HMS G13

A G class submarine at Scapa Flow. Photo: R N Submarine Museum, Gosport.
History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS G13
Builder: Vickers
Laid down: 9 April 1915
Launched: 8 July 1916
Commissioned: 23 September 1916
Fate: Sold, 20 January 1923 to J Smith
General characteristics
Class & type: G-class submarine
Displacement:
  • 703 long tons (714 t) surfaced
  • 837 long tons (850 t) submerged
Length: 187 ft 1 in (57.0 m)
Beam: 22 ft 8 in (6.9 m)
Draught: 13 ft 4 in (4.1 m)
Installed power:
Propulsion:
Speed:
  • 14.25 knots (26.39 km/h; 16.40 mph) surfaced
  • 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) submerged
Range: 2,400 nmi (4,400 km; 2,800 mi) at 12.5 kn (23.2 km/h; 14.4 mph) surfaced
Complement: 22
Armament:

HMS G13 was a British G-class submarine built for the Royal Navy during World War I.

Description

The G-class submarines were designed by the Admiralty in response to a rumour that the Germans were building double-hulled submarines for overseas duties. The submarines had a length of 187 feet 1 inch (57.0 m) overall, a beam of 22 feet 8 inches (6.9 m) and a mean draft of 13 feet 4 inches (4.1 m). They displaced 703 long tons (714 t) on the surface and 837 long tons (850 t) submerged. The G-class submarines had a crew of 30 officers and other ranks. They had a partial double hull.[1]

For surface running, the boats were powered by two 800-brake-horsepower (597 kW) diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 420-horsepower (313 kW) electric motor. They could reach 14.25 knots (26.39 km/h; 16.40 mph) on the surface and 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) underwater. On the surface, the G class had a range of 2,400 nautical miles (4,400 km; 2,800 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph).[1]

The boats were intended to be armed with one 21-inch (53.3 cm) torpedo tube in the bow and two 18-inch (45 cm) torpedo tubes on the beam. This was revised, however, while they were under construction, the 21-inch tube was moved to the stern and two additional 18-inch tubes were added in the bow. They carried two 21-inch and eight 18-inch torpedoes. The G-class submarines were also armed with a single 3-inch (7.6 cm) deck gun.[1]

Construction and career

Like the rest of her class, G13's role was to patrol an area of the North Sea in search of German U-boats. On 10 March 1917 G13 torpedoed and sank the German submarine UC-43 off the Shetland Islands, about 9 miles (14 km) NW of Muckle Flugga Lighthouse. Lieutenant Commander George Fagan Bradshaw was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his command in this action.

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Gardiner & Gray, p. 90

References

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Saturday, October 31, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.