HMS Sea Devil (P244)
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| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name: | HMS Sea Devil |
| Builder: | Scotts, Greenock |
| Laid down: | 5 May 1943 |
| Launched: | 30 January 1945 |
| Commissioned: | 12 May 1945 |
| Fate: | Broken up in 1966 |
| Badge: |
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| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | S-class submarine |
| Displacement: |
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| Length: | 217 ft (66.1 m) |
| Beam: | 23 ft 9 in (7.2 m) |
| Draught: | 14 ft 8 in (4.5 m) |
| Installed power: |
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| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: |
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| Range: | 7,500 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 depth: | 350 feet (106.7 m) |
| Complement: | 48 |
| Armament: |
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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.
Design and description
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 draft of 14 feet 8 inches (4.5 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. Sea Devil had thicker hull plating which increased her diving depth to 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. They could reach 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) on the surface and 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) underwater.[3] Sea Devil could carry more fuel than most of the third batch boats and had a range of 7,500 nautical miles (13,900 km; 8,600 mi) on the surface 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]
Sea Devil 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 internally stowed torpedoes. The boat was also equipped with a 4-inch (102 mm) deck gun.[4]
Construction and career
HMS Sea Devil was launched late in the Second World War, on 30 January 1945. Thus far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name Sea Devil. Her late commissioning meant that she did not see much action before the end of the Second World War.[5] In 1953 she took part in the Fleet Review to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.[6]
In 1955–1956 Sea Devil was used around Malta for tests of the Yellow Duckling infrared linescan system for detecting the wake of submerged submarines.[7]
She had a long service career, and by the time she was sold for breaking up, she was the last of the S class in service with the Royal Navy, though other S-class boats remained in service with other navies. She arrived at Newhaven in February 1966 for breaking up.
Notes
References
- Akermann, Paul (2002). Encyclopaedia of British Submarines 1901–1955 (reprint of the 1989 ed.). Penzance, Cornwall: Periscope Publishing. ISBN 1-904381-05-7.
- Bagnasco, Erminio (1977). Submarines of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-962-6.
- Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
- Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8. OCLC 67375475.
- McCartney, Innes (2006). British Submarines 1939–1945. New Vanguard. 129. Oxford, UK: Osprey. ISBN 1-84603-007-2.
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