Swordfish Class
Medium Patrol Submarine
- Swordfish Class
- Seahorse
- Starfish
- Sturgeon
- Swordfish
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.
4 Built
| Submarine | Builder | Built |
| Seahorse Starfish Sturgeon Swordfish |
HM Dockyard,Chatham. | 1930 -1933 |
Technical Information
| Displacement (tons): | 640 sf 927 sm |
| Length (ft): | 202.5 oa |
| Breadth (ft) | 24 |
| Draught/Height (ft): | 11.975 |
| Machinery: | 8 cylinder
Admiralty diesel engines 1,550 bhp Admiralty electric motors 1,300 bhp |
| Speed (kts): | 13.75 sf 10 sm |
| Oil Supply (tons): | 38 |
| Armament: | 1 x 3 inch/45QF
Mk1. 1 x 0.303 inch Lewis mg. 6 x 21 inch bow tubes. 12 reloads. |
| Range: | 3,700 nmiles
at 10 kts sf 106 nmiles at 4 kts sm |
| Complement: | 38 |
| sm = submerged, sf = surfaced, oa = overall, hp = horsepower, na = not available. | |
[Top]
H.M. Submarine Seahorse
| Type: | Swordfish Class | Group One |
| Pennant No.: | 98.S | |
| Laid Down: | 14th September 1931. | H.M. Dockyard, Chatham. |
| Commissioned: | 2nd October 1933. | Not known at present. |
| Commander: | 1937 1939 - 1940 |
Lt. Cdr.
F. B. Currie. Lt. D. S. Massey Dawson. |
| Complement: | 38 | 4 Officers and 34 Ratings. |
| Service Career: | 1933-1934. 1934-1936. 1939 - 2nd Flotilla. 1940 - 6th Flotilla. |
Portsmouth. Portland. HMS Forth, Dundee. HMS Titania, Blyth. |
| Sunk after being attacked and depth-charged by German 1st Minesweeping Flotilla 7th January 1940. | ||
| Fate: | Lost - 7th January 1940. | |
[Top]
H.M. Submarine Starfish
| Type: | Swordfish Class | Group One |
| Pennant No.: | 19.S | |
| Laid Down: | 26th September 1931 | H.M. Dockyard, Chatham. |
| Commissioned: | 27th October 1933 | Not known at present. |
| Commander: | Not known at present. | Not known at present. |
| Complement: | 38 | 4 Officers and 34 Ratings. |
| Service Career: | 1933-1934 1934-1936 1936-1939 1939-1940 |
Portsmouth Portland Home Fleet Dundee, Rosyth, Blyth |
| Not known at present | ||
| Fate: | Lost 9th January 1940. | |
[Top]
H.M. Submarine Sturgeon
| Type: | SwordfishClass | Group One |
| Pennant No.: | 73S | |
| Laid Down: | 1st January 1931. | H.M. Dockyard, Chatham. |
| Commissioned: | 27th February 1933. | Not known at present. |
| Commander: | 1939 1940 |
Lt. Cdr.
G.D.A. Gregory. Lt. Cdr. G.D.A. Gregory. |
| Complement: | 38 | 4 Officers and 34 Ratings. |
| Service Career: | 1932-1933 1933-1935 1935-1939 1939-1943 - 6th Flotilla. |
Portsmouth Portland. HMS Forth, Dundee HMS Titania, Blyth. |
| Sank the
anti-submarine trawler Gauleiter Telshow, 20th November 1939.
This was the first British submarine success of WWII. Sank the transport Ponier in September 1940. |
||
| Fate: | This boat
was loaned to the Royal Netherlands Navy between 1943 and 1945.
She was renamed Zeehon. After being returned to Britain she was broken up in 1947. |
|
[Top]
H.M. Submarine Swordfish
| Type: | Swordfish Class | Group One |
| Pennant No.: | 61.S | |
| Laid Down: | 1st December 1930 | H.M. Dockyard, Chatham. |
| Commissioned: | 28th November 1932 | Not known at present. |
| Commander: | Not known at present. | Not known at present. |
| Complement: | 38 | 4 Officers and 34 Ratings. |
| Service Career: | 1932-1935 1935-1939 1939-1940 |
Portsmouth Home Fleet North Sea, Channel, Biscay |
| She was attacked in error by Sturgeon but not hit. Sunk by mine off St. Catherine's Point Isle of Wight. |
||
| Fate: | Lost 7th November 1940 | |
[Top]