During the modernisation of the submarine force in the early 1930s, the Royal Navy became aware of the need for smaller boats, suitable for employment in the North Sea and restricted waters such as the Mediterranean. In response to this requirement, orders were placed for medium-sized patrol submarines, from which the Swordfish and Shark Classes were evolved.
Based on the saddle-tank construction of the L Class submarines, which they were designed to replace, the 12 vessels of these two classes proved so useful that an improved version was put into mass production during the Second World War. 217 feet long and displacing 872 tons (surfaced), the improved S boats gave outstanding war service under the most difficult conditions, and there is some justification for describing them as the most important of all the Royal Navy's submarines in the pre-missile era.
Usurper (P 56) |
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| Class: | 1936 - 1958: U Class |
| Built By: | |
| Build Group: | U2 |
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Fate: On 24th September 1943 HMS Usurper left Algiers for a patrol off La Spezia, Italy. On 3rd October. Lieutenant Mott was ordered to move north to an area in the Gulf of Genoa in an area later identified as containing Italian Minefield QB192. HMS Usurper was patrolling in the Gulf of Genoa when the German anti-submarine vessel UJ-2208 reported that she had been unsuccessfully attacked. In the counterattack which followed UJ-2208 reported sinking a Submarine. It is possible that HMS Usurper was sunk in this attack but, she might also have been lost in a minefield. HMS Usurper did not respond to any signals and failed to arrive back at Algiers on 12th October 1942 and was reported lost with all hands |
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World War Two thriller starring John Mills. While out on routine patrol, the Royal Navy submarine Trojan accidentally strikes an electronically-operated drifting mine, and plunges immediately to the sea bed. As time and air start to run out, the Captain, Lt Cmdr Armstrong (Mills) gathers the handful of survivors together and tries to figure out the best means of escape.
Richard Attenborough and Nigel Patrick co-star.
17 pages added or updated in the last Array month
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Usurper (P 56) |
|
| Class: | 1936 - 1958: U Class |
| Built By: | |
| Build Group: | U2 |
|
Fate: On 24th September 1943 HMS Usurper left Algiers for a patrol off La Spezia, Italy. On 3rd October. Lieutenant Mott was ordered to move north to an area in the Gulf of Genoa in an area later identified as containing Italian Minefield QB192. HMS Usurper was patrolling in the Gulf of Genoa when the German anti-submarine vessel UJ-2208 reported that she had been unsuccessfully attacked. In the counterattack which followed UJ-2208 reported sinking a Submarine. It is possible that HMS Usurper was sunk in this attack but, she might also have been lost in a minefield. HMS Usurper did not respond to any signals and failed to arrive back at Algiers on 12th October 1942 and was reported lost with all hands |
|
World War Two thriller starring John Mills. While out on routine patrol, the Royal Navy submarine Trojan accidentally strikes an electronically-operated drifting mine, and plunges immediately to the sea bed. As time and air start to run out, the Captain, Lt Cmdr Armstrong (Mills) gathers the handful of survivors together and tries to figure out the best means of escape.
Richard Attenborough and Nigel Patrick co-star.
17 pages added or updated in the last Array 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.