- Contributed by听
- brssouthglosproject
- Location of story:听
- Malta
- Background to story:听
- Royal Navy
- Article ID:听
- A6687868
- Contributed on:听
- 04 November 2005
HMS Bonaventure seen here at Malta, en route to the UK after 2 years service, 1945-1947, as part of the British Pacific Fleet. The most decorated ship in the Royal Navy.
HMS Bonaventure, seen here in Malta, Midget Submarine Depot Ship 1943 - 1945. Heavy duty transporter 1945 - 1947.
IT's ON RECORD: That HMS Bonaventure, command ship for the newly formed 14th Submarine Flotilla, sailed for the Far East on 21st February 1945 with XE1 to XE6 onboard. Although the American Navy was most reluctant to welcome the midget submarine flotilla they agreed to Capt. Fell carrying out the cutting of telephone cables at two points in South East Asia. The idea was to isolate Singapore from Japan by direct telephone cable traversing Indo China and Hong Kong just before an invasion by a joint force. Four XE Craft were designated for operations. XE1 & XE3 were to attack two Japanese cruisers in the Singapore Strait where they were acting as guard ships to that most important anchorage. XE4 concerned itself with the cutting of the cable - in two places - outside Saigon. XE5 tackled the cable, also in two places, outside Hong Kong. All operations were successful with XE1 and XE3 just attacking one cruiser. These successes were not clear at the time but, at the ending of the war in the Far East in August, they were confirmed. Hush Hush till the bitter end.
The most decorated ship in the Royal Navy, winning:
VCs 4
CBEs 3
DSOs 11
OBEs 1
MBEs 10
DSCs 17
CGMs 6
BSMs 12
BEMs 4
Totalling 68. Also: Over 100 mentioned in Dispatches were logged.
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