The D-class submarine was the Royal Navy's first class of submarines capable of operating significantly beyond coastal waters. They were also the first boats to be fitted with wireless transmitters. Ten were laid down between 1907 and 1910, though only 8 were completed as D-class boats. The final two hulls were completed as British E-class submarine.
The patrol submarines evolved from the C-class boats. They were designed to be propelled by diesel motors on the surface to avoid the problems with petrol engines experienced with the A class. These boats were designed for foreign service with an endurance of 2,500 nautical miles (4,600 km; 2,900 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) on the surface and much improved living conditions for a larger crew.
D-class boats were fitted with twin screws for greater manoeuvrability and were fitted with saddle tanks. The D class were the first submarines to be equipped with deck guns forward of the conning tower beginning with D6. Also, reserve buoyancy was increased to 20.6%. Armament also included three 18-inch (460 mm) torpedo tubes (2 vertically in the bow and 1 in the stern). The D class was also the first class of British submarines to have standard radio fitted. The aerial was attached to the mast of the conning tower that was lowered before diving.
With their enlarged bridge structure the boat profile was recognisably that of the modern submarine. The D-class submarines were considered to be so innovative that the prototype, D1, was built in utmost secrecy in a securely guarded building shed. She was launched at Barrow with equal secrecy, with only departmental heads and a few officers from the cruiser HMS Mercury, that was currently in dock being present. Once moved to the fitting out berth, she was once again screened from view.
The boats cost between £79,910 and £89,410 each excluding the deck gun.
Operationsedit
The D class were based at Harwich, Immingham, Blyth and Dover. Their wartime role was to sink German warships. In the latter stages of World War I the D class were used for training crews based at Portsmouth.
During World War I the boats patrolled the North Sea and the Heligoland Bight, and protected cross channel troopships. During the war, four boats (D2, D3, D5, and D6) were lost, and the remainder (D4, D7, and D8) were paid off in July 1919.
Akermann, Paul (2002). Encyclopaedia of British Submarines 1901–1955 (reprint of the 1989 ed.). Penzance, Cornwall: Periscope Publishing. ISBN1-904381-05-7.
Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN0-85177-245-5.
Harrison, A. N. (January 1979). "The Development of HM Submarines From Holland No. 1 (1901) to Porpoise (1930) (BR3043)". RN Subs. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to British D class submarines.
RN Subs 1907–1919: D Class
MaritimeQuest D Class Overview
May 08, 2024
british, class, submarine, class, submarine, royal, navy, first, class, submarines, capable, operating, significantly, beyond, coastal, waters, they, were, also, first, boats, fitted, with, wireless, transmitters, were, laid, down, between, 1907, 1910, though,. The D class submarine was the Royal Navy s first class of submarines capable of operating significantly beyond coastal waters They were also the first boats to be fitted with wireless transmitters Ten were laid down between 1907 and 1910 though only 8 were completed as D class boats The final two hulls were completed as British E class submarine HMS D1Class overview NameD class BuildersVickers Barrow HM Dockyard Chatham Operators Royal Navy Preceded byC class Succeeded byE class Completed8 Lost4 General characteristics TypeSubmarine Displacement483 tons surfaced 595 tons submerged Length163 0 ft 49 7 m oa Beam13 6 ft 4 1 m oa Propulsion550 hp 410 kW electric 1750 hp diesel twin screws Speed14 0 kn surfaced 10 0 design 9 0 service submerged Range2500 nmi at 10 kn surface 45 nmi at 5 kn submerged Complement25 Armament3 18 inch 45 cm torpedo tubes 2 forward one aft 6 torpedoes 1 1 12 pounder 76 mm QF gun 2 Contents 1 Design and description 2 Operations 3 Boats 4 See also 5 References 5 1 Works cited 6 External linksDesign and description editThe patrol submarines evolved from the C class boats They were designed to be propelled by diesel motors on the surface to avoid the problems with petrol engines experienced with the A class These boats were designed for foreign service with an endurance of 2 500 nautical miles 4 600 km 2 900 mi at 10 knots 19 km h 12 mph on the surface and much improved living conditions for a larger crew D class boats were fitted with twin screws for greater manoeuvrability and were fitted with saddle tanks The D class were the first submarines to be equipped with deck guns forward of the conning tower beginning with D6 Also reserve buoyancy was increased to 20 6 Armament also included three 18 inch 460 mm torpedo tubes 2 vertically in the bow and 1 in the stern The D class was also the first class of British submarines to have standard radio fitted The aerial was attached to the mast of the conning tower that was lowered before diving With their enlarged bridge structure the boat profile was recognisably that of the modern submarine The D class submarines were considered to be so innovative that the prototype D1 was built in utmost secrecy in a securely guarded building shed She was launched at Barrow with equal secrecy with only departmental heads and a few officers from the cruiser HMS Mercury that was currently in dock being present Once moved to the fitting out berth she was once again screened from view The boats cost between 79 910 and 89 410 each excluding the deck gun Operations editThe D class were based at Harwich Immingham Blyth and Dover Their wartime role was to sink German warships In the latter stages of World War I the D class were used for training crews based at Portsmouth During World War I the boats patrolled the North Sea and the Heligoland Bight and protected cross channel troopships During the war four boats D2 D3 D5 and D6 were lost and the remainder D4 D7 and D8 were paid off in July 1919 Boats edit nbsp A model of HMS D1 Eight D class boats were built HMS D1 HMS D2 HMS D3 HMS D4 HMS D5 HMS D6 HMS D7 HMS D8 There were plans for a further two D9 and D10 but these were launched at Chatham Dockyard as HMS E1 and HMS E2 See also editNot to be confused with the United States D class submarine of 1909 1910 References edit Fitzsimons Bernard Illustrated Encyclopedia of 20th Century Weapons and Warfare London Phoebus 1978 Volume 7 p 674 D 1 Fitzsimons p 674 Works cited edit Akermann Paul 2002 Encyclopaedia of British Submarines 1901 1955 reprint of the 1989 ed Penzance Cornwall Periscope Publishing ISBN 1 904381 05 7 Colledge J J Warlow Ben 2006 1969 Ships of the Royal Navy The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy Rev ed London Chatham Publishing ISBN 978 1 86176 281 8 Gardiner Robert amp Gray Randal eds 1985 Conway s All the World s Fighting Ships 1906 1921 Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 85177 245 5 Harrison A N January 1979 The Development of HM Submarines From Holland No 1 1901 to Porpoise 1930 BR3043 RN Subs Retrieved 27 September 2022 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to British D class submarines RN Subs 1907 1919 D Class MaritimeQuest D Class Overview Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title British D class submarine amp oldid 1222187571, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
