HMS G13
 A G class submarine at Scapa Flow. Photo: R N Submarine Museum, Gosport. | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name: | HMS G13 |
| Builder: | Vickers |
| Laid down: | 9 April 1915 |
| Launched: | 8 July 1916 |
| Commissioned: | 23 September 1916 |
| Fate: | Sold, 20 January 1923 to J Smith |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | G-class submarine |
| Displacement: |
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| Length: | 187 ft 1 in (57.0 m) |
| Beam: | 22 ft 8 in (6.9 m) |
| Draught: | 13 ft 4 in (4.1 m) |
| Installed power: |
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| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: |
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| Range: | 2,400 nmi (4,400 km; 2,800 mi) at 12.5 kn (23.2 km/h; 14.4 mph) surfaced |
| Complement: | 22 |
| Armament: |
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HMS G13 was a British G-class submarine built for the Royal Navy during World War I.
Description
The G-class submarines were designed by the Admiralty in response to a rumour that the Germans were building double-hulled submarines for overseas duties. The submarines had a length of 187 feet 1 inch (57.0 m) overall, a beam of 22 feet 8 inches (6.9 m) and a mean draft of 13 feet 4 inches (4.1 m). They displaced 703 long tons (714 t) on the surface and 837 long tons (850 t) submerged. The G-class submarines had a crew of 30 officers and other ranks. They had a partial double hull.[1]
For surface running, the boats were powered by two 800-brake-horsepower (597 kW) diesel engines, each driving one propeller shaft. When submerged each propeller was driven by a 420-horsepower (313 kW) electric motor. They could reach 14.25 knots (26.39 km/h; 16.40 mph) on the surface and 9 knots (17 km/h; 10 mph) underwater. On the surface, the G class had a range of 2,400 nautical miles (4,400 km; 2,800 mi) at 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph).[1]
The boats were intended to be armed with one 21-inch (53.3 cm) torpedo tube in the bow and two 18-inch (45 cm) torpedo tubes on the beam. This was revised, however, while they were under construction, the 21-inch tube was moved to the stern and two additional 18-inch tubes were added in the bow. They carried two 21-inch and eight 18-inch torpedoes. The G-class submarines were also armed with a single 3-inch (7.6 cm) deck gun.[1]
Construction and career
Like the rest of her class, G13's role was to patrol an area of the North Sea in search of German U-boats. On 10 March 1917 G13 torpedoed and sank the German submarine UC-43 off the Shetland Islands, about 9 miles (14 km) NW of Muckle Flugga Lighthouse. Lieutenant Commander George Fagan Bradshaw was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his command in this action.
Notes
References
- Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8. OCLC 67375475.
- Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal, eds. (1984). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships: 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
- McCartney, Innes (2008). British Submarines of World War I. New Vanguard. 145. Oxford, UK: Osprey. ISBN 978-1-84603-334-6.