hms hms purpose built submarine depot ship constructed royal_navy built late 1920s ship served china station second world war transferred egypt early ordered evacuate alexandria face german advance sailed lebanon end june escorted light cruiser seven destroyers strong escort protect june german submarine torpedoed sank description construction designed support class submarines peacetime additional submarines wartime carried inch deck guns inch torpedoes resupply submarines ship proved heavy anticipated enormously high metacentric height feet load built inches deep rolled way period seconds losing main subsequently increased depth inches feet long overall beam feet inch draft feet inches ship displaced long tons standard load long tons load crew numbered officers enlisted men accommodate additional men ship powered man diesel engines rated brake horsepower driving shafts speed knots mph carried long tons diesel fuel additional long tons submarines figures range available ship diesel generators electrical power special provisions submarine batteries armed low angle inch guns single mounts quick firing inch anti aircraft guns single mounts guns controlled high angle control system mounted bridge protected internal anti torpedo incorporated water jacket long tons amidships inch torpedo bulkhead located feet inclined waterline main deck inches thick ordered september naval estimates ship laid april vickers armstrong shipyard launched july completed july career hms served china station start second world war supporting 4th submarine flotilla refit singapore september february completion refit sailed hong_kong remained departed alexandria april arrived supported 1st operated years later vice admiral commander chief mediterranean_fleet ordered non essential ships leave alexandria june preparing demolish port facilities prevent capture advancing loaded stores personnel june establish new base lebanon sailed later day accompanied greek ship escorted light cruiser destroyers hero day fired torpedoes sank men lost sinking spare torpedoes aboard floated free wreck salvaged
HMS Medway (1928)