HMS
Sidon was built by Cammell Laird Shipyard (Birkenhead, U.K.), pennant
P 259, laid down 7th July 19143, launched 4th September 1944, and
commissioned 23rd November 1944. She was 814-872 tones surfaced
and 990 tons submerged, 217 feet, 23 feet 6inches beam and 11ft
draught. She was one of the third group of S-class submarines built
by Cammell Laird. At 0825 hours on 16th June 1955 she was lying
alongside the depot ship HMS Maidstone at Portland when one of her
torpedoes exploded. The torpedoes had no warheads, but did have
the new volatile hydrogen peroxide propellant. The crew had just
embarked the torpedoes before going to sea for trial firings. A
sudden uprush of air and smoke poured through the conning tower
hatch. Her captain and others who were on the bridge, and others
from Maidstone, entered the boat to assist rescue operations. At
0845 hours the submarine sank without warning by the bows. There
were 56 men onboard at the time. Crew, trainees and trials personnel
for the trip. Three officers and ten ratings lost their lives but
the remainder were saved. The wreck was raised on 23rd June 1955
and beached the next day. The 13 bodies were recovered two days
later. She was used as A/S target in June 1957. She lies a few miles
West of Portland intact and upright. Another explosion of the hydrogen-peroxide
torpedo at Arrochar torpedo range caused the development of the
Mk12 torpedo to be cancelled.
For
further details see Wikipedia
