HMS Spiteful (P227)

HMS "Spiteful" (pennant number P227) was a S-class submarine of the British Royal Navy.

Commander

Her pennant number was originally P77. She was commanded by a Canadian, Lt Cdr "Freddy" Sherwood DSC RCNVR, the first Volunteer Reservist to be given a command in World War II, (slightly pre-dating Edward Young's command of HMS "Storm") from the time she was built until she was lent to the French. Sherwood was also Ben Bryant's 1st Lieutenant in both HMS "Sealion" and HMS "Safari", 3rd Flotilla. She travelled to HMS "Forth", Holy Loch for her work-up.

Career

Her first war patrol was in the North Atlantic, from 29 December 1943 to 12 January 1944. She returned to Lerwick, in the Shetlands, where a battery was replaced and a "singing" screw was repaired.

She sailed for Ceylon, arriving in April 1944. She was assigned to 8th Flotilla, HMS "Maidstone". She made two patrols, then transited to Fremantle. She sunk a number of Japanese vessels with gunfire, on June 30th, July 2nd and December 14th. [ [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3445.html HMS Spiteful] , Uboat.net]

Another incident involved USS "Gabilan", when the American ship almost fired upon her, before recognising her as a friendly ship.

"Spiteful" then bombarded installations on the Andaman Islands and Christmas Island. She made three further patrols, totalling 109 days at sea - the three longest patrols by any 'S' class submarine - 34, 38 and 37 days ("Sirdar" achieved one of 49 days) - with little luck. She returned to the UK in April 1945 for a refit.

She was loaned to France as "Sirene" from 1952 to 1958.

On 1 July 1963 she arrived at Faslane to be broken up 15 July 1963.

References

*Colledge