HMS Sleuth

HMS Sleuth 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 1958.

Design and description
The last 17 boats of the third batch were significantly modified from the earlier boats. They had a stronger hull, carried more fuel and their armament was revised. The submarines had a length of 217 ft overall, a beam of 23 ft and a draft of 14 ft. They displaced 814 LT on the surface and 990 LT submerged. The S-class submarines had a crew of 48 officers and ratings. They had a diving depth of 350 ft.

For surface running, the boats were powered by two 950 bhp diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 650 hp electric motor. They could reach 14.75 kn on the surface and 9 kn underwater. On the surface, the third batch boats had a range of 7500 nmi at 10 kn and 120 nmi at 3 kn submerged.

Sleuth was armed with six 21 inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes in the bow. She carried six reload torpedoes for a grand 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.

Construction and career
HMS Sleuth was built by Cammell Laird and launched on 6 July 1944. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name Sleuth. The boat operated in the Pacific Far East for most of her wartime career, often in company with her sister, HMS Solent. Together they sank fifteen Japanese sailing vessels and the Japanese auxiliary minesweeper Wa 3. Sleuth survived the Second World War and continued in service. On 13 June 1952 she collided with the destroyer HMS Zephyr, while leaving Portland harbour. She put her stern through the side of Zephyr as she reversed out of her berth. Sleuth was eventually sold. She arrived at Charlestown on 15 September 1958 for breaking up.