HMS L56

History
Name:	HMS L56
Builder:	Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan
Laid down:	16 October 1917
Commissioned:	14 August 1918
Fate:	Sold for scrapping, 25 March 1938
General characteristics
Class & type:	L-class submarine
Displacement:	960 long tons (980 t) surfaced 1,150 long tons (1,170 t) submerged
Length:	235 ft (71.6 m)
Beam:	23 ft 6 in (7.2 m)
Draught:	13 ft 2 in (4.0 m)
Installed power:	2,400 bhp (1,800 kW) (diesel) 1,600 hp (1,200 kW) (electric)
Propulsion:	2 × diesel engines 2 × electric motors
Speed:	17 kn (31 km/h; 20 mph) surfaced 10.5 kn (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph) submerged
Range:	4,500 nmi (8,300 km; 5,200 mi) at 8 kn (15 km/h; 9.2 mph) on the surface
Test depth:	150 feet (45.7 m)
Complement:	44
Armament:	6 × bow 18 in (457 mm) torpedo tubes 2 × 4-inch deck guns

HMS L56 was a late-model L-class submarine built for the Royal Navy during the First World War. The boat was not completed before the end of the war and was sold for scrap in 1938.

Design and description

L52 and its successors were modified to maximise the number of 21-inch (53.3 cm) torpedoes carried in the bow. The submarine had a length of 235 feet (71.6 m) overall, a beam of 23 feet 6 inches (7.2 m) and a mean draft of 13 feet 2 inches (4.0 m).^[1] They displaced 914 long tons (929 t) on the surface and 1,089 long tons (1,106 t) submerged. The L-class submarines had a crew of 44 officers and ratings.^[2] They had a diving depth of 150 feet (45.7 m).^[3]

For surface running, the boats were powered by two 12-cylinder Vickers^[4] 1,200-brake-horsepower (895 kW) diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 600-horsepower (447 kW) electric motor. They could reach 17 knots (31 km/h; 20 mph) on the surface and 10.5 knots (19.4 km/h; 12.1 mph) underwater. On the surface, the L class had a range of 4,200 nautical miles (7,800 km; 4,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).^[1]

The boats were armed with six 21-inch torpedo tubes in the bow. They carried eight reload torpedoes for a grand total of a dozen torpedoes.^[5] They were also armed with two 4-inch (102 mm) deck guns.^[2]

Construction and career

HMS L56 was laid down on 16 October 1917 by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company at their Govan shipyard, launched on 29 May 1919, and completed on 3 September 1919. The boat was sold for scrap on 25 March 1938.

Notes

1. Gardiner & Gray, p. 94
2. Akermann, p. 165
3. Harrison, Chapter 11
4. Harrison, Chapter 25
5. Harrison, Chapter 27

References

• Akermann, Paul (2002). Encyclopaedia of British Submarines 1901–1955 (reprint of the 1989 ed.). Penzance, Cornwall: Periscope Publishing. ISBN 1-904381-05-7.
• 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. OCLC 67375475.
• Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal, eds. (1984). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships: 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
• Harrison, A. N. (January 1979). "The Development of HM Submarines From Holland No. 1 (1901) to Porpoise (1930) (BR3043)". Submariners Association: Barrow in Furness Branch. Retrieved 19 August 2015.