British and Allied Submarine
Operations in World War II
Vice Admiral Sir Arthur Hezlet KBE CB DSO* DSC

 

 

     
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Particulars of British Submarines 1939

P Class





ENLARGE

Parthian Chatham 1930
Proteus Vickers 1930
1927 Estimates Perseus Vickers 1930
Pandora Vickers 1930
Phoenix C. Laird 1930


These five submarines were the second batch of production boats for the Far East. They were very nearly the same as the O class except that they had reverted to a “yacht” bow and had a simplified electrical system. However they suffered from the same problems as the O class. Poseidon, the sixth ship of the class was lost by accident in 1931.

Dimensions

289.2' x 29.9' x 18 = 1775 tons (surface)
                               2040 tons (submerged)

Armament




Six 21" bow torpedo tubes.
Two 21" stern torpedo tubes.
Fourteen 21" Mark VIII torpedoes.
One 4" QF Mark III gun on an S1 mounting. 120 rounds ammo.
Two Lewis guns and five rifles.
Propulsion





Twin Diesel engines of 4400 HP = 17½ knots.
160 tons oil fuel = 2880 miles @ 17½ knots or 9870 miles @ 8 knots.
2.1 tons per day on patrol.

Main motors 1320 HP = 9 knots submerged.
.Batteries. 336 cells of 140 tons. 1½ hrs @ 8 kts submerged.

Hull


Modified saddle tank type.
Designed diving 500 feet.
Operational diving depth 300 feet.
Complement 5 Officers and 50 men.
Detecting devices

Two 40 foot periscopes.
Type 118 asdic set.
RESET PRINT PREFERENCES TO LANDSCAPE
The Royal Navy Submarine Museum Website