HMS Acheron (P411) was an of the Royal Navy, laid down 26 August 1944, launched 25 March 1947 and completed in 1948.
Like all s, Acheron had a displacement of 1360t when at the surface and 1590t while submerged. It had a total length of 293feet, a beam of 22feet, and a draught of 18feet. The submarine was powered by two Admiralty ML eight-cylinder diesel engines generating a power of each. It also contained four electric motors each producing that drove two shafts.[1] It could carry a maximum of 219t of diesel, although it usually carried between 159t165t.[1]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 18.5kn and a submerged speed of 8kn.[2] When submerged, it could operate at 3kn for 90nmi or at 8kn for 16nmi. When surfaced, it was able to travel 15200nmi at 10kn or 10500nmi at 11kn.[1] Acheron was fitted with ten 21inches torpedo tubes, one QF 4 inch naval gun Mk XXIII, one Oerlikon 20 mm cannon, and a .303 British Vickers machine gun. Its torpedo tubes were fitted to the bow and stern, and it could carry twenty torpedoes. Its complement was sixty-one crew members.[1]
Acheron took part in the Coronation Review of the Fleet to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.[3] It carried out 'General Naval Service' around the UK until the end of 1964. A geomagnetic storm in February 1956, during solar cycle 19, interfered with radio communications and prompted a search for the submarine after it lost radio contact.[4] From August to December 1959, It took part in a cruise to South Africa and Pakistan.[5]
It was decommissioned and broken up in 1972 at the yard of J Cashmore of Newport.[6]
| From | To | Captain | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | 1949 | Lieutenant-Commander F D G Challis DSC RN | |
| 1953 | 1953 | Lieutenant S H Kempster RN | |
| 1956 | 1956 | Lieutenant J Fieldhouse RN | |
| 1965 | 1966 | Lieutenant D C Elliot RN | |