XE class submarine
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Six XE class midget submarines (HMS XE1 to XE6) were built for the Royal Navy during 1944. They were an improved version of the X Class midgets used in the attack on the Tirpitz.
They carried a crew of four, typically a Lieutenant in command, with a Sub-Lieutenant as deputy, an ERA in charge of the mechanical side and a Seaman or Leading-Seaman. At least one of them was qualified as a diver.
Apart from the two side charges, which contained four tons of Amatol, they carried at least six 200 pound limpet mines which were attached to the target by the diver.
They and their depot ship HMS Bonaventure arrived at Labuan in July 1945. Four of them managed to see action before the war ended.
Operation Struggle
In August, 1945, HMS XE1 and HMS XE3 executed a joint attack on Japanese cruisers within Singapore harbour. XE3 was tasked with mining the cruiser Takao. The approach along the Johore Channel and through the various harbour defences took 11 hours plus a further 2 hours to locate the camouflaged target. Despite several opportunities for Japanese defenders to spot the vessel, XE3 successfully reached the Takao, fixed limpet mines and dropped its 4-ton side charge. The withdrawal was successfully made and XE3 safely contacted HMS Stygian, the escort submarine.
Meanwhile, XE1 had failed to find its target, the cruiser Myoko. Instead, and knowing that the explosives already laid could explode, XE1's own charges were also laid under the Takao. XE1 escaped successfully.
The Takao was severely damaged and never sailed again.
Operations Sabre and Foil
These were a pair of operations to cut undersea telephone cables connecting Singapore, Saigon, Hong Kong and Tokyo. The intention was to oblige the Japanese to use radio and make themselves open to message interception.HMS XE4 performed Operation Sabre and successfully located and cut the cables from Saigon, while HMS XE5 also successfully cut cables close to Lamma Island, Hong Kong (Operation Foil).
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