Sinking of Splendid

21 April 1943, Tyrrhenian Sea, off Capri

German success; Splendid scuttled

The submarine Splendid had sunk several Axis ships off Italy when, on the morning of 21 April 1943, her periscope was sighted off Capri by Hermes, the former Greek destroyer Vasilefs Georgios, now in German service. Hermes found her by sonar and made three attacks with 41 depth charges. The last eleven sprang leaks in Splendid's hull, and Lieutenant Ian McGeoch had to surface. Hermes's guns killed 18 of her crew, and McGeoch scuttled her; the rest were taken prisoner. A week later Hermes herself was crippled by Allied bombers off Tunisia.