HMS Sahib

Sahib on the surface
History
United Kingdom
NameSahib
Ordered23 January 1940
BuilderCammell Laird, Birkenhead
Laid down5 July 1940
Launched19 January 1942
Commissioned13 May 1942
IdentificationPennant number: P212
FateSunk, 24 April 1943
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeS-class submarine
Displacement
  • 842 long tons (856 t) (surfaced)
  • 990 long tons (1,010 t) (submerged)
Length217 ft (66.1 m)
Beam23 ft 9 in (7.2 m)
Draught14 ft 8 in (4.5 m)
Installed power
  • 1,900 bhp (1,400 kW) (diesel)
  • 1,300 hp (970 kW) (electric)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph) (surfaced)
  • 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph) (submerged)
Range6,000 nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) (surfaced); 120 nmi (220 km; 140 mi) at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) (submerged)
Test depth300 ft (91.4 m)
Complement48
Sensors and
processing systems
Armament

HMS Sahib was a third-batch S-class submarine built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War. She was launched on 19 January 1942 and commissioned on 13 May 1942. She was the only British naval vessel to bear the name Sahib.

After an initial patrol in the Arctic Ocean off Norway, Sahib sailed to Gibraltar, then patrolled the Alboran Sea, sinking one ship and damaging another. Sahib then transited to Malta, from which she conducted three war patrols. On the second one, Sahib sank the Italian transport SS Scillin, which was transporting Allied prisoners of war; Scillin sank with the loss of 787 men. On her next patrol, Sahib sank a large Italian merchant ship, then damaged a coastal trading vessel. The submarine was then assigned to join another submarine flotilla and operated from Algiers in French North Africa. In her next patrols, Sahib sank the German submarine U-301, two Italian merchant ships, and two small sailing vessels.

On 24 April 1943, Sahib sank a heavily protected Italian merchant; however, she was then attacked with depth charges and forced to surface. The crew of Sahib were evacuated and rescued with only one casualty by the Italian ships while the submarine was scuttled and sank.