Submarine UEBI SCEBELI after capture

Date30 September 1940

Object numberANMS0845[036]

NamePostcard

DimensionsOverall: 88 × 136 mm

ClassificationsPosters and postcards

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from J Buckton

Terms

DescriptionA black and white image of the crew of the submarine UEBI SCEBELI abandoning ship after their submarine had been forced to surface off Crete by the destroyers HMS DAINTY, HMS DEFENDER, HMS DECOY, HMS ILEX and HMAS VOYAGER. Also visible are ship's boats evacuating the Italian crew. HMS DAINTY later sunk the submarine. This image is part of a collection of photographs belonging to Arthur Thomas Wood who served as an Able Seaman on HMAS SYDNEY II from 1938-1941. He was 20 years old when he was lost with the rest of the HMAS SYDNEY II crew. HistoryThe UEBI SCHEBELI was a Adua-class Italian submarine that was forced to surface during operations on 29 June 1941. The sub was cruising south-west of Crete when it was spotted while surfacing by British destroyers HMS DAINTY, HMS DEFENDER and HMS ILEX, also in the region. UEBI SCHEBELI was heavily depth charged, forcing it to the surface and the crew to scuttle it. By then HMS DECOY and HMAS VOYAGER were also present and all Italian Navy crew were captured by the British. Before their fate was sealed, the Italians managed to destroy a number of secret documents that were on board but the British managed to salvage a copy of the Sommergibili Italiani SM 19/S code book. The UEBI SCHEBELI was then sunk by HMS DAINTY. SignificanceThese photographs from the collection of Able Seaman 'Tom' Wood, put a distinctly human face to the months on board HMAS SYDNEY II leading up to 19 November 1941. The loss of HMAS SYDNEY II is Australia’s greatest naval tragedy. Its disappearance in 1941 without a trace left a legacy of uncertainty for decades that was heightened by a media blackout in the following years of the disaster.