HMS Tempest (N86)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 HMS Tempest |
|
| Career (UK) |  |
|---|---|
| Builder: | Cammell Laird & Co Limited, Birkenhead |
| Laid down: | 6 June 1940 |
| Launched: | 10 June 1941 |
| Commissioned: | 6 December 1941 |
| Fate: | sunk 13 February 1942 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | British T class submarine |
| Displacement: | 1,090 tons surfaced 1,575 tons submerged |
| Length: | 275 ft (84 m) |
| Beam: | 26 ft 6 in (8.1 m) |
| Draught: | 16.3 ft (5.0 m) |
| Propulsion: |
Two shafts |
| Speed: |
15.25 knots (28.7 km/h) surfaced |
| Range: | 4,500 nautical miles at 11 knots (8,330 km at 20 km/h) surfaced |
| Test depth: | 300 ft (91 m) max |
| Complement: | 61 |
| Armament: |
6 internal forward facing torpedo tubes |
HMS Tempest (N86) was a T-class submarine of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by Cammell Laird & Co Limited, Birkenhead and launched in June 1941.
[edit] Career
Tempest had a shortlived career, serving in the Mediterranean.
She sailed from Malta on the night of 10 February to patrol the Gulf of Taranto. On the evening of the 11th Tempest was signalled that the Italians were aware of a submarine in her vicinity and that it should be assumed that her patrol had been compromised. On the 13th, Tempest was sighted on the surface by the Italian destroyer Circe. Tempest attempted to dive, but Circe began depth charging the area, eventually resulting in oil being seen on the surface. Tempest had been crippled, and forced to surface, where she was hit by gunfire from the Circe. The crew abandoned the submarine, and were picked up by the destroyer. The Italians attempted to board the abandoned vessel but were unable to, due to rough seas. Unable to board Tempest due to the bad weather, the Italian destroyer opened fire scoring more than a dozen direct hits, but failing to sink the Tempest. Finally the Italians attempted to take the submarine in tow. Two members of the destroyer’s crew boarded the submarine and prepared the tow. As Circe manoeuvred to take up the tow, Tempest suddenly started to sink forcing those onboard to jump into the sea. HMS Tempest slipped beneath the waves stern first with the bows disappearing vertically.[1][2]
[edit] References
- ^ Submarine losses 1904 to present day, RN Submarine Museum, Gosport
- ^ HMS Tempest, Uboot.net
- Submarines, War Beneath The Waves, From 1776 To The Present Day, by Robert Hutchinson
- Colledge, J. J. and Warlow, Ben (2006). Ships of the Royal Navy: the complete record of all fighting ships of the Royal Navy, Rev. ed., London: Chatham. ISBN 9781861762818. OCLC 67375475.
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