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S48 1924

Ships

No	Name	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comm	Fate
SS159 (ex-SS169)	S48		Lake, Bridgeport	10/1920	26.2.1921	10.1922	stricken 9.1945
SS160 (ex-SS170)	S49		Lake, Bridgeport	10/1920	23.4.1921	6.1922	stricken 3.1931
SS161 (ex-SS171)	S50		Lake, Bridgeport	3/1920	18.6.1921	5.1922	stricken 3.1931
SS162 (ex-SS172)	S51		Lake, Bridgeport	12/1919	20.8.1921	6.1922	collision 25.9.1925

Technical data

Displacement standard, t
Displacement normal, t	903 / 1230
Length, m	73.2
Breadth, m	6.60
Draught, m	4.10
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 Bush-Sulzer diesels / 2 electric motors
Power, h. p.	1800 / 1500
Max speed, kts	14.5 / 11
Fuel, t	diesel oil 177
Endurance, nm(kts)	8000 (10) /
Armament	1 x 1 - 102/50 Mk IX, 5 - 533 TT (4 bow, 1 stern, 14)
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, S48: + 1 x 1 - 12.7/90, JK sonar

1940s, S48: - SC sonar; + SD radar, QB or QC sonars

Naval service

S51 was rammed by s/s City of Rome off Block Island (New York) 25.9.1925.