British K-class submarine

Class overview
NameK class
Builders
Operators Royal Navy
In commission1917–1931
Planned21
Completed17
General characteristics
TypeSubmarine
Displacement
  • 1,980 tons surfaced
  • 2,566 tons dived
Length339 ft (103 m)
Beam26 ft 6 in (8.08 m)
Draught20 ft 11 in (6.38 m)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph) surfaced
  • 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) submerged
Range
  • Surface: 800 nautical miles (1,500 km; 920 mi) at maximum speed
  • 12,500 nmi (23,200 km; 14,400 mi) at 10 kn (19 km/h; 12 mph)
  • Submerged: 8 nmi (15 km; 9.2 mi) at 8 kn (15 km/h; 9.2 mph)
Complement59 (6 officers and 53 ratings)
Armament
HMS K4 aground on Walney Island

The K-class submarines were a class of steam-propelled submarines of the Royal Navy designed in 1913. Intended as large, fast vessels with the endurance and speed to operate with the battle fleet, they gained notoriety and the nickname of "Kalamity class" for being involved in many accidents. Of the 18 built, none were lost through enemy action, but six sank, with significant loss of life, in accidents. Only one ever engaged an enemy vessel, K-7 hitting a U-boat amidships, though the torpedo failed to explode with what has been described as typical "K" luck; K-7 escaped retaliation by steaming away at speed.[2]

The class found favour with Commodore Roger Keyes, then Inspector Captain of Submarines, and with admirals Sir John Jellicoe, Commander-in-Chief British Grand Fleet, and Sir David Beatty, Commander-in-Chief Battlecruiser Squadrons. An opponent of the class was Admiral Jacky Fisher, later First Sea Lord, who on the class' suggestion in 1913 had responded 'The most fatal error imaginable would be to put steam engines in submarines.'[citation needed]

Submarines and their use at the time were still in its infancy. Submarines, which later acted only by stealth, are no longer expected to be within a surface warship formation.

  1. ^ Cocker, M. P.; Warne, Frederick (1982). Observer's Directory of Royal Naval Submarines 1901–1982. London. p. 42. ISBN 0723229643.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  2. ^ Edwyn Gray (31 January 2016). British Submarines at War: 1914–1918. Pen and Sword. pp. 220–221. ISBN 978-1-4738-5348-5.