HMS Spiteful (P227)

File:British S-class submarine schematic drawing.jpg

The S-class submarines were designed to patrol the restricted waters of the North Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. The third batch was slightly enlarged and improved over the preceding second batch of the S-class. The submarines had a length of {{convert|217|ft|m|1}} overall, a beam of {{convert|23|ft|9|in|m|1}} and a draught of {{convert|14|ft|8|in|m|1}}. They displaced {{convert|865|LT|t}} on the surface and {{convert|990|LT|t}} submerged.Akermann, p. 341 The S-class submarines had a crew of 48 officers and ratings. They had a diving depth of {{convert|300|ft|1}}.McCartney, p. 7

For surface running, the boats were powered by two {{convert|950|bhp|lk=in|0|adj=on}} diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a {{convert|650|hp|0|adj=on}} electric motor. They could reach {{convert|15|kn|lk=in}} on the surface and {{convert|10|kn}} underwater.Bagnasco, p. 110 On the surface, the third-batch boats had a range of {{convert|6000|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|10|kn}} and {{convert|120|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|3|kn}} submerged.

The boats were armed with seven 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes. A half-dozen of these were in the bow and there was one external tube in the stern. They carried six reload torpedoes for the bow tubes for a total of thirteen torpedoes. Twelve mines could be carried in lieu of the internally stowed torpedoes. They were also armed with a 3-inch (76 mm) deck gun.Chesneau, pp. 51–52 It is uncertain if Spiteful was completed with a Oerlikon 20 mm cannon light AA gun or had one added later. The third-batch S-class boats were fitted with either a Type 129AR or 138 ASDIC system and a Type 291 or 291W early-warning radar.Akermann, pp. 341, 345

She sailed for Ceylon, arriving in April 1944. She was assigned to the 8th Flotilla, {{HMS|Maidstone|1937|6}}. She made two patrols, then transited to Fremantle. She sank a number of Japanese vessels with gunfire on 30 June, 2 July, and 14 December.[http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3445.html HMS Spiteful], Uboat.net

{{other ships|French submarine Sirène}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{cite book|last=Akermann|first=Paul|title=Encyclopaedia of British Submarines 1901–1955|edition=reprint of the 1989|year=2002|publisher=Periscope Publishing|location=Penzance, Cornwall|isbn=978-1-904381-05-1}}
• {{cite book|last=Bagnasco |first=Erminio |title=Submarines of World War Two |year=1977 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=978-0-87021-962-7}}
• {{cite book|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946|editor1-last=Chesneau|editor1-first=Roger|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|location=Greenwich, UK|year=1980|isbn=978-0-85177-146-5}}
• {{cite book|last=McCartney|first=Innes|location=Oxford, UK|title=British Submarines 1939–1945|series=New Vanguard|volume=129|year=2006|publisher=Osprey|isbn=978-1-84603-007-9}}

• {{Commons category-inline}}

{{British S class submarine|others}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spiteful}}

Category:1943 ships

Category:British S-class submarines (1931)

Category:Saphir-class submarines (1951)

Category:ships built on the River Clyde

Category:World War II submarines of the United Kingdom