The crew of the Royal Navy’s new frigate HMS Venturer recently paid tribute to the 80th anniversary of a historic World War II encounter, in which the original HMS Venturer, a V-class submarine, made naval history by sinking a German U-boat (U-864) while both vessels were submerged, according to a press release.
On February 9, 1945, Venturer’s captain, Lieutenant Jimmy Launders, intercepted and sank the German U-boat off the coast of Norway, thwarting a Nazi mission to deliver advanced technology and critical materials to Japan under Operation Caesar. The engagement remains the only instance of one submarine sinking another while both were submerged.
This significant encounter was commemorated by HMS Venturer’s current crew during a remembrance service at Rosyth, where the new Type 31 frigate is under construction. The submarine’s original bell, marked with the pennant number P68, was donated by Launders’ family and served as the centrepiece of the event.
Commander Chris Cozens, Senior Naval Officer of HMS Venturer, said in the update: “We have enormous pride to have this incredible story associated with the new Venturer. We also take inspiration from this action and try to use Jimmy’s ‘thinking differently’ approach with our work now, to make Type 31 the best it could be for the modern generation of sailor where technology and people are uniquely symbiotic.”
Rear Admiral Andy Perks, head of the Royal Navy’s Silent Service, reflected on the legacy of the encounter, noting: “The Service is fortunate to have fantastic people operating and maintaining our submarines as much today as we did 80 years ago. The technology may have changed, but the ethos of striving for innovation and excellence endures.”
In 1945, Launders’ decision to fire a calculated spread of torpedoes—accounting for U-864’s evasive actions and sea conditions—led to a direct hit that destroyed the German vessel. The strategy, known as Zero Gyro Angle (0GA), remains a fundamental tactic taught to modern submarine commanders.
The new HMS Venturer, the first of five Inspiration-class frigates under construction by Babcock in Rosyth, will be completed in dock later this year. The ships were named to honour historic naval deeds and are expected to perform general patrol duties worldwide when they enter service later this decade.
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Being a long time wafu,(steady there) I’ve always been fascinated with submarines, how ,and who operated them.. Ventures ‘ action makes good reading.
BZ.”goesunderboaters”. 👍🙃🕳️Btth
When it says in the article “HMS Venturer will be completed in dry dock this year”, I understood she will be fitted out whilst alongside and not completed this year.
What about prop shafts?
How many crew are currently assigned to HMS Ventura?
Only one at the moment, he’s called Jim Carey, aka Ace Ventura.
Named after a sub that killed another sub. What is the anti sub capabilty of the new HMS Venturer? Its almost the same as naming a ship HMS Starling or HMS Jonney Walker. These names are sub killers and the ability of a T31 in sub killing is, nada, zilch, p**s take.
I sometimes disagree with the name of a new HMS but this one is what?
My father served on Stork and Starling right through the war.. They certainly took care of U boats.