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HMS ''P222'' was a S-class submarine of the third batch built for the Royal Navy during World War II. She was probably sunk by an Italian ship in 1942. ==Design and description== The third batch was slightly enlarged and improved over the preceding second batch of the S-class. The submarines had a length of overall, a beam of and a draft of . They displaced on the surface and submerged.〔Chesneau, p. 51〕 The S-class submarines had a crew of 48 officers and ratings. They had a diving depth of .〔McCartney, p. 7〕 For surface running, the boats were powered by two diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a electric motor. They could reach on the surface and underwater.〔Bagnasco, p. 110〕 On the surface, the third batch boats had a range of at and at submerged.〔 ''P222'' was armed with six 21-inch torpedo tubes in the bow. She carried six reload torpedoes for the bow tubes for a grand total of a dozen torpedoes. Twelve mines could be carried in lieu of the torpedoes. The boat was also equipped with a 3-inch (76 mm) deck gun.〔Chesneau, pp. 51–52〕 ==Construction and career== HMS ''P222'' built by Vickers Armstrong and launched on September 20, 1941. She was initially assigned to the naval base at Gibraltar to guard the entrance to the Mediterranean. On 27 July 1942 ''P 222'' intercepted the Vichy French merchant ''Mitidja'' off Cape Palos, Spain. The ''Mitidja'' was boarded by the V-class destroyer HMS ''Wrestler'' and escorted to Gibraltar. ''P222'' left Gibraltar to patrol off Naples on 30 November 1942. She sent a number of messages on 7 December but after that date no further communication was made. She failed to arrive at Algiers on her due date and was reported overdue on 21 December 1942. The Italian torpedo boat ''Fortunale'' claimed to have sunk a submarine with depth charges on 12 December, south-east of Capri. This remains the most probable cause of the submarine’s loss but there has been no confirmation. Since she was sunk before her name could be formally assigned, she is known by her pennant number, P222. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「HMS P222」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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