British V-class submarine
_(IWM_FL_004031).jpg) HMS Venturer (P68) | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Operators: |
 Royal Navy Free French Naval Forces Royal Danish Navy Royal Hellenic Navy Royal Norwegian Navy |
| Preceded by: | U-class |
| Succeeded by: | Amphion class |
| Planned: | 42 |
| Completed: | 34 named (8 more never named) of which only 22 were completed. |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | Surfaced – 545 tons standard, 658 tons full load/ Submerged – 740 tons |
| Length: | 204 ft 6 in (62.33 m) |
| Beam: | 16 ft 1 in (4.90 m) |
| Draught: | 15 ft 3 in (4.65 m) |
| Propulsion: | 2 shaft diesel-electric, 2 Paxman diesel generators + electric motors, 615 / 825 hp |
| Speed: | 11.25 knots surfaced, 10 knots submerged |
| Complement: | 33 |
| Armament: |
4 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes – (bow internal), 8 torpedoes |
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 hull plating 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), completed as HNMS Utsira.
- 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
References
- ↑ Conways All the worlds Fighting Ships 1922-46
- ↑ Vampire-class Submarines
- Allied Warships – Submarine – V Class
- Derek Walters, The History of the British 'U' Class Submarine. (Pen & Sword, 2004).
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to British V class submarines. |
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