V4 1916
| Name | No | Yard No | Builder | Laid down | Launched | Comp | Fate |
| V1 | I2A | Vickers, Barrow | 11/1912 | 23.7.1914 | 5/1915 | sold 11.1921 | |
| V2 | I3A | Vickers, Barrow | 10/1913 | 17.2.1915 | 11/1915 | sold 11.1921 | |
| V3 | I4A | Vickers, Barrow | 1/1914 | 1.4.1915 | 1/1916 | sold 10.1920 | |
| V4 | I5A | Vickers, Barrow | 2/1914 | 25.11.1915 | 3/1916 | sold 10.1920 |
|
Displacement standard, t |
|
|
Displacement normal, t |
V1: 386 / 453 V2 - 4: 391 / 457 |
|
Length, m |
V1: 43.9 V2 - 4: 45.0 |
|
Breadth, m |
V1: 5.03 V2 - 4: 4.96 |
|
Draught, m |
3.51 |
|
No of shafts |
2 |
|
Machinery |
2 8-cyl Vickers diesels / 2 electric motors |
|
Power, h. p. |
V1: 900 / 450 V2 - 4: 900 / 380 |
|
Max speed, kts |
14 / 8.5 |
|
Fuel, t |
diesel oil |
| Endurance, nm(kts) | 3000(9) / 50(5) |
|
Armament |
2 - 450 TT (bow, 4) |
|
Complement |
20 |
| Diving depth operational, m | 30 |
Project history: The February 1912 Submarine Committee recommended two new types for development, an overseas type displacing 1000t on the surface and a coastal type of 250-300t. The large type emerged as the Nautilus and the coastal type emerged as the 'S' and 'F' types, but Vickers produced their own design to meet the requirement, and in the mood of experiment current in the RN Submarine Service it was accepted. There was a close resemblance to the 'S' design for the Vickers boats also adopted a partial double hull. It extended over about 22.9m amidships, as against 13.7m in the 'S' design. The battery capacity was low: 132 Exide cells as against 166 in the 'C class. Even the 'A' class, on half the displacement, had 120 cells. The result was that the 'V' class were short of underwater endurance but in spite of that they had no difficulty in reaching their designed speed. Two types of electric motors were used: V1's were made by Laurence Scott with 300hp as designed, whereas V 2-V 4's came from the Don Works, which had provided motors for previous classes.
V 2-V 4 differed from the prototype because two lots of two 2 tin frames had been added, in the battery tank compartment and the torpedo compartment respectively. As the foremost tank compartment was then shortened by two frames, the total increase in length was 1.1m. V1 was authorised under the 1912-13 Programme and ordered in March 1913 (Vickers had already started her on 11 December 1912). Three more were ordered in August 1913 under the 1913-14 Programme.
Modernizations: None.
Naval service: No significant events.
V3 1916
© Ivan Gogin, 2008-13