HMS Scotsman (P243)

HMS Scotsman
History
Name:	HMS Scotsman
Ordered:	20 December 1941
Builder:	Scotts, Greenock
Laid down:	15 April 1943
Launched:	18 August 1944
Commissioned:	9 December 1944
Fate:	broken up November 1964
Badge:
General characteristics
Class & type:	S-class submarine
Displacement:	814 long tons (827 t) surfaced 990 long tons (1,010 t) submerged
Length:	217 ft (66.1 m)
Beam:	23 ft 9 in (7.2 m)
Draught:	14 ft 8 in (4.5 m)
Installed power:	1,900 bhp (1,400 kW) (diesel) 1,300 hp (970 kW) (electric)
Propulsion:	2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
Speed:	15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph) surfaced 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph) submerged
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:	6 × bow 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes 1 × 4-inch (102 mm) deck gun

HMS Scotsman 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 1964.

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. Scotsman 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] Scotsman 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]

Scotsman was armed with six 21-inch torpedo tubes in the bow. She carried six reload torpedoes for a grand total of a dozen torpedoes. Twelve mines could be carried in lieu of the torpedoes. The boat was also equipped with a 4-inch (102 mm) deck gun.^[4]

Construction and career

HMS Scotsman was built by Scotts, of Greenock and launched on 18 August 1944. She survived the Second World War and in 1953 took part in the Fleet Review to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.^[5] Scotsman was decommissioned in 1961 and in spring 1964 was scuttled off the Isle of Bute so she could be salvaged as part of a training exercise. She was raised in June 1964 and sold to the West of Scotland Shipbreaking Company, arriving at Troon on 19 November 1964 for breaking up.^[6]

Notes

1. Chesneau, p. 51
2. McCartney, p. 7
3. Bagnasco, p. 110
4. Chesneau, pp. 51–52
5. Souvenir Programme, Coronation Review of the Fleet, Spithead, 15th June 1953, HMSO, Gale and Polden
6. "HMS Scotsman". Uboat.net. Retrieved 6 July 2013.

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.
• 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.
• Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
• McCartney, Innes (2006). British Submarines 1939–1945. New Vanguard 129. Oxford, UK: Osprey. ISBN 1-84603-007-2.