HMS K3

Last updated

HMS K3 IWM SP 1664.jpg
Passing the surrendered battleships of the German Grand Fleet, between November 1918 and June 1919
History
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
NameHMS K3
Builder Vickers, Barrow-in-Furness
Laid down21 May 1915
Launched20 May 1916
Commissioned4 August 1916
FateSold for scrapping 26 October 1921
General characteristics
Class and type K class submarine
Displacement
  • 1,980 long tons (2,010 t) surfaced
  • 2,566 long tons (2,607 t) submerged
Length339 ft (103 m)
Beam26 ft 6 in (8.08 m)
Draught20 ft 11 in (6.38 m)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 24 knots (28 mph; 44 km/h) surfaced
  • 8 knots (9.2 mph; 15 km/h) submerged
Range
  • Surfaced:
  • 800 nmi (1,500 km) at 24 kn (44 km/h)
  • 12,500 nmi (23,200 km) at 10 kn (19 km/h)
  • Submerged:
  • 8 nmi (15 km) at 8 kn (15 km/h)
  • 40 nmi (74 km) at 4 kn (7.4 km/h)
Complement59 (6 officers and 53 ratings)
Armament
  • 8 × 18 inch (450 mm) torpedo tubes, (4 beam, 4 bow), 8 spare torpedoes
  • 2 × 18 inch torpedo tubes fitted on deck, later removed
  • 2 × 4 in (102 mm) guns
  • 1 × 3 in (76 mm) gun

HMS K3 was the lead ship of the British K-class submarines. She was laid down on 21 May 1915 by Vickers, Barrow-in-Furness. She was commissioned on 4 August 1916.

In December 1916, K3, with the future King George VI aboard, uncontrollably dived. The ship plunged to 150 feet with the stern and propellers raised above the waves. It took twenty minutes to free the ship from the sea bed mud and surface successfully.

On 9 January 1917, K3’s boiler room was flooded in the North Sea. K3 was involved in an accident with the 4th Light Cruiser Squadron, that led to the sinking of K1, in November 1917. K3 was also involved in the "Battle of May Island" in 1918. On 2 May 1918, K3 yet again uncontrollably dived to 266 feet which crushed part of the hull.

K3 was sold on 26 October 1921 to the Barking Ship Breaking Company for scrapping in London.

Related Research Articles

HMS <i>J1</i> J class submarine

HMS J1 was a J-class submarine operated by the Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy.

British E-class submarine Type of British submarines in service during WWI

The British E-class submarines started out as improved versions of the British D-class submarine. The E class served with the Royal Navy throughout World War I as the backbone of the submarine fleet. The last surviving E class submarines were withdrawn from service by 1922.

USS <i>Davis</i> (DD-65) Sampson-class destroyer

USS Davis (DD-65) was a Sampson-class destroyer in commission in the United States Navy from 1916 to 1922. She saw service during World War I. She was the second Navy ship named for Rear Admiral Charles Henry Davis (1807–1877).

British K-class submarine British class of submarine

The K-class submarines were a class of steam-propelled submarines of the Royal Navy designed in 1913. Intended as large, fast vessels with the endurance and speed to operate with the battle fleet, they gained notoriety and the nickname of "Kalamity class" for being involved in many accidents. Of the 18 built, none were lost through enemy action, but six sank, with significant loss of life, in accidents. Only one ever engaged an enemy vessel, K-7 hitting a U-boat amidships, though the torpedo failed to explode with what has been described as typical "K" luck; K-7 escaped retaliation by steaming away at speed.

HMS <i>K13</i> British K Class submarine

HMS K13 was a steam-propelled First World War K class submarine of the Royal Navy. She sank in a fatal accident during sea trials in early 1917 and was salvaged and recommissioned as HMS K22.

HMS <i>Ithuriel</i> (1916) Marksman-class flotilla leader of the British Royal Navy

HMS Ithuriel was a Marksman-class flotilla leader of the British Royal Navy. Originally to have been named Gabriel, the name was changed before her launch. The ship was built by Cammell Laird at Birkenhead, being launched on 8 March 1916 and entering service in August that year. Ithuriel served with the Grand Fleet during the First World War, leading both a destroyer flotilla and a submarine flotilla. She survived the war, before being sold for scrap on 8 November 1921.

British G-class submarine

The Royal Navy's G class of diesel/electric submarines were launched between 1914 and 1917, and intended for operations in the North Sea and German Bight in World War I against German U-boats.

HMS <i>K4</i> British K class submarine built by Vickers

HMS K4 was a British K-class submarine built by Vickers in Barrow-in-Furness. She was laid down on 28 June 1915 and commissioned on 1 January 1917, one year before the end of World War I.

HMS <i>Viking</i> (1909) Destroyer of the Royal Navy

HMS Viking was a Tribal-class destroyer of the Royal Navy launched in 1909 and sold for scrap in 1919. She was the only destroyer ever to have six funnels.

HMS <i>Tartar</i> (1907) Destroyer of the Royal Navy

HMS Tartar was a Tribal-class destroyer of the Royal Navy launched in 1907 and sold in 1921. During the First World War, she served in the North Sea and the English Channel with the 6th Destroyer Flotilla.

HMS <i>E4</i> Submarine of the Royal Navy

HMS E4 was a British E class submarine built by Vickers, Barrow-in-Furness, costing £101,900. E4 was laid down on 16 May 1911, launched on 5 February 1912 and commissioned on 28 January 1913. On 24 September 1915 E4 was attacked by the German airship SL3. On 15 August 1916, she collided with sister ship E41 during exercises off Harwich. Both ships sank and there were only 14 survivors, all from E41. Both boats were raised, repaired and recommissioned. She was sold on 21 February 1922 to the Upnor Ship Breaking Company.

HMS C32 was one of 38 C-class submarines built for the Royal Navy in the first decade of the 20th century. The boat ran aground in the Baltic in 1917 and had to be destroyed to prevent her capture.

HMS <i>L2</i> Submarine of the Royal Navy

HMS L2 was a L-class submarine built for the Royal Navy during World War I.

HMS E54 was a British E class submarine built by William Beardmore, Dalmuir. She was laid down on 1 February 1915 and was commissioned in May 1916. She sank UC-10 on 21 August 1916 and U-81 on 1 May 1917. E54 was sold for scrap on 14 December 1921.

Chios was a Medea-class destroyer laid down for the Greek Navy by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan in 1914. She was launched as 16 December 1914 and completed for service in the Royal Navy as HMS Melampus on 29 June 1915. On 16 April 1917 she accidentally rammed and sank the C-class submarine C16. She was sold for breaking up on 22 September 1921.

HMS Ophelia was an Admiralty M-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy during the First World War, entering service in 1916. The ship served at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May/1 June 1916, and sank a German submarine in 1918. She was sold for scrap in 1921.

HMS <i>Pasley</i> (1916) Admiralty M-class destroyer

HMS Pasley was an Admiralty M-class destroyer built on the Tyne by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson for the Royal Navy and launched on 15 April 1916. She saw service during the First World War.

HMS TB 5 was a Cricket-class coastal destroyer or torpedo-boat of the British Royal Navy. TB 5 was built by the shipbuilder J S White from 1905 to 1907. She was used for local patrol duties in the First World War and survived the war. She was sold for scrap in 1920.

HMS Aubrietia was one of 12 Aubrietia-class sloops completed for the Royal Navy and was launched in 1916. During World War I, she functioned as a Q-Ship and served under the name Q.13, also taking the names Kai, Winton and Zebal. Aubrietia was part of the 1st Sloop flotilla, based in Queenstown and subsequently, the 3rd Sloop Flotilla in the North Sea.

HMS <i>Mounsey</i> (1915) Royal Navy Yarrow M-class destroyer

HMS Mounsey was a Yarrow M-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy. Built by the Scottish shipbuilder Yarrow in 1914–1915, Mounsey served in the Grand Fleet during the First World War, and took part in the Battle of Jutland. The following year she saw combat against German submarines, and in 1918 she helped rescue crew and passengers aboard the damaged troopship Otranto. She was sold for scrap in 1921.

References