II 27, 43–5, 51

XE-4 39

Shinyo-class suicide attack boats 167

‘Siamese Blood Chit’ 129, 131

Singapore

liberation 80–1, 94, 99–100

map 293

Singapore Harbour xvi

Singapore Island 171–2

Singapore Naval Base 197, 274 see also Sembawang

Sladen, ‘Slasher’ 56

‘Sleeping Beauties’ xvi

Slim, William 38, 80

Smart, John ‘Jack’

after the war 288–9

approach to secondary target 223–4, 231–3

approach to target 165–7, 171, 172–3, 184–5, 196–8

arrival at secondary target 239–40

attack on secondary target 243–5

background 20

change of plan 210–13

contact with Spark 273

in cyclone 126

escape from secondary target 252, 255–6, 259–61, 263–4, 268–9, 271

mission assignment 111–15

mission departure 137

mission start 150–1, 152

pyrotechnics observed 274, 278

return home 283

target practice 120

XE-1 39, 50

Smith, William ‘Kiwi’

after the war 289

approach to target 173, 174–5, 177–8, 180–1, 182–4, 188–9, 191–3

arrival at target 198–202

attack on target 214, 224–5, 228

collision with target 3–4

crew switch 107

diving consideration 246

escape from target 234, 254, 257, 261–2, 263, 265–6, 268, 269, 272

mission briefing 117

mission departure 137

mission start 148, 152–6

pyrotechnics observed 273–4

trapped 236–7, 245–50

Somerville, James 40

Source, Operation 17, 18–19, 51, 143, 233

Southern Expeditionary Area Army 179

Spark, HMS 133, 141, 150, 154

rendezvous with 269, 271, 273, 280

Spearhead, HMS 134, 137, 142, 151, 158

rendezvous with 186–7, 217, 235–6, 250, 270, 280

Staples, Aubrey 63

Starvation, Operation 67

Stewart, Commodore 65

Struggle, Operation 2, 116

importance 139

starting point 121

as ‘suicide mission’ 239

see also XE-1; XE-3

Stygian, HMS 133–4, 140–3, 148–9, 151, 153, 156

rendezvous with 265, 266, 267, 269–70, 272–3, 280

suicide pills 130, 146

survival kit 127–30, 238

Sydney Harbour 197

Takao, IJNS 111–16

after the war 289–90

collision with 1–5, 207–9

destruction 274–7

found 199–201

location 172

XE-3 attack on 214–16, 221–2, 224–30

XE-3 attack start 202–3

XE-4 attack on 243–5

Takemoto, Saburo 238

Taku, HMS 25

Task Group 71.11 135

Terauchi, Count 179–80

Terry-Lloyd, J.V. 39–40, 107

Tinian 136, 138

Tirpitz operation xviii, 16–18, 20–1, 26–7, 39, 48, 50–1, 134–5, 143, 244

Tonks, B.J. 117

torture 143–5

Towatari, Masayoshi xv–xvi, xvii

towing tests 134

Trenchant, HMS 113

Trident, HMS 56

Truman, Harry S. 73, 79, 137–40

Tsuchihashi, Yuitsu 179

‘ULTRA’ 94

United States, Bonaventure in 65–9

Varbel, HMS 16–18

Varbel II, HMS 25–9, 50–1, 63–4

Varley, Cromwell 18

Victory, HMS 186

Warren, Jim 147

‘water cure’ 144

West Lamma Channel 165, 167–8, 195, 223, 263, 271

Westmacott, H.P. ‘Pat’

after the war 289

approach to target 167–8, 195, 222–3

arrival at target 262–3

assignment to Operation Foil 110

background 19

cable cutting 279, 280–1, 282

and cable-cutting exercises 106

Caribbean 62, 65

in cyclone 125

mission plan 142

mission start 151

and parted tow line emergency 162–5

return home 283

subsidiary operation plan 167–8

waiting at target 263, 271

XE-2 39

Wet and Dry Compartment (W&D) 26–8

X-craft 17–19, 22–4, 32–4

X-5, HMS 143

X-6, HMS 143, 244

X-7, HMS 143, 244

X-8, HMS 20, 50, 233

X-9, HMS 48, 134–5

X-20, HMS 31–6

X-22, HMS 48

X-24, HMS 19, 48, 151, 168

XE-craft 25, 32, 39–42

XE-1, HMS

approach to secondary target 223–4, 231–3

approach to target 165–7, 171, 172–3, 184–5, 196–8

arrival at secondary target 239–40

attack on secondary target 243–5

command 39

crew 50

in cyclone 126

escape from secondary target 252, 255–6, 259–61, 263–4, 268–9, 271

mission start 154

pyrotechnics observed 274, 276, 278

rendezvous with Spark 269, 271, 273, 280

return home 283

submarine assignment 133

towed 141–2, 154

XE-2, HMS

cable-cutting exercises 106

Caribbean 65

command 39

as reserve craft 135

XE-3, HMS

approach to target 165–6, 168–9, 171–5, 177–8, 180–1, 182–4, 187–9, 191–3

arrival at target 198–203, 205

attack on target 214–16, 221–2, 224–30

cable-cutting exercises 89, 100–3

collision with target 1–5, 207–9

command 39

crew 50

escape from target 234, 253–4, 255–9, 261–2, 263, 264–6, 269–70, 271, 272

limpet mine carrier problem 229–30, 234, 241

limpet mine carrier release 245–50, 251–4

mission start 152–7

pyrotechnics observed 273–4, 276, 278

rendezvous with Stygian 265, 266, 267, 269–70, 272–3, 280

return home 283

submarine assignment 133–4

towed 140–2, 153

trapped 236–9

XE-4, HMS

accident 43–5

air cleaning 219–21, 234–5

cable cutting 195–6, 209–10, 213, 216

cable search 170–1, 178–80, 181–2, 185–7, 193–5, 205–7

collision with cable ship wreck 185

command 39

in cyclone 123–5

mission start 157–9

rendezvous with Spearhead 186–7, 217, 235–6, 250, 270, 280

rest after mission 250, 270

return home 283

secondary mission 217, 235–6, 280

simulated attack on Bonaventure 122–3

submarine assignment 134

survival exercise 98–9

towed 142

XE-5, HMS

approach to target 167–8, 195, 222–3

arrival at target 262–3

cable cutting 279, 280–1, 282

Caribbean 59, 64

command 39–40

in cyclone 125

parted tow line 162–5

rendezvous with Selene 282

return home 283

submarine assignment 134

towed 162–3

waiting at target 263, 271

XE-6, HMS

Caribbean 64–5

command 40

in cyclone 125–6

as reserve craft 134

XE-11, HMS 63–4

Yamato (battleship) 72

Youngman, R.E. 134, 142, 187, 270, 274, 280

Zipper, Operation 81–2, 94, 99–100, 110, 277