{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}} {{Use British English|date=December 2016}} {{Infobox ship |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image= British submarine L3 1918.jpg |image_caption= HMS ''L3'' }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career |hide_header= |country= United Kingdom |flag= {{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}} |name= HMS ''L3'' |ordered= |builder= [[Vickers Limited]], [[Barrow-in-Furness]] |laid_down=21 June 1916 |launched=1 September 1917 |acquired= |commissioned=31 January 1918 |decommissioned= |in_service= |out_of_service= |struck= |reinstated= |homeport= |motto= |nickname= |honours= |fate= Sold for scrapping, February 1931 |notes= }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header= |header_caption= |class=[[British L class submarine|L-class submarine]] |displacement=*{{convert|891|LT|t|abbr=on}} surfaced *{{convert|1074|LT|t|abbr=on}} submerged |length={{convert|231|ft|1|in|m|1|abbr=on}} |beam={{convert|23|ft|6|in|m|1|abbr=on}} |draught={{convert|13|ft|3|in|1|abbr=on}} |power=*{{convert|2400|bhp|kW|lk=in|abbr=on}} (diesel) *{{convert|1600|hp|kW|abbr=on}} (electric) |propulsion=*2 × [[diesel engine]]s *2 × [[electric motor]]s |speed=*{{convert|17|kn|abbr=on|lk=in}} surfaced *{{convert|10.5|kn|abbr=on}} submerged |range={{convert|3800|nmi|abbr=on|lk=in}} at {{convert|10|kn|abbr=on}} on the surface |test_depth={{convert|100|ft|1}} |complement=35 |armament=*6 × [[British 18 inch torpedo|{{convert|18|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}]] [[torpedo tube]]s (4 bow, 2 beam) *1 × [[QF 4 inch naval gun Mk IV, XII, XXII|4-inch]] [[deck gun]] |notes= }} }} '''HMS ''L23''''' was a [[British L class submarine|L-class submarine]] built for the Royal Navy during World War I. The boat survived the war and was sold for [[ship breaking|scrap]] in 1931.

==Design and description== The L-class boats were enlarged and improved versions of the preceding [[British E class submarine|E class]]. The submarine had a length of {{convert|231|ft|1|in|m|1}} [[length overall|overall]], a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|23|ft|6|in|m|1}} and a mean [[draft (ship)|draft]] of {{convert|13|ft|3|in|m|1}}. They [[displacement (ship)|displaced]] {{convert|891|LT|t}} on the surface and {{convert|1074|LT|t}} submerged. The L-class submarines had a crew of 35 officers and [[naval rating|ratings]].<ref name=gg9>Gardiner & Gray, p. 93</ref>

For surface running, the boats were powered by two 12-cylinder [[Vickers]]<ref>Harrison, Chapter 25</ref> {{convert|1200|bhp|lk=in|0|adj=on}} [[diesel engine]]s, each driving one [[propeller shaft]]. When submerged each propeller was driven by a {{convert|600|hp|0|adj=on}} [[electric motor]].<ref name=gg9/> They could reach {{convert|17|kn|lk=in}} on the surface and {{convert|10.5|kn}} underwater.<ref>Harrison, Chapters 3</ref> On the surface, the L class had a range of {{convert|3200|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|10|kn}}.<ref name=gg9/>

The boats were armed with a total of six [[British 18 inch torpedo|18-inch (45&nbsp;cm)]] [[torpedo tube]]s. Four of these were in the bow and the remaining pair in broadside mounts. They carried 10 reload torpedoes, all for the bow tubes.<ref>Harrison, Chapter 27</ref> They were also armed with a {{convert|4|in|mm|adj=on|0}} [[deck gun]].<ref>Akermann, p. 165</ref>

==Construction and career== HMS ''L3'' was [[laid down]] on 21 June 1916 by [[Vickers]] at their [[Barrow-in-Furness|Barrow]] [[shipyard]], [[Ship naming and launching|launched]] on 26 January 1918, and completed on 15 May. She was based at [[Falmouth, Cornwall]] in 1918. She sailed with the [[Submarine tenders|Submarine Depot Ship]] [[HMS Ambrose (1914)]] to [[Hong Kong]] in 1919 as part of the [[4th Submarine Flotilla]], arriving there in January 1920. The boat was assigned to the Reserve Flotilla in [[Hong Kong]] in 1923. ''L3'' was sold in February 1931 and broken up in [[Charlestown, Fife]].

==Notes== {{reflist|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}} * {{Colledge: Ships RN|year=2006}} * {{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=RN Subs|access-date=27 September 2022}}

{{British L class submarine}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:L03}} [[Category:British L-class submarines]] [[Category:Ships built in Barrow-in-Furness]] [[Category:1917 ships]] [[Category:World War I submarines of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Royal Navy ship names]]