British K-class submarine
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| Class overview | |
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| Name: | K class |
| Builders: | |
| Operators: |
 Royal Navy
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| In commission: | 1917—1931 |
| Planned: | 21 |
| Completed: | 17 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type: | Submarine |
| Displacement: |
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| Length: | 339 ft (103 m) |
| Beam: | 26 ft 6 in (8.08 m) |
| Draught: | 20 ft 11 in (6.38 m) |
| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: |
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| Range: |
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| Complement: | 59 (6 officers and 53 ratings) |
| Armament: |
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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 was lost through enemy action but six sank in accidents. Only one ever engaged an enemy vessel, hitting a U-boat amidships though the torpedo failed to explode.
The class found favour with Commodore Roger Keyes, then Inspector Captain of Submarines, and with Admirals Sir John Jellicoe and Sir David Beatty, respectively Commander-in-Chief British Grand Fleet and Commander-in-Chief Battlecruiser Squadrons. Despite this, an early opponent of the class was Admiral Jacky Fisher, later First Sea Lord, who on the class' suggestion in 1913 had responded 'The most fatal error imaginable would be to put steam engines in submarines.'
In defence of the design it must be said that submarine technology was still in its infancy, that development was still at a similar early stage, and that the use of weapon (or tactics) requires at least as much thought and practical trial as the first two. Of course with hindsight the initial concept of a submarine (which we see today as a stealth weapon) maneuvering within the confines of a surface warship formation is at best a risky proposition; to a surface warship of today, a submarine (any submarine) is more likely to be seen as a threat than an ally.
In 1913, a design outline was prepared for a new class of submarine which could operate with the surface fleet, sweeping ahead of it in a fleet action. Due to the superior size and power of the British Grand Fleet over the German High Seas Fleet it was intended that the submarines would get around the back of the enemy fleet and ambush it as it retreated.
The boats were to be 339 feet (103 m) long and displace 1,700 tons on the surface. It was chosen not to proceed until results from trials of two prototypes, Nautilus and Swordfish, had taken place. Following the trials with Nautilus, the slightly smaller J class was designed with a conventional diesel propulsion system.
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Wikipedia