HMS Alliance (P417)

HMS "Alliance" (P147) (pennant number changed in May 1961 to S67) is a Royal Navy A-class, "Amphion" class or "Acheron" class submarine, laid down towards the end of the Second World War and completed in 1947. The submarine is the only surviving example of the class, having been a memorial and museum ship since 1981.

The "Amphion" class submarines were designed for use in the Far East, where the size of the Pacific Ocean made long range, high surface speed and relative comfort for the crew important features to allow for much larger patrol areas and longer periods at sea than British submarines operating in the Atlantic or Mediterranean had to contend with. "Alliance" was one of the seven A-class boats completed with a snort mast - the other boats all had masts fitted by 1949.

From 9 October 1947 until 8 November the submarine undertook a lengthy experimental cruise in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa to investigate the limits of the snort mast, remaining submerged for 30 days.

Between 1958 and 1960 the submarine was extensively modernised by having the deck gun and external torpedo tubes removed, the hull streamlined and the sail replaced with a larger (26 feet 6 inch high), more streamlined one constructed of aluminium. The purpose of these modifications was to make the submarine quieter and faster underwater. Following the modifications the wireless transmitting aerial was supported on a frame behind the sail; but was later replaced with a whip aerial on the starboard side of the fin which could be rotated hydraulically to a horizontal position.

The original gun access hatch was retained however, allowing "Alliance" to be briefly equipped with a small calibre deck gun again when serving in the Far East.

In May 1961 the pennant numbers of British submarines were changed so that all surviving submarines completed after the Second World War were now numbered from S01 upwards, and "Alliance" was given the number S67.

From 1973 until 1979 she was the static training boat at the HMS "Dolphin" shore establishment, replacing HMS "Tabard" in this role. In August 1979, she was towed to Vosper Ship Repairers Limited's yard at Southampton to have her keel strengthened so that she could be lifted out of the water and preserved as a memorial to those British submariners who have died in service. Since 1981 the submarine has been a museum ship, raised out of the water and on display at the Royal Navy Submarine Museum in Gosport.

In recent years, as many as 100 pigeons have been nesting in the submarine, causing extensive corrosive damage. Urgent restoration work is required to save the ship, but funds are yet to be allocated. An appeal to save the ship was started in October 2007 and is expected to last until October 2009. The chairman is Vice-Admiral Sir Tim McClement. In early 2008, the council was criticized for trapping the pigeons, even though it was co-ordinating its efforts with the RSPCA. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/7281119.stm BBC NEWS | England | Hampshire | Submarine pigeon traps criticised ] ] On 10 June 2008, hopes were raised when His Royal Highness Prince William of Wales, Commodore-in-Chief of Submarines, became patron of an appeal to save the museum ship. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/hampshire/7446294.stm BBC NEWS | England | Hampshire | William tours vintage submarine ] ]

External links

* [http://www.rnsubmus.co.uk/tour/alliance.htm HMS Alliance - virtual tour]
* [http://www.hnsa.org/ships/alliance.htm HNSA Web Page: HMS Alliance]

References

*cite book | title = The submarine Alliance (Anatomy of the ship series) | author = John Lambert and David Hill | publisher = Conway Maritime Press | year = 1986 | id = ISBN 0-85177-380-X

*cite book | title = HMS Alliance Submarine Memorial (guidebook)