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D-class (UK)


Ocean-Going Diesel-Electric Attack Submarine [ 1907 ]



The British D-class attack submarines marked the first Royal Navy boats developed for ocean patrolling - they saw service in World War 1.



Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 12/11/2017 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

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The D-class diesel-electric submarines were the first British deep water patrol boats taken into the Royal Navy inventory. This addition now provided warplanners with considerable tactical flexibility as the underwater force was no longer confined to coastal areas and could venture much further out in meeting the enemy. Compared to previous Royal Navy boats, the D-class offered up much more in the way of displacement, more powerful diesel engines and were outfitted with wireless sets for sending / receiving communications in-the-field. Eight such boats were laid down from the period of 1907 and 1910 (two more were planned but launched as E-class boats) and named rather appropriately as HMS D1 through HMS D8. Vickers Limited was involved in their construction.

The group superseded the earlier C-class and was itself succeeded by the E-class.

As built, the submarines were given a displacement of 483 tons when surfaced and 600 tons when submerged. Overall length was 163 feet with a beam of 13.6 feet and draught of 10.4 feet. Installed power (diesel engines for surface travel and electric motors for submerged work) drove 1,750 horsepower to 2 x screws at the stern to speeds of 10 knots and ranges out to 1,100 nautical miles. The crew numbered 25 men and armament centered on 3 x 18" (450mm) torpedo tubes with six reloads. Two of the tubes faced forward with the remaining one tube facing aft. 1 x 12-pounder (76mm) deck gun was carried for shorter-ranged surface work.©MilitaryFactory.com
The boats were in active service when World War 1 (1914-1918) broke out in August of 1914. The force was assigned to convoy protection duty in Channel Waters as British ground forces made their way to France by ship for the fighting that lay ahead. There were also general patrols involving these boats in North Sea waters and around the Heligoland Bight (the bay located between Norway and Britain) in an effort to keep German forces contained. Before the cessation of hostilities, the boats were arranged as training platforms at Portsmouth for future submariners.

HMS D1 managed to survive the war but was sunk as a floating target in 1918. HMS D2, D3, D5 and D6 were all casualties of the war while HMS D4, D7 and D8 soldiered on for a time after the war.©MilitaryFactory.com
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.

Specifications



United Kingdom
Operators National flag of the United Kingdom
1907
Commissioned
United Kingdom
National Origin
25
Complement
D-class
Hull Class
8
Number-in-Class
HMS D1; HMS D2; HMS D3; HMS D4; HMS D5; HMS D6; HMS D7; HMS D8; HMS D9 (planned, finished as E-class boat); HMS D10 (planned, finished as E-class boat)
Ships-in-Class


Submerged Attack
Traveling under the surface to search, track, and / or engage or reconnoiter areas.
Maritime Patrol
Active patroling of vital waterways and maritime areas; can also serve as local deterrence against airborne and seaborne threats.
Fleet Support
Serving in support (either firepower or material) of the main surface fleet in Blue Water environments.


163.0 feet
(49.68 meters)
Length
13.6 feet
(4.15 meters)
Beam
10.4 feet
(3.17 meters)
Draught
483
tons
Displacement
600
tons
Displacement (Submerged)


2 x Diesel engines with Electric motors driving 1,750 horsepower to 2 x shafts.
Propulsion
14.0 knots
(16.1 mph)
Surface Speed
9.0 knots
(10.4 mph)
Submerged Speed
2,520 nm
(2,900 miles | 4,667 km)
Range
1 knot = 1.15 mph; 1 nm = 1.15 mile; 1 nm = 1.85 km


3 x 18" (450mm) torpedo tubes (two facing forward and one facing aft, six torpedo reloads).
1 x 12-pounder (76mm) deck gun


None.


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