HMS Forth (A187) Colour Photographs Part II

The Submarine Depot Ship HMS Forth (A187) is seen here at anchor in Halifax Harbor in 1941 with three submarines along her port side. Of particular interest is the innermost submarine, the Free French cruiser submarine Surcouf. Surcouf carried twelve torpedo tubes, an aircraft, and a turret with twin 8 inch (203 mm) guns. She was lost with all hands on the night of 18/19 February 1942, the cause of her sinking is still uncertain and her wreck has yet to be located.

A view from Forth at Holy Lock in 1942 with submarines HMS Seadog (P216) and Thunderbolt (N25). Seadog sank the German merchant ship Oldenburg and several small Japanese vessels during the war. Thunderbolt was originally commissioned as HMS Thetis, but sank on sea trials with the loss of 99 lives. She was raised and recommissioned as Thunderbolt, but was sunk by the Italian corvette Cicogna in 1943. (IWM)

A photo of three submarines moored alongside Forth. Nearest is HMS Sybil (P217), a very successful submarine which claimed German, Italian, Vichy French, and Japanese ships during her career. In the middle is P614, one of four submarines built by Vickers for Turkey but requisitioned into the Royal Navy when the war broke out. The third submarine is unidentified. (IWM)

A view inside the torpedo shop. Torpedoes are mechanically complex weapons and require considerable maintenance and servicing to ensure proper operation.

Torpedoes on the deck, the nearest two have been fitted with their warheads. On the bulkhead the two finned objects are paravanes, a type of float used in the sweeping of moored mines. Of interest is that the color separation of the ship’s camouflage is carried over onto the paravane to the right.

Two photos of sailors preparing to launch one of Forth’s boats, showing details of the davits and their rigging along with the boat itself. (IWM)

IWM

An unidentified O-class submarine coming alongside. (IWM)

Another view of the O-class submarine preparing to tie up, as senior officers look on from the sponson to the right.

Transferring cargo from a lighter. This is a typical operation for ships of any navy while in port, and a useful reference for diorama modelers.

Part I here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2023/12/20/hms-forth-a187-colour-photographs-part-i/