View source for HMS Aeneas (P427)

{{Short description|Royal Navy submarine}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = Hms aeneas submarine.jpg
| Ship caption = ''Amphion''-class submarine HMS ''Aeneas''
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header = 
| Ship country = United Kingdom
| Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}}
| Ship name = HMS ''Aeneas''
| Ship owner = 
| Ship namesake = [[Aeneas]]
| Ship ordered = 
| Ship builder = [[Cammell Laird]]
| Ship yard number = 
| Ship laid down = 10 October 1944
| Ship launched = 25 October 1945
| Ship acquired = 
| Ship commissioned = 31 July 1946
| Ship decommissioned = 
| Ship in service = 
| Ship out of service = 
| Ship struck = 
| Ship reinstated = 
| Ship identification = [[Pennant number]] P427
| Ship fate = Sold for scrap on 14 November 1974
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = 
| Ship class = {{sclass|Amphion|submarine}}
| Ship displacement = 1,385/1,620&nbsp;tons (surface/submerged)
| Ship length = {{Convert|279|ft|3|in|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam = {{Convert|22|ft|4|in|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship height = 
| Ship draught = {{Convert|18|ft|1|in|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship power = 
| Ship propulsion = 2 × {{Convert|4,400|bhp|abbr=on}} [[Vickers]] supercharged diesel engine, 2 × {{Convert|1,250|hp|abbr=on}}, two shafts
| Ship speed = *{{convert|18.5|kn}} surfaced
*{{convert|8|kn}} submerged
| Ship range = *{{Convert|10500|nmi|mi km}} at {{Convert|11|kn|mph km/h}} surfaced
*{{Convert|16,000|nmi|mi km}} at {{Convert|8|kn|mph km/h}} submerged
| Ship endurance = 
| Ship test depth = {{Convert|600|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship complement = 61 (6 officers and 5 sailors)
| Ship sensors = 
| Ship EW = 
| Ship armament = *10 × [[British 21-inch torpedo|21 inch (533 mm)]] [[torpedo tube|torpedo tubes]]
*18 [[Naval mine|mine]]s
*1 × {{convert|4|in|mm|abbr=on|0}} [[QF 4-inch naval gun Mk XXIII|MK XXIII]] main deck gun, 3 × {{convert|0.303|in|mm|abbr=on|2}} machine gun, 1 × [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|Oerlikon 20&nbsp;mm gun]]
| Ship notes = 
| Ship depth = {{convert|500|ft|m}}
}}
|}

'''HMS ''Aeneas'' (P427)''' was a British {{sclass|Amphion|submarine}} of the [[Royal Navy]], built by [[Cammell Laird]] and [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 9 October 1945.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |title=HMS Aeneas (P 427) of the Royal Navy - British Submarine of the A class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net |url=http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3609.html |website=www.uboat.net |access-date=15 August 2021}}</ref> She was named after the hero [[Aeneas]] from [[Greek mythology]].

== Design ==
The ''Amphion''-class or ''A'' class submarines were designed after the [[British T-class submarine|''T''-class submarines]]. They were designed to serve in the [[Pacific War|Pacific campaign]], but most of them weren't completed before the campaign ended. The ''Amphion''-class submarines displaced 1385 tons surfaced and 1620 tons submerged. Their surface speed was {{Convert|18.5|kn|km/h mph}}, and their submerged speed was {{Convert|8|kn|km/h mph}}. The submarines were powered by diesel electric propulsion and two shafts. The crew strength onboard was 6 officers and 55 sailors. The submarines had ten [[British 21-inch torpedo|{{Convert|21|in|mm|abbr=on}}]] torpedo tubes and carried a total of 20 torpedoes. There were four torpedo tubes on the [[Bow (watercraft)|bow]], two on the bow exterior, two on the [[stern]] and two on the stern exterior. There were three 0.303 machine guns and one [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|Oerlikon 20mm cannon]] which served as the [[anti-aircraft]] guns.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |title=A class Submarines - Allied Warships of WWII |url=https://uboat.net/allies/warships/class.html?ID=205&navy=HMS |access-date=2025-07-19 |website=uboat.net}}</ref> The main deck gun was the [[QF 4-inch naval gun Mk IV, XII, XXII|QF 4-inch Mk XXII]], which was later replaced with the [[QF 4-inch naval gun Mk XXIII]].{{Sfn|Campbell|1980|p=55}}

''Aeneas'' was fitted with 2-shaft [[Vickers]] [[Supercharger|supercharged]] diesel engines which produced {{Convert|4,400|bhp|kW|lk=on|abbr=on}}. ''Aeneas'' also had 2 electric motors which produced {{Convert|1,200|shp|kW|lk=on|abbr=on}}. ''Aeneas'' was {{Convert|279|ft|3|in|m}} long [[Length overall|overall]], had a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{Convert|22|ft|3|in|m}} and a [[Draft (hull)|draught]] of {{Convert|17|ft|3|in|m}}. The ship could carry 165 tons of fuel as a normal load and 219 tons of fuel as its maximum load.{{Sfn|Campbell|1980|p=54}} 60 tons were stored in internal tanks and 100 tons in external tanks, an extra 54 tons could be stored in the main tanks. ''Aeneas'' had a [[Tinplate|tinplated]], circular-welded [[pressure hull]], almost equivalent to a [[double hull]]. This allowed the ship to dive to a maximum operstional depth of {{Convert|500|ft|m}} and a test depth of {{Convert|600|ft|m}}, though they would be moderately damaged below {{Convert|200–300|ft|m}}. The ''Amphion''-class submarines were planned to be fitted with [[Submarine snorkel|submarine snorkels]] (snorts), however, they were not fitted on all ships at first.{{Sfn|Campbell|1980|p=55}}

== Service history ==
Aeneas was ordered on 7 April 1943 and built by [[Cammell Laird]] in [[Birkenhead]]. She was laid down on 28 April 1944, launched on 5 October 1945 and commissioned on 31 July 1946.<ref name=":0" />

In 1950, engineers from [[Atomic Energy Research Establishment|Harwell Laboratory]] visited ''Aeneas'' and [[HMS Ambush (P418)|HMS ''Ambush'']] at [[Fort Blockhouse]] in [[Gosport]] to learn about features required in submarines. The Harwell engineers were then developing nuclear submarines. They discovered space constraints on submarines and the need to keep sound levels low.{{Sfn|Jones|2022|p=77}}

After World War II and before 1961, ''Aeneas'' was commanded by [[Iwan Raikes]], who would later become a [[Vice-Admiral of the United Kingdom|Vice-Admiral]].{{Sfn|Keleny|2012}} From 1951 to 1952, [[Lieutenant (Royal Navy)|Lieutenant]] (later [[Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)|Admiral of the Fleet]]) [[John Fieldhouse, Baron Fieldhouse]] served on the ''Aeneas''.{{Sfn|Heathcote|2002|p=10}}

''Aeneas'' took part in the Coronation Review of the Fleet to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.<ref>Souvenir Programme, ''Coronation Review of the Fleet, Spithead, 15 June 1953'', HMSO, Gale and Polden</ref>

''Aeneas'' played the part of the M1 submarine in the 1967 James Bond film ''[[You Only Live Twice (film)|You Only Live Twice]]''.

In 1972, ''Aeneas'' was loaned to [[Vickers]] for trials of the Submarine-Launched Airflight Missile (SLAM) system. The SLAM was a system which used [[Blowpipe missile|Shorts Blowpipe]] missiles to attack helicopters participating in [[anti-submarine warfare]]. The submarine would rise to [[periscope depth]] and the periscope would be used to spot the target. However, the SLAM system was not developed further because it was not operable in the night.{{Sfn|Jinks|Hennessy|2015|p=91}}

From 7 to 18 January 1972, ''Aeneas'' participated in Exercise Vendetta, along with [[HMS Dreadnought (S101)|HMS ''Dreadnought'']], [[HMS Ocelot (S17)|HMS ''Ocelot'']], [[HMS Osiris (S13)|HMS ''Osiris'']] and [[HMS Opossum (S19)|HMS ''Opposum'']].{{Sfn|Boniface|2003|p=64}} ''Aeneas'' was placed on the disposal list by the UK government in 1973.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Warships - Volume 927: debated on Friday 11 March 1977 |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1977-03-11/debates/0a1b56b9-000a-4f87-8b77-f7a028cb459a/Warships |access-date=2025-07-25 |website=Hansard – UK Parliament |language=en}}</ref>

On 26 September 2012, at the company's [[Le Mourillon]] plant, [[DCNS (company)|DNCS]] announced plans to design and build a submarine canister-based air defence weapon based on [[MBDA]]'s [[Mistral (missile)|Mistral]]. The concept is based on the British SLAM, [[Blowpipe missile|Submarine Launched Airflight Missile]],{{efn-lr|Not to be confused with the American SLAM [[Standoff Land Attack Missile|Stand off Land Attack Missile]]}} which was based on the Blowpipe developed by [[Vickers]] in the 1970s, and used onboard ''Aeneas''.<ref>Janes International Defence Review Vol 45 ''France revives hard-kill submarine defences'', page XIV</ref>

The ship was sold on 14 November 1974 and scrapped at [[Dunston on Tyne]].<ref name=":0" />

==Notes==
{{Notelist-lr}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==

* {{Cite book |last=Boniface |first=Patrick |title=Dreadnought: Britain's First Nuclear Powered Submarine |publisher=Periscope Publishing |year=2003 |isbn=9781904381099 |location=Cornwall}}
* {{Cite book |last=Campbell |first=N. J. M |url=https://archive.org/details/conwaysallworlds1922unse/page/n7/mode/2up?q=Ace |title=Conway's All The World's Fighting Ships, 1922-1946 |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |year=1980 |isbn=9780851771465 |location=London |pages=2–85 |chapter=Great Britain |url-access=registration}}
* {{Cite book |last=Heathcote |first=T. A. |title=The British Admirals of the Fleet 1734 – 1995: A Biographical Dictionary |publisher=Pen & Sword |year=2002 |isbn=9781473812703 |location=Barnsley, South Yorkshire}}
* {{Cite book |last=Jinks |first=James |title=The Silent Deep: The Royal Navy Submarine Service Since 1945 |last2=Hennessy |first2=Peter |author-link2=Peter Hennessy |publisher=Penguin UK |year=2015 |isbn=9780141973708 |location=London}}
* {{Cite book |last=Jones |first=Gareth Michael |title=The Development of Nuclear Propulsion in the Royal Navy, 1946-1975 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |year=2022 |isbn=9783031051296 |location=London |doi=10.1007/9783031051296}}
* {{Cite news |last=Keleny |first=Anne |date=19 January 2012 |title=Vice-Admiral Sir Iwan Raikes: Decorated submariner |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/viceadmiral-sir-iwan-raikes-decorated-submariner-6291544.html |work=The Independent}}

== Further reading ==
* {{Cite Colledge2006}}
* ''Submarines in Colour'' by [[Bill Gunston]] - Blandford Colour Series - Blandford - 1976 - {{ISBN|0-7137-0780-1}}

==External links==
* [http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/great_britain/submarines/pages/aeneas_p_427_page_1.htm Pictures of HMS ''Aeneas'' at MaritimeQuest]

{{Amphion class submarine}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aeneas (P427)}}
[[Category:Amphion-class submarines]]
[[Category:Cold War submarines of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Ships built on the River Mersey]]
[[Category:1945 ships]]