HMS G4

HMS G4
History
United Kingdom
Name: G4
Builder: Chatham Dockyard
Laid down: 12 October 1914
Launched: 23 October 1915
Commissioned: 3 February 1916
Fate: Sold for scrap, 27 June 1928 to Cashmore, Newport.
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 G4 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

After commissioning, she was sent to join 11th Submarine Flotilla at Blyth with Lt-Cdr John Hutchings in command. At some point between 20 August 1916 and 3 October 1916, she went to Scapa Flow and left there to go to Murmansk (then called Romanov), arriving on 20 October 1916. She left there on 15 November, arriving in Kirkwall five days later. HMS G4 then spent the rest of the First World War conducting war patrols in the North Sea from Blyth and was there at the end of the war.

Notes

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

References

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