NAVYPEDIA

Photo

Varangian 1946

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate	Modification
Umpire	N82		Chatham DYd	1.1940	30.12.1940	7/1941	collision 19.7.1941	War Emergency Programme
Una	N87, 1948- S...		Chatham DYd	5.1940	10.6.1941	9/1941	BU 4.1949	War Emergency Programme
Unbeaten	N93		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	11.1939	9.7.1940	11/1940	sunk 11.11.1942	War Emergency Programme
Undaunted	P34 - N55		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	8.1940	20.8.1940	12.1940	sunk 13.5.1941	War Emergency Programme
Union	N56		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	12.1939	1.10.1940	2/1941	sunk 20.7.1941	War Emergency Programme
Unique	P36 - N95		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	10.1939	6.6.1940	9/1940	sunk 23.10.1942	War Emergency Programme
Upholder	P37 - N99		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	10.1939	8.7.1940	10.1940	sunk 14.4.1942	War Emergency Programme
Upright	P38 - N89		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	11.1939	21.4.1940	9/1940	BU 12.1945	War Emergency Programme
Urchin, 7.1945- P97	P59 - N97, 1948- S...		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	12.1939	30.9.1940	1.1941 // ---	to Poland at completion 1.1941 - 7.1945 (Sokół), BU 1949	War Emergency Programme
Urge	P40 - N17		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	10.1939	19.8.1940	12/1940	sunk 28.4.1942	War Emergency Programme
Usk	P41 - N65		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	11.1939	7.6.1940	10/1940	sunk 28.4.1941	War Emergency Programme
Utmost	P42 - N19		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	11.1939	20.4.1940	8/1940	sunk 24.11.1942	War Emergency Programme
P31, 1.1943- Uproar (ex-Ullswater)	P31		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	4.1940	27.11.1940	4/1941	BU 2.1946	1940 and 1941 Programmes
P32	P32		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	4.1940	15.12.1940	5/1941	sunk 18.8.1941	1940 and 1941 Programmes
P33	P33		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	6.1940	28.1.1941	5/1941	sunk 23.8.1941	1940 and 1941 Programmes
P34, 1.1943- Ultimatum	P34, 1948- S...		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	6.1940	11.2.1941	7/1941	BU 12.1949	1940 and 1941 Programmes
P35, 1.1943- Umbra	P35		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	7.1940	15.3.1941	9/1941	BU 7.1946	1940 and 1941 Programmes
P36	P36		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	7.1940	28.4.1941	9/1941	sunk 1.4.1942	1940 and 1941 Programmes
P37, 1.1943- Unbending	P37, 1948- S...		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	8.1940	12.5.1941	11/1941	BU 12.1949	1940 and 1941 Programmes
P38	P38		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	9.1940	9.7.1941	10/1941	sunk 23.2.1942	1940 and 1941 Programmes
P39	P39		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	101940	23.8.1941	11/1941	sunk 26.3.1942	1940 and 1941 Programmes
P41	P41		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	1940	24.8.1941	12.1941 // ---	to Norway at completion 12.1941 (Uredd)	1940 and 1941 Programmes
P42, 1.1943- Unbroken	P42, 2.1949- S...		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	12.1940	4.11.1941	1/1942	to Soviet Union 5.1944 - 2.1949 (В-2) (V-2), BU 5.1950	1940 and 1941 Programmes
P43, 1.1943- Unison	P43, 2.1949- S...		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	12.1940	5.11.1941	2/1942	to Soviet Union 5.1944 - 2.1949 (В-3) (V-3), BU 5.1950	1940 and 1941 Programmes
P44, 1.1943- United	P44		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	2.1941	18.12.1941	4/1942	BU 2.1946	1940 and 1941 Programmes
P45, 1.1943- Unrivalled	P45		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	5.1941	16.2.1942	5/1942	BU 1.1946	1940 and 1941 Programmes
P46, 1.1943- Unruffled	P46		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	2.1941	19.12.1941	4/1942	BU 1.1946	1940 and 1941 Programmes
P47	P47		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	1941	27.7.1942	10/1942 // ---	to Netherlands before completion 9.1942 (Dolfijn)	1940 and 1941 Programmes
P48	P48		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	8.1941	15.4.1942	6/1942	sunk 25.12.1942	1940 and 1941 Programmes
P49, 1.1943- Unruly	P49		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	11.1941	28.7.1942	11/1942	BU 2.1946	1940 and 1941 Programmes
P51, 1.1943- Unseen	P51, 1948- S...		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	7.1941	16.4.1942	7/1942	BU 9.1949	1940 and 1941 Programmes
P52	P52		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	1941	11.10.1942	12.1942 // ---	to Poland at completion 12.1942 - 12.1946 (Dzik), to Denmark 6.1947 (Springeren)	1940 and 1941 Programmes
P53, 1.1943- Ultor	P53		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	12.1941	12.10.1942	12/1942	BU 1.1946	1940 and 1941 Programmes
P54, 1.1943- Unshaken	P54		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	6.1941	17.2.1942	5/1942	BU 3.1946	1940 and 1941 Programmes
P55, 1.1943- Unsparing	P55		Vickers-Armstrong, Tyne	8.1941	28.7.1942	11/1942	BU 2.1946	1940 and 1941 Programmes
Usurper (ex-P56)	P56		Vickers-Armstrong, Tyne	9.1941	24.9.1942	2/1943	sunk 3.10.1943	1940 and 1941 Programmes
Universal (ex-P57)	P57		Vickers-Armstrong, Tyne	9.1941	10.11.1942	3.1943	BU 2.1946	1940 and 1941 Programmes
Untamed, 7.1943 - Vitality (ex-P58)	P58		Vickers-Armstrong, Tyne	10.1941	8.12.1942	4.1943	BU 2.1946	1940 and 1941 Programmes
Unswerving	P63, 1948- S...		Vickers-Armstrong, Tyne	2.1942	19.7.1943	10/1943	BU 7.1949	1940 and 1941 Programmes
Untiring (ex-Upstart, ex-P59)	P59		Vickers-Armstrong, Tyne	12.1941	20.1.1943	6/1943	to Greece 7.1945 - 5.1952 (Ξιφίας [Xifias]), sunk as target 25.7.1957	1940 and 1941 Programmes
Vandal (ex-P64)	P64		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	3.1942	23.11.1942	2/1943	sunk 24.2.1943	1940 and 1941 Programmes
Upstart (ex-Untiring, ex-P65)	P65		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	3.1942	24.11.1942	4/1943	to Greece 3.1945 - 5.1952 (Αμφιτρίτη [Amfitriti]), sunk as target 29.7.1957	1940 and 1941 Programmes
Uther	P62		Vickers-Armstrong, Tyne	1.1942	6.4.1943	8/1943	BU 2.1950	1940 and 1941 Programmes
Varangian	P61, 1948- S...		Vickers-Armstrong, Tyne	12.1941	4.3.1943	7/1943	BU 6.1949	1940 and 1941 Programmes
Varne	P81		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	11.1942	22.1.1943	4.1943 // ---	to Norway at completion 4.1943 (Ula)	1940 and 1941 Programmes
Vox, 7.1946- P67	P73, 1948- S...		Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow	12.1942	23.1.1943	5.1943 // ---	to France at completion 5.1943 - 7.1946 (Curie), BU 5.1949	1940 and 1941 Programmes

Technical data

Max speed, kts, kn	11.25 / 10
Displacement standard, t	540
Displacement normal, t	630 / 732 (later 646/732)
Length, m	60.0 Unbeaten, Unique, Upholder, Upright, Usk, Utmost: 58.2 Undaunted, Union, Urchin, Urge: 58.6
Breadth, m	4.90
Draught, m	4.52 - 4.65
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 Paxman-Ricardo or Paxman diesel-generators/ 2 electric motors
Power, h. p.	615 / 825
Fuel, t	diesel oil 38, later 55
Endurance, nm(kts)	4050(10) /
Armament	completed 1940 - 1942: 1 x 1 - 76/40 12pdr 12cwt QF Mk I/II/V, 4 - 533 TT (bow, 8) Unique, Upholder, Upright, Utmost: 1 x 1 - 76/40 12pdr 12cwt QF Mk I/II/V, 6 - 533 TT (4 bow, 2 ext bow, 8) completed 1942 - 1943: 1 х 1 - 76/45 20cwt QF Mk II, 4 - 533 TT (bow, 8 torpedoes or 6 M2 mines)
Electronic equipment	completed 1940 - 1941: type 129, type 138 sonars completed 1941 - 1942: type 286PW radar, type 129, type 138 sonars completed 1942 - 1943: type 291W radar, type 129, type 138 sonars
Complement	31 - 33
Diving depth operational, m	60

Standard scale images

Graphics

Project history

First U-class submarines were originally designed as unarmed targets for training of crews of escorts. Already after design approval it was decided to arm them with TT. Construction of a fore end was changed for placing 4 TT in the pressure hull and two more out of it, in a special fin. Single-hulled. Only electric motors were coupled with propeller shafts and diesels used only in a role of generators. There were first British pure diesel-electric submarines.

New boats received a designation as "U" class, have appeared very successful, and better than boats of other types suited for actions in Mediterranean and Northern seas, however originally a series have limited to three units of the 1936 Programme. Only after beginning of war in limits of "War Emergency Programme" orders were placed for 12 more units. Four of them have built with six TT, remaining lost outer TTs, since during operation of the first boats of a series it was discovered, that a bow TT fin creates on periscopic depth very large surf (as well as on type "Т").

Under 1940 and 1941 Programmes 41 more submarines were ordered from which 7 were canceled.

Fuel stowage was later increased to 55t for the account of use of part of ballast tanks.

Modernizations

1942 - 1944, all survived early submarines: can carry 6 M2 mines instead of torpedoes, - 1 x 1 - 76/40; + 1 x 1 - 76/45 20cwt QF Mk II, type 286PW or type 291W radar

1/1946, Una, P97, Uproar, Ultimatum, Umbra, Unbending, Unbroken, Unison, United, Unrivalled, Unruffled, Unruly, Unseen, P52, Ultor, Unshaken, Unsparing, Universal, Vitality, Unswerving, Untiring, Upstart, Uther, Varangian, P67: 1 x 1 - 76/45 CP Mk V, 4 - 533 TT, type 286PW or type 291W radar, type 129, type 138 sonars

Naval service

Usk was lost 28.4.1941 in Mediterranean (presumably on a mine). Undaunted was lost 13.5.1941 on a mine off Tripoli. Umpire was lost 19.7.1941 in collision with a trawler Peter Hendriks in the North Sea. Union was sunk by DCs of Italian torpedo boat Circe 20.7.1941 in Mediterranean Sea. Р32 was lost 18.8.1941 on a mine at Tripoli. Р33 was lost for unknown reason (possibly 23.8.1941 on a mine at Tripoli). Р38 was sunk by DCs of Italian torpedo boat Circe 23.2.1942 in Mediterranean Sea. Р39 was sunk by German aircraft off Malta 26.3.1942. Р36 was sunk 1.4.1942 by German aircraft in Mediterranean Sea. Upholder was sunk by DCs of Italian torpedo boat Pegaso 14.4.1942 in Mediterranean Sea. Urge was sunk by Italian aircraft 28.4.1942 in Mediterranean. Unique was lost 23.10.1942 off Gibraltar for unknown reason. Unbeaten was sunk by mistake by British aircraft in Bay of Biscay 11.11.1942. Utmost was sunk 24.11.1942 by DCs of Italian torpedo boat Groppo in Mediterranean. Р48 was sunk by DCs of Italian corvette Ardente 25.12.1942 in Mediterranean Sea. Vandal was lost for the unknown reason 24.2.1943 off British coast. Uredd was lost 24.2.1943 on a mine in the North Sea. Untamed was sunk 30.5.1943 during trials off British coast, salvaged 5.7.1943 and commissioned as Vitality. Usurper was sunk by DCs of German trawler UJ2208 in Mediterranean Sea 3.10.1943. Untiring and Upstart were scuttled after returning from Greece and used as targets for underwater location.