HMS B3

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}} {{Use British English|date=December 2017}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image= |image_caption= }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career |hide_header= |country=United Kingdom |flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}} |name=HMS ''B3'' |ordered= |awarded= |builder=Vickers |original_cost= |laid_down= |launched= 31 October 1905 |christened= |completed= 19 January 1906 |commissioned= |recommissioned= |decommissioned= |in_service= |out_of_service= |struck= |reinstated= |homeport= |identification= |motto= |nickname= |honours= |captured= |fate=Sold for scrap, 20 December 1919 |notes= |badge= }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header= |header_caption= |class=B-class submarine |displacement=*{{convert|287|LT|t|abbr=on}} surfaced *{{convert|316|LT|t|abbr=on}} submerged |length={{convert|142|ft|3|in|m|1|abbr=on}} |beam={{convert|12|ft|7|in|m|1|abbr=on}} |draught={{convert|11|ft|2|in|1|abbr=on}} |power=*{{convert|600|bhp|kW|lk=in|abbr=on}} petrol *{{convert|180|hp|kW|abbr=on}} electric |propulsion=*1 × 16-cylinder Vickers petrol engine *1 × electric motor |speed=*{{convert|12|kn|abbr=on|lk=in}} surfaced *{{convert|6.5|kn|abbr=on}} submerged |range={{convert|1000|nmi|abbr=on|lk=in}} at {{convert|8.7|kn|abbr=on}} on the surface |test_depth={{convert|100|ft|1}} |complement=2 officers and 13 ratings |armament=2 × 18 in (450 mm) bow torpedo tubes |notes= }} }}

'''HMS ''B3''''' was one of 11 B-class submarines built for the Royal Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. The boat survived the First World War and was sold for scrap in 1919.

==Design and description== The B class was an enlarged and improved version of the preceding A class. The submarines had a length of {{convert|142|ft|3|in|m|1}} overall, a beam of {{convert|12|ft|7|in|m|1}} and a mean draft of {{convert|11|ft|2|in|m|1}}. They displaced {{convert|287|LT|t}} on the surface and {{convert|316|LT|t}} submerged. The B-class submarines had a crew of two officers and thirteen ratings.<ref name=gg9>Gardiner & Gray, p. 87</ref>

For surface running, the boats were powered by a single 16-cylinder {{convert|600|bhp|lk=in|0|adj=on}} Vickers petrol engine that drove one propeller shaft. When submerged the propeller was driven by a {{convert|180|hp|0|adj=on}} electric motor. They could reach {{convert|12|kn|lk=in}} on the surface and {{convert|6.5|kn}} underwater.<ref name=gg9/> On the surface, the B class had a range of {{convert|1000|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|8.7|kn}}.<ref name=a0>Akermann, p. 123</ref>

The boats were armed with two 18-inch (450 mm) torpedo tubes in the bow. They could carry a pair of reload torpedoes, but generally did not as they would have to remove an equal weight of fuel in compensation.<ref>Harrison, Chapter 27</ref>

==Construction and career== ''B3'' was laid down by Vickers at their Barrow-in-Furness shipyard, launched 31 October 1905 and completed 19 January 1906. When the war began in 1914, the boat was assigned to defend the Straits of Dover and was then transferred to Scotland in 1915 to defend various ports there. ''B3'' was sold for scrap on 20 December 1919.

==Notes== {{reflist|colwidth=35em}}

==References== * {{cite book|last=Akermann|first=Paul|title=Encyclopaedia of British Submarines 1901–1955|edition=reprint of the 1989|year=2002|publisher=Periscope Publishing|location=Penzance, Cornwall|isbn=1-904381-05-7}} * {{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, Maryland|publisher=Naval Institute Press|isbn=0-85177-245-5|name-list-style=amp}} * {{cite web|url=http://rnsubs.co.uk/dits-bits/br-3043.html|title=The Development of HM Submarines From Holland No. 1 (1901) to Porpoise (1930) (BR3043)|last=Harrison|first=A. N.|date=January 1979|publisher=United Kingdom Ministry of Defence|via=RN Subs|accessdate=16 September 2019}} * {{cite journal |last1=Kemp |first1=Paul |last2=Jung |first2=Peter |title=Five Broken Down B Boats: British Submarine Operations in the Northern Adriatic 1915–1917 |journal=Warship International |date=1989 |volume=XXVI |issue=1 |pages=10–29 |issn=0043-0374|name-list-style=amp}} * {{cite book|last=Wilson|first=Michael|editor=Roberts, John|title=Warship Volume V|year=1981|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|location=London|isbn=0-85177-244-7|pages=38–44, 74–79|chapter=The British 'B' Class Submarine}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:B03}} Category:British B-class submarines Category:World War I submarines of the United Kingdom Category:Ships built in Barrow-in-Furness Category:Royal Navy ship names Category:1905 ships