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ROYAL NAVY - UNITED KINGDOM

SUBMARINES

"U" War Emergency and 1940 Programs and 1941 Program "short hull" submarines (UTMOST)

Utmost 1941

 

Displacement standard, t	540
Displacement normal, t	630 / 732 (later 646/732)
Length, m	60.0 Unbeaten, Unique, Upholder, Upright, Usk, Utmost: 58.2 Undaunted, Union, Urchin, Urge: 58.6
Breadth, m	4.90
Draught, m	4.52 - 4.65
No of shafts	2
Machinery	2 Paxman-Ricardo or Paxman diesel-generators/ 2 electric motors
Power, h. p.	615 / 825
Max speed, kn	11.25 / 10
Fuel, t	diesel oil 38, later 55
Endurance, nm(kts)	4050(10) /
Armament	submarines completed in 1940 - 1942: 4 - 533 TT (bow, 8), 1 x 1 - 76/40 QF Mk I HA Unique, Upholder, Upright, Utmost: 6 - 533 TT (4 bow, 2 ext bow, 8), 1 x 1 - 76/40 QF Mk I HA submarines completed in 1942 - 1943: 4 - 533 TT (bow, 8 torpedoes or 6 M2 mines), 1 х 1 - 76/45 QF Mk I HA
Sensors	submarines completed in 1941 - 1942: type 286PW radar, sonars submarines completed in 1942 - 1943: type 291W radar, sonars
Complement	31 - 33
Diving depth operational, m	60

Ship project history: These submarines were originally reflected as unarmed targets for training of crews of escort ships. Already after design approval it was decided to arm them with TT. Construction of a fore end was changed for placing 4 TT in pressure hull and two more out of it, in a special fin. Single-hulled. Feature of this class that there on shafts only electric motors were and diesels used only in a role of generators. There were first British pure diesel-electric submarines.

New boats received a designation as "U" class, have appeared very successful, and better than boats of other types approached for actions in Mediterranean and Northern seas, however originally a series have limited to three units of the 1936 program. Only after beginning of war in limits of "War Emergency program" orders were placed for 12 more units. Four of them have built with six TT, remaining lost outer TTs, since during operation of the first boats of a series it was discovered, that a bow TT fin creates on periscopic depth very large breaker (as well as on type "Т").

Under 1940 and 1941 programs 41 more submarines were ordered from which 7 were canceled.

Fuel stowage was later increased to 55t for the account of use of part of ballast tanks.

Modernizations: 1942 - 1944, all survived early submarines: can carry 6 M2 mines instead of torpedoes, - 1 x 1 - 76/40; + 1 x 1 - 76/45 QF MkI HA

Naval service: Usk was lost 28/4/1941 in Mediterranean sea (presumably on a mine). Undaunted was lost 13/5/1941 on a mine at Tripoli. Umpire was lost 19/7/1941 at collision with a trawler Peter Hendriks in the North Sea. Union was sunk by DCs of Italian torpedo boat Circe 20/7/1941 in Mediterranean sea. Р32 was lost 18/8/1941 on a mine at Tripoli. Р33 was lost for unknown reason (possibly 23/8/1941 on a mine at Tripoli). Р38 was sunk by DCs of Italian torpedo boat Circe 23/2/1942 in Mediterranean sea. Р39 was sunk by German aircraft on Malta 26/3/1942. Р36 was sunk 1/4/1942 by German aircraft in Mediterranean sea. Upholder was sunk by DCs of Italian torpedo boat Pegaso 14/4/1942 in Mediterranean sea. Urge was sunk by Italian aircraft 28/4/1942 in Mediterranean sea. Unique was lost 23/10/1942 at Gibraltar for unknown reason. Unbeaten was sunk by mistake by British aircraft in bay of Biscay 11/11/1942. Utmost was sunk 24/11/1942 by DCs of Italian torpedo boat Groppo in Mediterranean sea. Р48 was sunk by DCs of Italian corvette Ardente 25/12/1942 in Mediterranean sea. Vandal was lost for the unknown reason 24/2/1943 at British coast. Uredd was lost 24/2/1943 on a mine in the North Sea. Untamed was sunk 30/5/1943 during trials at British coast, salvaged 5/7/1943 and commissioned as Vitality. Usurper was sunk by DCs of German trawler UJ2208 in Mediterranean sea 3/10/1943. Untiring and Upstart were scuttled after returning from Greece and used as targets for underwater location.

Varangian 1946

 

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