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Sidon (P259)

Built By: Cammell Laird (Mersey)
Build Group: S3
Fate: Used as a target after an explosion on 16th June 1955 whilst alongside in Portland harbour.

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Roll of Honour

14
Died: 31-08-1951
Keysell, Anthony 
Artificer Engineer Died: 31-08-1951
Died: 16-06-1955
Clayton, C D 
Telegraphist Died: 16-06-1955
Davies, D G 
Leading Seaman Died: 16-06-1955
Dorey, PRA 
Leading Seaman Died: 16-06-1955
Ford, J R 
Able Seaman Died: 16-06-1955
Mcleod, Laverne D  (RCN) 10232
Petty Officer Died: 16-06-1955
Needham, Jerrold K 
Lieutenant Commander Died: 16-06-1955
Peake, R H  (Civilian)
Mechanical Engineer Died: 16-06-1955
Rhodes, C E  (RNVR)
Surgeon Lieutenant Died: 16-06-1955
Rice, PJW 
Acting Leading Cook Died: 16-06-1955
Rycroft, J 
Lieutenant Died: 16-06-1955
Smith, C 
Leading Cook Died: 16-06-1955
Sunderland, J R 
Steward Died: 16-06-1955
Waite, D P 
Able Seaman Died: 16-06-1955

Events

07-07-1943 Laid Down
04-09-1944 Launched
23-11-1944 Sidon was completed and commenced trials followed by the start of working up training at the Holy Loch
23-11-1944 Completed
20-01-1945 Damaged in a submerged collision with HMS Turpin. Her stem cutter was turned to starboard by a length of 4 feet.
24-03-1945 Departed Lerwick and proceeded on passage to Holy Loch
26-03-1945 Sidon secured alongside SS AL RAWDAH in Holy Loch
07-07-1945 Having left the Holy Loch in April 1945 for passage to the Far East to join the 8th Submarine Flotilla. She diverted to Fremantle to repair battery defects en-route. Sidon departed Fremantle to commence her 2nd patrol. Soon after departing, one of her engines developed a defect and she called in at Onslow to rectify this. The patrol was mainly for air-sea rescue duties.
12-07-1945 Sidon departed Onslow having rectified an engine fault. She later passed through the Lombok Straits.
24-07-1945 Sidon was diverted to search for the crew of an American Liberator which had come down off Siagon, in conjunction with USS Submarine Hammerhead and US aircraft. After 4 days of searching she recovered 2nd Lt Stanley Reed USAAF. He had been adrift for 5 days with little food & water. He had drifted 287 miles from the ditching position. In the words of the patrol report, "The joy on his face when he saw Sidon amply repaid all the fruitless searching and false hopes we had experienced."
03-08-1945 Sidon arrived at Subic Bay in the Philippines after completing her patrol. Sidon completed her time in the Far East by being present in Hong Kong harbour when it was reoccupied by the British after the Japanese surrender.
06-12-1945 Sidon arrived at Portsmouth after the completion of her war service in the Far East.
27-12-1945 Paid off into Reserve Group "S" at Portsmouth attached to the 5th Submarine Flotilla
28-01-1946 Taken in hand at Portsmouth for repair to armaments. Completed 9th March 1946.
09-03-1946 Repairs to armaments completed after being taken in hand at Portsmouth on 28th January 1946
26-02-1948 Transferred to Reserve Group "G" at Portsmouth for refit.
27-02-1948 Taken in hand for refit at Portsmouth.
18-06-1948 Completed refit at Portsmouth.
01-08-1948 Placed in Reserve Group "M" at Portsmouth.
19-11-1948 19th November 1948 Taken in hand at Portsmouth for fitting ballast.
24-01-1950 Taken in hand for refit at Sheerness.
19-05-1950 Completed refit at Sheerness.
21-06-1950 Post refit diving trials were successfully completed.
20-07-1950 Sidon towed the midget submarine "XE8" from Plymouth to Portsmouth.
31-08-1950 Towed the midget submarine "XE8" from Portsmouth to Plymouth. She also joined the 2nd Submarine Flotilla on this date.
19-04-1951 Sidon took part in the search for HMS Affray which was missing in the English Channel.
06-06-1951 Departed for Exercise SWX 6 during which Sidon touched bottom during phase 3. The exercise had started after leaving Portland and had ended just before arrival at Loch Tarbart on June 20th. Damage was confined to the net cutter immediately below No 5 and 6 torpedo tubes.
11-11-1951 Paid off into Reserve Group "F" attached to 5th Submarine Flotilla Devonport pending refit.
21-11-1951 Taken in hand for refit and modernisation at Devonport. This included the removal of the 4-inch gun and gun tower and the installation of a snort mast and Type 267MW radar.
27-06-1952 Refit completed HMS Sidon re-commissioned into the 2nd Submarine Squadron, based at Portland for submarine and anti-submarine training

In "A Submariner's story" commissioning engineer officer Joel C E Blamey tells how the first trial dive out of the yard ended up with Sidon plunging down with a severe bow down angle striking the shingle bottom at 158 feet. A dockyard modification had caused a complete loss of the telemotor pressure resulting in the loss of control of the main vents and hydroplanes and other equipment. While quite frightening no serious damage was done.
30-11-1952 Taken in hand at Devonport for intermediate docking and for fitting an escape trunk. Completed 9th January 1953.
01-06-1953 Attended the Coronation Naval Review at Spithead.
01-02-1954 Transferred to 5th Submarine Squadron pending refit.
09-02-1954 Taken in hand for refit at Cammell Laird, Birkenhead. Completed November 1954.
16-06-1955 12 men died and 7 injured in explosion aboard HMS Sidon.
Comments

Comment by: William Bell on July 24, 2016

My old pal, Bobby Potts was the steward on Sidon. He told me he'd just stepped off the gangway to go inboard on an errand when the explosion occurred. Sadly Bobby died in 1976 from a heart attack.

Best friend ever.
UP SPIRITS

Comment by: Victor on July 10, 2016

There was a Petty Officer from the Royal Canadian Navy on board, Laverne D McLeod.

Comment by: Victor on July 10, 2016

12 crew members died, but the 13th was a doctor, Surgeon Lieutenant Charles Rhodes, went on board after the explosion to assist the injured.

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