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British T Class Submarine align="center" colspan="2"|
HMS Tabard | | lign ="center" style="color: white; height: 30px; background: navy no-repeat scroll top left;"|RN Ensign | align="center" style="color: white; height: 30px; background: navy no-repeat scroll top left;"|General Characteristics (original design) | | isplacement: | 1,290 tons surfaced
1,560 tons submerged | | ength: | 276 ft 6 in (84.28 m) | | eam: | 25 ft 6 in (7.77 m) | | raught: | 12 ft 9 in (3.89 m) forward
14 ft 7 in (4.44 m) aft | | ropulsion: | Two shafts
Twin diesel engines 2,500 hp (1.86 MW) each
Twin electric motors 1,450 hp (1.08 MW) each | | peed: | 15.5 knots (28.7 km/h) surfaced
9 knots (20 km/h) submerged | | ange: | 4,500 nautical miles at 11 knots (8,330 km at 20 km/h) surfaced | | omplement: | 48 | | rmament: | 6 internal forward facing torpedo tubes
4 external forward facing torpedo tubes
6 reload torpedoes
4 inch (100 mm) deck gun | | iving depth: | 300 ft (91 m) max | The Royal Navy's T class (or Triton class) of submarines was designed in the 1930s to replace the O, P and R classes. Design began in 1934 but was constrained by the 1930 London Naval Treaty restricting the total British submarine fleet to 52,700 tons, a maximum of 2,000 tons for any boat, and maximum armament of one 5.1 inch (130 mm) gun. The "Repeat P"s, as the design was originally called, were intended to be large and powerful enough to operate against Japan in the absence of other British naval units. This demanded a large boat with impressive firepower, and the eventual design had 10 forward-facing torpedo tubes. The design was finalised in 1935 and on June 24 June the decision was made to drop the "Repeat P" designation and give all boats names starting with "T". The lead boat, Triton, was ordered March 5 1936 and ran her first-of-class trials in December 1938. Fifty three T-class submarines were built before and during the war in three distinct groups, although there were minor differences between different boats within the same group. T-class submarines fought in all theatres in the Second World War and suffered around 25 per cent losses. They were particularly vulnerable in the Mediterranean where their large size made them easily visible from the air in the clear waters, but they had much more success elsewhere. After the war, all surviving Group One and Two boats were scrapped and the remainder fitted with snorts. In the 1950s most were streamlined for quiet and higher speed underwater operation against Soviet submarines. This included the removal of deck guns and the replacement of the conning tower with a "sail". The newer all-welded boats also had an extra battery installed and a new section of hull inserted to accommodate extra motors and switchgear. This varied between 14 ft (4.3 m) and 17 ft 6 in (5.33 m) depending upon the boat. These changes allowed an underwater speed of 15 knots (28 km/h) or more and increase the endurance to around 32 hours at 3 knots (6 km/h). The last operational British boat of the class was Tiptoe, which was decomissioned on August 29 1969. The last operational boat was the Israeli Dolphin, formerly Truncheon, which was decomissioned in 1977. Group One boats These boats originally had a bulbous bow covering the two forward external torpedo tubes, which quickly produced complaints that they reduced surface speed in rough weather. These external tubes were therefore removed from Triumph during repairs after she was damaged by a mine and Thetis during the extensive repairs following her sinking and subsequent salvage. Group Two boats The first, Thrasher, was launched on November 5 1940. The external bow torpedo tubes were moved seven feet aft to help with sea keeping. The two external forward-angled tubes just forward of conning tower were repositioned aft of it and angled backwards to fire astern, and a stern external torpedo tube was also fitted. This gave a total of ten forward facing tubes and three rear facing ones. All Group Two boats were sent to the Mediterranean, only Thrasher and Trusty returned. Group Three boats Wartime austerity meant that they lacked many refinements such as jackstaffs and guardrails, and had only one anchor. Much of the internal pipework was steel rather than copper. The first Group Three boat was P311, launched on June 10 1942. Welding gradually replaced riveting and some boats were completely welded, which gave them an improved rated maximum diving depth of 350 ft (107 m). Royal Navy Royal Netherlands Navy Ordered but cancelled on October 29 1945 following the end of hostilities: - Thor (launched April 18 1944 but not completed)
- Tiara (also launched on 18 April 1944 but not completed)
- Theban
- Threat
- Talent
See also T
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