The Rainbow-class submarines were designed as improved versions of the Parthian class and were intended for long-range operations in the Far East. The submarines had a length of 287 feet 2 inches (87.5 m) overall, a beam of 29 feet 10 inches (9.1 m) and a mean draft of 13 feet 10 inches (4.2 m). They displaced 1,772 long tons (1,800 t) on the surface and 2,030 long tons (2,060 t) submerged. The Rainbow-class submarines had a crew of 56 officers and ratings. They had a diving depth of 300 feet (91.4 m).[1]
For surface running, the boats were powered by two 2,200-brake-horsepower (1,641 kW) diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 660-horsepower (492 kW) electric motor. They could reach 17.5 knots (32.4 km/h; 20.1 mph) on the surface and 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) underwater. On the surface, the boats had a range of 7,050 nautical miles (13,060 km; 8,110 mi) at 9.2 knots (17.0 km/h; 10.6 mph) and 62 nmi (115 km; 71 mi) at 4 knots (7.4 km/h; 4.6 mph) submerged.[1]
Rainbow served in the Far East until 1940, when she moved to the Mediterranean. She left for a patrol off Calabria on 23 September 1940 [4] and was due to be back in Alexandria on 16 October, she was last heard from on 25 September. She is believed to have been sunk on 4 October in a collision with the Italian merchant shipAntonietta Costa, which reported striking a submerged object at 03:30, followed by a huge underwater explosion while sailing in convoy from Albania on that date.[5]
Until 1988 it was believed that Rainbow had been sunk by the Enrico Toti, but eventually it was determined that HMS Triad (N53) was the submarine that Enrico Toti sank.[4]
^"HMS Rainbow (N 16)". uboat.net. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
Referencesedit
Akermann, Paul (2002). Encyclopaedia of British Submarines 1901–1955 (reprint of the 1989 ed.). Penzance, Cornwall: Periscope Publishing. ISBN1-904381-05-7.
Bagnasco, Erminio (1977). Submarines of World War Two. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN0-87021-962-6.
Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-146-7.
McCartney, Innes (2006). British Submarines 1939–1945. New Vanguard. Vol. 129. Oxford, UK: Osprey. ISBN1-84603-007-2.
External linksedit
Chatham-built submarines: HM Submarine Rainbow 29 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
January 01, 1970
rainbow, other, ships, with, same, name, rainbow, rainbow, rainbow, class, submarine, built, royal, navy, during, 1930s, rainbow, stern, imageshistory, united, kingdom, namehms, rainbow, ordered28, january, 1929, builderchatham, dockyard, laid, down24, july, 1. For other ships with the same name see HMS Rainbow HMS Rainbow was a Rainbow class submarine built for the Royal Navy during the 1930s HMS Rainbow at sea bow and stern imagesHistory United Kingdom NameHMS Rainbow Ordered28 January 1929 BuilderChatham Dockyard Laid down24 July 1929 Launched14 May 1930 Commissioned18 January 1932 IdentificationPennant number N16 FateBelieved sunk on 4 October 1940 General characteristics Class and typeRainbow class submarine Displacement1 763 long tons 1 791 t surfaced 2 030 long tons 2 060 t submerged Length287 ft 87 m Beam30 ft 9 1 m Draught16 ft 4 9 m PropulsionDiesel electric 2 Admiralty diesel engines 4 640 hp 2 electric motors 1 635 hp 2 shafts Speed17 5 knots 32 4 km h 20 1 mph surfaced 8 6 knots 15 9 km h 9 9 mph submerged Complement53 Armament8 21 inch 533 mm torpedo tubes 6 bow 2 stern 1 QF 4 7 inch 120 mm Mark IX deck gun Contents 1 Design and description 2 Construction and career 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksDesign and description editThe Rainbow class submarines were designed as improved versions of the Parthian class and were intended for long range operations in the Far East The submarines had a length of 287 feet 2 inches 87 5 m overall a beam of 29 feet 10 inches 9 1 m and a mean draft of 13 feet 10 inches 4 2 m They displaced 1 772 long tons 1 800 t on the surface and 2 030 long tons 2 060 t submerged The Rainbow class submarines had a crew of 56 officers and ratings They had a diving depth of 300 feet 91 4 m 1 For surface running the boats were powered by two 2 200 brake horsepower 1 641 kW diesel engines each driving one propeller shaft When submerged each propeller was driven by a 660 horsepower 492 kW electric motor They could reach 17 5 knots 32 4 km h 20 1 mph on the surface and 9 knots 17 km h 10 mph underwater On the surface the boats had a range of 7 050 nautical miles 13 060 km 8 110 mi at 9 2 knots 17 0 km h 10 6 mph and 62 nmi 115 km 71 mi at 4 knots 7 4 km h 4 6 mph submerged 1 The boats were armed with six 21 in 530 mm torpedo tubes in the bow and two more in the stern They carried six reload torpedoes for a grand total of fourteen torpedoes They were also armed with a QF 4 7 inch 120 mm Mark IX deck gun 2 Construction and career editRainbow ran aground in the English Channel off Ventnor Isle of Wight on 22 January 1932 She was refloated later the same day 3 Rainbow served in the Far East until 1940 when she moved to the Mediterranean She left for a patrol off Calabria on 23 September 1940 4 and was due to be back in Alexandria on 16 October she was last heard from on 25 September She is believed to have been sunk on 4 October in a collision with the Italian merchant ship Antonietta Costa which reported striking a submerged object at 03 30 followed by a huge underwater explosion while sailing in convoy from Albania on that date 5 Until 1988 it was believed that Rainbow had been sunk by the Enrico Toti but eventually it was determined that HMS Triad N53 was the submarine that Enrico Toti sank 4 Notes edit a b Bagnasco pp 106 07 Chesneau p 49 Submarine ashore near Ventnor The Times No 46038 London 23 January 1932 col B p 7 a b Brian Izzard November 2009 Gamp VC Haynes Publishing p 35 ISBN 978 1 84425 725 6 HMS Rainbow N 16 uboat net Retrieved 13 August 2015 References editAkermann Paul 2002 Encyclopaedia of British Submarines 1901 1955 reprint of the 1989 ed Penzance Cornwall Periscope Publishing ISBN 1 904381 05 7 Bagnasco Erminio 1977 Submarines of World War Two Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 0 87021 962 6 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 Chesneau Roger ed 1980 Conway s All the World s Fighting Ships 1922 1946 Greenwich UK Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 85177 146 7 McCartney Innes 2006 British Submarines 1939 1945 New Vanguard Vol 129 Oxford UK Osprey ISBN 1 84603 007 2 External links editChatham built submarines HM Submarine Rainbow Archived 29 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine HMS Rainbow at the Barrow Submariners Association Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HMS Rainbow N16 amp oldid 1131578858, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
