HMS Alcide (P415)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Alcide.

HMS Alcide
History
United Kingdom
Name	Alcide
Builder	Vickers-Armstrongs, Barrow-in-Furness
Laid down	2 January 1945
Launched	12 April 1945
Commissioned	18 October 1946
Identification	Pennant number: P415
Fate	Sold to be broken up for scrap on 18 June 1974. Scrapped at Hull.
General characteristics
Class & type	Amphion-class submarine
Displacement	1,360/1,590 tons (surface/submerged)
Length	293 ft 6 in (89.46 m)
Beam	22 ft 4 in (6.81 m)
Draught	18 ft 1 in (5.51 m)
Propulsion	2 × 2,150 hp (1,600 kW) Admiralty ML 8-cylinder diesel engine, 2 × 625 hp (466 kW) electric motors for submergence driving two shafts
Speed	18.5 knots (34.3 km/h; 21.3 mph) surfaced 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) submerged
Range	10,500 nmi (19,400 km) at 11 kn (20 km/h) surfaced 16 nmi (30 km) at 8 kn (15 km/h) or 90 nmi (170 km) at 3 kn (5.6 km/h) submerged
Test depth	350 ft (110 m)
Complement	60
Armament	6 × 21 inch (533 mm) (2 external) bow torpedo tube, 4 × 21 in (2 external) stern torpedo tube, total of 20 torpedoes Mines: 26 1 × 4 in (102 mm) main deck gun, 3 × 0.303 machine gun, 1 × 20 mm AA Oerlikon 20 mm gun

HMS Alcide (P415), was an Amphion-class submarine of the Royal Navy, built by Vickers-Armstrongs and launched 12 April 1945. ^[1]

Design

Like all Amphion-class submarines, Alcide had a displacement of 1,360 long tons (1,380 t) when at the surface and 1,590 long tons (1,620 t) while submerged. She had a total length of 293 feet 6 inches (89.46 m), a beam of 22 feet 4 inches (6.81 m), and a draught of 18 feet 1 inch (5.51 m). The submarine was powered by two Admiralty ML eight-cylinder diesel engines generating a power of 2,150 horsepower (1,600 kW) each. She also contained four electric motors each producing 625 horsepower (466 kW) that drove two shafts. ^[2] She could carry a maximum of 219 tonnes (241 short tons) of diesel, although she usually carried between 159 and 165 tonnes (175 and 182 short tons). ^[2]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 18.5 knots (34.3 km/h; 21.3 mph) and a submerged speed of 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph). ^[3] When submerged, she could operate at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) for 90 nautical miles (170 km; 100 mi) or at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) for 16 nautical miles (30 km; 18 mi). When surfaced, she was able to travel 15,200 nautical miles (28,200 km; 17,500 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) or 10,500 nautical miles (19,400 km; 12,100 mi) at 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph). ^[2] She was fitted with ten 21 inches (530 mm) torpedo tubes, one QF 4 inch naval gun Mk XXIII, one Oerlikon 20 mm cannon, and a .303 British Vickers machine gun. Her torpedo tubes were fitted to the bow and stern, and she could carry twenty torpedoes. Her complement was sixty-one crew members. ^[2]

Service

In 1952 Alcide deployed to Canada for anti-submarine training with the Royal Canadian Navy. ^[4] In 1968 she took part in Navy Days at Portsmouth. ^[5]

References

1. "Alcide". Uboat.net. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
2. Paul Akermann (1 November 2002). Encyclopedia of British Submarines 1901–1955. Periscope Publishing Ltd. p. 422. ISBN   978-1-904381-05-1.
3. "Acheron class". World Naval Ships, Cranston Fine Arts. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
4. "Submarine Artemis Back for Second Time". The Crowsnest. Vol. 4, no. 12. Queen's Printer. October 1952. p. 3.
5. Programme, Navy Days at Portsmouth 31 August – 2 September 1968, p. 21.

Publications

• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN   978-1-86176-281-8.

External links

• Pictures of HMS Alcide at MaritimeQuest