HMS Spiteful (P227)

Last updated

HMS Spiteful (cropped).jpg
Spiteful photographed on 21 September 1943
History
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svgUnited Kingdom
NameSpiteful
Builder Scotts, Greenock
Laid down19 September 1941
Launched5 June 1943
Commissioned6 October 1943
Decommissioned15 July 1963
Identification Pennant number: P227
FateScrapped
Badge SPITEFUL badge-1-.jpg
General characteristics
Class and type S-class submarine
Displacement
  • 865 long tons (879 t) (surfaced)
  • 990 long tons (1,010 t) (submerged)
Length217 ft (66.1 m)
Beam23 ft 9 in (7.2 m)
Draught14 ft 8 in (4.5 m)
Installed power
  • 1,900  bhp (1,400 kW) (diesel)
  • 1,300 hp (970 kW) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 15  kn (28 km/h; 17 mph) (surfaced)
  • 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph) (submerged)
Range6,000  nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) (surfaced); 120 nmi (220 km; 140 mi) at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) (submerged)
Test depth300 ft (91.4 m)
Complement48
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament

HMS Spiteful (Pennant number P227) was a third-batch S-class submarine built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War.

Contents

Design and description

Schematic drawing of a S-class submarine British S-class submarine schematic drawing.jpg
Schematic drawing of a S-class submarine

The S-class submarines were designed to patrol the restricted waters of the North Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. The third batch was slightly enlarged and improved over the preceding second batch of the S-class. The submarines had a length of 217 feet (66.1 m) overall, a beam of 23 feet 9 inches (7.2 m) and a draught of 14 feet 8 inches (4.5 m). They displaced 865 long tons (879 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 300 feet (91.4 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. They could reach 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) on the surface and 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) underwater. [3] On the surface, the third-batch boats had a range of 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km; 6,900 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]

The boats were armed with seven 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes. A half-dozen of these were in the bow and there was one external tube in the stern. They carried six reload torpedoes for the bow tubes for a total of thirteen torpedoes. Twelve mines could be carried in lieu of the internally stowed torpedoes. They were also armed with a 3-inch (76 mm) deck gun. [4] It is uncertain if Spiteful was completed with a 20-millimetre (0.8 in) Oerlikon light AA gun or had one added later. The third-batch S-class boats were fitted with either a Type 129AR or 138 ASDIC system and a Type 291 or 291W early-warning radar. [5]

Career

She sailed for Ceylon, arriving in April 1944. She was assigned to the 8th Flotilla, HMS Maidstone. She made two patrols, then transited to Fremantle. She sank a number of Japanese vessels with gunfire on 30 June, 2 July, and 14 December. [6]

French service

Notes

  1. Akermann, p. 341
  2. 1 2 McCartney, p. 7
  3. Bagnasco, p. 110
  4. Chesneau, pp. 51–52
  5. Akermann, pp. 341, 345
  6. HMS Spiteful, Uboat.net

Related Research Articles

HMS <i>Stonehenge</i> (P232) British S-class submarine

HMS Stonehenge was an S-class submarine of the third batch built for the Royal Navy during World War II. Completed in 1943, she made her initial patrol off Norway and was then transferred to the Far East, where she conducted two war patrols, during which she sank two Japanese ships. On her second patrol, Stonehenge disappeared with all hands and was declared overdue on 20 March 1944. The most probable cause of her sinking is that she hit a mine, but her wreck has never been found.

HMS <i>Satyr</i> (P214) Submarine of the Royal Navy

HMS Satyr was an S-class submarine of the Royal Navy, and part of the third group built of that class. She was built by Scotts, of Greenock and launched on 28 September 1942.

HMS <i>Saga</i> Submarine of the Royal Navy

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> Submarine of the Royal Navy

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>Selene</i> Submarine of the Royal Navy

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.

HMS <i>Sentinel</i> (P256) Submarine of the Royal Navy

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>Shakespeare</i> (P221) Submarine of the Royal Navy

HMS Shakespeare 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 Vickers-Armstrongs and launched on 8 December 1941.

HMS <i>Sibyl</i> (P217) Submarine of the Royal Navy

HMS Sibyl 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 Cammell Laird and launched on 29 April 1942.

HMS <i>Solent</i> (P262) Submarine of the Royal Navy

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> Submarine of the Royal Navy

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> Submarine of the Royal Navy

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> Submarine of the Royal Navy

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> Submarine of the Royal Navy

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. She was scrapped in 1967.

HMS <i>Sirdar</i> Submarine of the Royal Navy

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> Submarine of the Royal Navy

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> Submarine of the Royal Navy

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> Submarine of the Royal Navy

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> Submarine of the Royal Navy

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) Submarine of the Royal Navy

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) Submarine of the Royal Navy

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.

References