service, the last to carry a deck gun and the last submarine designed during the Second World War to be still at sea.
Just prior the war, in addition to vessels built for the Admiralty, Vickers began the construction of four Reis Class submarines for the Turkish Navy. On the outbreak of war, the four 687-ton. boats (three of which were already building) were requisitioned by the Royal Navy, and on completion were temporarily commissioned as P.611, P.612, P.614 and P.615. Similar to the.. Class, but with a weaker armament, the first two were eventually despatched to Turkey in 1942 with instructions to 'attack the enemy only in self defence en route'. They were renamed Oruc Reis and Murat Reis on recommissioning in Turkey. The. remaining pair became useful additions to the Fleet, and served initially as training submarines in Freetown then later in home
