K3 1916
K12 1918
| Name | No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| K1 | Portsmouth DYd | 11/1915 | 14/11/1916 | 4/1917 | collision 17/11/1917 | |
| K2 | Portsmouth DYd | 11/1915 | 14/10/1916 | 2/1917 | BU 7/1926 | |
| K3 | Vickers, Barrow | 5/1915 | 20/5/1916 | 8/1916 | BU 10/1921 | |
| K4 | Vickers, Barrow | 6/1915 | 15/7/1916 | 1/1917 | collision 31/1/1918 | |
| K5 | Portsmouth DYd | 11/1915 | 16/12/1916 | 5/1917 | sunk 20/1/1921 | |
| K6 | Devonport DYd | 11/1915 | 31/5/1916 | 6/1917 | BU 7/1926 | |
| K7 | Devonport DYd | 11/1915 | 31/5/1916 | 7/1917 | BU 9/1921 | |
| K8 | Vickers, Barrow | 9/1915 | 10/10/1916 | 3/1917 | BU 10/1923 | |
| K9 | Vickers, Barrow | 6/1915 | 8/11/1916 | 5/1917 | BU 7/1926 | |
| K10 | Vickers, Barrow | 6/1915 | 27/12/1916 | 5/1917 | BU 11/1921 | |
| K11 | Armstrong, Elswick | 10/1915 | 16/8/1916 | 2/1917 | BU 11/1921 | |
| K12 | Armstrong, Elswick | 10/1915 | 23/2/1917 | 8/1917 | BU 7/1926 | |
| K14 | Fairfield, Govan | 11/1915 | 8/2/1917 | 5/1917 | BU 12/1926 | |
| K15 | Scotts, Greenock | 4/1916 | 30/10/1917 | 4/1918 | BU 8/1924 | |
| K16 | Beardmore, Dalmuir | 6/1916 | 5/11/1917 | 3/1918 | BU 8/1924 | |
| K17 | Vickers, Barrow | 5/1916 | 10/4/1917 | 3/1917 | collision 31/1/1918 | |
| K18 | Vickers, Barrow | --- | --- | --- | cancelled 1917 | |
| K19 | Vickers, Barrow | --- | --- | --- | cancelled 1917 | |
| K20 | Armstrong, Elswick | --- | --- | --- | cancelled 1917 | |
| K21 | Armstrong, Elswick | --- | --- | --- | cancelled 1917 | |
| K22 (ex- K13) | Fairfield, Govan | 5/1915 | 11/11/1916 | 10/1917 | BU 12/1926 |
|
Displacement standard, t |
|
|
Displacement normal, t |
1980 / 2566 |
|
Length, m |
100.6 |
|
Breadth, m |
8.10 |
|
Draught, m |
5.20 |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
K1, 2, 5 - 7, 11, 12, 14 - 16, 22: (Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines, 2 Yarrow boilers) / 1 diesel-generator / 4 electric motors K3, 4, 8 - 10, 17: (Parsons geared steam turbines, 2 Yarrow boilers) / 1 diesel-generator / 4 electric motors |
|
Power, h. p. |
10500 / 700 / 1440 |
|
Max speed, kn |
24 / 9.5 |
|
Fuel, t |
oil |
|
Armament |
K1 - 4, 6 - 12, 14 - 16: 10 - 450 TT (4 bow, 4 beam, 1 x 2 deck, 18), 2 x 1 - 102/40 BL Mk XI, 1 x 1 - 76/45 QF Mk I HA K5, 17 - 22: 10 - 450 TT (4 bow, 4 beam, 1 x 2 deck, 18), 2 x 1 - 102/40 QF Mk IV, 1 x 1 - 76/45 QF Mk I HA |
|
Complement |
59 |
| Diving depth operational, m | 50 |
Ship project history: Original fleet submarines with steam turbine machinery. First submarines of this class, K3 and K4, were ordered in June 1915. K1, 2 and 5 followed in August 1915, K6-14 in February 1916. Last 4 subs, K15-18, were ordered in May 1916 but cancelled before they been laid down. Their orders were replaced by "M" class. Submarines of "K" class had only 18`` torpedo tubes, this decision was accepted to avoid delays in designing of submarine with new untried torpedo tubes. Twin trainable TT in the superstructure was intended to night attack in surface position along with 102mm and 76mm HA guns. Submarines of the class were not truly double-hulled, external hull was placed abreast of the upper half of pressure hull. Totally enclosed bridge was used for the first time on submarines. Machinery compartments occupied 35% of hull length. Auxiliary 800hp diesel with 700hp generator provided auxiliary surface diesel-electric drive, this diesel-generator made submarine able be underway during time between surfacing and getting up steam. Underwater propulsion was provided by 4 electric motors, connected with shafts in pairs. They were intended for common operations with surface ships but have appeared unsuccessful. 4 TT placed in a bow, 4 in superstructure amidships; one more trainable twin TT was on an upper deck. Early boats were found very wet in service and bow was raised and new steering position was mounted over old bridge to see over new "swan" bow. Unusable superstructure TT, placed too close to wl, was removed.
Modernizations: 1917 - 1918, all: - 1 x 1 - 102/40, 1 x 2 - 450 TT (deck)
Naval service: Ê1 was sunk 17/11/1917 after collision, Ê4 and Ê17 were rammed by the ships during tragic incident at May island 31/1/1918, Ê5 was lost by unknown reason 20/1/1921. Ê13 beached and foundered during trials 29/1/1917 in the Gareloch, salved in March and renamed later K22. A year later she and Ê14 have received serious damages during group collision at May island.
K12 1918
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-10