British V class submarine

The British V class submarine (officially "U-Class Long hull 1941–42 program"^[1]) was a class of submarines built for the Royal Navy during World War II. 42 vessels were ordered to this design, all to be built by Vickers-Armstrong at either Barrow-in-Furness or at Walker-on-Tyne, but only 22 were completed. Note that 7 of these vessels received 'U' names (conversely, 4 of the 'U' class had received names beginning with 'V').

The V-class submarines were very similar to the preceding U-class (short-hull) boats, of which they constituted a linear development, but had 3/4" pressure plate instead of 1/2" for deeper diving, also a lengthened stern and fining at the bows to reduce noise and improve underwater handling.

They were sometimes referred to as Vampire-class submarines after HMS Vampire.^[2]

Ships

The vessels which were ordered are shown below in their programme order (not all completed construction):

The first eight vessels were ordered on 5 December 1941 under that year's programme.

• HMS Venturer
• HMS Viking
• HMS Veldt, completed as RHS Pipinos (Y8)
• HMS Vampire
• HMS Vox
• HMS Vigorous
• HMS Virtue (P75)
• HMS Visigoth (P76)

The next eighteen vessels were ordered on 21 May 1942 under that year's programme, but six of these were cancelled in early 1944.

• HMS Vivid (P77)
• HMS Voracious (P78)
• HMS Vulpine (P79)
• HMS Varne (P81)
• HMS Upshot (P82)
• HMS Urtica (P83)
• HMS Vineyard (P84), completed as FFL Doris (P84)
• HMS Variance (P85)
• HMS Vengeful (P86)
• HMS Vortex (P87), completed as FFL Morse (P87)
• HMS Veto (P88), cancelled 23 January 1944 and scrapped on the slip.
• HMS Virile (P89), cancelled 23 January 1944 and scrapped on the slip.
• HMS Visitant (P91), cancelled 23 January 1944 (never laid down).
• HMS Upas (P92), cancelled February 1944 and scrapped on the slip.
• HMS Ulex (P93), cancelled February 1944 (never laid down).
• HMS Utopia (P94), cancelled February 1944 (never laid down).
• HMS Virulent (P95)
• HMS Volatile (P96)

A further six vessels were ordered on 17 November 1942 under the same year's programme, but four of these were cancelled on 23 January 1944.

• HMS Votary (P29)
• HMS Vagabond (P18)
• HMS Vantage, cancelled 23 January 1944 (never laid down).
• HMS Vehement (P25), cancelled 23 January 1944 (never laid down).
• HMS Venom (P27), cancelled 23 January 1944 (never laid down).
• HMS Verve (P28), cancelled 23 January 1944 (never laid down).

Finally, a further ten vessels were ordered under the 1943 Programme, but all of these were cancelled on 20 November 1943; eight of these were never given names.

• HMS Unbridled (P11), cancelled 20 November 1943 (never laid down).
• HMS Upward (P16), cancelled 20 November 1943 (never laid down).

See also

Media related to [//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:British_V_class_submarines British V class submarines] at Wikimedia Commons

References

1. ^ Conways All the worlds Fighting Ships 1922-46
2. ^ Vampire-class Submarines

• Allied Warships – Submarine – V Class
• Derek Walters, The History of the British 'U' Class Submarine. (Pen & Sword, 2004).