HMS
TROOPER
(1942
-
1943)
HMS TROOPER (Lt J S Wraith) sailed from Beirut on 26 September 1943 to patrol west of the Dodecanese in the Eastern Mediterranean and later to the east of the island of Leros. No messages were received from her, and she failed to arrive back on 17 October. Her loss was considered to be due to striking an enemy mine. There were no survivors.
TROOPER was Lt Wraith’s second command. He had previously been a successful commanding officer of HMS UPRIGHT and had conducted a morale boosting tour of factories in the UK after leaving UPRIGHT prior to assuming command of TROOPER.
In October 2024 it has been reported that the wreck of HMS TROOPER has been discovered at a depth of 253 metres in the Icarian Sea. The UK Ministry of Defence is the authority for recognition of the identity of RN submarine wrecks, and we are not yet aware of any determination by the MOD on the reports received. However, there is a detailed report here, and a remotely operated vehicle video here.
2 responses
Leading Stoker Harold Graham Horton was on board HMS Trooper that fateful day he was my mother’s 1st cousin my mother was named after his mother Ida.
Sadly he was never found like the rest of the crew.
i would love to know where i could go and lay flowers and spend some quiet time
My father Frederick Rich was a CPO on board the Trooper. He was supposed to sail on that voyage but developed flu and was removed from the boat.