HMS Walrus (S08) was the last of the Porpoise class submarines of the Royal Navy. She was launched on 22 September 1959, and commissioned on 10 February 1961.[1]

HMS Walrus (S08) and other ships in Kiel harbour, Germany
History
Royal Navy EnsignUnited Kingdom
NameHMS Walrus
BuilderScotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Greenock
Laid down12 February 1958
Launched22 September 1959
Commissioned10 February 1961
Fate
  • Sold in 1987
  • Broken up in 1991
General characteristics
Class and typePorpoise class submarine
Displacement
  • 2,080 tons surfaced
  • 2,450 tons submerged
Length290 ft (88 m)
Beam26 ft 7 in (8.10 m)
Draught18 ft (5.5 m)
Propulsion
  • 2 × Admiralty Standard range diesel generators, 1,650 hp (1.230 MW)
  • 2 × English Electric main motors, 12,000 hp (8.95 MW)
  • 2 shafts
Speed
  • 12 kn (22 km/h) surfaced
  • 17 kn (31 km/h)submerged
Range9,000 nmi (17,000 km) at 12 kn (22 km/h)
Complement71
Armament

Royal Navy Service

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On one occasion during exercises with HMS Ark Royal (R09) an error resulted in a practice torpedo becoming embedded in the submarine's casing.[2]

Following an 18-month refit at Devonport Dockyard she commissioned for the third time on 3 December 1969. In 1970 she was present at Portsmouth Navy Days[3] Walrus also attended the 1977 Silver Jubilee Fleet Review off Spithead when she was part of the Submarine Flotilla.[4]

She was sold in 1987 to the Seaforth Group to be refitted for resale to Egypt, but was broken up at Grimsby in 1991.

Notable commanding officers

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Notable commanding officers include Lieutenant Commander John Fieldhouse (1961–1962) and Lieutenant Commander Roger Lane-Nott (1974–1976).

References

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  1. ^ Submarines of The Royal Navy. Maritime Books. 1983. ISBN 0-907771-00-9.
  2. ^ Tall, J.J; Paul Kemp (1996). HM Submarines in Camera An Illustrated History of British Submarines. Sutton Publishing. p. 165. ISBN 0-7509-0875-0.
  3. ^ Programme, Navy Days Portsmouth, 29th-31st August 1970, p19.
  4. ^ Official Souvenir Programme, 1977. Silver Jubilee Fleet Review, HMSO

Publications

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