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	A RCN Avenger AS.3 over HMS Artful in the mid-1950s
History
United Kingdom
Ordered	7 April 1943
Builder	Scotts of Greenock
Laid down	8 June 1944
Launched	22 May 1947
Commissioned	23 February 1948
Decommissioned	September 1969
Identification	Pennant number P456
Fate	Sold to be broken up for scrap, 16 June 1972.; Broken up at Cairnryan, June 1972;
General characteristics
Class and type	Amphion-class submarine
Displacement	1,360 long tons (1,382 t) surfaced; 1,590 long tons (1,616 t) submerged;
Length	293 ft 6 in (89.46 m)
Beam	22 ft 4 in (6.81 m)
Draught	18 ft 1 in (5.51 m)
Propulsion	2 × 2,150 hp (1,603 kW) Admiralty ML 8-cylinder diesel engines; 2 × 625 hp (466 kW) electric motors; 2 shafts;
Speed	18.5 knots (34.3 km/h; 21.3 mph) surfaced; 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) submerged;
Range	10,500 nmi (19,400 km; 12,100 mi) at 11 kn (20 km/h; 13 mph) surfaced; 16 nmi (30 km; 18 mi) at 8 kn (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) or 90 nmi (170 km; 100 mi) at 3 kn (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) submerged;
Test depth	350 ft (110 m)
Complement	60
Armament	6 × (2 external) bow torpedo tubes; 4 × (2 external) stern torpedo tubes containing a total of 20 × 21 inch (533 mm) torpedoes; 26 mines; 1 × 4 in (100 mm) main deck gun; 1 × Oerlikon 20 mm AA gun; 3 × .303 cal. machine guns;

HMS Artful (P456), was an Amphion-class submarine of the Royal Navy, built by Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company of Greenock and launched 22 May 1944.^[1]

In 1953 she took part in the Fleet Review to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.^[2] In 1955 she was the first of her class to be rebuilt and streamlined. In 1966 she completed a refit and recommissioned for service with the Home Fleet. In 1967 she undertook a Home Fleet Squadron tour to the West Indies and later that year attended Portsmouth Navy Days.^[3]

Design

Like all Amphion-class submarines, Artful had a displacement of 1,360 tonnes (1,500 short tons) when at the surface and 1,590 tonnes (1,750 short tons) while submerged. It had a total length of 293 feet 6 inches (89.46 m), a beam of 22 feet 4 inches (6.81 m), and a draught of 18 feet 1 inch (5.51 m). The submarine was powered by two Admiralty ML eight-cylinder diesel engines generating a power of 2,150 horsepower (1,600 kW) each. It also contained four electric motors each producing 625 horsepower (466 kW) that drove two shafts.^[4] It could carry a maximum of 219 tonnes (241 short tons) of diesel, although it usually carried between 159 and 165 tonnes (175 and 182 short tons).^[4]

The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 18.5 knots (34.3 km/h; 21.3 mph) and a submerged speed of 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph).^[5] When submerged, it could operate at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) for 90 nautical miles (170 km; 100 mi) or at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) for 16 nautical miles (30 km; 18 mi). When surfaced, it was able to travel 15,200 nautical miles (28,200 km; 17,500 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) or 10,500 nautical miles (19,400 km; 12,100 mi) at 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph).^[4] Artful was fitted with ten 21 inches (530 mm) torpedo tubes, one QF 4 inch naval gun Mk XXIII, one Oerlikon 20 mm cannon, and a .303 British Vickers machine gun. Its torpedo tubes were fitted to the bow and stern, and it could carry twenty torpedoes. Its complement was sixty-one crew members.^[4]

References

^ "Artful". Uboat.net. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
^ Souvenir Programme, Coronation Review of the Fleet, Spithead, 15 June 1953, HMSO, Gale and Polden
^ Programme, Navy Days Portsmouth, 26–28 August 1967, HMSO, p. 21.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Paul Akermann (1 November 2002). Encyclopedia of British Submarines 1901-1955. Periscope Publishing Ltd. p. 422. ISBN 978-1-904381-05-1.
^ "Acheron class". World Naval Ships, Cranston Fine Arts. Retrieved 20 August 2015.