HMS Rorqual (N74)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Rorqual.

HMS Rorqual
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Rorqual
BuilderVickers Armstrong, Barrow
Laid down1 May 1935
Launched27 July 1936
Commissioned10 February 1937
FateSold on 19 November 1945, broken up on 17 March 1946
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeGrampus-class mine-laying submarine
Displacement
  • 1,810 tons surfaced
  • 2,157 tons submerged
Length293 ft (89 m)
Beam25 ft 6 in (7.77 m)
Draught16 ft 10 in (5.13 m)
Propulsion2 shaft, Diesel (3300 hp) plus electric (1630 hp)
Speed
  • 15.5 knots (28.7 km/h; 17.8 mph) surfaced
  • 8.75 knots (16.21 km/h; 10.07 mph) submerged
Complement59
Armament
  • 6 × 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes (bow)
  • 12 torpedoes
  • 1 × 4-inch (102 mm) deck gun
  • 50 mines

HMS Rorqual (N74) was a British mine-laying submarine, one of the six ships of the Grampus class of the Royal Navy. She was built by Vickers Armstrong, Barrow and launched 27 July 1936. She served in the Second World War in the Mediterranean and in the far east. She was the only Grampus-class submarine to survive the war, and she is considered the most successful minelaying submarine of World War II, sinking 57,704 GRT of enemy shipping, 35,951 of which through her mines.[1][2]

  1. ^ "HMS Rorqual (N 74) of the Royal Navy - British Submarine of the Porpoise class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net".
  2. ^ Sommergibile HMS Rorqual.