HMS Syrtis (P241)
Encyclopedia
HMS Syrtis was an S class submarine
of the Royal Navy
, and part of the Third Group built of that class. She was built by Cammell Laird and launched on March 23, 1943. So far she has been the only ship to bear the name Syrtis, the Latin
name for the Gulf of Gabes
in the Mediterranean Sea
.
She served in home waters, and left Lerwick
on March 16, 1944 to patrol off the Norwegian coast. On March 20 she was ordered to an area near Bodø
. Two days later she sank the steamer Narvik with gunfire. On the 28th Syrtis was ordered to return to Lerwick. The signal was never acknowledged and the submarine failed to return. German reports indicate the sinking of a submarine in the Bodø area at the time by shore batteries, but the most likely cause of her loss is a mine.
British S class submarine (1931)
The S-class submarines of the Royal Navy were originally designed and built during the modernisation of the submarine force in the early 1930s to meet the need for smaller boats to patrol the restricted waters of the North Sea and the Mediterranean Sea replacing the British H class submarines...
of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, and part of the Third Group built of that class. She was built by Cammell Laird and launched on March 23, 1943. So far she has been the only ship to bear the name Syrtis, the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
name for the Gulf of Gabes
Gulf of Gabès
The Gulf of Gabès is a gulf on Tunisia's east coast in the Mediterranean Sea, off North Africa. The gulf roughly spans the coast from modern day the town of Mahrès in Sfax Gouvernorate to Djerba...
in the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
.
She served in home waters, and left Lerwick
Lerwick
Lerwick is the capital and main port of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, located more than 100 miles off the north coast of mainland Scotland on the east coast of the Shetland Mainland...
on March 16, 1944 to patrol off the Norwegian coast. On March 20 she was ordered to an area near Bodø
Bodø
is a city and a municipality in Nordland county, Norway. It is part of the Salten region.The city of Bodø was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838 . Bodin was merged with Bodø on 1 January 1968. Skjerstad was merged with Bodø on 1 January 2005...
. Two days later she sank the steamer Narvik with gunfire. On the 28th Syrtis was ordered to return to Lerwick. The signal was never acknowledged and the submarine failed to return. German reports indicate the sinking of a submarine in the Bodø area at the time by shore batteries, but the most likely cause of her loss is a mine.