ROYAL NAVY 'S' CLASS SUBMARINE
Originally designed as a medium-range patrol boat, the last of the three
build groups was a long-range boat and these were sent to the Far East and
Pacific during the war.
All the Group 1 boats were built at HM Dockyard, Chatham between 1930 and 1933.
The S class was the Royal Navy's largest boat when first built in the
1930's.
In total 62 'S' class were built between 1930 and 1945.
With the Second World War only minutes old, it was an 'S' boat (Spearfish)
which saw the Royal Navy's first action. A German U-boat attacked with a
torpedo but missed. Less than one year later, Spearfish was sunk by U34 with
just one survivor rescued by the U-boat.
18 'S' Class boats were lost in action between 1940 and 1944.
In 1955 Sidon sank after a Hydrogen Peroxide powered torpedo exploded.
'S' class were in service until the early 1960's.
|
'S' Class Specification:
|
|||
| Group 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | |
| Commissioned | 1931 to 1933 | 1934 to 1938 | 1941 to 1945 |
| Length (feet): | 202.5 | 208.75 | 217 |
| Beam (feet): | 10.5 | 10.5 | 11 |
| Displacement (tons): | 640 (surfaced) 935 (submerged) |
670 (surfaced) 960 (submerged) |
872 (surfaced) 990 (submerged) |
| Speed (knots): | 13.5 (surfaced) 10 (submerged) |
13.5 (surfaced) 10 (submerged) |
14.5 (surfaced) 9 (submerged) |
| Armament: | One 3" gun Six 21" Bow Tubes |
One 3" gun Six 21" Bow Tubes |
One 4" gun Six 21" Bow Tubes One 21" Stern Tube |
| Engines: | Two 1550hp diesels Two 1300hp electric motors |
Two 1550hp diesels Two 1300hp electric motors |
Two 1900hp diesels Two 1440hp electric motors |
| Range (n/miles): | 3700 | 3800 | 6000 |
| Compliment: | 38 | 40 | 49 |