HMS Adamant (1940)
Encyclopedia
HMS Adamant was a World War II
submarine depot ship
.
Completed in 1942, she served in the Eastern Fleet (Colombo
/Trincomalee
) with the 4th Submarine Flotilla (comprising nine T-class boats
) from April 1943 until April 1945 and then moved with her flotilla to Fremantle
, Australia. In 1950, she returned to England, where she remained until 1954 as flagship of the Senior Officer, Reserve Fleet, Portsmouth
.
In October 1954, she was commissioned as depot ship to the 3rd Submarine Squadron at Rothesay Bay, where she was based until October 1957. She then moved further up the Clyde to Faslane on Gare Loch (1959 - 1962), ending the permanent RN presence at Rothesay. In early 1964, she moved to the 2nd Submarine Squadron at Devonport
. In March 1966 she was listed for disposal. In September 1970 she arrived at Inverkeithing to be broken up.
Adamant was capable of servicing up to nine submarines at a time while accommodating their crews. Her on-board facilities included a foundry, light and heavy machine shops, electrical and torpedo repair shops, and equipment to support fitters, patternmakers, coppersmiths and shipwrights. After the war, the increased technical sophistication of submarines, and the concomitant increase in the number of technical staff required to service them, reduced her support capacity to six submarines at a time.
In 1963, all her original guns were removed and replaced by two quadruple and two twin Bofors 40 mm gun
mounts. Her design included one-inch torpedo bulkhead 10 feet (3 m) inboard, and two-inch steel armour to protect her middle deck.
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
submarine depot ship
Submarine tender
A submarine tender is a type of ship that supplies and supports submarines.Submarines are small compared to most oceangoing vessels, and generally do not have the ability to carry large amounts of food, fuel, torpedoes, and other supplies, nor to carry a full array of maintenance equipment and...
.
Completed in 1942, she served in the Eastern Fleet (Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
/Trincomalee
Trincomalee
Trincomalee is a port city in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka and lies on the east coast of the island, about 113 miles south of Jaffna. It has a population of approximately 100,000 . The city is built on a peninsula, which divides the inner and outer harbours. Overlooking the Kottiyar Bay,...
) with the 4th Submarine Flotilla (comprising nine T-class boats
British T class submarine
The Royal Navy's T class of diesel-electric submarines was designed in the 1930s to replace the O, P and R classes. Fifty-three members of the class were built just before and during the Second World War, where they played a major role in the Royal Navy's submarine operations...
) from April 1943 until April 1945 and then moved with her flotilla to Fremantle
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
, Australia. In 1950, she returned to England, where she remained until 1954 as flagship of the Senior Officer, Reserve Fleet, Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
.
In October 1954, she was commissioned as depot ship to the 3rd Submarine Squadron at Rothesay Bay, where she was based until October 1957. She then moved further up the Clyde to Faslane on Gare Loch (1959 - 1962), ending the permanent RN presence at Rothesay. In early 1964, she moved to the 2nd Submarine Squadron at Devonport
HMNB Devonport
Her Majesty's Naval Base Devonport , is one of three operating bases in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy . HMNB Devonport is located in Devonport, in the west of the city of Plymouth in Devon, England...
. In March 1966 she was listed for disposal. In September 1970 she arrived at Inverkeithing to be broken up.
Adamant was capable of servicing up to nine submarines at a time while accommodating their crews. Her on-board facilities included a foundry, light and heavy machine shops, electrical and torpedo repair shops, and equipment to support fitters, patternmakers, coppersmiths and shipwrights. After the war, the increased technical sophistication of submarines, and the concomitant increase in the number of technical staff required to service them, reduced her support capacity to six submarines at a time.
In 1963, all her original guns were removed and replaced by two quadruple and two twin Bofors 40 mm gun
Bofors 40 mm gun
The Bofors 40 mm gun is an anti-aircraft autocannon designed by the Swedish defence firm of Bofors Defence...
mounts. Her design included one-inch torpedo bulkhead 10 feet (3 m) inboard, and two-inch steel armour to protect her middle deck.