S Class

In the late 1920's and early 1930's it was decided that two main type of patrol submarine would meet the future requirements of the Long Range Overseas Patrol Submarine, a medium sized type for confined waters and a slightly larger one for overseas.

Having learned from past experience that external fuel tanks were not ideally suited the decision was taken that all future construction of submarines should have their fuel tanks internally built.   It was intended to maintain the quick diving and the manageable handling of the 'H' class whilst submerged, combined with the long range qualities of the 'O','P' and 'R' classes.

The result was the 'S' class. This class was in production for over 15 years and was the largest single group of submarines built for the Royal Navy.

There were three distinct groups in this class with varying differences as will be seen within the class notes and individual boat profiles.

12 Built

Submarine	Builder	Built
Seascout, Selene, Sidon, Sleuth, Solent, Spearhead, Sturdy, Stygian, Subtle, Supreme	Cammell Laird, Birkenhead.	1940 - 1945
Seneschal, Sentinel	Scotts, Greenock.	1941 - 1945

Technical Information

Displacement (tons):	715 sf 990 sm (Except Sturdy and Stygian - 865sf 890sm
Length (ft):	217 oa
Breadth (ft)	23.75
Draught/Height (ft):	13.25
Machinery:	8 cylinder Admiralty diesel engines 1,900 bhp Admiralty electric motors 1,300 bhp As for Sunfish. Scotsman and Seadevil were fitted with Laurence Scott motors. Strongbow was fitted with General Electric motors. Storm was fitted with Metrovick motor.
Speed (kts):	14.75 sf 9 sm
Oil Supply (tons):	44 normal (84 maxl) Except Sturdy and Stygian 67 normal 92 max
Armament:	1 x 4 inch/40 QF 1 x 20mm Oerlikon 2 or 3 0.303 Leiw or Vickers MG 6 x 21 inch bow tubes, 12 reloads or 12 mines. Except Sturdy, Stygian and Subtle: 7 x21 inch (6 bow tubes 1 stern tube) 13 reloads or 12 mines 1 x 3 inch/45QF 1 x 20mm Oerlikon 2 or 3 0.303 MG
Range:	7,500 nm at 10 kts (Surface on 84 ton Diesel oil)
Complement:	48

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H.M. Submarine Sea Scout - possibly at Devonport

H.M. Submarine Sea Scout in 1953
H.M. Submarine Sea Scout in 1962

Type:	S Class	Third Group.
Pennant No.:	ex P.253	Renamed April 1943.
Laid Down:	1st April 1943.	Cammell Laird, Birkenhead.
Commissioned:	14th July 1944.	Not known at present.
Commander:	Not known at present.	Not known at present.
Complement:	48	5 Officers and 43 Ratings.
Service Career:	1944. 1945.	Indian Ocean. Pacific.
Fate:	Scrapped 14th December 1965.

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H.M.. Submarine Selene

Type:	S Class	Third Group.
Pennant No.:	ex P.254	Renamed April 1943.
Laid Down:	16th April 1943.	Cammell Laird, Birkenhead.
Commissioned:	14th July 1944.	Not known at present.
Commander:	Not known at present.	Not known at present.
Complement:	48	5 Officers and 43 Ratings.
Service Career:	1945.	Pacific.
Fate:	Scrapped 6th June 1961.

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H.M. Submarine Seneschal

Type:	S Class	Third Group.
Pennant No.:	ex P.255	Renamed April 1943.
Laid Down:	1st September 1943.	Scotts, Greenock.
Commissioned:	6th September 1945.	Not known at present.
Commander:	Not known at present.	Not known at present.
Complement:	48	5 Officers and 43 Ratings.
Service Career:	Not known at present.	Not known at present.
Fate:	Scrapped 23rd August 1960.

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H.M. Submarine Sentinel

H.M. Submarine Sentinel 1959

Type:	S Class	Third Group.
Pennant No.:	P.256	Renamed April 1943.
Laid Down:	15th November 1943.	Scotts, Greenock.
Commissioned:	28th December 1945.	Not known at present.
Commander:	Not known at present.	Not known at present.
Complement:	48	5 Officers and 43 Ratings.
Service Career:	Not known at present.	Not known at present.
	Sentinel was one of the few S boats to be completed too late to be employed in a war role.
Fate:	Sold 28th February 1962.

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H.M. Submarine Sidon 1950

Type:	S Class	Third Group.
Pennant No.:	P.259
Laid Down:	7th July 1943.	Cammell Laird, Birkenhead.
Commissioned:	23rd November 1944.	Not known at present.
Commander:	Not known at present.	Not known at present.
Complement:	48	5 Officers and 43 Ratings.
Service Career:	1945.	Pacific.
	Whilst carrying torpedoes which were fuelled by  Hydrogen Peroxide she suffered an explosion whilst alongside in Portland Harbour on the 16th June 1955. Sidon sank twenty minutes after the explosion with the loss of 13 lives. She was used as an Anti-submarine target two years later (14th June 1957).
Fate:	Expended as an anti-submarine target 14th June 1957.

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H.M. Submarine Sleuth

H.M. Submarine Sleuth 1953

Type:	S Class	Third Group.
Pennant No.:	P.261
Laid Down:	30th June 1943.	Cammell Laird, Birkenhead.
Commissioned:	8th October 1944.	Not known at present.
Commander:	Not known at present.	Not known at present.
Complement:	48	5 Officers and 43 Ratings.
Service Career:	1945.	Pacific.
Fate:	Scrapped 15th September 1958.

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H.M. Submarine Solent

Type:	S Class	Third Group.
Pennant No.:	P.262
Laid Down:	7th May 1943.	Cammell Laird, Birkenhead.
Commissioned:	7th September 1944.	Not known at present.
Commander:	Not known at present.	Not known at present.
Complement:	48	5 Officers and 43 Ratings.
Service Career:	1945.	Pacific.
	Solent was one of several boats which were modified after the war and converted into high speed target submarines for training anti-submarine forces. The hull and casing were streamlined and the gun removed, in addition to this higher capacity batteries were fitted and the motors up-rated.
Fate:	Scrapped 28th August 1962.

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More Details to Follow

H.M. Submarine Spearhead

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H.M. Submarine Sturdy

H.M. Submarine Sturdy 1955

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H.M. Submarine Stygian

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H.M. Submarine Subtle

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