Dates: 1944 - 1971

H.M.S. Amphion

H.M.S. Amphion (P439), was an Amphion-class submarine of the Royal Navy, built by Vickers Armstrong and launched 31st August 1944.
The Amphion class (also known as the "A" class) of diesel-electric submarines were ordered by the Admiralty in 1943. They were originally designed to replace the S-class and T-class submarines, which were too slow and unable to dive deep enough to be suited to Pacific waters during World War II. They were an enlargement of the T class, arranged for fast, simple construction and to utilize much of the materials and equipment set aside for the T boats. They had a high, flared bow for excellent sea performance and featured an effective air conditioning system essential for Far East submarine operations. They were operated by a crew of between 60 and 68. Originally, 46 submarines were ordered, but only 18 were launched and 16 of them actually commissioned. The remaining two hulls were used for crush testing before being scrapped.

The Amphion class was one of only two new British designs produced during World War II - the other being the X-craft 4-man submarines. Wartime experience had shown that submarines had to operate at greater distances from the United Kingdom - in the Far East and Mediterranean for example; and with larger patrol areas than had been forseen, and consequently the A class was slightly larger and had greater range and habitability than the T class.

It was also designed for quicker construction - the hull was entirely welded and could be fabricated in sections. These techniques were new for the British although already standard practice for German U-boat construction. This meant that they took an average of 8 months from keel laying to launching, compared with around 15 months for the T class.

However, only two of the boats were completed before the end of the war — Amphion was launched in August 1944, followed by Astute in January 1945 and neither saw enemy action.

After World War II various modifications were made to these Overseas Patrol Submarines, as they were known. A snort mast based on the schnorkel used by U-boats during the war, a radar which could be used from periscope depth, and a night periscope were added.

In response to the start of the cold war in the early 1950s, their role changed from being anti-shipping warships to targetting Soviet submarines. This required the upper decks and conning towers to be streamlined and deck guns removed to make them faster and quieter underwater, and the sonar greatly improved.

The Amphion class served the Royal Navy for almost three decades, and was gradually replaced with the Porpoise and Oberon classes. The last operational Amphion-class boat, Andrew, was decommissioned in 1974. H.M.S. Amphion, later S-43, was the first of the class to be launched in August 1944. She was originally down as H.M.S. Anchorite but their names were exchanged before launch.

On 3rd September 1958 H.M.S. Amphion unfortunately hit a training ship and then after getting a taste for such things has another collision on January 10th 1967, she was scrapped at Inverkeithing on 6th July 1971.


Seven vessels of the British Royal Navy have borne the name H.M.S. Amphion, after the Greek hero Amphion.

The first Amphion, launched in 1780, was a 32-gun fifth-rate.

The second Amphion, launched in 1798, was a 32-gun fifth-rate.

The third Amphion, launched in 1846, was a wooden-hulled screw frigate.

The fourth Amphion, launched in 1883, was a Leander-class protected cruiser.

The fifth Amphion, launched in 1911, was an Active-class scout cruiser, the first Royal Navy ship to be sunk in World War I .

The sixth Amphion, launched in 1934, was a Leander-class light cruiser transferred to the Royal Australian Navy and renamed Perth.

The seventh Amphion, launched in 1944, was the name ship of her class of submarines. (Before launch she swapped names with Anchorite.)

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