HMS Tireless (P327)

Summary

HMS Tireless, a Taciturn- or T-class submarine, was the first ship of the Royal Navy to bear that name. She was authorized under the 1941 War Emergency Programme and her keel was laid down on 30 October 1941 at Portsmouth Dockyard. She was launched on 19 March 1943 and was completed on 18 April 1945.

Tireless at sea in May 1945
History
United Kingdom
NameTireless
Ordered1941
BuilderPortsmouth Dockyard
Laid down30 October 1941
Launched19 March 1943
Commissioned18 April 1945
DecommissionedAugust 1963
IdentificationPennant number P327
FateScrapped, 1968
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeT-class submarine
Displacement
  • 1,290 tons surfaced
  • 1,560 tons submerged
Length276 ft 6 in (84.28 m)
Beam25 ft 6 in (7.77 m)
Draught
  • 12 ft 9 in (3.89 m) forward
  • 14 ft 7 in (4.45 m) aft
Propulsion
  • Two shafts
  • Twin diesel engines 2,500 hp (1.9 MW) each
  • Twin electric motors 1,450 hp (1.08 MW) each
Speed
  • 15.5 knots (28.7 km/h) surfaced
  • 9 knots (17 km/h) submerged
Range4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km) at 11 knots (20 km/h) surfaced
Test depth300 ft (91 m) max
Complement61
Armament
  • 6 internal forward-facing 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes
  • 2 external forward-facing torpedo tubes
  • 2 external amidships rear-facing torpedo tubes
  • 1 external rear-facing torpedo tubes
  • 6 reload torpedoes
  • QF 4 inch (100 mm) deck gun
  • 3 anti-aircraft machine guns

Operational Service edit

Commissioned on 18 April 1945, towards the end of the Second World War, Tireless operated in the Far East between late 1945 and 1946 and then in home waters commanded by M L C Crawford.[1] In 1951 she was the first of her class to be streamlined at HM Naval Dockyard, Devonport. In 1953 she took part in the Fleet Review to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.[2]

By the late 1950s she was again modernised at Chatham Dockyard. In 1959 Tireless was part of the Home Fleet and took part in 'Navy Days' in Portsmouth during that year.[3] Beginning in 1960, the submarine was the first command of future Adm. Sandy Woodward, who led Royal Navy forces in the South Atlantic during the 1982 Falklands War.

She remained in service until August 1963 when she was put on the sale list. She was broken up in 1968.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "HMS Tireless (P 327)". uboat.net. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  2. ^ Souvenir Programme, Coronation Review of the Fleet, Spithead, 15th June 1953, HMSO, Gale and Polden
  3. ^ Programme, Navy Days Portsmouth 28-30th March 1959, HMSO

Publications edit