The Last Patrol

Lt. MICHAEL GEOFFREY RAWSON LUMBY RN

CAPTAIN OF THE SARACEN

Lt. MICHAEL GEOFFREY RAWSON LUMBY, RN, scuttled Saracen after she had been depth-charged off the east coast of the island of Corsica ON 14 AUGUST 1943.

Here is the account he submitted to his superiors on 13 May 1945 after his release from captivity, addressed to The Admiral (Submarines), Northways, LONDON, NW3:

 

I have the honour to submit the report of the last patrol and sinking of H.M. Submarine Saracen under my command.

On 7th August, 1943, sailed from Algiers for patrol east of Corsica in accordance with Captain (S/m), Eighth Submarine Flotilla's patrol orders.

Arrived off Bastia during night of 12/13th August and commenced patrolling. Sighted one southbound hospital ship. Received signal from Captain (S/m), Eighth Submarine Flotilla, informing me that 'close patrol off Bastia should prove profitable.' At dawn 13th August, dived 5' off Bastia and patrolled up and down 070°- 250° approach channel. During the day sighted one small water carrier in ballast and two E-boats (E-boats - German: Schnellboot, or S-Boot, meaning 'fast boat', was the designation for fast attack craft of the Kriegsmarine. It is commonly held that the British used the term E for Enemy) proceeding from Bastia to the mainland. One seaplane carried out frequent A/S searches in the vicinity throughout the day but caused no interference in spite of a glassy calm sea.

Two corvettes patrolled in the vicinity continuously. Asdic conditions were very bad and no impulses were heard. The true character of these corvettes had not been revealed to me at this time and I thought they were mine-sweepers and had referred to them as such in any previous patrol reports. However, they caused me no inconvenience during the day. I remained close inshore off Bastia until dark and then withdrew seaward at 80 feet. During the run out encountered two Asdic-fitted vessels who appeared to hold us in contact for about ten minutes. Having evaded these two vessels they were not heard again.

Surfaced 8' N.E. of Bastia at about 2300 and patrolled up and down the moon, which was full and bearing south.

AFTER MIDNIGHT on 13 AUGUST HE BECAME AWARE THAT HE WAS BEING PURSUED

At 0000/14 sighted 2 small objects to the northward. As we were silhouetted against the moon, dived immediately.

It was thought at the time that these were E-boats. Shortly afterwards two E-boats passed overhead and one disappeared to the southward. At about 0020 loud Asdic impulses were heard from two vessels making slow motor H.E. They obtained contact and maintained it in spite of all manner of depth and course alterations.

THE DEPTH CHARGING BEGAN ATER  ONE O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING OF THE 14 AUGUST

At 0100 motor H.E. suddenly changed to loud diesel H.E. and I realised that our pursuers were certainly not E-boats. A pattern of 30 to 36 fell very accurately around us while we were at 220 feet. One charge which exploded out of phase with the remainder of the pattern caused the submarine to whip violently.

Damage did not appear to be any greater than that received the previous patrol and the pattern did not appear to be quite so accurate. However, shortly afterwards. I was informed that the pressure hull in the after ends had split for a length of 4 feet and that the compartment was flooding up rapidly and had been shut off. For the next quarter of an hour depth varied from 100 to 400 feet and every effort was made to trim on main ballast. This was a failure and as H.P. (High Pressure) air was getting low I decided to surface. On reaching the surface, Saracen was floating very low in the water and the order was given to abandon ship. Shortly afterwards I opened main vents and Saracen sank in very deep water.

The Italian corvettes Minerva and Ape, (Euterpe) who had placed themselves one mile on either quarter opened fire on Saracen with their 5' guns and pompos. (Gatteschi dischargers.)Their shooting was extremely bad. Subsequently they picked up survivors and took us to Bastia. Treatment was extremely good.

I very much regret that I have no knowledge of the circumstances surrounding the drowning of Stoker Petty Officer Ward and Able Seaman Downey (Dowen) both of whom were seen on the casing and never seen again.

With reference to the split made in the pressure hull, it is my opinion that we may have strained the pressure hull after the depth-charge attack during the previous patrol when we were forced down below 400 feet by the flooding up of 'Q' tanks. I am still convinced that this last attack was not as accurate as the previous one.

I cannot praise too highly the conduct of Petty Officer L.C. Roberts, the Petty Officer L.T.O., who during the stirring scenes that took place by the W/T door to the after ends, spread an atmosphere of calm and efficiency which was highly beneficial to all men in the engine room. The behaviour of all men, young and old, during the last stage of the battle was of the highest order.

Signalman Brocklehurst, a non-swimmer whose D.S.E.A. set proved to be defective, owes his life to P.O. Tel. Read and Tel. Hibbert who supported him until picked up by the Italians.

 

TENENTE MARIO BAROGLIO

CAPTAIN OF THE 'MINERVA'

THE LOG OF THE  MINERVA

The account written by Lt. Baroglio agrees to a great extent that with of Lt. Lumby but puts the start of the depth-charge attack at 0046 hrs instead of 0100 hrs. He makes quite clear that he depth-charged Saracen on 14 August:

Extract from:   Corvette 'Minerva' – Summary of the log book.  Held in the Royal Submarine Museum Gosport Catalogue no. File A1983/035

14/0000 - Keep on the search of the Enemy Submarine. Unit in front line. Course South.

14/0014 - ... the Ecg (Ecogoniometro - sonar system) record(ed) an obstacle at (bearing) 270 ° range 700 mt. Turn 90° on the left and order the Engines forward slowly. From the hours 0022 to 0040 the Ecg. continued to beat on the obstacle while I maintained the prow over with practically constant course.

14/0040 - Having obtain the certitude of having identificate an enemy submarine who navigate at the speed of about 3 knots on course equal to mine and at a distance of about 700 mt. I increase the speed to 14 knots and start the attack.

14/0046 - I start the bombardment and execute n. 4 volley of 8 bombs, plus two more volley of 4 bombs each.

14/0049 - I reverse the course and return on the course of the bombardment....(illegible) indicating fires, at the end of the turn I stop the headway.

14/0053
- … I see the higher part of the submarine turret emerging, nearly in line with the corvette Euterpe which has reached me in the zone and is in the opposite side of the submarine so I put the engines at full speed to Ram. The turret of the Sub. after a few minutes submerge again, I stop the engines and nearly instantly the Ecg. is again in contact with the Sub. at 450 mt. distance. I manoevre the Corvette to maintain the prow on the target Ecg. who fadin(g) rapidly on the left. I order to be prepare(d) for a second bombardment.

14/0059 - On about 310° distance 500 metres I saw the submarine emerging slightly on the sides. So I put the engines forward at full speed. Turn left and give the order to open fire with gun and machine-gun, I immediately after the Euterpe as well open fire. The shooting is bang on target. I got the impression that the Sub. is in motion. (Rv=30°-40° about B= 120°-130°) I resume to approach at the left till to notice the enemy unit = 15° and continue to chase, at that moment we hear shouting for help from the shipwrecked persons who moved along the side of the corvette.

14/0105 - I was just goint to signal to the Euterpe to stop firing to allow me to come close to the Sub. when I so (saw) the enemy unit sliding strongly and sinking rapidly. I give order to stop firing and prepare the Motorboat, coming back in the survivors zone, at about 500 mt. from the point of the sinking.

14/0107 - I launch the motorboat while some survivors are rescue directly fro(m) board. I light with the projector, the neighbouring zone to facilitate and press the salvage operations.

14/0150- having rescued all the survivors, the two units steer to return to Bastia.

14/0333 - Steer to enter port.

14/0410 - mooring at North dock where I disembark the prisoners and hand them to the Maritime Military authority.
Are being captured..The Submarine Captain. 1 Sub-Left tenent and 24 Members of the crew of the unit one of them slightly hurt. The Corvette Euterpe has captured 20 Men, three officers among them...

 

THESE TWO ACCOUNTS DISPEL THE MYTH THAT SARACEN WAS DEPTH-CHARGED ON THE 13TH OF AUGUST BUT KEPT AFLOAT UNTIL THE 14TH BY HER CAPTAIN TO AVOID HER BEING LOST ON FRIDAY 13TH.

This myth was put about by both captain and crew - it makes a good story - and has been repeated in books, newspaper articles and accounts published on the internet.

 

Janet Kinrade Dethick April 2020