HMS K1
| Career |  |
|---|---|
| Name: | HMS K1 |
| Launched: | 14 November 1916 at Portsmouth |
| Fate: | Sunk to prevent capture following accidental collision, 18 November 1917 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | K-class submarine |
| Displacement: | 1,980 long tons (2,010 t) (surfaced) 2,566 long tons (2,607 t) (submerged) |
| Length: | 339 ft (103 m) |
| Beam: | 26 ft 6 in (8.08 m) |
| Draught: | 20 ft 11 in (6.38 m) |
| Installed power: | 21,100 shp (15,700 kW) (steam turbines) 5,760 hp (4,300 kW) (electric motors) 800 hp (600 kW) (diesel generator) |
| Propulsion: | 2 × Brown-Curtis or Parsons geared steam turbines 2 × oil-fired Yarrow boilers 4 × electric motors 1 × Vickers diesel generator for charging batteries on the surface 2 × 3-blade 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m)-diameter screws |
| Speed: | 24 kn (28 mph; 44 km/h) (surfaced) 8 kn (9.2 mph; 15 km/h) (submerged) |
| Range: |
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| Complement: | 59 (6 officers and 53 ratings) |
| Armament: | 8 × 18 in (460 mm) torpedo tubes (4 bow, 4 beam; 8 spare torpedoes), 2 × 18 in (460 mm) torpedo tubes originally fitted on deck, but later removed, 2 × 4 in (100 mm) guns, 1 × 3 in (76 mm) gun |
HMS K1 was a First World War steam turbine-propelled K-class submarine of the Royal Navy.
She was sunk to prevent her from being captured following a collision with K4 off the Danish coast. She had been patrolling on the surface as part of a flotilla of submarines operating in line ahead. The flotilla was led by the light cruiser Blonde, followed by K1, K3, K4, and K7.
Blonde turned sharply to avoid three cruisers which crossed her bows from starboard to port, which caused confusion amongst the following submarines and in the manoeuvring seawater poured into the boiler room through the funnels and put the boiler fires out (a common problem in K-class submarines). The loss of steam pressure caused the submarine to slow down and although K3 just missed her, K4 struck a blow alongside the conning tower which pierced the hull.
Seawater poured into the control room and reached the batteries under the floor causing chlorine gas to be produced. The damaged submarine signalled to Blonde that she was sinking and the 56 crew of the submarine were transferred to the cruiser using the cruiser's two cutters. It was decided that K1 could not be saved and so she was sunk by gunfire from the cruiser.