HMS Sterlet was a second-batch S-classsubmarine built during the 1930s for the Royal Navy. Completed in 1938, the boat fought in the Second World War. The submarine is one of the 12 boats named in the song Twelve Little S-Boats. Thus far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to be named Sterlet.
The second batch of S-class submarines were designed as slightly improved and enlarged versions of the earlier boats of the class and were intended to operate in the North and Baltic Seas.[1] The submarines had a length of 208 feet 8 inches (63.6 m) overall, a beam of 24 feet (7.3 m) and a mean draught of 11 feet 10 inches (3.6 m). They displaced 768 long tons (780 t) on the surface and 960 long tons (980 t) submerged.[2] The S-class submarines had a crew of 40 officers and ratings. They had a diving depth of 300 feet (91.4 m).[3]
For surface running, the boats were powered by two 775-brake-horsepower (578 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 13.75 knots (25.47 km/h; 15.82 mph) on the surface and 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) underwater.[4] On the surface, the second-batch boats had a range of 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) and 64 nmi (119 km; 74 mi) at 2 knots (3.7 km/h; 2.3 mph) submerged.[3]
Ordered on 2 March 1936, Sterlet was laid down on 14 July 1936 in HM Dockyard, Chatham and was launched on 22 September 1936. The boat was completed on 6 April 1938.[5]
At the onset of the Second World War, Sterlet was a member of the 2nd Submarine Flotilla. From 23–26 August 1939 the 2nd Submarine Flotilla transferred to its war bases at Dundee and Blyth.[6]
On 8 April 1940 Sterlet left for a patrol in the Skagerrak, off Norway under the command of Lt. Gerard Henry Stacpoole Haward. Four days later she unsuccessfully attacked a convoy of three merchant ships and a destroyer. The following day she was assigned a new patrol area and on 14 April torpedoed the German gunnery training ship Brummer, leading to her sinking the following day.[7]
She was possibly sunk by the German anti-submarine trawlers UJ-125, UJ-126 and UJ-128 on 18 April. Alternatively, she may have struck a mine whilst returning to port.[8]
Akermann, Paul (2002). Encyclopaedia of British Submarines 1901–1955 (reprint of the 1989 ed.). Penzance, Cornwall: Periscope Publishing. ISBN1-904381-05-7.
Bagnasco, Erminio (1977). Submarines of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN0-87021-962-6.
Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-146-7.
Harrison, A. N. (January 1979). "The Development of HM Submarines From Holland No. 1 (1901) to Porpoise (1930) (BR3043)". RN Subs. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
McCartney, Innes (2006). British Submarines 1939–1945. New Vanguard. Vol. 129. Oxford, UK: Osprey. ISBN1-84603-007-2.
Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (Revised & Expanded ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN1-59114-119-2.
sterlet, sterlet, second, batch, class, submarine, built, during, 1930s, royal, navy, completed, 1938, boat, fought, second, world, submarine, boats, named, song, twelve, little, boats, thus, been, only, ship, royal, navy, named, sterlet, sterlethistoryunited,. HMS Sterlet was a second batch S class submarine built during the 1930s for the Royal Navy Completed in 1938 the boat fought in the Second World War The submarine is one of the 12 boats named in the song Twelve Little S Boats Thus far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to be named Sterlet SterletHistoryUnited KingdomNameSterletNamesakeSterletOrdered2 March 1936BuilderChatham DockyardLaid down14 July 1936Launched22 September 1937Commissioned6 April 1938IdentificationPennant number 2SFateSunk 18 April 1940BadgeGeneral characteristicsClass and typeS class submarineDisplacement768 long tons 780 t surfaced 960 long tons 980 t submergedLength208 ft 8 in 63 6 m Beam24 ft 7 3 m Draught11 ft 10 in 3 6 m Installed power1 550 bhp 1 160 kW diesel 1 300 hp 970 kW electric Propulsion2 diesel engines 2 electric motorsSpeed13 75 knots 25 47 km h 15 82 mph surfaced 10 knots 19 km h 12 mph submergedRange6 000 nmi 11 000 km 6 900 mi at 10 knots 19 km h 12 mph surface 64 nmi 119 km 74 mi at 2 knots 3 7 km h 2 3 mph submergedTest depth300 feet 91 4 m Complement40Armament6 bow 21 in 533 mm torpedo tubes 1 3 inch 76 mm deck gun Contents 1 Design and description 2 Construction and career 3 Citations 4 ReferencesDesign and description EditThe second batch of S class submarines were designed as slightly improved and enlarged versions of the earlier boats of the class and were intended to operate in the North and Baltic Seas 1 The submarines had a length of 208 feet 8 inches 63 6 m overall a beam of 24 feet 7 3 m and a mean draught of 11 feet 10 inches 3 6 m They displaced 768 long tons 780 t on the surface and 960 long tons 980 t submerged 2 The S class submarines had a crew of 40 officers and ratings They had a diving depth of 300 feet 91 4 m 3 For surface running the boats were powered by two 775 brake horsepower 578 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 13 75 knots 25 47 km h 15 82 mph on the surface and 10 knots 19 km h 12 mph underwater 4 On the surface the second batch boats had a range of 6 000 nautical miles 11 000 km 6 900 mi at 10 knots 19 km h 12 mph and 64 nmi 119 km 74 mi at 2 knots 3 7 km h 2 3 mph submerged 3 The S class boats were armed with six 21 inch 533 mm torpedo tubes in the bow They carried six reload torpedoes for a total of a dozen torpedoes They were also armed with a 3 inch 76 mm deck gun 2 Construction and career EditOrdered on 2 March 1936 Sterlet was laid down on 14 July 1936 in HM Dockyard Chatham and was launched on 22 September 1936 The boat was completed on 6 April 1938 5 At the onset of the Second World War Sterlet was a member of the 2nd Submarine Flotilla From 23 26 August 1939 the 2nd Submarine Flotilla transferred to its war bases at Dundee and Blyth 6 On 8 April 1940 Sterlet left for a patrol in the Skagerrak off Norway under the command of Lt Gerard Henry Stacpoole Haward Four days later she unsuccessfully attacked a convoy of three merchant ships and a destroyer The following day she was assigned a new patrol area and on 14 April torpedoed the German gunnery training ship Brummer leading to her sinking the following day 7 She was possibly sunk by the German anti submarine trawlers UJ 125 UJ 126 and UJ 128 on 18 April Alternatively she may have struck a mine whilst returning to port 8 Citations Edit Harrison Chapter 16 a b Chesneau p 49 a b McCartney p 6 Bagnasco p 110 Akermann p 334 Rohwer p 1 German navy de Brummer Uboat net HMS SterletReferences EditAkermann 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 Chesneau Roger ed 1980 Conway s All the World s Fighting Ships 1922 1946 Greenwich UK Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 85177 146 7 Harrison A N January 1979 The Development of HM Submarines From Holland No 1 1901 to Porpoise 1930 BR3043 RN Subs Retrieved 27 September 2022 McCartney Innes 2006 British Submarines 1939 1945 New Vanguard Vol 129 Oxford UK Osprey ISBN 1 84603 007 2 Rohwer Jurgen 2005 Chronology of the War at Sea 1939 1945 The Naval History of World War Two Revised amp Expanded ed Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 1 59114 119 2 Coordinates 58 40 N 9 56 E 58 667 N 9 933 E 58 667 9 933 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HMS Sterlet 2S amp oldid 1124849083, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
