NAVYPEDIA

Photo

L20

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
L9			Denny, Dumbarton	10.1916	29.1.1918	5.1918	sold 6.1927
L10			Denny, Dumbarton	2.1917	24.1.1918	6.1918	sunk 30.10.1918
L11			Vickers, Barrow	1.1917	26.2.1918	6.1918	sold 2.1932
L12			Vickers, Barrow	1.1917	16.3.1918	6.1918	sold 2.1932
L14			Vickers, Barrow	1.1917	10.6.1918	10.1918	sold 5.1934
L15			Fairfield, Govan	11.1916	16.1.1918	3/1918	sold 2.1932
L16			Fairfield, Govan	11.1916	9.4.1918	5/1918	sold 2.1934
L17			Vickers, Barrow	1/1917	13.5.1918	9/1918	sold 2.1934
L18			Vickers, Barrow	6/1917	21.11.1918	5/1919	sold 10.1936
L19			Vickers, Barrow	7/1917	4.2.1919	8/1919	sold 4.1937
L20			Vickers, Barrow	7.1917	23.9.1918	1.1919	sold 1.1935
L21			Vickers, Barrow	9/1917	11.10.1919	10/1920	sold 2.1939
L22			Vickers, Barrow	11.1917	25.10.1919	6.1921	sold 8.1935
L23	23L, N23		Vickers, Barrow / Chatham DYd	8.1917	1.7.1919	10.1924	foundered under tow for BU 5.1946
L24			Vickers, Barrow	2.1918	19.2.1919	2.1920	collision 14.1.1924
L25			Vickers, Barrow	2.1918	13.2.1919	7.1920	sold 1935
L26	26L, N26		Vickers, Barrow / Portsmouth DYd	1.1918	29.5.1919	10.1926	scuttled 9.1946
L27	27L, N27		Vickers, Barrow / Sheerness DYd	1.1918	14.6.1919	3.1926	sunk as target 25.9.1945
L28			Vickers, Barrow	1918	---	---	cancelled 1919
L29			Vickers, Barrow	1918	---	---	cancelled 1919
L30			Vickers, Barrow	1918	---	---	cancelled 1919
L31			Vickers, Barrow	1918	---	---	cancelled 1919
L32			Vickers, Barrow	1918	23.8.1919	---	cancelled 1919, BU 3.1920
L33			Swan Hunter, Wallsend	9/1917	29.5.1919	12/1919	sold 2.1932
L34			Pembroke DYd	1918	---	---	cancelled 1919
L35			Pembroke DYd	1918	---	---	cancelled 1919

Technical data

Displacement standard, t
Displacement normal, t	890 / 1080
Length, m	72.7
Breadth, m	7.15
Draught, m	4.04
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)	3800(10) / 75(4)
Armament	L9, L16, L18 - 24, L26, 27: 1 x 1 - 102/40 QF Mk IV, 4 - 533 TT (bow, 8), 2 - 450 TT (beam, 2) L10: 1 x 1 - 102/41 QF Mk VII, 4 - 533 TT (bow, 8), 2 - 450 TT (beam, 2) L11, L14, L17: 1 x 1 - 102/40 QF Mk IV, 4 - 533 TT (bow, 8), 16 mines L12: 1 x 1 - 102/41 QF Mk VII, 4 - 533 TT (bow, 8), 16 mines L15: 1 x 1 - 76/45 20cwt QF Mk II, 4 - 533 TT (bow, 8), 2 - 450 TT (beam, 2) L25: 1 x 1 - 102/40 QF Mk IV, 4 - 533 TT (bow, 8), 14 mines L33: 1 x 1 - 102/45 QF Mk XII, 4 - 533 TT (bow, 8), 2 - 450 TT (beam, 2)
Electronic equipment	presumably L23, 26, 27: type 113C sonar
Complement	38
Diving depth operational, m	50

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

War experience demanded a heavier bow salvo, and so the second batch of 'L' class was given 4 533mm TT, although the beam 450mm were retained to avoid having to enlarge the hull. The lead boat L9 was ordered in August 1916, followed by L10-35 in December (excluding the 'unlucky' L13). Although it was planned to build L36-49 later, orders were not placed. Five boats were completed as minelayers, along the lines of the 'E' class, with vertical mine-chutes in the saddle tanks. From L12 onwards the 102mm gun was raised to the bridge deck level, where it was served by an enclosed access trunk. This arrangement was intended to permit the 'L's to engage a U-boat out of torpedo-range, with the boat trimmed down. They were a great improvement over the 'E' class, particularly in accommodation. Seven were cancelled in 1918-19.

The main alterations were dictated by the change to 533mm TT. The pressure hull was lengthened by 2.3m and a water-tight bulkhead was added abaft the bow TT to separate the tube compartment from the forward torpedo room. From L18 onwards 78t fuel was carried, an improvement which was retro-fitted to the earlier 'L' class and L9-17. No spare torpedoes were carried for the beam TT.

Modernizations

late 1920s, some survived: + type 113C sonar1942-1944, survived: + type 268W or type 291W radar

1.1946, L23, L26: 1 x 1 - 102/40 P Mk IX, 4 - 533 TT, 2 - 450 TT, type 286W or type 291W radar, type 113C sonar

Naval service

L10 was sunk 24.1.1918 by German destroyers off the Texel. L24 was lost 14.1.1924 as result of collision with battleship Resolution off Portland. Three survived to the end of the Second World War on training duties.