HMS Selene

Last updated

HMS Selene.jpg
HMS Selene
History
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svgUnited Kingdom
NameHMS Selene
Builder Cammell Laird & Co Limited, Birkenhead
Laid down16 April 1943
Launched24 April 1944
Commissioned14 July 1944
Fatesold for breaking up 1961
Badge
SELENE badge-1-.jpg
General characteristics
Class and type S-class submarine
Displacement
  • 814 long tons (827 t) surfaced
  • 990 long tons (1,010 t) submerged
Length217 ft (66.1 m)
Beam23 ft 9 in (7.2 m)
Draught14 ft 1 in (4.3 m)
Installed power
  • 1,900  bhp (1,400 kW) (diesel)
  • 1,300 hp (970 kW) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 14.75 knots (27.32 km/h; 16.97 mph) surfaced
  • 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) submerged
Range7,500  nmi (13,900 km; 8,600 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surface; 120 nmi (220 km; 140 mi) at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) submerged
Test depth350 feet (106.7 m)
Complement48
Armament

HMS Selene was a S-class submarine of the third batch built for the Royal Navy during World War II. She survived the war and was sold for scrap in 1961.

Contents

Design and description

The last 17 boats of the third batch were significantly modified from the earlier boats. They had a stronger hull, carried more fuel and their armament was revised. The submarines had a length of 217 feet (66.1 m) overall, a beam of 23 feet 9 inches (7.2 m) and a draft of 14 feet 1 inch (4.3 m). They displaced 814 long tons (827 t) on the surface and 990 long tons (1,010 t) submerged. [1] The S-class submarines had a crew of 48 officers and ratings. They had a diving depth of 350 feet (106.7 m). [2]

For surface running, the boats were powered by two 950- brake-horsepower (708 kW) diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 650-horsepower (485 kW) electric motor. [3] They could reach 14.75 knots (27.32 km/h; 16.97 mph) on the surface and 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) underwater. [1] On the surface, the third batch boats had a range of 7,500 nautical miles (13,900 km; 8,600 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) and 120 nmi (220 km; 140 mi) at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) submerged. [2]

Selene was armed with six 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes in the bow. She carried six reload torpedoes for a total of a dozen torpedoes. Twelve mines could be carried in lieu of the torpedoes. The boat was also equipped with a 4-inch (102 mm) deck gun. [1]

Construction and career

HMS Selene built by Cammell Laird & Co Limited, Birkenhead and launched on 24 April 1944. So far it has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name Selene. The boat spent most of the Second World War serving in the Far East, where it was used to sink five Japanese sailing vessels and three coasters, and damage another sailing vessel and coaster. [4] It survived the war and in the early 1950s was modified to become a fast unarmed underwater target to train anti-submarine personnel. Its torpedo tubes were covered to streamline its hull, and the three external tubes (two bow, one stern) were removed, as was the gun. Its bridge superstructure was reduced to little more than a blister with a small cockpit in it, and it had only a single periscope. It operated with the Second Submarine Squadron at Portland throughout the 1950s. It was sold, arriving at Gateshead on 6 June 1961 for breaking up.

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Chesneau, p. 52
  2. 1 2 McCartney, p. 7
  3. Bagnasco, p. 110
  4. HMS Selene, Uboat.net

Related Research Articles

<i>Rainbow</i>-class submarine Type of British submarines in service before and during WWII

The Rainbow-class submarine or R class was a quartet of patrol submarines built for the Royal Navy in the early 1930s.

HMS <i>Saga</i>

HMS Saga was a S-class submarine of the third batch built for the Royal Navy during World War II. She survived the war and was sold to Portugal.

HMS <i>Scythian</i>

HMS Scythian was a S-class submarine of the third batch built for the Royal Navy during World War II. She survived the war and was sold for scrap in 1960.

HMS <i>Sea Scout</i>

HMS Sea Scout was a S-class submarine of the third batch built for the Royal Navy during World War II. She survived the war and was sold for scrap in 1965.

HMS <i>Seneschal</i>

HMS Seneschal was a S-class submarine of the third batch built for the Royal Navy during World War II. She survived the war and was sold for scrap in 1965.

HMS <i>Sentinel</i> (P256)

HMS Sentinel was a S-class submarine of the third batch built for the Royal Navy during World War II. She was not completed until after the war and was sold for scrap in 1962.

HMS <i>Shalimar</i> S-class submarine for the Royal Navy

HMS Shalimar was a third-batch S-class submarine built for the Royal Navy during World War II. Completed in April 1944, she conducted one war patrol off the Orkney Islands, then was assigned to the Pacific theater, arriving there in September. The submarine conducted one war patrol off the Nicobar Islands, destroying several small ships with gunfire. During her next three patrols in the Strait of Malacca, Shalimar sank twelve sailing vessels, eleven landing craft, four coasters, three lighters, three tugboats, and one minesweeper. After the war ended, the boat was sent back to England, placed in reserve, then sold for scrap in July 1950.

HMS <i>Solent</i> (P262)

HMS Solent was a S-class submarine built by Cammell Laird and launched on 8 June 1944 of the third batch built for the Royal Navy during World War II. She spent most of her career in the Pacific Far East, often in company with her sister ship, HMS Sleuth. Together they sank fifteen Japanese sailing vessels and the Japanese auxiliary minesweeper Wa 3. She survived the war and was sold for scrap in 1961.

HMS <i>Surf</i>

HMS Surf was a S-class submarine of the third batch built for the Royal Navy during World War II. She survived the war and was scrapped in 1948.

HMS <i>Sleuth</i>

HMS Sleuth was a S-class submarine of the third batch built for the Royal Navy during World War II. She survived the war and was sold for scrap in 1958.

HMS <i>Spur</i>

HMS Spur was a S-class submarine of the third batch built for the Royal Navy during World War II. She survived the war and was sold to Portugal in 1948.

HMS <i>Spearhead</i>

HMS Spearhead was a S-class submarine of the third batch built for the Royal Navy during World War II. She survived the war and was sold to Portugal.

HMS <i>Sirdar</i> (P226)

HMS Sirdar was an S-class submarine built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War, and part of the Third Group built of that class. She was built by Scotts, of Greenock and launched on 26 March 1943.

HMS <i>Supreme</i>

HMS Supreme was a S-class submarine of the third batch built for the Royal Navy during World War II. She survived the war and was sold for scrap in 1950.

HMS <i>Spirit</i>

HMS Spirit was a S-class submarine of the third batch built for the Royal Navy during World War II. She survived the war and was scrapped in 1950.

HMS <i>Spark</i>

HMS Spark was a S-class submarine of the third batch built for the Royal Navy during World War II. She survived the war and was scrapped in 1950.

HMS <i>Stoic</i>

HMS Stoic was a S-class submarine of the third batch built for the Royal Navy during World War II. She survived the war and was scrapped in 1950.

HMS <i>Sturdy</i> (P248)

HMS Sturdy was a S-class submarine of the third batch built for the Royal Navy during World War II. She survived the war and was scrapped in 1958.

HMS <i>Subtle</i> (P251)

HMS Subtle was a S-class submarine of the third batch built for the Royal Navy during World War II. She survived the war and was scrapped in 1959.

HMS <i>Sea Devil</i>

HMS Sea Devil was a S-class submarine of the third batch built for the Royal Navy during World War II. She survived the war and was sold for scrap in 1966.

References