British L-class submarine

{{Short description|Type of British submarines in service during WWI and WWII}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}} {{Use British English|date=January 2017}} {{more citations needed|date=February 2013}} {{Infobox ship |sclass=2 |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image= Submarine Flotilla 1933 at Gosport.jpg |image_caption=''L52'', ''L22'', ''L20'' & ''L6'', at Gosport in 1933 }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/class overview |name= |builders= |operators=*{{navy|United Kingdom}} *{{navy|Soviet Union}} |class_before=[[British E-class submarine|E class]] |class_after={{sclass|Odin|submarine|4}} |subclasses= |cost= |built_range= |in_service_range= |in_commission_range= 1917 - 1942 |total_ships_building= |total_ships_planned=73 |total_ships_completed=27 |total_ships_canceled= |total_ships_active= |total_ships_laid_up= |total_ships_lost= |total_ships_retired= |total_ships_preserved= }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header= |header_caption= |type=[[Submarine]] |displacement=*''Group 1'' : *{{convert|890|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} surfaced *{{convert|1074|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} submerged *''Group 2'' : *{{convert|914|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} surfaced *{{convert|1089|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} submerged *''Group 3'' : *{{convert|960|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} surfaced *{{convert|1150|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} submerged<ref name="battleships-cruisers">{{Cite web |url= http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/l_class.htm |title=L Class Submarines |work=battleships-cruisers.co.uk |access-date=12 May 2010 }}</ref> |length=*''Group 1'' : {{convert|222|ft|m|abbr=on|1}} *''Group 2'' : {{convert|228|ft|m|abbr=on|1}} *''Group 3'' : {{convert|230|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on|1}} |beam={{convert|23|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}} |height= |draught= |depth= |hold_depth= |decks= |deck_clearance= |power= |propulsion= |speed=*'''Surfaced''' *''Group 1'' : {{convert|17.3|kn|lk=in}} *''Group 2'' : {{convert|17|kn}} *''Group 3'' : {{convert|17.5|kn}} *'''Submerged''' *{{convert|10.5|kn}} |range=*''Group 1 & 2'' : *{{convert|2800|nmi|km|abbr=on}} at {{convert|10|kn|abbr=on}} surfaced *''Group 3'' : *{{convert|4800 |nmi|km|abbr=on}} at {{convert|8|kn|abbr=on}} surfaced<ref name="battleships-cruisers"/> |endurance= |test_depth= |complement=*''Group 1'' : 35 *''Group 2'' : 38 *''Group 3'' : 44 |time_to_activate= |sensors= |EW= |armament=*'''Group 1''' : *6 × 18-inch (450 mm) [[torpedo tube]]s (4 bow, 2 beam) *10 × [[British 18 inch torpedo|18-inch torpedoes]] *1 × [[QF 4 inch naval gun Mk IV, XII, XXII|4-inch gun]] *'''Group 2''' : *4 × {{convert|21|in|mm|adj=on|0}} bow torpedo tubes *2 × 18-inch (450 mm) beam torpedo tubes *8 × [[British 21 inch torpedo|21-inch]] and 2 × [[British 18 inch torpedo|18-inch]] torpedoes *1 × 4-inch gun *'''or''' *4 × [[British 21 inch torpedo|{{convert|21|in|mm|adj=on|0}}]] [[torpedo tube]]s (bow) *16 × [[Naval mine|mines]] *1 × 4-inch gun *'''Group 3''' : *6 × {{convert|21|in|mm|0|adj=on}} [[torpedo tube]]s (bow) *12 × [[British 21 inch torpedo|{{convert|21|in|mm|adj=on|0}} torpedo]]es *2 × {{convert|4|in|mm|adj=on|0}} guns<ref name="battleships-cruisers"/> |armour= |notes= }} }} The '''British L-class submarine''' was originally planned under the emergency war programme as an improved version of the [[British E-class submarine]]. The scale of change allowed the L class to become a separate class.

The armament was increased when the [[British 21 inch torpedo|21-inch torpedoes]] came into service. The Group 3 boats had two [[QF 4 inch naval gun Mk IV, XII, XXII|QF 4-inch guns]] fore and aft of the lengthened [[conning tower]]. Also, 76 tons of fuel oil was carried in external wing tanks for the first time in British submarines. Several of the Group 1 boats were configured as minelayers including ''L11'' and ''L12''. In the Group 2 boats, ''L14'', ''L17'' and ''L24'' to ''L27'' were built as minelayers carrying 16 [[Naval mine|mines]] but without the two beam [[torpedo tube]]s.

The introduction of the L class came too late to contribute significantly in [[World War I]]. {{HMS|L2||2}} was accidentally depth-charged by three American [[destroyer]]s in early 1918. {{HMS|L12||2}} torpedoed the German submarine {{Ship|SM|UB-90||2}}. {{HMS|L10||2}} torpedoed the German destroyer ''S33'' in October 1918 but was sunk by accompanying destroyers. {{HMS|L24||2}} was sunk with all hands lost in a collision with the battleship {{HMS|Resolution|09|2}} during an exercise off Portland Bill in the English Channel on 10 January 1924.

{{HMS|L55||2}} was sunk in 1919 during [[British campaign in the Baltic (1918–1919)|the British naval intervention]] in the Russian civil war by Bolshevik Russian [[destroyers]]. She was salvaged by the Russians and who re-commissioned her with the same name.

The L class served throughout the 1920s and the majority were scrapped in the 1930s but three remained operational as training boats during [[World War II]]. The last three were scrapped in 1946.

Parts of uncompleted L-class submarines were used for the [[Kingdom of Yugoslavia|Yugoslav]] {{sclass|Hrabri|submarine|2}}s.

==Design== The L class emerged as an improvement on the earlier [[British E-class submarine|E class]]; the first two members of the L class were originally ordered as lengthened E-class boats, and were initially named ''E57'' and ''E58''. The design returned to the circular [[pressure hull]] of the E-class boats, as the irregularly shaped hulls of the [[British G-class submarine|G]] and [[J-class submarine|J classes]] had proved to be unsuccessful, particularly because the circular hull shape was much better at withstanding the force of underwater explosions.<ref name=A166>Akermann, p. 166</ref>

===Characteristics=== [[File:HMS L 15 starboard bow view.jpg|thumb|left|{{HMS|L15}}, c. 1918]] The L-class boats were divided into three separate sub-classes: the I, II, and III types. The I-type boats were {{convert|231|ft|1|in}} [[length overall|long overall]] and they had a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|23|ft|5.5|in|abbr=on}} and a [[draft (hull)|draught]] of {{convert|13|ft|3|in|abbr=on}} at normal loading. They displaced {{convert|891|LT|t}} surfaced and {{convert|1074|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} submerged. The II-type boats were slightly longer, at {{convert|238|ft|7|in|abbr=on}} overall, with the same beam and draught. They displaced {{convert|914|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} surfaced and {{convert|1089|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} submerged. The III-type submarines were {{convert|235|ft|abbr=on}} long, with the same beam but a draught of {{convert|13|ft|1.5|in|abbr=on}}. They displaced more than their half-sisters, at {{convert|960|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} surfaced and {{convert|1150|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} submerged. The three sub-classes had crews of 35, 38, and 44, respectively.<ref name=GG934>Gardiner & Gray, pp. 93–94</ref>

All three sub-classes had the same propulsion system: two [[diesel engine]]s for use while surfaced and two corresponding electric motors for use submerged. The diesel engines were rated at {{convert|2400|hp}}, while the electric motors produced {{convert|1600|hp|abbr=on}}. They could cruise at {{convert|17|kn|lk=in}} while surfaced and {{convert|10.5|kn|abbr=on}} while submerged. While running on the surface at {{convert|10|kn}}, the submarines could cruise for a range of {{convert|3800|nmi|lk=in}}; range figures for the Type-III boats were instead {{convert|4500|nmi}} at {{convert|8|kn}}.<ref name=GG934/>

The L-class submarines were armed with a primary armament of six [[torpedo tube]]s. The Type-I boats were equipped with six {{convert|18|in|adj=on}} tubes, with four in the bow and two on the [[Broadside (naval)|broadside]]. These were supplied with a total of ten [[torpedo]]es. The Type-II boats exchanged the 18-inch bow tubes for more powerful {{convert|21|in|adj=on}} tubes; these had eight torpedoes in total. The 18-inch broadside tubes retained a single torpedo apiece. Those Type-II submarines that were completed as minelaying submarines kept their bow tubes but were not fitted with the broadside tubes. They instead had a capacity for fourteen to sixteen [[naval mine]]s. The Type-III boats were equipped with six 21-inch tubes, all located in the bow. The first two sub-classes were also equipped with a {{convert|4|in|adj=on}} [[deck gun]] for use whilst surfaced, while the Type-III submarines had two such guns. The gun was mounted on a revolving platform on the bridge level to increase its range and permit it to engage surfaced enemy submarines beyond torpedo range and in heavier seas.<ref name=GG934/>

==Members of the class== [[File:HMS L52.jpg|thumb|{{HMS|L52}} underway]]

=== Group 1 (''L1''-class)=== {{Div col}} * {{HMS|L1}} * {{HMS|L2}} * {{HMS|L3}} * {{HMS|L4}} * {{HMS|L5}} * {{HMS|L6}} * {{HMS|L7}} * {{HMS|L8}} {{Div col end}}

=== Group 2 (''L9''-class)=== {{Div col}} * {{HMS|L9}} * {{HMS|L10}} * {{HMS|L11}} * {{HMS|L12}} * {{HMS|L14}} * {{HMS|L15}} * {{HMS|L16}} * {{HMS|L17}} * {{HMS|L18}} * {{HMS|L19}} * {{HMS|L20}} * {{HMS|L21}} * {{HMS|L22}} * {{HMS|L23}} * {{HMS|L24}} * {{HMS|L25}} * {{HMS|L26}} * {{HMS|L27}} * ''L28'' to ''L32'' were broken-up after commencement * {{HMS|L33}} * ''L34'' and ''L35'' were cancelled * ''L36'' to ''L49'' were not ordered * ''L50'' and ''L51'' were cancelled {{Div col end}}

=== Group 3 (''L50''-class)=== {{Div col}} * {{HMS|L52}} * {{HMS|L53}} * {{HMS|L54}} * {{HMS|L55}} * {{HMS|L56}} * ''L57'' to ''L68'' were cancelled * {{HMS|L69}} * ''L70'' was cancelled * {{HMS|L71}} * ''L72'' to ''L74'' were cancelled {{Div col end}}

==Notes== {{reflist|20em}}

==References== *{{cite book|last=Akermann|first=Paul|title=Encyclopedia of British Submarines 1901–1955|year=2002|location=Penzance|publisher=Periscope Publishing Ltd.|isbn=9781904381051}} *{{cite book|editor1-last=Gardiner|editor1-first=Robert|editor2-last=Gray|editor2-first=Randal|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921|year=1985|location=Annapolis|publisher=Naval Institute Press|isbn=0-87021-907-3 | url=https://archive.org/details/allworldsfightin00rgre}}

==Further reading== {{Commons category|British L class submarines}} * {{cite book | last = Hutchinson | first = Robert | title = Jane's Submarines: War Beneath the Waves from 1776 to the Present Day | url = https://archive.org/details/janessubmarinesw0000hutc | url-access = registration | year = 2001 | location = [[London]] | publisher = [[HarperCollins]] | isbn = 978-0-00-710558-8 | oclc = 53783010 }} *{{Colledge: Ships RN|year=2006}}

{{British L class submarine}} {{WWI British ships}} {{WWII British ships}}

[[Category:Submarine classes of the British Royal Navy|L class submarine, British]] [[Category:British L-class submarines| ]]