HMS Springer

HMS Springer
History
Royal Navy EnsignUnited Kingdom
NameHMS Springer
BuilderCammell Laird & Co Limited, Birkenhead
Laid down8 May 1944
Launched14 May 1945
Commissioned2 August 1945
FateSold to Israeli Navy on 9 October 1958
Israel
NameINS Tanin
Acquired9 October 1958
Honors and
awards
Six-Day War Ribbon
FateListed for disposal, 1972
General characteristics
Displacement
  • 814-872 tons surfaced
  • 990 tons submerged
Length217 ft (66 m)
Beam23 ft 6 in (7.16 m)
Draught11 ft (3.4 m)
Speed
  • 14.75 knots surfaced
  • 8 knots submerged
Complement48 officers and men
Armament

HMS Springer 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 14 May 1945. So far, she has been the only boat of the Royal Navy to bear the name Springer.

History

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Built as the Second World War was drawing to a close, she did not see much action.[1] In 1953 she took part in the Fleet Review to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.[2]

Silhouette of INS "Tanin"

Springer was sold to the Israeli Navy in 1958 and renamed Tanin (Hebrew: תנין; Crocodile or Tannin). Tanin participated in the Six-Day War,[3] launching naval commandos to attack the port of Alexandria. She then tried to torpedo an Egyptian sloop but was severely damaged by a depth charge counterattack.[4] Her commander was awarded the Medal of Courage for his actions at the port of Alexandria.[5] She received spare parts from her sister ship Rahav, formerly HMS Sanguine, when Rahav was retired in 1968. Tanin was listed for disposal in 1972.

A Gal-class submarine named Tanin served the Israeli Navy from 1977 to 2002, and the Dolphin-class submarine INS Tanin was delivered in May 2012.

References

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  1. ^ HMS Springer, Uboat.net
  2. ^ Souvenir Programme, Coronation Review of the Fleet, Spithead, 15th June 1953, HMSO, Gale and Polden
  3. ^ "Israeli S Class Submarines". submarines.dotan.net. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  4. ^ "IMRA - Friday, September 25, 2009 Israeli navy takes press on sub armed with (according to foreign reports) nuclear missiles". www.imra.org.il. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
  5. ^ "מקור ראשון – חדשות, פרשנות, דעות וכתבות מגזין מהארץ ומהעולם". www.nrg.co.il. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
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