British V-class submarine


The British V-class submarine 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.
The V-class submarines were very similar to the preceding U-class 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.

Ships

The vessels which were ordered are shown below in their programme order :
The first eight vessels were ordered on 5 December 1941 under that year's programme.
  • - sold to Norway in 1946, renamed as Utstein
  • HMS Viking
  • HMS Veldt, completed as Pipinos
  • HMS Virtue
  • HMS Visigoth
The next eighteen vessels were ordered on 21 May 1942 under that year's programme, but six of these were cancelled in early 1944.
  • HMS Voracious
  • HMS Vulpine - Transferred to the Royal Danish Navy after the war as U2
  • HMS Varne
  • HMS Urtica
  • HMS Vineyard, completed as
  • HMS Variance, completed as HNoMS Utsira
  • , transferred to Greece in 1945 as
  • HMS Vortex, completed as
  • cancelled
  • HMS Veto, cancelled 23 January 1944 and scrapped on the slip
  • HMS Virile, cancelled 23 January 1944 and scrapped on the slip
  • HMS Visitant, cancelled 23 January 1944
  • HMS Upas, cancelled February 1944 and scrapped on the slip
  • HMS Ulex, cancelled February 1944
  • HMS Utopia, cancelled February 1944
  • HMS Volatile
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.
  • HMS Votary
  • HMS Vagabond
  • cancelled
  • HMS Vantage, cancelled 23 January 1944
  • HMS Vehement, cancelled 23 January 1944
  • HMS Venom, cancelled 23 January 1944
  • HMS Verve, cancelled 23 January 1944
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, cancelled 20 November 1943
  • HMS Upward, cancelled 20 November 1943
  • Eight more unnamed boats