Name HMS Sahib Laid down 5 July 1940 Fate Sunk 24 April 1943 Construction started 5 July 1940 Length 66 m Builder Cammell Laird | Ordered 23 January 1940 Commissioned 13 May 1942 Badge = Launched 19 January 1942 Draft 3.4 m | |
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HMS Sahib 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 19 January 1942. So far she has been the only ship to bear the name Sahib.
Contents
Career
Sahib was assigned to the Mediterranean theatre, where she sank seven Italian sailing vessels, including Ina S., Francesco Padre, Santa Maria Del Salvazione, San Vincenzo and Pier Della Vigne, the Italian merchants Honestas and Sidamo, the German (former French) transport San Antonio, the German merchant Qued Tiflet, and the small Italian merchant Tosca. Sahib also damaged the Italian tug Valente and a barge with gunfire. The tug was hit 45 times and the barge 25 times. The tug was set on fire and completely burnt out. On 21 January 1943 she sank the German submarine U-301. There was only one survivor from U-301.
On 14 November 1942 Sahib torpedoed and sank the Italian transport SS Scillin. Scillin was transporting Allied prisoners of war, of which 787 drowned.
Sinking
On 16 April 1943, Sahib attacked and sank the merchant ship Galiolo, 2 miles (3.2 km) off Capo di Milazzo. After firing, Sahib almost broke the surface, which was noticed by an aircraft, which dropped a bomb but to no effect. The torpedo boat Climene, assisted by the corvettes Gabbiano and Euterpe, began a heavy depth charge attack resulting in the submarine's pressure hull being holed at the aft ends. Unable to repair the damage, the ship was abandoned. She surfaced and was attacked by the aircraft. Sahib was scuttled to prevent her capture. One of the crew was wounded and died on 3 May 1943.