The two Explorer-class submarines were experimental vessels built for the Royal Navy to test a propulsion system based on the use of highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide (high-test peroxide, HTP) and diesel fuel to achieve high underwater endurance and speeds.
Germany had started experimenting with this technology early in the Second World War and developed it into the Walter cycle. They had built some experimental boats. One of these, the U-boatGerman submarine U-1407, which had been scuttled at the end of the war, was salvaged and eventually recommissioned into the Royal Navy as HMS Meteorite.
This eventually led to the construction of the two Explorer-class experimental vessels, which used steam turbines, the steam being generated using heat from the catalysed interaction of HTP and diesel oil. They used the Porpoise-class hull, modified with retractable superstructure fittings to help streamlining. Being purely experimental craft they had no torpedo tubes or radar fitted, only one periscope and were equipped with backup diesel engines to recharge the batteries and propel them on the surface.[1]
The first, Excalibur, was commissioned in March 1958. They were very fast boats, with a top underwater speed of around 49 km/h (26.5 kn) for period up to 3 hours and 22 km/h (12 kn) for 15 hours on one turbine.[1] Because of the use of hydrogen peroxide as a hair bleach, the submarines were nicknamed the Blonde class. As well as providing experience with this type of technology, they also allowed the Royal Navy to practise against fast moving underwater targets. However the use of HTP was not successful, and there were several explosions, which resulted in the second nickname of Exploder being applied to the class and Explorer in particular, while Excalibur had the nickname "Excruciater".[2] The subsequent use of HTP to power torpedoes led to the loss of HMS Sidon and the loss of the Russian submarine Kursk.
When the United States developed a nuclear reactor which could be installed in a submarine, the HTP project was abandoned. It was decided that it was not worth converting the class into normal diesel submarines. As a result, Explorer was sold for £13,500 to Thos. W. Ward for breaking up; Excalibur in turn was also subsequently sold to Thos. W. Ward.[3]
Other countries have since developed the concept of the non-nuclear air-independent propulsion submarine to the point where it is a safe technology albeit as an auxiliary power source to a conventional diesel-electric drive, although hydrogen peroxide has long been abandoned and liquid oxygen is generally now preferred.
Miller, David; Jordan, John (1987). Modern Submarine Warfare. London: Salamander Books. pp. 208 pages. ISBN0-86101-317-4.
January 07, 2023
explorer, class, submarine, confused, with, marine, explorer, other, uses, explorer, class, were, experimental, vessels, built, royal, navy, test, propulsion, system, based, highly, concentrated, hydrogen, peroxide, high, test, peroxide, diesel, fuel, achieve,. Not to be confused with Sub Marine Explorer For other uses see Explorer class The two Explorer class submarines were experimental vessels built for the Royal Navy to test a propulsion system based on the use of highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide high test peroxide HTP and diesel fuel to achieve high underwater endurance and speeds Explorer class submarine HMS Explorer S30 Class overviewBuildersVickers Armstrongs Barrow in FurnessPreceded byAmphion classSucceeded byPorpoise classCost 2 000 000In commission1958 1965Completed2General characteristicsTypeSubmarineDisplacement780 tons surfaced 1 000 tons submergedLength54 m 178 ft Beam4 78 m 15 ft 8 in Draught3 4 m 11 ft PropulsionHigh Test Peroxide HTP steam raising plant driving steam turbines submerged Diesel electric surfaced 2 shaftsSpeed46 km h 25 kn submerged Complement49Germany had started experimenting with this technology early in the Second World War and developed it into the Walter cycle They had built some experimental boats One of these the U boat German submarine U 1407 which had been scuttled at the end of the war was salvaged and eventually recommissioned into the Royal Navy as HMS Meteorite This eventually led to the construction of the two Explorer class experimental vessels which used steam turbines the steam being generated using heat from the catalysed interaction of HTP and diesel oil They used the Porpoise class hull modified with retractable superstructure fittings to help streamlining Being purely experimental craft they had no torpedo tubes or radar fitted only one periscope and were equipped with backup diesel engines to recharge the batteries and propel them on the surface 1 The first Excalibur was commissioned in March 1958 They were very fast boats with a top underwater speed of around 49 km h 26 5 kn for period up to 3 hours and 22 km h 12 kn for 15 hours on one turbine 1 Because of the use of hydrogen peroxide as a hair bleach the submarines were nicknamed the Blonde class As well as providing experience with this type of technology they also allowed the Royal Navy to practise against fast moving underwater targets However the use of HTP was not successful and there were several explosions which resulted in the second nickname of Exploder being applied to the class and Explorer in particular while Excalibur had the nickname Excruciater 2 The subsequent use of HTP to power torpedoes led to the loss of HMS Sidon and the loss of the Russian submarine Kursk When the United States developed a nuclear reactor which could be installed in a submarine the HTP project was abandoned It was decided that it was not worth converting the class into normal diesel submarines As a result Explorer was sold for 13 500 to Thos W Ward for breaking up Excalibur in turn was also subsequently sold to Thos W Ward 3 Other countries have since developed the concept of the non nuclear air independent propulsion submarine to the point where it is a safe technology albeit as an auxiliary power source to a conventional diesel electric drive although hydrogen peroxide has long been abandoned and liquid oxygen is generally now preferred Boats EditName Pennant No Builder Launched Commissioned StatusExplorer S30 Vickers Armstrongs Barrow in Furness 5 March 1954 28 November 1956 Sold for scrapExcalibur S40 25 February 1955 26 February 1958 Sold for scrapReferences Edit a b Miller amp Jordan Page 63 Preston Page 161 Explorer Class Experimental Submarines Archived from the original on 4 April 2009 Retrieved 8 March 2009 Retrieved 7 3 2009 Further reading EditPreston Antony 2002 The World s Worst Warships London Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 85177 754 6 Miller David Jordan John 1987 Modern Submarine Warfare London Salamander Books pp 208 pages ISBN 0 86101 317 4 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Explorer class submarine amp oldid 1106131238, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
