A top secret British Welfreighter midget submarine which was used by the Services Reconnaissance Department (you might know them as “Z Special Unit”). The particular craft shown was delivered to the SRD’s Lugger Maintenance Section base at the site of the old quarantine station in 1945 where it was to be used for training and operations. The craft was never used in combat due to the sudden end of WWII, and it was later shipped back to the midget submarine base near Fremantle in WA where it was scuttled off Rottnest Island.
The Welfreighter was a four man midget sub ideally suited for inserting small parties of special forces operatives into enemy-held territory. It was usually unarmed and was used for infiltration, resupply and extraction only, after being towed to a point close to the target by a mother ship.,
Notes
Date:194?,
Additional information provided by Craig Brown 10/08/2011.,