I am putting together a database of all British built submarines. Once populated with all the info I need I intend putting it into book form as a Fact File. I am missing info on X, XE, XT Wellman craft. Mainly dates yard numbers etc. If anyone has any info would you please pass it on , thanks.
There are two lying on a beach in East Lothian (around Gullane, I think), but I can't remember their serials. http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/index.php/Secrets/X-Craft.html
I was watching a documentary about these craft a couple of weeks ago (sadly I can't remember the name of the show). Here is a link about Operation Struggle: MINDEF - History - 1945 - Special operations in World War 2: Operation Struggle (Volume 09 Issue 07)
X.5 Class 12 Boats X.5, X.6, X.7, X.8, X.9, X.10 Builder: Vickers Armstrong Barrow. Date 1942-43. X.20, X.21 Builder: Broadbent, Huddersfield. Date: 1943. X.22, X.23 Builder: Markham, Chesterfield. Date: 1943 X.24, X.25 Builder: Marshall, Gainsborough. Date: 1943. XE Craft. 11 Units + 1 XE.1, XE.2, XE.3, XE.4, XE.5 XE.6 Builder: Vickers Armstrong, Barrow date: 1943-45 XE.7, XE.8 Builder: Broadbent, Huddersfield. date:1943-45 XE.9 Builber: Marshall, Gainsborough. date:1943-45. XE.11, XE.12 Builder: Markham, Chesterfield. Date: 1943-45. XE.10 (Marshall) cancelled before completion. XT Craft. 6 Units +12 XT.1, XT.2, XT.4, XT.5, XT.6 Builder: Vickers Armstrong, Barrow. Date: 1943-44. The following units were cancelled before completion. XT.7, XT.8, XT.9, XT.10, XT.11, XT.12, XT.14, XT.15, XT.16, XT.17, XT.18, XT.19 Builder: Broadbent, Huddersfield. Hope this is a help
Thanks all especially Liberator. I have that info and more besides I need build launch etc dates and yard numbers. I have tried the builders or those that are still around but they never respond. I thought there may have been another anorak out there like me amassing similar info!! But if anyone wants info on British conventional submarines from conception (1901 todate )I'm yer man
Looked through a couple of good reference books and it seems 'conventional' submarines have launch dates listed but not the X Craft. Maybe its because there was no provision pre-war for the type, they were purely war-time thing. But having said that, it shouldn't make any difference.
Agreed Liberator I have a shelf full of submarine books I also served as a submariner and put most of the info on the Barrow submarine site re diesel/petrol boats but X craft info is very scant. As I said the builders just ignore me. If I lived in the UK I spend time at the Imperial War museum etc but..... Thanks again.
