HMS Acheron (P411)

For other ships of the same name, see HMS Acheron.
History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Acheron (P411)
Builder: HM Dockyard, Chatham
Laid down: 26 August 1944
Launched: 25 March 1947
Commissioned: 17 April 1948
Decommissioned: February 1971
General characteristics
Class and type: Amphion-class submarine

HMS Acheron (P411) was an Amphion-class submarine of the Royal Navy, laid down 26 August 1944, launched 25 March 1947 and completed in 1948.

Design

Like all Amphion-class submarines, Acheron 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.[1] 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).[1]

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).[2] 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).[1] Acheron 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.[1]

Service History

Acheron took part in the Coronation Review of the Fleet to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.[3] She carried out 'General Naval Service' around the UK until the end of 1964. For the next 2 years she was loaned to the Royal Canadian Navy. She was decommissioned and broken up in 1972 at the yard of J Cashmore of Newport.[4] A geomagnetic storm in February 1956, during solar cycle 19, interfered with radio communications and prompted a search for the submarine after it lost radio contact.[5]

Commanding officers

FromToCaptain
19491949Lieutenant-Commander F D G Challis DSC RN
19531953Lieutenant S H Kempster RN
19561956Lieutenant J Fieldhouse RN
19651966Lieutenant D C Elliot RN

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Paul Akermann (1 November 2002). Encyclopedia of British Submarines 1901-1955. Periscope Publishing Ltd. p. 422. ISBN 978-1-904381-05-1.
  2. "Acheron class". World Naval Ships, Cranston Fine Arts. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  3. Souvenir Programme, Coronation Review of the Fleet, Spithead, 15 June 1953, HMSO, Gale and Polden
  4. "Acheron". Uboat.net. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  5. Amsterdam Evening Recorder, 24 February 1956

Publications

External links

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