Index

Summary and Table
"R" Class
"M" Class
"L" Class
"K" Class
"J" Class
"H" Class
"G" Class
"F" Class
"E" Class
 
As extracted from Jane's Fighting Ships © for 1919

British Navy - Submarines

13 K Class ( + 6 Building?)

Page 121

K 10, K 12 & K 16 have gun on high fairwater before C.T.                    Photo, Cribb, Southsea.

K 15 (higher funnels)                    Photo, Topical.

K 2, K 5 (both by Portsmouth D.Y., 1916),
K 6 (Devonport D.Y., 1916),
K 3, K 8, K 9, K 10 (all by Vickers, 1916).
K 11, K 12 (both by Armstrong Whitworth, 1916-17),
K 14, K 22, Ex K 13 (both by Fairfield, 1916),
K 15 (Scott, 1917),
K 16 (Beardmore, 1917).
(K 23 - K 28: See General Notes.)
  • All double-hulled type, designed by Admiralty for service as "Fleet Submarines" with Grand Fleet.
  • Dimensions: 334 (p.p.). 337 (o.a.) x 26.5 x 16 feet.
  • Guns: 1 - 4 inch, 1 - 3 inch A.A., and (in some) 1 D.C. thrower.
  • Torpedo tubes : 8 - 18 inch, viz., 4 bow, 4 beam.
  • Machinery: see Notes below. Oil fuel: 170 tons. Other details as Table.

Engineering Notes.- These are not the first steam-driven boats in British Navy, having been preceded by Swordfish (S 1), now scrapped. Surface machinery consists of combined steam turbines and Diesel engine. 2 sets of single reduction turbines, one H.P. and one L.P. in each set, with double helical gearing. 2 screws. 2 Yarrow small-tube type boilers with forced draught boilers, turbines, funnels being lagged with incombustible non-conducting materials. Small electric motors are fitted for lowering funnels and closing w.t. hatches over funnel wells. Boiler room air vents closed by hydraulic power. To assist in diving quickly, or getting away after breaking surface (while steam motors are being started up) an 800 B.H.P. 8-cylinder Diesel motor is fitted, which can also be used for surface cruising. Drive from Diesel engine is through electric motors, so that these boats have three systems of transmission, (a) geared turbines for steam drive, (b) Diesel and electric transmission, (c) electric battery drive when submerged. 2 high-power compressors to charge 2500 lbs. air bottles: 2 low-power compressors to blow main ballast tank, after breaking surface. 2 electric-power bilge pumps. Hydraulic rams for raising periscopes and telescopic masts. Hydro-electric controlling gear to hydroplanes, forward hydroplanes being of housing type.

Gunnery and Torpedo Notes.- Were first completed with 2 guns before and below C.T. and 1 abaft C.T. on superstructure deck, but these were removed. For a time, these boats had only 1 - 3 inch, but K 17 at time of her loss mounted 1 - 5.5 inch. There were also 2 - 18 inch tubes in superstructure, above water when in surface trim, making eight tubes in all. The original three guns and superstructure tubes were removed to D.A.M.S. and S.D. Vessels (Q-boats).

General Notes.- All built under Emergency War Programme. Were first completed with flush level bows, but showed a tendency to trim by the head and dive "on their own". To remedy this, bows were raised, as shown in above illustrations. Accommodation for officers and men is remarkably spacious for submarines. Are said to be rather hot on account of steam system of propulsion, but in the North Sea this proved rather an advantage than otherwise. Considering that these boats were of a highly experimental type, they have turned out most remarkably well. Further boats, K 23 - 28 reported ordered in 1918, which were to have 6 - 21 inch bow tubes. Nothing further has been heard of these later boats; they may be cancelled.

War Losses.- K 1, 4, 17.  K 13 also foundered, but was salved and re-numbered K 22.

Removals.- K 7 on Sale List, 1919.

Source: As extracted from Jane's Fighting Ships for 1919 - Page 121

© Jane's Information Group

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