D class submarine

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The Royal Navy patrol submarines evovled from the D class boats. They were designed to be propelled by diesel motors on the service to avoid the problems with petrol engines experienced with the A class. These boats were designed for foreign service with an endurance of 2500nm at 10 knots on the surface and much improved living conditions for a larger crew.

D boats were fitted with twin screws for greater manoeuvrablity and were fitted with saddle tanks. The D class were the first submarines to be equipped with deck guns forward of the conning tower beginning with D6. Also, reserve buoyancy was increased to 20.6%. Armament also included three 18 ich toredo tubes (2 vertically in the bow and 1 in the stern). D class was also the first class of British submarine to have standard radio fitted. The aerial was attached to the mast of the conning tower that was lowered before diving.

The boats cost between £79,910 and £89,410 each excluding the deck gun. The D class were based at Harwich, Immingham, Blyth and Dover. There wartime role was to sink German warships. In the latter stages of World War 1 the D class were used for training crews based at Portsmouth.