The Submarine Heritage Centre - P611 Class

Sponsorship Comments

The Vince Estate are both pleased and proud to sponsor this painting in memory and celebration of JIMMY VINCE, a much loved and missed Husband, Father and Grandfather. He came to Barrow-in-Furness in WWII to take a Barrow built submarine to war. After the hostilities he settled in this our Town.

P611 Class Technical Facts:

- Vessel: H.M.S/M. P611 (Turkish Naval Name - Orcus Reis)
- Yard Number: 751
- Pennant number: P611
- Laid down: 24.05.1939
- Launched: 19.07.1940
- Completed: 01.12.1941.
- Dimensions (in feet): Length: 193 feet, Width: 22.3 feet, Draught: 10.5 feet.
- Displacement: Surface:683 tons, Submerged: 856 tons.
- Machinery: Surface: Twin diesels 1550BHP - 13.75 knots Submerged: Twin electric motors 1,300 BHP = 10 knots.
- Fuel: 40 tons.
- Endurance: 6,500 nautical miles.
- Armaments: 5 x 21 inch torpedo tubes, 4 bow, 1 stern. 1 x 3 inch gun, 1 machine gun.
- Complement: 41.

Historical Facts:

HMS/M P611 - P615

At the outbreak of WWII, four submarines were under construction for the Turkish Navy. P611 and P612 were required urgently by the Turkish Government. It was arranged that the two boats would be commissioned into the Royal Navy, and would "work their way" to Turkey. They were fully armed, "but were not to seek the enemy", as their first priority was to reach Turkey safely and speedily.

Their departure from the Clyde was delayed by a design fault which made them unstable at submerged speed over six knots. They eventually sailed on March 26th 1942.

P611 sailed from Gibraltar on April 7th 1942 travelling submerged by day, with a speed advance of 100 miles per day. She reached Alexandria on April 25th and the Turkish naval base at Iskauderun on May 9th 1942.

P612 delayed by a steering gear fault at Gibraltar followed a week later.The two boats were handed over to the Turkish government, when they assumed their original names.The Royal Navy Crews returned to the United Kingdom.

HMS/M P611

Launched for the Turkish Navy, but acquired and completed for the Royal Navy 09.05.1942.

Returned to the Turkish Navy and assumed original name.1967. Discarded as obsolete.

HMS/M P612

Launched for the Turkish Navy, but acquired and completed for the Royal Navy.16.05.1942.

Returned to the Turkish Navy, and assumed original name.1957. discarded as obsolete.

HMS/M P614

Launched for the Turkish Navy, but acquired and completed for the Royal Navy.

1942 - Employed in Anti-Submarine (A/S) Escort training at Freetown, Siera Leone.
1943 - Employed in similar duties in Home Waters.
1945 - Returned to the Turkish Navy and returned to original name.1957. Discarded as obsolete.

HMS/M P615

In 1942, Employed in A/S Escort training at Freetown, Siera Leone.

18.04.1943. Sunk by the German submarine U123 off of Freetown.


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