Posted on 05/05/2006 8:45:41 PM PDT by killjoy
I say Phuket.
I'll have to check my references on this mission. The Chariot was an improved copy of the Italian Low Speed Torpedo. Both Italian and British forces used the weapon to great effect in WWII.
The Germans had a similar weapon that tended to kill the pilot. The Japanese version, the kaiten, was intended to kill the pilot. I have a small collection of books by surviving Kamikaze pilots and Kaiten pilots... an interesting substrain of literature. (they would be guys whose missions were canceled, or subs sunk under them, etc). I wish I knew Japanese, because I am sure there is much more available in that language.
During WWII Japan occupied Thailand along with Burma, Indochina and Malaya, and most of the Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia).
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
That's POO ket.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_commando_frogmen#1944
October 27-28: The British submarine Trenchant carried two Mk 2 Chariots (nicknamed "Tiny" and "Slasher") to an attack on Phuket harbor in Thailand. They were released six miles out from the harbor. The targets were two Italian liners, the Sumatra and the Volpi, each approx 5000 tons. Six hours later, for the only time, the British charioteers rode back to their mothership. On the return journey the Trenchant jettisoned the chariots so it could travel faster, after receiving a report of a Japanese MTB in the area. The Trenchant carried the four charioteers back to Trincomalee. No chariot operations in combat in any war are certainly known of after this.
what a horrible way to die
Thanks for the links! Interesting stuff.
Yeah, if I was a human torpedo I'd say Phuket too.
I really dont see the need for permission, If they are in Thai waters.
Most likely they were ditched after returning to the mothership. The warheads are most likely not with the Chariots.
The British also used a larger midget submarine, the X-Craft.
The US Navy UDT operated Chariots for some years after World War II. They were a forerunner of today's Seal Delivery Vehicles (which are now very far advanced over WWII capability).
d.o.l.
Criminal Number 18F
Awww, Phuket.
This was against two Italian liners, the Sumatra and the Volpi, at Phuket, north of Penang, Malaya. On 27 October 1944, the Trenchant (Lt. Cdr. A.R. Hezlet RN) successfully launched two Mk.II 'Terry' Chariots. These were a great improvement on the Mark 1, with the two-man crew sitting back-to-back. The two chariot teams comprised Sub-Lt 'Lofty' Eleridge with Petty Officer Woollcott, and Petty Officer W.S. Smith and Steward A. Brown. The first pair successfully attacked and sunk the Sumatra in a text-book raid. The second team found that they unable to attach their charge to the hull of the Volpi, due to the deep draught and lack of space underneath the hull and then the barnacle-encrusted hull itself. Brown, therefore, had to place the charge inside the ship's engine-room, a job which took twenty extra minutes. Both crews returned to the Trenchant and were able to watch as their targets exploded. This was the last chariot attack of the war. After the war, Chariots were used in clearing harbours of wrecks and mines.
From Doorways in the Sand:
Instead it bounded forward and sprang toward me, my mind instantly filling with something which, when supplied with words, came through, roughly, as It is more {satisfying/noble} to die with your{teeth/claws}{in/at} the {throat/heart} of the enemy of {nest/totem/civilization}! Die, nest molester!
"I really dont see the need for permission, If they are in Thai waters."
Translation: the Thai government (or businesses) don't want to PAY for the retrieval of these mini-subs. Better to stick the "country of origin" with the bill. These are British wrecks, probably not worth much as salvage, sitting in Thai territorial waters. The Brits have, in effect, "littered" in Thailand. It's only right to ask them to clean the mess up,and pay for it, too.
They may also still have "live" ordinance aboard, which while submerged in salt water for sixty years, might still go "boom" when you least expect it.
Pu is pronounced like in "Winnie the pooh"
Thai Ping
They were going to get them and got caught up in red tape. In the end they said "phuket"
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.