HMS/M X-24

One of the first 'X Craft', on trials around Scotland.

The success of the X-craft in Kå Fjord opened the way for further attacks by midget submarines against less difficult targets. One of them, X24, twice penetrated Bergen harbour, the most heavily defended occupied Norwegian port, and on both occasions the towing submarine was HMS/M Sceptre, (Lt. Ian McIntosh RN).

For Operation Guidance, on 14th April 1944, when commanded by Lt. Max H. Shean, RANVR, with a crew of Sub. Lt. J. Brookes RN, Sub. Lt. F. Ogden RNVR and ERA V. Coles, X24 laid her charges under the 7,500 ton supply ship Barenfels, which was berthed alongside the coaling jetty. Though not clear in immediate post-war reports, the attack was really on the 'Laksevåg' Floating Dock, but some misidentification in the darkness caused the Barenfels to be targetted. The ship duly went to the bottom.

Five months later, 11th September 1944, X24 again penetrated the 30 miles of fjord and negotiated the mine and net defences to enter Bergen harbour. Now under the command of Lt. H. 'Percy' Westmacott, formerly the First Lieutenant of the Unshaken, her target was again the floating dock which had been towed up from Germany to carry out repair work. This attack was codenamed Operation Heckle. It was believed that the dock could handle Tirpitz, but it had been regularly used for the maintenance of U-boats. The attack was delivered after a passage from England lasting 80 hours in extremely bad weather, again under tow from Sceptre.

The other crewmen of X24 were: Sub. Lt. B.H. Dening RNVR, Sub.Lt. D.N. Purdy RNZNVR and ERA B.C. Davidson. On this occasion her attack was made in full daylight and X24 went through the crowded harbour at periscope depth, dodging ferries, tugs and other small craft. She reached the dock, dived under it, and released her two 2-ton charges, all unseen, between 0800 and 0900. The dock was broken in two and sunk, together with two small merchant vessels secured alongside it, the Sten and the Kong Oscar II. By 2030 that evening the X24 had surfaced and was in contact with Sceptre. They reached Balta Sound, in the Shetlands, at 0900 13th September.

A sad postscript: At one point on the outward journey, during rough weather, Westmacott had decided that it was essential to get rid of the accumulated rubbish from several days' meals etc., so he decided to send the diver, Sub. Lt. Purdy, through the 'Wet and Dry' diving hatch to dispose of it, even though they were in the middle of a storm lasting 80 hours. Unfortunately, the compartment flooded and Purdy was washed out, never to be seen again. His place was taken by Sub. Lt. K.St.J.V Robinson, RNVR, of the passage crew.