HMS Artful (P456), was an Amphion-class submarine of the Royal Navy, built by Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company of Greenock and launched 22 May 1944.[1]

A RCN Avenger AS.3 over HMS Artful in the mid-1950s
History
United Kingdom
Ordered7 April 1943
BuilderScotts of Greenock
Laid down8 June 1944
Launched22 May 1947
Commissioned23 February 1948
DecommissionedSeptember 1969
IdentificationPennant number P456
Fate
  • Sold to be broken up for scrap, 16 June 1972.
  • Broken up at Cairnryan, June 1972
General characteristics
Class and typeAmphion-class submarine
Displacement
  • 1,360 long tons (1,382 t) surfaced
  • 1,590 long tons (1,616 t) submerged
Length293 ft 6 in (89.46 m)
Beam22 ft 4 in (6.81 m)
Draught18 ft 1 in (5.51 m)
Propulsion
  • 2 × 2,150 hp (1,603 kW) Admiralty ML 8-cylinder diesel engines
  • 2 × 625 hp (466 kW) electric motors
  • 2 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; 12,100 mi) at 11 kn (20 km/h; 13 mph) surfaced
  • 16 nmi (30 km; 18 mi) at 8 kn (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) or 90 nmi (170 km; 100 mi) at 3 kn (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) submerged
Test depth350 ft (110 m)
Complement60
Armament

In 1953 she took part in the Fleet Review to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.[2] In 1955 she was the first of her class to be rebuilt and streamlined. In 1966 she completed a refit and recommissioned for service with the Home Fleet. In 1967 she undertook a Home Fleet Squadron tour to the West Indies and later that year attended Portsmouth Navy Days.[3]

Design

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Like all Amphion-class submarines, Artful 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 of 22 feet 4 inches (6.81 m), and a draught 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.[4] 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).[4]

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).[5] 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).[4] Artful 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.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Artful". Uboat.net. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
  2. ^ Souvenir Programme, Coronation Review of the Fleet, Spithead, 15 June 1953, HMSO, Gale and Polden
  3. ^ Programme, Navy Days Portsmouth, 26–28 August 1967, HMSO, p. 21.
  4. ^ a b c d Paul Akermann (1 November 2002). Encyclopedia of British Submarines 1901-1955. Periscope Publishing Ltd. p. 422. ISBN 978-1-904381-05-1.
  5. ^ "Acheron class". World Naval Ships, Cranston Fine Arts. Retrieved 20 August 2015.

Publications

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