Scythian
History
United Kingdom
Name	Scythian
Builder	Scotts, Greenock
Laid down	21 February 1943
Launched	14 April 1944
Commissioned	11 August 1944
Fate	Broken up, August 1960
Badge
General characteristics
Class & type	S-class submarine
Displacement	865 long tons (879 t) surfaced 990 long tons (1,010 t) submerged
Length	217 ft (66.1 m)
Beam	23 ft 9 in (7.2 m)
Draught	14 ft 8 in (4.5 m)
Installed power	1,900 bhp (1,400 kW) (diesel) 1,300 hp (970 kW) (electric)
Propulsion	2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
Speed	15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph) surfaced 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph) submerged
Range	7,500 nmi (13,900 km; 8,600 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) surface; 120 nmi (220 km; 140 mi) at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) submerged
Test depth	350 feet (106.7 m)
Complement	48
Armament	6 × bow 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes 1 × 4-inch (102 mm) deck gun 1 × 20 mm (0.8 in) Oerlikon AA gun

HMS Scythian was a S-class submarine of the third batch built for the Royal Navy during World War II. She survived the war and was sold for scrap in 1960.

Design and description

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 draft 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 (91.4 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]

Scythian was armed with six 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes in the bow. She carried six reload torpedoes for a total of a dozen torpedoes. Twelve mines could be carried in lieu of the torpedoes. The boat was also equipped with a 4-inch (102 mm) deck gun^[4] and a 20-millimetre (0.8 in) Oerlikon AA gun.^[5]

Construction and career

HMS Scythian built by Scotts, of Greenock and launched on 14 April 1944. Thus far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name Scythian. Built as the Second World War was drawing to a close, she did not see much action, spending the period between March and May 1945 on the eastern station. Here, she managed to sink nine Japanese sailing vessels and a small unidentified Japanese vessel.^[6]

Along with her sisters, Scorcher and Sirdar, Scythian took part in the search for the missing HMS Affray in 1951. Scythian was paid off and arrived at Charlestown on 8 August 1960 for breaking up.

Notes

References

• Akermann, Paul (2002). Encyclopaedia of British Submarines 1901–1955 (reprint of the 1989 ed.). Penzance, Cornwall: Periscope Publishing. ISBN 1-904381-05-7.
• Bagnasco, Erminio (1977). Submarines of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-962-6.
• Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of All Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy from the 15th Century to the Present (3rd Rev ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8. OCLC 67375475.
• McCartney, Innes (2006). British Submarines 1939–1945. New Vanguard. Vol. 129. Oxford, UK: Osprey. ISBN 1-84603-007-2.