British V-class submarine

V-class profile

HMS Voracious

The British V-class submarine (officially "U-Class Long hull 1941–42 programme") was a class of submarines built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War.

History

Forty-two vessels were ordered to this design, all to be built by Vickers-Armstrong at either Barrow-in-Furness or at Walker-on-Tyne, but only 22 were completed. Note that seven of these vessels received 'U' names (conversely, four of the U class had received names beginning with 'V').

The V-class submarines were very similar to the preceding U-class (short-hull) boats, of which they constituted a linear development, but had pressure hull plating instead of for deeper diving, also a lengthened stern and fining at the bow to reduce noise and improve underwater handling.

They were sometimes referred to as Vampire-class submarines after .

It was one of this class, , that is the only submarine to sink another submarine while submerged - that submarine was the German Template:GS.

Ships

The vessels which were ordered are shown below in their programme order (not all completed construction):

The first eight vessels were ordered on 5 December 1941 under that year's programme.

• - sold to Norway in 1946, renamed as Utstein
• , completed as Pipinos (Y8)

The next eighteen vessels were ordered on 21 May 1942 under that year's programme, but six of these were cancelled in early 1944.

• - Transferred to the Royal Danish Navy after the war as U2
• HMS Vineyard (P84), completed as
• , completed as HNoMS Utsira
• , transferred to Greece in 1945 as
• , completed as
• cancelled
• HMS Veto (P88), cancelled 23 January 1944 and scrapped on the slip
• HMS Virile (P89), cancelled 23 January 1944 and scrapped on the slip
• HMS Visitant (P91), cancelled 23 January 1944 (never laid down)
• HMS Upas (P92), cancelled February 1944 and scrapped on the slip
• HMS Ulex (P93), cancelled February 1944 (never laid down)
• HMS Utopia (P94), cancelled February 1944 (never laid down)

A further six vessels were ordered on 17 November 1942 under the same year's programme, but four of these were cancelled on 23 January 1944.

• cancelled
• HMS Vantage, cancelled 23 January 1944 (never laid down)
• HMS Vehement (P25), cancelled 23 January 1944 (never laid down)
• HMS Venom (P27), cancelled 23 January 1944 (never laid down)
• HMS Verve (P28), cancelled 23 January 1944 (never laid down)

Finally, a further ten vessels were ordered under the 1943 Programme, but all of these were cancelled on 20 November 1943; eight of these were never given names.

• cancelled
• HMS Unbridled (P11), cancelled 20 November 1943 (never laid down)
• HMS Upward (P16), cancelled 20 November 1943 (never laid down)
• Eight more unnamed boats

References

• Allied Warships – Submarine – V class