HMS B1

History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS B1
Builder	Vickers
Launched	25 October 1904
Commissioned	16 April 1905
Fate	Sold for scrap, May 1921
General characteristics
Class and type	B-class submarine
Displacement	287 long tons (292 t) surfaced; 316 long tons (321 t) submerged;
Length	142 ft 3 in (43.4 m)
Beam	12 ft 7 in (3.8 m)
Draught	11 ft 2 in (3.4 m)
Installed power	600 bhp (450 kW) petrol ; 180 hp (134 kW) electric;
Propulsion	1 × 16-cylinder Vickers petrol engine; 1 × electric motor ;
Speed	12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph) surfaced; 6.5 kn (12.0 km/h; 7.5 mph) submerged;
Range	1,000 nmi (1,900 km; 1,200 mi) at 8.7 kn (16.1 km/h; 10.0 mph) on the surface
Test depth	100 feet (30.5 m)
Complement	2 officers and 13 ratings
Armament	2 × 18 in (450 mm) bow torpedo tubes

Last updated November 14, 2024

HMS B1 was the lead boat of the 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 1921.

Design and description

The B class was an enlarged and improved version of the preceding A class. The submarines had a length of 142 feet 3 inches (43.4 m) overall, a beam of 12 feet 7 inches (3.8 m) and a mean draft of 11 feet 2 inches (3.4 m). They displaced 287 long tons (292 t) on the surface and 316 long tons (321 t) submerged. The B-class submarines had a crew of two officers and thirteen ratings.^[1]

For surface running, the boats were powered by a single 16-cylinder 600- brake-horsepower (447 kW) Vickers petrol engine that drove one propeller shaft. When submerged the propeller was driven by a 180-horsepower (134 kW) electric motor. They could reach 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph) on the surface and 6.5 knots (12.0 km/h; 7.5 mph) underwater.^[1] On the surface, the B class had a range of 1,000 nautical miles (1,900 km; 1,200 mi) at 8.7 knots (16.1 km/h; 10.0 mph).^[2]

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.^[3]

Construction and career

She was originally to have been called A14 but was renamed B1 on completion. The boat was built at the Vickers shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness and launched on 25 October 1904. She was too primitive to be of much use in World War I and was quickly relegated to training duties. B1 was sold for scrap in May 1921.

Notes

1 2 Gardiner & Gray, p. 87
↑ Akermann, p. 123
↑ Harrison, Chapter 27

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HMS B5 was one of 11 B-class submarines built for the Royal Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. She survived World War I and was sold for scrap in 1921.

References

Akermann, Paul (2002). Encyclopaedia of British Submarines 1901–1955 (reprint of the 1989 ed.). Penzance, Cornwall: Periscope Publishing. ISBN 1-904381-05-7.
Gardiner, Robert & Gray, Randal, eds. (1985). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 0-85177-245-5.
Harrison, A. N. (January 1979). "The Development of HM Submarines From Holland No. 1 (1901) to Porpoise (1930) (BR3043)". United Kingdom Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 16 September 2019– via RN Subs.
Kemp, Paul & Jung, Peter (1989). "Five Broken Down B Boats: British Submarine Operations in the Northern Adriatic 1915–1917". Warship International. XXVI (1): 10–29. ISSN 0043-0374.
Wilson, Michael (1981). "The British 'B' Class Submarine". In Roberts, John (ed.). Warship Volume V. London: Conway Maritime Press. pp. 38–44, 74–79. ISBN 0-85177-244-7.

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[gg9-1] 1 2 Gardiner & Gray, p. 87

[a0-2] Akermann, p. 123

[3] Harrison, Chapter 27

[1]

[2]

[3]

v t e British B-class submarines
B1 B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8 B9 B10 B11
Preceded by: A class Followed by: C class
List of submarines of the Royal Navy List of submarine classes of the Royal Navy