View source for HMS Syrtis

{{short description|WWII submarine of the Royal Navy}}
{{good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2017}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=HMS Syrtis.jpg
|Ship caption=''Syrtis'' in April 1943
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=United Kingdom
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}}
|Ship name=''Syrtis''
|Ship ordered=25 January 1941
|Ship namesake=[[Syrtis Major Planum]]
|Ship builder=[[Cammell Laird]], [[Birkenhead]]
|Ship laid down=14 October 1941
|Ship launched=4 February 1943
|Ship christened=
|Ship commissioned=23 April 1943
|ship identification=[[Pennant number]]: P241
|Ship recommissioned=
|Ship decommissioned=
|Ship in service=
|Ship badge=[[File:SYRTIS badge-1-.jpg|left|80px]]
|Ship fate=Sunk, March 1944
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class=[[British S-class submarine (1931)|S-class submarine]]
|Ship displacement=* {{cvt|865|LT|t}} (surfaced)
* {{convert|990|LT|t}} (submerged)
|Ship length={{cvt|217|ft|m|1}}
|Ship beam={{cvt|23|ft|9|in|m|1}}
|Ship draught={{cvt|14|ft|8|in|1}}
|Ship power=* {{cvt|1900|bhp|kW|lk=in|abbr=on}} (diesel)
* {{convert|1300|hp|kW|abbr=on}} (electric)
|Ship propulsion=* 2 × [[diesel engine]]s
* 2 × [[electric motor]]s
|Ship speed=* {{cvt|15|kn|lk=in}} (surfaced)
* {{convert|10|kn|abbr=on}} (submerged)
|Ship range={{cvt|6000|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|10|kn}} (surfaced); {{cvt|120|nmi}} at {{convert|3|kn}} (submerged)
|Ship test depth={{cvt|300|ft|1}}
|Ship complement=48
|Ship sensors=* Type 129AR or 138 [[ASDIC]]
* [[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)
* 1 × [[QF 3-inch 20 cwt|3&nbsp;in (76&nbsp;mm)]] [[deck gun]]
* 1 × [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|{{cvt|20|mm|1}}]] [[AA gun]]
}}
|}
'''HMS ''Syrtis''''' was a third-batch [[British S-class submarine (1931)|S-class submarine]] built for the [[Royal Navy]] during the Second World War. Completed in 1943, ''Syrtis'' spent most of her career in the [[Arctic]], off Norway, other than a single patrol in the [[Bay of Biscay]],

On her first patrol, she sighted a German submarine, but could not attack it. Her second patrol saw the submarine board a [[Vichy French]] fishing vessel. ''Syrtis'' was then assigned to take part in [[Operation Source]], an attack on the German [[battleship]]s based in Norway, using [[midget submarine]]s. The boat was to tow the submarine X9 to her target, then release it to perform its mission. However, the tow line between the two submarines parted en route, and ''X9'' was lost with all hands.

''Syrtis'' went on to conduct three patrols off Norway, but these were uneventful. On 16 March, the submarine started another patrol in the Arctic, and sank one Norwegian merchant ship. She never returned, and was most probably sunk by [[Naval mine|mines]].

==Design and description==
[[File:British S-class submarine schematic drawing.jpg|thumb|350px|left|Schematic drawing of a S-class submarine]]
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 name="Akermann341"/> 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/>

The boats were armed with seven [[British 21 inch torpedo|21-inch (533&nbsp;mm)]] [[torpedo tube]]s. Six of these were in the 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 ''Syrtis'' 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==
HMS ''Syrtis'' was a third-batch S-class submarine ordered by the [[British Admiralty]] on 25 January 1941. She was [[Keel laying|laid down]] in the [[Cammell Laird]] [[shipyard]] in [[Birkenhead]] on 14 October 1941 and was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 4 February 1943.<ref name=Akermann341>Akermann, p. 341</ref> On 21 April ''Syrtis'', under the command of [[Lieutenant (Royal Navy)|Lieutenant]] Michael Hugh Jupp, sailed to [[Holy Loch]], where she was [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] into the Royal Navy two days later.<ref name=Akermann341/><ref name=uboat>{{cite web |url=http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3457.html |title=HMS Syrtis (P 241) |work=Uboat.net |access-date=25 February 2019}}</ref> The submarine was named after [[Syrtis Major Planum]] region of [[Mars]]; thus far, she has been the only ship to bear the name "Syrtis".<ref>Akermann, p. 348</ref>

After training off several British coastal cities, ''Syrtis'' commenced an anti-submarine patrol off Norway on 6 July 1943. The next day, she spotted a submarine, probably the {{GS|U-269}}, but could not maneuver into an attack position. The boat did not sight any more ships and returned from patrol on 20 July.<ref name=uboat/>

The submarine next departed port on 3 August, patrolling the [[Bay of Biscay]] on another anti-submarine patrol. The patrol was mostly uneventful, except for 17 August, when ''Syrtis''{{'}}s crew boarded a [[Vichy French]] fishing vessel and sent its crew off, intending to use the ship for reconnaissance; however, the idea was abandoned for lack of wind and the men left the ship. The submarine then ended her patrol three days later in Holy Loch.<ref name=uboat/>

===Operation Source===
[[File:Bundesarchiv DVM 10 Bild-23-63-12, Schlachtschiff "Scharnhorst".jpg|thumb|right|''Scharnhorst'' at sea]]
{{Main|Operation Source}}
On 1 September, ''Syrtis'' conducted training at [[Port HHZ]] with {{sclass2|X|submarine|0}} [[midget submarine]]s in preparation for [[Operation Source]], an attack on the German [[battleship]]s in Norway using midget submarines. On 11 September 1943, the boat departed port towing the X-class submarine ''X9'' close to her target, the battleship {{ship|German battleship|Scharnhorst||2}}.<ref>Grove, p. 124</ref><ref>Akermann, p. 455</ref> An auxiliary crew was on board during the passage, which was meant to switch with the operational crew near the target. ''X9'', probably trimmed heavily by the bow in the heavy sea for the tow, was lost with all hands during the voyage when her tow parted and she abruptly plunged down during the early morning of 16 September.<ref>Grove, p. 127</ref><ref>Heden, p. 242</ref> This was not discovered on board ''Syrtis'' until 09:00, when she reversed course and started a search for the lost craft; it was never found. The submarine then returned to Holy Loch on 5 October without having attacked any ships.<ref name=uboat/>

===Subsequent operations===
From 25 October to 12 November, ''Syrtis'' conducted a patrol off Norway but did not sight any potential targets. After conducting additional training, the submarine conducted an anti-submarine patrol off Norway on 22 December, protecting the [[Arctic convoy]]s [[Convoy JW 55B|JW 55B]], [[Convoy RA 55A|RA 55A]] and [[Convoy RA 55B|RA 55B]]. The patrol was uneventful, and the boat returned to [[Lerwick]], Scotland, on 6 January.<ref name=uboat/>

On 2 February 1944, ''Syrtis'' departed [[Kames Bay, Loch Melfort|Kames Bay]] with the X-class midget submarine ''X22'' in tow. Five days later, while nearing [[Scapa Flow]], ''Syrtis''{{'}}s watch officer was washed overboard; the submarine turned to pick him up, but collided with ''X22'', which went down with all hands.<ref name=heden244>Heden, p. 244</ref><ref>Akermann, p. 456</ref> The watch officer was not found.<ref name=uboat/>

''Syrtis'' next patrolled off the [[Stad (peninsula)|Stad peninsula]] from 12 to 22 February; the submarine's only action during the patrol was an unsuccessful attack on the Norwegian merchant ship ''Sirius''.<ref name=uboat/>

On 16 March, ''Syrtis'' departed Lerwick for her seventh patrol, off the [[Kya Lighthouse]] then later off [[Bodø (town)|Bodø]]. She achieved the only success of her career on 22 March, sinking the Norwegian merchant ''Narvik'' with gunfire off [[Rødøya]]. ''Syrtis'' was never seen again; on 28 March, she was ordered to return to Lerwick, but did not acknowledge the order. German reports indicate the sinking of a submarine in the Bodø area at the time by shore batteries, but the most likely cause of her loss is a mine.<ref name=uboat/><ref name=heden244/>

==Summary of raiding history==
During her service with the Royal Navy, ''Syrtis'' sank one ship for a total of 241 [[Gross register tonnage|GRT]].<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" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto;"|-
!Date||Name of ship||Tonnage||Nationality||Fate and location
|-
|align="right"|22 March 1944
|align="left" |[[List of shipwrecks in March 1944#22 March|''Narvik'']]
|align="right"|209
|align="left" |{{flag|Norway}}
|align="left" |Sunk with gunfire at {{Coord|66|45|N|13|11|E|type:event|name=Narvik}}
|}

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

==References==
* {{cite book|last=Akermann|first=Paul|title=Encyclopedia 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|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|last1=Grove|first1=Eric|title=Sea Battles in Close-up: World War 2|volume=2|publisher=Naval Institute Press|date=1993|isbn=1557507589|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/seabattlesinclos00grov}}
* {{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}}

{{British S class submarine}}
{{March 1944 shipwrecks}}
<!-- {{coord|66|45|N|13|11|E|display=title|type:landmark_source:dewiki}} commenting - these are the coordinates of the sub's only victory, the ''Narvik'', not the current location of the sub. - L293D -->

{{DEFAULTSORT:Syrtis}}
[[Category:British S-class submarines (1931)]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the Atlantic Ocean]]
[[Category:Ships built on the River Mersey]]
[[Category:1943 ships]]
[[Category:World War II submarines of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in March 1944]]
[[Category:Royal Navy ship names]]