V class submarine (1943)

The V-class, officially the “U class, long hull”, was a late war ultimate variant of the wartime U-class, the third pillar of the British underwater Forces in world war two, especially active in the Mediterranean. These were a development of the 1937 Undine and 1940 “short hull” class, boosted by wartime experience. This class, laid down in 1942-43 and completed in 1943-45, had its stern lengthened to give an easier angle of approach of water to the propellers in order to reduce noise, with a further fining of the bows. The hull had welded framing and the riveted plating was increased from half to three-quarter of an inch, so that the operational depth limit was increased to 300ft. None was sunk in action, Some were transferred in wartime, but most were sold postwar as surplus, to Norway, Greece, France and Denmark.

Development

The U-class “long hulls”

The U class, with 49 completed, was among the unsung heroes of the British underwater service. They were the smallest of the trio mass-built in WW2, but started in the interwar, the T (large oceanic), S (medium ocanic) and the U (coastal) types. The U-class originated in fact with a March 1934 specification for a “Small, Simple, Submarine, for Anti-Submarine Training, etc.”. Almost an auxiliary type leading to the construction of the three Unity class ordered in November 1936. They became the smallest British subs since WWI. Their trademarks were a 500 tonnes standard displacement (in reality 540 long tons), a riveted steel hull 0.5 inches (13 mm) thick to dive to 200 ft (60 m), which was basically equivalent to their own length, at two meters or 10 feet difference. In case of war, they were intended either to hunt German shipping in the Baltic, or Italian lines of communication in the Mediterranean, albeit this was the job of the Marine Nationale.

Fast forward, and in September 1939 a war emergency program planned the construction of at least two main types of submarines, the large T class and smaller S-class. Then after the French defeat in June 1940, the need for submersibles in the Mediterranean urged the construction en masse of a more affordable, smaller type, a requirement for which the U-class seemed fitting like a glove. This led to the mass order of 45 “short hulls” as part of the 1940 and 1941 programmes, a simple repeat of the Undine design.

Naming

According to the recommendation of the Hopwood Committee of 1926, the boats had names beginning with the same letter in the alphabet, but the vocabulary was not that extensive for “U”, thus Churchill (which played around with names when approving construction as PM) simply suggested swapping to “V” names, while keeping the overall “U class” administrative classification, easier for the Navy to manage. Thus, the last units of the wartime U-class were HMS Vandal (initially P58), Vitality, Varangian, Varne and Vox. Most were resurrected from cancelled “V-W” destroyers of 1918. They were named after leftovers of the other wartime “V” class, destroyers related to the 1942 S-T-U-V-W superclass. Part of the 42 subs ordered still had “U” names as well: Upshot, Urtica were actually completed, but Ulex, Upas, Utopia, Unbridled, Upward, were cancelled. The four Norwegian boats received new “U” names as well. For convenience, since V class names were more numerous, we will stick to the “V class” here.

Specifics

Thus, the later U class, officially “1941 long hull” and “1942 programme”. In all, 42 were ordered, but 34 named, 8 never named, and 22 completed. They were still “500-tonners”, but reached 545 long tonnes standard instead of 540, and had many differences, chiefly as said above, an incremental improvement for depth and speed. The stern was lengthened to give an easier angle of approach of water to the propellers in order to reduce noise, with a further refining of the bows. The hull had welded framing and the riveted plating was increased from half to three-quarter of an inch, so that the operational depth limit was increased to 300ft.

Construction

Cancellations:
Barrow: Ulex, Upas, Utopia, Veto, Virile, Visitant
Vickers-Armstrong, Tyne: Unbridled, Upward, Vantage, Vehement, Venom, Verve +8 unnamed units.
Norwegian service: Venturer, Viking, Vartance and Votary (renamed Utstein, Utvaer, Utsira and Uthaug).
Greek service: Veldt in 1944—57 as Pipinios, Vengeful 1945 57 as Delfin, Virulent 1946-58 as Argonaftts, Volatile 1946-58 as Traina
French Services: Vineyard and Vortex went to France in 1944 as Doris and Morse until 1947
Danish Service: Voracious (Saelen), Vulpine (Storen), in service until 1958.

Design of the class

Hull and general design

Comparative between the Group III and V class.

So, this further development of the “U” class had welded bulkheads were welded, and the plating thickness of the riveted pressure hull was increased, for an operational diving depth now down to 90 meters (295 ft). Fuel stowage was also increased with part of ballast tanks used for fuel oil. The V vlass were the last, largest, and arguably best British coastal submarines. They displaced 545 tons standard, for 658 tons full load and submerged, fully loaded up to 740 tons, sloghtly less than the Group III boats. They reached 204 ft 6 in (62.33 m) overall, for a beam of 16 ft 1 in (4.90 m) and a draught of 15 ft 3 in (4.65 m). Compared to Group III of the U class, themselves much longer, they gained 30 cm (12 inches) overall, buty kept the same beam and had a greater draught (Group III: 10 ft (3.0 m)).

As for the general layout, the above comparative tells the differences better than any description. But in short:
-Angular bow tip (rather than rounded, which also simplified mass-construction)
-Reworked deck tail with only a pair of exhausts amidships
-Relocated radio mast, from the deck tail to the hull tail aft
-Reworked water scoops: They now made a straight line, and more small upper outer hull filling scoops for quicker dives
-Reshaped tail end, now straighter
-Reshaped Axial rudder with a straight upper rim instead of rounded for simplifications
-Reworked Angles for the keel, more slanted forward, and less aft.
-Fuller shapes for the outer hull in general, especially forward.
-Shapes of the four torpedo tube doors forward simplified.
-Angle of the forward deck slightly lowered
-Aft tail rudders with new surfaces identical for the upper and lower ones, for simplification
Otherwise, the conning tower was the same, with a top splash guard rim, portico to support the net protection cables, anchores the same way fore and aft. The forward upper diving planes were the same, angular and folding up, but behind were now forward rudder plates. The bollards were the same, with the same locations, as the hatches. All these simplifications made these earlier to manufacture and cheaper. It seems also simplifications were made inside the pressure hull as well with better ergonomis and automation in order to reduce the crew from 36 to 33. This improved livability inside.

Powerplant

The V-class were powered the same, with two shaft and 3-bladed bronze, fixed pirch propellers, driven by a diesel-electric arrangement. These were two Paxman diesel generators rated for 615 hp (459 kW) that fed in turn two electric motors rated for 825 hp (615 kW). To compare, this was 800 bhp (600 kW) and 760 bhp (570 kW) motors respectively, so a clear emphasis on underwater performances over surface speed: Surfaced, they only reached 11.25 knots (20.84 km/h; 12.95 mph) versus 12.75 kn on the previous Group III, but underwater they reached 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) versus 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph).
Now, the range was supposed to be improved, as they carried a bit more diesel oil, 55 tonnes, for an endurance of 4700 nautical miles at 10 knots, versus 5,000 mi (8,000 km) at the same for the Group III. However this diverging a lot between sources. Underwater, the V-class however only made 30 nm at 9 knots versus 120 mi (190 km) submerged. The underwater peak depht was about the same. Note that wikipedia bases its setup for Group III on McCartney, p. 17, British Submarines 1939–45, 2006, Osprey Publishing, Oxford.

Armament

The Armament remained the same as Group III late boats, with four bow 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes reloadable from the pressure hull. They carried 4 spare torpedoes, for eight total but could also carry instead six mines. With their small size, mining harbours became more interesting as the war progressed. They also retained ther QF 12-pounder on deck, and had up to three 0.303 machine-guns, Vickers or Browning on pintles, installed each time she surfaced. On later batches (2nd and 3rd in 1942 and 1943), the deck gun was replaced by a 3-in/45 20cwt QF Mk II instead.

Torpedoes

21 inches Mark VIII**

The Mark VIII were the first burner-cycle torpedo in service and the most common became the VIII**, with 3,732 fired by September 1944, 56.4% total of those made. It was exported and maintained in service as late ass 1983. A truly fast and dependable model. When correctly used, itw as a sure kill in stark contrast to the US Mark 14. The model suggested below was standard when completed. They were designed betrween 1925 and 1927, and were mass produced for all British subs from the O class. They had a negative buoyancy of 804 lbs. (365 kg).

⚙ specifications Whitehead Mark 8 double star
Weight	3,452 lbs. (1,566 kg)
Dimensions	21 ft 7 in (6.579 m)
Propulsion	Burner-cycle, 322 hp @ 45 knots
Range/speed setting	5,000 yards (4,570 m)/45.5 knots or 7,000 yards (6,400 m)/41 knots
Warhead	722 lbs. (327 kg) TNT, WW2 805 lbs. (365 kg) Torpex
Guidance	Stright course

3-in/45 20cwt QF Mk II

Standard deck gun, like previous Groups of the U-class. In all, 184 Mark II were in service with the RN. Muzzle velocity 2,000 feet per second (610 m/s), shell 16 pounds (7.3 kg), 9.2 sec. to 5000 ft at 25°, 13.7 sec. to 10,000 fr or 3000 m at 40° and 18.8 sec. at 15,000 ft or 4600m at 55° and max ceiling 22,000 feet (6,700 m). Many started their carrer with the 3-in/40 before being teplaced by the 3-in/45 20cwt QF Mk II. A few also received later in their carrer, 1945, the 3-in/45 CP Mk V.

20mm/70 Oerlikon Mark II/IV

One source states these boats could have up to two 20 mm/70 Oerlikon AA guns. They were certainly more capable than defensive Bren or other types of LMGs, but this is highly dubious they were ever fitted. No photo shows a V-class (or a U-class for that matter) with such an hefty AA gun, which was difficult to extract from the pressure hull through a hatch given its weight and size, or possibly more likely stored under the outer deck, wrapped in a waterproof canvas. Not confirmed by Conways either. To be clear, navypedia even states that in 1946 in addition to the 3-in/45 CP Mk V deck gun there were two single 20mm/70 Mk IIA S/M as standard, but it’s still highy dubious.

Mark II Sea Mines

These Submarines could launch sea mines. 2 for one torpedo. Used a CR magnetic trigger. Weight 1,760 lbs. (798 kg), inc. 1,000 lbs. (454 kg) minol charge. Laid at 8 knots under 9-110 m. Generally carried by the S class submarines as the U clas lacked capacity. By November 1920 production of the model IID was halted. If replacing all torpedoes, they could carry 16 mines, making for a more serious minefield but as a general practice, captained preferred to keep four torpedoes. So the standard was rather eight, not six.

Sensors

Type 129/138 Sonar, 286PW or 291W radar. For the boats completed in 1943-1944, the usual suite was the type 291W radar, type 129, type 138 sonars. But by 1944-45 this was upgraded to the type 267QW radar.

291W Radar

Replacement for the Type 286, it had the famous “X” architecture. Also working in VHF band, it arrived by late 1941 and was installed on U-class boats from early 1942, but rotating by crank so no need to turn the boat. Frequency 214 MHz, PRF 500 Hz, pulsewidth (τ) 1.1 µs, PP 100 kW, average 55 W. Range 35 nm (65 km) resolution 180 m, beamwidth 40°.

267QW Radar

The Type 267 is a submarine set with two transmitters, similar to the 268 for surface warning and another type 291 for air warning. Echoes from both are switched at will to the same PPI for a “data fusion”.

Type 129/138 Sonar

The The 129/138 remained in use until the early 1950s. The Type 129 replaced the Type 120 (1932) at 10 Khz, and itself replaced the Type 118 (1929) as keel-fitted. The Type 129 was tested under dome under HMS Seawolf in 1937, and adopted a year later for all submarines as standard. They of course also were fitted on the U Class and V Class, operating as a standard 10 kHz in a cylindrical cage, with a streamlined dome at the forward end of the keel and it could be pulled inside for maintenance or repair. In 1943 a passive and manually-trained hydrophone Type 138 was added aft to cover the blind arc. The suite thus gave a 360° coverage, in active/passive modes and gave British subs in 1943 a generally better underwater awareness than their competitors. No wonder so many axis submarines, expecialy Italian ones, were surprised while surfaced, hunted down by U-V class boats.

⚙ V-class specifications
Displacement	545 tons standard, 658 tons FL, 740 tons submerged
Dimensions	204 ft 6 in x 16 ft 1 in x 15 ft 3 in (62.33 x 4.90 x 4.65 m)
Propulsion	2 shaft Paxman diesels, 2 Vickers electric motors, 615 hp (459 kW)/825 hp (615 kW)
Speed	11.25 kn surfaced, 10 knots submerged
Range	See notes
Armament	4x 21-in (533 mm) TTs (8), 1x 3-in(76mm) deck gun.
Max depth	200 ft (61 m)
Sensors	Type 129/138 sonar, 286/291 radar, see notes
Crew	33

Career of the V-class

1941 “long hull” program

Vampire (Invisa et Inopinata/Unseen and Unexpected) was laid down by Vickers-Armstrong at Barrow-in-Furness on 9 November 1942, launched on 20 July 1943, commissioned into the RN on 13 November 1943. She operated in the Med at the end of the campaign, supporting operations close to Italy on the way to the last great landings, and the French Riviera before and after Operation Anvil, disrupting axis convoys. She took part in the Aegean campaign, one of the last holdouts of the axis, earning the battle honour “Aegean 1944”. She was decommissioned postwar in September 1945, sold for BU at Gateshead in March 1950. More

To be completed in 2026. No logs or details yet. HMS Veldt was completed as the Greek Pipinos (Y8), transferred.

HMS Venturer was laid down at Vickers Armstrong, Barrow-in-Furness on 25 August 1942, launched on 4 May 1943 and commissioned on 19 August 1943. After trials and working-up at Holy Loch, she patrolled the Norwegian coast preying on axis coastal traffic and U-boats leaving fjords. In 1944 she sank on 2 March the Thor (5559 GRT) off Stadlandet. On 15 April she sank the Friedrichshafen (1923 GRT) off Egersund and on 11 Sept. the Vang (German ex-Norway, 678 GRT) off Lister. She also sank U-771 on 11 November, 7 nautical miles (13 km) east of Andenes, off the Lofoten Islands all under Lt J S Launders DSC RN. This was on her 11th patrol from Lerwick, Shetlands, and the most famous. Her 25-year-old Jimmy Launders made the exploit for the first time in history of sinking another submarine while submerged. Now a commonplace goal at least on theory for modern SSNs, this was unique for the time.

She was sent to the Fedje area based on Enigma decrypts to intercept U-864 (a 1,800t Type IXD2) carrying a cargo of 65 tonnes of mercury and Junkers Jumo 004B jet engine parts to Japan (Operation Caesar). On 6 February 1945, U-864 passed through the Fedje area but the next day, Venturer heard her engines as she crossed semi-surfaced under snorkel. Using active pings of his ASDIC would betray his own position he followed her by periscope, shadowing her unit she surfaced. Meanwhile, U-864’s skipper, K.Kapt. Ralf-Reimar Wolfram, realized her escort had not arrived and started to zig-zag underwater, occasionally raising her periscope.

Venturer had all her torpedoes but U-864 could carry 22 (Launders had no idea she was a cargo and thus had only 4 tube torpedoes). After three hours her managed to predict her next location and based on this, launched a spread after the manual computation of a firing solution. Hos skills inspired later modern computer-based torpedo targeting systems. The torpedoes were launched at 17-second intervals from 12:12, taking four minutes to target. He then order a deep dive to evade retaliation. U-864 heard these torpedoes coming and dived deeper while turning away, steering into the path of the fourth and last one. She broke in two and sank with all hands under 150 metres (490 ft). Later this earned Launders a bar to his DSO won with U-771.
Also in 1945, 22 January, Venturer sank the Stockholm (618 GRT) off Stavanger and on 19 March the Sirius (1,350 GRT) off Namsos.
After 1945 she was placed in the disposal list but on n 1946 she was sold to the Royal Norwegian Navy as HnOms Utstein, used until January 1964, struck and sold for BU.

HMS Vigorous was ordered from Vickers Armstrong, Barrow-in-Furness, laid down on 14 December 1942 and launched on 15 October 1943, commissioned on 13 January 1944. On 26 September 1944, HMS Vigorous torpedoed and sank the German merchant Salomea (751 BRT, former Greek Evangelos Nomikos) off Kassandra, Greece. The submarine was decommissioned after the war and was broken up for scrap at Stockton-on-Tees on 23 December 1949. More details

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1942 programme

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Read More/Src

Books

Walters, Derek (2004). The History of the British ‘U’ Class Submarine. Leo Cooper.
Conway’s All the World’s Fighting Ships 1922–46

Links

navypedia.org/ V class
uboat.net/
British_V-class_submarine
battleships-cruisers.co.uk
https://www.commsmuseum.co.uk/radars/pdfs/1946%20radar%20pamphlet%20Part%203.pdf
https://rnsubs.co.uk/index.php?PageID=articles/development/sonar.html

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Model Kits

U-class in kits

3D

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