HMS P222

History
Class and type:	S class submarine
Name:	HMS P222
Ordered:	7 April 1943
Builder:	Vickers Armstrong Barrow in Furness
Laid down:	10 August 1940
Launched:	September 20, 1941
Commissioned:	4 March 1942
Fate:	Most likely sunk off Capri, 12 December 1942 by Italian torpedo boat
General characteristics
Class and type:	S-class submarine
Displacement:	842 long tons (856 t) surfaced 990 long tons (1,010 t) submerged
Length:	217 ft (66.1 m)
Beam:	23 ft 9 in (7.2 m)
Draught:	14 ft 8 in (4.5 m)
Installed power:	1,900 bhp (1,400 kW) (diesel) 1,300 hp (970 kW) (electric)
Propulsion:	2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
Speed:	15 kn (28 km/h; 17 mph) surfaced 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph) submerged
Range:	120 nmi (220 km; 140 mi) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph) surface; 6,000 nmi (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph)
Test depth:	300 feet (91.4 m)
Complement:	48
Armament:	6 × bow 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes 1 × 3-inch (76 mm) deck gun

HMS P222 was a S-class submarine of the third batch built for the Royal Navy during World War II. She was probably sunk by an Italian ship in 1942.

Design and description

The third batch was slightly enlarged and improved over the preceding second batch of the S-class. The submarines had a length of 217 feet (66.1 m) overall, a beam of 23 feet 9 inches (7.2 m) and a draft of 14 feet 8 inches (4.5 m). They displaced 842 long tons (856 t) on the surface and 990 long tons (1,010 t) submerged.^[1] The S-class submarines had a crew of 48 officers and ratings. They had a diving depth of 300 feet (91.4 m).^[2]

For surface running, the boats were powered by two 950-brake-horsepower (708 kW) diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 650-horsepower (485 kW) electric motor. They could reach 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) on the surface and 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) underwater.^[3] On the surface, the third batch boats had a range of 6,000 nautical miles (11,000 km; 6,900 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) and 120 nmi (220 km; 140 mi) at 3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph) submerged.^[2]

P222 was armed with six 21-inch torpedo tubes in the bow. She carried six reload torpedoes for the bow tubes for a grand total of a dozen torpedoes. Twelve mines could be carried in lieu of the torpedoes. The boat was also equipped with a 3-inch (76 mm) deck gun.^[4]

Construction and career

HMS P222 built by Vickers Armstrong and launched on September 20, 1941. She was initially assigned to the naval base at Gibraltar to guard the entrance to the Mediterranean. On 27 July 1942 P 222 intercepted the Vichy French merchant Mitidja off Cape Palos, Spain. The Mitidja was boarded by the V-class destroyer HMS Wrestler and escorted to Gibraltar.

P222 left Gibraltar to patrol off Naples on 30 November 1942. She sent a number of messages on 7 December but after that date no further communication was made. She failed to arrive at Algiers on her due date and was reported overdue on 21 December 1942. The Italian torpedo boat Fortunale claimed to have sunk a submarine with depth charges on 12 December, south-east of Capri. This remains the most probable cause of the submarine’s loss but there has been no confirmation. Since she was sunk before her name could be formally assigned, she is known by her pennant number, P222.

Notes

References

• Akermann, Paul (2002). Encyclopaedia of British Submarines 1901–1955 (reprint of the 1989 ed.). Penzance, Cornwall: Periscope Publishing. ISBN 1-904381-05-7. 
• Bagnasco, Erminio (1977). Submarines of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-87021-962-6. 
• Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7. 
• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8. OCLC 67375475. 
• McCartney, Innes (2006). British Submarines 1939–1945. New Vanguard. 129. Oxford, UK: Osprey. ISBN 1-84603-007-2. 

External links

• HMS P222 at Uboat.net
• SUBMARINE LOSSES 1904 TO PRESENT DAY

S-class submarines
Royal Navy	First Group Seahorse Starfish Sturgeon Swordfish Second Group Salmon Sealion Seawolf Shark Snapper Spearfish Sterlet Sunfish Third Group P222 Safari Saga Sahib Sanguine Saracen Satyr Sceptre Scorcher Scotsman Scythian Sea Devil Seadog Sea Nymph Sea Rover Sea Scout Selene Seneschal Sentinel Seraph Shakespeare Shalimar Sibyl Sickle Sidon Simoom Sirdar Sleuth Solent Spark Spearhead Spirit Spiteful Splendid Sportsman Springer Spur Statesman Stoic Stonehenge Storm Stratagem Strongbow Stubborn Sturdy Stygian Subtle Supreme Surf Syrtis
Other operators  French Navy Saphir class Saphir Sibylle Sirène Sultane  Israeli Navy Rahav Tanin  Royal Netherlands Navy Zeehond  Portuguese Navy Narval Náutilo Neptuno  Soviet Navy V-1
Preceded by: Rainbow class Followed by: River class List of submarines of the Royal Navy List of submarine classes of the Royal Navy

Shipwrecks and maritime incidents in December 1942
Shipwrecks	1 Dec: HMAS Armidale 2 Dec: Lupo, HMS Quentin 3 Dec: Empire Dabchick, HMS Penylan 4 Dec: Muzio Attendolo, HMS Traveller 6 Dec: USS Grebe 7 Dec: Ceramic 8 Dec: U-254, U-611 9 Dec: HMS Marigold 11 Dec: HMS Blean 12 Dec: HMS P222, Teruzuki 14 Dec: Canberra Maru 15 Dec: U-626 17 Dec: HMS Firedrake 18 Dec: HMS Partridge, Tenryū 25 Dec: HMS P48 26 Dec: U-357 27 Dec: U-336 28 Dec: Choyo Maru 29 Dec: USS Wasmuth 30 Dec: HMS Fidelity 31 Dec: HMS Achates, HMS Bramble, Friedrich Eckoldt, USS Rescuer Unknown date: HMS P311
Other incidents	9 Dec: HMS Porcupine 12 Dec: Empire Centaur, Tannenfels 14 Dec: HMS Argonaut
1941 1942 1943 November 1942 January 1943

Coordinates: 40°29′00″N 14°20′00″E / 40.48333°N 14.33333°E / 40.48333; 14.33333