HMS/M Salmon

The Salmon (Lt.Cdr E.O. Bickford) started her patrol in late 1939 by sighting a U-boat - the Type VIIA U36 - outward bound, on 4th December. It was a very long shot, over 5000 yards, but at the end of a four and a half minute run, Bickford saw his torpedo hit the U-boat and blow her to bits in a great explosion. He followed up on the surface, but when the Salmon arrived on the scene, there was nothing left but oil, debris, a German lifebelt and the dead body of a seaman. Southwest of Kristiansand, Norway, 57.00N, 05.20E. See also subart.net

The next episode was caused by the liner Bremen, steaming down the North Sea at full speed from her temporary hiding place at Petsamo, in Kola Fjord, up in the Arctic circle. She was passing the Salmon within easy torpedo range, and her huge size made her a target that could hardly be missed. Yet, even though she was escorted by German aircraft, the Bremen was still a merchant ship and so, in international law, could not be sunk unless she refused to stop when challenged. It was not an easy decision for Bickford to make, especially with his knowledge of what was happening to British liners and merchant ships out in the Atlantic, where they were being sunk by U-boats without warning.

Yet, in spite of the great temptation, he brought the Salmon to the surface and flashed the letter K, which in international code meant "Stop Instantly". The Salmon's gun was loaded, but before a shot could be fired across the Bremen's bows, the escorting Dornier-18 aircraft came diving down. There was nothing for it but to go deep and the Bremen passed on her way unmolested. Position 57.02N,05.25E

from a postcard of 'Bremen'

As if in compensation, Bickford's next chance came on the following day, 13th December. Cruising in his patrol area at periscope depth, Bickford sighted most of the German Fleet out on exercise, led by the two battle-cruisers Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, with the light cruisers Nürnberg, Leipzig and Köln and the destroyers Hermann Künne, Friedrich Ihn, Erich Steinbrinck, Richard Beitzenand Bruno Heinemann. The cruisers were a covering force for the destroyers which had laid mines off Newcastle, North East England. They were out of range, but a fortunate alteration of course brought three cruisers bearing down on the Salmon. It was a quick shot, but of a salvo of six torpedoes, one at least hit and severely damaged the Leipzig and another damaged the Nurnberg. The location is generally taken as 56.47N 0400E. Nürnberg was hit in the bow and Leipzig was hit amidships. The damage to Leipzig was so severe that the ship was only used as a schoolship after she was repaired. German destroyers escorting the fleet were quickly on the scene and for two hours hunted the Salmon and made her the target for frequent depth charge attack. She managed to work her way clear and after dark came to the surface to search the area of the attack for evidence of a result. All that she could find was an area of four square miles covered with oil fuel. On his return after the patrol, Bickford was awarded the DSO and specially promoted to Commander.

Leipzig

Nurnberg

Three of Salmon's officers, awarded the DSC - left to right, Lt. R.H.M. Hancock, Lt. M.F. Wykeham-Martin, Warrant Engineer O.F. Lancaster.

Seven of Salmon's ratings received their Distinguished Service Medals from the Duke of Kent in March 1940.

Salmon, still with Bickford, was lost off Norway - probably mined - in July 1940, but in less than a year she had run up an impressive tally.

Lt Cdr Bickford on the periscope of HMS Salmon