The Submarine Heritage Centre - HMS/M Tiptoe

Sponsorship Comments

This Painting was commissioned by Mr. Hughie Short a member of the Submariners Association - Barrow-in-Furness Branch.

Tiptoe Technical Facts:

- Pennant No: S32
- Yard No: 868
- Ordered: 22nd December 1941
- Laid down: 10th November 1942
- Launched: 25th February 1944
- Completed: 8th March 1944
- Converted: H.M. Dockyard Chatham July 1952 to September 1954

Details after Conversion
- Dimensions (in feet & inches): Length 285 feet 4 inches, Beam 26feet 6 and a half inches, Draught 15 feet 8 and a half inches mean.
- Displacement: Surface 1,260 tons, Submerged 1,680 tons.
- Machinery: Surface Twin 6 cylinder Vickers diesel engines. 2,500shp Submerged 4 electric motors 6,000shp.
- Speed: Surface 15 knots, Submerged 14 and a half knots for 1 hour, 8 knots For 11 hours.
- Fuel Oil: 210 tons.
- Range: 11,500 nautical miles @ 12 knots.
- Armaments: 6 x 21 inch torpedo tubes, 6 reloads.Diving depth: 350 feet.
- Complement: 5 Officers. 55 ratings.
- Cost of Conversion: £410,00.00 at 1948 prices.

Historical Facts:

By the time that hostilities ended in 1945, submarine development during the later part of the war, particularly by the Germans had made the majority of existing submarines obsolete.The whole concept of the submarine was changing dramatically, particularly regarding underwater speed and endurance. Captured Type XXI and Type XXIII battery powered submarines achieved underwater speeds of 17 knots in trials, if only for short periods.

As a consequence, eight of the younger , all welded T Class boats were lengthened, by inserting a 20 foot parallel section of pressure hull aft of the engine room bulkhead, with two additional motors and a fourth battery, to increase underwater power and endurance. Also, all external projections were removed, and the hull and bridge structure streamlined.

29th August 1969 Tiptoe became the last operational T Class submarine to be paid off.

 

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