Two British Mini-subs Found Off Phuket Coast

[Jai Dee]

The wreckage of two British mini-subs found off Phuket coast will not be salvaged

England will not salvage its two Chariot mini-submarines which sank during the World war II near Dokmai (ดอกไม้) Island off the coast of Phuket.

Phuket governor Udomsak Assawarangkun (อุดมศักดิ์ อัศวรางกูร) said the 62-year-old mini-subs were found months ago by a British firm.

They will not be brought up, however, because the salvage is difficult, Mr. Udomsak said.

He said the area where the subs were found will be developed into a diving spot.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 22 June 2006

[Jai Dee]

UK assured WWII-era wrecks will not be raised

Phuket will not allow a private marine-supply company to salvage two British "human torpedoes" sunk during World War II from their resting place at the bottom of the ocean.

The small navy vessels have been there for more than six decades, and Phuket Governor Udomsak Asavarangura insists they will stay there, having discussed their future with the British Navy.

Udomsak said he had received a letter from the British ambassador asking the province to suppress any operations by East Marine SBS, who in April requested permission to salvage the "torpedoes", or Chariots, as they were known, which are believed to belong to Britain's Royal Navy.

Chariots, secret naval weapons commissioned during World War II, were electrically propelled mini-submarines that carried two crewmen, who sat astride the vessel. They steered it at slow speed towards an enemy ship, attached a mine to the ship, then rode the "torpedo" away. The Chariot was carried by another vessel, generally a manned submarine, and launched near the target.

Udomsak said the letter suggested the British Navy had no intention of allowing the private company to do anything with the sunken vessels.

He said the navy was concerned the "human torpedoes" might be damaged during the salvage process, transportation or when they were inevitably put on display.

"It prefers scuba divers to see the vessels on the sea floor," the governor said.

The letter also said that according to international law, sunken warships remain the property of the owner government.

The governor said the British government had the authority to stop their salvage.

"We also consulted with military diplomats, who said traditionally the British government did not recover sunken warships," Udomsak said.

These particular Chariots were sunk in action near Dok Mai Island. Records suggest the British submarine Trenchant carried two Mk-2 Chariots for a mission in Phuket harbour on October 27 and 28, 1944.

Udomsak said Phuket planned to develop the area where the two vessels are lying as a recreational dive spot.

Source: The Nation - 22 June 2006

[Rinrada]

"Tiny" and "Slasher"

Hope they have been de-commissioned since they will still probably have about 600 pounds of High Explosive in the front...

..more info and a wee bit of History.

Although operated by SOE and classified as Top Secret at the time this info is now available (released in 1990)...under the freedom of wotsit act... ..R

so...

During October 27-28 1944.

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 and the targets were two Italian liners, the Sumatra and the Volpi both approx 5000t.

Six hours later, the British charioteers rode back to their mothership. ...why?

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 then carried the four charioteers back to Trincomalee.

No chariot operations in combat in any war are certainly known of after this.

FInfo..

On July 31: Lieutenant Ian Edward Fraser and the diver James Joseph Magennis in the XE-craft XE3 attacked the Japanese warship Takao in the Johore Strait near Singapore and sank it.

For this action, they received the Victoria Cross.

[britmaveric]

Interesting wonder how are down they are? (obviously in divers reach)

[Phil Conners]

"Tiny" and "Slasher"

Hope they have been de-commissioned since they will still probably have about 600 pounds of High Explosive in the front...

Where do you read it should have explosive in the front? As far as I understand it's just a transport vehicle used by the divers to enter the harbour and plant explosives on ships before using it to escape again.

[Farma]

madsere,

these mini subs look like a torpedo with 2 shields on top. The divers sat astride. The nose from the front shield onwards was a mine.

The plans for these mini subs are on this site. http://www.heiszwolf.com/subs/plans/plans.html

[Phil Conners]

Interesting site, though from what I read on the original press release some weeks (months?) ago I think the subs in Phuket were not armed with mines.

[Farma]

I had the same thoughts as well but can't find the original news release.

edit

found the article in the Phuket Gazette. http://www.phuketgazette.net/news/index.as...rch=yes&Id=4982

The divers attached explosives with timers to the ships before sneaking away to the submarine HMS Trenchant. After the charges went off the Sumatra sank and the Volpi was so badly crippled that it was abandoned.

After the raid, the Chariots were dumped on the seabed, where they are believed to have remained ever since.

[Rinrada]

Interesting site, though from what I read on the original press release some weeks (months?) ago I think the subs in Phuket were not armed with mines.

One easy way to find out

[Chantal]

Interesting wonder how are down they are? (obviously in divers reach)

Heard they are at about 70 meters depth.

[limbos]

Hardly recreational diving depth's.