*British, WW2, HMS Tiptoe, Triton Class Submarine Service Plaque, with 4 Original Photographs including 3 from 1964 Grounded at Greenock*
Approximate measurements:
Base – 5.6cm W x 22.5cm L, 1.7cm Deep
Submarine – 3cm w, 21.3cm L x 3.4cm
A mounted brass model of HMS Tiptoe with name plate, mounted on wooden base with felt backing.
Photo 1: LS4 G13 Sub Tiptoe Arriving HMS Dolphine. Daily Express 14 July 1985
Photo 2: Grounded Submarine Tiptoe at Greenock. Scottish Daily Express 10 Jan 1964 and copy of Newspaper Article
Photo3: Damaged Sub Returns to Port. Associated Press Photo from London. 20 Jul 1965
Photo 4: Grounded Submarine Tiptoe at Greenock, 11 Jan 1964, Scottish Daily Express
HMS Tiptoe: Design and World War II Service
HMS Tiptoe (P332) was a British T-class (Triton-Class) submarine of the third group, constructed by Vickers Armstrong and launched on February 25, 1944. Named by Winston Churchill to evoke stealth, Tiptoe remains the only Royal Navy vessel with this name. Built with an all-welded hull for increased diving depth and equipped with freon blowers for tropical climates, she featured improved design elements over earlier T-class submarines. Commissioned on June 12, 1944, she was prepared for operations in the Far East, where she embarked on several patrols during World War II. These included sinking Japanese vessels in the Flores Sea and Sunda Strait, although she sustained damage during a depth charge attack. Tiptoe returned to Fremantle for repairs, completing her final war patrol in August 1945.
Post-War Activities and Notable Incidents
After the war, Tiptoe participated in royal inspections and anti-submarine training exercises. Modified for improved underwater performance, she received additional batteries, reshaped bows, and upgraded engines during a refit. Tiptoe gained cinematic fame as part of the 1950 naval film Morning Departure and maintained connections to the ballet world, including receiving a pair of ballet shoes from Moira Shearer, which are now preserved at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum. However, her service was not without mishaps. In 1955, she was damaged in Tromsø harbour during a collision with the steamer Nordlys. Further incidents included running aground in the Firth of Clyde in 1964 and colliding with HMS Yarmouth in 1965, both resulting in court-martials for her commanding officers.
1964 Grounding
In January 1964, HMS Tiptoe ran aground in the Firth of Clyde near Gareloch due to dense fog. Despite taking precautions, her commanding officer, Lieutenant-Commander David Brazier, misjudged the situation, resulting in the submarine grounding on a muddy bank just 40 yards from the residence of the Royal Navy’s local Captain in Charge. Divers found no damage, and Tiptoe was successfully refloated at high tide with the help of tugboats. Brazier, in his first command, was court-martialled and severely reprimanded for negligence, citing inexperience as a contributing factor.
Decommissioning and Legacy
Tiptoe’s final commission began in February 1967, marked by a ceremony attended by ballet dancers from the Royal Ballet. By the time she was decommissioned in 1969, she was the last active T-class submarine in the Royal Navy. Following her decommissioning at Spithead, her legacy was celebrated with a symbolic ballet performance on her deck. She was scrapped in Portsmouth in 1975, but her anchor and oak nameplate were preserved. The anchor is displayed in Blyth, Northumberland, a former submarine training base, while her nameplate remains with the family of a wartime crew member, maintaining a tangible link to her storied history.
*Condition*
Good used condition. This is rare collection immortalising HMS Tiptoe. There are minor scratches and marks to the model commensurate with age and service. The photographs are in good condition with some marks. Please see photographs as part of the condition report.
RQMAEOXBIO_6887191961
