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This
'U' class submarine was ordered the day after war broke out between
Britain and Germany. She was commissioned into service in October 1940.
Out
of a total of 49 'U' Class submarines only 4 of them had bulbous bows
accommodating an extra 2 external torpedo tubes.
Upholder was one of the four.
Her captain Wanklyn fired his torpedos wisely and Upholder became the most successful British submarine of the second world
war. Wanklyn also became the first WW2 submarine commander to be awarded
the Victoria Cross (for a particularly arduous 7th patrol during 1941).
Upholder
was part of the 10th flotilla based in Malta. She successfully
completed 24 patrols and and over 120,000 tons of enemy shipping including
2 destroyers, 3 U-boats, 3 transport ships, 10 supply vessels, 2 tankers
and 1 trawler.
During April 1942,
Upholder was never to return from her 25th Mediterranean patrol NE of
Tripoli. It is believed she was depth charged and sank with
all hands.
However, she has
not been forgotten: her memory lives on with this painting and I
am proud to say that the original artwork found a good home in early 2002 and is
now owned by a relative of one of Upholder's final crewmen.
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