HMS/M X-7

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

X7, commanded by Lt. Basil Charles 'Godfrey' Place, was making her attack in the face of considerable difficulties.

It had been thought that the anti-torpedo nets close alongside the Tirpitz would not be deeper than about 60 feet and that there would be sufficient room for an X-craft to dive beneath them. They in fact almost reached the bottom of the fjord. X7 first got entangled in the nets which were protecting the Lützow and spent an hour getting free before she could continue on her way towards the Tirpitz.

Lt. Place's official report said:

"Went to 75 feet and stuck in the net. Although we had still heard nothing it was thought essential to get out as soon as possible and blowing to full buoyancy and going full astern were immediately tried. X7 came out but turned beam on to the net and broke surface close on the buoys, going astern to the northward.

"We went down again immediately but had to go ahead towards the net to avoid catching our stern and the boat stuck again by the bow at 95 feet. Here more difficulty in getting out was experienced, but after about five minutes of wriggling and blowing, X7 started to rise. The compass had, of course, gone wild on the previous surface and I was uncertain how close to the shore we were; so the motor was stopped and X7 was allowed to come right up to the surface with very little way on. By some lucky chance we must have passed either under the nets or worked our way through the boat passage, for on breaking surface the Tirpitz, with no intervening nets, was sighted right ahead not more than 30 yards away. Forty feet was ordered and X7 at full speed struck the Tirpitz at 20 feet on the port side approximately below B turret and slid gently under the keel where the starboard charge was released in the full shadow of the ship. Here, at 60 feet, a quick stop trim was caught - at the collision, X7 had swung to port so we were now heading approximately down the keel of the Tirpitz. Going slowly astern, the port charge was released about 150 to 200 feet further aft, - as I estimated about under "X" turret.

"After releasing the port charge, 100 feet was ordered and an alteration of course guessed to try to make the position where we had come in. At 60 feet we were in the net again. Without a compass I had no exact idea of where we were; the difficulties we had experienced and the air trimming had used two air bottles and only 1,200 lb. were left in the third. X7's charges were due to explode in an hour - not to mention others which might go up any time after 0800.

"In about the next three-quarters of an hour, X7 was in and out of several nets, the air in the last bottle was soon exhausted and the compressor had to be run. When at about 40 feet, at 0740, X7 came out while still going ahead and slid over the top of the net between the buoys on the surface. I did not look at the Tirpitz at this time as this method of overcoming net defences was new and absorbing, but I believe we were at the time on her starboard - we had certainly passed underneath her since the attack.

"We were too close, of course, for heavy fire but a large number of machine-gun bullets were heard hitting the casing. Immediately after passing over the nets all main ballast tanks were vented and X7 went to the bottom in 120 feet. The compressor was run again and we tried to come to the surface or periscope depth for a look so that the direction indicator could be started and as much distance as possible put between ourselves and the coming explosion. It was extremely annoying to run into another net at 60 feet.

"Shortly after this there was a tremendous explosion. This evidently shook us out of the net and on surfacing it was tiresome to see the Tirpitz still afloat - this made me uncertain as to whether the explosion we had just heard was our own charges or depth charges, so X7 was taken to the bottom."

For a few minutes after the explosion, X7 sat on the bottom and surveyed the damage caused by the detonation of the charges. The structural damage did not appear unduly heavy, but when X7 was brought up again, it was found impossible to control her. She broke surface repeatedly and was hit and damaged by the guns of the Tirpitz. Place had no alternative but to come to the surface and abandon his craft. He brought her up alongside a battle practice target and stepped on to it, but before the remainder of the crew could get out X7 went to the bottom. Nearly three hours later Sub-Lt Aitken got up, using Davis Submarine Escape Apparatus, but the remaining two of her complement were never seen again, though it was reported later by the Germans that X7 was raised and the bodies of her two remaining crew recovered and buried with full military honours.