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{{short description|Submarine}}
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{{good article}}
{{other ships|HMS Splendid}}
{{other ships|HMS Splendid}}

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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
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{{good article}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}

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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{EngvarB|date=April 2019}}

{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
{{Infobox ship image
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|Hide header=
|Hide header=
|Ship country=United Kingdom
|Ship country=United Kingdom
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|UK|naval}}
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}}
|Ship name=''Splendid''
|Ship name=''Splendid''
|Ship ordered=
|Ship ordered=
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|Ship builder=[[Chatham Dockyard]]
|Ship builder=[[Chatham Dockyard]]
|Ship laid down=7 March 1941
|Ship laid down=7 March 1941
|Ship launched=13 January 1942
|Ship launched=19 January 1942
|Ship christened=
|Ship christened=
|Ship commissioned=8 August 1942
|Ship commissioned=8 August 1942
|Ship fate=[[Scuttled]], 21 April 1943
|Ship fate=[[Scuttled]], 21 April 1943
|Ship status=
|Ship motto=''Splendidly Audacious''
|Ship motto=''Splendidly Audacious''
|Ship badge=[[File:SPLENDID badge-1-.jpg|80px]]
|Ship badge=[[File:SPLENDID badge-1-.jpg|80px]]
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|Ship complement=48
|Ship complement=48
|Ship sensors=* Type 129AR or 138 [[ASDIC]]
|Ship sensors=* Type 129AR or 138 [[ASDIC]]
* [[List of World War II British naval radar#Type 291|Type 291]] [[early-warning radar]]
* [[Type 291 radar|Type 291]] [[early-warning radar]]
|Ship armament=* 7 × [[British 21-inch torpedo|{{cvt|21|in|mm|0}}]] [[torpedo tube]]s (6 × bow, 1 × stern)
|Ship armament=* 7 × [[British 21-inch torpedo|{{cvt|21|in|mm|0}}]] [[torpedo tube]]s (6 × bow, 1 × stern)
* 1 × [[QF 3-inch 20 cwt|3 in (76 mm)]] [[deck gun]]
* 1 × [[QF 3-inch 20 cwt|3 in (76 mm)]] [[deck gun]]
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|}
|}


'''HMS ''Splendid''''' was a third-batch [[British S-class submarine (1931)|S-class submarine]] built for the [[Royal Navy]] during the [[World War II]]. She was [[laid down]] on 7 March 1941 and [[Ship launching|launched]] on 13 January 1942. After an initial patrol through the [[Bay of Biscay]] to [[Gibraltar]], ''Splendid'' conducted two patrols in the Mediterranean Sea; one was abandoned after technical problems and on the other she sank two Italian ships. On her next patrol, the submarine attacked two Italian [[convoy]]s, sinking an Italian [[destroyer]] in the second attack. Based in [[Algiers]], the boat operated north of [[Sicily]], sinking six Italian ships, including two [[Tanker (ship)|tankers]] and two heavy merchant ships. ''Splendid'' was detected by a German destroyer on 21 April 1943 while patrolling off [[Naples]], Italy; the submarine was attacked with [[depth charge]]s by the destroyer and forced to surface, after which she was [[Scuttling|scuttled]] and her surviving crew members taken prisoner. She was the most successful British submarine by tonnage sunk between November 1942 and May 1943.<ref name=times/>
'''HMS ''Splendid''''' was a third-batch [[British S-class submarine (1931)|S-class submarine]] built for the [[Royal Navy]] during [[World War II]]. She was [[laid down]] on 7 March 1941 and [[Ship launching|launched]] on 19 January 1942. After an initial patrol through the [[Bay of Biscay]] to [[Gibraltar]], ''Splendid'' conducted two patrols in the Mediterranean Sea; one was abandoned after technical problems and on the other she sank two Italian ships. On her next patrol, the submarine attacked two Italian [[convoy]]s, sinking an Italian [[destroyer]] in the second attack. Based in [[Algiers]], the boat operated north of [[Sicily]], sinking six Italian ships, including two [[Tanker (ship)|tankers]] and two heavy merchant ships. ''Splendid'' was detected by a German destroyer on 21 April 1943 while patrolling off [[Naples]], Italy; the submarine was attacked with [[depth charge]]s by the destroyer and forced to surface, after which she was [[Scuttling|scuttled]] and her surviving crew members taken prisoner. She was the most successful British submarine by tonnage sunk between November 1942 and May 1943.


==Design and description==
==Design and description==
[[File:British S-class submarine schematic drawing.jpg|thumb|350px|left|Schematic drawing of a S-class submarine]]
[[File:British S-class submarine schematic drawing.jpg|thumb|350px|left|Schematic drawing of a S-class submarine]]
The S-class submarines were designed to patrol the restricted waters of the [[North Sea]] and the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. The third batch was slightly enlarged and improved over the preceding second batch of the S class. The submarines had a length of {{convert|217|ft|m|1}} [[length overall|overall]], a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|23|ft|9|in|m|1}} and a [[draft (ship)|draught]] of {{convert|14|ft|8|in|m|1}}. They [[displacement (ship)|displaced]] {{convert|865|LT|t}} on the surface and {{convert|990|LT|t}} submerged.<ref>Akermann, p. 341</ref> The S-class submarines had a crew of 48 officers and [[naval rating|ratings]]. They had a diving depth of {{convert|300|ft|0}}.<ref name=i7>McCartney, p. 7</ref>
The [[British S-class submarine (1931)|S-class submarines]] were designed to patrol the restricted waters of the [[North Sea]] and the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. The third batch was slightly enlarged and improved over the preceding second batch of the S class. The submarines had a length of {{convert|217|ft|m|1}} [[length overall|overall]], a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|23|ft|9|in|m|1}} and a [[draft (ship)|draught]] of {{convert|14|ft|8|in|m|1}}. They [[displacement (ship)|displaced]] {{convert|865|LT|t}} on the surface and {{convert|990|LT|t}} submerged.<ref>Akermann, p. 341</ref> The S-class submarines had a crew of 48 officers and [[naval rating|ratings]]. They had a diving depth of {{convert|300|ft|0}}.<ref name=i7>McCartney, p. 7</ref>


For surface running, the boats were powered by two {{convert|950|bhp|lk=in|0|adj=on}} [[diesel engine]]s, each driving one [[propeller shaft]]. When submerged each propeller was driven by a {{convert|650|hp|0|adj=on}} [[electric motor]]. They could reach {{convert|15|kn|lk=in}} on the surface and {{convert|10|kn}} underwater.<ref>Bagnasco, p. 110</ref> On the surface, the third-batch boats had a range of {{convert|6000|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|10|kn}} and {{convert|120|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|3|kn}} submerged.<ref name=i7/>
For surface running, the boats were powered by two {{convert|950|bhp|lk=in|0|adj=on}} [[diesel engine]]s, each driving one [[propeller shaft]]. When submerged each propeller was driven by a {{convert|650|hp|0|adj=on}} [[electric motor]]. They could reach {{convert|15|kn|lk=in}} on the surface and {{convert|10|kn}} underwater.<ref>Bagnasco, p. 110</ref> On the surface, the third-batch boats had a range of {{convert|6000|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|10|kn}} and {{convert|120|nmi|abbr=on}} at {{convert|3|kn}} submerged.<ref name=i7/>


The boats were armed with seven [[British 21 inch torpedo|21-inch (533&nbsp;mm)]] [[torpedo tube]]s. A half-dozen of these were in the [[Bow (ship)|bow]], and one external tube was mounted in the stern. They carried six reload torpedoes for the bow tubes for a total of thirteen torpedoes. Twelve [[naval mine|mines]] could be carried in lieu of the internally stowed torpedoes. They were also armed with a [[QF 3-inch 20 cwt|3-inch (76&nbsp;mm)]] [[deck gun]].<ref>Chesneau, pp. 51–52</ref> It is uncertain if ''Splendid'' was completed with a [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|{{convert|20|mm|1|adj=on}} Oerlikon]] light [[AA gun]] or had one added later. The third-batch S-class boats were fitted with either a Type 129AR or 138 [[ASDIC]] system and a [[List of World War II British naval radar#Type 291|Type 291]] or 291W [[early-warning radar]].<ref>Akermann, pp. 341, 345</ref>
The boats were armed with six [[British 21 inch torpedo|21-inch (533&nbsp;mm)]] [[torpedo tube]]s in the [[Bow (ship)|bow]], and one external tube mounted in the stern. They carried six reload torpedoes for the bow tubes for a total of thirteen torpedoes. Twelve [[naval mine|mines]] could be carried in lieu of the internally stowed torpedoes. They also had a [[QF 3-inch 20 cwt|3-inch (76&nbsp;mm)]] [[deck gun]].<ref>Chesneau, pp. 51–52</ref> It is uncertain if ''Splendid'' was completed with a [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|{{convert|20|mm|1|adj=on}} Oerlikon]] light [[AA gun]] or had one added later. The third-batch S-class boats were fitted with either a Type 129AR or 138 [[ASDIC]] system and a [[Type 291 radar|Type 291]] or 291W [[early-warning radar]].<ref>Akermann, pp. 341, 345</ref>


==Construction and career==
==Construction and career==
HMS ''Splendid'' was a third-group [[British S-class submarine (1931)|S-class submarine]] and was ordered as part of the 1941 Naval Programme on 14 October 1940. She was [[laid down]] in the [[Chatham Dockyard]] on 7 March 1941 and [[ship launching|launched]] on 19 January 1942.<ref name=Akermann340>Akermann, p. 340</ref> On 8 August 1942, ''Splendid'', under the command of [[Lieutenant (Royal Navy)|Lieutenant]] [[Ian McGeoch]], was [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] into the Royal Navy.<ref name=Akermann340/><ref name=uboat>[https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3446.html HMS ''Splendid'' (P 228)], Uboat.net</ref> ''Splendid'' was the third Royal Navy ship with this name.<ref>Akermann, p. 348</ref>
HMS ''Splendid'' was a third-group S-class submarine and was ordered as part of the 1941 Naval Programme on 14 October 1940. She was [[Keel laying|laid down]] in the [[Chatham Dockyard]] on 7 March 1941 and [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 19 January 1942.<ref name=Akermann340>Akermann, p. 340</ref> On 8 August 1942, ''Splendid'', under the command of [[Lieutenant (Royal Navy)|Lieutenant]] [[Ian McGeoch]], was [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] into the Royal Navy.<ref name=Akermann340/><ref name=uboat>{{cite web |url=https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3446.html |title=HMS ''Splendid'' (P 228) |work=Uboat.net |access-date=25 February 2019}}</ref> ''Splendid'' was the third Royal Navy ship with this name.<ref>Akermann, p. 348</ref>


After a period of training, ''Splendid'' departed [[Holy Loch]] on 3 October 1942, together with her [[sister ship]], {{HMS|Sibyl|P217|6}}. After ten days at sea, ''Splendid'' spotted smoke shortly after midday and gave chase to the unidentified ship; four hours later, she stopped and boarded the vessel, which turned out to be the [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] ''Gaizka'', running behind schedule. Later in the day, the submarine spotted a [[U-boat]], but could not identify it and did not attack. ''Splendid'' safely arrived in [[Gibraltar]] on 16 October.<ref name=uboat/>
After a period of training, ''Splendid'' departed [[Holy Loch]] on 3 October 1942, together with her [[sister ship]], {{HMS|Sibyl|P217|6}}. After ten days at sea, ''Splendid'' spotted smoke shortly after midday and gave chase to the unidentified ship; four hours later, she stopped and boarded the vessel, which turned out to be the [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] ''Gaizka'', running behind schedule. Later in the day, the submarine spotted a [[U-boat]], but could not identify it and did not attack. ''Splendid'' safely arrived in [[Gibraltar]] on 16 October.<ref name=uboat/>
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''Splendid'' left Gibraltar on 31 October to patrol off [[Toulon]], France; however, the boat encountered problems with her [[aft]] [[diving plane]]s and had to return to port and abandon the patrol.<ref name=uboat/>
''Splendid'' left Gibraltar on 31 October to patrol off [[Toulon]], France; however, the boat encountered problems with her [[aft]] [[diving plane]]s and had to return to port and abandon the patrol.<ref name=uboat/>


The submarine again departed port on 7 November to patrol off Toulon; she was transferred the following week to operate off [[Naples]] instead. On 16 November, ''Splendid'' fired six torpedoes at a German U-boat, but missed. Later that day, the British submarine surfaced and sank with gunfire the Italian anti-submarine [[schooner]] ''San Paolo'' northwest of [[Gorgona (Italy)|Gorgona]], Italy. ''Splendid'' fired her six remaining bow torpedoes at the {{ship|Italian submarine|Aradam}} on 20 November, but the torpedoes missed their target. The next day, the boat attacked the Italian {{sclass-|Soldati|destroyer|1}} ''Velite'' with her single unreloadable aft torpedo; the plan was to surface once the destroyer was sunk and engage the merchant ships with the deck gun on the surface.<ref name=uboat/> The torpedo hit and damaged ''Velite'', but the unexpected presence of two additional destroyers foiled the planned surface attack. While returning from her patrol on 23 November, ''Splendid'' encountered the Italian merchant ''Favorita'' northwest of Sardinia and sank it with gunfire on the surface, having expended all of her torpedoes. The submarine finally ended her patrol on 28 November.<ref name=uboat/>
The submarine again departed port on 7 November to patrol off Toulon; she was transferred the following week to operate off [[Naples]] instead. On 16 November, ''Splendid'' fired six torpedoes at a German U-boat, but missed. Later that day, the British submarine surfaced and sank with gunfire the Italian anti-submarine [[schooner]] ''San Paolo'' northwest of [[Gorgona (Italy)|Gorgona]], Italy. ''Splendid'' fired her six remaining bow torpedoes at the {{ship|Italian submarine|Aradam}} on 20 November, but all missed. The next day, the boat attacked the Italian {{sclass2|Soldati|destroyer|1}} {{ship|Italian destroyer|Velite||2}} with her single unreloadable aft torpedo; the plan was to surface once the destroyer was sunk and engage the merchant ships with the deck gun on the surface.<ref name=uboat/> The torpedo hit and damaged ''Velite'', but the unexpected presence of two additional destroyers foiled the planned surface attack. While returning from her patrol on 23 November, ''Splendid'' encountered the Italian merchant ''Favorita'' northwest of Sardinia and sank her with gunfire on the surface, having expended all of her torpedoes. The submarine finally ended her patrol on 28 November.<ref name=uboat/>


On 8 December, ''Splendid'' started another patrol, north of [[Tunisia]]. On 14 December, the boat attacked an Italian [[convoy]] with four torpedoes and claimed a hit; this was not the case, as a few hours later both merchant ships in the convoy were sunk by {{HMS|Sahib}} and {{HMS|Unruffled}}. On 17 December, ''Splendid'' sighted another convoy and fired six torpedoes at the heavy German transport ''Ankara''; one torpedo passed {{Convert|10|m|ft}} in front of the ship's bow and another {{Convert|13|m|ft}} behind the ship's stern. The {{ship|Italian destroyer|Aviere|1937|6}} was less lucky and was hit twice, going down in ten seconds with 220 dead.<ref name=uboat/> The British submarine {{HMS|Saracen|P247|6}} observed the attack and confirmed the sinking. ''Splendid'' fired her last working torpedo at the Italian submarine {{ship|Italian submarine|Galatea||2}}, but missed. The boat then ended her patrol in [[Algiers]] on Christmas 1942.<ref name=uboat/>
On 8 December, ''Splendid'' started another patrol, north of [[Tunisia]]. On 14 December, the boat attacked an Italian [[convoy]] with four torpedoes and claimed a hit; this was not the case, as a few hours later both merchant ships in the convoy were sunk by {{HMS|Sahib}} and {{HMS|Unruffled}}. On 17 December, ''Splendid'' sighted another convoy and fired six torpedoes at the heavy German transport ''Ankara''; one torpedo passed {{Convert|10|m|ft}} in front of the ship's bow and another {{Convert|13|m|ft}} behind the ship's stern. The {{ship|Italian destroyer|Aviere|1937|6}} was less lucky and was hit twice, going down in ten seconds with 220 dead.<ref name=uboat/> The British submarine {{HMS|Saracen|P247|6}} observed the attack and confirmed the sinking. ''Splendid'' fired her last working torpedo at the Italian submarine {{ship|Italian submarine|Galatea||2}}, but missed. The boat then ended her patrol in [[Algiers]] on Christmas 1942.<ref name=uboat/>
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===Algiers===
===Algiers===
[[File:Sidelights on the British Submarine Service. 7 To 10 February 1943, Algiers, Men and Ships of the British Submarine Service. A16011.jpg|thumb|Ship's company of HMS ''Splendid'', Algiers, 7–10 February 1943]]
[[File:Sidelights on the British Submarine Service. 7 To 10 February 1943, Algiers, Men and Ships of the British Submarine Service. A16011.jpg|thumb|Ship's company of HMS ''Splendid'', Algiers, 7–10 February 1943]]
''Splendid''{{'}}s next patrol started on 5 January 1943, operating off [[Sardinia]]. After patrolling for four days, the boat landed two [[Special Operations Executive]] men on Sardinia's eastern coast. The submarine was then ordered to patrol off Naples instead, and set course for her new patrol area. On 15 January, ''Splendid'' sighted an Italian convoy and fired five torpedoes at the merchant ship ''Emma'', which was transporting 950 tons of supplies and ten tanks. One torpedo hit, and the merchant ship was stopped dead in the water. However, the ship did not sink, and the submarine stayed close by to attack the ship again in daylight. During the night, the Italian ships attempted to tow ''Emma'', but rough seas rendered these attempts unsuccessful, and the submarine attacked the next morning with one torpedo, which hit and sank the ship. A brief counter-attack with [[depth charge]]s followed, but ''Splendid'' evaded the destroyers and was not damaged. The submarine later sank the Italian [[minesweeper]] ''Cleopatra'' with gunfire east of Sardinia, then damaged the armed [[Naval trawler|trawler]] ''Violette'' with gunfire, and went on to sink the Italian merchant ''Commercio'' with torpedoes on the same day, 19 January. ''Splendid'' returned to Algiers on 22 January.<ref name=uboat/>
''Splendid''{{'}}s next patrol started on 5 January 1943, operating off [[Sardinia]]. After patrolling for four days, the boat landed two [[Special Operations Executive]] men on Sardinia's eastern coast. The submarine was then ordered to patrol off Naples instead, and set course for her new patrol area. On 15 January, ''Splendid'' sighted an Italian convoy and fired five torpedoes at the merchant ship ''Emma'', which was transporting 950 tons of supplies and ten tanks. One torpedo hit, and the merchant ship was stopped dead in the water. However, the ship did not sink, and the submarine stayed close by to attack the ship again in daylight. During the night, the Italian ships attempted to tow ''Emma'', but could not due to rough seas, and the submarine attacked the next morning with one torpedo, which sank the ship. A brief counter-attack with [[depth charge]]s followed, but ''Splendid'' evaded the destroyers and was not damaged. The submarine later sank the Italian [[minesweeper]] ''Cleopatra'' with gunfire east of Sardinia, then damaged the [[Naval trawler|armed trawler]] ''Violette'' with gunfire, and went on to sink the Italian merchant ''Commercio'' with torpedoes on the same day, 19 January. ''Splendid'' returned to Algiers on 22 January.<ref name=uboat/>


On 13 February, the boat departed Algiers again for another patrol in the same area as before, north of Sicily. ''Splendid'' sighted an Italian convoy on 17 February and sank the Italian merchant ship ''XXI Aprile'', which was laden with 300 tons of ammunition, 150 tons of supplies, and 50 motorized vehicles. One week later, the submarine attacked another Italian convoy and expended all her serviceable torpedoes in the action but did not sink any ships. ''Splendid'' ended her patrol on 28 February in Algiers.<ref name=uboat/>
On 13 February, the boat departed Algiers again for another patrol in the same area as before, north of Sicily. ''Splendid'' sighted an Italian convoy on 17 February and sank the Italian merchant ship ''XXI Aprile'', which was laden with 300 tons of ammunition, 150 tons of supplies, and 50 motorised vehicles. One week later, the submarine attacked another Italian convoy, expending all her torpedoes, but did not sink any ships. ''Splendid'' ended her patrol on 28 February in Algiers.<ref name=uboat/>


''Splendid'' commenced another patrol on 11 March, north of Sicily as in previous patrols. After patrolling for five days, the boat sank the heavily escorted Italian [[Tanker (ship)|tanker]] ''Devoli'', then followed on this success by sinking the tanker ''Giorgio'' four days later northeast of [[Cefalù]], Sicily. The submarine ended patrol in [[Malta]] on 28 March. ''Splendid''{{'}}s commanding officer, Lieutenant McGeoch, was awarded the [[Distinguished Service Order]] following this patrol.<ref name=uboat/> Between her first patrol in the Mediterranean in November 1942 and her sinking on 21 April 1943, ''Splendid'' was the most successful British submarine in total tonnage sunk between the invasion of [[French North Africa]], codenamed [[Operation Torch]], in November 1942 and the surrender of Axis forces in Tunisia in May 1943.<ref name=times/>
''Splendid'' commenced another patrol on 11 March, north of Sicily as in previous patrols. After patrolling for five days, the boat sank the heavily escorted Italian [[Tanker (ship)|tanker]] ''Devoli'', then sank the tanker ''Giorgio'' four days later northeast of [[Cefalù]], Sicily. The submarine ended patrol in [[Malta]] on 28 March. ''Splendid''{{'}}s commanding officer, Lieutenant McGeoch, was awarded the [[Distinguished Service Order]] following this patrol.<ref name=uboat/> Between her first patrol in the Mediterranean in November 1942 and her sinking on 21 April 1943, ''Splendid'' was the most successful British submarine in total tonnage sunk between the invasion of [[French North Africa]], codenamed [[Operation Torch]], in November 1942 and the surrender of [[Axis powers|Axis]] forces in Tunisia in May 1943.<ref name=times>{{cite web |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article2289888.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523225345/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article2289888.ece |archive-date=23 May 2011 |title=Obituary: Vice-Admiral Sir Ian McGeoch |work=The Times |date=20 August 2007 |access-date=25 February 2019}}</ref>


===Sinking===
===Sinking===
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|width=200
}}
}}
''Splendid'' departed Malta on 18 April 1943 for a patrol off Naples; this was to be her last. Three days later on 21 April, the submarine's [[periscope]] was spotted by the {{ship|German destroyer|Hermes}}, which also detected the submarine on [[sonar]]. Except for auxiliary minesweepers, ''Hermes'' was the largest German ship in the Mediterranean Sea.<ref name=uboat/> The destroyer made three attack runs with depth charges, dropping 41 in total; ''Splendid'' attempted to escape by diving to {{Convert|500|ft|m}}, but the last eleven depth charges started leaks inside the submarine's [[pressure hull]], and the boat was forced to surface. The submarine was fired upon by the destroyer's surface guns, which killed 18 crew members and wounded the submarine's commanding officer. ''Splendid'' was [[scuttled]] to prevent her capture by enemy forces, and her crew were imprisoned in Italian [[prisoner-of-war]] camps.<ref name=uboat/><ref>Heden, p. 240</ref> ''Splendid''{{'}}s commander, despite having lost the use of one eye during the submarine's sinking, made two escape attempts, the second of which was successful, and he arrived in Switzerland to have a metal splinter removed from his eye, then traveled through France and Spain to England.<ref name=times>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110523225345/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article2289888.ece Obituary: Vice-Admiral Sir Ian McGeoch] The Times, 20 August 2007</ref>
''Splendid'' departed Malta on 18 April 1943 for a patrol off Naples which was her last. Three days later the submarine's [[periscope]] was spotted by the {{ship|German destroyer|Hermes}}, which also detected the submarine on [[sonar]]. ''Hermes'' was the largest German ship in the Mediterranean Sea except for auxiliary minesweepers.<ref name=uboat/> The destroyer made three attack runs with depth charges, dropping 41 in total; ''Splendid'' attempted to escape by diving to {{Convert|500|ft|m}}, but the last eleven depth charges started leaks inside the submarine's [[pressure hull]], and the boat was forced to surface. She was fired upon by the destroyer's surface guns, which killed 18 crew members and wounded the commanding officer. ''Splendid'' was [[scuttled]] to prevent her capture by enemy forces, and her surviving crew were imprisoned in Italian [[prisoner-of-war]] camps.<ref name=uboat/><ref>Heden, p. 240</ref> ''Splendid''{{'}}s commander, [[Ian McGeoch]], despite having lost the use of one eye during the submarine's sinking, made two escape attempts, the second of which was successful; he arrived in Switzerland to have a metal splinter removed from his eye, then travelled through France and Spain to England.<ref name=times/>


==Summary of raiding history==
==Summary of raiding history==
During her service with the Royal Navy, ''Splendid'' sank eight [[Axis powers|Axis]] ships as well as an Italian destroyer for a total of {{GRT|25,234}}.<ref name=uboat/><!-- I know uboat.net doesn't straight out state the number of ships sunk of the total tonnage sunk, but adding up all the different sinkings is a simple calculation and is exempt from [[WP:OR]] - see [[WP:CALC]] -->
During her service with the Royal Navy, ''Splendid'' sank eight Axis ships as well as an Italian destroyer for a total of {{GRT|25,234}}.<ref name=uboat/><!-- I know uboat.net doesn't straight out state the number of ships sunk of the total tonnage sunk, but adding up all the different sinkings is a simple calculation and is exempt from [[WP:OR]] - see [[WP:CALC]] -->
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;"|-
{| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;"|-
!Date||Name of ship||Tonnage||Nationality||Fate and location
!Date||Name of ship||Tonnage||Nationality||Fate and location
|-
|-
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|align="right"|17 December 1942
|align="right"|17 December 1942
|align="left" |[[Italian destroyer Aviere (1937)|''Aviere'']]
|align="left" |[[Italian destroyer Aviere (1937)|''Aviere'']]
|align="right"|-
|align="right"|–
|align="left" |{{flag|Kingdom of Italy}}
|align="left" |{{flag|Kingdom of Italy}}
|align="left" |Torpedoed and sunk at {{Coord|37|53|N|10|05|E|type:event|name=Aviere}}
|align="left" |Torpedoed and sunk at {{Coord|37|53|N|10|05|E|type:event|name=Aviere}}
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|}
|}


==Notes==
== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist|30em}}


==References==
=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last=Akermann|first=Paul|title=Encyclopaedia of British Submarines 1901–1955|edition=reprint of the 1989|year=2002|publisher=Periscope Publishing|location=Penzance, Cornwall|isbn=978-1-904381-05-1}}
* {{cite book|last=Bagnasco |first=Erminio |title=Submarines of World War Two |year=1977 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=978-0-87021-962-7}}
* {{cite book |last=Akermann|first=Paul|title=Encyclopaedia of British Submarines 1901–1955|edition=reprint of the 1989|year=2002|publisher=Periscope Publishing|location=Penzance, Cornwall|isbn=978-1-904381-05-1 }}
* {{cite book |title=Sunken Ships, World War II: U.S. Naval Chronology Including Submarine Losses of the United States, England, Germany, Japan, Italy|first=Karl Eric|last=Heden|publisher=Branden Books |location=History Reference Center|year=2006|isbn=0828321183}}
* {{cite book |last=Bagnasco |first=Erminio |title=Submarines of World War Two |year=1977 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=978-0-87021-962-7 }}
* {{cite book|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946|editor1-last=Chesneau|editor1-first=Roger|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|location=Greenwich, UK|year=1980|isbn=978-0-85177-146-5}}
* {{cite book |title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946|editor1-last=Chesneau|editor1-first=Roger|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|location=Greenwich, UK|year=1980|isbn=978-0-85177-146-5 }}
* {{cite book |title=Sunken Ships, World War II: U.S. Naval Chronology Including Submarine Losses of the United States, England, Germany, Japan, Italy|first=Karl Eric|last=Heden|publisher=Branden Books |location=History Reference Center|year=2006|isbn=0828321183 }}
* {{cite book|last=McCartney|first=Innes|author-link=Innes McCartney|location=Oxford, UK|title=British Submarines 1939–1945|series=New Vanguard|volume=129|year=2006|publisher=Osprey|isbn=978-1-84603-007-9}}
* {{cite book |last=McCartney|first=Innes|author-link=Innes McCartney|location=Oxford, England |title=British Submarines 1939–1945|series=New Vanguard|volume=129|year=2006|publisher=Osprey|isbn=978-1-84603-007-9 }}
{{refend}}


==External links==
== External links ==
* [https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80009641 IWM Interview with Ian McGeoch, who commanded HMS Splendid from 1942 to 1943]
* [https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80009641 IWM Interview with Ian McGeoch, who commanded HMS Splendid from 1942 to 1943]
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{{British S class submarine}}
{{British S class submarine}}
{{April 1943 shipwrecks}}
{{April 1943 shipwrecks}}

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[[Category:British S-class submarines (1931)]]
[[Category:British S-class submarines (1931)]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Mediterranean]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea]]
[[Category:1942 ships]]
[[Category:1942 ships]]
[[Category:World War II submarines of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:World War II submarines of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Lost submarines of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Lost submarines of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in April 1943]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in April 1943]]
[[Category:Submarines sunk by German warships]]

Revision as of 21:32, 27 November 2022

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Splendid.

Splendid underway off Sheerness on 18 August 1942, ten days after she was commissioned
History
United Kingdom
NameSplendid
BuilderChatham Dockyard
Laid down7 March 1941
Launched19 January 1942
Commissioned8 August 1942
MottoSplendidly Audacious
FateScuttled, 21 April 1943
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeS-class submarine
Displacement
  • 865 long tons (879 t) (surfaced)
  • 990 long tons (1,010 t) (submerged)
Length217 ft (66.1 m)
Beam23 ft 9 in (7.2 m)
Draught14 ft 8 in (4.5 m)
Installed power
  • 1,900 bhp (1,400 kW) (diesel)
  • 1,300 hp (970 kW) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph) (surfaced)
  • 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph) (submerged)
Range6,000 nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) (surfaced); 120 nmi (220 km; 140 mi) at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) (submerged)
Test depth300 ft (91.4 m)
Complement48
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament

HMS Splendid was a third-batch S-class submarine built for the Royal Navy during World War II. She was laid down on 7 March 1941 and launched on 19 January 1942. After an initial patrol through the Bay of Biscay to Gibraltar, Splendid conducted two patrols in the Mediterranean Sea; one was abandoned after technical problems and on the other she sank two Italian ships. On her next patrol, the submarine attacked two Italian convoys, sinking an Italian destroyer in the second attack. Based in Algiers, the boat operated north of Sicily, sinking six Italian ships, including two tankers and two heavy merchant ships. Splendid was detected by a German destroyer on 21 April 1943 while patrolling off Naples, Italy; the submarine was attacked with depth charges by the destroyer and forced to surface, after which she was scuttled and her surviving crew members taken prisoner. She was the most successful British submarine by tonnage sunk between November 1942 and May 1943.

Design and description

Schematic drawing of a S-class submarine

The S-class submarines were designed to patrol the restricted waters of the North Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. The third batch was slightly enlarged and improved over the preceding second batch of the S class. The submarines had a length of 217 feet (66.1 m) overall, a beam of 23 feet 9 inches (7.2 m) and a draught of 14 feet 8 inches (4.5 m). They displaced 865 long tons (879 t) on the surface and 990 long tons (1,010 t) submerged.[1] The S-class submarines had a crew of 48 officers and ratings. They had a diving depth of 300 feet (91 m).[2]

For surface running, the boats were powered by two 950-brake-horsepower (708 kW) diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 650-horsepower (485 kW) electric motor. They could reach 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) on the surface and 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) underwater.[3] On the surface, the third-batch boats had a range of 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) and 120 nmi (220 km; 140 mi) at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) submerged.[2]

The boats were armed with six 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes in the bow, and one external tube mounted in the stern. They carried six reload torpedoes for the bow tubes for a total of thirteen torpedoes. Twelve mines could be carried in lieu of the internally stowed torpedoes. They also had a 3-inch (76 mm) deck gun.[4] It is uncertain if Splendid was completed with a 20-millimetre (0.8 in) Oerlikon light AA gun or had one added later. The third-batch S-class boats were fitted with either a Type 129AR or 138 ASDIC system and a Type 291 or 291W early-warning radar.[5]

Construction and career

HMS Splendid was a third-group S-class submarine and was ordered as part of the 1941 Naval Programme on 14 October 1940. She was laid down in the Chatham Dockyard on 7 March 1941 and launched on 19 January 1942.[6] On 8 August 1942, Splendid, under the command of Lieutenant Ian McGeoch, was commissioned into the Royal Navy.[6][7] Splendid was the third Royal Navy ship with this name.[8]

After a period of training, Splendid departed Holy Loch on 3 October 1942, together with her sister ship, HMS Sibyl. After ten days at sea, Splendid spotted smoke shortly after midday and gave chase to the unidentified ship; four hours later, she stopped and boarded the vessel, which turned out to be the Allied Gaizka, running behind schedule. Later in the day, the submarine spotted a U-boat, but could not identify it and did not attack. Splendid safely arrived in Gibraltar on 16 October.[7]

Gibraltar

Splendid left Gibraltar on 31 October to patrol off Toulon, France; however, the boat encountered problems with her aft diving planes and had to return to port and abandon the patrol.[7]

The submarine again departed port on 7 November to patrol off Toulon; she was transferred the following week to operate off Naples instead. On 16 November, Splendid fired six torpedoes at a German U-boat, but missed. Later that day, the British submarine surfaced and sank with gunfire the Italian anti-submarine schooner San Paolo northwest of Gorgona, Italy. Splendid fired her six remaining bow torpedoes at the Italian submarine Aradam on 20 November, but all missed. The next day, the boat attacked the Italian Soldati-class destroyer Velite with her single unreloadable aft torpedo; the plan was to surface once the destroyer was sunk and engage the merchant ships with the deck gun on the surface.[7] The torpedo hit and damaged Velite, but the unexpected presence of two additional destroyers foiled the planned surface attack. While returning from her patrol on 23 November, Splendid encountered the Italian merchant Favorita northwest of Sardinia and sank her with gunfire on the surface, having expended all of her torpedoes. The submarine finally ended her patrol on 28 November.[7]

On 8 December, Splendid started another patrol, north of Tunisia. On 14 December, the boat attacked an Italian convoy with four torpedoes and claimed a hit; this was not the case, as a few hours later both merchant ships in the convoy were sunk by HMS Sahib and HMS Unruffled. On 17 December, Splendid sighted another convoy and fired six torpedoes at the heavy German transport Ankara; one torpedo passed 10 metres (33 ft) in front of the ship's bow and another 13 metres (43 ft) behind the ship's stern. The Italian destroyer Aviere was less lucky and was hit twice, going down in ten seconds with 220 dead.[7] The British submarine HMS Saracen observed the attack and confirmed the sinking. Splendid fired her last working torpedo at the Italian submarine Galatea, but missed. The boat then ended her patrol in Algiers on Christmas 1942.[7]

Algiers

Ship's company of HMS Splendid, Algiers, 7–10 February 1943

Splendid's next patrol started on 5 January 1943, operating off Sardinia. After patrolling for four days, the boat landed two Special Operations Executive men on Sardinia's eastern coast. The submarine was then ordered to patrol off Naples instead, and set course for her new patrol area. On 15 January, Splendid sighted an Italian convoy and fired five torpedoes at the merchant ship Emma, which was transporting 950 tons of supplies and ten tanks. One torpedo hit, and the merchant ship was stopped dead in the water. However, the ship did not sink, and the submarine stayed close by to attack the ship again in daylight. During the night, the Italian ships attempted to tow Emma, but could not due to rough seas, and the submarine attacked the next morning with one torpedo, which sank the ship. A brief counter-attack with depth charges followed, but Splendid evaded the destroyers and was not damaged. The submarine later sank the Italian minesweeper Cleopatra with gunfire east of Sardinia, then damaged the armed trawler Violette with gunfire, and went on to sink the Italian merchant Commercio with torpedoes on the same day, 19 January. Splendid returned to Algiers on 22 January.[7]

On 13 February, the boat departed Algiers again for another patrol in the same area as before, north of Sicily. Splendid sighted an Italian convoy on 17 February and sank the Italian merchant ship XXI Aprile, which was laden with 300 tons of ammunition, 150 tons of supplies, and 50 motorised vehicles. One week later, the submarine attacked another Italian convoy, expending all her torpedoes, but did not sink any ships. Splendid ended her patrol on 28 February in Algiers.[7]

Splendid commenced another patrol on 11 March, north of Sicily as in previous patrols. After patrolling for five days, the boat sank the heavily escorted Italian tanker Devoli, then sank the tanker Giorgio four days later northeast of Cefalù, Sicily. The submarine ended patrol in Malta on 28 March. Splendid's commanding officer, Lieutenant McGeoch, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order following this patrol.[7] Between her first patrol in the Mediterranean in November 1942 and her sinking on 21 April 1943, Splendid was the most successful British submarine in total tonnage sunk between the invasion of French North Africa, codenamed Operation Torch, in November 1942 and the surrender of Axis forces in Tunisia in May 1943.[9]

Sinking

Wreck
Wreck
class=notpageimage|
Location of Splendid's wreck

Splendid departed Malta on 18 April 1943 for a patrol off Naples which was her last. Three days later the submarine's periscope was spotted by the German destroyer Hermes, which also detected the submarine on sonar. Hermes was the largest German ship in the Mediterranean Sea except for auxiliary minesweepers.[7] The destroyer made three attack runs with depth charges, dropping 41 in total; Splendid attempted to escape by diving to 500 feet (150 m), but the last eleven depth charges started leaks inside the submarine's pressure hull, and the boat was forced to surface. She was fired upon by the destroyer's surface guns, which killed 18 crew members and wounded the commanding officer. Splendid was scuttled to prevent her capture by enemy forces, and her surviving crew were imprisoned in Italian prisoner-of-war camps.[7][10] Splendid's commander, Ian McGeoch, despite having lost the use of one eye during the submarine's sinking, made two escape attempts, the second of which was successful; he arrived in Switzerland to have a metal splinter removed from his eye, then travelled through France and Spain to England.[9]

Summary of raiding history

During her service with the Royal Navy, Splendid sank eight Axis ships as well as an Italian destroyer for a total of 25,234 GRT.[7]

Date Name of ship Tonnage Nationality Fate and location
16 November 1942 San Paolo 209  Kingdom of Italy Sunk with gunfire at 43°34′N 09°37′E / 43.567°N 9.617°E / 43.567; 9.617 (San Paolo)
23 November 1942 Favorita 3,576  Kingdom of Italy Sunk with gunfire at 39°00′N 11°11′E / 39.000°N 11.183°E / 39.000; 11.183 (Favorita)
17 December 1942 Aviere –  Kingdom of Italy Torpedoed and sunk at 37°53′N 10°05′E / 37.883°N 10.083°E / 37.883; 10.083 (Aviere)
16 January 1943 Emma 7,931  Kingdom of Italy Torpedoed and sunk 40°25′N 13°56′E / 40.417°N 13.933°E / 40.417; 13.933 (Emma)
19 January 1943 Cleopatra 72  Kingdom of Italy Sunk with gunfire 39°41′N 09°43′E / 39.683°N 9.717°E / 39.683; 9.717 (Cleopatra)
19 January 1943 Commercio 766  Kingdom of Italy Torpedoed and sunk 40°25′N 13°56′E / 40.417°N 13.933°E / 40.417; 13.933 (Commercio)
13 February 1943 XXI Aprile 4,787  Kingdom of Italy Torpedoed and sunk 38°13′N 12°43′E / 38.217°N 12.717°E / 38.217; 12.717 (XXI Aprile)
17 March 1943 Devoli 3,006  Kingdom of Italy Torpedoed and sunk 38°13′N 12°43′E / 38.217°N 12.717°E / 38.217; 12.717 (Devoli)
21 March 1943 Giorgio 4,887  Kingdom of Italy Torpedoed and sunk 38°05′N 14°10′E / 38.083°N 14.167°E / 38.083; 14.167 (Giorgio)

References

Citations

  1. ^ Akermann, p. 341
  2. ^ a b McCartney, p. 7
  3. ^ Bagnasco, p. 110
  4. ^ Chesneau, pp. 51–52
  5. ^ Akermann, pp. 341, 345
  6. ^ a b Akermann, p. 340
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "HMS Splendid (P 228)". Uboat.net. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  8. ^ Akermann, p. 348
  9. ^ a b "Obituary: Vice-Admiral Sir Ian McGeoch". The Times. 20 August 2007. Archived from the original on 23 May 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  10. ^ Heden, p. 240

Sources

  • Akermann, Paul (2002). Encyclopaedia of British Submarines 1901–1955 (reprint of the 1989 ed.). Penzance, Cornwall: Periscope Publishing. ISBN 978-1-904381-05-1.
  • Bagnasco, Erminio (1977). Submarines of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-0-87021-962-7.
  • Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 978-0-85177-146-5.
  • Heden, Karl Eric (2006). Sunken Ships, World War II: U.S. Naval Chronology Including Submarine Losses of the United States, England, Germany, Japan, Italy. History Reference Center: Branden Books. ISBN 0828321183.
  • McCartney, Innes (2006). British Submarines 1939–1945. New Vanguard. Vol. 129. Oxford, England: Osprey. ISBN 978-1-84603-007-9.

40°30′N 14°15′E / 40.500°N 14.250°E / 40.500; 14.250

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