Welman Submarine Search & Recovery Project - Norway
Welmans were initially thought of as ideal for beach reconnaissance. Crews were generally drawn from No2 Commando Royal Marines (Special Boat Service), moved eventually up to HMS Bonaventure, the depot ship at Loch Cairnbawn, Scotland, alongside the X and XE Craft and the Chariots.
Early on, W10 was lost in a training accident, alongside HMS Titania at Holy Loch. In the autumn of 1943 the Combined Ops commander, General Sir Robin Laycock (who took over from Earl Mountbatten) decided that the Welman was unsuitable for their purposes, so the craft were returned to the Royal Navy. Admiral Sir Lionel Wells, Flag Officer commanding Orkney and Shetlands, thought they might be useful for attacks on German shipping using coastal waters inside the Leads off Norway.
MTBs of the 30th Flotilla, manned by officers and men of the Royal Norwegian Navy, were already making these raids and agreed to try the Welmans. On 20 November 1943 MTB635 and MTB625 left Lunna Voe, Shetlands, carrying:
Early on, W10 was lost in a training accident, alongside HMS Titania at Holy Loch. In the autumn of 1943 the Combined Ops commander, General Sir Robin Laycock (who took over from Earl Mountbatten) decided that the Welman was unsuitable for their purposes, so the craft were returned to the Royal Navy. Admiral Sir Lionel Wells, Flag Officer commanding Orkney and Shetlands, thought they might be useful for attacks on German shipping using coastal waters inside the Leads off Norway.
MTBs of the 30th Flotilla, manned by officers and men of the Royal Norwegian Navy, were already making these raids and agreed to try the Welmans. On 20 November 1943 MTB635 and MTB625 left Lunna Voe, Shetlands, carrying:
- W45 (Lt C. Johnsen Royal Norwegian Navy)
- W46 (Lt B. Pedersen, Norwegian Army)
- W47 (Lt B Marris RNVR)
- W48 (Lt J Holmes RN)
They were to attack the Floating Dock in Bergen (eventually sunk in September 1944 by X-24) and to attack shipping in the area. For various reasons, though not a shortage of courage, the mission failed.
Pedersen's W46 encountered a net and was forced to the surface, where she was spotted by a German patrol craft. Pedersen was captured along with the Welman. This woke up the whole area and the other three were unable to press home their attacks.
Eventually, all the other three Welman craft were abandoned and scuttled. The three operators made their eventual way to the north and were picked up in February 1944 by MTB653. Pedersen survived the war in a prison camp.
Eventually, all the other three Welman craft were abandoned and scuttled. The three operators made their eventual way to the north and were picked up in February 1944 by MTB653. Pedersen survived the war in a prison camp.
One Welman, W46, was in German hands and there are many similarities between the Welman and the German Biber one-man submarine which entered service in early-summer 1944. After the unsuccessful raid, the Royal Navy concentrated on the X and XE craft, but further trials were made, particularly in Australia.
One remains at the RN Submarine Museum at Gosport, Hampshire, UK.
One remains at the RN Submarine Museum at Gosport, Hampshire, UK.
Displacement:
4,600lb (2,086.5kg) without warhead
(Warhead: 1,910lb (540kg)
Dimensions:
Length 20ft 2in (6.1m) (including charge)
16ft 10in (4.3m) without charge
Beam 3ft 6in (1.06m)
Overall height 5ft 9 in (1.7m)
Propulsion:
One electric motor, 2.5hp. powered by a 40v 220amp/hr battery
Speed - 3 knots
Range, Surfaced 36nm at 4kt
Armament:
One 540kg charge. (or 600lb Amatol)
Test depth:
300ft (95m)
But reduced to 100ft after trials
Crew:1
Delivered 100+
Built at the Morris car plant at Oxford