Summary
HMS K2 was the second of the K class submarines and was built at HM Dockyard, Portsmouth, England. She was laid down on 13 November 1915 and was commissioned in May 1917 one year before the end of World War I. In January 1917, K2 was damaged by an explosion and fire during her first diving trials. On 11 January 1924, it collided with K12 as they departed Portland Harbour. K2 smashed a hole in the forward casing of K12 and buckled her bows for about 6 feet (1.8 m).
 K2 at Portsmouth in 1924
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMS K2 |
| Builder | HM Dockyard Portsmouth |
| Laid down | 13 November 1915 |
| Launched | 14 November 1916 |
| Commissioned | May 1917 |
| Fate | Sold, 13 July 1926 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | K-class submarine |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 339 ft (103 m) |
| Beam | 26 ft 6 in (8.08 m) |
| Draught | 20 ft 11 in (6.38 m) |
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed |
|
| Range |
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| Complement | 59 (6 officers and 53 ratings) |
| Armament |
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On 7 November 1924, K2 collided with H29 during exercises. K2 was sold on 13 July 1926 to John Cashmore Ltd for scrapping at Newport.
Design edit
Like all British K-class submarines, K2 had a displacement of 1,800 tonnes (2,000 short tons) when at the surface and 2,600 tonnes (2,900 short tons) while submerged.[1] It had a total length of 338 feet (103 m), a beam of 26 feet 6 inches (8.08 m), and a draught of 20 feet 11 inches (6.38 m).[2] The submarine was powered by two oil-fired Yarrow Shipbuilders boilers and one geared Brown-Curtis or Parsons steam turbine; this developed 10,500 ship horsepower (7,800 kW) to drive two 7 feet 6 inches (2.29 m) screws. It also contained four electric motors each producing 350 to 360 horsepower (260 to 270 kW).[2][3] It was also fitted with a diesel engine providing 800 horsepower (600 kW) to be used when steam was being generated.[4]
The submarine had a maximum surface speed of 24 knots (44 km/h; 28 mph) and a submerged speed of 9 to 9.5 knots (16.7 to 17.6 km/h; 10.4 to 10.9 mph).[2][5] It could operate at depths of 150 feet (46 m) at 2 knots (3.7 km/h; 2.3 mph) for 80 nautical miles (150 km; 92 mi).[1] K2 was fitted with a 3 inches (76 mm) anti-aircraft gun, ten 18 inches (460 mm) torpedo tubes, and two 4 inches (100 mm) deck guns.[2] Its torpedo tubes were fitted to the bows, the midship section, and two were mounted on the deck.[1] Its complement was fifty-nine crew members.[5]
Citations edit
- ^ a b c "K for Katastophe". Undersea Warfare Magazine. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
- ^ a b c d 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. Retrieved from Naval-History on 20 August 2015.
- ^ "K-class". Military Factory — Navy Ships. Retrieved 20 August 2015.
- ^ Anthony Bruce; William Cogar (27 January 2014). Encyclopedia of Naval History. Routledge. p. 356. ISBN 978-1-135-93534-4.
- ^ a b Julian Holland (1 May 2012). Amazing & Extraordinary Facts Steam Age. David & Charles. p. 145. ISBN 978-1-4463-5619-7.
References edit
- 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.
- Hutchinson, Robert. Submarines, War Beneath The Waves, from 1776 to the Present Day.