| Built By: | Vickers (Barrow) |
| Build Group: | E3 |
| Fate: | Sold 6th September 1922. |
| 1915: | Lieutenant Commander | R Turner |
1915 - 8th Flotilla. HMS Maidstone, Harwich
| 01-12-1914 | Laid Down |
| 28-09-1915 | Launched |
| 06-12-1915 | Completed |
| 19-08-1916 | Attacked the battleship Seydlitz with torpedoes fired from bow and stern, both torpedoes missed the target. These shots were fired at the recommended distances at the time. She later fired a further two torpedoes at the battleship Westphalen at what Turner thought was the ideal distance and scored a hit. |
| Length overall | 181 ft |
| Beam | 15 ft |
| Displacement | 667 tons (surface) |
| 807 tons (submerged) | |
| Diving Depth | 200 ft |
| Speed | Surface 15.25 knots (design) |
| Surface: 1500 miles on full power or 3000 miles at 10 knots (service) | |
| Submerged: 99 miles at 3 knots (design) | |
| Submerged: 10 miles at 9 knots or 65 miles at 5 knots (service) | |
| No. of shafts | 2 |
| Propeller | 3 blades, 5 ft 7 inch diameter |
| Armament | 2 x 18 inch bow tubes |
| 2 x 18 inch beam tubes | |
| 1 x 18 inch stern tube | |
| (10 torpedoes carried) | |
| 1 x 2-pounder gun | |
| Endurance | Surface: 3000 miles at 10 knots (design) |
| Surface: 1500 miles on full power or 3000 miles at 10 knots (service) | |
| Submerged: 99 miles at 3 knots (design) | |
| Submerged: 10 miles at 9 knots or 65 miles at 5 knots (service) | |
| Complement | 3 Officers, 28 Ratings. |
| Class: | 1935 - 1970: Improved S Class |
| Built By: | Cammell Laird (Mersey) |
| Build Group: | S3 |
| Fate: | |
| HMS Stratagem sailed from Trincomalee on 10th November 1944 with orders to patrol in the vicinity of Malacca where it was believed the Japanese were loading ships with bauxite ore. On the afternoon of the 18th Stratagem attacked and sank the tanker Nichinan Maru. On 22nd November a Japanese aircraft spotted the submarine and directed a destroyer to where it had dived. Just after midday the destroyer attacked, the first depth charge causing the submarine's bow to strike the bottom. The submarine was plunged into darkness and the forward part began to flood. Attempts to shut the watertight door to the forward compartment failed and the crew were forced to make their escape. Ten crew managed to escape, of which eight were taken Prisoner of War. Only three of these (who were taken to Japan) survived captivity. The other five were executed in Singapore by the Japanese. | |
July 1945. Eighteen young British, Australian and New Zealand special forces from a top-secret underwater warfare unit prepare to undertake three audacious missions against the Japanese.
Using XE-craft midget submarines, the raiders will creep deep behind Japanese lines to sink two huge warships off Singapore and sever two vitally important undersea communications cables. Success will hasten ultimate victory over Japan; but if any of the men are captured they can expect a gruesome execution.
Can the Sea Devils overcome Japanese defences, mechanical failures, oxygen poisoning and submarine disasters to fulfil their missions? Mark Felton tells the true story of a band of young men living on raw courage, nerves and adrenalin as they attempt to pull off what could be the last great raid of World War Two.
20 pages added or updated in the last 1 month
Please help to maintain this site by reporting any Errors, Broken Links, Information or Site Issues on this page using this button
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Please Note: Donations made using this option go directly to the site owner and not to the Submariners Association.
Thankyou for your support.
| Length overall | 181 ft |
| Beam | 15 ft |
| Displacement | 667 tons (surface) |
| 807 tons (submerged) | |
| Diving Depth | 200 ft |
| Speed | Surface 15.25 knots (design) |
| Surface: 1500 miles on full power or 3000 miles at 10 knots (service) | |
| Submerged: 99 miles at 3 knots (design) | |
| Submerged: 10 miles at 9 knots or 65 miles at 5 knots (service) | |
| No. of shafts | 2 |
| Propeller | 3 blades, 5 ft 7 inch diameter |
| Armament | 2 x 18 inch bow tubes |
| 2 x 18 inch beam tubes | |
| 1 x 18 inch stern tube | |
| (10 torpedoes carried) | |
| 1 x 2-pounder gun | |
| Endurance | Surface: 3000 miles at 10 knots (design) |
| Surface: 1500 miles on full power or 3000 miles at 10 knots (service) | |
| Submerged: 99 miles at 3 knots (design) | |
| Submerged: 10 miles at 9 knots or 65 miles at 5 knots (service) | |
| Complement | 3 Officers, 28 Ratings. |
| Class: | 1935 - 1970: Improved S Class |
| Built By: | Cammell Laird (Mersey) |
| Build Group: | S3 |
| Fate: | |
| HMS Stratagem sailed from Trincomalee on 10th November 1944 with orders to patrol in the vicinity of Malacca where it was believed the Japanese were loading ships with bauxite ore. On the afternoon of the 18th Stratagem attacked and sank the tanker Nichinan Maru. On 22nd November a Japanese aircraft spotted the submarine and directed a destroyer to where it had dived. Just after midday the destroyer attacked, the first depth charge causing the submarine's bow to strike the bottom. The submarine was plunged into darkness and the forward part began to flood. Attempts to shut the watertight door to the forward compartment failed and the crew were forced to make their escape. Ten crew managed to escape, of which eight were taken Prisoner of War. Only three of these (who were taken to Japan) survived captivity. The other five were executed in Singapore by the Japanese. | |
July 1945. Eighteen young British, Australian and New Zealand special forces from a top-secret underwater warfare unit prepare to undertake three audacious missions against the Japanese.
Using XE-craft midget submarines, the raiders will creep deep behind Japanese lines to sink two huge warships off Singapore and sever two vitally important undersea communications cables. Success will hasten ultimate victory over Japan; but if any of the men are captured they can expect a gruesome execution.
Can the Sea Devils overcome Japanese defences, mechanical failures, oxygen poisoning and submarine disasters to fulfil their missions? Mark Felton tells the true story of a band of young men living on raw courage, nerves and adrenalin as they attempt to pull off what could be the last great raid of World War Two.
20 pages added or updated in the last 1 month
Please help to maintain this site by reporting any Errors, Broken Links, Information or Site Issues on this page using this button
If you find this site useful, please consider supporting my work with a small Donation.
Please Note: Donations made using this option go directly to the site owner and not to the Submariners Association.
Thankyou for your support.

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