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S43 1930s

Ships

No	Name	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comm	Fate
SS153	S42	1389	Bethlehem, Quincy	12/1920	30.4.1923	11.1924	stricken 11.1945
SS154	S43	1390	Bethlehem, Quincy	12/1920	31.3.1923	12.1924	stricken 11.1945
SS155	S44	1391	Bethlehem, Quincy	2/1921	27.10.1923	2.1925	sunk 7.10.1943
SS156	S45	1392	Bethlehem, Quincy	12/1920	26.6.1923	3.1925	stricken 11.1945
SS157	S46	1393	Bethlehem, Quincy	2/1921	11.9.1923	6.1925	stricken 11.1945
SS158	S47	1394	Bethlehem, Quincy	2/1921	5.1.1924	9.1925	stricken 11.1945

Technical data

Displacement standard, t
Displacement normal, t	906 / 1126
Length, m	68.7
Breadth, m	6.30
Draught, m	4.90
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 NLSE diesels / 2 electric motors
Power, h. p.	1200 / 1200
Max speed, kts	14.5 / 11
Fuel, t	diesel oil 168
Endurance, nm(kts)	2510 (6.5) /
Armament	1 x 1 - 102/50 Mk IX, 4 - 533 TT (bow, 12)
Electronic equipment	SC sonar
Complement	38
Diving depth operational, m	60

Graphics

Project history

The further development of R class submarines. They were built under three notably differed designs developed by Holland, Lake and Bureau of construction. After the acquisition of these designs by General board in 1917 one submarine was built under each of them as "prototype" (S1, 2 and 3 respectively). Lake variant (S2) appeared unsuccessful, and later Lake built submarines under Bureau design.

Serial building was developed under two designs: 24 submarines (S18-41) by Holland and 14 (S4-17) by Bureau. They were followed by 10 almost same boats of the second series (S42-47 by Holland and S48-51 by Bureau).

The basic difference between Holland and Bureau designs consisted in a hull construction: in the first case it was fulfilled single-hulled, in second double-hulled. The diving depth was identical. Submarines built by Lake Torpedo Boat, had additional stern TT. As when these submarines were designed, an opinion about necessity of providing of the highest submerged speed was dominated, CT on them were fulfilled as much as possible streamlined. On trials "prototypes" demonstrated outstanding results, achieved 12.5 to 13kts submerged. First World War experience, however, has shown, that superfluous 2-3kts are not so necessary in comparison with safety of crew, therefore already during completion "serial" submarines received less streamlined, but much more convenient CTs.

Though 'S' class submarines notably exceeded the predecessors on the majority of characteristics, naval authorities in 1925 recognized them as unsuccessful because of insufficient endurance for Pacific service.

Modernizations

1939, all: + 1 x 1 - 12.7/90, JK sonar

1940s, most survived: - SC, JK sonars; + 1 x 1 - 20/70 Mk 4, SD, SJ radars, QB, QC, JP sonars

Naval service

S44 7.10.1943 was sunk off Paramushir Island by Japanese escort Ishigaki. SS159 - 168 were cancelled before they were laid down.