SUBMARINES. British submarines may be roughly divided into three types: ocean-going, sea-going, and coastal, each recognisable by their respective tonnage. Although belonging to one of the less publicised sections of the Royal Navy, and one, moreover, which it was at one time seriously proposed should be abolished, no branch has more distinguished itself since the outbreak of war. The epic of the "Salmon." need not be re-told here. Of the vessels illustrated on this page there is only space to speak of the "Ursula," one of three "baby" submarines having a displacement of no more than 540-741 tons. The " Ursula," it will be remembered, penetrated through the Elbe defences and torpedoed and, sank on December 14 a six-thousand-ton German cruiser of the "Köln" class, although she was surrounded at the time by no fewer" than six destroyers. On March 21 the " Ursula" sank the Nazi iron-ore ship "Heddernheim " (4947 tons), off Northern Denmark. The "Undine," a vessel of the same class, was lost while engaged in especially hazardous duty on January 16. The "Seahorse" and "Starfish," of the medium-sized "Swordfish" class, were sunk at the same time. All the crews of these vessels are believed to have been rescued and made prisoners of war. Although, as already mentioned, the Royal Navy has never specialised in submarines to the degree in which some foreign navies have, our designers have been extraordinarily successful with their products-from the time of the much-liked ‘H’ and "L" classes down to the "Thames," which holds the world's record for speed, and the five mine-layers of the" Porpoise" type. An idea of what formidable fighting-machines British submarines are is given by the 20,000 miles radius of action accredited to the" Thames" class by the French manual "Flottes de Combat." This is nearly twice as great as the radius of the huge French "Surcouf," the largest submarine in the world.  Key to Sectional Drawing of Submarine 1. Bridge 2. Periscope 3. Quick-Firing Gun 4. Wireless Tube 5. Conning Tower 6. Superstructure 7. Hatches Closed 8. Fore Torpedo Flat and Crew’s Space 9. Anchor 10. Torpedo Tube 11. After Torpedo Flat 12. Steering Gear Power Unit 13. Main Motor Switchboard 14. Wireless Officer and Officer’s Space 15. Torpedoes Stowed 16. Steersman at Vertical Rudder Steering-Wheel 17. Hydroplane Operating Gear and Main Battery Switchboard 18. Officer’s Lockers and Bulkhead 19. Forward Torpedo Tube 20. Torpedo Tube Doors or Shutters 21. Ballast Tank 22. Main Electric Motors for Cruising Submerged 23. Diesel Motors 24. Internal Ballast Tank 25. After Battery Tank and Compressed Air Bottles 26. Forward Battery Tank and Compressed Air Bottles 27. Internal Ballast Tank 28. Forward Hydroplane or Diving Rudder OCEAN-GOING SUBMARINES TRITON CLASS  Truant Triton, Tigris, Torbay, Triumph, Triad, Truant, Tetrarch, Thetis, Trident, Taku, Talisman, Tribune, Tuna. All laid down in 1936, 37 and 38. Displacement: Triton 1095 - 1579; Others 1090 - 1575 tons. Complement: 53 Dimensions: 265 x 26.5 x 12 ft. (draught) Speed: 15’25-9 knots Guns: One 4 in. Torpedo Tubes: Ten 21 in. Cost: Averages just under £350,000 Note: ‘Thetis’ foundered on trials, June 1 1939. Under salvage. ‘Tarpon’ and ‘Thistle’ lost April 1940. RAINBOW CLASS  Rainbow Rainbow (1932), Regent, Regulus (1930) and Rover (1931). Displacement: 1475 - 2030 tons Complement: 50 Dimensions: 260 x 28 x 13 ft.10 in. (draught) Horse Power and Speed: 4400 (17.5 knots), 1320 (9 knots). Torpedo Tubes: Eight 21 in. PROPOISE CLASS (MINE-LAYERS)  Porpoise Porpoise, Narwhal, Rorqual, Grampus, Cachalot Displacement: Porpoise 1500 - 2053; Others 1520 - 2157 Tons. Complement: 55 Dimensions: Porpoise 267 x 29 5.6 x 13.75 ft. (draught), Others 272.5 x 25.5 x 15 ft. Horse Power and Speed: Diesels, 3300; Electric, 1630 = 15.75 Knots on the surface. Porpoise 15 knots. Guns: One 4 in. And 2 M.G. Torpedo Tubes: Six 21 in. (bow) ODIN CLASS (1928)  Odin Odin, Olympus, Orpheus, Osiris, Oswald, and Otus. Displacement: 1475 - 2038 tons. Complement: 50 Dimensions: 283.5 x 28 x 13.5 ft. (draught). Horse Power and Speed: 44- 1320 = 17.5/9 Knots. Guns: One 4 in. And 2 M.G. Torpedo Tubes: Eight 21 in. (Six bow, Two stern) PARTHIAN CLASS (1930)  Perseus Parthian, Phoenix, Pandora, Perseus, Proteus. Displacement: 1475 - 2040 tons. Complement: 50 Dimensions: 260 x 28 x 13.5 ft. (draught). Horse Power and Speed: 4400 - 1350 = 17.5 Knots/ 9 Knots. Guns: One 4 in. Torpedo Tubes: (two small) Eight 21 in. Remarks: Poseidon lost in collision in June 1931. OBERON CLASS  Oberon Oberon, Otway. Displacement: 1311 – 1831 tons. Complement: 54 Dimensions: 270 x 28 x 23.25 ft. (draught). Horse Power and Speed: 3000 – 1350 = 15.5 Knots; 9 Knots. Guns: One 4 in. and Two M.G. Torpedo Tubes: Eight 21 in. Oxley lost in November 1939. THAMES CLASS  Thames Thames, Severn, Clyde. Displacement: Thames, 1805 – 2680; Others 2850 – 2723 Tons. Complement: 60 Dimensions: 325 x 28 (Clyde 28.25) x 13.5-6 ft. (Clyde 13.75 ft, Thames 13.75 ft.) (draught). Horse Power and Speed: Diesels, 10,000; Electric, 2500 = 22’25 knots on surface. Guns: One 4 in. and a M.G. Torpedo Tubes: Six 21 in. (Bow) Remarks: The Thames was the first Diesel-driven submarine to exceed 21 Knots. SEAGOING TYPES SHARK CLASS  Salmon Shark, Sealion (1934), Snapper, Salmon (1935), Seawolf (1936), Sunfish (1937), Spearfish (1936). Displacement: 670 - 960 Tons. Complement: 40 Dimensions: 202.5 x 24 x 10.5 ft. (draught) Speed: 13.75 - 10 knots Guns: One 3 in. Torpedo Tubes: Six 21 in. (bow) Cost: £230,000 - £245,000 Note: Sterlet lost April 1940 SWORDFISH CLASS  Swordfish Swordfish, Sturgeon (1932) Displacement: 640 - 927 Tons. Complement: 40 Dimensions: 200.75 x 23.5 x 10.5 ft. (draught) Horse Power and Speed: 1550-1300= 13.75-10 knots Guns: One 3 in.; and One M.G. Torpedo Tubes: Six 21 in. (bow) Note: Starfish and seahorse lost January 1940. H CLASS  H33 H28, H31, H32, H33, H34, H 43, H49, H50. Displacement: 410 -500 tons. Complement: 22 Dimensions: 170 (O.A.) x 15.75 x 12.5 ft. (draught). Horse Power and Speed: 480 - 320 = 13.10’5 Knots. Guns: One M.G. Torpedo Tubes: Four 21 in. (bow) Remarks: All used for training. COASTAL TYPE UNITY CLASS (1938)  Ursula Unity, Ursula Displacement: 540 -730 tons. Complement: 27 Dimensions: 180 x 16 x 12.75 ft. (draught). Speed: 12’25 Knots; 10 Knots. Guns: One small gun. Torpedo Tubes: Six 21 in. Cost: Slightly over £200,000 apiece, Undine lost in January 1939. ADMIRALTY SADDLETANK TYPE. L CLASS  L26 L23, L26, L27 (1918 – 1919). Displacement: 760 - 1080 Tons. Complement: 39 Dimensions: 238.5 x 23.5 x 13.75 (draught). Horse Power and Speed: 2400 – 1600 = 17.5 Knots; 10’5 Knots. Guns: One 4 in. and a M.G. Torpedo Tubes: Four 21 in. (Bow) Remarks: The sole survivor of a once very numerous class, with the exception of L55 in the Soviet Navy. |
