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L53 1930

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
L50			Cammell Laird, Birkenhead	1917	---	---	cancelled 1919
L51			Cammell Laird, Birkenhead	1917	---	---	cancelled 1919
L52			Armstrong, Elswick	5.1917	18.12.1918	1.1921	sold 9.1935
L53			Armstrong, Elswick / Chatham DYd	6/1917	12.8.1919	1/1925	sold 1.1939
L54			Denny, Dumbarton / Devonport DYd	5.1917	20.8.1919	8/1924	sold 2.1939
L55			Fairfield, Govan	5.1917	21.9.1918	12.1918	sunk 9.6.1919, later Soviet Л-55 (L-55)
L56			Fairfield, Govan	10.1917	29.5.1919	9/1919	sold 3.1938
L57			Fairfield, Govan	1917	---	---	cancelled 1919
L58			Fairfield, Govan	1917	---	---	cancelled 1918
L59			Beardmore, Dalmuir	1918	---	---	cancelled 1918
L60			Cammell Laird, Birkenhead	1918	---	---	cancelled 1918
L61			Cammell Laird, Birkenhead	1918	---	---	cancelled 1918
L62			Fairfield, Govan	1918	---	---	cancelled 1918
L63			Scotts, Greenock	1918	---	---	cancelled 1918
L64			Scotts, Greenock	1918	---	---	cancelled 1918
L65			Swan Hunter, Wallsend	1918	---	---	cancelled 1918
L66			Swan Hunter, Wallsend	1918	---	---	cancelled 1918
L67			Armstrong, Elswick	11.1917	16.6.1919	--- // 2.1928	cancelled 1919, completed for Yugoslavia (Храбри [Hrabri])
L68			Armstrong, Elswick	12.1917	2.7.1919	--- // 2.1928	cancelled 1919, completed for Yugoslavia (Небојша [Nebojša])
L69			Beardmore, Dalmuir / Devonport DYd	7.1917	6.12.1918	4/1923	sold 2.1939
L70			Beardmore, Dalmuir	1917	---	---	cancelled 1919
L71			Scotts, Greenock	9.1917	17.5.1919	1/1920	sold 3.1938
L72			Scotts, Greenock	1917	---	---	cancelled 1919
L73			Denny, Dumbarton	1917	---	---	cancelled 1919
L74			Denny, Dumbarton	1918	---	---	cancelled 1918

Technical data

Displacement standard, t
Displacement normal, t	960 / 1150
Length, m	71.6
Breadth, m	7.15
Draught, m	4.00
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 Vickers diesels / 2 electric motors
Power, h. p.	2400 / 1600
Max speed, kts	17 / 10.5
Fuel, t	diesel oil 78
Endurance, nm(kts)	4500(8) / 75(4)
Armament	2 x 1 - 102/40 QF Mk IV, 6 - 533 TT (bow, 12)
Electronic equipment	presumably L53, 54: type 113C sonar
Complement	44
Diving depth operational, m	50

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

An expansion of the 'L' design was authorised early in 1917, before any experience had been gained with L1-8, but as that class was successful the L50 design simply provided heavier armament. L 50-55 were ordered in January-February 1917, followed by L56-58 in April 1917 and L59-66 and L74 in April 1918, but most were in an early stage of building by the Armistice. L 59-66 and L74 were cancelled by Admiralty Order of 26 November 1918, followed by L50, 51, 57, 58, 67, 68, 70, 72 and 73 in April 1919. The frames for L67 and L68 were used to build the Yugoslav Hrabri and Nebojsa in 1927. L53 was towed to Chatham DYd for completion in January 1925, L54 to Devonport DYd for completion in August 1924, and L69 to Devonport for completion in April 1923. They were easily distinguished from the earlier 'L' class by having a second 102mm gun platform at the after end of the conning tower. The bow salvo was increased to 6 533mm TT and the beam tubes were omitted.

Modernizations

1925 - 1926, L54, L56, L69, L71; 1935, L53: - 1 x 1 - 102/40

late 1920s, survived: + type 113C sonar

Naval service

L55 was lost 4.6.1919 on a mine off Kronstadt (Gulf of Finland), salvaged in 1928 and since 1931 served under Soviet flag under original name L-55.