A fleet submarine is a submarine with the speed, range, and endurance to operate as part of a navy's battle fleet. Examples of fleet submarines are the British First World War era K class and the American World War II era Gato class.
The term has survived in Britain to refer to modern nuclear-powered attack submarines. In the United States Navy, the term came to be used primarily for the long-range submarines that served in World War II.
The term was used by the United States Navy to distinguish submarines suitable for long range patrols in the Pacific Ocean from earlier classes such as the United States S-class submarines. The initial goal, pursued with frequent interruptions since the AA-1-class (aka T-class) launched 1918–19, was to produce a submarine with a surfaced speed of 21 knots to operate with the Standard-type battleships of the surface fleet.[1] Most of the nine "V-boats" launched 1924–33 (V-1 through V-6) were either attempts to produce a fleet submarine or were long-range submarine cruisers. Eventually, a long range of 11,000 nautical miles (20,000 km) was combined with high speed, beginning with the Salmon-class launched in 1938, to allow sustained operations in Japanese home waters while based at Pearl Harbor.[2] These qualities also proved important in the Pacific commerce raiding of World War II, but the 1922 Washington Naval Treaty's prohibition on unrestricted submarine warfare precluded inter-war planning in this area.[3] Although the Gato-class was considered the fully developed archetype,[4] the earlier Porpoise, Salmon, Sargo and Tambor-classes were incrementally improved prototypes distinctly different from the two contemporary experimental Mackerel-class coastal submarines. The Tambors were fully developed and similar to the Gatos except for diving depth and separation of the engines into two compartments.[5][6]
Japaneseedit
Japanese I-boats were a conceptually similar long-range differentiation from smaller "medium" or "sea-going" Ro-boats, although some I-boats had features like aircraft hangars and large-caliber deck guns more often associated with submarine cruisers.[7]
Britishedit
In order to get the speeds – over 20 knots while surfaced – required to match their capital ships and to be able to screen ahead of the fleet or flank the enemy, the British initially used steam propulsion. The K-class entering service in 1916 were large for their time. Although able to reach 24 knots the complexity of shutting down boilers and stowing funnels made them slow to dive.[8]
As the speed of capital ships increased, the United Kingdom abandoned the fleet submarine concept following completion of three 21-knot River-class submarine submarines of the early 1930s using supercharged diesels, because the size required for range and surface speed decreased maneuverability.[9]
Othersedit
Continental European nations sometimes used the terms "ocean-going", "long-patrol", "type 1" or "1st class" submarines, generally referring to Atlantic or Indian Ocean operations in the absence of anticipated need for Pacific patrols, and often without the speed for fleet operations.[10]
Alden, John D., Commander (USN Ret) (1979). The Fleet Submarine in the U.S. Navy: A Design and Construction History. London: Arms and Armour Press. ISBN0-85368-203-8.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Kafka, Roger; Pepperburg, Roy L. (1946). Warships of the World. New York: Cornell Maritime Press.
le Masson, Henri (1969). Navies of the Second World War. Vol. The French Navy 1. Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company.
Lenton, H.T. (1968). Navies of the Second World War. Vol. Royal Netherlands Navy. Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company.
Lenton, H.T.; Colledge, J.J. (1964). British and Dominion Warships of World War II. Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company.
Potter, E.B.; Nimitz, Chester W. (1960). Sea Power. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.
Silverstone, Paul H. (1968). U.S. Warships of World War II. Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company.
Taylor, J.C. (1966). German Warships of World War II. Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company.
Watts, Anthony J. (1966). Japanese Warships of World War II. Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company.
January 01, 1970
fleet, submarine, fleet, submarine, submarine, with, speed, range, endurance, operate, part, navy, battle, fleet, examples, fleet, submarines, british, first, world, class, american, world, gato, class, gato, class, fleet, submarine, wahoo, term, survived, bri. A fleet submarine is a submarine with the speed range and endurance to operate as part of a navy s battle fleet Examples of fleet submarines are the British First World War era K class and the American World War II era Gato class Gato class fleet submarine USS Wahoo The term has survived in Britain to refer to modern nuclear powered attack submarines In the United States Navy the term came to be used primarily for the long range submarines that served in World War II Contents 1 Examples 1 1 United States 1 2 Japanese 1 3 British 1 4 Others 2 Comparison of World War II submarines 3 Modern boats 4 References 5 SourcesExamples editUnited States edit The term was used by the United States Navy to distinguish submarines suitable for long range patrols in the Pacific Ocean from earlier classes such as the United States S class submarines The initial goal pursued with frequent interruptions since the AA 1 class aka T class launched 1918 19 was to produce a submarine with a surfaced speed of 21 knots to operate with the Standard type battleships of the surface fleet 1 Most of the nine V boats launched 1924 33 V 1 through V 6 were either attempts to produce a fleet submarine or were long range submarine cruisers Eventually a long range of 11 000 nautical miles 20 000 km was combined with high speed beginning with the Salmon class launched in 1938 to allow sustained operations in Japanese home waters while based at Pearl Harbor 2 These qualities also proved important in the Pacific commerce raiding of World War II but the 1922 Washington Naval Treaty s prohibition on unrestricted submarine warfare precluded inter war planning in this area 3 Although the Gato class was considered the fully developed archetype 4 the earlier Porpoise Salmon Sargo and Tambor classes were incrementally improved prototypes distinctly different from the two contemporary experimental Mackerel class coastal submarines The Tambors were fully developed and similar to the Gatos except for diving depth and separation of the engines into two compartments 5 6 Japanese edit Japanese I boats were a conceptually similar long range differentiation from smaller medium or sea going Ro boats although some I boats had features like aircraft hangars and large caliber deck guns more often associated with submarine cruisers 7 British edit In order to get the speeds over 20 knots while surfaced required to match their capital ships and to be able to screen ahead of the fleet or flank the enemy the British initially used steam propulsion The K class entering service in 1916 were large for their time Although able to reach 24 knots the complexity of shutting down boilers and stowing funnels made them slow to dive 8 As the speed of capital ships increased the United Kingdom abandoned the fleet submarine concept following completion of three 21 knot River class submarine submarines of the early 1930s using supercharged diesels because the size required for range and surface speed decreased maneuverability 9 Others edit Continental European nations sometimes used the terms ocean going long patrol type 1 or 1st class submarines generally referring to Atlantic or Indian Ocean operations in the absence of anticipated need for Pacific patrols and often without the speed for fleet operations 10 Comparison of World War II submarines editName Type Nation Surface Displacement Submerged Displacement Speed Torpedo Tubes Crew Reference Gato class fleet submarine United States 1 525 tons 2 415 tons 20 kt 10 80 11 Thames class fleet submarine United Kingdom 1 850 tons 2 723 tons 22 kt 8 61 12 Kaidai class fleet submarine Japan 1 833 tons 2 602 tons 23 kt 6 80 13 Type IXD2 ocean going submarine Germany 1 616 tons 1 804 tons 19 kt 6 57 14 Redoutable class ocean going submarine France 1 570 tons 2 084 tons 17 kt 9 61 15 Kaichu type medium submarine Japan 1 115 tons 1 447 tons 19 kt 4 80 16 Type XB minelayer Germany 1 763 tons 2 177 tons 16 kt 2 52 17 Cagni class submarine cruiser Italy 1 461 tons 2 136 tons 18 kt 14 85 18 Type B1 submarine cruiser Japan 2 584 tons 3 654 tons 23 kt 6 100 19 O 21 class medium submarine Netherlands 888 tons 1 186 tons 19 kt 8 55 20 Type VIIC medium submarine Germany 769 tons 871 tons 17 kt 5 44 21 Pietro Micca minelayer Italy 1 371 tons 1 883 tons 15 kt 6 66 22 600 series medium submarine Italy 615 tons 855 tons 14 kt 6 41 22 S class medium submarine United Kingdom 715 tons 990 tons 14 kt 6 44 23 Grampus class minelayer United Kingdom 1 520 tons 2 157 tons 15 kt 6 59 12 Minerve class medium submarine France 662 tons 856 tons 14 kt 9 41 24 Narwhal class submarine cruiser United States 2 730 tons 4 050 tons 17 kt 6 90 25 Surcouf submarine cruiser France 3 250 tons 4 304 tons 18 kt 12 118 26 Argonaut minelayer United States 2 710 tons 4 080 tons 15 kt 4 89 25 S boats medium submarine United States 840 tons 1 150 tons 15 kt 4 42 27 nbsp Fleet submarine HMS AmbushModern boats editThe Royal Navy uses the term for its nuclear powered attack submarines distinguishing them from the ballistic missile submarines The classes of submarine currently in service are the Astute class and Trafalgar class References edit Friedman pp 99 104 Friedman p 310 Friedman p 163 Potter amp Nimitz p 797 Silverstone p 176 Friedman pp 310 311 Watts pp 161 186 Edward C Whitman K for Katastrophe Archived 2015 09 24 at the Wayback Machine Lenton amp Colledge p 135 le Masson p 143 Silverstone p 195 a b Lenton amp Colledge p 138 Watts p 188 Taylor p 104 le Masson pp 152 153 Watts p 189 Taylor p 106 Kafka amp Pepperburg p 790 Watts p 185 Lenton p 43 Taylor p 101 a b Kafka amp Pepperburg p 793 Lenton amp Colledge p 139 le Masson p 161 a b Silverstone p 186 le Masson p 157 Silverstone p 183Sources editAlden John D Commander USN Ret 1979 The Fleet Submarine in the U S Navy A Design and Construction History London Arms and Armour Press ISBN 0 85368 203 8 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Friedman Norman 1995 U S Submarines Through 1945 An Illustrated Design History Annapolis Maryland United States Naval Institute ISBN 1 55750 263 3 Kafka Roger Pepperburg Roy L 1946 Warships of the World New York Cornell Maritime Press le Masson Henri 1969 Navies of the Second World War Vol The French Navy 1 Garden City New York Doubleday amp Company Lenton H T 1968 Navies of the Second World War Vol Royal Netherlands Navy Garden City New York Doubleday amp Company Lenton H T Colledge J J 1964 British and Dominion Warships of World War II Garden City New York Doubleday amp Company Potter E B Nimitz Chester W 1960 Sea Power Englewood Cliffs New Jersey Prentice Hall Silverstone Paul H 1968 U S Warships of World War II Garden City New York Doubleday amp Company Taylor J C 1966 German Warships of World War II Garden City New York Doubleday amp Company Watts Anthony J 1966 Japanese Warships of World War II Garden City New York Doubleday amp Company Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fleet submarine amp oldid 1193776545, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
