HMS Alcide (P415)

HMS Alcide (P415), was an Amphion-class submarine of the Royal Navy, built by Vickers-Armstrongs and launched 12 April 1945.[1]

HMS Alcide
History
United Kingdom
Name: Alcide
Builder: Vickers-Armstrongs, Barrow-in-Furness
Laid down: 2 January 1945
Launched: 12 April 1945
Commissioned: 18 October 1946
Identification: P415
Fate: Sold to be broken up for scrap on 18 June 1974. Scrapped at Hull.
General characteristics
Class and type: Amphion-class submarine
Displacement: 1,360/1,590 tons (surface/submerged)
Length: 293 ft 6 in (89.46 m)
Beam: 22 ft 4 in (6.81 m)
Draught: 18 ft 1 in (5.51 m)
Propulsion: 2 × 2,150 hp (1,600 kW) Admiralty ML 8-cylinder diesel engine, 2 × 625 hp (466 kW) electric motors for submergence driving two shafts
Speed:
  • 18.5 knots (34.3 km/h; 21.3 mph) surfaced
  • 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) submerged
Range:
  • 10,500 nmi (19,400 km) at 11 kn (20 km/h) surfaced
  • 16 nmi (30 km) at 8 kn (15 km/h) or 90 nmi (170 km) at 3 kn (5.6 km/h) submerged
Test depth: 350 ft (110 m)
Complement: 5 officers 55 enlisted
Armament:
  • 6 × 21 inch (533 mm) (2 external) bow torpedo tube, 4 × 21 in (2 external) stern torpedo tube, total of 20 torpedoes
  • Mines: 26
  • 1 × 4 in (102 mm) main deck gun, 3 × 0.303 machine gun, 1 × 20 mm AA Oerlikon 20 mm gun

Design

Like all Amphion-class submarines, Alcide had a displacement of 1,360 tonnes (1,500 short tons) when at the surface and 1,590 tonnes (1,750 short tons) while submerged. It had a total length of 293 feet 6 inches (89.46 m), a beam length of 22 feet 4 inches (6.81 m), and a draught length of 18 feet 1 inch (5.51 m). The submarine was powered by two Admiralty ML eight-cylinder diesel engines generating a power of 2,150 horsepower (1,600 kW) each. It also contained four electric motors each producing 625 horsepower (466 kW) that drove two shafts.[2] It could carry a maximum of 219 tonnes (241 short tons) of diesel, although it usually carried between 159 and 165 tonnes (175 and 182 short tons).[2]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 18.5 knots (34.3 km/h; 21.3 mph) and a submerged speed of 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph).[3] When submerged, it could operate at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) for 90 nautical miles (170 km; 100 mi) or at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) for 16 nautical miles (30 km; 18 mi). When surfaced, it was able to travel 15,200 nautical miles (28,200 km; 17,500 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) or 10,500 nautical miles (19,400 km; 12,100 mi) at 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph).[2] Alcide was fitted with ten 21 inches (530 mm) torpedo tubes, one QF 4 inch naval gun Mk XXIII, one Oerlikon 20 mm cannon, and a .303 British Vickers machine gun. Its torpedo tubes were fitted to the bow and stern, and it could carry twenty torpedoes. Its complement was sixty-one crew members.[2]

Service

In 1952 Alcide deployed to Canada for anti-submarine training with the Royal Canadian Navy.[4] In 1968 she took part in Navy Days at Portsmouth.[5]

Commanding officers

FromToCaptain
19631966Lieutenant-Commander S S R Conway RN
19681968Lieutenant-Commander J R Stevenson RN
gollark: !pw free It has begun. Run Emergency Procedure G-12.
gollark: Np. Deploying apiodeletion bees.
gollark: notifications = apioforms.
gollark: Oh, that Half Life addon, right.
gollark: What game is that? Does it have mod support? Can you add apioforms?

References

  1. "Alcide". Uboat.net. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  2. Paul Akermann (1 November 2002). Encyclopedia of British Submarines 1901-1955. Periscope Publishing Ltd. p. 422. ISBN 978-1-904381-05-1.
  3. "Acheron class". World Naval Ships, Cranston Fine Arts. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  4. "Submarine Artemis Back for Second Time". The Crowsnest. Vol. 4 no. 12. Queen's Printer. October 1952. p. 3.
  5. Programme, Navy Days at Portsmouth 31 August–September 2nd 1968, p.21.

Publications

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