HMS Tapir (P335)

HMS "Tapir" (P335) was a Second World War British T class submarine, built by Vickers-Armstrong in Barrow-in-Furness. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name "Tapir", after the animal.

Career

As HMS "Tapir"

The submarine was laid down on the 29th of March 1943, and launched on 21 August 1944. Commissioned into the Royal Navy on the 30th of December of that year, she led a distinguished career for such a late entry into the war, torpedoing the German submarine U-486 in the North Sea, to the north-west of Bergen, Norway at position coord|60|44|N|04|39|E|type:landmark_type:XY on 1 April 1945, under the command of Lt J.C.Y. Roxbourgh, DSO, DSC, RN. [ [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3531.html HMS Tapir] , Uboot.net]

As HNLMS "Zeehond (2)"

On 18 June 1948, she was deemed surplus to requirements, and was loaned to the Netherlands for a period of five years, being commissioned into the Royal Netherlands Navy as HNLMS "Zeehond (2)" (P335) on 12 July, 1948. She served under the command of Ltz I Baron J.H. Mackay from 12 July 1948, until 30 April 1949, when, together with "O24" and "Hr.Ms. Van Kinsbergen", she visited Curaçao. Gravity measurements were taken during the trip (the first Dutch ones following the war) and the "Zeehond (2)" conducted a long snorkel trip on the way back. She was placed back under the command of Ltz Mackay until 28 November, 1949, and had a rather quiet career under several commanders, until she was transferred back to the Royal Navy on 15 July, 1953, finally being re-commissioned and re-named "Tapir" on 16 December of that year. [ [http://www.dutchsubmarines.com/boats/boat_zeehond2.htm HNLMS Zeehond (2)] , dutchsubmarines.com]

HMS "Tapir" was scrapped at Faslane in December 1966.

Exercises

June to July 1949: "Zeehond (2)" participates in Exercise Victory.

November 1949: "Zeehond (2)" and "Dolfijn (2)" participate in a Royal Navy exercise.

13 September - 26 September 1952: "Zeehond (2)" participates in the NATO exercise "Mainbrace".

Commanders

* 29 March 1943 - 18 June 1948: (as HMS "Tapir") Lt. J.C.Y. Roxbourgh, DSO, DSC, RN
* 12 July 1948 - 30 April 1949: (as "Zeehond (2)") Ltz. I Baron J.H. Mackay.
* 4 June - 28 November 1949: Ltz. I Baron J.H. Mackay.
* 28 November 1949 - 15 October 1950: Ltz. I C.E. Wolderling.
* 5 February - 27 February 1951: Ltz. I C.E. Wolderling.
* 27 February - 24 April 1951: Ltz. I R. van Wely.
* 24 April 1951 - 12 January 1953: Ltz. I C.E. Wolderling.
* 12 January - 1 June 1953: Ltz. I S. van Ravesteijn.

References

*"Submarines, War Beneath The Waves, From 1776 To The Present Day", by Robert Hutchinson
*Colledge