British G-class submarine
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G9
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| Class overview | |
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| Name: | G |
| Builders: | Chatham Dockyard, Armstrong Whitworth, Vickers, Scott's |
| Operators: |  Royal Navy |
| Completed: | 14 |
| Cancelled: | 1 |
| Lost: | 4 |
| Scrapped: | 10 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Submarine |
| Displacement: |
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| Length: | 187 ft 1 in (57.0 m) |
| Beam: | 22 ft 8 in (6.9 m) |
| Draught: | 13 ft 4 in (4.1 m) |
| Installed power: |
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| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: |
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| Range: | 2,400 nmi (4,400 km; 2,800 mi) at 12.5 kn (23.2 km/h; 14.4 mph) surfaced |
| Complement: | 22 |
| Armament: |
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The Royal Navy's G-class of diesel/electric submarines were launched between 1914 and 1917, and intended for operations in the North Sea and German Bight in World War I against German U-boats.
Description
The G-class submarines were designed by the Admiralty in response to a rumour that the Germans were building double-hulled submarines for overseas duties. The submarines had a partial double hull, a length of 187 feet 1 inch (57.0 m) overall, a beam of 22 feet 8 inches (6.9 m) and a mean draft of 13 feet 4 inches (4.1 m). They displaced 703 long tons (714 t) on the surface and 837 long tons (850 t) submerged. The G-class submarines had a crew of 30 officers and other ranks. [1] However, the design offered little improvement in practice, the ships being notoriously slow to dive.[2][3] Most of the class had their bows raised during the war to increase buoyancy and improve seakeeping.
For surface running, the boats were nearly all powered by two 800-brake-horsepower (597 kW) Vickers two-stroke eight-cylinder diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft; G14 was initially powered by FIAT diesels, but these proved unsuccessful, and were replaced by the standard Vickers engines. It was originally intended to fit more efficient four-stroke MAN and Sulzer diesels to some of the class, but the outbreak of hostilities rendered such plans impossible.[4][5] When submerged each propeller was driven by a 420-horsepower (313 kW) electric motor. They could reach 14.25 knots (26.39 km/h; 16.40 mph) on the surface and 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) underwater. On the surface, the G class had a range of 2,400 nautical miles (4,400 km; 2,800 mi) at full speed.[1]
The boats were originally intended to be armed with one 21-inch (53.3 cm) torpedo tube in the bow and two 18-inch (45 cm) torpedo tubes on the beam. This specification was revised while they were under construction, the 21-inch tube moved to the stern and two additional 18-inch tubes added in the bow; they carried two 21-inch and eight 18-inch torpedoes. The G-class was also armed with a single 3-inch (7.6 cm) deck gun.[1]
Boats
A total of 14 boats were built at four yards: G1 to G5 by Chatham Dockyard, G6 & G7 by Armstrong Whitworth, G8 to G13 by Vickers, and G14 by Scott's on the Clyde. G15 was ordered from Samuel White's yard at Cowes, Isle of Wight, but cancelled.[6]
- G1 - Launched 14 August 1915. Sold for scrap 1920.
- G2 - Launched 23 December 1915. Sank U-78 in the Skagerrak, 28 October 1918. Sold for scrap 1920.
- G3 - Launched 22 January 1916. Sold for scrap 1920.
- G4 - Launched 23 October 1915. Sold 1928.
- G5 - Launched 23 November 1915. Sold 1922.
- G6 - Launched 7 December 1915. Sold 1921.
- G7 - Launched 14 March 1916. Last British submarine lost in World War I, on or about 23 October 1918, cause unknown.
- G8 - Launched 1 May 1916. Lost in the North Sea for reasons unknown on or about 14 January 1918.
- G9 - Launched 15 June 1916. Sunk in error by HMS Pasley on 16 September 1917. One survivor.
- G10 - Launched 11 January 1916. Sold 1923.
- G11 - Launched 22 February 1916. Wrecked on rocks off Howick, Northumberland, in thick fog, 22 November 1918. Two crew drowned while abandoning ship.
- G12 - Launched 24 March 1916. Sold 1920.
- G13 - Launched 18 July 1916. Sank UC-43 off Muckle Flugga, 10 March 1917. Sold 1923.
- G14 - Launched 17 May 1917. Sold 1923.
- G15 - Ordered 30 September 1914, cancelled 20 April 1915
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Gardiner & Gray, p. 90
- ↑ Arthur, M. (1997). Lost voices of the Royal Navy, p.84. Hodder & Stoughton Ltd, London. ISBN 0-340-83814-0
- ↑ Yorkshire-divers.com
- ↑ Friedman, N. (2014). Fighting the Great War at sea, p.258. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84832-189-2
- ↑ http://www.rnsubs.co.uk/Boats/BoatDB2/index.php?id=2&BoatID=155&flag=class
- ↑ www.rnsubmus.co.uk
References
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External links
Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons
