NAVYPEDIA

Photo

V3 1916

Ships

Name	No	Yard No	Builder	Laid down	Launched	Comp	Fate
V1	I2A		Vickers, Barrow	11/1912	23.7.1914	5/1915	sold 11.1921
V2	I3A		Vickers, Barrow	10/1913	17.2.1915	11/1915	sold 11.1921
V3	I4A		Vickers, Barrow	1/1914	1.4.1915	1/1916	sold 10.1920
V4	I5A		Vickers, Barrow	2/1914	25.11.1915	3/1916	sold 10.1920

Technical data

Displacement standard, t
Displacement normal, t	V1: 386 / 453 V2 - 4: 391 / 457
Length, m	V1: 43.9 V2 - 4: 45.0
Breadth, m	V1: 5.03 V2 - 4: 4.96
Draught, m	3.51
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 8-cyl Vickers diesels / 2 electric motors
Power, h. p.	V1: 900 / 450 V2 - 4: 900 / 380
Max speed, kts	14 / 8.5
Fuel, t	diesel oil
Endurance, nm(kts)	3000(9) / 50(5)
Armament	2 - 450 TT (bow, 4)
Complement	20
Diving depth operational, m	30

Graphics

Project history

The February 1912 Submarine Committee recommended two new types for development, an overseas type displacing 1000t on the surface and a coastal type of 250-300t. The large type emerged as the Nautilus and the coastal type emerged as the 'S' and 'F' types, but Vickers produced their own design to meet the requirement, and in the mood of experiment current in the RN Submarine Service it was accepted. There was a close resemblance to the 'S' design for the Vickers boats also adopted a partial double hull. It extended over about 22.9m amidships, as against 13.7m in the 'S' design. The battery capacity was low: 132 Exide cells as against 166 in the 'C class. Even the 'A' class, on half the displacement, had 120 cells. The result was that the 'V' class were short of underwater endurance but in spite of that they had no difficulty in reaching their designed speed. Two types of electric motors were used: V1's were made by Laurence Scott with 300hp as designed, whereas V 2-V 4's came from the Don Works, which had provided motors for previous classes.

V 2-V 4 differed from the prototype because two lots of two 2 tin frames had been added, in the battery tank compartment and the torpedo compartment respectively. As the foremost tank compartment was then shortened by two frames, the total increase in length was 1.1m. V1 was authorised under the 1912-13 Programme and ordered in March 1913 (Vickers had already started her on 11 December 1912). Three more were ordered in August 1913 under the 1913-14 Programme.

Modernizations

None.

Naval service

No significant events.