# HMS B9 > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/HMS_B9 > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/HMS_B9.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_B9 > Source revision: 1326579687 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|British B-class submarine}} {{good article}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}} {{Use British English|date=December 2017}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image=Royal Navy Submarine B9.jpg |image_caption=''B9'' }} |section2={{Infobox ship/career |hide_header= |country=United Kingdom |flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}} |name=''B9'' |ordered=1904–1905 Naval Programme |awarded= |builder=[Vickers](/source/Vickers_Limited) |original_cost=[£](/source/pound_sterling)47,000 |laid_down= |launched= 26 January 1906 |christened= |completed= 28 April 1906 |commissioned= |recommissioned= |decommissioned= |in_service= |out_of_service= |struck= |reinstated= |identification= |motto= |nickname= |honours= |fate=Sold for [scrap](/source/ship_breaking), 1919 |notes= |badge= }} |section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header= |header_caption= |class=[B-class submarine](/source/British_B-class_submarine) |displacement=*{{cvt|287|LT|t|lk=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=*{{cvt|600|bhp|kW|lk=on|0}} [petrol](/source/petrol) *{{convert|180|hp|kW|abbr=on|0}} electric |propulsion=*1 × 16-cylinder Vickers [petrol engine](/source/petrol_engine) *1 × [electric motor](/source/electric_motor) |speed=*{{convert|12|kn|lk=in}} (surfaced) *{{convert|6.5|kn}} (submerged) |range={{convert|1000|nmi|abbr=on|lk=in}} at {{convert|8.7|kn}} on the surface |test_depth={{convert|100|ft|1}} |complement=2 officers and 13 [ratings](/source/naval_rating) |armament=2 × [18 in (450 mm)](/source/British_18_inch_torpedo) bow [torpedo tube](/source/torpedo_tube)s |notes= }} }} '''HMS ''B9''''' was one of 11 [B-class submarine](/source/British_B-class_submarine)s built for the [Royal Navy](/source/Royal_Navy) in the first decade of the 20th century. Completed in 1906, she was initially assigned to the [Home Fleet](/source/Home_Fleet), before the boat was transferred to the Mediterranean six years later. After the [First World War](/source/First_World_War) began in 1914, ''B9'' played a minor role in the [Dardanelles Campaign](/source/Naval_operations_in_the_Dardanelles_Campaign). The boat was transferred to the [Adriatic Sea](/source/Adriatic_Sea) in 1916 to support Italian forces against the [Austro-Hungarian Navy](/source/Austro-Hungarian_Navy). She was converted into a [patrol boat](/source/patrol_boat) in 1917 and was sold for [scrap](/source/ship_breaking) in 1919. ==Design and description== The B class was an enlarged and improved version of the preceding [A class](/source/A-class_submarine_(1903)). The submarines had a length of {{convert|142|ft|3|in|m|1}} [overall](/source/length_overall), a [beam](/source/beam_(nautical)) of {{convert|12|ft|7|in|m|1}} and a mean [draft](/source/draft_(ship)) of {{convert|11|ft|2|in|m|1}}. They [displaced](/source/displacement_(ship)) {{convert|287|LT|t|lk=on}} on the surface and {{convert|316|LT|t}} submerged. The boats could dive to a depth of {{convert|100|ft|m|1}}. The B-class submarines had a crew of two officers and thirteen [ratings](/source/naval_rating).Gardiner & Gray, p. 87 For surface running, the boats were powered by a single 16-cylinder {{convert|600|bhp|lk=on|0|adj=on}} [Vickers](/source/Vickers) [petrol engine](/source/petrol_engine) that drove one [propeller shaft](/source/propeller_shaft). When submerged the propeller was driven by a {{convert|180|hp|0|adj=on}} [electric motor](/source/electric_motor). They could reach {{convert|12|kn|lk=in}} on the surface and {{convert|6.5|kn}} underwater. On the surface, the B class had a range of {{convert|1000|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|8.7|kn}}.Akermann, p. 123 The boats were armed with two [18-inch (450 mm)](/source/British_18_inch_torpedo) [torpedo tube](/source/torpedo_tube)s 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.Harrison, Chapter 27 ==Construction and career== Ordered as part of the 1904–1905 Naval Programme, ''B9'' was built by [Vickers](/source/Vickers) at their [Barrow-in-Furness](/source/Barrow-in-Furness) [shipyard](/source/shipyard). She was [launched](/source/Ceremonial_ship_launching) on 26 January 1906 and completed on 28 April at a cost of [£](/source/pound_sterling)47,000. The B-class submarines were initially assigned to the Third Division of the Home Fleet, based at [Portsmouth](/source/HMNB_Portsmouth) and [Devonport](/source/HMNB_Devonport), and were tasked with coastal-defence duties and defending the [Straits of Dover](/source/Straits_of_Dover) in wartime. In 1912, HMS ''B9'', {{HMS|B10||6}} and {{HMS|B11||6}} were transferred to [Malta](/source/Crown_Colony_of_Malta).Akermann, pp. 123–125 After the start of the First World War and the unsuccessful [pursuit of the German ships ''Goeben'' and ''Breslau''](/source/Pursuit_of_Goeben_and_Breslau) in August 1914, the B-class submarines were transferred to the Dardanelles area in mid-September to prevent any breakout attempt by the German ships. After the arrival of the larger and more modern [E-class submarine](/source/British_E-class_submarine)s in early 1915, the B-class boats began to return to Malta. After the [Kingdom of Italy](/source/Kingdom_of_Italy) joined the [Allies in May 1915](/source/Italian_entry_into_World_War_I), the B-class submarines in the Mediterranean were transferred to [Venice](/source/Venice) to reinforce Italian forces in the northern Adriatic.Wilson, pp. 75–77 ''B9'', {{HMS|B7||2}} and {{HMS|B8||2}} were the first to arrive in Venice on 11 October and ''B9'' made their first patrol a week later. She saw no targets and returned to Venice three days later. The five British submarines made a total of 13 patrols off the Austro-Hungarian coast before the end of 1915, hampered by bad weather and drifting [mines](/source/naval_mine), followed by 13 more in the first two months of 1916.Kemp & Jung, pp. 14–15, 18 While on a patrol off the entrance to [Pola](/source/Pula) on 29 March, ''B9'' was spotted and unsuccessfully attacked by a pair of [Lohner L](/source/Lohner_L) [flying boat](/source/flying_boat)s. After diving the boat had great difficulty maintaining her proper depth of {{convert|60|ft|m|1}} and three times descended below {{convert|100|ft|m|1}} before her batteries were exhausted. The following month, the boat began a refit at Venice that lasted for several months. On 18–20 October, ''B9'' made the last patrol, an uneventful one, by a B-class submarine in the Adriatic off the coast of [Istria](/source/Istria). Replaced by more modern [H-class submarines](/source/British_H-class_submarine), the B-class boats returned to Malta on 9 November to be converted into surface [patrol boat](/source/patrol_boat)s, armed with a 12-pounder ({{cvt|3|in|mm|adj=on}}) gun. Redesignated as ''S9'' in August 1917, the boat was assigned to patrol the [Otranto Barrage](/source/Otranto_Barrage) that was intended to prevent the Austro-Hungarian Navy from breaking out of the Adriatic, although she proved to be very unreliable in service. [Paid off](/source/Paid_off) at Malta, she was sold for scrap in 1919.Akkerman, p. 125; Kemp & Jung, pp. 18–19, 25; Wilson, p. 79 ==Notes== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}} ==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|access-date=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}} {{British B class submarine}} {{DEFAULTSORT:B09}} 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:1906 ships --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [HMS B9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_B9) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_B9?action=history)). 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