A second world war Submariner’s Mediterranean / Aegean Operations June 1943 to July 1944 single DSM awarded to Acting Leading Seaman Bernard Brammer, Royal Navy, who was the Higher Submarine Detector ASDIC Operator aboard the ‘U’ Class Submarine Unsparing under the distinguished submariner Lieutenant Aston Dalzell Piper, D.S.O., D.S.C. and two Bars, during twelve war patrols between June 1943 and July 1944 in which period, whilst operating from Algiers, Malta and Beirut, Unsparing sank 13 ships, and caused severe or probable sinking to another nine vessels. 

George VI Distinguished Service Medal named to A/L.S. B. Brammer. D/JX.176550

London Gazette: 14th November 1944
for ‘Mediterranean War Patrols from June 1943 to July 1944. Sank UJ 2106 in the Aegean 21 June 1944’. 

Bernard Brammer came from Sheffield, Yorkshire, and saw service during the Second World War as an Acting Leading Seaman (Devonport No.JX.176550) with the Royal Navy, and was a Submariner aboard the ’U’ Class submarine Unsparing (P55) out in the Mediterranean when he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, this being for his service under Lieutenant A.D. Piper, D.S.O., D.S.C. and 2 Bars, on no less than twelve war patrols aboard this submarine between June 1943 and July 1944 when she sank 13 ships, and caused severe or probable sinking to another nine vessels.

It seems likely that Brammer, who was the submarine’s Higher Submarine Detector ASDIC Operator, was one of Unsparing’s original crew when she was commissioned in late November 1942, and was with her during her period of working up. On 31st December 1942 she departed on her first war patrol off Utvaer, Norway, during which period from 6th January she was directed to patrol north of Statlandet. The patrol came to an end at Lerwick on 16th January.

On 29th April she departed the Holy Loch for passage to Gibraltar, where it was intended for her to be docked, however this was not possible so she returned to the U.K for docking at Portsmouth on 8th May 1943. On 11th May she then departed for Gibraltar again, where she arrived on 25th May, before departing for Algiers on 31st May, and arriving there on 6th June.

It was from Algiers that she departed on her second war patrol, her first in the Mediterranean. On 24th June she attacked a German patrol vessel with four torpedoes off Cannes, France. The target to this date remains unidentified. The patrol report reads: ‘0547 hours – Sighted a medium seized merchant vessel close inshore off the Golfe Juan, bearing 285°. Started attack. 0558 hours – The target was estimated at between 3000 – 4000 tons. An escort was seen astern and slowly overtaking it on the starboard side. 0616 hours – In position 43°29’N, 07°16’E fired four torpedoes from 8000 yards. 0625 hours – Heard three explosions, one was possibly a torpedo hit on the target [this was not the case]. Went deep on firing. 0741 hours – Returned to periscope depth. Nothing in sight.’ Unsparing returned to Algiers on 2nd July.

On 15th July she departed Algiers on her third war patrol, having been ordered to patrol to the north of Sicily. On 27th July she sighted an enemy convoy and started a surface attack. Shortly before being in position to fire a salvo of torpedoes at the main target, a tanker when at 0119 hours the escorting torpedo-boat challenged Unsparing and then turned on a search light. The attack therefore was broken off and Unsparing crash dived. The enemy torpedo-boat dropped a few depth charges but these caused no damage. On 29th July she arrived at Bizerta, Tunisia, and on 1st August departed Bizerta for Malta, where she arrived and ended her patrol on 3rd August, having returned to port owing to many serious defects having been discovered.

On 25th August she departed Malta on her fourth war patrol, being ordered to patrol in the southern Adriatic, near Bari, Italy. On 31st August off Bari she torpedoed and sank the Italian tanker Flegetonte (1162 GRT). The patrol report reads: ‘1720 hours – In position 41°31’N, 16°57’E sighted smoke and masts from a vessel approaching from the eastward. Started attack. The vessel came down the approach channel towards Bari on a steady course and speed. 1800 hours – Fired two torpedoes from 1600 yards. A torpedo explosion was heard 84 seconds after firing the first torpedo. The second torpedo was later heard to explode on the shore. 1805 hours – Breaking up noises were heard. 1902 hours – Returned to periscope depth. The ship was not seen anymore.’ Unsparing’s patrol ended at Malta on 9th September.

On 23rd September she departed on her fifth war patrol, being ordered to patrol in the western Aegean. On 28th September she sank the Greek sailing vessel KAL 423 / Agios Nikolaos with gunfire off Cape Malea, Greece. The submarine surfaced at 1125 hours and ‘the first round was over but carried away the mainsail. The second round hit on the waterline by the starboard bow. The crew of three then abandoned ship in a small boat. The boat and crew were then called alongside and medical attention was then given to the caiques skipper who had been wounded in the arm by splinters. The caique meanwhile was boarded and a demolition charge was placed. Unsparing then got clear but the demolition charge failed to go off. The caique was then sunk after three hits from the deck gun.’ On 29th September at 2249 hours, Unsparing sighted an enemy convoy made up of two merchant vessels and few escorts. An attack was started but Unsparing was detected and hunted for three-quarters of an hour by an escort vessel. Fortunately no depth charges were dropped. On 4th October she attacked a caique with two torpedoes off the south coast of Kos. No hits were obtained. The ‘range was 700 yards. The first torpedo was seen to veer to the right and run up the beach. The second torpedo was seen to run underneath the target and also ended up on the beach. Both torpedoes failed to explode for which no reason could be given.’ On 7th October Unsparing picked up two German soldiers from a small open boat in position 34°06’N, 29°28’E. They had been adrift since 29 September 1943 and were in a weak state but overjoyed at being rescued, even by their enemy. Her patrol ended at Beirut on 9th October.

On 24th October she departed Beirut on her sixth war patrol, having been ordered to patrol in the Aegean. On 29th October she torpedoed and sank the German merchant Ingeborg S. (1160 GRT) west of the Island of Stampalia, Greece. This ship was escorted by Nioi (60 tons, ex-Italian patrol vessel) and KFK 3. Later the same day she torpedoed and sank the German patrol vessel GA 49 that was picking up survivors from the Ingeborg S. On 31st October she damaged a sailing vessel with gunfire south of Cape Koraxas, Amorgos Island, Greece. The vessel attacked was the German submarine trap (Q-ship) GA 45. The patrol reports this incident as follows: ‘1450 hours – In position 36°33’N, 25°42’E sighted the mast of a caique bearing 010°. Closed at full speed but the range could not be closed. 1548 hours – Surfaced and gave chase. A small motor launch could be seen in company with it, full of troops. It could not be definitely seen if the caique had troops on board. 1634 hours – Dived in position 36°44’N, 25°48’E at a range of 8000 yards. Closed the targets to examine them through the periscope. 1709 hours – Surfaced for gun action in position 36°45’N, 25°48’E. Almost immediately on surfacing a fierce concentration of gunfire was opened up by the caique from machine guns and cannon. Range was about 3000 yards. The order was given for the gun crews to get below again. The enemy hit Unsparing and two of them were wounded and one was possibly blown overboard. He was not seen again. Because of the serious wounds of one of the two wounded it was decided to abandon the patrol and return to Beirut. Universal’s W/T aerial was damaged and she could not sent a signal that she was returning to base. On 1 November she sighted and contacted HMS Surf which then passed a signal to Beirut that Universal was returning.’ Unsparing’s patrol came to an end at Beirut on 4th November.

On 16th November she departed on her seventh war patrol, being ordered to patrol in the Aegean. On 1st December she attacked the Greek sailing vessel SAM 21 / Angeliki. Unsparing fired a torpedo at the sailing vessel that was unloading cargo with the help of German soldiers while anchored in a small bay. The torpedo missed. Another torpedo was fired but this too also missed and also exploded on hitting the shore. Unsparing’s patrol came to an end on the 4th December.

After a period of docking at both Port Said and Beirut, on 5th January she departed on her eighth war patrol, having been again ordered to patrol in the Aegean. On 10th January she stopped a small Greek caique south-east of Mudros, Greece, which was allowed to proceed. Then on 15th January she sank two Greek sailing vessels with gunfire off Lemnos Island, Greece. The Greek caique DE 22 / Pelagos was also damaged in this attack. On 24th January she carried out a bombardment of Kandeliusa lighthouse. The fifth shell exploded inside the lantern itself. All of the shots, nine round in total, fell into the target area. The light would not be of much use for quite a while. Her patrol came to an end on 27th January

On 12th February she departed Beirut on her ninth war patrol, being again ordered to patrol in the Aegean. On 19th February she torpedoed and damaged the German transport Peter (3754 GRT) north of Skiathos, Greece. The escorts were the auxiliary minelayer Drache and the motor minesweeper R 195. Drache attacked the submarine with depth charges, claiming it sunk or damaged – obviously not the case. On 22nd February she sank the Greek sailing vessel VOL 1009 / Evangelistria with gunfire off Damuka Point, Greece. On 24th February she sank the Greek caique SYR 627 / Evangelistria with gunfire north-north-east of Ovrios, Magnisia. On 25th February she sank the Greek caique SYR 547 / Evangelistria with gunfire south of the Sithonia Peninsula. Prior to this vessel being sunk the vessel was boarded, and ‘the cargo was found to be made up of oranges in small crates. One of these was taken for consumption and also papers and some Greek money was taken off.’ The patrol came to an end at Malta on 4th March.

On 2nd April she departed Malta on her tenth war patrol, being ordered to patrol in the eastern Aegean. On 12th April she attacked the escorted German transport Anita (1165 GRT) with four torpedoes. No hits were obtained. Escorting torpedo boat TA 19 (former Italian torpedo boat Calatafini) reported being missed by torpedoes. The other escorts were TA 16 (former Italian torpedo boat former Italian Castelfidardo) and TA 17 (former Italian torpedo boat former Italian San Martino). On this occasion the escorts did respond with depth charges which were fairly close, ten in all. The patrol ended at Malta on 22nd April.

Then on 9th May she departed Malta on her eleventh war patrol, being ordered to patrol in the southern Aegean. On 19th May she destroyed two small sailing vessels and damaged (at least) two others with gunfire at Kamara Bay, Kos, Greece. This patrol came to an end at Malta on the 30th May.

On 16th June she departed Malta on her twelfth war patrol, being ordered to patrol in the southern Aegean. On 21st June she sank the German auxiliary submarine chaser UJ 2106 (former Greek minelayer Tendos), the German barge Sybille (former French Cassion) and the German landing craft SF 284 south of Cape Maleas, Greece. Of this attack the report notes: ‘1603 hours – In position 36°31’N, 23°13’E spots three Arado 196 seaplanes and shortly afterwards a convoy of one UJ boat, one motor lighter and one siebel ferry came into view. The lighter was close astern of the UJ boat and the siebel ferry was about 3/4 to one nautical mile astern of the lighter. Lt. Piper decided to attack the UJ boat and the lighter with a salvo of four torpedoes from his bow tubes. 1641 hours – Fired four torpedoes from about 1500 yards. Two torpedoes were aimed at the UJ boat and two at the lighter. Two torpedoes were heard to explode. These explosions were followed by a considerable number of heavy and violent explosions. Lt. Piper first thought that they were being depth charges but later it became clear that it were the depth charges that were exploding as the UJ boat was sinking. 1652 hours – Returned to periscope depth and saw the siebel ferry picking up survivors. There was no sign of the UJ boat and the lighter. 1655 hours – Ordered one torpedo reload. 1711 hours – No.4 tube was ready. A cat and mouse game with the siebel ferry started. Each time when Unsparing was in attack position it started its engines to pick up more survivors a small distance away. Also the aircraft were still circling low but they were most likely unable to see the submarine as they took no offensive action. 1740 hours – The siebel ferry started up both engines again and started to make off to Monemvasia. Two minutes later Lt. Piper fired the torpedo in no.4 tube that was seen to hit the siebel ferry aft. This did however not sink it !, but its motive power was finished. Another torpedo reload was ordered that was completed in 11 minutes. 1907 hours – Fired this torpedo. It was seen to explode with a terrific flash and the target disintegrated. Lt. Piper did not pick up any survivors as prisoners of war because the aircraft were still overhead.’ Her patrol came to an end at Malta on 29th June.

On 9th July Unspairing departed Malta on her thirteenth war patrol, being ordered to patrol in the southern Aegean. On 18th July she intended to attack a small German convoy made up of auxiliary patrol vessel UJ2142 / Filia Pii, Schooner Seeräuber and another motorised sailing vessel. She was however detected and the attack was spoiled by an enemy star shell being fired which illuminated the area. This patrol came to an end at Malta on 23rd July.

On 29th July she left Malta and took passage to Gibraltar, arriving there on 3rd August, and then making the passage home, she left Gibraltar on 9th August, and arrived at Dundee on 20th August, arriving at Chatham the following day.

For the period from June 1943 to July 1944 Unsparing had made twelve war patrols in the Mediterranean, ‘which resulted in the destruction of 13 ships totalling 5,700 tons; severe damage to, or probable sinking of 8 ships totalling 4,260 tons, and the possible damaging of one ship of 4,000 tons.’ In all for this period, the only operational period for the submarine, her commanding officer was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (to add to his three awards of the Distinguished Service Cross that he already held) and further awards numbered one Distinguished Service Cross, one Second Award Bar to the Distinguished Service Medal; five Distinguished Service Medals; and four Mention in Despatches

One of those five men to receive the Distinguished Service Medal was Brammer, his being an immediate award, the recommendation made by Piper reading as follows: ‘For courage, skill and devotion to duty in H.M.S. Unsparing in the above operations. As H.S.D. he has been responsible for the maintenance and correct running of the Asdics which have never failed. His cool and efficient conduct and his correct reports during attacks on escorted convoys and enemy counter-attacks, have given me great confidence in his work, and he has contributed a considerable share to the successes obtained by the ship in this commission.’

It was specifically for his work in assisting the submarine in targeting the German auxiliary submarine chaser UJ 2106, the German barge Sybille and the German landing craft SF 284 south of Cape Maleas, Greece, on 21st June 1944, that his award was made in his role as the Higher Submarine Detector ASDIC Operator, he having been crucial for the manoeuvring of the submarine during the attacks and evasions of this engagement